Inquire about dates for late 2020/early 2021

Including Airfare

Wonders of

South Africa

Book By

Sep 30, 2020

Duration

17Days

from USD

$2999

from CAD

$3749

 

Flexible Travel Peace of Mind
Whether you're interested in traveling in late 2020 or 2021 our destination experts will help find the best value for your budgets and dates. You're in safe hands, with our 50 years of travel experience and recently updated flexible booking policy.

Price Includes

  • Round trip economy class airfare from North America including all air taxes

  • 14 nights' accommodation

  • 14 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners

  • Arrival airport shuttle transfer and departure transfer included

  • Full Day visit to the Kruger National Park

  • Kruger National Park Conservation Levy included

  • Hotel porterage included
    (Please note that conservation levies are subject to increase without prior notice and is at the discretion of the game park.)

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Price Excludes

  • Travel insurance

  • Visa fees if applicable

  • Meals and beverages not specifically indicated

  • Optional excursions

  • Items of a personal nature

  • Gratuities

About this Trip
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Spend two weeks discovering all that makes South Africa one of the world’s most diverse and colourful destinations. Take in natural sights such as Blyde River Canyon, explore the historic lands of the Zulus and Swazis, follow the magnificent South African coastline, and immerse yourself in the beauty, wine, and culture of the Cape. On this tour, a maximum of 40 guests are escorted by a local professional tourist guide. All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 guests. Transportation is in air-conditioned luxury vehicles and tours are only conducted in English.

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This 17-day South Africa trip with airfare takes you from Johannesburg to Cape Town, exploring the best of the country in all its diversity.

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Take a night in Johannesburg to shake off any jetlag, meet your fellow travellers, and receive a tour briefing before leaving for the lush Lowveld. You’ll follow the Panorama Route to catch the view over Blyde River Canyon from God’s Window. This is a region filled with interesting geographical features formed by the canyon’s waterways. Your journey through natural South Africa continues the following day in Kruger National Park, arguably the country’s most famous wildlife region. Keep an eye out for the ‘Big 5’ – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo – along with other animals on your morning game drive, before your guide explores more of the park with you later in the day.

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Strike another great Southern African country off your list the following day as you explore Swaziland. This independent kingdom is the smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere, preserving Swazi culture and the region’s wildlife with equal enthusiasm. Then, from Swaziland to Zululand, return to South Africa and learn about the unique cultural balance that has shaped this region. Enjoy an open vehicle safari in

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park on your own account if you wish. You may also opt for a cruise from St Lucia, a popular coastal destination among South Africans. The surrounding wetland is home to hippos, crocodiles, and over 360 bird species. Spend the night in the popular seaside city of Durban.

 
Wonders of South Africa
 

Day 1: Depart North America

Depart North America on an overnight flight to South Africa



Day 2: Arrive Johannesburg

On arrival at the OR Tambo Johannesburg International airport, you will be met and assisted to your shuttle transfer service to the hotel. Please note that the shuttle transfer is available between 6.15am and 10.45pm. If you arrive earlier or later than this, please note an extra transfer cost will be incurred. You have the remainder of the day at leisure until 7.00pm when you will meet at the hotel reception for a briefing on the tour and a chance to meet up with your fellow travellers.



Day 3: Hazyview

This morning after breakfast, you will leave for Mpumalanga, dropping several hundred feet into the lush subtropical region of the Lowveld. Your travels take you along the circular Panorama Route via Graskop, visiting the view sites of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa. This canyon is the third largest in the world, after the Grand Canyon in the US and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. You will also get the chance to gasp at the glory of God's Window, with a boundless view of mountains and fertile plains. God's Window is undoubtedly the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve's most spectacular viewpoint, with astonishing views over South Africa's lowveld. At God's Window, majestic cliffs plunge down 700m and, on a clear day, you'll be able to see over the famous Kruger National Park towards the Lebombo Mountains. Last stop for the day before heading to Hazyview is at the Bourke's Luck Potholes. This natural water feature marks the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon. Through countless eons the swirling whirlpools which occur as the Treur River plunges into the Blyde River caused waterborne sand and rock to grind huge, cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river. The Potholes were named after a gold digger, Tom Burke, who staked a claim nearby. Although his claim did not produce a single ounce of gold, he correctly predicted that large gold deposits would be found in the area. Distance travelled today is 500km.



Day 4: Kruger National Park

We have a bright and early start to the day in order to experience the wonders of exploring the Kruger National Park in our closed vehicle. Spend a morning with the Big Five in the Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park is an internationally renowned game reserve of nearly 2 million hectares and supports the largest variety of wildlife species on the African continent. Keep a lookout for the wonderful flora and bird life that abounds. We return to our hotel around lunch time and your afternoon is at leisure. [Packed Breakfast]



Day 5: Swaziland

This morning after breakfast, you will check out and depart on your journey to Swaziland. You will proceed south to Malalane and then onto Swaziland where this afternoon you will visit a real Chief's village and have the fantastic opportunity to gain an authentic knowledge of traditional Swazi culture. The tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. The capital city, Mbabane, known for its vibrant markets packed with woven baskets, beadwork and carvings. Swaziland, the smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere, is among the most easy-going and laid back regions. Swazis are more likely to celebrate for fun than demonstrate for reform. A progressive and hands on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed it with a striking set of national parks. Distance travelled today is 280kms.



Day 6: St Lucia and surrounds

Today you journey through Swaziland into Zululand stopping en route to bargain for curios and souvenirs at the roadside markets. Your journey continues into the Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal where ancient traditions and modern cultures of both Zulus and Settlers have combined into a vibrant society living in peace and harmony. You arrive this afternoon in the Umfolozi area for your overnight stay. There is an option to take an open vehicle safari in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, this is at an extra cost and can be booked with your driver/guide in destination. Distance travelled today is 435kms.



Day 7: St Lucia and surrounds / Durban

Enjoy a leisurely morning soaking up the atmosphere of this tourist town St Lucia or take an optional morning boat cruise, which is at an extra cost and can be booked with your driver/guide in destination. This small coastal town is a World heritage Site and home to hippo, crocodile and no less than 367 bird species. Once the guests that have chosen to cruise return, your journey continues towards Durban. Once you arrive in Durban an orientation tour introduces you to this multicultural, vibrant seaside city before arriving at your hotel in Umhlanga in the late afternoon. Distance travelled today 290kms.



Day 8: Drakensberg

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast or perhaps stroll over to the "Gateway Theatre of Shopping" located opposite the hotel, for a touch of retail therapy. Later you head into the majestic Southern Drakensberg Mountains. You will proceed on a visit to the 300 foot high Howick Falls, continuing through the Southern Midlands Meander Route and arriving at your hotel mid-afternoon. Your afternoon is at leisure to soak up the surroundings, or go fishing, hiking and even horse riding in clean mountain air (own account). Distance travelled today is 255kms.



Day 9: Drakensberg

You have a full day at leisure to soak up the surroundings of the magnificent Southern Drakensberg Mountains. There is also the option to take a 4x4 adventure tour up Sani Pass and into the tiny kingdom of Lesotho (passport required) which also includes a lunch at Africa's highest pub. This excursion as at an extra cost and can be arranged with your driver/guide in destination. The Drakensberg Mountains were proclaimed World Heritage site in 2000, South Africa's first premier mountain wilderness and cultural site, on the border of South Africa and Lesotho and is mostly a vast national park, called now the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. This spectacular natural landscape also has many rock shelters, containing the largest and most concentrated group of San/Bushmen paintings (more than 6000 sites and featuring 22 000 paintings) in Africa, south of the Sahara. These were created by the San people over a period of at least 4000 yrs. The highest range in Southern Africa, the "Dragon Mountains" or the "Barrier of Spears", reach their highest peaks along the border with Lesotho.



Day 10: Eastern Cape Coast

This morning you continue south to the Eastern Cape entering the fourth of the provinces and the birth place of Nelson Mandela (fondly known as Madiba). En route you will see the old traditional way of life in the homeland area known as the Transkei and stop for lunch (own account) outside the capital of Umtata. You then continue via Nelson Mandela's birth place and house, arriving late afternoon at our accommodation in Chinsta East, on the beautiful, unspoilt Eastern Cape Coast. Distance travelled today is 520kms.



Day 11: Eastern Cape Coast

You awake to the sounds of the crashing waves and have the morning at leisure to unwind with beach sand between our toes. The beach stretches on uninterrupted for many kilometers and the thick indigenous beach forest is a haven for an amazing variety of birdlife. You will set off after lunch heading south towards Port Elizabeth. Distance travelled today is 340kms.



Day 12: Knysna

Today your journey continues towards the Cape. Visit the Tsitsikamma Forest, which provides scenic walking opportunities. The Tsitsikamma National Park is a protected area on the Garden Route, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is well known a coastal reserve for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. The park covers an 80 kilometers (50 miles) long stretch of coastline. A short walk to the Storms River Mouth offers some magnificent views of the gorge and river below. You then travel onto Knysna to arrive late afternoon. Distance travelled today is 300kms.



Day 13: Oudtshoorn

After breakfast, you travel inland over the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the 'feather capital of the world' because of its ostrich industry. You will visit a working ostrich farm and then explore the famous Cango Caves. Walk (the more adventurous may crawl!) around the famous Cango Caves with their magnificent dripstone formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Oudtshoorn is located in an oasis-like setting in a fertile valley, called the "Little Karoo", cupped by the Swartberg Mountains in the North and the Outeniqua and Langeberg Mountain Ranges in the South. Distance travelled today is 360kms.



Day 14: Cape Town

Today's journey ends in Cape Town. On the way we stop off in Albertinia to visit a well-known aloe factory. In this area, the Cape Aloe grows wild on many farms, and is still harvested in the traditional, labour-intensive way, providing a livelihood for unskilled, independent tappers. We drive via Swellendam, Worcester and through the Huguenot Tunnel before arriving in Cape Town in the late afternoon. Distance travelled today is 420kms.



Day 15: Cape Town

Enjoy a day of leisure in the 'Mother City' where a visit to the V&A Waterfront is recommended. You may want to take advantage of one of the optional tours, a full day Peninsula Tour which includes the dramatic coastline of the Cape Peninsula including a visit to the Boulders Beach penguin colony and the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The alternative is to take part in a full day Cape Winelands tour, which is a day celebrating the glorious grape as well as the exceptional winelands region and heavenly scenery. Both of these tours are at an extra cost and can be pre-booked.



Day 16: Depart Cape Town

This morning after breakfast, please check out of the hotel by 11.00am. The remainder of the day will be at leisure until your transfer to Cape Town International airport.



Day 17: Arrive North America

Arrive in North America today with fond memories of your South African adventure.



Itinerary
 
Inquire about this Trip
Pricing Information

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DATES:

Inquire about dates and prices for late 2020, early 2021 today.

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OTHER INFORMATION:

Alternative accommodation may be confirmed due to availability, these will always be in the same category or higher, at no additional charge.

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OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

There are a number of optional extras mentioned in the itinerary, some of which can be pre-booked and bought prior to your travel. The excursions we can arrange on your behalf before your travel starts are:

  • Full Day Open Vehicle Safari on day 3

  • Afternoon Open Vehicle Safari on day 5

  • Game Viewing Boat Cruise on day 6

  • Sani Pass 4x4 Adventure Tour on day 8

  • Kaapse Stories Dinner Theatre on day 13

  • Full day Peninsula tour - Cape Town on day 15

  • Full day Winelands tour - Cape Town on day 15

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request - please inquire.

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