| D1: Johannesburg OR Tambo - Port Elizabeth |
| Meet and greet |
| | - | Meet and greet at the OR Tambo Airport. Our guide will be waiting for you in the arrival hall carrying a banded sign board. You will then be escorted to a restaurant or coffee shop where while enjoying a complimentary juice or hot beverage our guide will explain in detail your itinerary and arrangements, he will give you all the advise you might need for your trip and will answer all questions you might have . He will hand over your travel documentation, maps , vouchers and a SIM card, and escort you to your onward transportation.
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| | - | Flight Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth (Economy Class) (Optional rates: D1:Flight CapeTown - Port Elizabeth ) |
| | - | Pick up your vehicle Europcar SA Classic Plus Category R Early Booker(7-13days) at Port Elizabeth Airport - Drop Off Durban airport (Day 8) - 7 days  |
| | - | Overnight: Ocean Bay Guest House (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D2: Port Elizabeth - Addo |
| Port Elizabeth(n) • Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive(o) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Familiarise yourself with the city of Port Elizabeth. As South Africa's second oldest city, Port Elizabeth is also the commercial capital of the Eastern Cape and popular thanks to its temperate climate and safe, sandy beaches. Set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay, the city has strong British Settler roots and there are many historical attractions. The Donkin Heritage Trail follows the footsteps of the 1820 Settlers after they first landed in Algoa Bay and features 47 historical sites and colonial buildings along a five-kilometre walking trail through the central and Old Hill area of Port Elizabeth. Route 67 takes visitors on an artistic journey through Nelson Mandela’s life, and the city is also ideally located as a starting point for further explorations of the area, including the Garden Route, Settler Hinterland, Sunshine Coast and Cape. (n) |
| | - | Afternoon 4x4 game drive through the Addo Elephant National Park. The park provides exceptional opportunities for game viewing and bird watching and is home to the densest population of elephants in the world. It stretches from the semi-arid Karoo in the north, over the Zuurberg Mountains and through the Sundays River Valley, and includes Bird Island and St Croix Island. There is therefore a wide range of landscapes and flora and fauna on offer in this vast reserve. Besides being guaranteed of seeing elephants, a night drive will also afford you a good chance of spotting more nocturnal animals such as the scrub hare, porcupine, striped polecat and caracul. Antelopes such as eland, duiker and kudu will be on their way to their resting spots, while predators such as lions begin their nightly prowls. (Optional rates: D2: 4x4 Afternoon game drive at Addo National Park) |
| | - | Overnight at the Rest Camp: Addo Elephant Rest Camp (Rondavel (with view) - Accommodation only) |
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| D3: Addo - East London |
| Grahamstown Discover(n) |
| | - | Travel to East London |
| | - | Slip into the city of saints at Grahamstown. Despite a few different titles, the settler city of Grahamstown (now officially called Makhanda) showcases a strong sense of identity where art, religion and old English and Xhosa factionalism blend together rather than encroach on each other’s freedoms. Historic Grahamstown is the annual host to one of South Africa's most renowned cultural and arts events, the National Arts Festival, and is also called the ‘the city of saints’ in reference to the approximate 40 churches in the town. It was once a British frontier against the Xhosa, and Grahamstown soon became a favoured place of residence for many 1820 English settlers. This rich and diverse cultural history is reflected throughout the town where a strong sense of artistic liberty is revered, making for a fascinating melting pot of sights, personalities and opinions. The town is also well placed to take advantage of the Eastern Cape’s enjoyable Sunshine Route. (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Quarry Lake Inn (Standard room - Bed and Breakfast ) |
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| D4: East London - Coffee Bay |
| Qunu Nelson Mandela Museum(n) • Nelson Mandela Museum Mthatha(n) • Nelson Mandela No-Moscow Primary School(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Coffee Bay |
| | - | Trace the childhood steps of a great leader in Qunu. This small rural village in the Eastern Cape is situated approximately 32 kilometres from Mthatha and the birthplace of former President of South African, Nelson Mandela. In his famous book, The Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela describes this village as a place echoing with happy and carefree childhood memories where he played with his friends in the river and carried out his youthful herd boy duties as well beginning his school career. The village also holds Madiba’s final resting spot, in a place personally selected by him, where his spirit remains for eternity on property owned by his family. Ponder the past as you visit the village, walk through the pastures where he grazed his sheep and peruse the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre with its many exhibitions exalting Mandela’s life. (n) |
| | - | Recall the legacy of a great leader at the Nelson Mandela Museum. Built in Madiba’s honour, this comprehensive national museum in Mthatha operates with the vision of keeping the late state leader’s values alive. It is housed in the Bhunga Building that provides both the physical space and technical capacity for the Museum to reach out to communities all over the world and engage them in discussions regarding peace with justice. It forms part of the South African Liberation Heritage Route and holds some of the richest history in Mthatha. Over 80% of the museum is dedicated to exhibitions and the library contains a collection of books written by and about Nelson Mandela. Visitors can also admire the large display of “Gifts to the Nation”, that consist of items bestowed on Madiba through his life by well-wishers across the world. Madiba never viewed these gifts as his, but rather as belonging to all people of South Africa. (n) |
| | - | Follow the road to success at the Nelson Mandela No-Moscow Elementary School. Named after former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela, this school is part of the Lyoness Child (n) |
| | - | Dinner: Ocean View Hotel |
| | - | Overnight: Ocean View Hotel (Double Room - Dinner Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D5: Coffee Bay |
| Village Tour • Hole In The Wall |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Become a beachcomber and explore the village of Coffee Bay. This small seaside village lies on a wild and untamed coastline, surrounded by phenomenal nature and geological marvels. Its isolation adds to its rural appeal where dusty roads lead to secret coves in the bay and children walk barefoot through the village, often accompanied by a few goats, cows or chickens. Sprinkled among this pastoral scene are a handful of accommodation establishments and the Transkei’s distinctive traditional round, thatched huts painted in bright colours by the local Xhosa speaking residents. The village is named after a ship that lost its cargo of coffee beans after running into rocks along the coastline, and although there are no coffee trees in the village today, there is plenty of other natural splendour to admire. Hiking trails and nature walks abound, and the beautiful deserted coast tempts beachcombers in search of cowrie shells. |
| | - | Discover natural wonders at the Hole in the Wall. This unique landmark is situated just south of Coffee Bay and was created millions of years ago by the relentless crashing of waves against sandstone and shale. It now stands as a rocky archway in the sea, only a short distance from the coastline and is instantly recognisable, as well as the source of many myths and legends. While the local Xhosa community believe that the Hole in the Wall is a gateway to their ancestors, geologists reason that the cliff walls were once joined to the land and over time continuous wave action against the softer sandstone rocks wore them away. The same happened below creating the distinctive and now famous ‘hole’. Hole in the Wall can be reached along a gravel road, although more energetic visitors may prefer the three-hour hike through the beautiful rural landscape. |
| | - | Dinner: Ocean View Hotel |
| | - | Overnight: Ocean View Hotel (Double Room - Dinner Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D6: Coffee Bay - Drakensberg |
| Nelson Mandela Museum Mthatha(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Drakensberg |
| | - | Recall the legacy of a great leader at the Nelson Mandela Museum. Built in Madiba’s honour, this comprehensive national museum in Mthatha operates with the vision of keeping the late state leader’s values alive. It is housed in the Bhunga Building that provides both the physical space and technical capacity for the Museum to reach out to communities all over the world and engage them in discussions regarding peace with justice. It forms part of the South African Liberation Heritage Route and holds some of the richest history in Mthatha. Over 80% of the museum is dedicated to exhibitions and the library contains a collection of books written by and about Nelson Mandela. Visitors can also admire the large display of “Gifts to the Nation”, that consist of items bestowed on Madiba through his life by well-wishers across the world. Madiba never viewed these gifts as his, but rather as belonging to all people of South Africa. (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Elgin B&B (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D7: Drakensberg |
| Sani Pass Tour(o) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Cross over into another world with a tour up the Sani Pass. This incredible 4x4 track winds its way across the Drakensberg escarpment and into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, peaking at 2 800 metres above sea level. It is a spectacular mountain road and also the gateway to the ‘Roof of Africa’, a scenic route that links the alpine beauty of the Drakensberg with the mountains of northern Lesotho. The pass ranks as one of the top birding spots in southern Africa and is a prime venue for high altitude alpine birding with some 160 species being recorded. As you travel skywards the tour progresses through various altitudinal vegetation zones, revealing the history of the pass, geology of the mountains, stunning flora and fauna and concludes with a lunch at the highest pub in Africa, the Sani Top Chalet.
(Optional rates: D7: 4x4 Sani Pass Excursion) |
| | - | Overnight: Elgin B&B (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D8: Drakensberg - Durban North Coast |
| Walk in Drakensberg(n) • Nelson Mandela Capture Site(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Stride through a UNESCO World Heritage site on a walk in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. As a favourite location for hikers, this scenic park is brimming with beautiful landscapes where enormous peaks fall into hidden valleys and sparkling streams. Offset by sandstone cliffs, the area is a prime eco-tourism destination that also holds a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere where nature lovers can connect with the earth. The park is a rich wildlife sanctuary with a diverse range of habitats and a high number of endangered plant and animal species, while ancient San rock art can be spotted in hundreds of caves and rock-shelters. The park also offers a number of different walking and hiking trails, excellent birdwatching, swimming in natural streams, and many photographic opportunities.
(n) |
| | - | Take a moment to reflect on one the most significant moments in South Africa’s history at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. After a manhunt that lasted 17 months, the country’s most famous freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, was finally apprehended by apartheid police at this unassuming site. His arrest set the course of recent history in the country, and dealt a blow to the anti-apartheid Black Consciousness Movement. In memory of Mandela, and his fight against racial inequality, the site now houses a magnificent sculpture comprising 50 steel columns between six and 9.5 metres high and covering a width of almost 30 metres. Cut by laser to ingeniously form an image of Mandela when viewed at the correct angle, the columns also line up to create a dramatic two-dimensional image of Madiba that can be seem from 30 metres away. (n) |
| | - | Travel to Durban North Coast |
| | - | Overnight: Petite Provence Bed and Breakfast (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
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| D9: Durban North Coast - Johannesburg OR Tambo |
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| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Flight Arr 11:50 Durban - Johannesburg (Economy Class) (Optional rates: D9:Flight Durban - Johannesburg) |
