Join this perfect 13-day comprehensive South African tour to see the best the country has to offer, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town. Get your fill of nature as you venture out on safari game drives to spot the Big Five, go on a meerkat outing, greet the penguins on Boulders Beach, and even visit an ostrich farm. Admire South Africa’s extensive coastline and spectacular views and travel to the continent’s most southwestern point. Sample local wines during a wine tasting. The tour features impeccable choice hotels offering deserving levels of comfort for you. This ideal itinerary gives you the best possible view of the contrasts offered by sensational South Africa.
Today you will board an overnight flight to Johannesburg. Overnight is in the plane.
Day 02 : Arrival Johannesburg – Belfast
Arrive at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, meet your tour guide, and transfer to your accommodation in Belfast. This small, peaceful town in the Mpumalanga Province is renowned for its excellent trout fishing and its attractive agricultural lands. Fishermen from all over the country travel here to the ‘trout triangle’ to enjoy trout and bass fishing, while their families enjoy the homely atmosphere of the town. Due to rich soil and high rainfall, Belfast’s surrounding farms are largely focused on sheep, dairy, cattle, maize, and potato farming. Check-in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure and indulge in a delicious dinner at the hotel. Dinner is included.
Overnight in Belfast.
Day 03 : Belfast – Kapama Game Reserve
After breakfast, leave the hotel taking the Panorama Route to Kapama. The Panorama Route includes a spectacular variety of scenery such as deep canyons, rugged mountains, misty waterfalls, and tranquil lakes. The route passes Ohrigstad and leads into the Blyde River Canyon. The 26-kilometer-long valley is one of the most important natural wonders of South Africa. North of the route lies the Three Rondavels, the Blyde River Canyon’s most striking feature. Admire the huge rocks that resemble mushrooms growing out of the mountain and are similar in appearance to traditional African round huts, namely rondavels. Then, catch a glimpse of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, a complex of smooth, cylindrical potholes and natural rock sculptures that have been hollowed out by water erosion through the Blyde River over millions of years. If weather permits, south of the route we stop to let another spectacular viewpoint named God’s Window amaze our eyes.
After this spectacular drive, arrive at the lodge, check-in and freshen up before your afternoon safari game drive in Kapama Private Game Reserve. The Kapama Private Game Reserve lies west of Kruger National Park on 13,000 hectares of open savannah, grassland, and riverine bush along the river. Excellent trained and experienced rangers and trackers guarantee a unique African safari experience in the home of the Big Five – lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino. After your game drive, return to the lodge and enjoy a tasty dinner. Lunch and dinner are included.
Overnight in Kapama .
Day 04 : Kapama
At the break of dawn, a gentle tap on the door will awaken you. Meet your ranger to discuss your expectations for this morning’s safari. The game drive takes place in an open 4×4 vehicle which enables you to experience close encounters and unforgettable moments with various animals. Each game drive lasts around three hours. During the outing, your ranger informs you about the flora and fauna of the bush and how the animals live. Enjoy a tasty cup of coffee during a break out in the bush at one of the scenic spots. Upon your return to the lodge, feast on a substantial breakfast. Relax at the pool and enjoy the lodge facilities until it is time for your afternoon game drive. This exciting day ends with dinner at the lodge. Lunch and dinner are included.
Overnight in Kapama.
Day 05 : Kapama – Pretoria
Begin your day with an early morning game drive and a tasty breakfast. Afterward, make your way to South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, affectionately known as ‘Jacaranda City’ because of the many purple blossoms lining the streets when these trees are in full bloom, normally between the months of September and November. Pretoria has approximately one million inhabitants and a fascinating history that has crafted a city with a rich cultural heritage featured in a variety of museums, buildings and art centers. Arrive in Pretoria, check into your hotel, and get ready for a new interesting day.
Overnight in Pretoria.
Day 06 : Pretoria – George – Knysna
Have a delightful breakfast at your hotel and then explore Pretoria during an orientation city tour lasting around an hour and a half. After the tour, transfer to O.R. Tambo International Airport to catch your flight to George Airport. Arrive at George Airport, your new tour guide where your new guide will greet you and then drive you to the accommodation in Knysna, a small, charming seaside town on the banks of a protected lagoon. The name is derived from the Khoi language and is believed to mean ‘straight down’, referencing the Knysna Heads. The town is well known for its oysters, its nature reserves and various activities on offer. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Knysna.
Day 07 : Knysna
Start the day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Then, make your way to the Knysna Lagoon for a Featherbed Nature Reserve eco-experience. The Featherbed Nature Reserve is a 150-hectare private reserve that is only accessible via ferry across the Knysna Lagoon. From the jetty, you are met and taken on an excursion aboard 4×4 vehicles onto Knysna’s Western Head. Stop at one of the viewpoints where your guide will inform you about the reserve and the Heads. A two-kilometre trail takes you through the coastal forest and fynbos down to the coast and back to the restaurant. The outing ends with a buffet lunch under a canopy of Milkwood trees. Afterwards, the ferry takes you back to Knysna. This eco-excursion lasts around four hours. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at the Knysna Waterfront. Lunch is included.
Overnight in Knysna.
Day 08 : Knysna – George – Oudtshoorn
After a delectable breakfast, make your way to the town of George and then to Oudtshoorn, today´s final destination. Pass the village of Sedgefield en route to Wilderness, a small seaside village, located on an almost endless white beach and offering fantastic views of the Outeniqua Mountains. The road now turns inland heading to George, the capital of the eastern part of the Western Cape Province.
The town has over 120,000 inhabitants and is an important industrial centre of the region. It is also a popular golfing retreat offering enthusiasts the George and the world-renowned Fancourt golf courses. From here, make your way to Oudtshoorn where your guesthouse is located. Oudtshoorn is the capital of the Little Karoo and is also known as the ‘ostrich capital’. Some gracious so-called ‘feather palaces’ show the wealth created during the boom of the ostrich feather industry during the early 20th century. Enjoy a visit to Safari Ostrich Farm and indulge in a tasty dinner. Lunch and dinner are included.
Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Day 09 : Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves – Montagu
Wake up early to get ready for an exciting Meerkat encounter. This fantastic experience starts at sunrise and depends on fair weather. A knowledgeable guide will introduce you to these interesting personalities on the plains of the African outback (The tour is weather permitting and lasts between two to three hours). Afterwards, return to the farm, have a delicious breakfast and collect your luggage before you make your way to your next activity, the amazing Cango Caves. These caves are situated in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, just 30 kilometres outside of Oudtshoorn. Originally discovered by the indigenous San people almost 10,000 years ago, the cave system features more than 80 caverns and extends five kilometres into the mountain, but only a 1.2-kilometre stretch is open to visitors. Explore the Great Hall, which is more than 107 metres in diameter and has a height of 16 metres, and catch sight of the multitude of stalagmites and stalactites.
After the cave tour, travel from Oudtshoorn, taking the inland route, leading along with the Langeberg mountain range to Calitzdorp, the capital of the local South African port wine industry. Continue through the Little Karoo and drive over the Huisrivier pass to Ladismith. Towering above the town is the landmark Towerkop. It is said that the top was split by the broom of an angry witch as she fled over the mountain peak. Past the small town of Barrydale, the route leads to Montagu, a quaint little town with a good number of national monuments. It is an ideal stop for a stroll and some refreshments. Montagu is also a centre for apricot and peach industries and well known for its sweet muscatel wines. Check-in and enjoy a fabulous wine tasting at Mimosa Lodge.
Overnight in Montagu.
Day 10 : Montagu – Stellenbosch – Cape Town
After breakfast at the hotel, depart Montagu and make your way to Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and a vibrant university town. Your expert local guide will lead you on a tasty discovery of the historic heart of Stellenbosch with its elegant oak-lined streets, architectural diversity and inspiring outdoor art. This classic Cape cuisine walk includes a guided walking tour of the old town centre with entertaining stories about Stellenbosch history and culture, as well as a visit to the oldest townhouse in South Africa, which forms part of the Village Museum. You will sample indigenous teas and home-style rusks, traditional snacks such as biltong (dried beef) and droëwors (dried sausage) from a family-run butchery. Then savour a heritage lunch platter at the oldest hotel in South Africa and nostalgic sweets when we visit the legendary Oom Samie se Winkel – the oldest shop in town. Finish this memorable tour with a trilogy of Cape desserts and proceed to Cape Town, South Africa’s ‘Mother City’. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the town is contained in a bowl created by Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and Table Bay. It is, therefore, no surprise that it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In the mid-17th century, Cape Town was founded by the Dutch East India Company as a refreshment station for its ships on the way to the riches of the East. The Castle of Good Hope and the Company’s Garden go back to these humble beginnings. Spend your afternoon visiting the city centre with its many historical buildings and different architecture. Also, if weather permits, enjoy a trip with the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Afterwards, go to your hotel in Cape Town and get ready for another interesting day. Lunch is included.
Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 11 : Cape Peninsula Tour
Begin the day with breakfast at the hotel, followed by an exciting tour through an ever-changing landscape of majestic mountains, vast oceans, rugged cliffs and indigenous fynbos vegetation. Here, the landscape is rough, and it is no wonder that the Portuguese seafarers called the cape Capo Tormentoso, meaning the ‘Cape of Storms’. Visit the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern tip of the African continent. Then stop at the seaside towns of Fish Hoek and Muizenberg which border False Bay and are popular for their swimming beaches in summer and viewing Southern Right Whales in winter.
The journey continues through Simon’s Town where the South African naval headquarters are located. Your first stop is Boulder’s Beach, where a colony of African Penguins settled in the early 1980s. Safely view the penguin colony from elevated boardwalks, overlooking their nesting grounds and beach. The monogamous penguin mate for life and generally lay two eggs with the penguin parents sharing responsibility taking care of the nest and their young. Then visit the old lighthouse at Cape Point, which offers a spectacular viewing platform over False Bay. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from the car park to the lighthouse summit, or just a few minutes on the funicular railway. The funicular ride is included. Return to Cape Town via Chapman’s Peak in the afternoon where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 12 : Cape Town
Indulge in a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Spend the entire day at leisure, relaxing or exploring the beautiful streets of Cape Town. Enjoy the city and all it has to offer!
Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 13 : Final Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, bid farewell to this beautiful city and enjoy a comfortable transfer to Cape Town International Airport to continue with your individual travelling plans.
Breakfast included
What's included
Return economy flight from London Heathrow
TOUR GUIDE: Operated with an English-speaking driver guide
ACCOMMODATION: 11 nights accommodation
MEALS: 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
TRANSPORT: Vehicle according to group size and pax numbers, petrol and toll fees; Airport transfers.
ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES: All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Afternoon safari game drive in Kapama Private Game Reserve with English-speaking ranger, two morning safari game drive in Kapama Private Game Reserve with English-speaking ranger, Pretoria orientation tour, Featherbed eco-experience, sunrise meerkat experience (weather permitting), otherwise lunch and tour of Olive Farm, Cango Caves tour, wine tasting in Montagu, Stellenbosch classic Cape cuisine walking , full-day Cape Peninsula tour Seatin Coach tour, tickets to Cape Point Nature Reserve with return funicular, entrance tickets to Boulders Penguin Colony
What's not included
Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
Beverages during included meals
Gratuity for driver and guide
Optional tours and excursions
Personal travel, baggage and medical insurance
Airport taxes or visa fees where applicable
Porterage
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 2 Befast: Superior Hotel Category = Kloppenheim Country Estate or similar 4*
Day 3-4 Greater Kruger: Superior Hotel Category = Kapama River Lodge or similar 4*
Day 5 Pretoria: Superior Hotel Category = Court Classique or similar 4*
Day 6-7 Knysna: Superior Hotel Category = PH Knysna / Madison Manor Boutique Hotel or similar* 4*
Day 8 Oudtshoorn: Superior Hotel Category = Mooiplaas Guesthouse or similar 4*
Day 9 Montagu: Superior Hotel Category = Mimosa Lodge or similar 4*
Day 10-12 Cape Town: Superior Hotel Category = Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence or similar 4*
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Kapama Private Game Reserve: This private reserve borders the famous Kruger National Park and the chances are high to spot the Big Five.
Pretoria: The capital city of South Africa is nicknamed ‘Jacaranda City’ as the city turns purple when these trees are in bloom.
Western Cape: Perhaps the most beautiful province of South Africa, the Western Cape is the most mountainous area in the country and offers a charming wine region, stunning vistas and impactful coastlines.
Cape Town: Located between the blue sea and imposing mountains, this beautiful city offers you a vibrant culinary scene, great nightlife and a lively cultural scene.
Please note
It is compulsory to sign an indemnity form when entering South African National Parks. More information in the regulation and the parks can also be found on the official SANPARKS website: www.sanparks.org
Day 5: Please book flight after 12:00 hrs from O.R. Tambo International Airport to George Airport
Parents travelling with children would now be requested to provide an unabridged birth certificate (including the details of the child’s father as well as the mother) of all travelling children. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children. When children are travelling with guardians, these adults are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel. The above applies to foreigners and South Africans travelling to or from South Africa as well as travellers in transit. Please note that the child must be the appropriate age (according to accommodation stipulated) at the time of travel
See your doctor for advice in regards to vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis
Local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to tour contents without prior notice.
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in South Africa. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
If you wish to travel on any other date than dates above or have any other queries please call our office at 0203 006 2722 or email to sales@lumle.com
A private departures on any day all around the year can be arranged for this trek/tour, for more details and dates E-mail sales@lumle.com
AVAILABILITY OPTIONS
OPENED: This date is available and open for bookings. LIMITED: There are very limited number of available places on this departure. Immediate booking. GUARANTEED: We have reached minimum numbers and this trip is guaranteed to depart. CLOSED: This date is currently unavailable. Please contact us, if you are interested in travelling on this date. Your Program Duration =
13 Days All the Prices are in GBP (£) Per Person.
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