Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure to South Africa
Your South African adventure kicks off as you fly to Johannesburg. The journey brings you to a country full of possibilities, and you're ready to start exploring what's ahead.
- Day 2
Johannesburg to White River
After the airport pickup in Johannesburg, you'll head through Mpumalanga's forested landscape toward White River. There you'll stop at Sabie Valley Coffee to learn about Arabica bean cultivation from the Buckland family and enjoy some fresh coffee and chocolate cake. By evening you'll reach your first accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Coffee and delicious chocolate cake), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sabie Valley Coffee - coffee tasting and chocolate cake
- Learn about coffee cultivation and processing from Buckland family
Landmarks Sabie Valley Coffee - Day 3
Panorama Route - Mpumalanga Highlands
The Panorama Route becomes your focus today, taking you through Mpumalanga's highlands. You'll see Mac Mac Falls, descend through Graskop rainforest via a glass elevator, take in the views from God's Window, walk around Bourke's Luck Potholes, and finish at Blyde River Canyon with the iconic Three Rondavels viewpoint.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Mac Mac Falls (56-metre twin waterfalls)
- Glass elevator descent into rainforest near Graskop
- Elevated hiking trail through rainforest canopy with gorge views
- Visit God's Window viewpoint overlooking the Lowveld
- Rainforest walk near God's Window
- Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes
- Walk along the edge of Blyde River Canyon with Three Rondavels viewpoint
Landmarks Mac Mac Falls God's Window Bourke's Luck Potholes Blyde River Canyon Three Rondavels - Day 4
Southern Kruger National Park Safari
After breakfast, you'll spend the full day on safari through southern Kruger National Park in a touring minibus. The 20,000-square-kilometer reserve holds the Big Five plus over 150 other mammal species and 500 bird species, so there's plenty of wildlife to search for throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day safari in Kruger National Park in touring minibus
Landmarks Kruger National Park Marloth Nature Reserve - Day 5
Private Marloth Nature Reserve Safari and Evening Bush Walk
Starting early, you'll climb into an open off-road vehicle with your guide and a local expert to hunt for the Big Five through savannah and mountain bushveld. You'll explore the Crocodile River area, then later take an evening bush walk through Marloth Nature Reserve as the light fades.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Extensive breakfast package), Dinner (South African braai - barbecue evening in the open air)
Included Activities
- Full-day safari in open off-road vehicle through southern Kruger savannah and bushveld
- Wildlife observation at Crocodile River border
- Evening bush walk through Marloth Nature Reserve (approximately 1.5 hours)
Landmarks Crocodile River - Day 6
Eswatini (Kingdom of Swaziland) - Ezulwini Valley
Today you journey into the Kingdom of Eswatini, traveling through dense forests and mountains to reach Ezulwini Valley near Mbabane. A local guide shares Swazi traditions with you, then you'll check out Manzini market, visit the Swazi Candles workshop, and browse the art market before settling into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stroll through Manzini local market
- Visit Swazi Candles artisan workshop and browse adjacent Swazi art market
- Visit Master Artwork Craft Center to see ceramic production
Landmarks Manzini Market Swazi Candles Master Artwork Craft Center - Day 7
KwaZulu-Natal - Lake Jozini
You'll cross back into South Africa, entering KwaZulu-Natal province and the historic Zulu kingdom near Ghost Mountain. In the afternoon, a three-hour boat tour on Lake Jozini gives you chances to spot elephants, rhinos, hippos, and crocodiles from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Three-hour boat tour on Lake Jozini with wildlife viewing
Landmarks Lake Jozini Ghost Mountain - Day 8
Mkhuze Game Reserve Safari
Mkhuze Game Reserve is your destination, where you'll spend 3 to 4 hours in an open off-road vehicle with your guide and a local expert. You'll drive through acacia savannahs, swamps, woodlands and riverine forests, stopping at waterholes to watch for wildlife and birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- 3 to 4 hour open off-road vehicle safari through Mkhuze Game Reserve
Landmarks Mkhuze Game Reserve - Day 9
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve to Dolphin Coast
The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve awaits, covering 96,000 hectares of mountainous bush landscape. You'll do a four-hour game drive looking for endangered white rhinos, then head toward the Dolphin Coast and your accommodation near eMhlali Beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch during the safari)
Included Activities
- Four-hour game drive through Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in open off-road vehicle
- Visit eMhlali Beach on Dolphin Coast
Landmarks Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve eMhlali Beach Dolphin Coast - Day 10
Durban Airport to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
This morning you'll take a leisurely walk on the sandy beach at Salt Rock. Later you'll be transferred to Durban Airport to fly to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), where you'll arrive at your new accommodation near Addo Elephant National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning beach stroll at Salt Rock
Optional Activities
- Swim in the Indian Ocean
- Day 11
Addo Elephant National Park Safari
After sunrise, you'll head into Addo Elephant National Park's bush to watch elephant herds gather at waterholes from your camper van. Keep an eye out for rare black rhinos, Cape buffalo, lions, and the distinctive giant Addo Flightless Dung Beetle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day safari through Addo Elephant National Park
Optional Activities
- Full-day safari in open off-road vehicle guided by English-speaking rangers with picnic lunch and drinks - ZAR 2,650 per person
Landmarks Addo Elephant National Park - Day 12
Garden Route - Tsitsikamma to Knysna
You'll travel the famous Garden Route from Mossel Bay through Tsitsikamma National Park. A 1.5-hour hike takes you along cliffs with gorge views through primeval forest with yellowwood trees, giant ferns and orchids. From there you'll pass through Plettenberg Bay's beaches before reaching Knysna.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Approximately 1.5 hour hike along cliffs in Tsitsikamma National Park with gorge views
Landmarks Tsitsikamma National Park Storms River Mouth Plettenberg Bay - Day 13
Wilderness - Touw River Hike
Wilderness village sits at the edge of Garden Route National Park, and you'll hike around three hours along a shady trail beside the Touw River. You might spot the Knysna Lourie bird with its bright red wing feathers, and there's time to cool off in a rock pool. Back in Knysna, you'll visit Eastern Head viewpoint and explore the atmospheric waterfront.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Approximately 3-hour hike from Wilderness along Touw River trail through Garden Route National Park
- Cool off in the rock pool
- Visit Eastern Head viewpoint in Knysna with lagoon and estuary views
- Stroll along Knysna waterfront with small stores and lagoon views
Landmarks Wilderness Touw River Garden Route National Park Eastern Head Knysna Waterfront - Day 14
Outeniqua Pass - Cango Caves and Ostrich Farming
Crossing the Outeniqua Pass mountain landscape brings you into the semi-desert Little Karoo and Oudtshoorn. You'll explore Africa's largest stalactite caves, the Cango Caves, with a local guide, then visit an ostrich farm in the late afternoon to see birds and learn about South African ostrich farming.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Karoo dinner with ostrich meat)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cango Caves - largest stalactite caves in Africa
- Ostrich farm tour with insight into day-to-day work and ostrich farming facts
Landmarks Outeniqua Pass Cango Caves - Day 15
Route 62 Wine Region - Stellenbosch
The scenic Breede River Valley and Route 62 are your paths today. You'll stop at Rietvallei Wine Estate, a family operation since 1908, for wine tasting. Then you'll drive through the Stellenbosch wine region with time to walk through vineyards at the foot of Simonsberg mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Wine tasting), Dinner (Dinner with wine accompaniment)
Included Activities
- Wine tasting at Rietvallei Wine Estate
- Walk through vineyards at foot of Simonsberg
Landmarks Rietvallei Wine Estate Breede River Valley Route 62 Stellenbosch Wine Region Simonsberg - Day 16
Franschoek Valley - Babylonstoren and Cape Malay Lunch
Babylonstoren in Franschoek Valley offers beautiful gardens and centuries of wine history to explore. You'll have a typical Cape Malay lunch with Siena Charles in Kylemore, then finish by strolling famous Dorp Street in Stellenbosch and visiting the historic Oom Samie se Winkle grocer's store.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical Cape Malay home cooking with locals in Kylemore)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Babylonstoren gardens - one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms
- Visit 'The Story of Wine' to learn about wine traditions and social significance
- Typical Cape Malay lunch with locals (Siena Charles) in Kylemore
- Stroll along Dorp Street in Stellenbosch - street with most listed buildings in South Africa
- Visit 'Oom Samie se Winkle' grocer's store in Stellenbosch
Landmarks Babylonstoren Franschoek Valley Dorp Street Stellenbosch - Day 17
False Bay to Cape Town - Table Mountain
After a relaxed breakfast, you'll drive along False Bay to the coastal town of Muizenburg with its colorful beach cabins. Next comes Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, then you'll reach Cape Town. By afternoon, the cable car takes you up Table Mountain for 1,000-meter views of the city, sea and surrounding countryside (weather permitting).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Muizenburg with colorful beach cabins
- Walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Cable car ride to Table Mountain summit (weather permitting)
Optional Activities
- Visit Signal Hill if Table Mountain cable car is closed (maintenance periods mid-July to mid-August)
Landmarks False Bay Muizenburg Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Table Mountain Signal Hill - Day 18
Cape Town City Tour
Company's Garden and the colorful Cape Malay Quarter with spice stores and galleries come first. You'll take in panoramic views from Signal Hill, then head to trendy Camps Bay for beach walks. The day includes Cape Town's iconic sights like the stadium, town hall and Castle of Good Hope. A harbor cruise at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront rounds things out with city views from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll through Company's Garden
- Exploration tour of colorful Cape Malay Quarter
- Visit spice store in Cape Malay Quarter
- Walk past small galleries in Cape Malay Quarter
- Panoramic views from Signal Hill
- Visit trendy suburb of Camps Bay
- Stroll along Camps Bay beach promenade
- View Cape Town stadium and town hall
- Visit Castle of Good Hope
- Harbor cruise at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Optional Activities
- Explore harbor area with stores, restaurants and aquarium at own pace
Landmarks Company's Garden Cape Malay Quarter Signal Hill Camps Bay Castle of Good Hope Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - Day 19
Cape Peninsula - Hout Bay to Cape Point
Scenic coastal roads lead you to Hout Bay fishing town for a half-hour boat trip to Duiker Island to see Cape fur seals. You'll drive the winding Chapman's Peak Drive past Noordhoek's long beaches, then head to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. There you can take a cog railroad or do a 2-hour walk to Cape Point for coastal views. On the return, you'll walk to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Half-hour boat trip to Duiker Island for Cape fur seal observation
- Chapman's Peak Drive scenic route
- Visit Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Cog railroad ride to Cape Point OR 2-hour walk to Cape Point
- Walk to penguin colony at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town
Landmarks Hout Bay Duiker Island Chapman's Peak Drive Noordhoek Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve Cape Point Boulders Beach Simon's Town - Day 20
Cape Town Departure
On your last Cape Town day, the morning and midday are yours for browsing souvenirs and gifts. Around midday your guide will drive you to the airport for your return flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Shop for souvenirs and gifts
- Day 21
Arrival Home
After landing, you travel onward to your home town. The experiences from these weeks will stay with you for a long time.
