South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to Cape Town Safari

Below is the basic day to day brief,

The Full downloadable Itinerary is at the bottom of this window.

Please note - new tour duration for 2024 (19-Day itinerary)
Please download the dossier should you want more detailed information on the route and tour.

Day 1: Johannesburg to Kruger Park Area
We leave the City of Johannesburg and head east to the “Lowveld” – where most of South Africa’s wildlife reserves are found. The conditions are ideal for game, and the Kruger Park is known for its abundance of animals and perfect for safaris. We set up camp in the Greater Kruger area. Opportunity for sundowner safari – time allowing.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Optional Activity: Sundowner Safari

Day 2: Kruger National Park
The day is spent exploring the Kruger Park. The Kruger is home to a wide variety of wildlife and one can expect to encounter large herds of game. Elephants, giraffes, zebra, antelopes and predators are common sightings. The open vehicle game drive allows for excellent viewing and photographic opportunities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Kruger Park 4x4 Open Vehicle Game Drive

Day 3: Kruger Park – Panorama Route
For those wanting to do the morning bush walk have a very early start. We then head to the popular and scenic Panorama Route. We visit God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the amazing Three Rondawels. Fantastic views – cameras ready.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Panorama Route
Optional Activity: Morning Bush Walk

Day 4: Kruger Park - Eswatini (Swaziland)/Eswatini
Another early start as we head off on our final game drive through the Kruger Park and an opportunity to spot any of Africa’s famous Big 5 which we may have not yet seen. We exit the park in the south and head to the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). Crossing the border into Eswatini (Swaziland) we head to Mlilwane Nature Reserve.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Kruger Park Game Drive

Day 5: Eswatini (Swaziland)/Eswatini - Milwane Nature Reserve
Today the pace slows down. Mlilwane Nature Sanctuary has few dangerous animals which allows for self-guided exploration. A guided walk will take us through the sanctuary.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Nature Walk

Day 6: Eswatini (Swaziland) to St Lucia
This morning sees us leaving Eswatini (Swaziland) and entering the traditional tribal lands of the proud Zulu nation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: St Lucia and Umfolozi- Hluhluwe Game Reserve
We set off on an early morning game drive into the Hluhluwe- Umfolozi Game Reserve. This National Park is home to the Big 5 and is especially known for its high concentration of both black and white rhinos. The park is an integral part of the ongoing war against rhino poaching. After an informative game drive we head back to camp for a well-deserved rest. The late afternoon sees us heading out on a boat cruise on St Lucia Estuary – a World Heritage Site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: St Lucia Boat Cruise, Hluhluwe Game Drive

Day 8 & 9: Drakensberg Mountains
Today we head north to the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains - a World Heritage Site. En route we stop briefly in Durban before heading for the mountains. We visit the impressive Howick Falls – with its 95m of plunging water. Howick is also famous for being the place where Nelson Mandela was apprehended by the “apartheid police”. The Drakensberg Mountains are spectacular and is referred to as the “barrier of spears” in Zulu. The area is known for its fantastic hiking with a choice of trails available to suit your level of fitness. Hike to pristine waterfalls or take in some ancient San rock art.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on all days
Included Activities: Hiking in the Drakensberg, visit to the Mandela Capture Site, visit Howick Falls

Day 10 & 11: Kingdom of Lesotho
Our journey continues as we traverse a mountain pass and have a brief visit at a vulture restaurant/center where we hopefully have an opportunity to view these endangered scavengers. We pass through the “Golden Gate” and cross over into the “Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho”. Passing through the capital - Maseru – we climb the mountains to our base at Malealea. We explore the surrounding mountains and visit a local Basotho village. The Basotho have a very distinctive culture and are easily recognisable by their traditional blankets and hats. There is an opportunity to do some pony trekking.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Hike and Basotho village visit, drive through Golden Gate, Visit to Vulture Restaurant
Optional Activity: Pony trekking

Day 12: Graaff Reinet – Karoo
After crossing the border back into South Africa we head across the “Grater Karoo”, and experience a total change in South Africa’s ever changing landscapes. The Karoo is desolate and dry and popular for its sweeping vistas. Graaff Reinet is one of South Africa’s oldest town’s and has rich history.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Valley of Desolation Tour

Days 13 & 14: Addo Elephant Park – Eastern Cape
We travel across the dry Karoo as we head for the Addo Elephant Park located close to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Waking early we spend most of the day exploring this well-known National Park. The Addo is famous for it's Elephants and is also home to many other types of animals and we are bound to have some spectacular wildlife sightings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on both days
Included Activity: Game drive in Addo National Park

Day 15 & 16: Garden Route- Tsitsikamma National Park
Today we travel to the famous Garden Route and set up camp in Storms River village. En Route we stop at Jeffreys Bay - famous for its surf. A visit to the Tsitsikamma National Park is definitely a highlight. This is a beautiful area of South Africa and you have an opportunity to hike along the coast and through indigenous forests. For those with energy there is an opportunity to do a morning hike along part of the Otter Trail. This is a strenuous hike taking in rugged coastline. We also do an afternoon Woodcutters Journey to learn about the local history and fauna and flora.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Tsitsikamma National Park entrance to hike with guide, stop in the surfing town of Jeffreys Bay
Optional Activities: Woodcutters Walk, Treetop Canopy Tours

Day 17: Garden Route – South Africa
We enjoy a spectacular drive along the Garden Route – taking in numerous stops to enjoy this popular and scenic area of South Africa. A stop at natures Valley is included and allows time to enjoy a hike or relax on magnificent beaches. Passing through Knysna we head for the Wilderness where we spend the afternoon at your own leisure. There are a number of activities on offer or you can relax and soak up the incredible scenery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Natures Valley
Optional Activities: Bungee Jumping, Birds of Eden, Monkey Town

Day 18: Oudtshoorn
After a morning of exploring, we leave the lush coastline and head for Oudtshoorn – the “Ostrich Capital”. We ascend the magnificent Outeniqua Pass and make our way back into the Karoo. In the afternoon we enjoy a visit to the impressive Cango Caves where we join a guided tour of this unique underground cave system.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Activity: Cango Caves basic tour

Day 19: Route 62 to Hermanus
After packing up we do an early stop at an ostrich farm to take in this unusual and largest of all birds. We then enjoy a scenic drive along Route 62 – notably one of South Africa’s most scenic drive taking in spectacular vistas of endless rolling hills. We spend the night in the seaside town of Hermanus which well known for its shore based whale watching. (seasonal)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 20: Whale Route - Cape Town
Our final day sees us taking the scenic whale route, including a stop at an African Penguin Colony. A visit to a wine farm near Stellenbosch provides an opportunity to sample local wines and chocolate.Our tour ends in the afternoon. It is recommended to give yourself a couple of extra days to explore amazing Cape Town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Whale Route & Penguin Colony, chocolate and wine tasting