Holidays to South Africa - Sea & Safari Self-Drive Ref: SD009

Day 2
Arrive Johannesburg

Our representative will meet you o­n arrival with your travel documents including maps and route descriptions. Collect your hire car at Johannesburg Airport. Perhaps visit Pretoria. Drive around Church Square, see the Voortrekker Monument and Museum and the majestic Union Buildings, the seat of South Africa’s government. Return to your hotel near Johannesburg Airport for overnight.

Overnight(1): Airport Grand Hotel - Boksburg

Day 3
Boksburg to Ohrigstad (366 kms/229 miles)

Enjoy breakfast and head for Cullinan. Take a surface tour of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond, the biggest ever, was found in 1905. Continue via Dullstroom and Lydenburg to your lodge at Ohrigstad. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Hannah Lodge - Ohrigstad

Day 4
Ohrigstad to White River (145 kms/90 miles)

Set out after breakfast o­n o­ne of South Africa’s most beautiful drives, the Panorama Route. Visit Blyde River Canyon, the largest “green canyon” in the world, see Bourke’s Luck Potholes, natural sculptures in a sandstone bed, and God’s Window for spectacular views over the lowveld. Continue to the old mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest. In late afternoon visit the Shangana Cultural Village where a guide will take you to the Kraal of Chief Soshangana. The chief’s wives will serve a traditional Shangaan feast (own account) before you proceed to your hotel. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Pine Lake Inn - White River

Day 5
White River to Kruger National Park (79 kms/50 miles)

Enjoy breakfast before proceeding to o­ne of the highlights of your visit – the largest Game Park in Africa. Expect your first meeting with members of the “Big Five”, roaming free in their natural habitat. Continue to your rest camp and depart o­n an open 4x4 game drive before dinner at the restaurant (own account). Breakfast Included

Overnights(2): Rest Camps - Kruger National Park

Day 6
Kruger National Park

Your day is at leisure for additional game drives in the park.

Day 7
Kruger National Park to Swaziland (220kms/137miles)
Take an early breakfast and depart for the mountainous kingdom of Swaziland. Watch glass blowers in action at Ngwenya and visit the Swazi Craft Market in Ezulwini Valley. Dine either in your hotel or the Royal Swazi Sun where the casino is also an attraction. (own account)

Overnight(1): Foresters Arms - Swaziland

Day 8
Swaziland to Hluhluwe (260kms/162miles)
Check out after breakfast and visit the Candle Factory in Malkern’s Valley. Drive via Manzini and Big Bend to the border post at Luvumisa where you cross into South Africa again. Continue to your Zululand Safari Lodge to check in and refresh for dinner (own account). Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Zululand Lodge - Hluhluwe

Day 9
Hluhluwe to St Lucia (89 kms/56 miles)

After breakfast travel to Hluhluwe Game Reserve, renowned for its conservation of white rhino and enjoy a game drive. Continue to Dumazulu for an African cultural experience. Learn of traditional weapons, jewellery and dance. A typical African lunch will be served (own account). Visit local weavers, Zulu basketmakers, and see collector’s items of antique Zulu beadwork and other crafts. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Lidiko Lodge - St Lucia

Day 10
St Lucia to Durban (239 kms/150 miles)

Enjoy breakfast before visiting the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, recently acclaimed an World Heritage Site. It has marine systems such as coral reefs, beaches and coastal forests, salt and freshwater marshes, open estuarine waters, lush coastal plains and drier woodland areas. It is home to a large population of hippos, over 1000 crocodiles and a wealth of plant, animal and bird life. Enjoy a boat trip o­n the estuary, bringing you close to hippos, crocs and a wide variety of birds such as Fish Eagles, Goliath Heron and Kingfisher. Continue to Durban and your overnight hotel. Breakfast Included

Overnights(2): Riverside Hotel - Durban

Day 11
Durban

Take a city tour of Durban after breakfast. Visit Botanical Gardens, abundant with plant and bird life, an orchid house, and the Temple of Understanding. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the beach or the pool. Breakfast Included

Day 12
Durban to Mthatha (396 kms/248 miles)

After breakfast follow the N2 to Umtata in “Mandela Country” the region where he was born, grew up, and started his career. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Holiday Inn Garden Court - Mthatha

Day 13
Umtata to Port Alfred (364 kms/228 miles)

Continue after breakfast through rolling hills of the Eastern Cape. Pass Nelson Mandela’s retirement home, which he uses regularly, and the river port of East London where a short city tour may be taken. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Halyards Hotel - Port Alfred

Day 14
Port Alfred to Port Elizabeth (154 kms/97 miles)

Check out after breakfast and continue to Grahamstown. Enjoy a short city tour, visit the Observatory Museum and see the Settlers Monument. Continuing to Port Elizabeth a visit to Addo Elephant Park is recommended en route. Now with over 300 elephant in the park, the conservation programme has saved the Addo Elephant from extinction. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Summerstrand Hotel - Port Elizabeth

Day 15
Port Elizabeth to Knysna (267 kms/167 miles)

Start out o­n the beautiful Garden Route after breakfast. Visit the Tsitsikamma National Park. Follow the walking trail to the Big Tree and others nearly 1000 years old. Walk the “Hanging Bridge” trail across Storms River and enjoy the stunning scenery past Plettenberg Bay and o­n to Knysna. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Knysna Hollow - Knysna

Day 16
Knysna to Oudtshoorn (124 kms/78 miles)

After breakfast browse round Knysna waterfront. You may see the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train head over the bridge across Knysna lagoon. Leave for Oudtshoorn, the world’s “feather capital”. Visit the amazing Cango Caves in the Swartberg Mountains before arriving at your overnight accommodation. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Mooiplaas Guest House - Oudtshoorn

Day 17
Oudtshoorn to Stellenbosch (421 kms/263 miles)

Depart after breakfast passing through Calitzdorp, Ladismith and Barrydale in the “Klein Karoo”. Continue through Tradouws Pass to pretty Swellendam at the foot of the Langeberge. Perhaps lunch at the Swellengrebel Hotel and continue via the Breede River Valley, the magnificent Du Toits Kloof and Huguenot Tunnel past Paarl and o­n to Stellenbosch. Breakfast Included

Overnight(1): Oak Village Guest House - Stellenbosch

Day 18
Stellenbosch to Cape Town (48 kms/30 miles)

Enjoy breakfast and a day in the Winelands. Explore Stellenbosch and Dorp Street with its homes preserved from the days of Dutch settlers and now a national monument. Continue to Franschhoek where land was allocated to Huguenots fleeing persecution from France and is now know as “Le Quartier Francais”. Browse the quaint shops and enjoy a wine tasting and cellar tour at any of the leading estates. Continue to the famous wine centre of Paarl and o­n to Cape Town. Breakfast Included

Overnights(3): Leeuwenvoet Guest House - Cape Town

Days 19/20
Cape Peninsular

After breakfast explore the Cape Peninsular. Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Drive to Hout Bay and Chapman Peak, perhaps take a boat trip to Duiker Island, a seal and sea bird sanctuary. Continue to Cape Point for magnificent views over what Sir Francis Drake called the “Fairest Cape”, and return via Boulders Beach, o­ne of o­nly two mainland breeding colonies of Jackass Penguins. Continue to Cape Town via Kirstenbosch Gardens, recently voted as o­ne of the world’s top seven. Visit the “Castle of Good Hope”, the oldest building in South Africa and Kompanjiestuin, the oldest garden. Visit the South African Museum where the Natural History section has a display of whale skeletons. Drive to the V & A Waterfront, browse the shops, and perhaps dine at o­ne of the many restaurants (own account). Breakfast Included

Day 21
Cape Town - UK

Return your hire car at Cape Town Airport and check in for your return flight to Heathrow at the end of your self-drive tour.

Day 22
Arrive UK

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