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South Africa Wildflower Tours: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens + Karoo + Harold Porter Holidays

South Africa's Botanical Gardens + Namaqualand

South Africa Wildflower Holidays Tours Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

16 NIGHTS FROM:

$2,524

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

SRTT16J

• South Africa Wildflower Tours

• Upington

• Namaqualand Wildflowers

• Cape Town

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

• Karoo National Park

• Harold Porter Gardens

• Hermanus

• Big Five Safari Holidays

• Johannesburg & Pretoria Gardens

Explore the floral kingdom of South Africa on one of our tailor-made botanical & wildflower tours & holidays: part private tours & part self drive. In season (late July to mid Sep), start with a private tour to view the spectacular wildflowers of Namaqualand. Then fly to Cape Town to visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Harold Porter (fynbos) & Karoo National Park (succulents). Finally visit the botanical gardens in Johannesburg & Pretoria. A Big Five safari is also included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Johannesburg Airport by your guide, who will introduce you to the vast open spaces of South Africa on your 8-hour transfer to the small town of Upington - the gateway to the Kalahari.

Check in and relax under warm blue South African skies.

Day 2

This morning we leave Augrabies and drive 3.5-hours to the small town of Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand (picnic lunch included).

As we approach Springbok at certain times of the year you can see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region.

Day 3

We spend today exploring the wildflowers of Namaqualand.

During wildflower season (late July to mid September, although this does depend on the rainfall) we visit Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as regions such as Kamieskroon or Nababeep depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best, with picnic lunch included.

On one day we can take a full day excursion to Namaqua National Park and surrounding area. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight.

Namaqualand forms part of the Succulent Karoo Biome, and the rocky hillsides and open flats are also home to the greatest diversity of succulents in the world.

At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. You can learn more about their culture by adapting your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.

Each evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.

Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.

Day 4

This morning we depart from Springbok and travel 3-hours through the Kalahari to Augrabies Falls.

At Augrabies Falls - "the Place of Great Noise” - the mighty Orange River dramatically crashes over the rim of a granite canyon during the summer flood, to plunge 270 ft into the gorge below, forming South Africa’s largest waterfall and the sixth largest in the world.

Check in and view Augrabies Falls, where conditions for photography are excellent. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable air-conditioned self-catering chalets, with your guide having an allowance to purchase breakfast in the camp restaurant each day. In the late afternoon enjoy a short drive in the park, where you may see giraffe, eland, and other smaller antelope.

Day 5

Transfer 1.5-hours to Upington Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 6

Today is free for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.

To orientate yourself, we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus, but we recommend buying a Fast Track ticket online to avoid the queues). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.

Continue to trendy Camps Bay beach and the many attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (pay all entrance fees locally).

Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.

Day 7

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel.

Afterwards drive to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, regarded as one the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world, nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain (pay entrance fee locally).

Bequeathed to the nation by Cecil John Rhodes, the garden was established 1913. There is an avenue of camphor trees, useful plants garden, sculpture garden and a dell garden, as well as a world class collection of indigenous South African flora - including a beautiful protea and fynbos garden. A walk in these gardens could also reward you with sightings of some fynbos endemic birds - such as the Orange-breasted sunbird, the Cape siskin and the Cape sugarbird.

Day 8

Today drive 2-hours from Cape Town through spectacular semi-desert scenery to Karoo Desert Botanical Garden situated near the small town of Worcester (pay entrance fee locally).

The Karoo National Botanical Garden is set in magnificent surroundings at the foot of the Hex River Mountains. The only true succulent garden in the southern hemisphere, it showcases hardy plants from the arid regions of South Africa - including tree aloes, euphorbias, wild grapes, botterboom with its papery bark, thorny Karoo acacia trees and a great variety of smaller species. The gardens offer a kaleidocscope of colour from August to mid-October, when Namaqualand daisies and vygies provide a dazzling display.

At the end of the day drive back to Cape Town.

Day 9

Today we recommend spending the day exploring the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula (pay all entrance fees locally).

Drive past the sparkling beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno to Hout Bay, the heart of the local crayfish industry. Here you can join an optional cruise to Seal Island to view Cape Fur seals (pay locally).

Then continue via spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to enjoy the rugged beauty of this spectacular coastline, with its diverse fauna and flora. Established in 1936 to preserve the indigenous flora of the Cape Peninsula, this 7,750 hectare reserve showcases the diversity in the Cape Floral Kingdom, including the protea, erica and restio families. The fauna of the reserve include eland, Burchell’s zebra, bontebok, Chacma baboon and many smaller mammals and reptiles, as well as over 250 bird species. You may even see dolphins or whales in season (July to November).

On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town to visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach, before returning to Cape Town.

Day 10

Drive 2-hours from the Cape Peninsula along the scenic coastal route through Gordon’s Bay and along the False Bay coast to the small seaside town of Hermanus.

Along the way we suggest stopping at the Stoney Point Penguin Colony in the small coastal town of Bettys Bay. You may also want to visit Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, renowned for its birdlife and fynbos flowers. The walk through the gorge and down to the waterfall is particularly rewarding (pay all entrance fees locally).

Continue to Hermanus and check into your hotel. From July to November, southern right and humpback whales come here to breed and this is considered the best location for land-based Whale Watching in the world. Once severely endangered, these magnificent creatures of the deep are now breeding successfully in the area due to a major international conservation effort.

Day 11

In season, this morning we suggest driving to Hermanus harbour for an optional Whale Watching boat ride, to get up close to these magnificent creatures of the deep (pay locally - weather permitting).

Afterwards you can explore this small town on foot, with its open-air craft market in season and coastal path with indigenous fynbos and bird life. There is a small beach at the foot of the cliffs, with steep access.

Note: If you take the optional whale watching boat ride, wear a jacket as it can get cold on the boat and take a sun hat, sun glasses, binoculars, sunscreen, camera & small towel. Take your own snacks & drinks. You will be on the water for several hours in seas that can be rough, so if you are not a good sailor remember to take preventative travel sickness tablets well in advance.

Day 12

Drive 2-hours to Cape Town Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred 2-hours through the rural North West Transvaal to the malaria-free Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

After checking into your game lodge, enjoy your first game drive in an open-top game viewing vehicle in this superb Big Five game reserve situated inside an extinct volcano. Hopefully see elephants, lions, antelope and a wide variety of other wildlife, before enjoying dinner in your warm African surroundings.

Day 13

Today is devoted to game viewing in Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

Rise early when game viewing conditions are at their best, for a shared open-top game drive. Hope to see several of the Big 5 - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as many other animals before returning to your lodge for breakfast.

The rest of the morning is free to relax at your lodge or visit nearby Sun City, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. Hope to see hippo, kudu, antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting species. Outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed.

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Day 14

Enjoy a final early morning game drive in Pilanesberg Game Reserve before your 2-hour transfer to the thriving city of Johannesburg.

Check into your hotel in the 'City of Gold'.

Day 15

Today you will be transferred 45-minutes to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Krugersdorp, where you will be dropped off for the day (pay entrance fee locally).

The area around the Witpoortjie Falls forms the backdrop to the Botanical Gardens, which consist of 30 hectares of landscaped garden and 270 hectares of natural rocky highveld grasslands. The gardens feature a waterwise garden, a cycad garden, succulent rockery, fern garden and arboretum. There is also a breeding pair of black eagles in the cliffs above the waterfall. The best time to visit the garden is late September to February when the flowering shrubs are in bloom. Lunch is for your own account today.

At the agreed time you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 16

Today you will be transferred 1-hour to Pretoria Botanical Gardens, the headquarters of the South African National Botanical Institute, where you will be dropped off for the day (pay entrance fee locally).

These beautiful gardens are divided in two sections by a high quartzite rocky outcrop, with the colder south-facing aspect and warmer north-facing aspect supporting quite different flora. The 50 hectares of developed garden are devoted entirely to South African plants, including savanna, forest and fynbos biomes. Lunch is for your own account today.

At the agreed time you will be transferred back to Johannesburg, stopping along the way to visit the impressive Voortrekker Monument.

Day 17

Transfer to Johannesburg Airport for your flight home.

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