| D1: Johannesburg OR Tambo - Johannesburg (32 km) |
| Meet and Greet and Transfer • Day Tour: Johannesburg, Soweto HD(o) |
| | - | Meet and greet and transfer from OR Tambo International Airport. Our guide will meet you at the airport upon your arrival, assist you with any queries you may have before you embark on your holiday, and transfer you to your hotel. |
| | - | Pick up your vehicle Europcar SA Classic Plus Cover Category M(1-6days) at Johannesburg OR Tambo - Drop Off Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (Day 5) - 5 days  |
| | - | Collection from your hotel for a half-day tour of Johannesburg, Soweto and Newtown. Your tour begins with a vibrant and intoxicating visit to the Newtown Cultural Precinct in downtown Johannesburg. This area was once a hotbed of protest theatre, poetry and music during the apartheid era and today is the heart and soul of Johannesburg’s cultural landscape. It is jam-packed with art galleries, museums, dance studios, live music venues, restaurants and nightclubs that know no colour barrier and embrace artistic expression from all walks of life. Your Jozi adventure then moves to Soweto for a thoughtful tour through the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial, named after the young boy who was accidentally killed by police crossfire in the infamous 1976 student uprisings in the township. Opened in 2002, the museum retraces the events that culminated in the student riots and, according to some historians, to the beginning of the collapse of the apartheid era. Return transfer to your hotel included. (Optional rates: D1:Joburg & Soweto HD PM) |
| | - | Overnight: Sitatunga Guest Lodge and Transfers (Superior Room - Bed and Breakfast ) |
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| D2: Johannesburg - Graskop |
| Dullstroom(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Graskop |
| | - | Hit the highlands in Dullstroom. This picturesque village in Mpumalanga is best known for its fly fishing dams, quaint shops and country restaurants. It forms part of the Highlands Meander where fly fishing rules and old timers exchange news in the local pub and are rumoured to still make their own moonshine. Brisk outdoor adventure waits as the area offers many adventure trails, rock climbing opportunities and hiking paths as well as being home to three varieties of crane species and a stunning array of blooming wild flowers. Dullstroom is also the site of South Africa’s only known breeding community of black leopards, although these unique cats are notoriously difficult to find. The brave can try some witbiltz, a South African version of moonshine. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Rustique Guest House (Large room bed and breakfast) |
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| D3: Graskop - Kruger |
| Blyde River Canyon and Potholes(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Make your way towards the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. This seemingly endless river canyon is filled with some of the most beautifully scenic vistas in South Africa. The Bourke's Luck Potholes mark the beginning of the canyon and comprise intriguing geological formations at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur rivers. The canyon itself is 3rd largest in the world, covered in lush sub-tropical vegetation with an average depth of 750 metres and 25 kilometres in length. It consists mostly of red sandstone and has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Gecko Lodge (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D4: Kruger |
| 4x4 Game Drive Full Day (Scheduled)(o) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Full day 4x4 game drive in the Kruger Park. Your scheduled departure will leave from your hotel at dawn as you set out in an open 4x4 safari vehicle for a short drive to one of the park's gates and into the Kruger National Park. It is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, stretching across a vast 18 989 square kilometres in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. With over 12 000 elephants, 27 000 African buffalo and 1 000 leopards, the Big Five is well represented. White rhino sightings are frequent, while spotting a black rhino may require some patience and a bit of luck. Lions are plentiful with over 2 000 stalking the plains. Overall, the Kruger supports 147 free roaming mammal species. Of the 517 species of birds here, 253 are resident and the reserve supports six diverse eco-systems. Your morning safari concludes at one of the rest camps inside the reserve giving you the opportunity to stretch and refresh. The 4x4 vehicle will allow you to get very close to the surrounding vegetation while your experienced ranger follows fresh animal spoor. Your safari concludes in the late afternoon before returning to the hotel. (Pick up in Hazyview Only) (Optional rates: D3:Kruger 4x4 game drive Full Day) |
| | - | Overnight: Gecko Lodge (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D5: Kruger - Cape Town (21 km) |
| Cape Town City Tour(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Flight Kruger Mpumalanga Airport - CapeTown (Economy Class) (Optional rates: D4:Flight Durban-Cape Town) |
| | - | Pick up your vehicle Europcar SA Classic Plus Category M Early Booker(1-6 days ) at Cape Town airport - Drop Off Cape Town airport (Day 8) - 4 days |
| | - | Tour of Cape Town. Also known as the Mother City, Cape Town is a rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of different nationalities and indigenous tribes. Alongside high-rise office blocks, a harmonious blend of architectural styles has been meticulously preserved, including Edwardian, Victorian and Cape Dutch. Narrow, cobblestone streets and the Islamic character of the Bo-Kaap enhance the cosmopolitan ambiance. During the tour you will see the Castle of Good Hope – this pentagon-shaped fort is the oldest surviving building in South Africa, and the Company's Garden – a large public park, originally Jan van Riebeeck's vegetable garden, which he grew to feed the original colony as early as 1652. The tour of this beautiful city introduces you to a rich culture and history. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Bergzicht Guest House (Twin/Double - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D6: Cape Town (161 km) |
| Franschhoek Tour with Museum and Memorial(n) • Tram Tour(o) • Stellenbosch Orientation(n) • Stellenbosch Village Museum(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Discover the wine producing village of Franschhoek. This charming town lies nestled between steep mountain slopes just outside Cape Town, situated in the heart of the Cape’s wine producing region. It is world-renowned for the excellent wines produced here and it is also regarded as the food and wine capital of South Africa, with its streets lined with many cafes and restaurants. Franschhoek was originally established by French Huguenot settlers in the late 1600s and your tour will include a visit to the Huguenot Memorial Museum, displaying a large number of artefacts that illustrate the early life of the Huguenots, and the beautiful French-inspired Huguenot Monument, dedicated to the cultural influences that the Huguenots brought to the Cape Colony. Enjoy strolling through tree-lined streets and exploring art galleries, organic markets, boutiques and award-winning restaurants. (n) (n) |
| | - | Depart from Franschhoek station and climb aboard a tram for a tour of the Franschhoek wine region. The Franschhoek Valley is home to some of the oldest and most distinguished wine estates in South Africa and is also an area of immense scenic beauty and splendour. The tram tour is one of the best ways to sit back and enjoy the true essence of Franschhoek as you stop at various wine estates to savour wine tasting at your leisure. Depart the tram when the fancy takes you to have lunch, stroll through the vineyards or sample some wines and then simply pick the tram or bus up again when you are done. The open-sided tram takes passengers right into the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, with a narration focusing on the history of village and wine cultivation. (Optional rates: D5:Franschhoek Wine Tram) |
| | - | Wander through the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch. Lying at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains and within the grandiose Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch is internationally renowned for its award-winning wines, fantastic restaurants, trendy culture and historic buildings. The town is the perfect place to explore on foot with its many side-walk cafes and buzzy student vibe, owing to the large and prestigious university that is an icon of Stellenbosch culture. Many leading wine estates are found here including Spier, Tokara and Delheim, as well as some of the country’s best restaurants where dining can be an informal al fresco affair or something more elegant and black tie. Art lovers can explore the copious galleries while outdoor enthusiasts have plenty of nature activities available to them at Jonkershoek. (n) (n) |
| | - | Relive history at the Stellenbosch Village Museum. The historic village of Stellenbosch was developed around a Cape Dutch style town and the Stellenbosch Village Museum is composed of four different period houses, each representing the way people lived at that time and a different era in the architectural development of Stellenbosch. The Schreuder House was built in 1707 and depicts a modest pioneer cottage while the Bletterman House is a Cape Dutch H-shaped dwelling and an example of a gabled house from the 18th century. The Grosvernor House is a grand old mansion, whose furniture is indicative of the increasing influence of British taste on local design when neo-classicism was at the height of fashion. End your journey through time at the O.M. Bergh House, reflecting a typical middle-class Stellenbosch home during the mid-1800s. Guests may also stroll through the V.O.C. Kruithuis, the only remaining powder magazine in South Africa. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Bergzicht Guest House (Twin/Double - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D7: Cape Town (142 km) |
| Hout Bay Seal Island Boat Trip(n) • Cape of Good Hope National Park(n) • Boulders Beach(n) • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Boat cruise from Hout Bay Harbour to Duiker Island. The island is a sanctuary for thousands of Cape fur seals (actually sea lions originating from the Antarctic) as well as a variety of seabirds including gannets, cormorants and sea gulls. It is illegal to land on the island, but the trip takes you within arm's reach of the seals who seem to know they're the centre of attention and put up a fantastic performance, diving and twisting with amazing speed and agility (weather permitting). (n) (n) |
| | - | Visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, recognised globally for its extraordinary land formation, rich and diverse fauna and unique flora. The legendary Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope were key beacons for the early explorers and are the source of many myths and legends. In 1488, Bartholomew Dias named the peninsula the Cape of Storms. King John II of Portugal later gave it its actual name. The Cape of Good Hope is a scenic wonder, where soft white sandy beaches alternate with rugged stretches of rock and breathtaking cliffs. (n) (n) |
| | - | Get acquainted with African penguins at Boulders Beach. Named for the large, smooth, round boulders that form this coastline, Boulders Beach is one of the few remaining locations in the country where African penguins are able to roost and nest without interference from humans. While the beach itself is a popular bathing spot, it is equally shared with these black and white marine birds that are frequently seen sunning themselves on the rocks or taking a dive into the coolness of the Atlantic Ocean. The adjacent fynbos area holds their delicate nesting grounds, and raised, fenced walkways allow visitors to enter the area without disturbing the birds. Look for nests hidden in the sand and among the scrubland as breeding pairs carefully nurture and protect their eggs. African penguins are classified as endangered species and Boulders Beach is the only location in the world where humans can get close to these birds in their natural habitat. (n) (n) |
| | - | Discover Cape flora of every variety at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Delve into the immense wealth of biodiversity as you explore the Fragrance, Medicinal and Water Wise Gardens. Highlights at Kirstenbosch include the Peninsula Garden, containing many of the 2 500 plant species found on the Cape Peninsula, and the Protea Garden with numerous displays of the king protea, South Africa's national flower. The gardens were established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa and today there are over 7 000 species in cultivation. Kirstenbosch is a World Heritage Site, covering 36 hectares set within a 528 hectare estate that contains protected mountainside supporting natural forest and fynbos along with a variety of animals and birds. (n) (n) |
| | - | Dinner: Gold Restaurant
Prepare for a mind-blowing gastronomic experience at GOLD Restaurant. This Pan-African experience melds African culinary traditions with modern flavours, serving up a sophisticated African feast that changes seasonally. Just as African food is traditionally shared between family and friends, guests are given a 14-dish tasting menu served in individual and shared portions, as the country of origin, cooking techniques and spicing are explained. While you are dining, archetypal African stories are told through the form of live entertainment with the superb GOLD team, dressed in authentic traditional garments, bringing ambience, warmth and knowledgeable service to your table. The 14 dishes incorporate starters, street food, main courses and two desserts, taking you on an exotic flavour tour across the African continent. (Optional rates: D6:Gold Restaurant Dinner) |
| | - | Overnight: Bergzicht Guest House (Twin/Double - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D8: Cape Town (9 km) |
| Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (o) • Victoria and Alfred Waterfront(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Marvel at the views of Cape Town from the aerial cableway and plateau on Table Mountain. The Mother City is synonymous with the striking mountain that is flanked by Devil’s Peak to the east and Lion’s Head to the west, providing a dramatic backdrop to the city. Table Mountain holds an unusually rich biodiversity and forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a protected area. Rock hyrax, or dassie as they are locally known, are often seen scampering through the scrub and the views from the summit over Table Bay, Robben Island and the Atlantic seaboard are breathtaking. The cable cars depart every 10 to 15 minutes and rotate 360 degrees as they travel up to 302 metres above sea level, giving passengers panoramic views over the city. Five minutes is all it takes to reach the summit and once there you can marvel at the views, have a bite to eat in the restaurant or do a bit of shopping at the extensive curio shop. The cableway only operates when weather permits. (Optional rates: D4:Table Mountain Aerial Cableway) |
| | - | Explore the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, situated at South Africa’s oldest working harbour in the centre of Cape Town. Offering over 450 retail outlets selling everything from high-end fashion and jewellery to food and crafts, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s most popular destinations, attracting in excess of 23 million visitors a year. Besides offering vibrant and chic indoor and outdoor shopping and restaurants, you can also watch fishing boats dock with fresh fish or see a container ship being towed into the harbour by a tug boat. Draw-bridges over the water open and close every so often to allow smaller sailing vessels access to the docks, while the Cape Wheel gives unsurpassed 360 degree views of the city, and the outdoor amphitheatre plays host to music, dance and theatrical performances throughout the year. (n) (n) |
