Best of South Africa

Welcome to South Africa. On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, transfer to your Sandton hotel, with views of Johannesburg’s skyline. Relax or explore Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, Diamond Walk and local curio shops. Dinner is at your own expense.

After breakfast, travel via Dullstroom, known for trout fishing, shops and restaurants, to the 25,000-hectare Makalali Private Game Reserve. Join an open-vehicle safari in search of the ‘Big 5’, hyena, cheetah and other wildlife, including the endangered Southern Ground Hornbill. Dinner is at the lodge.

Take an early guided bush walk or open-vehicle game drive. After breakfast at the lodge, follow the Panorama Route to Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window. Stop in a former gold-mining town for a late lunch (at your own expense). The scenic drive to Hayzview winds through rolling hills and forests. Soak in the outstanding natural beauty of the Mpumalanga Province as you proceed to your hotel.

Enter Kruger National Park through Phabeni Gate for game viewing en route to Malelane Gate. Look for the ‘Big 5’, cheetah, rhino, giraffe, hyena, crocodile, hippo and abundant birdlife. After lunch at a bush picnic spot (at your own expense), continue to Eswatini via Jeppes Reef Border Post. Arrive in the late afternoon and have dinner at the lodge.
Note: When entering the Kingdom of Eswatini, guests must ensure they have a valid passport and for nationals of applicable countries, multi-entry visa regulations apply (own expense).

Visit the Swazi Candle Factory to see colourful candles handmade using the “millifiore” technique, then browse the craft market and Yebo Art Gallery. Sample local specialities or visit Sambane Tea Garden. After a fascinating morning, re-enter South Africa through Lavumisa Border Post. Stop for lunch (at your own expense) on the way to St Lucia. The landscape changes dramatically as you approach the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Travel through lush wetlands and dense forests in this paradise on the pristine shores of the Indian Ocean on the way to your lodge. Dinner is at your own expense.

Begin with an open-vehicle safari through iSimangaliso’s wetlands, with coffee and rusks on the beach. Look for white and black rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard and antelope. After breakfast, cruise the St Lucia Estuary to spot crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards and prolific birdlife. Gliding over the water will be a very different experience from the morning safari. Lunch is lakeside (at your own expense), followed by a late-afternoon transfer to Umhlanga and farewell to your northern guide. Dinner is at your own expense.

After breakfast, explore Umhlanga’s promenade, Whalebone Pier and red-striped lighthouse. Transfer to King Shaka International Airport for flight (independently arranged and at your own expense) to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). Settle into your beachfront hotel and take a walk along King’s Beach, swim or relax on the white sands. Dinner is at your own expense.

After breakfast, meet your local tour guide for the Garden Route journey to Cape Town. The road takes you to Knysna along the Garden Route, famous for its outstanding natural beauty. The excellent road ensures a smooth trip past coastal vistas and indigenous forests on the way to one of the gems of the Garden Route. Enter the Storms River section of the Garden Route National Park, walk across three suspension bridges above Storms River Gorge. After lunch in the forest (at your own expense), continue to Knysna, famed for its lagoon and sandstone Heads. Finish with a sunset oyster cruise, then dine beside the estuary (at your own expense).

Travel to Plettenberg Bay for a marine excursion from Central Beach, with opportunities to see whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and seabirds. Visit Qolweni Township to learn how visitor contributions support its crèche and community, and experience local Xhosa culture, a spaza shop or traditional drink in a shebeen. Return to Knysna for dinner at the Waterfront (at your own expense).

Follow the Garden Route to Wilderness and the Map of Africa viewpoint, then cross the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn. Take a Heritage Tour through the ancient Cango Caves, including Van Zyl’s Hall. After lunch (at your own expense), enjoy an olive tasting with Protea Rosé or fruit juice at your lodge. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.

Tour an ostrich farm by tractor and learn about its three species and products. Continue along Route 62 through vineyards and orchards, stopping for lunch and optional wine tasting (at your own expense). Travel via Stellenbosch and its Cape Dutch architecture to Cape Town, then explore the V&A Waterfront and dine at one of its restaurants (dinner at own expense).

Tour Cape Point via the Atlantic seaboard and Hout Bay. If time permits, take an optional Duiker Island seal cruise (at your own expense), then follow Chapman’s Peak Drive if open to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Return via False Bay, with an optional Boulders Beach penguin visit (at your own expense), passing Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg. Stop at Rhodes Memorial before returning to the hotel. Dinner is at your own expense.

This morning you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your onward flight.

• 24/7 local operator support in South Africa
• 11 nights’ accommodation – 3* & 4* hotels; 5-star private game lodge
• Daily breakfasts
• 4 dinners
• 4 x airport transfers on a shared basis
• Excursions: 2 open safari vehicle game drives in a private game reserve, Morning open safari vehicle game drive in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia Estuary boat cruise, Short walk in Tsitsikamma to the Storms River Suspension Bridge, Sunset Knysna oyster cruise, Ocean safari in Plettenberg Bay, Qolweni Township visit, Ostrich farm tractor tour, Cango Caves heritage tour, Olive and wine tasting, Cape Point full day tour
• Entrance fees – Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, Conservation fees into Kruger National Park a private game reserve and iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Garden Route National Park (Storms River)
• Conservation fee
• Hotel Porterage
• Africa Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

• International airfares
• Airfare King Shaka Airport – Port Elizabeth
• Optional tours and excursions
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above