Itinerary

DAY 1 STELLENBOSCH WINE ROUTE
After a short briefing we leave Cape Town and travel a short distance to Stellenbosch. On the way we stop at a wine farm to sample some regional wine. We also visit the Cheetah Breeding project to admire these beautiful animals. We continue our journey to Swellendam where we will overnight.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2 OUDTSHOORN
We drive inland to the Cango Caves where we take a guided tour. While in the area we have the opportunity to visit an Ostrich farm for a quick tour. Optional Activities: Ostrich Farm visit and Ostrich riding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 KNYSNA
We return to the coast via some lovely country roads and camp near picturesque seaside village of Knysna. Optional Activities: Canoeing, hiking & the lagoon cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4/5 BLOUKRANS / TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK
It is a short drive to the Storms River and Bloukrans Bridge. We will spend time exploring this coastal region and the Tsitsikamma NP. The hiking here is some of the best in South Africa. Optional Activities: Bungee jumping (highest in the world) , treetop canopy tours, hiking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
The journey continues into the Eastern Cape where we enter the Addo Elephant NP where we are surrounded by these magnificent creatures. Game driving in the NP will allow us to take some wonderful photos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7/8 HOGSBACK
After a final game drive in Addo we depart the NP and drive, via Port Elizabeth, to Hogsback. The following day your guides will lead you on a relaxing hike in the surrounding forest. Optional Activities: Horse riding, mountain biking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9/10 LESOTHO Today we leave South Africa and enter Lesotho. The next day we get up early and those going on the Pony Trekking will ride into the remote hills of Lesotho accompanied by local guides. If you remain behind you can visit the local village or craft market. Optional Activities: Pony Trekking Excursion, Hiking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11/12 SOUTH AFRICA – DRAKENSBERG
We return to South Africa where we drive to the Royal Natal NP. We spend the next two days exploring mountain paths and enjoying the beauty the Drakensberg. Optional Activities: Horse Riding, Hiking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 KWA-ZULU NATAL COAST - DURBAN
Our journey takes us through some amazing scenery on our way down to the Kwa Zulu Natal coast. In the late afternoon we enter Durban. This evening it is possible to go out for a meal at one of the excellent Indian restaurants. Optional Activities: Dinner and night out in the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14 iSIMANGALISO (GREATER ST LUCIA) WETLAND PARKWETLAND PARK
We drive up along the Kwa Zulu Natal coast to the well -known Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. We take a boat cruise on the lagoon and will spend tonight near this amazing wetland. Optional Activities: Traditional Zulu Village visit.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 15/16 SWAZILAND – MLILWANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Today on our way to Swaziland we take a morning game drive in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi NP. We enter Swaziland where we will experience some more of Southern Africa’s cultural diversity. Optional Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Horse Riding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 17/18 SOUTH AFRICA - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
We return to South Africa and drive to the Kruger NP for two unforgettable days of game viewing. Kruger National Park is home to Africa’s Big 5 as well as a multitude of other beautiful African animals, both small and large. Optional Activities: Night Drive and Dawn Game Walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 19 WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE
With our minds full of memories of the most famous nature conservation area in the world, we leave the Park. En route to tonight’s camp we visit a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 20 JOHANNESBURG
On the last day we enjoy the Panorama Route visiting Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window before our arrival in Johannesburg. Although the tour has ended it is quite common for the group to spend this last evening together at one of Johannesburg’s excellent restaurants. Optional Activities: Morning Shangaan Village visit and Dinner Out.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included

Accommodation: Two man large dome tents with plenty of extra space for your bags, plus a foam mattress is provided to ensure your comfort.

Max Group Size: no more than 22 passengers

 

Transport in specialised vehicle

Service of two qualified guides

Meals, accommodation and activities as per itinerary

Most National Park fees

 

Wine Tasting

Cheetah Breeding Project

Cango Caves

Tsitsikamma National Park

Addo Elephant National Park

Forest Hike in Hogsback

Lesotho

Royal Natal NP

Boat Cruise in Isimangaliso

Hluhluwe Umfolozi NP

Swaziland

Kruger National Park

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Blyde River Canyon

Excluded

Optional Activities
South Africa - Oudtshoorn - Tour of Ostrich Farm - R100 to R150
South Africa - Bloukrans-  Bridge World Highest Bungee Jump - R590 to R650
South Africa - Drakensberg - Horse Riding - Per Hour - R120 to R150
South Africa - Knysna - Lagoon Cruise - R80 to R150
South Africa - Knysna - Knysna Forest Entrance Fee - R10 to R40
Lesotho - Malealea - Pony Trekking - R220 to R310
Lesotho - Malealea - Village Walk - 1 hour - R10 to R15
South Africa - Durban - Dinner at local restaurant - R150 to R300
South Africa - Kruger National Park - Sunset Game Drive 3-Hours - R140 to R180
South Africa - Kruger National Park - Dawn Game Walk 2 to 3 Hours - R270 to R300
South Africa - Timbavati - Local Village Tour - R100 to R150
South Africa - Tsitsikamma NP - Treetop / Canopy Tour - R395 to R495
Swaziland - Mlilwane NP - Horse Riding - R100 to R400
Swaziland - Mlilwane NP - Mountain Biking - R85 to R150
South Africa - Johannesburg - Dinner at local restaurant - R150 to R300

 

Visas

Vaccinations

Items of a personal nature

Alcohol and snacks

Sleeping bag and towel

Departures

Starts: Cape Town - Finishes: Johannesburg

31-May-2010 - 19-Jun-2010
14-Jun-2010 - 03-Jul-2010
28-Jun-2010 - 17-Jul-2010
12-Jul-2010 - 31-Jul-2010
26-Jul-2010 - 14-Aug-2010
09-Aug-2010 - 28-Aug-2010
23-Aug-2010 - 11-Sep-2010
06-Sep-2010 - 25-Sep-2010
20-Sep-2010 - 09-Oct-2010
04-Oct-2010 - 23-Oct-2010
18-Oct-2010 - 06-Nov-2010
01-Nov-2010 - 20-Nov-2010
15-Nov-2010 - 04-Dec-2010

Feedback

Dear Tina,

I had an amazing tour! Couldn't have been better.
Most travellers were around my age, although there were a few people around 50 or in their 40's as well. A lot of Dutch people, but the guides told me that was not always the case. Other nationalities were: Sweden, USA, Canada and Germany.
The size of the group was not the same for the whole trip. Some people only travelled with us to Port Elisabeth or Durban, and in Durban quite some new people were added to the group. We started of with 14, went down to 9 in Port Elisabeth and from Durban on we were with 15. I'm happy the group never got bigger than 15, because I think it would have become too crowded in the truck and there would not have been space for all our luggage.
The guides were very nice and enthousiastic, the food was great and there was not much we needed to do besides putting up and down our own tents and washing up our plates.
I saw all big 5, cheetas and a spitting cobra and lots more! The highlights were the optional activities in Kruger NP, because the Nomad truck can only ride on tar roads in the game parks, the chance of spotting animals is a little lower than when you can also go on the dirt roads, like you do during the optional night and morning drives. (We still saw a lot of animals in Kruger from our truck though). The morning game drive in St Lucia was also very nice, as was the lagoon cruise where we saw lots of hippos and crocs.
Addo Elephant park was quite disappointing for me. We just saw 2 elephants and they were very far away. And because we could only travel tar roads, we could not get closer. Luckily this was all made up in Kruger, were we saw lots of them and were even almost charged by a baby elephant :P
Besides that, Lesotho is absolutely stunning, the most beautiful part of Southern Africa in my opinion. I'm very happy the tour visited that remote but amazing area.

The tents we slept in weren't really waterproof. Luckily we hardly had any rain, but this is something the operator can possibly improve on.
One other thing is that the whole trip was quite a bumpy ride, even on tar roads.
I also think travellers should be better informed about the temperatures the can expect, especially when travelling during winter. It was much colder at night than I had thought, and many of us needed to buy extra blankets, hot water bottles, hats and gloves.

All that considered, I still had the best vacation ever and am very happy I was on this tour!

Kind regards,
Wesley van Hout
3 May 2010