In this package we combine the best wild life and wilderness areas with some of the beautiful scenery of South Africa - a world in one country! The Garden Route runs parallel to the southernmost coastline of Africa and is famous for its unique diversity of lakes, mountains, golden beaches, cliffs and dense indigenous forests. Its extraordinary beauty complements the contrast of the adjacent semi-arid valley, called the Little Karoo. This region in turn offers natural wonders such as the Cango Caves and its ideal habitat for ostrich farming makes it the ostrich Mecca of the world.
In this tour we offer you two options; the Taste of South Africa 10 and the Tase of South Africa 11. The numbers at the end indicates the duration of the tour in days.
The extra day of the 11 day tour is spent in the Garden Route. We explore the area more in-depth and include a boat ride on the Knysna Lagoon as well as a trip between Knysna and George on the famous old Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train.
The package covers the most important areas of South Africa and is designed for those who have limited time.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Johannesburg – Dullstroom – Panoramic Route - Sabie
Our first day on tour takes us from Johannesburg via Middelburg, Dullstroom and Lydenburg to Pilgrim´s Rest, the early gold mining town turned into a living museum. Rich deposits of alluvial gold were found here at the end of the 19th century, hence the existence of the town deep in the mountains. We continue to Sabie and overnight in the Lone Creek River Lodge. (D)
Day 2 - Panoramic Route – Private Game Reserve
We visit Lone Creek Falls and travel via Graskop to marvel at scenic areas such as God’s Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, and some of the spectacular waterfalls in the area. Finally we descend to the Lowveld via Abel Erasmus pass and the Strydom Tunnel to arrive at Mohlabetsi in the Balule private game reserve. This afternoon our encounter with Africa's wildlife begins as we travel on an open vehicle to search for the game. Enjoy a great dinner under the stars tonight (weather permitting). Overnight at Mohlabetsi. (B) (D)
Day 3 - Private Game Reserve – Kruger National Park
After an early morning hike, searching for the wild on foot, and breakfast we enter the Kruger National Park and spend the rest of day in this magnificent reserve around 2 million ha in extent. We overnight in the reserve at one of the camps. (B) (D)
Day 4 - Kruger National Park - Swaziland
We rise early for a game drive and return for breakfast in the camp. We spend the rest of the morning in the reserve and depart in the afternoon for the mountain Kingdom of Swaziland. We visit the Ngwenya Glass Factory, and travel via Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland, to Foresters Arms, our hotel in the mountains at Mhlambanyatsi. (B) (D)
Day 5 - Swaziland – Zululand – Hluhluwe-Imfolosi Park
We visit the well-known Swazi Candles factory and the big arts and crafts market in the Ezulwini Valley and drive past the National Stadium and the parliament buildings on our way to Manzini, the country's industrial centre. We drive further past Big Bend with the country's largest sugar plantations to the South African border. We continue to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park game reserve and arrive late afternoon at our overnight stop - Hilltop Camp. Here we join a late afternoon/early night game drive on open safari vehicles equipped with high powered spotlights to search for the shy nocturnal animals. (B) (D)
Day 6 - Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park – Lake St Lucia - Durban
After an early breakfast we do our final game drive before travelling to the village of St Lucia. Here we join a boat cruise of the famous Lake St Lucia, a paradise with bird species such as fish eagle, Goliath heron and many more. Your guide will show you the world of the hippo and the crocodile and the other mystic inhabitants of the "deep". After this unforgettable experience we travel to Durban, South Africa’s holiday mecca. (B)
Day 7 - Durban
Durban is an intriguing cultural blend of East, West and Africa, which with its endless summer climate, effervescent and lukewarm ocean lined with golden beaches, offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere all year round. Our tour of this bustling metropolis, often called the cultural 'melting pot' of South Africa, includes a drive through the sports corridor with its impressive sporting facilities to the Blue Lagoon area on the Umgeni River where you get a panoramic view of the whole bay of Durban. Then past the so-called Apartheid Beaches, the Marine Parade (Golden Mile) where you will see the rickshaws, en route to the impressive developments at the new Point Waterfront area. We drive past the busiest harbour in Africa and various historical monuments, and then through the city centre where the second railway station, the City Hall and the Post Office buildings each have a story to tell. We stop at the Indian Market where you get a glimpse into the Indian culture and bargain for souvenirs and spices. Our last visit is to the Botanical Gardens with its extensive collection of trees and plants from all over the world, as well as a famous cycad collection and orchid garden. You have the option of being dropped off at the end of the tour at the Ushaka Marine world with its world-class aquarium, and many shops and restaurants. Return to your hotel with our bus or spend the rest of the afternoon here and take a taxi back to the hotel. (B)
Day 8 - Durban - Port Elizabeth - Garden Route - Plettenberg Bay/Knysna
An early transfer to the local airport for a flight to Port Elizabeth where our tour begins. Depart Port Elizabeth at 09h00. Our first stop is Storms River with the impressive Paul Sauer Bridge across the valley towering some 139 metres above the river. We visit the Tsitsikamma National Park (Khoisan for 'The place of much water' stretching over 100 kilometres of wild and rocky coastline characterised by massive cliffs, narrow isolated beaches and shady indigenous forests along the river valleys. Then we traverse through magnificently scenic river valley passes to Plettenberg Bay for a short visit. Continue to Knysna. We join a sundowner cruise on the lagoon. Overnight at Fish Eagle Lodge or similar. (B) (D)
Day 9 - Knysna - George - Oudtshoorn
Spend the morning in Knysna visiting the “Heads” etc. Knysna also offers shopping opportunities of unusual locally made art and craft, etc. This afternoon we board the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Train, an antique steam train, to George, a unique way to experience some of the most magical views on the Garden Route and Wilderness National Park. We travel over the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo where we overnight at La Plume Guest House. (B) (D)
Day 10 - George - Oudtshoorn - Mossel Bay
After breakfast we visit an Ostrich Show Farm for some unique experiences including ostrich racing. A ride on a back of an ostrich is not for the fainthearted. We visit the Cango caves, regarded as one of South Africa's foremost natural wonders. The fascinating calcite caves comprises an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. Visit Oudtshoorn, also called the "Feather capital" of the world, as over ninety percent of the world's ostrich farms are found here. Continue to Mossel Bay for overnight. (B) (D)
Day 11 - Mossel Bay - Hermanus - Cape Town
We visit arguably the oldest post office in Africa, the Post Office Tree and the site of the first landfall, made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. Continue to Hermanus, the best place in the World to spot Whales from land – (July to Dec). After lunch depart for Cape Town via the beautiful coastal route between Hermanus and Gordon’s Bay, arriving late afternoon. (B)
NOTE:
We run a multiple of tours throughout the country covering all interests and areas. Please let us know if you want additional tours to this one or lengthen your stay in exotic places such as Cape Town, Durban or perhaps a private reserve or a luxury lodge on a deserted sub-tropical beach – luxury with an abundance of wildlife in rural Africa!
You are also able to choose your type of accommodation in the cities to suit your budget or style.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The rate is valid November 2009 - October 2010 and includes luxury accommodation (4 star type small hotels and lodges), full breakfasts, dinners while on tour, all entrances mentioned, safaris, boat rides, touring in luxury, air-conditioned eight seater microbuses.
It excludes lunches, the dinners in Durban so one can explore the variety of restaurants on offer, personal insurances, gratuities and personal costs such as laundry, telephone, etc.
The rate is valid until end October 2009. From November a 10 percent increase is likely. Kids pay less 50 percent if travelling with both paying parents subject to availability.
The flight between Durban and Port Elizabeth is not included as your international flight may include a local leg. If not, please request that we include it into the tour for around US$120 per person subject to the rate at the time of booking.
NOTE: The rates are ultimately in South African Rand (ZAR) and the US Dollar rate may be subject to currency fluctuations.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Swaziland
Nature & Wildlife
Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
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