South Africa: See & Do It All In 12 Days, 1st Class Traveling

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Night Safari

Stop At: Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park
Our tour starts at the Kruger National Park, officially at 8:00pm. Please be in the lobby at this time, as your tour guide and driver should be waiting for you there. We are to be taken into the park for a night safari. Animals often seen at this hour include lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, zebras, elephants and buffaloes.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging is included tonight inside Kruger National Park.

Day 2: Exploring One of the Largest Game Reserves in Africa

Stop At: Kruger National Park, Malalan Gate, Nelspruit 1350 South Africa
We spent the day exploring Kruger National Park by Jeep. Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other game reserve in Africa. All the so-called ‘big five’ game animals roam within this park. They are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo. Following the full-day safari, we relocate to the village of Hazyview.
Duration: 6 hours

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

Day 3: A Postcard-Perfect River Canyon Site & God’s Window

Stop At: Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, R543, 2351 South Africa
We make a daytrip today to Blyde River Canyon. If to compare canyons worldwide, Blyde is one of the largest on earth. It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. It is also the second largest canyon in Africa. Attractions we visit include Graskop Gorge, God’s Window cliffs, Lisbon Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and a viewpoint called Three Rondavels.
Duration: 8 hours

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

Day 4: The Subtropical Climate & Extensive Beaches of Durban

Stop At: Durban, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
We relocate to Durban. We have a private tour guide and driver who shows us the highlights of South Africa’s third largest city. One of the many attractions we visit is the Golden Mile beachfront.
Duration: 5 hours

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

Day 5: Rhinos in a Park & Seeing Hippos & Crocodiles by Boat

Stop At: Hluhluwe - iMfolozi Park Wilderness Area, Hluhluwe Game Reserve South Africa
We go on a daytrip today. First is Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park. It is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and has the largest population of white rhinos in the world. What’s more, each of the big five game animals can be found there. Next is iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where the Saint Lucia Game Reserve serves as our focal point. The park is home to around 1,200 crocodiles and 800 hippos. Other animals roaming around include elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. Sea animals include whales, dolphins and marine turtles. We explore the reserve by boat.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 6: Traditional Beer, Prehistoric Cave Paintings, Hanging Out with Natives & an Incredibly Scenic Drive

Stop At: Sani Pass, Sani Pass, KwaZulu-Natal
We go on another daytrip today. The first stop is uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. It is known for exceptional beauty, ancient caves and rock shelters. In fact, this park has the largest and most concentrated group of prehistoric paintings in Africa south of the Sahara. Some of the cave paintings may date back to 100,000 years ago. Next is South Africa’s most scenic drive, known as the Sani Pass. The last destination for today is the country of Lesotho. There we meet natives as well as are offered traditional beer and homemade bread.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 7: Zip Lining, Bungee Jumping, a Suspension Bridge Walk & a Charming Coastal Town

Stop At: Tsitsikamma National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Eastern Cape
We relocate from Durban to Knysna, making several stops en route. From the airport in Port Elizabeth, we are taken to Tsitsikamma National Park. The first stop within this park is Storms River. There we go on a guided zip lining tour. Next, we go on a suspension bridge walk. Afterwards, we head to Bloukrans River Bridge. It is home to one of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungees. You do not have to jump! It is an optional activity (with an additional charge). Last but definitely not least is the coastal town of Knysna. Before checking into the hotel, we are taken to a fantastic viewpoint at Knysna Heads and then walk around the waterfront.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 8: Crawling Through Caves & a Sunset Boat Cruise

Stop At: The Cango Caves, 328 Approximately 30km (19 miles) from town on the R, Oudtshoorn 6625 South Africa
We go on a daytrip today. We start at the Cango Caves. We are provided with two different options for exploring. There is a Standard Tour and an Adventure Tour. The Adventure Tour consists of crawling through narrow passages and climbing up steep rock formations guided by small lights. Both tours feature halls and limestone formations. Following our tour, we are taken to the Cango Wildlife Ranch. There we are provided with a guided tour. The ranch is home to around 90 different species of animals. Lastly for today, we head to the Knysna Waterfront Pier. There we take the sunset boat cruise. The boat is called John Benn. It is best described as a double-decker floating restaurant offering lagoon cruises to the Knysna Heads.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 9: One of the Most Notorious Prisons on Earth & the Country’s Showcase City

Stop At: Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, 19 Dock Road, Cape Town Central 8001 South Africa
We relocate from Knysna to Cape Town. An attractive city resting upon natural beauty, surrounded with fine scenery and dominated by Table Mountain, this relatively prosperous metropolis is the undisputed architectural gem of South Africa. Cape Town is not only the most popular international city destination in the country but in Africa as a whole! This is due to its good climate, its intimate setting and the plenty of historic landmarks dating from colonial times. No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to Cape Town.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Robben Island Museum, Cape Town Central 7400 South Africa
From Cape Town, we are taken on a boat ride to Robben Island. There we are provided with a guided tour. Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on this island. Once used for the isolation of mainly political prisoners, Robben Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following our tour, we return to Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It attracts more than 23 million visitors a year. The complex houses over 450 retail outlets. It is also still a working harbor.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 10: The Heartland of South Africa's Wine Production

Stop At: Marianne Wine Estate, Valley Road off R44 Klapmuts, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
We make a daytrip today to Cape Winelands. This area, famous for its vineyards, is only a 1-hour drive away from Cape Town. Thanks to Cape Winelands, South Africa ranks among the top wine producing countries in the world. Wine tasting is included on our tour, specifically in the estates of DeMorgenzon, Fairview and Marianne.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 11: Classic Sites, an Island Overtaken by Seals, Greeting Penguins, Nice Beaches & Stunning Viewpoints

Stop At: Noordhoek Beach, Beach Rd, Noordhoek 7979 South Africa
Today we explore in and around Cape Town. The first stop is Bo-Kaap (a.k.a. Malay Quarter). It features colorful and historic homes. The next stop is Maiden’s Cove. It offers spectacular views of the Twelve Apostles mountains, Camps Bay Beach, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. The next stop is Duiker Island, where we see seals. Note that we do not walk onto the island but rather explore around it by boat. The boat trip in total takes around 45 minutes.

The next stop is the viewpoint at Chapman’s Peak. Continuing along, next is Noordhoek Beach. From there we can get views of Long Beach in the distance. The next stop is Boulder’s Penguins Colony. It is home to approximately 2,500 breeding penguins. The next stop is Cape of Good Hope. It offers great scenic views. We have the option to take a short hike to Cape Point’s lighthouse or to take the funicular. Upon returning to Cape Town, we pass through the False Bay coastline and the colorful beach huts on Muizenberg Beachfront.
Duration: 30 minutes

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

Day 12: Our Tour Ends Today

Stop At: Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape
Cape Town is the final destination on our tour around South Africa. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport.

Note that if you can extend your trip, consider doing so. Give yourself another day or two to explore inside the city. Upon request, we can provide you with a private tour guide and driver.
Duration: 30 minutes

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