South Africa Explorer
Cape Town • Garden Route • Johannesburg • Kruger National Park
Tour Overview
South Africa Explorer offers some of the most beautiful scenery of the Garden Route and the world-famous Kruger National Park! Enjoy stops along the Garden Route including Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Tsitsikamma and a fabulous safari on this 12- day tour. Includes 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners.
Includes/Excludes
Includes: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners, accommodation, porterage, transport, open vehicle safaris and sightseeing as specified.
Excludes: Flight and departure tax between Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.
Rates
Starting from $3,899 (Land Tour Only)
Addons
- 2-3 nights in Cape Town with optional day tours.
- Johannesburg Walking Tour
- Morning Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfontein Caves
Afternoon Pretoria Tour
Day to Day Itinerary
Cape Town to Mossel Bay
Travel along Sir Lowry’s Pass to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. Continue via historic Swellendam to Mossel Bay.
About Accommodation
The Diaz Hotel & Resort sits on the pristine seashore of Mossel Bay’s renowned Diaz Beach, right in the heart of the picturesque and famous Garden Route. The Diaz Hotel is located only 10m from the high-water mark and offers spectacular ocean views from every window and balcony. The Diaz Hotel was named in honour of the famed Portuguese navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, who landed in Mossel Bay in 1488.
Mossel Bay to Oudtshoorn
Continue to Oudtshoorn for an ostrich farm guided tour, a wine tasting and a Cango Caves tour.
About Accommodation
La Plume Guest House is a Boutique Guest House on a working ostrich, alfalfa and cattle farm with spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountains and the Olifants River Valley. A warm welcome awaits you at this charming 1902 Victorian homestead with its tranquil surroundings where Karin, the owner, has combined old-world charm with modern comforts to ensure extraordinary service and personal attention.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Highlights
- Cango Caves: Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well-known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.
- Ostrich Farm Visit: Learn more about these remarkable birds and their fascinating nature.
Oudtshoorn to Knysna
Travel to Knysna for a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (weather permitting), including a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views, returning for lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
On Day 4 we visit the Garden of Eden and Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary. Continue to the Eastern Head for spectacular views (weather permitting). Rest of the day at leisure.
About Accommodation
The aha Rex Hotel located on the world-famous Garden Route, aha The Rex Hotel is a celebration of urban style, making it one of the most exhilarating getaway destinations in its class. Expect an eclectic mix of modern and classic comforts that capture the essence of 4-star luxury. The O Bar & Eatery serves Buffet Breakfast daily in a contemporary setting with cuisine that is beautifully presented and prepared using only the freshest ingredients that Knysna has to offer.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Knysna to Tsitsikamma
Travel to Plettenberg Bay and visit Birds of Eden Sanctuary. Continue to Bloukrans Bridge, then visit the Tsitsikamma Park and Storms River Mouth (weather permitting).
About Accommodation
The Tsitsikamma Village Inn offers 49 beautiful and individually decorated rooms. This historic hotel, offering scenic accommodation in Storms River along the Garden Route of South Africa, was established in 1946. This hotel is tucked away in the lush Tsitsikamma forest, close to Storms River Mouth, in the Tsitsikamma National Park. This historic South African hotel has served as a stop-over for travellers for more than a century. Most of the rooms are situated around a typical Village green. These buildings reflect many of the different building styles that were to be found in the Cape Colony during the 1800s.
Meals: Breakfast
Highlights
- Plettenberg Bay is a premier holiday destination situated on the Southern Cape coast of South Africa. Plett, as it is popularly known, has sweeping golden beaches, the iconic Robberg Peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers, vineyards and wine estates
- Birds of Eden is home to about 220 different types of birds, and more than 3500 birds live in the sanctuary. The award winning bird sanctuary provides a forever home where previously caged birds can live a life of free-flight in a habitat as large and natural as is possible.
Tsitsikamma » Port Elizabeth » Johannesburg
Day 6: Head to Port Elizabeth Airport for an onward flight to Johannesburg, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure, unescorted.
Day 7: Spend a full day touring Soweto and surrounds including the Apartheid Museum and Hector Pieterson Memorial. Continue to the Liliesleaf Heritage Site.
Day 8: Enjoy a full day at leisure. Take some time to relax, shop at the world-famous Sandton mall or enjoy a lunch at Mandela Square.
About Accommodation
Holiday Inn is located in the heart of Sandton, the hotel is in close proximity of a number of key attractions such as Sandton City, one of the largest shopping centres in the southern hemisphere, and Nelson Mandela Square, which offers a diverse range of restaurants, shops, entertainment and vibrant nightlife.
Meals: Breakfast
Highlights
- Soweto is an urban area of the city of Johannesburg. The population has historically been overwhelmingly black and some of the watershed events in the struggle against Apartheid occurred in this township. On this tour we will see the sights of Soweto including Winnie & Nelson Mandela’s former house, Desmond Tutu’s House, the Hector Peterson Memorial and Walter Sisulu Freedom Square. Afterwards we will head towards the Apartheid Museum. Once there you will have the opportunity to learn more about Apartheid and the resilient movement against it.
Johannesburg » Kruger National Park
About Accommodation
The Protea Hotel Kruger Gate is a lodge-style hotel, with soaring walkways and treetop ambiance, uniquely offers classic Big 5 safaris in the Kruger National Park with all the comforts of an upmarket 4-star hotel experience. Your adventures into the pristine wilderness will be perfectly balanced by the hotel’s contemporary relaxation options. Set in a tranquil riverine woodland of immense African trees, there is a range of elegant accommodation from standard to large guest rooms, and from the executive to presidential suites. With refined Africa-inspired décor, all rooms have en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, free wi-fi and in-room dining
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Each Day at The Protea Hotel Kruger Gate
Highlights:
- Safari Drives: Kruger National Park is renowned for its spectacular game viewing including Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), prolific birdlife and numerous other game.
- The magnificent Panorama Route in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province is one of the continents great natural wonders and one of the world’s most beautiful driving routes. Centred around the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest canyon, the Panorama Route offers a dramatic terrain of lush mountain peaks scarred with ochre cliff faces. Dozens of magnificent waterfalls, raging rivers and one of the largest afforested areas in South Africa.
Mpumalanga » Johannesburg
Return to Johannesburg arriving at OR Tambo International Airport at approximately 14h30, where the tour ends.
Meals: Breakfast