Register today and get 10% off any eligible trip!     Register Now!
AdventureLink Logo
Register Login Why Book with us? Talk to an expert!
24/7: (877) 691-4488, +1 (626) 539-7506, Skype : Support.adventurelink.com
HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
13 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Soweto township tour
  • Kruger Park safari
  • Kingdom of Swaziland: Switzerland of Africa
  • Famed 'Garden Route'
  • Ostrich farm tour
  • Table Mountain Cable Way
  • Cape Winelands tour and wine tasting
$4350USD
Prices vary by date. Make sure to pick your departure date.
Available Dates:
Available Spaces:
8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Ready to book? Want more info?
You can also talk to an expert or book online:
BOOK ONLINE NOW
ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
SAVE 5%
Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
See the locations you'll visit!

South Africa Tour

This land is teeming with various animal species, such as lions, elephants, cheetahs and zebras, and gives the chance to get a look at exotic wildlife frolicking in their natural habitat. We are flexible with our time limit on this expedition in order to get the most from this special experience.
When we think of Africa, we think of safari and Kruger National Park is a destination that enjoys worldwide acclaim for providing just that. This land is teeming with various animal species, such as lions, elephants, cheetahs and zebras, and gives the chance to get a look at exotic wildlife frolicking in their natural habitat. We are flexible with our time limit on this expedition in order to get the most from this special experience. We will meet some of the world's most interesting people by stepping into the homeland of the indigenous Zulu people and learn about their customs and traditions that have lasted for the three centuries. We will visit one of the last remaining kingdoms of Africa; Swaziland. The facts that this country is landlocked in South Africa and smaller than Kruger Park give it an endearingly quaint quality. We appreciate its stark beauty as we stare at the rolling hills of sugar cane surrounded by serene mountains.

Note: This tour may require a mandatory single supplement charge of 435 USD if twin-sharing accommodation is unavailable.
Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg
Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Johannesburg is South Africa's financial centre and largest city. This "Place of Gold", as the Sotho word for Gauteng Province suggests, harbours the gold fields of South Africa. No one could have imagined the repercussions when an unemployed miner found a stone bearing traces of gold in 1886. This seemingly insignificant event led to the discovery of the world's richest natural treasure trove. People flocked to the area from all ends of the earth and the open pastoral landscape changed almost overnight. Today in the "New South Africa," Johannesburg continues as the country's -- indeed the entire region's -- economic powerhouse and is evolving into a very vibrant cultural melting pot.

Overnight in Johannesburg (Sandton). Meal plan: Dinner, if required.
Day 2: Johannesburg - the 'Panoramic Route' - Hazyview
From Jo'burg we head off through the vast wilderness of Mpumalanga (formerly The Eastern Transvaal), the "Land of the Rising Mist". Along the way we travel from the vast grasslands of the High Veld, with its huge farms and ranches, down to the drier Low Veld region characterized by rocky hills and acacia scrub forest. This is an expansive landscape of mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, primal forests, and colourful flora. Steeped in a history of pioneers and fortune-seekers, we will pass many Gold Rush towns and farming communities en route. Lydenburg ("town of suffering") established by Voortrekkers in 1849 lies at the bottom of Long Tom pass. This pass, named after the big gun used by the Afrikaners during the Anglo Boer War, is one of the most scenically dramatic in the country. It links Sabie on the escarpment with Lydenburg on the Drakensberg plateau.

A highlight of our sightseeing today is the spectacular Blyde River Canyon. This great escarpment is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views. The Blyde River Canyon is one of the most spectacular in Africa and its cliffs rise between 600-800 m (2,000-2,640 feet) from the river bed. At the "Three Rondavels viewpoint" is an unforgettable view of three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon. Their tops appear to have a hut-like rounded roof.

Following the road and the Treur River south, there are further viewpoints; Wonder View, God's Window and the Pinnacle. Their names help to conjure up the indescribable vastness of the scenery. From here we continue to Hazyview near Kruger National Park.

Overnight in Hazyview. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3: Kruger National Park
Early this morning we enter South Africa's largest game reserve, Kruger National Park, named after Paul Kruger, the first to initiate the setting aside of this area as a reserve in the 1890s. Here we transfer to open safari vehicles and make a full-day excursion through the southern sector of this fascinating and beautiful park.

The Kruger Park is an enormous area of flat veld, broken by rivers and comprised of mixed vegetation and terrain. The park, officially founded in 1926, supports more species of wildlife than any other African reserve -- over 137 mammal species, 49 fish species, 112 reptile species, and nearly 500 bird species! With some luck we may see and photograph lion, leopard, cheetahs, elephant, zebra and many other wonderful African animals.

We return to Hazyview in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Hazyview. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4: Hazyview, South Africa - Mbabane, Swaziland
We travel south today and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, an independent country completely landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique, and smaller than Kruger Park! Naturally fortified by beautiful mountains, Swaziland remains one of the last kingdoms in Africa, a continent once dominated by colonialism. The pace of life here is relaxed and the lifestyle traditional; we will see rural people working their farms and tending their herds as we make our way to the vicinity of Mbabane, the capital city.

Overnight in / near Mbabane. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Mbabane, Swaziland - Hluhluwe, South Africa
This morning we travel into the Swazi Lowveld, an area of tiny villages and endless rolling hills planted in sugarcane.

Later this morning we cross back into the Republic of South Africa and travel into the province of Kwazulu-Natal. This area is a nature-lover's paradise, boasting unforgettable untamed African wilderness. This is the traditional homeland of the Zulu people whose informal economy was historically based upon livestock, subsistence agriculture and hunting. The Zulu have lived in southern Africa for over 300 years and have maintained their traditions and customs perhaps more than any other indigenous southern African ethnic group. In the late 18th century, the Zulu clan was but one of a number of small groups among the northern Nguni. By the 1820s, a powerful Zulu state had emerged under the control of Shaka. Historians continue to debate the reason/s for the rise of a militarised and authoritarian Zulu state.

This afternoon we settle into our comfortable lodge in the African bush, situated in close proximity to the Umfolozi, Mkuze and Hluhluwe National Parks.

Overnight near Hluhluwe. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Hhuhluwe Game Reserve - Durban - Port Elizabeth
This morning we will participate in an early morning game drive through Hluhluwe Game Reserve. The reserve is the oldest conservation area in Africa, established on 30 April 1895, and is famous for saving the White Rhino from extinction. The area currently boasts the largest rhino populations in Africa; both the Black and White Rhino are endemic to the area. Apart from the "Big Five," the area is also refuge to the endangered wild dog and the elusive cheetah.

This afternoon we travel toward the Indian Ocean and continue on to Durban, the 'Garden City' of South Africa. This area was opened up to white settlement by the Voortrekkers in the early 19th century, though the Portuguese were navigating the coast here as early as the late 15th century. Vasco da Gama was the first European to sail along this coast, giving it the name Natal to commemorate his Christmas Day arrival. In 1899 the British and the Boers went to war, but under reconciliation in 1910 formed the Union of South Africa with an agreement signed in what is now Durban's modern-day Main Post Office.

This evening we fly from Durban to Port Elizabeth, the start of the famous "Garden Route." (As this will likely be an evening flight, we will not be including dinner this evening).

Overnight in Port Elizabeth. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Port Elizabeth - 'The Garden Route' - Knysna OR George
Port Elizabeth is South Africa's fifth largest city and the third largest port. This morning we will have a brief panoramic tour of this city seeing the Market Square and the beaches of Algoa Bay.

From Port Elizabeth we travel along the world-famous 'Garden Route' toward Knysna. This route is parallel to the ocean and features lakes, mountains, beaches, and steep cliffs. This part of the garden route reminds one of the Oregon Coast (USA) with its sand dunes and great surf beaches. We'll make a lunch stop at Storm's River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park, located on the shores of the Indian Ocean. You will have time to walk a short section of the famed Otter Trail, widely regarded as one of the finest in the world, stretching 41 km (25 mi - 5 days) from Storms River Mouth to Nature's Valley.

We continue to Knysna, a charming coastal town with tremendous water and mountain view and a laid-back lifestyle. The town was founded in 1817 by George Rex, reputed to be an illegitimate son of King George III. Known for its picturesque lagoon, the town was first established as a timber port. Today, Knysna is proud of its riviera atmosphere with many sidewalk cafes and shops.

Depending on limited accommodation availability in Knysna, we may overnight here in Knysna or continue a little further down the road to the town of George.

Overnight in Knysna or George. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Knysna OR George - Mossel Bay - Outdshoorn
This morning we travel down the coast to Mossel Bay. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias arrived here on February 3, 1488, thus proving to his sponsors that Africa had a southern tip; making it theoretically possible to sail from Europe to India. Our destionation is the Dias Museum Complex, which marks the spot of the historical landing of Bartolomeu Dias. The 500 year old Post Office Tree, a national monument, can still be seen at the site, now harbouring a post box shaped as a shoe.

We then head inland and over the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo (Klein Karoo), a semi-arid yet fertile valley or depression surrounded by formidable mountian ranges. This is the ostrich capital of South Africa with thousands of these unusual birds dotting fields throughout the area. At the turn of the century ostrich feathers were in such demand that the fashion conscious paid a premium and feathered the nests of the barons who built magnificent mansions known as "Feather Palaces." This fine architecture can still be seen around the sedate and pleasant town of Outdshoorn (pronounced 'Oats-horn'), our final destination.

We will have lunch at one of the region's main ostrich show farms, followed by a tour thereof before continuing to Outdshoorn where we finish our day.

Overnight in Outdshoorn. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: Outdshoorn - Swellendam - Cape Town
From Oudtshoorn we travel through the Huis River Pass with its spectacular rock formations, and the little farming town of Ladysmith, named after the Spanish wife of British Cape Governor Sir Harry Smith. We cross our second mountain range of the day to arrive in the town of Swellendam, the third oldest colonial town in South Africa, established in 1745. Here you will have time to have lunch and visit several historic buildings built in the charming Cape Dutch style with characteristic whitewashed walls and black, thatched roofs.

We then pass through a vast wheat growing and sheep farming area on our way to Cape Town. In the late afternoon we cross the Hottentot's Holland Mountains (our third range for the day), the centre of South Africa's apple growing region, to arrive in Cape Town, one of the world's most isolated and beautiful cities.

Overnight in Cape Town. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Cape Town: the Cape Peninsula
Today we have the quintessential full-day tour of the Cape Town area: The Cape Peninsula.

Our tour takes us south along the Atlantic Seaboard where we have spectacular views of some of Cape Town's most affluent neighbourhoods and spectacular mountain and coastal scenery. We have a brief photo stop just before Camp's Bay, a pretty surfside suburban community featuring the classic view of the town with the 'Twelve Apostles' peaks as a backdrop.

We continue south along a seaside-hugging route, through the town of Hout Bay and the famous Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular marine drives anywhere in the world. The 9km route, with its 114 curves, skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman's Peak, the 593m high southerly extension of Constantia Berg.

Our next stop is the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. The reserve is a wildflower, bird, and animal paradise on 77 sq km (30 sq miles) of the Cape Peninsula. The reserve is also home to eland, springbok, bontebok, baboon, and zebra. Within the reserve are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwesterly point on the African continent.

After a break for lunch and free time at Cape Point, we head north again, stopping briefly at the Cape of Good Hope, before continuing back up the Indian Ocean side of the peninsula, passing through Simonstown, founded by the Dutch in 1741 as a naval depot and named for Simon van der Stel, governor of Cape Colony from 1679 to 1697. Today Simonstown is famous for its distinctly English architecture and atmosphere, and the southernmost train station on the continent.

We complete our loop around the peninsula, past the well-watered eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Constantia, Bishops Court and the campuses of the University of Cape Town.

Overnight in Cape Town. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11: The Cape Winelands
This morning we travel the short distance to Stellenbosch, South Africa's second oldest colonial settlement. After a little spin around the town, we'll park in the centre of town and allow some time for some independent, on-foot exploration. You will notice some of the finest examples of traditional Cape Dutch architecture along the town's famous oak-lined streets.

We continue to one of the area's many wineries for a cellar tour and tasting. The Cape vineyards were originated at Constantia by Jan van Riebeeck in 1685 and were advanced in 1688 by Hugenot refugees who brought their vine seedlings and skills with them from France. The Cape's different soils and climatic variations allow a wide variety of wines to be pressed. Along our route today we will see several wine estates with their delightful Cape Dutch houses, thatched roofs and decorative gables.

Today we include lunch at one of the area's wine estates. After lunch we'll continue our scenic drive through the area before heading back to Cape Town for dinner on your own.

Overnight in Cape Town. Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 12: Cape Town: Table Mountain & City Tour
We will start our day with a gondola trip to the top of Table Mountain,* a sandstone plateau rising up above the city. The top is approximately 3km wide and at its highest point, Maclears Beacon, rises to 1085m / 3,580 ft. Over the centuries it has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mountain play home to a number of animals and approximately 1,470 species of plants -- more than the entire British Isles!

After descending the mountain, we tour Cape Town, the seat of the Parliament which holds a six-month session here each year. We will see the Houses of Parliament, the Malay Quarter with its narrow streets and minarets; the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa's oldest building; and visit the South African Museum.

We also visit the National Botanical Gardens of Kirstenbosch, with over 4,000 species of indigenous plants (2,600 are endemic to the Cape Peninsula). The garden's history dates back to the 1660s, when the first Dutch settlers arrived in the Cape. Governor Jan van Riebeeck planted a barrier of Wild Almonds to protect settlers' cattle from the original inhabitants of the area -- and part of this hedge is still in the garden!

* NOTE: The order of our Cape Town sightseeing may vary depending on weather. Table Mountain is particularly susceptible to cloud and mist and may be accomplished elsewhere in our program at the discretion of your Tour Leader.

Overnight in Cape Town. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13: Departure
Departure from Cape Town.

BON VOYAGE! Meal plan: Breakfast.
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Breakfast and dinner daily (local restaurants and hotels).
  • All accommodation, transport (including internal flights), sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary.
  • Gratuities for drivers, local guides, restaurant staff, porters.
  • Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Tour Leader gratuities, one lunch, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international (if applicable) and domestic air taxes, visa fees, and any excursions referenced as 'optional'.
  • Airport transfers for Land Only customers.
  • Optional trip cancellation insurance.
  • Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on shopping and visas.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Did you know that you can customize this trip?

Customizing a trip is a great way to:

  • Change anything about the itinerary you don't like.
  • Change the size of the group or make this a private tour.
  • Change the duration or departure date of the trip.
  • Because we use the local operator, this customization usually won't cost you extra!
Contact us to customize this trip
SEND TRIP TO A FRIEND
Email this Trip to:
Seperate multiple emails by a new line.
Customize your message:
SEND
Customize the Brochure
Download Brochure
AS SEEN ON

Company

About Us Our Blog API Terms of Use Privacy Policy
California Seller of Travel #2088061-40
Real Time Web Analytics

Customers

Why book with AdventureLink? Invite Friends - Get $100 Trip Credit! Talk to an Expert - Get Travel Advice & Booking Help

Tour Operators

List your Trips on AdventureLink Tour Operator Portal Login

Affiliates

Become an Affiliate Affiliate Widgets

Help & Support

Contact Us Support Portal
Call Us or Our Experts:
(877) 691-4488
+1 (626) 539-7506
Skype : Support.adventurelink.com