Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
Your South African adventure starts today. You'll be heading out with excitement as you prepare for what's ahead on this trip.
- Day 2
Johannesburg to White River
After you're picked up at Johannesburg Airport, you'll travel through the forested Mpumalanga province heading toward Sabie Valley Coffee in White River. There you can have fresh Arabica coffee and cake while learning how the Buckland family cultivates and processes their coffee.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Coffee tasting and farm tour at Sabie Valley Coffee in White River
- Learn about coffee cultivation and processing from Buckland family member
Landmarks Sabie Valley Coffee - Day 3
Mpumalanga - Panorama Route
You'll drive along the Panorama Route hitting Mac Mac Falls, then take a glass elevator descent into the rainforest at Graskop. From there, you'll check out God's Window with views toward Kruger, walk through rainforest to Bourke's Luck Potholes, and end at Blyde River Canyon to see the Three Rondavels before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive along Panorama Route
- Walk to Mac Mac Falls (56-metre twin waterfalls)
- Glass elevator descent into rainforest in Graskop
- Elevated hiking trail through canopy gorge
- Visit God's Window with views over Lowveld to Kruger National Park
- Rainforest walk
- Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes
- Walk along Blyde River Canyon edge with views of Three Rondavels
Landmarks Mac Mac Falls Graskop Rainforest God's Window Bourke's Luck Potholes Blyde River Canyon Three Rondavels - Day 4
Kruger National Park Safari
Today's a full-day safari in Kruger National Park covering roughly 20,000 square kilometers. You'll look for the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard) plus around 150 mammal and 500 bird species. Your accommodation is in the private Marloth Nature Reserve right next to Kruger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day safari in Kruger National Park in touring minibus
Landmarks Kruger National Park Marloth Nature Reserve - Day 5
Marloth Nature Reserve - Full Day Safari
Early this morning you'll head out in an open off-road vehicle with your guide and a local ranger through southern Kruger's savannah and mountain bushveld. You'll search for the Big Five, wildebeest, zebra, impala, and warthog, then stop at Crocodile River to watch animals drink. Later, you'll take an evening bush walk for about an hour and a half in Marloth Nature Reserve.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day safari in open off-road vehicle through southern Kruger National Park
- Viewing at Crocodile River
- Evening bush walk (approximately 1.5 hours) in Marloth Nature Reserve
Landmarks Crocodile River Marloth Nature Reserve - Day 6
Kruger National Park to Eswatini
You'll travel through forests and mountains past round huts to Ezulwini Valley near Mbabane in Eswatini. Your local tour guide Clement Maziya will share insights about Swazi life and traditions. From there, you'll check out the local market in Manzini, Swazi Candles, and Master Artwork Craft Center to see candlemaking and ceramics being made.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Local market visit in Manzini
- Swazi Candles tour (candlemaking demonstration)
- Swazi art market browsing
- Master Artwork Craft Center visit
Landmarks Manzini Market Swazi Candles Master Artwork Craft Center - Day 7
Eswatini to KwaZulu-Natal
You're heading back to South Africa and traveling to KwaZulu-Natal, arriving at accommodation in the north of the Zulu kingdom at the foot of Ghost Mountain. In the afternoon, you'll take a three-hour boat tour on Lake Jozini, one of South Africa's largest reservoirs, where you might spot elephants, rhinos, hippos, and crocodiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Three-hour boat tour on Lake Jozini
Landmarks Ghost Mountain Lake Jozini - Day 8
Mkhuze Game Reserve Safari
Today you'll go on safari through Mkhuze Game Reserve's varied habitats including acacia savannahs, swamps, woodlands, and riverine forests in an open off-road vehicle for around 3 to 4 hours with your guide and local expert. You'll stop at waterholes to spot rhino, elephant, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, and various birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Game drive in open off-road vehicle through Mkhuze Game Reserve (approximately 3 to 4 hours)
Landmarks Mkhuze Game Reserve - Day 9
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve to Dolphin Coast
You'll take a four-hour game drive through the 96,000-hectare Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa's oldest, in an open off-road vehicle with a local safari guide. You'll track white rhino and other wildlife in the mountainous bush landscape. By afternoon you'll reach the beautiful Dolphin Coast and eMhlali Beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Game drive through Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (four hours) in open off-road vehicle
Landmarks Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve eMhlali Beach - Day 10
Dolphin Coast to Gqeberha
This morning you have a leisurely time at the beach with time to stroll and possibly swim in the Indian Ocean at eMhlali Beach. In the afternoon, you'll transfer to Durban Airport for a flight to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), where you'll be welcomed at your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beach time at eMhlali Beach
Landmarks eMhlali Beach - Day 11
Addo Elephant National Park Safari
After sunrise, you'll head into the bush for a full-day safari watching elephants gathering in large herds at waterholes in the vast grassy steppe. You might also see rare black rhino, Cape buffalo, lions, and the region's giant Addo Flightless Dung Beetle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park in touring minibus
Optional Activities
- Full-day safari in open off-road vehicle with English-speaking rangers, including picnic lunch and drinks - ZAR 2,650 per person
Landmarks Addo Elephant National Park - Day 12
Tsitsikamma National Park
You'll travel along the famous Garden Route to Tsitsikamma National Park. There you'll hike for around an hour and a half along cliffs at Storms River Mouth with views into the gorge through one of South Africa's last untouched primeval forests with yellowwood trees, giant ferns, and rare orchids. Later you'll continue to Plettenberg Bay and finish the day in Knysna.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike along cliffs at Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Drive along Garden Route
Landmarks Tsitsikamma National Park Storms River Mouth Plettenberg Bay - Day 13
Wilderness
From Knysna, you'll explore the idyllic neighboring village of Wilderness on the edge of Garden Route National Park. You'll hike for approximately three hours along a shady trail beside the Touw River, a bird paradise where you can watch the Knysna Lourie with its bright red wing feathers, and cool off in a rock pool. Later, you'll drive to Eastern Head viewpoint for views of the lagoon and Indian Ocean, then walk along Knysna's waterfront.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Approximately three-hour hike along Touw River trail in Wilderness
- Eastern Head viewpoint visit
Landmarks Wilderness Touw River Eastern Head Viewpoint Knysna Lagoon - Day 14
Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn
You'll cross the spectacular Outeniqua Pass mountain landscape into the semi-desert Little Karoo. You'll explore Cango Caves, Africa's largest stalactite caves used by the Khoisan around 10,000 years ago, with a local guide. In the late afternoon, you'll visit an ostrich farm for a tour learning about ostrich farming and daily operations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cango Caves tour (Africa's largest stalactite caves) with local guide
- Ostrich farm tour
Landmarks Outeniqua Pass Cango Caves - Day 15
Route 62 to Stellenbosch
You'll drive along Route 62 through the beautiful Breede River Valley, considered one of South Africa's most beautiful travel routes. You'll visit Rietvallei Wine Estate, one of the oldest family-run estates since 1908, for a wine tasting with the sixth-generation Burger family. After that you'll continue through vineyards and estates to Stellenbosch with time to stroll through vineyard foothills.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting at Rietvallei Wine Estate
Landmarks Rietvallei Wine Estate Simonsberg - Day 16
Franschoek Valley - Wine Region
You'll stroll through the gardens of Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in Franschoek Valley. You'll learn wine traditions at 'The Story of Wine.' Then you'll visit Siena Charles in Kylemore for authentic Cape Malay home cooking featuring her grandmother's recipes. In Stellenbosch, you'll explore historic Dorp Street with South Africa's most listed buildings and the traditional grocer store 'Oom Samie se Winkle.'
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Cape Malay home cooking with Siena Charles)
Included Activities
- Babylonstoren garden tour
- The Story of Wine experience
- Cape Malay home cooking with Siena Charles in Kylemore
- Dorp Street exploration in Stellenbosch
Landmarks Babylonstoren Dorp Street Oom Samie se Winkle - Day 17
Muizenburg to Cape Town
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll drive along False Bay to the coastal town of Muizenburg famous for its colorful cabins on the sandy beach. You'll walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens exploring local flora. In the afternoon, you'll reach Cape Town and take the cable car up Table Mountain (weather permitting) for views from over 1,000 meters of the city, sea, and countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll through Muizenburg
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens walk
- Cable car ride up Table Mountain (weather permitting)
Optional Activities
- Travel to Signal Hill if Table Mountain cable car is closed for maintenance (mid-July to mid-August) for views of Cape Town and Table Mountain
Landmarks Muizenburg Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Table Mountain Signal Hill - Day 18
Cape Town City Tour
You'll take a relaxing stroll through Company's Garden, then explore the colorful Cape Malay Quarter visiting a spice store and galleries. You'll enjoy panoramic views of Table Mountain from Signal Hill, visit the fashionable Camps Bay beach promenade, and see the stadium, town hall, and Castle of Good Hope. You'll finish with a harbor cruise at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with stores, restaurants, and a large aquarium.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Company's Garden stroll
- Cape Malay Quarter exploration and spice store visit
- Signal Hill panoramic view
- Camps Bay beach promenade stroll
- Stadium, town hall, and Castle of Good Hope viewing
- Harbor cruise at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Landmarks Company's Garden Cape Malay Quarter Signal Hill Camps Bay Castle of Good Hope Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - Day 19
Cape of Good Hope
You'll take a day trip along winding Atlantic coastal roads to the fishing town of Hout Bay. You'll take a half-hour boat trip to Duiker Island to see Cape fur seals. Then you'll continue along Chapman's Peak Drive past Noordhoek with its long beach. At Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, you can either ride the restored cog railroad or walk to Cape Point (two hours) for coastline views. On the way back, you'll visit a penguin colony at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Duiker Island (half hour) to see Cape fur seals
- Drive along Chapman's Peak Drive
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve visit
- Cog railroad ride or walk to Cape Point (two hours)
- Penguin colony visit at Boulders Beach, Simon's Town
Landmarks Hout Bay Duiker Island Chapman's Peak Drive Noordhoek Beach Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve Cape Point Boulders Beach Simon's Town - Day 20
Cape Town Departure
This is your last day in Cape Town. You'll use remaining hours to shop for souvenirs and gifts. Around midday, your tour guide will drive you to the airport for your return flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Souvenir and gift shopping
- Day 21
Arrival Home
After you land, you'll travel to your home town. Your wonderful South African experiences will stay with you for a long time.
