16 Day South African Discovery (engilsh / German Guided)

Itinerary

Day 1: DAY OF ARRIVAL – AFTERNOON AT LEISURE in CAPE TOWN

Stop At: Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape
Guests make their own way to the hotel. Enjoy a day at leisure or join an optional Table Mountain (own account and weather permitting) or travel through the Malay Quarter, city centre, Company Gardens (time permitting), and the Castle of Good Hope (own account). Return to the hotel late afternoon and meet the tour guide for a tour briefing at 18h30. Dine at the hotel (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at La Splendida Hotel or similar

Day 2: FULL DAY AT LEISURE in CAPE TOWN

Stop At: Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape
After breakfast spend the morning at leisure discovering the Mother City or join an optional full day Cape Point tour (own account) which includes Cape Point, Boulder's Beach (entrance fee for own account) and the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Enjoy dinner at the hotel or a restaurant in town (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at La Splendida Hotel or similar

Day 3: CAPE TOWN to WELLINGTON via CAPE WINELANDS (±115km)

Stop At: Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
After breakfast, guests are collected from the hotel, and travel northeast to Wellington via the Cape Winelands. Journey into the heart of the Winelands and enjoy a craft beer tasting (own account) before arriving at the university town of Stellenbosch. Embark on a walking tour of Stellenbosch which includes the town’s historic sites and colonial Cape Dutch architecture. These structures are some of the country’s oldest buildings.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Taalmonument op Paarlberg, Gabbema Doordrift Street, Paarl 7646 South Africa
Stop for lunch (own account) at one of the many wine farms and eateries near Paarl. Guests visit the town of Paarl, South Africa’s third oldest town. At Paarl Rock, the second largest granite projection on the planet, guests visit the Afrikaanse Taalmonument (Afrikaans Language Monument) and learn more about the museum.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Wellington, Wellington, Western Cape
Found in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Wellington is home to Cape Dutch homesteads and beautiful gardens and wineries, as well as South Africa’s only whisky producer. Check in at the guest house, and enjoy time at leisure before drinks and dinner (own account) at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Val du Charron Guest House or similar

Day 4: WELLINGTON to OUDTSHOORN via ROUTE 62 (±390km)

Pass By: Bainskloof Pass, South Africa
Enjoy breakfast at the guest house before departing Wellington en route to Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo, via the scenically-attractive Bainskloof Pass and Route 62. Built in 1854, the 18km Bainskloof Pass was an engineering masterpiece known as the ‘Gateway to the North’. It is now a national monument and offers unsurpassed views of the area. Enjoy a cheese and wine pairing followed by a cellar tour at an estate in the Robertson wine valley, located off the world’s longest wine route, the Route 62. Savour lunch en route (own account).

Stop At: Van Loveren Family Cellar, R317 Road Between Robertson & Bonnievale, Robertson 6707 South Africa
Enjoy a cheese and wine pairing followed by a cellar tour at an estate in the Robertson wine valley, located off the world’s longest wine route, the Route 62. Savour lunch en route (own account).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Oudtshoorn, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
Arrive at the guest house on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. Spend the late afternoon and evening at leisure. Enjoy dinner and warm hospitality (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at De Zeekoe Guest Farm or similar

Day 5: OUDTSHOORN to KNYSNA via CANGO CAVES (±160km)

Stop At: The Cango Caves, 328 Approximately 30km (19 miles) from town on the R, Oudtshoorn 6625 South Africa
After breakfast, guests journey south via the Outeniqua Pass, to Knysna. Stop outside Oudtshoorn, in the Cango Valley and discover the spectacular subterranean world of the Cango Caves.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Safari Ostrich Show Farm, R328 Road 6 KM From Oudtshoorn Towards Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn 6620 South Africa
Visit a nearby ostrich farm and learn about for the ostrich-farming industry. Enjoy lunch at the ostrich farm’s restaurant (own account).

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Knysna, Knysna, Western Cape
The tour travels southwards to Knysna via the Outeniqua Pass. This pass was constructed by prisoners of war from 1943-1951 and now bridges the semi-arid Klein Karoo and the coastal Garden Route. Stop in Wilderness to enjoy photo opportunities and sweeping views from the Map of Africa lookout point (weather permitting) before continuing on to Knysna. Guests enjoy dinner at the boutique hotel (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Madison Manor or similar

Day 6: FULL DAY AT LEISURE in KNYSNA

Stop At: Featherbed Nature Reserve, Remembrance Drive, Knysna Ferry from Municipal Jetty, Knysna 5270 South Africa
Following breakfast, guests spend the day at leisure, or on optional excursions in and around Knysna. Guests can board a ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (own account, including lunch). The local tour guide will share tales about Knysna whilst guests enjoy panoramic views on board the ferry and a Unimog-drawn trailer.
An optional 2.2km guided nature walk, through the forest and along the coast, is recommended. Enjoy a buffet lunch at a unique outdoor restaurant under a canopy of milkwood trees, on the edge of the lagoon. Guests spend time at leisure before dinner (own account).
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Madison Manor or similar

Day 7: KNYSNA to PORT ALFRED via EASTERN GARDEN ROUTE (±410km)

Stop At: Tsitsikamma National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Eastern Cape
After an early breakfast, the tour departs for Port Elizabeth, via the Garden Route. Travel to the Storms River Mouth and experience unique views of the Tsitsikamma from a suspension bridge. Guests enjoy lunch (own account) in the Tsitsikamma Forest area, home to century-old trees.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Port Alfred, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape
Drive along the coastal road to Port Alfred, on the banks of the Kowie River, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. The tour arrives late afternoon at the hotel. Guests enjoy refreshing drinks (own account) and savour local cuisine.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at The Royal St Andrews Lodge or similar

Day 8: PORT ALFRED to WILD COAST (±300km)

Stop At: Wild Coast, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Guests enjoy an early breakfast before the tour departs for the Wild Coast. Stop for lunch en route before arriving at the quaint beach resort in the afternoon. Views from the hotel range from the stunning Wild Coast beaches to the green, lush, tropical vegetation. Dine at the hotel.

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Trennery’s Hotel or similar or similar

Day 9: FULL DAY AT LEISURE – WILD COAST

Stop At: Wild Coast, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Guests spend the day at leisure after breakfast. Guests can join one or more optional activities on offer such as extreme golf, a lagoon cruise, canoeing, hiking or enjoy any of the recreational hotel facilities. Visit a traditional homestead and experience authentic, local hospitality (own account). Excursions are operated by a local guide and all funds go to the community. Lunch at the hotel (own account). Enjoy pre-dinner drinks (own account) and a scrumptious, fresh seafood buffet.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Trennery’s Hotel or similar

Day 10: WILD COAST to HARDING (±380km)

Stop At: Harding, Harding, KwaZulu-Natal
Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel and depart for Kokstad, via Mthatha sites (time permitting) on the Mandela Route. The Mandela Route takes a scenic drive on the N2 highway to Mthatha, which is home to the Nelson Mandela Museum. The museum hosts a display reflecting the life and times of Mandela. Visit other prominent Mthatha sites (time permitting). Lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives at the resort, late afternoon. Guests spend the late afternoon at leisure, freshen up and dine at the hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at ANEW Ingeli Forest Resort or similar

Day 11: HARDING to ST LUCIA (±460km)

Stop At: St Lucia, St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal
After an early breakfast, guests depart for St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal, colloquially referred to as the Elephant Coast. This region is acclaimed for its towering mountains, the warm Indian Ocean, tropical vegetation and a myriad of animal species. Lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives at the hotel in the late afternoon. Dine at the lodge or in town (own account).
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Forest Lodge or similar

Day 12: ST LUCIA to ESWATINI (was SWAZILAND) (±335km)

Stop At: Eswatini (Swaziland), Eswatini (Swaziland)
Before breakfast, guests embark on an open safari vehicle and enjoy a game drive through South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a colloquial reference roughly translated as ‘miracle and wonder’. Observe hippos, crocodiles, and an abundance of birds on an eco-friendly boat cruise on the estuary. The tour departs for the Kingdom of Eswatini entering at the Lavumisa Border post. Eswatini is culturally diverse, an absolute monarchy and one of Africa’s smallest countries. The tour stops at the Swazi Candle factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the millefiori technique. Lunch en route (own account). The tour arrives at the lodge in the late afternoon. Guests spend the evening at leisure, freshen up and dine at the hotel or in town (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mantenga Lodge or similar

Day 13: ESWATINI (was SWAZILAND) to HAZYVIEW via KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (±250km)

Stop At: Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park
Guests enjoy breakfast at the hotel. The tour exits Eswatini at the Jeppe’s Reef border post and arrives at the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate. Guests enjoy a guided game drive through the Kruger National Park to Hazyview. The Kruger National Park, forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Lunch (own account) in one of the park’s rest camps before continuing to Hazyview, the gateway to the spectacular Panorama Escarpment. Arrive at the hotel and enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Casa do Sol Hotel & Resort or similar

Day 14: FULL DAY IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (±250km)

Stop At: Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park
After an early breakfast, guests spend the day exploring the Kruger National Park. They will board a closed vehicle for a guided game drive in Kruger and see Africa’s iconic mega-fauna and endemic birdlife. The tour stops at one of the park’s rest camps for lunch (own account). An optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle is available (own account and excluding lunch). Guests exit Kruger National Park late afternoon and return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks (own account) before dinner.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Casa do Sol Hotel & Resort or similar

Day 15: HAZYVIEW to JOHANNESBURG via PANORAMA ROUTE (±500km)

Stop At: Panorama, Panorama, Western Cape
After breakfast, guests travel to Johannesburg via the scenic Panorama Route. Wonder View, the highest viewpoint on this route, is at the start of this day’s trip on the Panorama Route. The tour visits Bourke’s Luck Potholes and stops at the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels, the world’s largest green canyon. These sites are included in the country’s list of natural marvels. Guest stop for lunch (own account) en route.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Greater Johannesburg, Gauteng
The tour arrives in Johannesburg late afternoon. Spend the evening at leisure. Guests dine at the hotel (own account).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Balalaika or similar

Day 16: DAY OF DEPARTURE – MORNING AT LEISURE in JOHANNESBURG

Stop At: Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Greater Johannesburg, Gauteng
Guests spend the day at leisure or alternatively can join a Soweto morning tour (own account and excluding lunch). Soweto is the most metropolitan township in South Africa and the leader in politics, music, fashion, and popular culture. Enjoy lunch (own arrangement and own expense). Transfer to the airport is by own arrangement and expense.

Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.