Tour Description

Connect with the culture of two countries as you travel from north to south to encounter South Africa’s legacy of Mandela and the cosmopolitan spirit of Cape Town.

Priced From:

$ 8650pp ^*

From: 2025-05-10

To: 2025-12-20

Start Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

End Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Trip Type: Africa

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Caitlin Lennon

Travel Coordinator

Michelle Baldwin

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

Welcome to Johannesburg

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Maslow

Your seamless South African journey begins with an airport transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport to your hotel. Settle in to the pace of Africa’s most energetic city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.

Journey to the Kruger National Park Area

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort

The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa's Lowveld. We admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga's Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, we venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, our home for two nights.

Safari in Kruger National Park

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort

Connect with nature and explore South Africa's oldest and most iconic national park in the company of a Local Specialist. Uncover the secrets of the bushveld and keep a look out for the magnificent 'Big 5', the Little 5 and everything in between. See the glistening yellow Golden-orb spider waiting on her web, smell the damp scent of acacia trees in the early morning and keep your head down in search of animal spoor. Spend your afternoon at leisure.

Onwards to Eswatini Dive Into Culture

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Royal Swazi Spa

Travel to landlocked Eswatini and get a real feel for the local culture. You’ll visit a Swazi Chief’s village, meet the community and learn about their way of life, before sampling some of the local pap and stew. Admire their striking crimson traditional dress up close and feel the beat of this vibrant culture with a spirited drumming class. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to the villagers and their traditions.

Head to Hluhluwe

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Anew

We venture to 'garden of province' of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, we arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4x4 game drive. This evening enjoy a delicious South African braai (weather dependent) – a perfect way to end the day.

Venture to Durban (Umhlanga Rocks) Stays With Stories

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Oyster Box

Board an optional morning cruise on Lake St. Lucia and get up close to the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife residing in the estuary. Alternatively, explore the town of St. Lucia. We continue south to Durban for an effortless encounter with this tropical east coast hub, which begins with a delicious Curry Buffet at the Oyster Box Hotel, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a seaside hotel that captures the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Make Tracks for the Drakensberg Mountains

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass

Venture through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills bound for the spectacular escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. The Underberg’s vibrant arts and crafts scene and stunning setting provide a beautiful backdrop for a morning drive. You’ll continue to the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and stay overnight .

A Day in the Drakensberg

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass

Indulge in the freedom of a day spent exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your terms. Consider joining an optional 4x4 Sani Pass drive, ascending to a heavenly height of 2,876 metres for lunch at Africa’s highest pub in Lesotho, or alternatively relax down here on earth amidst the Drakensberg’s lofty peaks.

On the Road to the Eastern Cape Beaches

Day 9

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Crawfords Beach Lodge

From enigmatic mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, we venture through the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover the legacy of Nelson Mandela, at his birthplace in Xunu, then enjoy the unspoiled Wild Coast beaches of Chintsa, where the only footprints in the sand will be yours.

Travel to Gqeberha

Day 10

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Boardwalk

Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surrounds before we begin our journey to Gqeberha. Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, which you’ll encounter first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.

On to Tsitsikamma National Park and Knysna Connect with Locals

Day 11

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma's giant and ancient Yellowwoods, arriving at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that will accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella's work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. Famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads that stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon which shield the town from the Indian Ocean.

Knysna Your Way

Day 12

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head.

Continue to Cape Town

Day 13

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan

Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).

Cape Town Your Way

Day 14

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan

Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of a tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour around the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at a Farewell Dinner with your travelling companions indulging in delicious Cape Malay speciality dishes.

Farewell Cape Town

Day 15

Duration: 1

We bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2025-05-24

End Date: 2025-06-07

twin

Child Price: 7740

Adult Price: 8650

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10040

Start Date: 2025-06-21

End Date: 2025-07-05

twin

Child Price: 7940

Adult Price: 8850

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10310

Start Date: 2025-07-19

End Date: 2025-08-02

twin

Child Price: 7940

Adult Price: 8850

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10310

Start Date: 2025-08-09

End Date: 2025-08-23

twin

Child Price: 7940

Adult Price: 8850

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10270

Start Date: 2025-08-23

End Date: 2025-09-06

twin

Child Price: 7940

Adult Price: 8850

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10310

Start Date: 2025-09-06

End Date: 2025-09-20

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-09-20

End Date: 2025-10-04

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-10-11

End Date: 2025-10-25

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-10-25

End Date: 2025-11-08

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-11-08

End Date: 2025-11-22

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-11-22

End Date: 2025-12-06

twin

Child Price: 8365

Adult Price: 9275

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10915

Start Date: 2025-12-09

End Date: 2025-12-23

twin

Child Price: 8565

Adult Price: 9475

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 11165

Start Date: 2025-12-20

End Date: 2026-01-03

twin

Child Price: 9340

Adult Price: 10250

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12110

Best of South Africa

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices