South Africa
Adventurer
If you are looking to explore South Africa on a trip that fuses natural beauty, culture, and history of the particular region, then this tour is the perfect introduction for you.
South Africa Adventurer starts in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town and ends in the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg. Throughout this exciting journey you will discover all of South Africa from the Garden Route to Kruger National Park through Zululand, the vineyards, the Blyde River Canyon and the desert of the Little Karoo.
Finishing this all off, from the vibrant cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg to the historic Soweto townships you can expect some interesting glimpses into local life between the destinations, seeing the historic sites and tasting amazing food and wines. Whether you bathe in the serenity of the bush or get your fulfillment from the cultural activities on offer, Be sure, this trip has it all!
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Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Cape Town!
You will make your first steps on South African soil in the beautiful city of Cape Town!A friendly and welcoming face of your Tour Leader will await you and assist with your luggage before driving you off to your Guest House.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you will check in and receive your room assignment. Depending on where we stay, our hotel may include amenities such as an outdoor pool, spa, and on-site restaurant. Typical rooms feature a TV, wireless Internet, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and a private bath.
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Accommodation: Antrim Villa Guest House
Meal Plan: Own Account
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Evening: You are free to retire early tonight to rest after your flight journey. Or, you may choose to chat with your fellow travelers about the adventure that awaits us.
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Day 2: Discover the best of Cape Town!
Cape Town is known as the one of the most beautiful cities in the World! Today, it will be up to you how you will spend the day! How about taking a cable car and ascending to the top of Table Mountain? The floor of the cable car rotates through 360 degrees during the ascent or descent, giving passengers a panoramic view of the city.
You can also visit the following sites depending on your area of interests - the National Museum of South Africa, the Company 's Gardens, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the colorful Bo-Kaap district, the African Craft Market of Green Market Square, the Castle of Good Hope and many more exciting sites!
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Accommodation: Antrim Villa Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1
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Evening: After a day of getting familiar with Cape Town, you will return to your comfortable hotel in the city center.
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Day 3: Choose your own adventure in Cape Town!
After breakfast, you will have the whole day to explore Cape Peninsula and the legendary Cape of Good. Depending on your interests, you can visit several tourist and nature attractions. The village of Hout Bay is home to craft markets, unique shops, a beautiful beach, a thriving fishing community, thousands of Cape Fur Seals and local birdlife.
You can proceed to enjoy the twists and turns around the famous Chapman’s Peak scenic drive. You can enter the Cape Point Nature Reserve to reach the tip of the Cape Peninsula and enjoy a dramatic viewpoint of the nature reserve.
After leaving Cape Point Nature Reserve travel up the other side of the Cape Peninsula to Simon’s Town, an important naval base and harbor, and Boulder’s beach, home to a colony of African Jackass penguins.
A seafood meal in this area is highly recommended before spending the night at Antrim Villa Guest House.
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Accommodation: Antrim Villa Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out a performance of traditional African drumming.
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Day 4: Try the best South African wines!
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel you will enjoy a full day of exploring the Cape Winelands. You will depart to Stellenbosch, a university town in the beautiful wine region of the Western Cape. The oldest city after Cape Town is beautifully maintained with typical Cape-Dutch style buildings (the name given to the Cape architecture inspired by the Dutch). You will visit the wineries and taste wines including the Pinotage, a typical South African grape, a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault.
Next, you will have the opportunity to visit the village of Franschhoek, the South African gourmet capital, located in one of the most beautiful valleys in the country. In the evening, you will return to your guest house Basse Provence located in a winery.
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Accommodation: Basse Provence Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out a waterhole with colleagues and share stories.
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Day 5: Off to Oudtshoorn!
In the morning you will depart to the semi-desert region of Karoo! You will take the longest wine route in the world: the R62. You will cross the vineyards of the Western Cape and Little Karoo along this scenic road that winds through mountain passes and natural reserves. There are plenty of exciting villages that you can visit while traveling such as Calitzdorp, famous for its muscat and port wines, or Ladysmith where you will find a Parmalat cheese factory.
If you arrive early at Oudtshoorn, you will have the opportunity to visit the ostrich breeding farm of Safari or even discover the Cango Caves with their magnificent geological formations!
In the evening, enjoy dinner at De Denne Country Guest House, an ostrich working farm on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn.
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Accommodation: De Denne Country Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will chat with your colleagues about the vegetation of Oudtshoorn.
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Day 6: The seaside village of Knysna
Rise and shine! In the morning drive to the town of Knysna, a seaside village that is renowned for its lagoon and estuary leading to the Indian Ocean.
You will have the option to go for a boat ride across the lagoon to "The Heads", better known as the river mouth that separates the estuary from the ocean.
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Accommodation: Stannards Guest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast x1, Lunch x1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out a live band in the town of Knysna.
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Day 7: Enjoy the beauty of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay
Today is a day dedicated to visiting Knysna and Plettenberg Bay in the heart of the Garden Route. You will have plenty of activities for the day! How about going for a boat ride across the lagoon to "The Heads," the estuary between the lagoon and the ocean? A visit to the Knysna Elephant Park? Or why not a stroll around Birds of Eden, a bird sanctuary which is one of the largest aviaries in the world with hundreds of bird species.
A visit to the primate sanctuary of Monkeyland is not to be missed as well as a hike to the heart of the Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay. You can also pay a visit to the winery Bramon in the Crags for a wine tasting or even a lunch. The restaurant tables are in the vineyards which makes the atmosphere quite romantic.
At the end of the day full of activities, you will enjoy a relaxing night at your comfortable lodge.
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Accommodation: Stannards Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out and share photos of the Garden Route with your colleagues.
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Day 8: Head to the Durban North Coast
This morning, you will embark on a 4x4 game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. This 96 000 hectare reserve is the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa and boasts a wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. The reserve is well-known for its black and white rhino conservation efforts and is also well stocked with a variety of antelope species.
This picturesque reserve has a number of excellent viewing hides that overlook the watering holes, allowing visitors the opportunity of close-up wildlife viewing.
Then, you will take in the beat of Zulu drums at the DumaZulu Cultural Village. Experience the rhythmic drumbeat and dance of Africa, taste Zulu beer, and discover the rich cultural significance of the tribe's famous beadwork, weaving and pottery at this informative and authentic cultural village in Hluhluwe.In the morning, you will drive to the George Airport to catch a flight to Durban and drive iSimangaliso National Park. The iSimangaliso National Park contains three major lakes, eight different ecosystems, the largest estuary in Africa, 526 birds species and the highest coastal dunes in the world!
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Accommodation: The Saffron House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time.
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Day 9: Discover the Majesty of Lavuisma
Embrace eco-tourism on a guided nature and wildlife walk at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve may be small but is considered a pioneer conservation area where diverse habitats support a surprisingly extensive species list. Due to the relative absence of dangerous game, the sanctuary is ideal for walking safaris, where visitors can pass by herds of grazing antelope and soak up the distant views of the Nyonyane Mountain.
Then, admiring the contrasting landscape of Lavumisa while traversing Swaziland. Near the southern border post of Lavumisa, the Lubombo Mountains loom majestically in the near distance. This sweeping mountain range covers practically the entire eastern side of the country and forms the natural border between Swaziland and Mozambique.
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Accommodation: Falaza Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: You are free to chat with fellow travelers about favorite moments from our adventure thus far.
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Day 10: Bathe in the Culture of Swaziland
Today, you will visit Matsamo Cultural Park, an educational cultural village offering visitors an introduction to the Swazi people, their culture and traditions.
The tour combines singing and dancing shows with an educational experience, highlighting the differences between Swazi and Western lifestyles and revealing why these differences have come about.
First, you will traverse the mountains towards Piggs Peak, whose beautiful mountainous landscape is filled with sparkling waterfalls, three of the highest peaks in the Kingdom of Swaziland, Bushmen paintings, nature reserves, and picturesque indigenous bushland.
You day stop is the Ngwenya Glass Factory where you can see glassware masters at work. The village is also home to numerous other arts and crafts outlets, restaurants, cafés, and a children’s playground area, making for an ideal family outing.
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Accommodation: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1, Lunch x 1, Dinner x 1
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Evening: You are free to ask your Tour Leader for more insight into the relationship between South Africa and Eswatini, or chat with fellow travelers about favorite moments from our adventure thus far.
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Day 11: Catch a Glimpse of the Big Five on Your First Safari
This morning you will drive off to Hoedspruit and heading to Nambu Camp, located in the Big Five Balule Private Game Reserve in the heart of the Greater Kruger area.
Go on your first safari in the late afternoon, where you will have your first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Big Five: lions roaring; elephants trumpeting, buffalos lurking in long grass, rhinos standing stately under a thorn tree, and leopards prowling in the gathering darkness.
You have seen the Big Five in books and you have seen them on TV, but it’s time to come and see the real thing for yourself!
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Accommodation: Nambu Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast x1, Lunch x1, Dinner x1
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Evening: On your own. You are free to join your fellow travellers and compare favorite photographs from the day’s events, or quietly contemplate the view of the African night sky up above.
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Day 12: Go on an Early Morning Safari
This morning you will be waking up at the crack of dawn to go on your first early morning safari. As the sun rises, you will be heading out to see animals coming out to get water, eat vegetation, and go on the hunt before it gets too hot!
After this, you will be able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and explore the camp a bit. During the heat of the day, relax by the camp’s poolside or bird watch from the lodge’s vast viewing platform overlooking a bustling waterhole, winding dry riverbed, and the Balule Reserve's undulating landscape.
In the late afternoon, you will go on your second safari drive of the day and have the opportunity to see the animals in the twilight.
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Accommodation: Nambu Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast x1, Lunch x1, Dinner x1
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Evening: Wrap up a fabulous day relaxing with evening canapes, sunset drinks and a lovely evening meal.
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Day 13: Immerse Yourself in the African Bush at Hazyview
This morning, you will enjoy your last game viewing and return to your lodge for brunch and then your head off to Hazyview for afternoon activities. From many well-positioned vantage points along the way, you can view the 33 km long gorge, which starts at Bourkes Luck Potholes and ends at the Three Rondavels. Be awed by the beautiful view of the surrounding landscapes during the transfer.
Upon arrival at your hotel in Hazyview, check-in and freshen up before a delicious dinner.
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Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast x1, Lunch x1, Dinner x1
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Evening: Settle into the comfort of the lodge and relax. Enjoy the amenities and bathe in the silence of the environment.
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Day 14: Johannesburg – Mandela’s Home and Legacy in Soweto
After breakfast, proceed to Liliesleaf Farm. The headquarters of the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), Liliesleaf Farm was used in secret by Nelson Mandela and ANC activists during the struggle. In July 1963, a police raid led to the arrest of a number of ANC figures, and to the subsequent Rivonia Treason Trial.
After Liliesleaf Farm, continue to Soweto. Famed as the site of the Soweto Uprising where, in 1976, police opened fire on some 10 000 students who marched in protest of the apartheid government’s policy to enforce Afrikaans and replace native languages in the education system. In Soweto, visit Nelson Mandela House on Vilakazi Street, where the former President lived with his family, pay tribute to the Soweto Uprising victims at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, created to commemorate the life of a teenager shot and killed during the riots, and finally, visit the Regina Mundi Church.
We will enjoy an intimate meeting with a relative of Hector Pietersen. In 1976, the young boy was shot and killed by police during a protest, becoming an iconic image of the struggle for equality. We will engage in a candid conversation with this member of Pietersen’s family adding a personal (and especially poignant) angle to the complex and controversial history of apartheid and finally, visit the Regina Mundi Church. We will depart Soweto by bus around 3pm, arriving at our hotel about an hour later.
Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out a performance of traditional African drumming.
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Accommodation: Sun Rock Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast x 1
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Evening: On your own. Your Tour Leader is happy to provide recommendations on how you can spend this free time. Perhaps you will seek out a performance of traditional African drumming.
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Day 15: Say Farewell to City of Gold!
All good things must come to an end but we hope you have enjoyed your time exploring the very best that this region of South Africa has to offer. The comfort of its lodgings and the majesty of its natural beauty as well as the people and their hospitality that make the country that it is.
At an arranged time you will be transferred from your hotel to OR Tambo International Airport for your flight back home.
We hope you have had a memorable trip and wish you pleasant onward travels!
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Meal Plan: Breakfast
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Price & Inclusions
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Option 1 From $ 2,030 /person
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Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.
Price Includes
Accommodation in one double room for 15 days / 14 nights. Meals as indicated
Economy flights for all sectors:
George – Durban
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All activities as listed:
Oudsthoorn: De Denne Country Guest House: Ostrich farm, Cango Cave
Capetown: Antrim Villa Guest House: Wine tasting
Knysna: Stannards Guest House: wine tasting
Hluhluwe Game Reserve: The Saffron House: Game drives, boat safaris, DumaZulu Cultural Village
Hayzview: Nkambeni Safari Lodge: The Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Kruger National Park: Nambu Camp: Game drives, bush walks
Johannesburg: Sun Rock Guest House: Mandela’s Legacy Tour & Soweto Township
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South Africa: Game drives in high quality and well maintained safari vehicle with professional English-speaking driver guide. Game drives may be shared with other guests of the lodge/camp, with maximum of 9 guests in the vehicle.
Swaziland: All national park and conservation fees as per your itinerary.
