South Africa Holiday with Personal Driver 2024/2025 – Kruger Safari & Garden Route

Day 1 –  Fly to Johannesburg South Africa 

Today you will take direct flight to Johannesburg. 

Day 2 – Arrival into Johannesburg and domestic flight George → Knysna 

You will transit at Johannesburg for the domestic flight George. You have go through passport control and collect your bags and check in to domestic flight. 

Welcome to Rainbow country. You will be welcomed & greeted by your guide or The Earth Trip representative in the waiting area of George Airport. You will travel to your hotel in Knysna. Travel time approximately 50 minutes depend on the traffic.   

The town of George is central to South African Garden Route in the Western Cape province and is the sixth oldest town in South Africa – the first founded under British rule – and was named after the reigning monarch in 1811, King George III. The Outeniqua forests were the reason the Dutch East India Company, in 1776, established a woodcutters outpost on the site of what became George in 1811. 

Rest of the day at leisure in Knysna. 

Knysna is sandwiched between the towering Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. Knysna is a large town often referred to as the ‘Garden of Eden’, surrounded by stunning bays perfect for sailing, boating, and swimming; picturesque beaches and lagoons; and world-renowned forests. From here, enjoy ample opportunities for surfing, swimming, yachting, jet-skiing, boating, fishing, and golfing. Visitors can also look forward to an array of wonderful markets, a picturesque waterfront filled with superb restaurants and shops, and several fantastic art galleries. Make sure to try the local delicacy oysters.

Location: – Knysna        Hotel: Kanonkop House      Room: Lagoon Suite        Board: Breakfast

(Included high tea, 24-hour concierge, all local beverages & local dinner transfers, VAT and tourism levy, free unlimited WiFi)

Kanonkop House is beautifully positioned at the top of Kanonkop Hill in private indigenous forest, overlooking the iconic Knysna Lagoon with breath-taking views stretching all the way to the famous Knysna Heads and Indian Ocean.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 3 – Knysna 

After breakfast you will visit Featherbed Nature Reserve with your guide. Featherbed is a privately-owned, registered Nature Reserve and a South African Heritage Site, No.59. It is a pristine piece of paradise situated on the Western Head of Knysna and is accessible by ferry only. In order to protect the splendour of the natural beauty, access to the Reserve is controlled. Numbers are limited and visits are only permitted in the company of the Reserve’s specialist guides.

This 4-hour excursion departs daily, and reservations are essential. It is a wonderful outing for all ages and fitness levels. Good walking shoes are recommended and remember to bring your camera, hats, and sunblock in summer and a warm jacket for the ferry trip in winter.  The nature reserve offers Knysna adventure activities not to be missed. Look out for the elusive Knysna Lourie (also known as Knysna Turaco) beautiful green bird with red wings. Knysna Lourie is found only in South Africa and particularly in the Knysna. (Lunch included in the reserve restaurant)

Afterwards you will travel to Knysna’s Waterfront for some leisure time to explore before heading back the house.  

Location: – Knysna        Hotel: Kanonkop House      Room: Lagoon Suite        Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 4 – Knysna → Oudtshoorn

After breakfast, you will travel over the majestic Outeniqua Mountain Pass onto the ‘feather capital’ Oudtshoorn. The road between George and Outshoorn has been upgraded four times and the Outeniqua Pass is the most modern and popular version. One of the world’s grandest road passes, the views are incredible. ( Travel time 2 hours).

Enjoy a guided tractor tour of an Ostrich Farm followed by lunch (which includes 1 or 2 of the local delicacies), before continuing onto out guest house for check in and our evening at leisure. 

Oudtshoorn is located along the well-known Route 62 in South Africa’s beautiful Klein Karoo, the charming town of Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world. It is surrounded by numerous ostrich farms and the golden arid landscape of the Karoo. Visitors can enjoy the locally produced wine and port; sample ostrich meat and biltong; learn about the ostrich feather boom at the C.P. Nel Museum; and visit the world-renowned Cango Caves, the largest cave system in Africa featuring ancient rock formations and sparkling stalactites and stalagmites. 

Location: – Oudtshoorn Hotel: Thorn Tree    Room: Standard         Board: Breakfast

Thorn tree Country Lodge just outside Oudtshoorn, South Africa is the perfect base from which to explore the unique attractions of the Klein Karoo. The Lodge is a gracefully restored 17th century estate in the picturesque Schoemanshoek Valley, and reflects the typical Klein Karoo architectural style.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 5 – Oudtshoorn

After a delightful breakfast you will travel to the Cango Caves, here we will be taken into the bowls of earth to view the spectacular stalagtite and stalagmite formations which took millions of years to form. The spectacular Cango Caves are a subterranean wonderland of magnificent stalactite and stalagmite rock formations that attracts thousands of visitors annually. They extend more than two kilometres into the Swartberg Mountains and visitors can take guided tours that wind through narrow passageways and steep stairways linking the massive caverns.

Afterwards you will travel to the Swartberg Mountain Pass, enjoy a traditional braai lunch (barbecue) and a guided tour of this beautiful pass (this tour can also be swapped around to include a sunset tour followed by a braai dinner – no rate change). Lunch Included.

Braai Lunch – KSG Restaurant is green and totally of the grid, they rely on solar panels for electricity and the water sourced from a stream in the mountain. All of their meals are proudly South African, free range  and for you to enjoy! They are famous for our traditional South African Karoo dishes mainly prepared on the open fire. Their dishes are drenched in African spirit and kept traditional with choices like famous Braai Experience, Bobotie, Potjiekos and Ostrich Fillet Steak.  Seasonal vegetables are freshly harvested from their gardens. Traditional bread (Roosterkoek) forms part of every meal and is served warm with a variety of marmalade.  

Return to the guests house late afternoon for your evening at leisure.

Location: – Oudtshoorn Hotel: Thorn Tree    Room: Standard         Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 6 –  Oudtshoorn → Arniston (Cape South Coast)

Departing Oudsthoorn, travel via the scenic route 62 onto Swellendam, one of the biggest agricultural producing areas in South Africa, generating huge amounts of grain, Canola oil, meat & dairy as well as exporting Citrus, berries, Persimmons, wool and wine all over the world.  Enjoy a historic walk about of Swellendam before heading onto the seaside village of Arniston. ( Travel time 3:30 hours).

Swellendam perfectly situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, the quaint heritage town of Swellendam is South Africa’s third-oldest town. It is Idyllically positioned in the scenic Overberg area and serves as an excellent base to explore the magnificent surrounding landscape, including the Little Karoo in the hinterland. The streets are lined with beautifully restored Cape Dutch buildings dating back to 1745. Visitors can explore the Dutch Reformed Church and Drostdy Museum complex, enjoy the local farm stalls selling an array of locally produced jams, liqueurs and baked goods. Other popular activities include hiking, kayaking, camping, horse riding, and stargazing.

After checking in at our seaside hotel, in the afternoon depart on an intriguing walk through a working fishing village, Kassies baai, end off with dinner with the locals in the fisherman village of Kassies baai. (Dinner included). 

Cape South Coast – The indigenous fynbos of the Cape meets the cold seas at the southernmost tip of Africa along the incredibly scenic Cape South Coast. This region produces top-notch wine encompassing the wild Elgin Valley, beautiful Bot River, Elim, Hermanus and Napier wine regions. The coast is also a world-renowned whale watching mecca offering visitors excellent whale watching opportunities. Running from the quaint coastal hamlet of Rooi Els in the west to Quoin Point in the East, this spectacularly scenic stretch of South African coastline is flanked by majestic mountains and the crashing Atlantic Ocean. Be sure to visit the quaint fishing village of Arniston, the Victorian village of Stanford and Gansbaai has a little something for those looking for a thrilling adventure.

Arniston is characterized by turquoise seas, brightly coloured fishing boats and quaint whitewashed cottages, Arniston is a picturesque village with a slow pace, relaxed atmosphere and traditional charm. Highlights include a visit to neighbouring Kassiesbaai – a historical fishing village with lovely old houses and a good restaurant – and Waenhuiskrans, a large oceanfront cave accessible only by a small opening in the rocks. Walking and quad-biking are popular on the beaches and sand dunes, while the ocean allows for swimming, fishing and diving.

Location: – Arniston   Hotel: Arniston Hotel   Room: Luxury Sea Facing   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 7 – Arniston (Cape South Coast)

After breakfast you will travel to most southerly tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas, visit the lighthouse and the most southerly tip of Africa where two oceans meet. 

Cape Agulhas – Regarded as the place where the warm Indian Ocean meets the cold Atlantic Ocean, Cape Agulhas is situated at the southernmost tip of Africa. Its stormy seas and rocky coastline have claimed more than 140 ships over the years, perhaps most famous of which is the sinking of the HMS Birkenhead, where the concept of ‘women and children first’ has since become known as the ‘The Birkenhead Drill’. Enjoy whale watching boat tours, explore a range of art galleries and wine farms nearby, and photograph yourself at the southernmost tip of Africa. Climb to the top of the second oldest lighthouse in South Africa for some stunning views.

You will return back to your hotel soon after lunch for some leisure time. 

Location: – Arniston   Hotel: Arniston Hotel   Room: Luxury Sea Facing   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 8 –  Arniston (Cape South Coast) → Franschhoek 

After breakfast you will depart to Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands. Travel time 3 hours. If you prefer you have option to go via Hermanus. You can tasty seafood lunch or walk along the whale coast or do a whaler cruise. 

Hermanus – situated just 140 kilometres from Cape Town and built between the beautiful shores of Walker Bay, Hermanus has grown from a small seaside resort town to become arguably the best-known place for whale watching in the world. This town is also famed for its natural scenic beauty, featuring long stretches of pristine beaches. An excellent variety of restaurants, cafes and bars are also on offer. Today, Hermanus is more than just a popular holiday destination and offers visitors all kinds of activities, both energetic and relaxing. Visitors can explore the Old Harbour Museum, which is comprised of the charming fisherman’s village, the old harbour, and the Whale House Museum; hike through the nearby Fernkloof Nature Reserve, and sample an array of top-quality wine along the famous Hermanus Wine Route.

Over the next 2 days, we will enjoy 3 wine tastings and 1 cellar tour at wine estates/farms in the winelands region – enjoy a chocolate and wine pairing, a bubbly and nougat pairing and a cheese and wine pairing as we visit Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch.

Franschhoek – Set just over an hour from Cape Town, within the inspiring landscapes of the Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a heritage town and a world-renowned food and wine destination. Travellers could choose to focus their visit on any one aspect alone – nature, cuisine or culture – and find plenty to keep them busy. The estates here attract wine experts from around the globe with their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cap Classique sparkling wine (among others). Five-star restaurants alongside the cellars are surrounded by the same jaw-dropping valley scenes that have brought artists and writers to the area for centuries. A superb literary festival takes place around May every year, and, combined with the town’s Cape Dutch manor houses, fascinating museums, and charming boutiques, makes Franschhoek a wonderful place to visit in winter. Summer provides endless hiking, cycling and other outdoor opportunities among the lush farmlands and mountains.

Location: – Franschhoek    Hotel: Lavender Farm House   Room: Suite   Board: Breakfast

This exclusive four-star retreat is set on a picturesque lavender farm only 2 minutes from the bustling village of Franschhoek. Surrounded by rolling lavender fields with breathtaking views of the mountains

Or

Upgrade £160 for two nights 

Location: – Franschhoek    Hotel: La Cabriere   Room: Deluxe Garden Suite   Board: Breakfast

La Cabriere Country House is nestled amongst farms and vineyards with spectacular mountain views, out of sight of the village and yet within walking distance of its shops and restaurants, thus enjoying one of the finest positions in the Franschhoek Valley

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 9 –  Franschhoek 

This morning you embark on a Bites & Sites tour of Historic Stellenbosch.  Experience South African culture through the stories, the food and the architecture along the oak-lined streets of this historical town.  Equally enticing are visits to local spots where each one will spoil you with traditional teas, desserts and lunch, end off relaxing over a heritage lunch platter at the oldest hotel in Stellenbosch.

Bites and Sites Food Tours offers various fun & informative culinary walking tours in the university town Stellenbosch.  This includes foodie walking tours in the historic heart of town where you’ll taste traditional specialties and artisan food products, or a township walking tour where you will meet talented local artists and innovative entrepreneurs before having lunch at a family home. This half-day cultural food tours can also be combined with a hop-on-hop-off tour of acclaimed wine estates in the picturesque winelands.  It’s all about sharing ‘Culture on a Spoon’.

Stellenbosch is an enticing Western Cape destination with an exciting culinary scene, photogenic historic buildings, and a youthful atmosphere. The beautiful university town is surrounded by mountains, vineyards, and nature reserves (Jonkershoek and Simonsberg), making it a charming base for wine tours, day trips and outdoor adventure. The town centre is characterised by both a “holiday feeling” – sublime art galleries, award-winning restaurants and alluring boutiques fringe leafy cobbled streets – and a sense of aliveness as students bustle between faculties. Architecture enthusiasts will enjoy the numerous Cape Dutch and Victorian buildings, while music lovers can look forward to world-class classical music concerts at the grand Music Conservatory. Two dreamy botanical gardens (with gorgeous tea rooms under the trees) add to the unique character of this special town.

After our eventful morning, you will continue onto another wine tasting at a beautiful estate before heading back to Franschhoek.

Paarl – Situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Paarl boasts an array of cultural and historical attractions and is surrounded by some spectacular nature reserves. Paarl was named after the huge granite dome of rock, which overlooks the town founded in 1690. The famous 11-kilometre-long Main Street features the Strooidak Church, Die Oude Pastorie Museum and the Patriot Building. The beautiful homestead of Labories in Main Street was bought by KWV. The KWV cellar complex is the largest in the world, covering an area of 22 hectares. The magnificent Cathedral Cellar, with its barrel-vaulted roof and large carved red wine vats is spectacular and depicts the history of the Cape’s wine industry. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of activities including: wine tasting, scenic fynbos hikes, cycling, sampling local cuisine and much more.

Location: – Franschhoek    Hotel: Lavender Farm House   Room: Suite   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 10 – Franschhoek → Cape Town 

After breakfast you will be departing the Winelands. You will travel Cape Town. Travel time about an hour. 

Enjoy a city orientation tour, visit BoKaap and the Company Gardens, venture by Cable Car up to the summit on Table Mountain for Panoramic View of the whole circumference (view weather permitting), stop at the Cape Towns Waterfront before continuing onto your hotel for check in. 

Cape Town – Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain’s jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years; and many more.

Cape Town City Centre – Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city were Africa, Europe and Asia meet, with great restaurants and loads of activities on offer.  Being surrounded by nature it is one of the few cities in the world where you can come to get away from it all.

Table Mountain – Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa. Aside from being the country’s most photographed attraction and the perfect place to take photos of the landscape of Cape Town, it is also home to about 2,200 species of plants and 1,470 floral species, many of which are endemic to the mountain. Animal species that can be spotted on the mountain include caracals, rock hyraxes and chacma baboons. The flat top peak of the mountain reaches 1,086 metres above sea level, but being so close to the sea and to the city, its features look more imposing.

Bo Kaap – The colourful suburb of Bo Kaap was exclusively for coloured Muslims during the Colonial and Apartheid times and today, this group still makes up the majority of residents. The quaint cobbled streets, the museum, the authentic purveyors of Cape cuisine and Cape Town’s oldest spice emporium are all worth a visit.

V&A Waterfront – Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain in the heart of Cape Town’s working harbour, the V&A Waterfront has become South Africa’s most visited destination. Set against a backdrop of magnificent sea and mountain views, exciting shopping and entertainment venues are intermingled with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments. The Waterfront is the heart of the tourist industry in Cape Town.

Dinner optional 

GOLD Restaurant is a vibrant pan-African experience offering a set Cape Malay and African menu, together with live entertainment and djembe drumming 7 nights a week. Operating from an old warehouse building and a modern function venue, GOLD offers visitors a sophisticated African experience.  Enjoy an award-winning,14-dish tasting menu inspired by ingredients and textures from all over the African continent. Be seduced by live dancing and singing to the rhythmic beating of African djembe drums. Feel part of their tribal community with some optional pre-dinner drumming under the guidance of an experienced facilitator.

Location: – Cape Town   Hotel: The Portswood   Room: Standard   Board: Breakfast

The PortsWood is part of Cape Town’s colonial history. The restaurant and lobby are built over the original well and holding cells for prisoners en-route to Robben Island some 300 years ago. It’s ideal location to explore Cape Town V&A waterfront by foot. 

Upgrade Option £70 Per person for both nights 

Location: – Cape Town   Hotel: Dorp   Room: Standard   Board: Breakfast

Dorp offers stunning views of Cape Town Table Mountain. Located on high on the slopes of Signal Hill, with unparalleled Table Mountain views. It has a fairytale garden and eccentric spaces.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 11 Cape Town & Cape Point

After breakfast, depart on a full day Cape Peninsula tour offering some of the most spectacular views in the world. The drive itself is an inspiration and passes steep mountains, secluded coves and sweeping beaches, as well as villages and fishing communities.

This Cape Peninsula tour begins with a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast, passing through the cosmopolitan suburbs of Sea Point and Camps Bay to Hout Bay, one of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets. Here, you can take a short boat trip to Duiker Island (Optional -seal island trip weather permitting) to view the Cape Fur Seals which inhabit the island. From there we travel via the scenic Chapmans Peak onto Cape Point, and Simons Town where we visit the Penguin colony at Boulders beach, continue through Fish Hoek onto Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens before late afternoon arrival back at our lodge.

Cape Peninsula – Extending into the Atlantic, the rugged Cape Peninsula marks the south westernmost point of the African continent. It features pristine white-sand beaches met by craggy mountains interspersed with quaint little coastal towns. Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope can be found along the southern end of this spectacularly scenic peninsula, while the northern tip is crowned by the world-famous Table Mountain which towers over the city of Cape Town. Visitors can look forward to a wide selection of activities including: hopping on a boat ride to Seal Island from Hout Bay, exploring the magnificent Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, and viewing the colony of African penguins on Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Don’t miss the opportunity to take in the breathtaking views from the top of Table Mountain.

Cape Point – Cape Point is a spectacular sight, covered in endemic fynbos and home to breathtaking bays, beaches and rolling green hills and valleys, just 60km outside of Cape Town. Cape Point falls within the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site. The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas for plants in the world – it is home to nearly 20% of Africa’s flora. Cape Point is open daily and is a must-see.

Cape Point Funicular – The Flying Dutchman funicular takes visitors at Cape Point up to the lighthouse, where there is an outstanding view of the point and ocean.  The funicular is named after a ghost ship whose destiny it is to sail the oceans forever. More information can be found at the museum.

(Optional) Circe Launches Seal Island Cruise

Circe Launches Seal Island Cruise has a duration of between 40 and 60 minutes. Calypso, is the only glass bottomed open motorboat in South Africa, designed for passenger comfort and safety, with ample outside deck seating, upper deck viewing and comfortable inside cabin seating. During good visibility, passengers are able to get a first hand view of the kelp forests and the abundant sea life at Duiker Island/Seal Island. The boat’s powerful engines enable crew to bring the vessel within metres of the island, for a really close up view of the Cape fur seals in their natural environment.

Boulders Penguin Colony  – The Boulders Visitor Centre is home to the famous colony of Jackass Penguins, so called for their hilarious braying call. This is a truly special experience and Table Mountain National Park staff are knowledgeable and offer guided tours. After you have fallen in love with the penguin’s head to the secluded Boulders Beach and take a swim in the comparatively warm waters of the False Bay.

Location: – Cape Town   Hotel: The Portswood   Room: Standard   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 12 – Fly to Johannesburg – South Africa 

Short Transfer to the airport and fly to Johannesburg.

You will be welcomed & greeted by your guide or The Earth Trip representative in the waiting area of O R Tambo International Airport. You will travel to your hotel. Travel time approximately 45 minutes depend on the traffic.   

Rest of the day at leisure.

Optional: Visit to Cradle of Humankind. Must for anyone interested in natural history. One of the best archaeological site in the world. 

The Cradle of Humankind is one of 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa. Here the landscape is dotted with subterranean limestone caves that have turned up a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies. These findings have led to the ‘Out of Africa’ theory, theorising that most human ancestors originated from one general spot… Africa. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site lies about 50km north-west of Johannesburg. 

It’s here where you get to see history in the flesh, or should we say bone. Tens of thousands of visitors from across the world come here to see first-hand the fossil record that lies in the network of limestone caves beneath the surface. 

Location: – Johannesburg          Hotel: The Peech      Room: Classic           Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 13 – Johannesburg 

In the morning your guide will pick you up for a full day tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. 

Soweto known for Nelson Mandela and fight for freedom from apartheid. This tour will introduce you to aspects of daily life in Soweto and the social fabric of this vibrant city as well as offer you some insights into its fascinating history. Some of the places you will see and visit on this exciting tour are listed below. The tour combines driving, walking through areas and meeting people as well as museum visits. No visit to Soweto is complete without a turn down Vilakazi Street, home to 2 Nobel peace prize winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president Mandela.

Soweto origins go back to 1905 when, using an outbreak of disease in the part of town now known as Newtown as an excuse, the then Johannesburg City Council took the opportunity of moving the black residents of this area to a place 20km south west of Johannesburg. After the National Party took power in 1948, it instituted the Group Areas Act and forcibly moved black population groups out of inner Johannesburg areas, such as Sophiatown, to Soweto, a name derived in 1963 from the acronym South West Townships. Today the city of Soweto has more than 2 million inhabitants. Previously under-resourced, it still has large areas of dire poverty, but it also now has shopping malls, including the large Maponya Mall; parks and recreation facilities; many restaurants and B&BS; the newly opened Soweto theatre; and Vista University campus which is part of the University of Johannesburg.

After lunch in Soweto in traditional Soweto restaurant you will start the tour Johannesburg. Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Joburg, or Egoli (meaning the City of Gold) is the provincial capital of Gauteng and is the economic and commercial hub of South Africa.  It is also South Africa’s largest city with the greater metropolitan area of Johannesburg having a population of over 12 million.  It is a very sprawling city with many different nodes and neighbourhoods. 

You will start in the northern part of the city with passing of Mandela House in Houghton, the tour pass through Hillbrow home to African immigrants from all over the continent. Johannesburg is city of opportunities many migrants want better life heads towards Johannesburg. It is melting pot of cultures. The tour will continue through Constitution Hill, to Mandela Bridge.

Moving to Main Street you will see the headquarters of the mining giants and a walk down Main Street will take us past an old mining head gear as well as a large-scale replica of the golden Mapungubwe rhino. There are pavement cafes along the way if you like a coffee break.

Gandhi Square (a major bus terminal) takes its name from the fact that Gandhi’s law practice was located in a building facing the square. Carlton Centre which is one of the tallest skyscrapers in South Africa. You will visit Maboneng, one of the revitalized parts of the City, with a youthful, vibrant large-scale developments. Here you have the chance to walkabout, and see the vendor markets, with a few restaurants or food stalls.

Location: – Johannesburg          Hotel: The Peech      Room: Classic           Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 14 – Johannesburg → Kruger National Park

In the morning after breakfast, you will travel to Kruger National Park. Travel time approximately 4 ½ hours. 

After lunch at the lodge. You will enjoy a game drive at Kruger National Park.  

Mdluli Safari Lodge situated inside Kruger National Park near the gate of Numbi. Being located inside the south-western borders of the park offers great chance to spot big 5 in the game viewing. The lodge is situated in quiet space while a herd of elephant or buffalo amble past to the river that lies adjacent to the fence. 

The lodge is designed blend into the landscape, and is anchored in strong environmental design principles, ensuring a light ecological footprint.
Location: – Numbi, Kruger NP     Hotel: Mdluli Safari Lodge         Room: Luxury Tent Suite             Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and two game drives per day

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 15 – Kruger National Park

You will enjoy morning and afternoon game drive per day Kruger National Park each day. 

The world-famous Kruger National Park is the oldest Park in Africa. It offers an excellent opportunity see wildlife known for Big 5.  Affectionately known as the “People’s Park”, it offers everything of nature and heritage. Conservation projects and a commitment to protecting the abundance of game have created a wildlife sanctuary of world-class standards. The Kruger National Park has over 2 000 plant species, including over 330 plant species. The Park is home to the Big 5 (lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant and leopard) and 517 bird species. The Kruger National Park is a birder’s paradise boasting 517 species of birds; 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants and 147 nomads.

Location: – Numbi, Kruger NP     Hotel: Mdluli Safari Lodge         Room: Luxury Tent Suite             Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and two game drives per day 

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 16 –  Kruger National Park → Johannesburg 

Morning game drive at Kruger National Park. 

Afterwards you will be transferred to your lodge. Travel time about an hour. 

Optional: White Water Rafting- Tackle a fun filled 4km river trip to our exit points. Meet for admin and issue of equipment for the excursion. Once kitted we take a leisurely road trip to the launch site 4km’s upriver from exit point. The rafting trips include grade 1 and 2 rapids with weirs that can become grade 3 or 4. The river is abundant with birds and wildlife.

Location: – Nelspruit     Hotel: Francolin Lodge         Room: Executive Suite   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 17 – Nelspruit 

Full day Panorama Route discovery with picnic lunch. South Africa’s most scenic route with views, waterfalls, and endless skies, it’s no wonder they call it the Panorama Route. Pictures don’t do South Africa’s most beautiful road trip justice. And while many may choose to safari in the north, the Panorama Route, centred around the Blyde River Canyon, can be found in the often-overlooked province of Mpumalanga. South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province is home to the Panorama Route, aptly named for its endless number of stunning vistas and otherworldly splendour. Visitors can explore this serpentine route as it ambles along the Long Tom Pass (the highest tarred road in the country) and passes rock faces dotted with emerald flora, rotund boulders, showering waterfalls, and the small towns nestled in valleys.

The Drakensberg Escarpment houses the town of Graskop, long-considered the proverbial gateway to the Panorama Route’s most iconic attractions: God’s Window, extending majestic views of the Lowveld beyond; the Blyde River Canyon, best experienced from the viewpoint overlooking the Three Rondavels; or the Blyde river dam and Bourke’s Potholes, curious inter-connected rock pools that have formed over centuries. 

You will do boat tour to appreciate the real beauty of this canyon. Blyde River Canyon is the largest green canyon in the world. You will cruise with passing waterfalls and green mountains with stunning views. 

You will see the rare living Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the Three Rondawels. An abundance of wildlife will keep you distracted while learning more about the natural history of the Blyde Canyon.

The Blyde River canyon supports large diversity of life, including numerous fish and antelope species as well as Hippos and Crocodiles, primate species and a diversity of birdlife such as the African Fish Eagle, African Finfoot and much more.

Possibly the best view in the whole of the Blyde River Canyon is of the “Three Rondavels”, huge, round rocks, thought to be reminiscent of the houses or huts of the indigenous people, known as rondavels. The Canyon is famous for the Kadishi Tufa waterfall. At 200m (around 660 feet) in height it is the second tallest Tufa waterfall on earth. In the case of the Kadishi Tufa fall, the formation that has been produced strikingly resembles a face which is crying profusely and is thus sometimes known as the weeping face of nature.

Location: – Nelspruit     Hotel: Francolin Lodge         Room: Executive Suite   Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Dsy 18 – Nelspruit →Johannesburg → Your Destination

Morning at leisure. Around 1pm you will be transferred to Nelspruit Airport for your flight to Johannesburg.  Travel time to airport about 30 minutes. 

End of tour.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast