South African Odyssey

Day 1 - Johannesburg

On arrival in Johannesburg at OR Tambo International Airport, you’ll be met by your representative and transferred to your hotel. Johannesburg is the largest and most populous city in South Africa as well as the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills.

The remainder of the day is at leisure – perhaps enjoy a sightseeing tour or simply relax at your hotel. This evening, meet up at reception for a briefing on the tour and a chance to meet fellow travellers.

Hotel: Protea Hotel Balalaika or similar
Meals: None

Day 2 - Pretoria & Mpumalanga

Depart Johannesburg after breakfast and head for Pretoria, South Africa’s capital city for a short orientation tour, before continuing to the Mpumalanga Province, known as ‘Paradise Country’. Dropping several hundred feet into the lush subtropical region of the Lowveld, we travel via the historic towns of Dullstroom and Lydenburg.

After traversing the famous Long Tom Pass, travel via Sabie and arrive late afternoon into Hazyview, the safari hub of the Kruger National Park.

Hotel: 2023 departures – Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel or similar.
2024 departures will stay at Hazyview Sun or similar

Meals: Breakfast (Half board 2024)

Day 3 - Panorama Route

After an early morning breakfast, we’ll drive along the spectacular ‘Panorama Route’, offering amazing scenery including the 26 km long Blyde River Canyon which is home to the Three Rondavels. You’ll see Bourke’s Luck Potholes’ and God’s Window, a breathtaking view of the edge of the escarpment taking in the Kruger National Park.

We arrive back in Hazyview in the early afternoon, where the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax.

Hotel: 2023 departures – Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel or similar.
2024 departures will stay at Hazyview Sun or similar

Meals: Breakfast (Half board 2024)

Day 4 - Kruger National Park

The day begins with early morning coffee or tea, followed by a thrilling open vehicle safari with your game ranger through Kruger National Park with pre-packed breakfast. Kruger is one of the world’s greatest National Parks, home to a stunning array of wildlife. Search for the ‘Big 5’, namely rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and elephant as well as prolific birdlife and numerous other game. The afternoon is at leisure at your hotel or alternatively you may like to book a game drive.

Hotel: 2023 departures – Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel or similar.
2024 departures will stay at Hazyview Sun or similar

Meals: Breakfast (Half board 2024)

Day 5 - Eswatini (Swaziland)

This morning we travel to eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland. This independent Kingdom lies within the borders of South Africa and is known for its lovely scenery, crafts and colourful indigenous culture. An interactive cultural experience introduces us to the charming people of eSwatini and their traditions. We travel via the capital city, Mbabane, and on to the beautiful Ezulwini Valley for a true African shopping experience at the Ezulwini Craft Market which is packed with woven baskets, bead-work and carvings.

Hotel: Royal Villas or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Zululand

After breakfast we will continue south through eSwatini, before re-entering South Africa. Travel into Zululand, passing traditional round huts and endless vistas. There is an option to enjoy an afternoon open vehicle safari (additional cost) in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, which contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhino.

Hotel: Anew Hotel Hluhluwe or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Durban (Umhlanga)

This morning, join a cruise on Lake St Lucia where you may see hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of birdlife, before departing for Durban. Our journey takes us past traditional Zulu Kraals, Eucalyptus plantations and sugar cane fields. We arrive early afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the golden beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Hotel: Protea Hotel Umhlanga or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Fly to Port Elizabeth* and Knysna

Today, transfer to Durban airport for the short southward flight to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), where you will be met by the representative, before setting off for Knysna. Known as the oyster box of South Africa, the town is nestled on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route and is rightly popular with visitors to the region.

Hotel: Rex Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Knysna

After breakfast, visit the spectacularly beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth, an area of dramatic coastal scenery. Then journey into the magical Knysna Forests, where you will learn stories of the woodcutters who worked the forests, the elephants that were hunted to extinction and the discovery of gold. There will be a visit the Matthee Big Tree Memorial, an enormous Yellowwood tree of over 880 years.

This evening dine at the Drydock Restaurant, renowned for its aromatic and flavoursome dishes using the finest local ingredients.

Hotel: Rex Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Oudtshoorn

Travel through the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the “ostrich capital” and the centre of the world’s Ostrich farming industry. Visit an ostrich farm for a guided tour and light lunch, before taking a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Hotel: Hlangana Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 11 - Cape Town

There is an option to book an early morning Meerkat Safari to witness these incredible habituated creatures emerge from their burrows and go about their daily activities.

After breakfast, the journey continues through the ‘Little Karoo’ to Barrydale, where you will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school and interact with the children and teachers, before driving through the picturesque spa town of Montagu. Continue on towards Cape Town via the winelands where guests booked on the Franschhoek overnight option are dropped off, before arriving in the big city, set spectacularly against the backdrop of Table Mountain.

Hotel: President Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 - Cape Town

Enjoy a full day at leisure – perhaps join a sightseeing tour to Table Mountain or simply explore the city. Although relatively small, Cape Town is packed with sightseeing attractions, excellent bars, cafes and restaurants as well as colourful craft markets.

Alternatively relax on one of Cape Town’s many pristine beaches. Enjoy an evening of delicious Cape food, captivating theatre and entertaining tales and songs about the people of the Cape.

Hotel: President Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 13 - Cape Town

Enjoy a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, offering some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world. Drive through Sea Point, the seaside village of Hout Bay, where you can enjoy an optional Seal Island boat cruise and then on to Cape Point where it was once thought the Atlantic and Indian Oceans met.

Return to Cape Town by way of Simon’s Town, where a visit is made to the Penguin colony at Boulders Beach (entrance fee payable locally), Fish Hoek fishing village and Muizenberg.

Hotel: President Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 - Farewell

There is free time to enjoy some last minute shopping or sightseeing, before transferring to the airport, harbour or railway station for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast