Overview
A classic journey through three countries from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
This epic journey explores the different facets of three very diverse
countries. In South Africa we go on game drives in the Kruger National Park,
walk in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, travel along the Garden Route,
enjoy wine tasting amid the countrys renowned vineyards and visit exciting
Cape Town and journey through the mountain kingdoms of Swaziland and
Lesotho.This three week trip has something for everyone: prolific wildlife,
incredible scenery, beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring mountains and, of
course, the rich culture which makes these countries what they are today.
Highlights
* Kruger and the Drakensberg
* Swaziland and Lesotho
* Cape Town and the Garden Route
Itinerary
Day 1 Depart London.
Depart London.
**
Day 2
Start Johannesburg; drive to Mpumalanga.
We leave the airport and make our way, on good roads, to the old gold rush
town of Pilgrim’s Rest on the eastern escarpment. En route we travel through
South Africa’s highest town, Belfast (1,970m) and the scenic Robbers Pass. We
overnight in Graskop (Mpumalamga), with views over the Graskop Gorge. Our
driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km) plus sightseeing.
*Mogodi Lodge or similar*
Day 3
Explore Panorama Route; to Letaba Ranch Reserve; night game drive.
Today we explore the aptly named Panorama Route. We drive through some
spectacular countryside and we stop at scenic places like Bourke’s Luck
potholes and Blyde River Canyon, the third largest of its type in the
southern hemisphere. From here we continue to Letaba Ranch Reserve. This late
afternoon we go on an open, sunset game drive returning to camp after dark
with the spot-light. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours
(250km).
*Mtomeni Safari Camp or similar*
Day 4
Morning game walk; to Kruger N.P.
This morning we head out looking for wildlife on foot as we head on a game
walk through the reserve. From here we continue to Kruger National Park,
justifiably one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world. It is also
one of the oldest, established by the president Paul Kruger in 1898. It has,
arguably, the greatest variety of animals of any park in Africa, with lion,
leopard, elephant, buffalo, Black and White rhino, as well as cheetah,
giraffe, hippo and many species of antelope and smaller plains’ game. The
total census includes 147 mammals, 507 birds and 114 reptiles as well as 336
different trees. The camps are also excellent and the general infrastructure
good. If you see all the predators you will be very lucky, however you will
almost certainly see some of the big five and a huge variety of smaller
mammals. We game drive through the park to the camp, where there will be a
chance for a swim and hot showers. Our driving time today will be
approximately 3-4 hours (250km).
*National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp*
Day 5
Game drives in Kruger N.P.
We spend all of today inside Kruger National Park and will go on game drives
in both the morning and the afternoon in order to maximise our wildlife
viewing chances.
*National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp*
Day 6
To Hlane Game Reserve, Swaziland, optional nature walk.
We enter Swaziland and overnight in the Kings old hunting grounds, now the
beautiful Hlane Royal National Park. In the afternoon there is the
opportunity to leave the vehicle and enjoy a nature walk (optional). Seeing
animals and tracks outside of the confines of a vehicle is a thrilling
experience and gives us the chance to see and hear the variety of smaller
animals and birds that are often passed by on game drives. Our driving time
today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).
*Wisteria Lodge or similar*
Day 7
To St. Lucia on the Elephant Coast.
This morning we drive south towards the town of Big Bend on our way to the
border and back into South Africa. We continue towards the small town of St.
Lucia between the Indian Ocean and Lake St. Lucia. It is not uncommon to come
across stray hippos in the centre of town and the nearby lagoon is a haven
for crocs, hippos, birds and even sharks! Our driving time today will be
approximately 3-4 hours (300km).
*Shonalanga Lodge or similar*
Day 8
Boat trip and game walk; afternoon at Cape Vidal.
This morning we spend 2 hours exploring lake St Lucia by boat, with an
excellent chance of seeing some of the many resident Hippo’s, crocodiles and
Fish Eagles. From here it’s a short drive to Cape Vidal, a long stretch of
beach along the Indian Ocean. We spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or
walking to Mission Rocks (please note the walk to Mission Rocks can only be
done at low tide and takes around 4hrs return) . Or alternatively there are a
number of optional activities available, including whale watching (in season:
June-November), or sunset and night game drives on the western shores of the
lake. Our driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (75km).
*Shonalanga Lodge or similar*
Day 9
To Dundee via Rourke’s Drift
We leave St. Lucia today and drive through the Natal midlands and on to
Dundee. En route we stop at Rourke’s Drift and have a chance to learn about
the famous battle at the local museum. Immortalised by Hollywood in the film
Zulu! The events that took place here are well known and the small cluster of
buildings isolated in the enormity of the African Bush are a moving reminder
of this troubled time. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours
(350km).
*Battlefields Country Lodge or similar*
Day 10
To Royal Natal N.P.; optional afternoon walk
We continue on to the Northern Drakensberg, our base for the next two nights.
The Drakensberg is a basalt escarpment forming the border between Kwa
Zulu-Natal and Lesotho and continuing into the Free State. It means ‘Dragon
Mountains’, but the Zulu named it Ukhahlamba (‘the barrier of Spears’). This
is a more accurate description of the sheer, forbidding, jagged escarpment.
Some walking takes us through the lowland areas with magnificent views. Our
driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (200km).
*Berg House Cottages or similar*
Day 11
Daywalk in the Drakensberg.
We spend a full day in the mountains where our route will have us walking
into the natural amphitheatre, following the Tugela River past Protea trees.
The Protea is the national flower of South Africa, as well as the name of
their cricket team. Our driving time today will be approximately 1 hours
(50km).
*Berg House Cottages or similar*
Day 12
To the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Today is a long day’s drive as we travel through the Golden Gate National
Park and the eastern farmlands of the Free State and enter Lesotho at the
Maseru border post. This mountainous kingdom has been shielded from outside
influence over the generations and the Basotho people historically used this
strategic location as a defence against events on the plains below. The lodge
situated in this rugged mountainous region provides us with an ideal
opportunity to experience the Lesotho culture. Our driving time today will be
approximately 5-6 hours (400km).
*Malealea Lodge or similar*
Day 13
Free day to enjoy Lesotho’s culture and mountain scenery.
The day is free to relax and experience the unique culture that Lesotho has
to offer. Mountain ridges protrude into the town and there’s the option of
doing a day’s pony trekking to a local village. Alternatively the craft shops
and markets can be an enjoyable way to pick up some African souvenirs.
*Malealea Lodge or similar*
Day 14
To Graaf Reinet in the Karoo.
On the road today as we drive south to Graaf-Reinet, the oldest town on the
Eastern Cape founded in 1786. Our driving time will be approximately 8 hours
passing through the desert landscape of the Great Karoo.
*Obesa Lodge or similar*
Day 15
To Tsitsikamma N.P on the Garden Route.
We drive down to the coast over the Baviaanskloof Mountains and the Kouga
Mountains before arriving at Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River mouth.
This national park protects the indigenous forests as well as the marine life
50km out to sea. We stay at a beautifully positioned camp with the waves
breaking a stone’s throw away. Our driving time today will be approximately
5-6 hours (400km).
*Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar*
Day 16 Free day to go on walks, relax or explore the region.
Our second day in Tsitsikamma N.P. is free to enjoy the beautiful setting.
There are a range of optional activities including walks to the Storms River
gorge and along the rocky coast, snorkelling, sea and river cruises and a
tree canopy tour through the forests. In season, approximately August to
October, the marine park becomes home to a population of migratory whales.
*Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar*
Day 17
To Hermanus; whale watching in season.
We drive along the beautiful Garden Route coastline via George and the
rolling cultivated fields of the Western Cape Boland to Hermanus. The route
is stunning and follows the ragged coast passing through small fishing
villages and seaside resorts. Hermanus is an interesting little town, rightly
famous for its delicious seafood and a visit to one of the great restaurants
in the evening is highly recommended. It is also widely regarded as the best
place in the world for land-based whale watching from August to November. Our
driving time today will be approximately 6-7 hours (500km).
*Windsor Hotelor similar*
Day 18
Visit South Africa’s wine region en route to Cape Town.
In the morning we leave Hermanus and, hugging the coastline (there is always
a good chance to see whales in season), we drive along this scenic route to
Gordon’s Bay and then onto Stellenbosch. The afternoon will be spent visiting
a few of the vineyards, which make this area world famous. Having enjoyed the
local produce, wine tasting is optional. We then take a short drive to Cape
Town. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).
*Cape Diamond or similar*
Day 19
Cape Peninsula tour, Cape Point and Simonstown’s penguins.
After an early morning breakfast we drive via the coastal suburbs of Clifton,
Camps Bay and Hout Bay and then over Chapman’s peak drive to the famous Cape
of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 7,680 hectares. The
reserve is home to eland, bontebok, grysbok, springbok, wildebeest, baboon
and ostrich. Rugged cliffs, unspoilt beaches, shipwrecks and beautiful flora
are the main features of the reserve. We will also visit the famous Cape
Point lighthouse. In the afternoon we take a short (1 hour) walk that is
almost entirely downhill. Our destination is the Cape of Good Hope with a
detour to Diaz beach. The trail ends at the famous signboard ‘Cape of Good
Hope’. We then return to Cape Town passing through the former Royal Navy base
town of Simonstown and a visit to the resident Penguin Colony. Our driving
time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).
*Cape Diamond or similar*
Day 20
Free day in Cape Town.
The day is free and an optional trip to Robben Island, site of Nelson
Mandela’s incarceration during the apartheid period, is highly recommended.
Weather permitting a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain is a must
for any visitor to this picturesque city. Alternatively the beaches of Cape
Town are a great place to relax and unwind.
*Cape Diamond or similar*
Day 21
End Cape Town.
The morning is free for some last minute shopping or sightseeing before those
no the group flights are taken to the airport for their flight home. The trip
ends after breakfast for those not on the group flights.
Day 22 Arrive London.
Arrive London.
**
