You are met on arrival at Johannesburg International Airport from where you depart to Pretoria. Visit the Voortrekker Monument and the Union Buildings where the President has his office.
Early departure for the Kruger Park. The Park covers
an area of 2 million ha and the Big Five namely elephant, lion,
buffalo, rhino and leopard can be seen. Stop at various spots
where the animals may be viewed at close range. Lunch at a rest
camp. Afternoon at leisure. Join an open vehicle before sunset
for a night safari, where you stand a chance to see the predators
hunting. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight
accommodation
Spend a full day viewing game in the Kruger Park.
Depart from Kruger Park and travel via Abel Erasmus Pass through the Strydom Tunnel to one of the most spectacular gorges in Africa, the Blyde River Canyon. The Canyon is up to 700 meter deep and was formed by the Blyde River which carved its way through the plateau and lowveld. Travel on to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, situated at the confluence of the Treur and Blyderivers. Deep cylindrical whirlpools were hollowed out over the years by the whirling of sand and stone. Next on the itinerary is god’s Window which offers a spectacular view over the lowveld. Pilgrims Rest, a beautiful renovated mining village. View the Mac – Mac Waterfall. Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast travel via Nelspruit, to Swaziland. Swaziland is one of the world’s smallest independent states. The journey goes to Mbabane. Dinner and overnight accommodation Manzine.
Travel southwards through sugar cane plantations to Golela, the border post between Swaziland and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The next stop is the ethnic Dumazulu village, in the center of Zululand. The inhabitants of the village carry out age old manufacturing traditions including the making of spear, shield and clay pots, basket weaving, intricate bead work and Sangoma bone throwing. The cultural experience culminates in spectacular and vibrant Zulu dancing. Dinner and accommodation Dumazulu Lodge.
Depart from Dumazulua for St. Lucia where a boat trip is taken on Lake St. Lucia. Hippo’s, crocodiles and a large variety of birds such as Flamingo’s, Pelicans, Grey Heron can be seen. The last leg of the journey goes through sugar cane plantations to Durban, also known as the holiday city.
Durban accommodates various cultures: Indian, Zulu and western. Visit the Indian market, - vendors offer a variety of goods, such as silk, copperware, ivory and fruit. Afternoon free.
Depart from Durban and travel inland via Pietermaritzburg, capital of Kwa-Zulu Natal. After a short scenic city drive continue via Winterton to a resort in the Drakensberg.
Entire day spent in the mountain area. Hikes vary from half day to full day. The more energetic may climb Mount-Aux-Sources, at 3284 m the highest mountain in South Africa.
Travel further inland via Olivershoek Pass, drive past the Sterkfontein dam. You are now in the Free State Province. Stop at the Basuto Cultural Village for a guided tour of the village. See how the western culture made its mark in the Basutho culture. Continue to Golden Gate Highlands Park. Caverns and rock shelters are set in a landscape where the colours are spectacular, the rock shapes surprising. Horses are available for a trip on one of the trails. Overnight Brandwag Camp.
The journey continues through agricultural area, where asparagus, cherries, maize and wheat are produced. Reach Bloemfontein the capital of the Free State Province. Dinner and overnight.
Depart on a city drive of Bloemfontein. Visit the War Museum and Women’s Memorial erected in honour of the women and children who died in concentration camps during the Ango-Boer War. Drive through Pres. Brand Street to Natal Hill. From the viewpoint one has a panoramic view of the city and surrounding area. Afternoon at leisure for own arrangements.
Depart for Kimberley, the City of Diamonds. Diamonds were discovered at a hillock near Kimberley during 1871. This led to a rush of fortune seekers to Kimberley. In no time the hill disappeared and the largest man made hole in the world was formed. View the Open Mine Museum and Big Hole.
After breakfast depart for a diamond mine on the outskirts of Kimberley. After you received your safety equipment, proceed to the "cage" and descend 800 m into the earth. Walk through the tunnels and watch the mining operations. This visit lasts approximately three hours. Back at the surface in time for lunch, whereafter the journey goes via Jan Kempdorp and Hartswater to Hartzhoogte Game Ranch.
Early game drive through the reserve. After the game drive depart for Kuruman via Vryburg. This road leads as straight as an arrow for 140 km to Kuruman. Visit one of the nature wonders of South Africa is the "Eye" of Kuruman or the source of the Kuruman river. From the foot of a hill flows a spring with crystal clear water delivering 20 million litres a day. Dinner and overnight.
Depart Kuruman and travel via Hotazel (pronounced Hot as Hell) and Van Zylsrus past Askam and Andriesvale to Twee Rivierin Restcamp in the Kalahari Gemsbok Park, our base for two nights.
The Kalahari Gemsbok Park covers an area of 1 000
000 ha. This vast landscape with it’s red sand dunes is
where Springbok, Gemsbok, Cheetah, Hyena, Lions, Eland, Kudus,
Wildebeest, Ostrich and Jackal, can be seen. The day is spent
viewing game. Overnight Twee Riviere Restcamp. The nights are an
adventure in the Kalahari.
Depart from Kalahari Gemsbok Park and travel to Upington which lies nestled on the banks of the Orange River. After a short tour, the excursion takes us along the Orange River to Kanon Island – an island with fertile soil in the middle of the River. Here grapes and cotton are grown. Follow the Orange River to Keimoes where a waterwheel will be viewed. The journey goes via Kakamas to the Augrabies Waterfalls. The Augrabies Waterfalls have a direct fall of 54 m. Dinner and overnight in Augrabies.
After breakfast drive through the park. There are several viewing points from where one has a view over the River. Quivertree, Wild Olive, Cape Willow, and a variety of animal and bird life can be seen. Leave Augrabies and travel through an inhospitable area known as "Bushmenland", a crude piece of land with 75 mm of rain during good rain seasons. Despite the dry conditions sheep have adapted well and can be seen as one travels through the area. Travel further via Pofadder to Springbok, commerce and administrative center of Namakwaland. During spring the area is covered with a flower carpet. Travel to Steinkopf, where a Nama community is found. View their huts, which are made from reeds and hide. You also have time to talk to the inhabitants. Return to Springbok for dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Depart from Springbok. Travel via Kamieskroon, Garies and Bitterfontein and through the Knersvlakte to Vredendal. Our last stop is Clanwilliam on the foot of the Cederberg. Clanwilliam is the home of Roobostea. Rooibostea is produced from a small plant that grows in the mountains and is commercially produced. The tea is rich in minerals. Dinner and overnight in Clanwilliam.
Undertake an excursion to the Cederberg. This mountain chain is almost 10 0km long. Travel via the Pakhuispass and through the Bidouwvalley to Wuppertal, a Rhine missionary established in 1830. The inhabitants make leather articles. Return to Clanwilliam – afternoon at leisure. In the evening the journey takes us to Lambertsbaai, a fishing village on the Atlantic Ocean. A seafood dinner will be served in the open. Return to Clanwilliam for overnight.
From Clanwilliam the journey takes us to Citrusdal and over the Middelberg and Buffelberg Passes to the Koue Bokkeveld and on to Kagga Kamma (Place of the Bushman). In the afternoon view Bushmen Rock Art. Dinner and overnight accommodation Kagga Kamma – (Place of the Bushman)
Early morning game drive followed by a visit to the Bushmen Colony. These people have not changed much since the Stone Age. Depart from Kagga Kamma. Travel via Bydopass to Ceres, named after the Roman Goddess of Agriculture due to the Fertility of the soil. Ceres is a fruit producing area. Continue via Paarl. Shortly afterwards Paarl Table Mountain can be seen in the distance. Dinner and overnight in Cape Town.
Early breakfast. Drive to the cable station at the foot of Table Mountain. After viewing Cape Town from Table Mountain return to the upper cable station for the descent. Depart on a Cape Point Tour, a drive around the spectacular Cape Peninsula, regarded by many as the most beautiful in the world. This is the meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Visit Hout Bay, Simonstown, Fish Hoek and drive past the University of Cape Town and the Groote Schuur Hospital where the first heart transplant was performed. Stop at Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, where one can experience the Southern Cape’s Flora – which include protea and "fynbos". Evening free for own arrangements.
Depart Cape Town to Paarl. Visit the "Afrikaanse Taalmonument" which was established in honour of the Afrikaans language. Further to Franschhoek, named after the French Huguenot’s who vested here and brought wine growing to this area. View the Huguenot Monument in Franschoek, and wine cellars. Travel further over Helshoogte to Stellenbosch. Visit a wine cellar, where a traditional Cape lunch will be served. After lunch you have time to walk through the avenue of oaks. Visit "Oom Samie se winkel" – general dealer since 1904. Return to Cape Town.
Time for last minute shopping, before you are transferred to the airport.