Day 1 Cape Town
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.

You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the welcome meeting tonight. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where and when this important meeting will take place. Your leader will collect your kitty and check your passport and insurance details at this meeting.

After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.

With its stunning coastline, dominating mountain, and modern cityscape, Cape Town is one of Africa's most attractive cities. Vineyards on its doorstep, adventure activities around every other corner and plenty of restaurants and cafes means there is something to appeal to everyone in this vibrant city.
Day 2 Stellenbosch Wine Region

Today we head of to the town of Stellenbosch situated only a short distance from Cape Town (80 km, approx 1-2 hours) .

We should arrive in time for a lunch before we hit the road on our bicycles and spent the afternoon exploring the local area visiting some of the local wineries to sample, taste and perhaps even purchase some of the product.

We arrive back to our accommodation in a late afternoon before heading out for dinner at one of the many local pubs or restaurants in the area.

Whilst in Stellenbosch we stay in dorm style rooms with shared facilities.

Day 3 Oudtshoorn
We make our way to Oudtshoorn (350 km, approx. 7-8 hours) on the scenic Route 62 via the towns of Calitzdorp, Ladysmith, Montaque and Robertson. Time permitting we can stop off at one of the region's wineries where there is a chance for some more tasting and you can compare the difference in the wines between Route 62 and Stellenbosch.

The ostrich capital of the world, at the turn of the 20th century Oudtshoorn was full of 'feather barons' that grew rich off the popularity of the ostrich feather. Nowadays there are literally thousands of ostriches in the area being farmed for their meat, leather, and on a smaller scale, their feathers and eggs. A short stroll around town and you will find yourself discovering all sorts of ostrich souvenirs.

Tonight we have the option to have dinner at a local home, a great opportunity to get an insight into day to day life in South Africa.

Tonight we camp. There are hot showers and flush toilets.

Days 4-5 Garden Route/Tsitsikamma National Park
We begin our day with a visit to the spectacular Cango Caves on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn before making our way to the beautiful seaside town of Knysna. There will be some free time to walk around Knysna Heads to stretch our legs before we head towards our final destination Tsitsikamma National Park (270 km, approx 4-5 hours) where we spend the next two nights.

Protecting both land and sea, at Tsitsikamma National Park steep ancient forests meet the breakers of the Indian Ocean. It is a spectacular place for walking and wildlife viewing. The Cape clawless otter, dolphins, porpoises and, in season, Southern Right whales are all visitors here, along with baboons, monkeys and myriad birds. Spend time hiking the Otter Trail, take a tree-top canopy adventure or go snorkelling. Tsitsikamma is also home to the highest bungee jump in the world.

Whilst staying in the park we will be camping with shared facilities.

Day 6 Addo Elephant National Park
We have an early start this morning as we leave the coast behind after breakfast and travel toward Addo Elephant National Park (270 km, 4-5 hours).

A true success story in conservationism, Addo Elephant National Park was created in 1931 to protect the region's 11 remaining elephants. Today there are over 450 elephants in the park, as well as Cape buffaloes, black rhinos, all kinds of antelopes and even the flightless dung beetle which is unique to the park.

On arrival at the park we will have an afternoon game drive where we hope to spot the local residents of the park.

Whilst staying in Addo we camp in a campground that has basic shared facilities.

Days 7-8 Wild Coast/Cintsa
After a final morning game drive, we travel to the rugged and remote Wild Coast (370 km, approx 5-6 hours).

A charming little coastal town, Cintsa and its surrounding region are inhabited

by the Xhosa people, whose lifestyle is deeply rooted in tribal traditions and customs. They are warm and friendly people and provide good insight into rural South African life.

We spend the next 2 nights here so you will have plenty of time to explore the town, relax on the stunning beaches or pursue the many optional activities on offer including hiking, swimming, mountain biking and surfing.

Whilst in Cintsa we stay at a campground with shared facilities.

Days 9-10 Lesotho
We travel towards the mountain kingdom of Lesotho (620 km, approx 10-12 hours). Nestled like a small island in the middle of South Africa, Lesotho is commonly known as the 'kingdom in the sky' with beautiful mountain ranges and endless hiking trails.

We pass through the spectacular Golden Gate National Park famous for its extraordinary sandstone rock formations. The park is also home to elands, zebras, mongooses and hundreds of bird species.

We then cross the border into Lesotho. Generally the border crossing is quite sm ooth, but we may experience some delay depending on the time of year.

We have a full day to explore the Lesotho highlands, some of our options include wandering around the town exploring the markets and shops or perhaps going out on a hike to a local village either on foot or by pony.

Whilst in Lesotho we stay dormitory style rooms with shared facilities.

Days 11-12 Drakensberg
Today we depart the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho re-entering South Africa we travel to the majestic Drakensberg mountain range (320 km, approx. 7-8 hours), arriving in the last afternoon.

The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa (3482 m) and forms part of the border between South Africa and Lesotho. The mountain range is referred to locally as the Barrier of Spears or the Dragon Mountains and is home to an amazing amount of flora and fauna.

We have a whole day to explore part of the mountain range on foot; you can take a short hike for an hour or so, or challenge yourself to a full day hike with a local guide.

Whilst in the Drakensburg we will stay dormitory style rooms with shared facilities.

Day 13 Durban
We depart for Durban (370 km, approx 4-5 hours) after breakfast, arriving in the late afternoon.

South Africa's third largest city and home to the largest port in Africa, Durban is the gateway to the Kingdom of Zululand and a melting pot of cultures, with the Indians, Zulus and English all settling here. There is plenty to see and do, with stunning beaches and a glitzy nightlife.

Tonight we will share dinner together to bid farewell to those who are leaving us here in Durban and to welcome our new group members who will be joining us for the remainder of our trip to Johannesburg.

Day 14 Zululand
We have an early departure to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, the heartland of the Zulu nation (100 km, approx. 2-3 hours). Here we get first hand insight to current day life of the rural Zulu people.

We spend the night in a traditional Zulu homestay where we will be treated to some traditional food, song and dance.

Day 15 St Lucia Estuary
We bid farewell to our Zulu hosts, making our way to Lake St Lucia (260 km, approx. 4-5 hours). Declared a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, St Lucia Estuary is home to thousands of varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles - with its most popular residents being the hundreds of hippos and crocodiles.

This afternoon there is the chance to take an optional boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary where you have the possibility to spot hippos and crocodiles basking on the banks, not to mention some amazing bird watching.

Tonight we camp at a basic campground with shared facilities.

Days 16-17 Mozambique Beach Camp
Bom dia! Today we discover another Southern African country - Mozambique.

Mozambique was originally a colonised by the Portuguese and spent 17 years in a civil war that ended in 1992. Nowadays it is still desperately poor, but extremely welcoming and friendly to all visitors and home to what some claim to be the best beaches on the east coast of the African continent. Be prepared to learn a few words of Portuguese and be warned - the peri peri sauces found here are some of the best and hottest you can find.

This morning we have the opportunity to do an optional boat cruise on the St.Lucia estuary before departing for Mozambique.

We make our way to the Kosi Bay border post via the Maputaland land region. Our journey continues via beautiful Kosi Bay (260 km, approx. 3-4 hours), as we head across the border to a seaside village, where we spend two nights in a coastal resort.

We have the rest of the afternoon and the next day to enjoy the unspoiled beaches of Mozambique. There is plenty to do from snorkelling, scuba diving, dolphin boat cruises or just relaxing on the beach sipping on a coconut juice.

Our campsite is basic with share facilities.

Day 18 Swaziland
Another day, another country - 'Sanibonani' and Welcome to Swaziland!

This morning we head back to Kosi Bay and on to the Golela Border Post where we enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, nestled snugly between Mozambique, Northern Zululand and Mpumalanga.

The border crossing between South Africa and Swaziland is generally very smooth, but we may experience some delays at certain times of the year.

Here we visit the Hlane Royal National Park (370 km, approx. 6-7 hours). This vast expanse of bushveld and its ancient hardwood trees makes Hlane home to the largest wild herds in the kingdom. We have an amazing chance here to explore the park on a guided game walk, hopefully tracking white rhinos on foot.

Our campsite is basic with shared facilities. Please note that there is no electricity at the campsite.

Days 19-20 Kruger National Park
This morning we enjoy a wander around a local craft market, before visiting the local candle factory which provides valuable employment to local people.

From the Kingdom of Swaziland we cross back in to South Africa and to Kruger National Park (370 km, approx 7-8 hours).
Our wildlife experience begins as soon as we enter the park, heading into prime game viewing areas where we hope to catch a glimpse of some of the amazing animals found inside the park, including the 'Big 5'.

We arrive at our campsite (with shared facilities and hot and cold water) within the park in the late afternoon.

We rise early the next day and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a morning game drive.

Most of today will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Tonight you have the option to take an additional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night time predator or two.

Day 21 Johannesburg
We are up at dawn with the animals for our final game drive before leaving Kruger. Once out of Kruger we transfer back to Johannesburg (600 km, approx 8-9 hours), arriving in the late afternoon. There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. We stop at the viewpoint over the awesome Blyde River Canyon and take in amazing views over the region.

On arrival in Jo'burg you can be dropped at the airport or at our finishing point hotel.

No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Johannesburg. Please ask at time of booking.
Important: Please do not book any international flights until after 10pm this evening.