11 Days Joburg, Kruger, Swaziland, KwaZulu Natal & Timbavati, Cape Town

Day 1:Arrive in Johannesburg

One of our representatives will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Outlook Lodge where you can relax after your flight. Please book your flight in Johannesburg to arrive in the morning so you can join the Soweto & Apartheids Museum in the afternoon. If this is not an option, an extra night can be booked for you in Johannesburg at an additional charge.

In the afternoon you will depart on here on we visit the Apartheid’s Museum, a beacon of South African hope that shows the world how South Africa is coming to terms with its oppressive past and how we are working towards a future that all South Africans can call their own. After the museum the tour continues through the South of Soweto were you will see iconic places like the FNB Stadium which was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Diepkloof area with its famous “Matchbox” houses and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (the 3rd largest hospital in the world with 3200 beds and over 6700 staff members). Next is the colourful Soweto Cooling Towers, a prominent landmark in Soweto. The tour of Soweto South ends at Walter Sisulu Square aka Freedom Square in Kliptown where 3000 people gathered in 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter, which is now the basis of our Constitution. From here we continue to the Hector Pieterson Museum in Orlando West with our last stop being the vibrant Vilakazi Street. This is the most famous street in Soweto and is the only street in the world to have had two Nobel Peace Prize winners as residents – Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. We will end the tour with a visit to two of the local watering holes before returning to Outlook Lodge.

A 3 course set menu dinner is served at Outlook Lodge.

(Dinner included)

Day 2 :Gauteng – Kruger Park

We depart from Johannesburg between 06h30 – 08h00 to allow for various collection points. Our route takes us through the wide open spaces of the Highveld, down the escarpment and through the scenic Lowveld area. We stop for lunch en-route (own expense) and reach the Kruger National Park and Skukuza Rest Camp in the afternoon.

After we have settled in, we head out on our first game drive! We conduct all our game drives in specially adapted 4×4 open game drive vehicles to allow our guests the best possible vantage point. On our return, we have some time to visit the Park’s shop, go for a walk & just familiarising ourselves with our surroundings.

Dinner is a three course meal, served al fresco at our private camp within Skukuza. Wine is served with dinner but guests are welcome to bring along additional / alternative drinks which can be purchased at the shop.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

Day 3 :Full day in the Park

Safaris are all about early mornings, getting out there and seeing animals! After an early wake-up call (the time varies according to the seasons and park gate opening times) we have tea or coffee & a snack. We then set off on the morning safari which will take approximately 3-4 hours. Your guide has an intimate knowledge of the park, which contributes a great deal towards brilliant sightings!

On returning to Skukuza, breakfast/brunch will be ready at our camp. You then have time to enjoy a swim, visit the Skukuza museum, catch up on some sleep, visit the park shop which includes African curios, general food items and drinks, take a walk around the camp, or simply relax at the viewing platform in front of the restaurant, which overlooks the Sabie River. Skukuza is also a bird watcher’s paradise! Be sure to bring along your binoculars!

After a siesta we set off on the afternoon game drive. We conduct all our game drives in specially adapted 4×4 open game drive vehicles to allow our guests the best possible vantage point.

We share safari stories at the camp fire under the stars after a scrumptious dinner served at our camp.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

Day 4 :Kruger Park to Swaziland

The sun rises over our final day in the Kruger Park and we have one last chance to find the animals that have eluded us thus far on an open vehicle game drive. Breakfast is served on our return to camp and we leave the Kruger Park directly after breakfast for the landlocked Kingdom of the Swazis. It is interesting to see the variation in landscape as we move into this more mountainous region. We stop for lunch somewhere en-route (own expense).

We spend the night at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the Swaziland Royal National Parks, where all the animals belong to the king.

We enjoy dinner at the camp’s restaurant and the evening is spent sharing travel stories around the fire.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Day 5 :Swaziland to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

After breakfast we depart for KwaZulu Natal through once more changing landscapes to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, made famous for its breeding program of both black & white rhino, which brought these magnificent creatures back from the brink of extinction!

We spend the next two nights at the lovely new Rhino Ridge Game Lodge, located in a private concession in the park.

High tea is served in the early afternoon after which guests can enjoy an afternoon game drive with a sundowner break before driving into the early evening looking for nocturnal creatures. On arrival at the lodge guests are given the opportunity to freshen up before enjoying a delicious dinner on the deck.

(All meals & Teas included)

Day 6 :Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

Early morning tea/coffee, rusks & fruit are served on the deck before setting off on your morning drive. Another refreshment stop is made during the morning drive after which you return to the lodge to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast.

High tea is served in the early afternoon after which guests can enjoy an afternoon game drive with a sundowner break before driving into the early evening looking for nocturnal creatures. On arrival at the lodge guests are given the opportunity to freshen up before enjoying a delicious dinner on the deck.

(All meals & Teas included)

Day 7 :Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve to Dolphin Coast, via St Lucia

After a final game drive and breakfast, we continue to South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park!

Upon arrival in the village of St Lucia, we join a 2 hour Hippo & Crocodile Boat Cruise on the St Lucia Estuary. Many crocodiles, hippos and birds make the estuary their home and you will have ample photographic opportunities.

After lunch at one of the restaurants in the village (own expense), we continue along the coast to the Dolphin Coast area. Accommodation is in rooms with en suite bathrooms. Pending availability, we will stay at The Golf House at Prince’s Grant.

We enjoy dinner with the sound of breaking waves in the back ground.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

Day 8 :Dolphin Coast to Durban to Cape Town

After breakfast you will have time to go for a walk along the beach or to enjoy a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. Then we sadly have to leave this bio-diverse area. We still have one more chance for game viewing from our closed, air conditioned tour vehicle as we leave the park for Durban’s King Shaka airport. We will stop en-route to enjoy lunch (own expense). We plan to arrive around 14h00. From here we fly to Cape Town.

On arrival at the Cape Town airport you will be met by one of our representatives who will take you to The Commodore Hotel, which is ideally situated at the V & A Waterfront. The Waterfront is almost a destination on its own and offers loads of entertainment, different restaurants and shopping. Robben Island tours as well as boat cruises also depart from here.

One of the highlights of visiting South Africa is undoubtedly going up Table Mountain! Since the weather on the mountain can change at the drop of a hat, you should visit the mountain immediately on arrival in Cape Town if it is open, although we have a scheduled visit to the mountain on tomorrow’s tour. Tickets for the cable way are not included in the price, since we cannot guarantee that you will be able to go up. These tickets can be bought at the ticketing office at the mountain and the hotel concierge can arrange a cab to take you there. The cable way return ticket price is currently R225 – R250 per adult (see http://www.tablemountain.net/content/page/rates).

Click here for reviews on our Cape Town operator.

(Breakfast included)

Day 9 :Half day Cape Town City & Half day Wine Region

This morning we explore the city of Cape Town! The Mother City is steeped in history, culture and scenic wonders, and offers an abundance of things to see and do. A half day tour gives you an introduction to experience the city and its attractions.

To get a taste of the thriving center of the Mother City, in the shelter of Table Mountain, a Cape Town city tour is not to be missed. Here you will find a number of the Cape’s top attractions, from the imposing Castle of Good Hope to the colorful cottages of the Bo Kaap, the bustling Green Market Square, the South African Museum, the beautiful Company Gardens and plenty more to see. With an experienced and knowledgeable guide, and from the comfort of a climate controlled vehicle, you will be able to learn more about the Cape Town

CBD and its surrounds, in a city tour that is sure to leave you with plenty of memories and photographs of this part of the Cape.

Ticket for the cable way to Table Mountain is not included as this activity is weather dependent. If the weather is not good for the mountain we will drive to Tableview for a “postcard view” of Table Mountain. Note that the order of these activities may be changed around due to weather conditions.

Leaving the city behind, we take a delightful drive winding its way to the heart of the Cape Winelands, through superb vineyards and past Cape Dutch homesteads to the heart of South Africa’s wine industry, Stellenbosch, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings.

With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our first wine tasting of the day at the Zevenwacht Wine Estate.

Let yourself be guided around the stunning wine cellars of this old established estate, feeling the passion of the winemakers and understanding the process that goes behind turning a grapevine field into a sumptuous wine. Treat yourself to a tasting of the estate’s finest wines and cheeses. We enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the historical building of Stellenbosch. The town of Stellenbosch is a small but very vibrant town with a very famous university and numerous activities such a wine cellar tours and tastings. You will have the opportunity to purchase wines to bring back home to enjoy the region’s wonderful vintages after your visit.

Our last stop for the day is at the Marianne Wine Estate. Marianne Wine Estate is situated at the foothill of the Simonsberg outside the town of Stellenbosch. Be welcomed for a unique wine experience in a superb environment. Taste the wine and discover their French savoirfaire.

Wine estates might change due to availability and guides preference. Return to the bustle of city life after an enthralling day in the countryside.

(Breakfast included)

Day 10 :Full day Cape Peninsula

Today you join an awe-inspiring tour of the Cape Peninsula to the towering headland known as Cape Point. Magnificent beaches, breath-taking views, historic and picturesque coastal villages are to be seen along the way. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world’s most scenic areas and stretches from the City centre to Cape Point.

We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. Optional: Seal Island boat trip (seasonal, weather permitting) (not included in cost). On through Chapman’s Peak , one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included in cost), we go on to historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders Penguin Colony (included in cost) is home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information centre.

We then make our way to visit the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The Garden is one of eight National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa’s six different biomes. When Kirstenbosch, the most famous of the gardens, was founded in 1913 to preserve the country’s unique flora, it was the first botanical garden in the world with this ethos. The garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain

Entrance included: Cape Point Nature Reserve, Chapman’s Peak Toll Fee, Optional extras: Penguins Colony at Boulders Beach, Cape Point Funicular The tour ends at ± 17:30.You have the evening at leisure to explore the city or visit the Waterfront again.

(Breakfast included)

Day 11 :Cape Town – end

Depending on your onward flight details, you may have time for another optional excursion, such as visiting Robben Island, exploring the city and much more. The transfer back to Cape Town airport is included in the price.

(Breakfast included)