The Best of South Africa
Price from £2495pp - 17 Days
Departures available from 27 July 2010 - 8 November 2011
Price is based on departure from Heathrow, other departure airports available for a supplement.
Hotel details
1. London to Cape Town:
Your door-to-door driver takes you to London Heathrow for your non-stop overnight flight to Cape Town with South African Airways.
2. Cape Town:
Reaching Cape Town today enjoy an orientation tour of South Africa’s oldest city and a cable car trip up Table Mountain (weather permitting) for views of the city cradled between Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and the ocean. Unpack at the Protea Hotel President and relax for the rest of the day. Your home for four nights is just minutes from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
3. Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula:
Your first full day of sightseeing on the Cape Peninsula begins with a leisurely walk in Kirstenbosch Gardens before a drive around the Atlantic Seaboard via Hout Bay. Visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and take the funicular to see where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Afterwards, head along the Indian Ocean coast to see the penguins at Boulders Beach and drive through the historic naval village of Simon’s Town.
4. The Winelands or Cape Town:
Join today’s optional tour to the dramatic mountains and vine smothered fertile valleys that characterise the Winelands region (book locally): visit Paarl and Stellenbosch, stop for wine tasting at two well-known estates and see the Huguenot Memorial and the Afrikaans Language Monument before heading back to Cape Town. Alternatively, spend the day exploring Cape Town at your leisure, perhaps taking an oceanfront walk, strolling through tranquil gardens or visiting the museums and markets.
5. Cape Town:
Relax with a day at leisure in the ‘Mother City’ of Africa. Cultural Cape Town has much to offer including Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and elegant shopping malls selling a vast array of local crafts and luxury items.
6. Cape Town to Oudtshoorn:
Journey by road over the scenic Sir Lowry’s Pass and then on to the seaside village of Hermanus, famous as a favourite breeding site of the Southern Right Whale, which you might see at certain times of the year. Continue along the Swellendam and Tradouw Pass and join Route 62, heading through the largely undeveloped Klein Karoo area. Reaching Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of South Africa, check in at the Queens Hotel for one night.
7. Oudtshoorn to Knysna:
Explore the vast, cool limestone caverns of Cango Caves and visit an ostrich farm on your journey today. Continue along the Outeniqua Mountain Pass towards the coastal town of Knysna – it’s set beside a shallow lagoon and famous for its oysters. Make yourself at home at the Protea Hotel Knysna Quays for a two-night stay.
8. Knysna:
Enjoy a visit to Knysna Elephant Park this morning. This afternoon, join an optional cruise on the Knysna Lagoon or a visit to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, or spend time at leisure.
9. Knysna, Port Elizabeth and Durban:
Pass through a diverse landscape en route to Port Elizabeth today, taking in Plettenberg Bay, the spectacular Tsitsikamma forests and the dramatic gorge at the mouth of Storm’s River. Fly to Durban this afternoon, for two nights at the Southern Sun Elangeni on the beachfront of Durban’s Golden Mile.
10. Zululand (KwaZulu Natal):
Combining the former Zululand and Natal, KwaZulu Natal is one of South Africa’s smallest provinces. Explore an ancient native African heritage, the fascinating Zulu culture, as you journey into its heart – enjoy the Zulu Kraal experience with dancing and a traditional lunch in the village before returning to your hotel late afternoon.
11. Durban, Johannesburg and Kruger National Park:
Fly to Johannesburg then make the five-hour drive to Kruger National Park, home to a variety of animals, plants, birds and insects. Relax at a chalet in one of the park’s well-equipped rest camps.
12. Kruger National Park to Lion Sands Private Game Reserve:
An early-morning game drive through Kruger gives you the opportunity to watch wildlife such as impala, zebra, hippos, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, cheetahs and lions in their natural habitats. Later, settle into your luxury thatched chalet at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, bordering Kruger in the Sabi Sand area, for the next two nights.
13. Lion Sands Private Game Reserve:
Accompanied by a ranger and a tracker, whose knowledge and training bring out the best in a day like this, start early this morning for a drive around the reserve in an open-topped 4x4 vehicle, wildlife watching. This evening, head out again for an extraordinary night drive.
14. Lion Sands Private Game Reserve to Magaliesburg:
Enjoy your last early-morning game drive before setting off on the scenic journey to Magaliesburg and the Mount Grace Country House Hotel, a country retreat in the Magaliesburg Mountains.
15. Magaliesburg:
Take time today to relax in this beautiful setting, enjoy the hotel’s atmosphere and facilities, and think back on all you have seen on your tour.
16. Magaliesburg to Sandton City and flight home:
Spend the morning at leisure before journeying to Sandton, with a short sightseeing stop in Pretoria, for your homeward-bound flight. Alternatively, continue with your extended holiday, perhaps with a trip to Victoria Falls.
17. London:
Your door-to-door pick-up driver guarantees you a relaxing journey home.
Offer details
Staying from 27 Jul 2009 for 17 nights
Departing from London airport, arriving at Cape Town
