Grand tour of South Africa

ITINERARY

• 01 Johannesburg
  

  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. This bustling city offers a wide range of activities, attractions and plenty to do in and around the city including nearby Pretoria. Downtown is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best, and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. The nearby township of Soweto is Johannesburg’s most popular tourist attraction.Upon your arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, you will be met by your English speaking Guide and driver and transferred to your hotel where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

  Safari Club SA Hotel

• 02 Graskop
  

  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  Perched on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, the little forestry town of Graskop, meaning ‘Grassy Hill’ is set in the heart of Mpumulanga’s Panorama Tourist Route in northern South Africa. Once a gold mining camp, today it serves as a thriving tourist stopover and base from which to explore the countless natural wonders in the surrounding area. Highlights include: the famous Kruger National Park, the world-renowned Blyde River Canyon,Pilgrims Rest, the unique formations of Bourkes Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. Some spectacular waterfalls to view are: Mac Mac Falls, Motitsi Waterfall, Lisbon Falls and the Berlyn Falls. Other popular activities include: descending into the Graskop Gorge on the Graskop Gorge Lift and enjoying a delicious pancake at the ‘Pancake capital of South Africa’.

  Graskop Hotel

• 03 Apartheid Museum
  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  Spend the morning at the Apartheid Museum, learning about South Africa's struggle for freedom, human rights and equality and the resilience and determination of those who fought for it. Depart the city for the magnificent Mpumalanga province, ending up among the spectacular panoramas of the Drakensberg Mountains. Here, you are at the gateway of the famous Kruger National Park. The rest of the day is at leisure.

  The Orpen Kruger Lodge

• 04 Manyeleti Private Game Reserve
  

  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  The Manyeleti Private Game Reserve shares its borders with Kruger National Park, Timbavati Game Reserve and Sabi Sands Game Reserve, forming part of a huge area of land in which wildlife roams free. It is managed by the Mnisi people, who have lived on this land for many generations. In Shangaan, the language of the most dominant tribe in the area, Manyeleti means ‘Place of Stars’ and in the evenings, when the sun’s light is replaced by that of the moon and countless bright stars, one can understand why. A dry area for most of the year, Manyeleti offers spectacular scenes of wildlife as they gather at water holes. Aside from the spectacular game viewing opportunities, the reserve also offers insight into the culture and traditions of the Mnisi people.

  The Orpen Kruger Lodge

• 05 Graskop
  • Overview
  • Accommodation

   Today you will experience the highlights of the Panorama Route around the town of Graskop. Ride the Graskop Gorge Lift for glorious views over the forest canopy. Head on to the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest canyon, to the viewpoint known as God’s Window and the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, rock formations formed by centuries of swirling sand and rocks in the river. Continue to the Three Rondavels, named for their resemblances to traditional African huts. Check in to your private game lodge.

  The Orpen Kruger Lodge

• 06 Port Elizabeth
  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  Set on Algoa Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, Port Elizabeth also referred to as PE, is known as the Friendly City as well as the Windy City. Port Elizabeth was established to home British settlers who were brought out on a government-sponsored programme to provide a buffer between the Cape Dutch and the Xhosa conflict. The little port grew from there and today it is the gateway to the beautiful Garden Route and serves as an excellent base to explore the Eastern Cape’s magnificent game reserves and pristine beaches. Visitors can explore the Addo Elephant National Park, inhabited by hundreds of elephants and other wildlife; climb the area’s largestdune at Maitland’s Beach, and jump on a boat tour to spot rare seabirds and whales. Transfer back to Johannesburg and fly to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) – Flight not included in price. On arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport you, you will be met by your English Guide and driver and transferred to your hotel.

  The Boardwalk Hotel

• 07 Knysna
  

  • Overview
  • Accommodation

  Sandwiched between the towering Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, Knysna is a large town often referred to as the ‘Garden of Eden’, surrounded by stunning bays perfect for sailing, boating, and swimming; picturesque beaches and lagoons; and world-renowned forests. This well-catered town is also a perfect base for safari expeditions at nearby parks such as Knysna Elephant Park, and close-up animal experiences at centres such as Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre, Birds of Eden, and Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary. From here, enjoy ample opportunities for surfing, swimming, yachting, jet-skiing, boating, fishing, and golfing. Visitors can also look forward to an array of wonderful markets, a picturesque waterfront filled with superb restaurants and shops, and several fantastic art galleries. Make sure to take a ferry trip to the famed Knysna Heads and sample the local oysters. Depart Gqeberha, stopping off at the Oudebosch Protea Farm to learn more about South Africa’s national flower. Continue to Tsitsikamma National Park, a beautiful stretch of wild coastline, where you can explore the untouched forest and cross the Storms River Mouth on the picturesque suspension bridge. The journey ends at Knysna, called the 'jewel of the Garden Route', a charming town set between the Knysna Heads on a beautiful Lagoon.

  Premier Resort – The Moorings –Knysna

• 08 Knysna
  • Overview
  • Accommodation
  • Meals

  Today will be spent on the Featherbed Eco Experience, an adventure through the beauty of Knysna. It begins with a scenic boat cruise across the lagoon, followed by a guided tractor ride up to the top of the western head, part of the Featherbed nature reserve, for panoramic views. There’ll then be a nature walk through the coastal forests to learn more about the region’s unique flora and fauna, finishing off with a delicious lunch among nature.

  Premier Resort – The Moorings –Knysna

  Lunch included

• 09 Cape Town
  

  • Overview
  • Accommodation
  • Meals

  Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more. From the coast, head inland en route to Cape Town, stopping at the town of Oudtshoorn, famous for its ostriches. While here you’ll visit the fascinating Cango Caves for a walk through the magnificent underground chambers, and an ostrich farm where you’ll take a tractor tour to meet the resident birds and dine on ostrich delicacies for lunch. Continue to Cape Town, passing through plenty of breathtaking scenery as you go.

  SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl

  Lunch included

• 10 Cape Town
  • Overview
  • Accommodation
  • Meals

  Today begins with an orientation tour, delving into the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. Drive past the Castle of Good Hope, Company Gardens and Houses of Parliament before stopping for lunch at Bo-Kaap Kombuis where you’ll have a cooking demonstration before dining on authentic Cape Malay cuisine. Then, ascend Cape Town’s most iconic landmark, Table Mountain via the cableway for amazing views over the city, along the coast and out to sea.

  SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl

  Lunch included

• 11 Cape Peninsula
  • Overview
  • Accommodation

   Start the day with an ocean safari around the Cape Peninsula’s islands, spotting lazing seals, a huge variety of seabirds and dramatic coastal landscapes. Then take a spectacular drive along Chapman’s Peak, a coastal road that hugs the mountains and gives sweeping views of the Atlantic. Head to Cape Point and look out over the meeting of the waters of the Indian and Atlantic oceans from the historic Cape Point Lighthouse. The final stop of the day is Boulders Beach where you can wander walkways that pass through a colony of delightful African penguins.

  SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl

• 12 Cape Town
  • Overview
  • Accommodation
  • Meals

  From Cape Town, embark on a tour of the renowned Cape Winelands, a region that is an absolute feast for the senses. Starting in Stellenbosch, tour the town before continuing to Franschhoek, where you’ll spend some time at the historic Boschendal Wine Estate. Learn about the art of winemaking, taste some of their exquisite vintages and enjoy lunch at Haute Cabriere with views over the valley. Return to Cape Town and sit down to a final night dinner at Gold Restaurant, where you’ll enjoy an immersive and authentic African experience.

  SunSquare Cape Town City Bowl

  Lunch & Dinner included

• 13 Cape Town
  • Overview
  • Meals

  This morning is at leisure in Cape Town, with time to shop or explore, before transferring to the airport in the afternoon. Board your overnight flight back to India arriving home the following day.

  Breakfast included