DAY 1: DEPARTURE
Flight to Cape Town.
DAY 2: CAPE TOWN
Arrival at Cape Town Airport.
Welcome by a representative, who will give you your travel documents and assist you to pick up your rental car.
Departure towards Cape Town, then check-in at the hotel.
Suggested excursions:
Cape Town City Tour : City Tour that will take you through the quaint Malay Quarter, charming pastel-hued low houses – The BO-KAAP MUSEUM gives a good idea of the lifestyle of a Malay family.
Castle of Good Hope: You will visit the Castle of Good Hope, one of the oldest European constructions in South Africa.
Get to the top of "Table Mountain" (Table Mountain) via cable car: This is only possible on days when the mountain is not covered by clouds or hidden in intense fog.
Overnight at Rosedene Guesthouse or similar.
DAY 3 : CAPE TOWN – THE PENINSULA OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
Breakfast
Suggested excursions:
Visit the Cape Peninsula, and make your way towards the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean to reach Hout Bay, a small fishing port posed in its fjord like a postcard landscape.
Jump aboard a boat to observe Duiker Island where an impressive colony of seals lives, the landscape is wild with its rocks beaten by the wind. You will stop at Boulders Beach to meet the penguin colony.
Visit the Cape of Good Hope and cross the Cape of Good Hope Reserve. This natural park covers 7,750 ha of native flora and fauna.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront: New renovation and development project that returned the harbour to its original state; enjoy enterainment, stores, restaurants, museums.
Overnight at Rosedene Guesthouse or similar.
DAY 4 : CAPE TOWN – THE WINE ROAD
Breakfast
Suggested excursions:
Visit the wine road, the region of the famous South African vineyards where towering mountains dominate fertile valleys and one can marvel at wonderful properties and mansions imbued with Cape Dutch architecture, the "Cape Dutch".
Visit Stellenbosch, the main town of the vineyard region which today comprises more than 100,000 hectares of vineyards. Cape wines have a long-standing reputation worldwide. It is in this region that you will see many "Cape Dutch" style houses or Dutch houses.
Wine tasting in the winery.
Road to Franschhoek, the "corner of the French". It is in this beautiful valley that the French Huguenots and Dutch settlers in the 17th century undertook the culture of the vine. Visit of the city with the Huguenots and region museum.
Overnight at Rosedene Guesthouse or similar.
DAY 5 : CAPE TOWN - DURBAN
Breakfast
Drop off your rental car at Cape Town Airport.
Check in for your flight to Durban.
Arrive at Durban airport.
Pick up your new rental car.
Suggested excursions:
Visit Durban, capital of the Natal region. A city with a subtropical climate, it remains a popular seaside resort for South Africans. Durban is also the first city in KwaZulu Natal and South Africa's third largest city after Johannesburg and Cape Town. During this city tour you will discover the Golden Mile seafront, sort of a South African "Miami Beach", the Indian market and botanical gardens.
Discovery of the Juma Mosque, nestled in the Indian quarter, a remarkable construction famous for being the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere.
Enter the heart of the Indian district to enjoy the community atmosphere.
Stop at the Indian market, a place filled with food and handicrafts of the Indian community (open from 07:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 15:00 on weekends).
Overnight at Hotel Benjamin 4*, Durban or similar.
DAY 6 : DURBAN > HLUHLUWE
Breakfast
Road to Maputaland, a large region of sugar cane whose fields you can see from the road, as well as huge plantations of eucalyptus and fir trees. All Maputaland lands are under the tutelage of "Zulu King".
The Zulus arrived in this region around the beginning of the 17th century. They planted cereals which they had brought with them, and lived on the hunt. Corn was brought to them by Portuguese traders.
Elephants were very common in this region during the time of the "Nguni" people. For the Zulus, the elephant is "Ndlovu", or 'sacred'.
Suggested excursions :
Road to the Santa Lucia Wetlands Natural Park, 80 km of green paradise between SODWANA BAY located in the north of the Maputaland region and to the south of Lake St. Lucia.
The park alone brings together five interdependent ecosystems that give rise to a real interest in national protection. The territory of Santa Lucia Wetlands also meets the criteria for the selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Continue to the natural lagoon of Saint Lucia and embark on your flat-bottomed boat for an aquatic safari to meet crocodiles, hippos and other wading birds. During your 2-hour safari your ranger will explain the peculiarities of the biodiversity of the lagoon of Saint Lucia, translation will be provided by your local guide.
1 night accommodation in the Hluhluwe area with half board and 1 4x4 safari
Dinner included. Overnight at Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge or similar.
DAY 7 : HLUHLUWE – SWAZILAND
Departure for your 4x4 safari in the reserve. Back to the hotel and breakfast.
Road to SWAZILAND, a small independent kingdom. The current King H.M. KING MSWATI III, was crowned in April 1986.
SWAZILAND owes its picturesque character to the prevention of its traditions, its habitats, its ceremonies and its political institutions. The language of the country is SISWATI.
It is traditional Africa. Most of the inhabitants will still consult the "INYANGA", healing wizard, or the "SANGOMA", a traditional healer.
Suggested excursions:
Visit many markets, craft shops (candle and glass in particular).
Visit Swaziland National Parks such as the Mlilwane Reserve where you can enjoy the scenery during a mountain bike ride, a walk with a specialized guide.
Visit the "Mantenga Cultural Village" to discover the customs and language "Swazi". The passion with which this community will share its indigenous knowledge and practices will charm you.
Overnight at Maguga Lodge or similar.
DAY 8 : SWAZILAND > KRUGER PARC
Breakfast
Departure for Kruger Park in South Africa.
Suggested excursions:
Interaction with elephants
Get closer to these beautiful creatures and discover their intelligence, compassionate nature and curiosity when interacting with their human counterparts. This activity gives you the opportunity to pet elephants, greet them and offer them delicacies.
NOTE: Entry into Kruger Park not included
Overnight at Skukuza Rest Camp
OPTION: STAY PRIVATE RESERVE - BONGANI MOUNTAIN LODGE - INSTEAD OF 2 NIGHTS WITHIN THE KRUGER (Itinerary Below)
DAY 9: KRUGER PARC
Kruger Park is one of the largest nature reserves on the continent. It is home to 300 different tree species, 450 birds, 106 mammals and a multitude of fish, snakes, iguanas, turtles.
Suggested excursions:
Safari aboard your vehicle or 4x4 vehicle grouped in the Kruger Park
With English speaking ranger / in open vehicle 30 seats / not private
Overnight at Skukuza Rest Camp
DAY 10: KRUGER PARC > BLYDE RIVER CANYON AREA
Departure to the Blyde River Canyon area
Suggested excursions:
See the pots of giants "Bourke's Luck Potholes", deep cylindrical cavities formed by fluvial erosion and action of floods; here you'll discover a panorama that extends over kilometers of mountains covered with dense forests ...
The “Blyde River Canyon”, a gigantic gorge of 26 km long dug into the rocky escarpment and its sumptuous landscapes.
The "three Rondavelles" which are rocky massifs looking like traditional Zulu huts. This is one of the most beautiful views of the canyon and the lake.
Cruise on the Blyde: Cruise of 01:30 on the dam lake. You will have the opportunity to observe crocodiles, hippos and birds in their natural environment. You will have a vision from the lake of 3 Rondavels and the beautiful landscapes of this region.
Visit of Pilgrim’s Rest : this former village of orpailleurs, which was very well restored, dates from 1873. offers a perfect reconstruction of the small city built by the first pioneers during the gold rush. During the El Dorado era, more than 1,400 gold miners washed the riverbed in search of a few grams of gold. Classified as a historic monument, the old houses of the city have been restored and transformed into a living museum of the gold rush of the last century.
Overnight at Graskop Hotel.
DAY 11: BLYDE RIVER CANYON AREA > JOHANNESBURG > UK
Breakfast
Road to Johannesburg.
Drop of your rental car at OR TAMBO JOHANNESBURG airport
Please note: the vehicle is rented by 24 hour periods. The vehicle must be returned before the time it was taken in Durban otherwise extra charge will be applied
Check in to catch your flight back to the UK.
DAY 12: UK
Arrival in UK and end of your stay.
