KYM13J: Kruger Park + Durban + Garden Route + Cape Town

SMALL GROUP TOUR

Day 1

You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred to your hotel, conveniently situated near numerous outdoor restaurants.

In the afternoon enjoy a half-day Johannesburg City Tour including the downtown historical buildings and the arty suburb of Melville. Return to your hotel via the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia and the suburb of Rosebank.

Day 2

This morning you will be collected from your hotel around 07h30 for your small group tour of South Africa – travelling to the world famous Kruger National Park and through the kingdoms of Swaziland and Zululand to Durban, continuing along the beautiful Garden Route to Cape Town.

Depart from Johannesburg and travel to the “Province of the Rising Sun”, Mpumalanga, via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg. Travel over the famous Long Tom Pass on to the small town of Sabie. Visit the Lone Creek Waterfall before arriving at your elegant hideaway. Enjoy a delectable dinner that can only be described as a culinary masterpiece!

Day 3

After breakfast, visit the Mac Mac Waterfalls. Pay a short visit to the historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest, where the richest alluvial gold deposits in South Africa were discovered in 1873.

Continue exploring the Panorama Route featuring the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God's Window and various waterfalls.

Continue to your Mpumalanga private game lodge near the Kruger National Park. Arrive in time for afternoon tea, followed by your evening game drive in an open safari vehicle. Return to the lodge for an array of eclectic cuisine.

Day 4

Early morning Game Drive followed by breakfast.

Enter the world famous Kruger National Park, established in 1898, at Orpen Gate. This National Park spans over two million hectares in unrivalled diversity of flora and fauna. Spend the day looking for the Big-5, general game & prolific bird life.

After a late afternoon arrival at your hotel, relax and enjoy dinner in the elegant dining room.

Day 5

After breakfast, travel via Nelspruit to the Kingdom of Swaziland. Drive through north eastern Swaziland along the Lebombo Mountains.

Leave Swaziland and continue via the town of Pongola to your Zululand private game reserve, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner is served in the Boma under the African sky (weather permitting).

Day 6

After an early safari in the famous Hluhluwe Game Reserve followed by breakfast, visit St Lucia, a World Heritage Site and enjoy a river cruise on the estuary. Here you may see pelicans, fish eagles, hippos and crocodiles.

After driving through sugar cane plantations along the Indian Ocean seaboard, we arrive in the small beach resort of Umhlanga some 30-minutes from the bustling city of Durban.

Day 7

Day at leisure in Umhlanga, with optional full day tour of Shakaland (supplement payable locally)

Depart Durban and travel to Eshowe and the authentic Zulu Kraal of Shakaland. Feel the pulsating rhythm of Africa as you re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulus. Experience the sight of assegai wielding warriors, share the fascinating secrets of Sangomas and witness traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear making and the beer making ceremony. Traditional Zulu lunch will be served.

Day 8

Transfer to Durban Airport for your 1-hour flight to Port Elizabeth.

You will be met at Port Elizabeth Airport and transferred to your beachfront hotel.

Day 9

Departing Port Elizabeth, enter the Garden Route via the high forests of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Attractions to be visited through the Tsitsikamma Forest area include the Big Tree. Remember to keep an eye out for the rare Knysna Loerie.

Gaze in awe at the scenery whilst crossing the bridge over the Storms River where photographic opportunities abound. Continue via the “millionaires' playground” of Plettenberg Bay to South Africa’s oyster capital of Knysna.

After a short refreshment stop at Knysna’s East Head, we continue via Sedgefield to the quaint seaside village of Wilderness. Apart from the hotel restaurant, there are several good restaurants within walking distance.

Day 10

From our hotel in Wilderness, we travel to Knysna to embark on the Featherbed Nature Reserve ferry from the Knysna Waterfront. On arrival we take a “Unimog” (tractor-driven wagon) ride to the top of the Western Head. An optional hike can be taken through the indigenous Knysna forest to the restaurant area, where lunch is served.

On our return to Knysna we depart for an elephant experience, where we are able to enjoy a very close encounter with these gigantic mammals. Finally we take the scenic drive back to Wilderness for drop off at your hotel.

Day 11

Experience the stunning views of the Outeniqua Pass as we travel towards the capital of the Klein Karoo – Oudtshoorn. Here we visit the Safari Ostrich Ranch where we are given fun and detailed information about these strange flightless birds and their magnificent plumage.

After enjoying a traditional ostrich lunch, we proceed to the world famous Cango Caves where a guided tour allows us to explore the ancient stalagmites and stalactites.

We are then introduced to some rare and endangered animals on a fully guided tour at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. The day concludes with a scenic drive back to Wilderness for drop off at your hotel.

Day 12

After a sumptuous breakfast, our journey to Cape Town begins. After a visit to Mossel Bay, we travel over the majestic Tradouw’s Pass toward Barrydale. Enjoy a wine tasting, followed by a traditional South African lunch in a typical country restaurant in Barrydale.

Continuing through the Little Karoo we drive through Montagu, a quaint country village. After leaving we traverse Kogmanskloof Pass through to the town of Robertson and then on to Worcester. We continue over the Du Toit’s Kloof Pass with stunning views over the Paarl Valley to Cape Town where the tour ends with drop off at your hotel, conveniently situated near the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 13

This morning you will be collected from your hotel around 08h00 for your full day Cape Highlights tour, travelling via Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive (subject to the road being open) to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. After enjoying stunning views from the highest point, continue towards Simonstown and Muizenberg.

In the afternoon we sample some South Africa’s fine wines at a local Wine Estate. Travel through the university town of Stellenbosch before returning to your hotel in the early evening.

Day 14

At leisure in the beautiful city of Cape Town.

You will be given a day pass for the convenient red Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and beaches. Start by ascending Table Mountain by cable car (optional) to enjoy one of the world’s most famous views. Continue to Camps Bay beach and then explore the shops and many other attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which is also the centre of Cape Town’s nightlife.

Transfer to Cape Town Airport for your homebound flight.

Travel times and stops may vary depending on the interests of fellow guests.
On day excursions, group sizes may increase to up to 40 guests