After breakfast, we leave the city and head towards the scenic Panorama Route. Passing rolling grasslands and small towns, the road eventually climbs an escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains to enter a scenic wonderland. Blyde River Canyon, the world’s largest green canyon, filled with waterfalls and ancient geological features, will take your breath away. Spot the Three Rondawels – three conical peaks resembling African huts. Stand on the bridges over the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where millennia of swirling water have carved giant holes into the sandstone. Get your cameras ready for the panoramic vistas of Wonder View, the highest point of the day.

The town of Graskop (grassy peak), established in the 1880s at the height of gold rush, is now part of the local timber industry. Visit one of its famous pancake bars and then browse the many curio shops to find unique artifacts. The scenic drive to Hazyview winds through rolling hills and dense forests. Take a breath and soak in the outstanding natural beauty of Mpumalanga as we head for your hotel.

After an early breakfast, a full day of adventure awaits you in the world’s premier safari destination. The Kruger National Park will immerse you in the world of the ‘Big 5’: lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, and elephant. The Park, sprawling over 20,000 km², is slightly smaller than Belgium and supports a staggering variety of fauna and flora – including rare bird species. The slow pace of the touring vehicle and the focus on the bush will take your mind to a place as quiet as an elephant’s footfall. Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at one of the park’s rest camps, before continuing on the bush adventure.

An optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle with an expert guide is available (at your own expense, excluding lunch). We exit Kruger National Park and head back to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks before dinner (both at your own expense)

After a good night’s rest, enjoy an early breakfast before spending a second day in the park, as we drive from Phabeni Gate to exit at Malelane Gate in the south. If you want to feel the air of adventure on your face, pre-book the optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle (Optional Excursion Package own expense and excluding lunch). Be ready to add to your game and bird viewing list and look out for unique flora. There’s a lot to look for, with 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 116 reptile, 507 bird, and 147 mammal species. For birders, there is the chance to find a lifer. Use the lunchtime spent in a rest camp to look for one of the ‘Little 5’:  the ant lion, the buffalo weaver, the elephant shrew the leopard tortoise, or the rhino beetle. One of those would be a find! Our time in the park ends in the late afternoon as we exit at the Malelane Gate.

The overnight accommodation is situated on the border of the famous Park. You will be able to enjoy drinks on a deck overlooking the Crocodile River and watch the animals come down to the river to drink as the sun sets on the experience of a lifetime.  

After an early breakfast, the adventure will continue as you depart for Hluhluwe via the often misty mountains of the Kingdom of Eswatini and into the Ezulwini Valley. The valley is aptly named – Ezulwini means ‘place of heaven’ – and provides panoramic views of the Kingdom and access to several notable wildlife sanctuaries. Craft markets, overflowing with carvings, beadwork and colourful materials, provide wonderful shopping opportunities. Sample local food specialties, such as Buganu, a marula fruit drink, or Sishwala porridge, served with a meat stew or vegetables.

Swazi cuisine is a celebration of traditional ingredients and cooking. Continuing a magical tour of three different regions in a day, you will re-enter South Africa via KwaZulu-Natal. There will be a stop for lunch on the way to Hluhluwe, where you will arrive at your hotel in the early evening in time for a Zulu cultural experience and dinner (at your own expense).

NOTE: When entering the Kingdom of Eswatini, guests must ensure that they have a valid passport and for nationals of applicable countries, multi-entry visa regulations apply.

There is an opportunity to go on a morning open safari vehicle game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (time permitting and at own expense). After breakfast, we visit the coastal town of St Lucia, at the heart of South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Go on an optional boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary (at your own expense). The Estuary, with its island-like setting, is one of the largest estuaries in Africa and a recognised natural wonder. This rich wetland is home to a mind-boggling 2,180 plant species, over 1000 Nile crocodiles, more than 800 hippos and many prehistoric-looking monitor lizards. With over 400 species of birds, it is a watery paradise. Gliding over the water will be a very different experience from the Kruger safari but equally exciting.

Load up with snacks before we leave St Lucia, as there will be a late lunch (at your own expense) at Salt Rock Hotel. Take a short stroll on the beach before we journey inland through miles of golden sugarcane fields and the small, previously predominantly German town of Wartburg. We arrive in the quaint village of Hilton in the late afternoon. Enjoy your evening in this historic hotel. 

TISD 04 = Day 1 to 6 JNB to DUR drop-off guests ±14h30 at Salt Rock Hotel
TISD 11 = Day 6 to 14 DUR to CPT pick-up guests ±14h30 from Salt Rock Hotel

After breakfast, you will visit the place that changed the course of South Africa’s history. The Mandela Capture site marks where the apartheid police apprehended Mandela in 1962. We continue to the small town of Howick for a stop at the beautiful Howick Falls. It is the second-highest waterfall in South Africa, with a drop of 95m into a large pool. We head for the majestic Drakensberg (Dragon’s) Mountains via the country villages of Underberg and Himeville. The mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a high point of 3 482m. You will arrive at the hotel before midday with plenty of time to enjoy lunch (at your own expense).

Spend the afternoon taking in the mountain scenery, stretch your legs on one of the hiking trails, or enjoy the many resort activities. If you want an exhilarating mountain experience, opt for the excursion, including lunch, up the Sani Pass (at your own expense; a multiple entry visa may be required for Lesotho).

The Pass is a rugged dirt road only accessible in 4WD vehicles. Travel along the thrilling gravel road, stopping at breathtaking viewpoints and border posts. Explore the cultural richness of Lesotho, interact with friendly locals, and enjoy traditional homemade bread. After a late lunch at a lodge, descend the pass and return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dine at the hotel restaurant.

Enjoy breakfast and take time to drink in the champagne air. Enjoy the majestic peaks as you spend the morning at your leisure or take a walk and look out for black eagles or Cape vultures. On the mountain slopes, you will find proteas, South Africa’s national flower, growing amongst the fynbos.

Be ready to leave later in the morning as the coach takes us back down the mountain roads, over rivers and through valleys. There will be a stop en route to Mthatha for lunch (at your own expense). With a late afternoon arrival in Mthatha, we visit the Nelson Mandela Museum in town (time permitting). After checking in, there will be time to relax before dinner (at your own expense) at the hotel restaurant.

After breakfast, we continue to the coast. The road winds through the green hills of Nelson Mandela’s heartland, to the cluster of tiny villages that make up Qunu, and the village of Mvezo, where Nelson Mandela was born and buried. This is a rural area, where goats roam the streets and many of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers. Mandela first built a small home on his family plot and then a larger home where he stayed on his visits to Qunu. He never forgot his humble roots and his childhood shaped by the tradition, customs, and power of this close-knit community, was a deep part of the man who walked out of a narrow, grassy valley to become a legend.

After a morning spent soaking in history, we will be back on the road, reaching the beautiful marina town of Port Alfred in the late afternoon. End the day with a sunset cruise along the tranquil Kowie River. Keep an eye out for kingfishers, water monitors and crocodiles. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. 

After an early breakfast, we depart for Knysna along the N2 highway via Gqeberha, a route famous for its outstanding natural beauty. One of the many gems of the Garden Route is the Tsitsikamma Forest, were we will enjoy lunch (at own expense). As we enter the Storms River section of the Garden Route National Park, watch for when the road suddenly tops a rise, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean and a deep, emerald-green gorge. Cross the famous Storms River suspension bridge and experience the thrill of standing high above the vast rocky chasm below you. There are a series of 3 bridges with stable wooden paths and stairs. This hour-long walk offers spectacular views of the gorge and ocean. The afternoon continues with a scenic drive through Plettenberg Bay to Knysna.

The beauty of Knysna is found in its inland waterways and the Heads rock formations, towering over each side of a vast lagoon. Spend your afternoon at leisure, relaxing or exploring the many craft shops and art galleries, or Gin Distillery before heading back to your hotel for dinner.

NOTE: The vehicle may be required to collect guests at the Kelway Hotel or Southern Sun the Marine in Gqeberha ±11h30

After a hearty breakfast, there will be a photo opportunity from a panoramic lookout point with sweeping views of the Knysna Heads and Lagoon before leaving for Oudtshoorn. The drive to Oudtshoorn runs through pretty seaside towns, past lakes, and mountains. From the town of George, the road turns inland and up the 13km Outeniqua Pass, with waterfalls and views of the ocean. The Pass exits into the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo where we find the town of Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. See an ostrich farm the traditional way by taking a fun and interactive tractor tour of the farm.

You will be served a farm lunch (at your own expense) and be sure to try ostrich biltong (dried meat). You will have travelled through game parks, up mountain passes and across estuaries, but the Cango Caves Heritage Tour will take you into an astounding subterranean world.  The Caves, approximately 20 million years old, are an underground wonder. Don’t worry about claustrophobia; the Van Zyl’s Hall cave is 107m long and 54m in width. With leisure time in the evening, you can have dinner at the hotel (at your own expense).

Enjoy breakfast as you prepare to head to one of South Africa’s premier destinations, the magnificent city of Cape Town. The road twists along Route 62, the longest and most mountainous wine route in the world. Your touring vehicle window will feel like a series of picture postcards as you pass through the changing landscape. There will be time for lunch in one of the charming towns along the way (at your own expense).

After lunch, indulge in a cheese and wine pairing and cellar tour of one of the many fine vineyards on the route (at your own expense). South Africa is justifiably famous for its wine industry, which dates back to the 17th century, making it one of the oldest in the world. There are 148 wine farms along our route but we will not have time for all of them. Table Mountain awaits and you will soon be in the most beautiful city in South Africa.

With an afternoon arrival in Cape Town, enjoy a relaxing dinner at the hotel or adventure out to a restaurant in the city where you will be spoilt for choice. There is so much on offer so make the most of your time in the Mother City.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for a full day at leisure, or pre-book a full day guided tour of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Town is built on a mountainous peninsula. Travel along the Atlantic seaboard with its white beaches and rugged mountains to Hout Bay. If time permits, there is the option of taking a half hour boat trip to Duiker Island to see a Cape Fur Seal colony (at your own expense). If open, continue on Chapman’s Peak Drive, noted as one of the most stunning roadways in the world.

Visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve and the tip of the Cape Peninsula, which has captivated travellers for centuries. The return journey to Cape Town takes us along the False Bay coast with the option of visiting the colony of rare African Penguins at Boulders Beach (entrance fee at your expense).

We will pass through the naval village of Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg. Visit the Rhodes Memorial viewpoint and learn about the significance of this historical site before returning to the hotel. After a full day, enjoy dinner in town or choose a restaurant at the fabulous and cosmopolitan V&A Waterfront.

After breakfast at the hotel, spend the morning at leisure or take the option of a Table Mountain and City guided tour (at your own expense). The tour will squeeze the last precious drops out of your African adventure. Cape Town’s origins as a city can be traced back to 1652 when the Dutch East India Company set up a refreshment station for its ships. The city is a colourful mix of old and new with history embedded in its streets.

Travel through the Malay Quarter, city centre, Company Gardens, diamond merchants and if time permits, the Castle of Good Hope. End the tour with a visit to one of the seven natural wonders of the world and take in the exceptional beauty of Table Mountain (weather permitting; cableway ticket is at your own expense).

Cape Town has a deep and complex history but there is no doubt that is one of the most beautiful cities that you will ever visit. As you prepare to leave, know that you take with you the traveller’s treasure – experiences made in a moment that will last a lifetime.