South Africa Highlights
Itinerary Self-drive tour Proposal
Cape Town – Cape Peninsula – Wine Farm – Table Mountain – Cango Caves – Ostrich Farm – Garden Route – Tsitsikamma National Park – Addo Elephant Park – Graaf Reinet – Lesotho (hiking and pony riding) – Drakensberg – Durban – Zulu village Simunye – St. Lucia Wetlands Park – Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve – Swaziland – Kruger National Park – Panorama Route – Private Game Reserve Edeni – Pretoria – Johannesburg Airport
Day 1
Cape Town
Pick up car at Cape Town Airport. Do a City tour and travel to Bloubergstrand from where you have a panoramic view of Table Mountain, Lions Head and Cape Town with its harbour. The rest of the day you might want to relax at the pool or visit the V&A Waterfront. Here you will find a flea market, take a boat-cruise, do some shopping and/or eat in one of the many restaurants.
Overnight in a guesthouse in Cape Town. B&B
Day 2
Cape Peninsula – Chapman's Peak Drive – Camps Bay – Clifton – Seapoint
Today you could visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful Botanical Gardens in the world. Continue via Fishhoek to Simonstown where you could visit a penguin colony. Thereafter drive to Cape Point and "Cape of Good Hope", the most Southwesterly point of Africa. From here travel along Chapman's Peak Drive with its prominent cliff face on the opposite side of Hout Bay, pass the popular beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Sea Point.
Overnight as per previous day. B&B
Day 3
Table Mountain and Winelands
Weather permitting, you will make a cable car trip to the top of Table Mountain from where you have a breathtaking view of "Lions Head", "Signal Hill", the harbour and City of Cape Town. Thereafter visit a wine estate where you could undertake a guided cellar tour including wine tasting. Travel to the historical towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. In the evening drive on top of "Signal Hill" for a fascinating view of "Cape Town by night".
Overnight as per previous day. B&B
Day 4
Cape Town – Swartberg Pass – Oudtshoorn
Early morning travel to Matjiesfontein, a small historical town, which features in a number of South African movies. After a short break continue your trip via Prince Albert and travel over one of South Africa's most scenic passes, the "Swartberg Pass" (weather permitting). This winding, steep road connects the Great Karoo with the Klein-Karoo. At Oudtshoorn do a guided tour through the Cango Caves – one of nature's great wonders of the world.
Overnight on a guestfarm in Oudtshoorn. B&B
Day 5
Oudtshoorn – Garden Route
This morning visit an Ostrich farm where you will have a guided tour and learn more about the largest bird in the world. You could ride on an ostrich, if you have the courage! Then drive via the beautiful Outeniqua Pass to George from where you could take the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe train to Sedgefield. A driver will pick you up on arrival (to be booked in advance) and bring you back to your car. Proceed to Knysna, which is a well-known holiday town, situated on a lagoon. At the narrow opening to the Indian Ocean you will find the famous "Knysna Heads" – two sandstone formations. From their top you can savour the view of Knysna with its lagoon.
Overnight in a guesthouse in Knysna. B&B
Day 6
Garden Route
Do an excursion to the "Featherbed Nature Reserve". A boat will take you via the lagoon to this Nature Reserve, where you will travel in an UNIMOG vehicle with trailers to the viewpoint on top of the Western Head. Walk back the approx. 2,2 km long "Bushbuck Trail" towards the pick-up point. The boat will take you back to Knysna and you might want to continue to Plettenberg Bay. Hike for 1 to 3 hours in the Robberg Nature Reserve depending on your fitness. During the Whale season (July to November) an optional boat trip for whale watching may be booked in advance.
Overnight as per previous day. B&B
Day 7
Tsitsikamma National Park
Today continue your journey via Nature's Valley and the Bloukrans Pass to the "Storms River Mouth" in the Tsitsikamma National Park. You pass kilometer long beaches and tall yellowwood trees. In the Tsitsikamma Nationalpark walk (approx. 20 min.) to the suspension bridge. En-route you have great views of the ocean, the cliffs and the forest.
Overnight in the Tsitsikamma Nationalpark.
Day 8
Tsitsikamma National Park – Graaff-Reinet
After breakfast travel through the Great Karoo to Graaff Reinet, which is also known as the "Gem" of the Karoo. The town was founded in 1786 and is now surrounded by a 15 000 ha Nature Reserve. It also has more than 200 protected historical buildings. A few of the most beautiful and interesting buildings are situated within 500 m of the town's center. After a stroll through the town drive to the viewpoint of the "Valley of Desolation". From here you will see the more than a million years old 100 m high stone columns that have been marked by erosion. Graaff Reinet itself is 500 m below you.
Overnight in a historical guesthouse in Graaff Reinet. B&B
Day 9
Graaff-Reinet – Malealea (Lesotho)
Today leave South Africa and cross the border into the Kingdom of Lesotho at Wepener. Here you can still experience the original Africa. After arrival in Malealea a child will take you to the nearby village so that you can learn something about the life of the people of Lesotho. Towards the evening a choir of children will sing and dance.
Overnight in the rustic Malealea Lodge, surrounded by mountains. DB&B
Day 10
Malealea (Lesotho)
Early morning you may want to undertake a 4-hour hike through the Pitseng Gorge where you have the opportunity to swim in natural pools. Pony rides can be arranged with the lodge. Accompanied by a local guide, you would ride through rivers and gorges in the middle of this beautiful mountain scenery and view bushman paintings or the Botsoela Waterfall. If you do not dare to ride or make such a long hike, you may make a shorter guided walk, relax at the lodge or drive to the Botsoela Waterfall.
Overnight as per previous day. DB&B
Day 11
Malealea (Lesotho) – Golden Gate National Park – Royal Natal National Park
Today you re-enter South Africa via Lesotho's capital Maseru and travel via the Golden Gate Pass (2034 m) and the Oliviershoek Pass to the Royal Natal National Park.
In the afternoon you reach one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world with many mountain peaks being more than 3000 m high.
Overnight in a thatch-roof chalet at "Thendele" Camp in the Royal National Park.
Day 12
Hiking in the Royal Natal National Park
A 4 to 5 hour hike will take you into the deep gorge of the Tugela river. It is an unforgettable experience with opportunities to swim in one of the natural pools. Of course there are shorter, also beautiful, hiking trails for those who do not care for long walks.
Overnight as per previous day.
Day 13
Drakensberg – Howick Waterfalls – Durban
After having left the Drakensberg you drive through hilly grasslands in the direction of Durban. At Howick make a short stop for viewing the 95 m high Howick Waterfalls. The climate in Durban is subtropical because of the warm Mozambique Agulhas stream that keeps the water of the Indian Ocean warm the whole year through. Make a short sightseeing tour of Durban including the Indian Market.
Overnight in a guesthouse in Umhlanga Rocks north of Durban. B&B
Day 14
Umhlanga Rocks – holiday paradise
Umhlanga Rocks has many shops and fish restaurant and caters for all tastes. You might want to walk along the endless white beaches, swim in the ocean or take a stroll through the dune forest at the Umhlanga lagoon.
Overnight as per previous day. B&B
Day 15
Umhlanga Rocks – Zulu Village Simunye
This is one of the highlights of this tour: in the middle of Zululand you will find Simunye, a traditional Zulu Village, hidden amongst Mimosa trees and gigantic Agaves. Simunye is a living museum and cultural centre where you feel transported back in time. The village may only be reached by ox wagon, on horseback or 4x4 vehicle. You will learn something about the building of huts, the traditional clothing, the brewing of beer and the family tree. In the evening the children from nearby villages will perform traditional dances.
Overnight in Simunye. DB&B
Day 16
Simunye – Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve
Your next stop is the 96 453 ha large Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, which was opened on 30th April 1895 and is therefore the oldest game reserve in Africa. Visit the Vulamehlo Craft Market within the National Park. Afterwards drive through the beautiful, hilly to mountainous sub-tropical region and view rhinos, giraffes, elephants, nyala (antelope), etc.
Overnight in the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve. B&B
Day 17
Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve – Kingdom of Swaziland
Leave the National Park and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, which is also known as "Little Switzerland" due to its similar scenery. You might want to buy some curio articles from the hawkers on the side of the street. In the evening you may try your luck in the casino.
Overnight in a small hotel in the Ezulweni Valley. B&B
Day 18
Swaziland – Kruger National Park
Drive from the Ezulweni Valley through Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland. En-route you pass rondavels, traditional huts of the people of Swaziland, embedded in the hillside. You travel through beautiful areas with thick forests and high mountains and will enter the world famous Kruger National Park at Malelane just after lunch. During your afternoon game drive in your car you might see the rare sable antelopes, zebras, kudus or giraffes.
Overnight in a camp in the Kruger National Park.
Day 19
Kruger National Park – Panorama Route – Blydepoort Nature Reserve
With sunrise go on another game drive, as you probably would like to see elephants, gnus, warthogs and waterbuck. With lots of luck you might spot lions, leopards or cheetahs. Leave the park late morning and drive to the restored gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest. After a stroll through the village, continue to God's window, from where you have an absolute magnificent, unobstructed view of the "Lowveld" 1000 m below. A visit to the Bourke's Luck Potholes, one of the stranger results of water erosion, a fantasia of rock shapes and colours, will follow. In the afternoon you will reach the grandiose Blyde River Canyon with its 800 m deep gorge. The view from here is unforgettable.
Overnight in a chalet in the Blydepoort Nature Reserve. B&B
Day 20
Blydepoort – Edeni Private Game Reserve
You might want to do an early morning hike on the "Kadishi Trail" into the gorge below (about 45 minutes). After breakfast travel via the "Abel Erasmus Pass" direction Tzaneen to the Private Game Reserve "Edeni". You will arrive for lunch and can relax at the pool thereafter. In the late afternoon you undertake an approx. 3-hour game drive with a professional ranger and tracker in an open safari vehicle. It is a very exciting feeling to be so close to the game as this is BIG 5 country!
Overnight in the Edeni Private Game Reserve in a luxury bushcamp in Meru tents with inside toilet / shower (separated by a canvas wall). Lights are activated by solar panels. Each of the 14 tents has it's own wooden deck overlooking the Makhutswi river. Full Board + including 2 game drive activities.
Day 21
Edeni Private Game Reserve Blydepoort – Sandton near Johannesburg
With sunrise you will do another 3-hour game drive, hoping to see more of the BIG 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, rhino) or many other game species. After a sumptuous breakfast drive through the town Dullstroom, known for its trout dams via the coal mining towns Middleburg and Witbank to Johannesburg. You will arrive at Sandton in the afternoon.
Overnight in a small hotel or guesthouse in Sandton (approx. 15 km from Johannesburg). B&B
Day 22
Sandton – Airport Johannesburg
You have the opportunity to do a Soweto, Pretoria or Johannesburg City tour. You could also visit the Entertainment Complex "Gold Reef City" or just relax at the swimming pool and re-count the experiences of the tour. You might want to do some last minute shopping at the nearby Sandton City Shopping Center. Drop off the hired car at Johannesburg International Airport in time for your departure.
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