South Africa is one of the continent’s best safari destinations, offering the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and more in accessible parks and reserves. You can drive right into the epic wilderness at Kruger, Kgalagadi and other parks, or join khaki-clad rangers on guided drives and walks. But it’s not all about big-game sightings – wildlife watching here also teaches you to enjoy the little things: a leopard tortoise ambling alongside the road, a go-away bird chirping its distinctive chant in the trees, or an encounter with seals, whales or a great white shark along the coast.
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, Private Half Day City Tour
On arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be meet by your English speaking driver and transferred to your hotel for check-in. You will then be taken on a half day City Orientation Tour to learn all about Cape Town’s rich history and vibrant cultures. Some of the highlight stops will be the beautiful Company Gardens and the Castle of Good Hope, a historical fort which is the oldest building in the country. Do some shopping for African arts and crafts at the vibrant Greenmarket Square and soak up the lively atmosphere. You will also visit the colourful Bo Kaap area, previously known as the Malay Quarter – situated on the slopes of Signal Hill this is the spiritual home of Cape Town’s Muslim community. The area is most famous for its brightly painted houses making for lovely photos.
We then take a trip up Cape Town’s landmark and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Table Mountain. A 5-minute cableway ride takes you to the top of the mountain from where you will enjoy uninterrupted views over the city bowl and across the peninsula. * Please note, this activity is weather permitting & for your own account. Enjoy the evening at leisure, there is plenty to explore on foot from your hotel, with a number of dining options within walking distance.
Day 2: Cape Town: Scheduled Full Day Cape Point tour
This morning after breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a tour of the beautiful Cape Peninsula. Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard to Hout Bay, passing magnificent beaches and the coastal suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandadno. From Hout Bay Harbour you have the option of a boat trip to Duiker Island (for your own account), to see the thousands of Cape Fur Seals living on this rocky outcrop. Hout Bay Harbour is a busy fishing harbour sure to keep you entertained and your cameras snapping. Browse for souvenirs at the Hout Bay Craft Market or take a walk on the beach and paddle your feet in the sea.
The tour continues over Chapman’s Peak, known as one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world, all the way along the Peninsula, through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and to the most southern tip at Cape Point. An invigorating walk takes you to the two lighthouses at the top and bottom of the headland, from where you will enjoy extraordinary views of the cliffs and the ocean below. Alternatively you could take a short funicular ride to the top (for your own account). Take a photo down at the most south western point of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope beach.
Lunch will be enjoyed at a seaside restaurant (for your own account) before we make our way along the False Bay coastline to the Naval suburb of Simon’s Town. We will visit the delightful African Penguins of Boulders Beach and then the drive takes us back via Cape Town’s coastal and southern suburbs for a final stop at the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.
Day 3: Cape Town: Leisure
Today you will have a full day to choose whatever you would like to do, visitors to Cape Town are spoilt for choice, however here are a few of our suggestions: Robben Island is synonymous with South African icon Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment in the previous maximum security prison on the island. This is a great half-day excursion for those wanting to learn more about South Africa’s history. Cape Town is also world famous for its wine and wine routes to explore and taste some of the finest wines on offer. The Cape Winelands is another highly recommended day trip, with Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek being only a short drive (under an hour) from the city and offering a vast array of estates to suit all tastes. Wine pairings are very popular – cheese, chocolate, nougat, biltong, cupcakes, pancakes, ice-cream, artisanal salt and pizza are a few of the options on offer! Even if you are not a wine fan the winelands is still a lovely outing and showcases some of the best restaurants in the country. Many of the wine estates also offer pre-packed gourmet picnics to be enjoyed outdoors. Closer to town are also the exclusive Constantia wine farms which also offer excellent wines, stunning settings and top restaurants.
Those wanting some beach time will be spoilt for choice – the Atlantic Seaboard has the trendy and beautiful beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno, where the idea is to “see and be seen” rather than swim thanks to the very chilly water! On the False Bay side Muizenberg, St James, Fishhoek and Boulders beaches are more family friendly and have slightly warmer water for swimming. The best places for shopping in Cape Town are the V&A Waterfront and Canal Walk which offer a wide range of local South African as well as international brands. Food markets have become very popular in the city are there are lots of options on different days of the week to sample the delicious foods on offer at the many food stalls, as well as be entertained by local musicians and artists. On a Saturday the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is very popular, open between 9am and 2pm.
For the adventure enthusiasts/adrenaline junkie Cape Town does not disappoint! These are some of the popular options available:
– Sky diving
– Zip-lining
– Kloofing
– Shark cage diving
– Paragliding
– Abseiling from Table Mountain
– Sandboarding
– Diving
– Ocean Kayaking
– Hiking, mountain biking, surfing
Day 4: Cape Town to Knysna
Today we head out of Cape Town on the N2 highway, travelling over Sir Lowry’s Pass and travel through apple country – the small towns of Elgin and Grabouw are South Africa’s biggest producers and exporters of apples and are also home to one of South Africa’s favourite soft drinks Appeltizer (carbonated 100% apple juice – give it a try!). There are also a number of popular farm stalls
this route and either Orchard or Peregrine make a nice stop and break from the drive with fresh local produce on sale. We will be travelling through the Overberg region which is also known as one of the Western Cape’s “bread baskets” – for the many wheat farms. There are also rolling canola field and sheep farms – look out for South Africa’s National Bird the Blue Crane often seen on the fields.
Other interesting places we will pass by and stop at depending on time and your interest include Albertinia (famous for its Aloe Ferox and skin care products) Mossel Bay (beautiful beaches and a very interesting museum), George (the commercial centre of the Garden Route) and Wilderness (lovely long beach and spectacular views).
We will arrive in Knysna in the late afternoon, check into your hotel and ten make our way to the Knysna Waterfront where you will embark on a cruise to the Knysna Heads on the John Benn, a boat steeped in history, named after a legendary pilot of a bygone era. This is a comfortable and cosy boat with a classic wooden finish. There are two full bars on the upper and lower decks with an optional a la carte and tapas menu available on board. Fresh Knysna oysters and sparkling wine will be the order of the day! The boat is fully enclosed therefore not dependent on the weather.
Enjoy a beautiful sunset and then spend the rest of the evening at your choice of restaurant at the Knysna Waterfront – seafood, pizza/pasta, steak, Chinese and sushi are some of the options available.
Day 5: Full Day Oudtshoorn Tour
Today we travel over the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain Pass to Oudtshoorn, you will notice a marked difference in terrain and vegetation once we have crossed over the mountain and into the semi-arid Klein Karoo region. On arrival in the ‘Ostrich capital’ we will visit an Ostrich Farm for an informative tour to learn more about these flightless birds and the history of their farming in the area.
We will then take a scenic 30 minute drive to the Cango Caves to explore this fascinating network of limestone rock formations. Experienced cave guides will take you through the caves on an easy hour long tour where you will get to know more about how these caves were formed, discovered and explored.
Our last stop for the day is the Cango Wildlife Ranch an endangered species breeding centre where you and see and interact with a variety of animal species, even Bengal Tigers!
We then travel back to Knysna for dinner either at your hotel, in the town or at the Waterfront again.
Day 6: Knysna – George – Johannesburg – Sun City
Today you will transfer to the George Airport for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport you will be met by a Southern Africa 360 representative for your road transfer to Sun City.
Sun City is conveniently situated 2 hours from Johannesburg, this popular resort and casino complex offers a wealth of activities, entertainment and hotel options to suit all tastes. A unique holiday experience for all ages.Great for a romantic getaway, a wild weekend or a family break. Sun City is known as an entertainment Mecca, offering excellent restaurants, superb entertainment options, two leading golf courses, a dazzling casino, a water world and a safari experience second to none.
Check in at the hotel, explore the resort and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants available. The resort offers a variety of restaurants including Indian, Italian and seafood restaurants. After dinner you may choose to catch a movie, watch one of the glamorous cabaret productions or maybe try your luck at the slots. There is also plenty to keep children entertained and happy.
Overnight: Sun City Cabanas (3*) or Soho Hotel (4*)
Day 7: Sun City
Enjoy the day at leisure to explore Sun City and all its activities and entertainment on offer.
Things to do and places to visit:
Day 8: Sun City – Johannesburg
After breakfast, depart for Johannesburg via a Private Gold Reef Tour (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) with exciting historical gold mining attractions. The tour includes an introductory film and an underground mining tour. You will also get to see a bar of gold being poured. After the tour you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
Your hotel is conveniently situated close to ORT International Airport at the Emperor’s Palace Entertainment Complex which offer a wide variety of dining and entertainment options for your last night in South Africa.
Day 9: Jo,Burg – Departure
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to OR Tambo International Airport for your flight back home.
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