This tour comprehensively explores South Africa's unique combination of landscapes, cities, and breathtaking wildernesses. It is ideal for those who wish to savor South Africa's highlights in the company of a private guide.
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ItineraryUpon arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, your guide will meet you in the arrival lounge. After a few formalities, the tour heads east, traversing the highveld and crossing the eastern escarpment en route to Sabie.
From here, a scenic drive through the heart of the Drakensberg Escarpment offers a delightful glimpse of lush forests and dramatic mountain scenery as we travel toward Graskop and our overnight destination. The afternoon is spent relaxing or enjoying a nature walk on one of Angels View's many paths and trails.
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Itinerary We visit God's Window, shortly after breakfast, perched on the escarpment's edge. This unique vantage point reveals a sweeping landscape of verdant forests, rolling hills, and distant mountains. The area features well-maintained walking trails that lead to various viewpoints.
We then travel along the panoramic route via Ohrigstad to the Three Rondavels, the most impressive viewpoint of the Blyde River Canyon—a stunning journey through some of Mpumalanga's most picturesque landscapes. The Canyon is a renowned natural wonder celebrated for its beauty and geological significance. Before returning to Graskop, we also visit the Bourke's Luck Potholes, formed by centuries of swirling water erosion.
Distance ItineraryA Last breakfast, enjoyed with a backdrop of mountain scenery, precedes an hour-long journey to Phabeni Gate, where we enter the Kruger National Park. The rest of the morning is devoted to a first-game drive in Kruger. The park is a world-renowned wildlife conservation site and offers some of the finest game viewing opportunities on the continent. Stretching across an African wilderness the size of Israel, Kruger is home to large concentrations of the Big Five and myriad other species.
We head to camp for lunch, check-in, and relaxation before the afternoon game drive. The camp in southern Kruger offers a tranquil, well-equipped base from which to enjoy the diversity of wildlife and landscapes in Kruger.
Distance Itinerary On the days in Kruger, your guide conducts two game drives, each lasting three to four hours. The morning drive commences shortly after sunrise; the other drive is conducted from mid-afternoon to just before sunset. On one of these days, you will also enjoy an excursion accompanied by a park ranger that extends from just before sunset to a couple of hours after dark.
The southern Kruger Park is characterized by diverse landscapes and terrain ranging from dense bushveld to open savanna. The region is famous for its high game concentrations, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant). Your guide will share their intimate knowledge of the park, animals, and birds, enriching your adventure.
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TransfersA last-morning safari is enjoyed en route to the airport in Skukuza, where guests fly to Cape Town. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide, who will be responsible for leading the southern leg of your South African journey. A thirty-minute drive from the airport leads to the hotel, which is set on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of Cape Town's iconic attractions. Here, you will be assisted with check-in. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure.
Distance Itinerary The day is spent exploring one of the world's most beautiful cities. The looming Table Mountain was first summited by António de Saldanha in 1503 when he named it 'Taboa do Cabo' or 'Table of the Cape.' Send a postcard from the upper cable station post office, take a mountaintop walk along one of the established walkways, and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views across the Cape Peninsula.
In the afternoon, we visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Established in 1913, these gardens attempt to comprehensively display South Africa's rich plant life, with a focus on the flora of the Cape Floristic Region. We stroll through parts of the 528-hectare gardens and visit some impressive indoor displays. The recently completed 'Boomslang' treetop canopy walkway in the Enchanted Forest is one of the highlights.
Distance Itinerary The Cape Winelands are the day's focus as we travel to Somerset West, where you visit the Vergelegen Estate at the foot of the Helderberg, which is not far from town. This wine estate is steeped in history and still produces some of South Africa's finest wines. A short introduction to winemaking by a local expert is followed by an opportunity to sample some of South Africa's finest.
From here, we go to Stellenbosch and the wine route surrounding the town. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest, largest, and most visited of the Southwest Cape's wine routes. Many of the estates are very old, with gabled, whitewashed Cape Dutch homesteads, rolling vineyards, and shade-dappled grounds lovely beyond measure. Some time devoted to exploring the town is followed by visits to two wine farms in the district before returning to Cape Town during the late afternoon.
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ItineraryFrom the overnight destination, we drive along the Atlantic Seaboard to Hout Bay, nestled between steep mountains and the Atlantic. From here, we travel along the famed Chapmans Peak Drive to Noordhoek. It is one of the world's most scenic coastal routes, with views of rugged mountain landscapes and picturesque coastline. From Noordhoek, we go to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a conservation area protecting the southwestern tip of Africa. Here, we visit Cape Point and the lighthouse perched atop a cliff.
Later, the tour follows along the False Bay side of the peninsula to Boulders Beach, where it views the African penguin colony on this boulder-strewn beach. A short visit is also made to Simon's Town, which has a rich naval history, before returning to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Distance Itinerary The Overberg is our next destination. At Gordon's Bay, we turn to Hermanus along one of South Africa's most impressive coastal drives, which meanders through serene coastal towns and breathtaking natural scenery. During whale season from June to November, southern right and humpback whales can be spotted close to shore. Upon arrival in Hermanus, we devote some time to exploring one of South Africa's premier coastal destinations, reputed to be one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. We stroll along part of the Hermanus Cliff Path to enjoy views of Walker Bay and spot marine and bird life.
A journey through the picturesque countryside follows time for lunch as we pass the quaint village of Stanford en route to the overnight destination of Swellendam at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains.
Distance ItineraryA short drive from Swellendam leads to De Hoop, one of South Africa's prime coastal conservation areas. The nature reserve is 34,000 hectares in extent and is rich in biodiversity and dramatic scenery, including coastal dunes, fynbos, and an expansive wetland—De Hoop Vlei, a birding hotspot. It is home to the rare bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, and other mammal species.
We devote the morning to driving through the reserve and viewing wildlife on short hikes through the fynbos and on the beach, where marine life, including dolphins, can be spotted. These coastal waters are very productive for spotting whales from June to November. Some time for lunch at the restaurant overlooking De Hoop Vlei is then followed by a cruise on the vlei for a unique perspective on this wetland surrounded by diverse plant life and frequented by various species of birds and mammals. We return to the overnight destination during the late afternoon.
Distance Itinerary We follow part of the famed Route 62, which traverses Barrydale and Ladismith on the way to Oudtshoorn and runs through the heart of South Africa's Little Karoo. We visit Boplaas near Calitzdorp, a famous producer of 'Port' and other fortified wines. Here, we taste this award-winning family-owned winery, which has a history dating back to 1880.
A short drive then leads to Oudtshoorn, where you explore the Cango Caves, an underground marvel in the limestone-rich Swartberg Mountains. In large subterranean chambers, you can view stalagmites, stalactites, and unique rock formations formed over millions of years. Following the cave visit, we cross the Outeniqua mountains to George, in the heart of the Garden Route, where the overnight destination is reached during the late afternoon.
Distance ItineraryA visit to the George Transport Museum in the historic George Railway Station showcases a collection of vintage locomotives, railway carriages, and transport artifacts. It is also the departure point of the Outeniqua Powervan, a unique heritage rail excursion that explores the dramatic beauty of the Outeniqua Mountains along historic tracks. You will see waterfalls and forests, pass through tunnels, and marvel at Fynbos Proteas and the rich birdlife of the Garden Route. A picnic stop is last on the agenda before returning to the station.
A short trip to Wilderness National Park follows some time for relaxation at the hotel. Here, you can canoe on the pristine waters of the Touws River among Indigenous forest and towering mountains—a serene natural experience. Those not as actively inclined will enjoy a boat cruise in this conservation area. Following the activity, we enter the village of Wilderness, where guests can enjoy a drink at one of the small restaurants before returning to the hotel.
Distance Itinerary It is off to an early start as we make our way to Knysna, the jewel of the Garden Route, where we board a ferry at the Waterfront heading to Featherbed Nature Reserve. The ferry ride crosses the Knysna Lagoon and offers views through the famous heads and the opportunity to spot birdlife. The roughly three-hour excursion includes a 4x4 trip to the top of the western head from where dramatic ocean views can be enjoyed. A short hike of just over two kilometers also meanders through lush Indigenous forests and fynbos. Knowledgeable guides share information on ecology and wildlife.
Some time is devoted to walking along the Waterfront before exploring Leisure Isle and the Eastern Knysna Head and traveling back to George. At Wilderness, we leave the national highway and quickly stop at the Map of Africa before returning to George via part of the Seven Passes Road.
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FlightsAfter a leisurely breakfast, the guide accompanies clients to George Airport, where they are assisted with check-in to a flight bound for Johannesburg, where an unforgettable two-week South African tour ends.
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