South African Discovery

Day 1 | Saturday
DAY OF ARRIVAL – AFTERNOON AT LEISURE in CAPE TOWN
Guests arrive at the hotel and can enjoy a day at leisure or join an optional Table Mountain and city afternoon tour. They will visit one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and take in the exceptional beauty of Table Mountain. They will also travel through the Malay Quarter, city centre, Company Gardens, diamond merchants and if time permits, the Castle of Good Hope. They will return to the hotel late afternoon and meet the tour guide for a tour briefing at 6:30pm and have an opportunity to buy other optional excursions. Dine at the hotel (own account). Overnight at La Splendida Hotel or similar – Breakfast.

Day 2 | Sunday
FULL DAY AT LEISURE in CAPE TOWN
Cape Town offers a variety of excursions and activities. Guests can join an optional full day Cape Point tour which includes Cape Point and Boulder’s Beach (entrance fee for own account). Enjoy dinner at the hotel or a restaurant in town (own account). Overnight at La Splendida Hotel or similar – Breakfast.

Day 3 | Monday
CAPE TOWN to WELLINGTON via CAPE WINELANDS (±115km)
After breakfast, guests travel northeast to Wellington via the Cape Winelands and enjoy a craft beer tasting. They then embark on a walking tour of Stellenbosch and Paarl, South Africa’s third oldest town with a stop for lunch (own account) at one of the many wine farms and eateries. At Paarl Rock, guests visit the Afrikaanse Taalmonument and learn more about the history of Africa’s youngest language: Afrikaans. Wellington is home to Cape Dutch homesteads and beautiful gardens and wineries, as well as South Africa’s only whiskey producer. Guests check in at the guest house and enjoy time at leisure before drinks and dinner at one of the guest house’s restaurants. Overnight at Val du Charron Guest House or similar – Breakfast.

Day 4 | Tuesday
WELLINGTON to OUDTSHOORN via ROUTE 62 (±390km)
Guests enjoy breakfast before departing Wellington en route to Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo, via the scenic Bainskloof Pass, an engineering masterpiece known as the ‘Gateway to the North’. It is now a national monument and offers unsurpassed views of the area. Enjoy a cheese and wine pairing followed by a cellar tour at an estate in the Robertson wine valley. Arrive at the guest house on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn and enjoy dinner and warm hospitality.
Overnight at De Zeekoe Guest Farm or similar – Breakfast.

Day 5 | Wednesday
OUDTSHOORN to KNYSNA via CANGO CAVES (±160km)
After breakfast, guests journey south via the Outeniqua Pass, to Knysna. Stop outside Oudtshoorn, in the Cango Valley and discover the spectacular subterranean world of the Cango Caves. Back above ground, tour a nearby ostrich farm and learn about the ostrich-farming industry. Enjoy lunch at the ostrich farm’s restaurant (own account). The tour stops in Wilderness to enjoy photo opportunities and sweeping views from the Map of Africa lookout point (weather permitting) before continuing on to Knysna. Guests enjoy dinner at the boutique hotel (own account).
Overnight at Overmeer Guest House or similar – Breakfast.

Day 6 | Thursday
FULL DAY AT LEISURE in KNYSNA
Following breakfast, guests spend the day at leisure, or on optional excursions in and around Knysna. Guests can board a ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (own account, including lunch). The local tour guide will share tales about Knysna whilst guests enjoy panoramic views on board the ferry and a 4WD vehicle. An optional guided nature walk, through the forest and along the coast, is recommended. Enjoy a buffet lunch at a unique outdoor restaurant under a canopy of milkwood trees, on the edge of the lagoon. Guests spend time at leisure before dinner (own account).
Overnight at Overmeer Guest House or similar – Breakfast.

Day 7 | Friday
KNYSNA to PORT ALFRED via EASTERN GARDEN ROUTE (±410km)
After an early breakfast, the tour departs for the marina town of Port Alfred, via the Garden Route. Travel to the Storms River Mouth and experience unique views from the Tsitsikamma suspension bridge. Drive along the coastal road to Port Alfred, on the banks of the Kowie River, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. The tour arrives late afternoon at the hotel. Guests enjoy refreshing drinks (own account) and savour local cuisine.
Overnight at The Royal St Andrews Lodge or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 8 | Saturday
PORT ALFRED to WILD COAST (±300km)
Guests enjoy an early breakfast before the tour departs for the Wild Coast. Stop for lunch en route before arriving at the quaint beach resort in the afternoon. Views from the hotel range from the stunning Wild Coast beaches to green, lush, tropical vegetation. Guests can freshen up before dinner.
Overnight at Trennery’s Hotel or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 9 | Sunday
FULL DAY AT LEISURE – WILD COAST
Guests spend the day at leisure after breakfast. They can join one or more optional activities on offer such as extreme golf, a lagoon cruise, canoeing, hiking or enjoy any of the recreational hotel facilities. Visit a traditional homestead and experience authentic, local hospitality (own account). Excursions are operated by a local guide and all funds go to the community. Lunch at the hotel (own account). Enjoy pre-dinner drinks (own account) and a scrumptious, fresh seafood buffet.
Overnight at Trennery’s Hotel or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 10 | Monday
WILD COAST to HARDING (±380km)
Guests enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel and depart for Kokstad, via Mthatha on the Mandela Route. The Mandela Route takes a scenic drive on the N2 highway to Mthatha, which is home to the Nelson Mandela Museum. The museum hosts a display reflecting the life and times of Mandela. Visit other prominent Mthatha sites (time permitting). Lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives at the resort late afternoon. Guests are at leisure, freshen up and dine at the hotel.

Overnight at ANEW Ingeli Forest Resort or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 11 | Tuesday
HARDING to ST LUCIA (±460km)
After an early breakfast, guests depart for St Lucia at 7:30am. South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province is colloquially referred to as the Elephant Coast. This region is acclaimed for its towering mountains, the warm Indian Ocean, tropical vegetation and a myriad of animal species. Lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives at the hotel in the late afternoon. Dine in town (own account).
Overnight at Forest Lodge or similar – Breakfast.

Day 12 | Wednesday
ST LUCIA to ESWATINI (±335km)
Before breakfast, guests embark on an open safari vehicle and enjoy a game drive through South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Observe hippos, crocodiles, and an abundance of birds on an eco-friendly boat cruise on the estuary. The tour departs for the Kingdom of Eswatini, an absolute monarchy and one of Africa’s smallest countries. The tour stops at the Swazi Candle factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the millefiori technique. The tour arrives at the lodge in the late afternoon and guests spend the evening at leisure, freshen up and dining at the hotel or in town (own account). Overnight at Mantenga Lodge or similar – Breakfast.

NOTE: When entering the Kingdom of Eswatini guests must ensure they are in possession of a valid passport and for nationals of certain countries, multi-entry visa terms and conditions apply.

Day 13 | Thursday
Eswatini to HAZYVIEW via KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (±250km)
After the tour exits Eswatini at Jeppe’s Reef border post and arrives at the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate. Guests enjoy a guided game drive through the Kruger National Park to Hazyview. The Kruger National Park, forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Lunch (own account) in one of the park’s rest camps before continuing to Hazyview, the gateway to the spectacular Panorama Route. Arrive at the hotel and enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.
Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 14 | Friday
FULL DAY IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (±250km)
After an early breakfast, guests spend the day exploring the Kruger National Park. They will board a closed vehicle for a guided game drive in Kruger and see Africa’s iconic mega-fauna and endemic birdlife. The tour stops at one of the park’s rest camps for lunch (own account). An optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle is available (own account and excluding lunch). Guests exit Kruger National Park late afternoon and return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks (own account) before dinner.
Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar – Dinner and breakfast.

Day 15 | Saturday
HAZYVIEW to JOHANNESBURG via PANORAMA ROUTE (±500km)
After breakfast, guests travel to Johannesburg via the scenic Panorama Route. Wonder View, the highest viewpoint on this route, is at the start of this trip. The tour visits Bourke’s Luck Potholes and stops at the Three Rondavels and the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s largest green canyon. These sites are included in the country’s list of natural marvels. Guests stop for lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives in Johannesburg late afternoon. Spend the evening at leisure. Guests dine at the hotel (own account).
Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Balalaika or similar – Breakfast.

Day 16 | Sunday
DAY OF DEPARTURE – MORNING AT LEISURE in JOHANNESBURG
Guests spend the day at leisure before they are transferred to the airport (own arrangement and own account).

Inclusions

Accommodation: 3 and 4-star hotels and guesthouses
Meals: 15 breakfasts and 6 dinners
Entrance Fees: Taalmonument, Garden Route National Park conservation fee (Storms River Bridge), Kruger National Park conservation fee, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and Wonder View
Excursions: Cheese and wine pairing, wine cellar tour, Stellenbosch walking tour, Cango Caves heritage tour, ostrich farm tractor tour, iSimangaliso Wetlands Park open safari vehicle morning game drive, and St Lucia Estuary boat cruise
Green Seat: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Trees for Tourism

Exclusions

Travel insurance, flights, 2 airport transfers, visa fees, porterages, 16 lunches, 10 dinners, optional excursions, gratuities and personal expenses