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Categorization
Level of fitness   Grading of accommodation

Dates and rates
Booking code: ATB 1 & 2
10.10.10 - 26.10.10	USD 3570
07.11.10 - 23.11.10	USD 3570

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South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique

Animal Encounters - Welcome to the wild side!

Swimming with wild dolphins, do elephant back safari, hike with baboons, snorkel with great white sharks, all this you can experience on this special nature active tour... – Individual and group travel

Embark upon the 17-day adventure experience from Johannesburg, through Mozambique, along the Garden Route to finishing in Cape Town. Walk with baboons, swim with dolphins and cage-dive with sharks. These are but a few of the encounters that will be explored. This trip is not for the faint hearted and requires a basic level of fitness to enjoy the interactive walks, swimming and cycling. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Visit the third largest canyon in the world – Blyde River Canyon. Stroke a Cheetah. Elephant Back Safari. Mountain Bike in the Kruger National Park. Swaziland: Walk among rhino and elephant – accompanied by rangers. 4×4 drive to Mozambique coast. Swimming with Dolphins. Quad Biking. Snorkel and swim in the warm waters of Mozambique. Walk in BIG 5 Imfolozi Game Reserve. Boat Cruise in St Lucia wet lands – a UNESCO world heritage site. Visit uShaka Marine World and the Indian market in Durban. Walk in the breathtaking Tsitsikamma National Park. – Visit Monkeyland and the Birds of Eden sanctuary. Canoe to a seal colony. Explore the Cango Caves. Cycle down to an Ostrich farm possibly to ride one. Whale watching in Hermanus. Shark Cage Diving – snorkel underwater. Swim with penguins . Walk with baboons. Visit famous Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town.

ITINERARY

Note: Southern right whales are seasonal between July and November
Activities: snorkeling, cycling, riding, walking, canoeing

Day 1 Arrival South Africa and Transfer: Johannesburg – Eastern Drakensberg Mountain

Arrive at Johannesburg Oliver Tambo International Airport where your guide welcomes you. Transfer eastwards into the Eastern Drakensberg to the top of Robbers Pass via the towns of Belfast and Lydenburg. Stay in well-equipped holiday resort with hot springs. The rest of the afternoon is for you to relax and arrive. (B,D)

Day 2 Hoedspruit: Visit animal rehabilitation project

A short drive leads to Pilgrims Rest, a well-preserved former gold mining village. After an informative walk drive to Bourks Luck Potholes. The confluence of the sad and happy river created fascinating boiling pots in the hard sandstone layer. Carry on to the amazing Three Rondavel View Point. You can see forever across the 3 rd largest canyon in the world as far as Mozambique. The drive continues via Abel Erasmus Pass to Hoedspruit. Visit Hoedspruit Endangered Species Project. See cheetah, lion, tiger!, African wild cat and dog, blue crane, vulture and various antelopes. Animals come from zoo, circus or were injured in the wild. Stay in nearby Thornhill Safari Lodge. Stay in cozy thatched roofed chalets in the African bush. (B,L,D

Day 3 Kapama Game Reserve: Riding on back of elephant

One of the highlights! A morning safari in Kapama Game Reserve a big game area on top of an elephant. The animal follows its own natural course and you with it! After breakfast leave for Klaserie and enter world famous Kruger National Park at Orpen gate. The game drive along the Timbavati River lead past a giant baobab tree. Arrive at lunchtime in the Olifants camp, beautifully situated on top of a ridge overlooking the Olifants River. In the afternoon another adventurous experience is a 2-hour ride on a Mountain Bike accompanied by rangers along the Olifants River. This is safe and not strenuous, it is about game viewing and spoor reading and not a
race. (B,D)

Day 4 Kruger National Park: Game viewing on foot, MTB and open land rover

The animals are most active in the morning and the air is cool, a walk with a ranger gets the adrenaline flowing by walking in the Big game area. After breakfast leave for Satara camp. Lion, elephant, giraffe, hippo, kudu, waterbuck, impala and many more species can be found. We stop on many waterholes and river viewpoints. Stay in a camp in the lush and green southern part of the park. The rest of the afternoon is free. Another highlight is the sunset drive. Setting out at dawn when the animals retreat for the night and the nocturnal ones like bush baby and spring hares come out. (B,D)

Day 5 Swaziland: On foot in Hlane National park

Do another early morning game drive, before leaving the park and head towards the Kingdom of Swaziland. The tiny but proud nation has really kind and friendly inhabitants. Drive to Hlane Royal National Park, the official hunting ground for the king. However, the sense of nature conservation has set in, so only selected animals are to be hunted. A rewarding experience is an afternoon walks with a ranger. White rhino and elephants are frequently seen. (B,D)

Day 6 Mozambique: Indian Ocean with white empty beaches

A 300 Km transfer takes us through the sugar cane growing area of Swaziland and Maputaland in South Africa. A new tar road leads to the border of Mozambique. Once we crossed it a 4×4 shuttle takes us to a lodge in to Ponta Do Ouro. The afternoon is at own disposal; a swim in the warm Indian Ocean or a visit to the local craft market is recommendable. Stay in luxury tents with own bathroom for 2 nights overlooking the coast. (B,D)

Day 7 Ponta D’Ouro: Swimming with dolphins

One of the most memorable activities: After a short instruction had out onto the ocean by speedboat, looking for a school of bottlenose dolphins. In the waters you also find reef fish, turtles, rays, whale sharks and humpback whales. The rest of the day is for relaxing. Beach walking, swimming, diving or a quad bike ride is recommendable. (B,D)

Day 8 Imfolozi/Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Do another swimming with dolphins excursion to experience these amazing creatures. (Sight seeing package) After breakfast leave back to South Africa to the Imfolozi/Hluhluwe Game Reserve, home to the highest numbers of black and white rhino and the second oldest park in Africa. The game drive leads to Mpila Camp. The camp is in the heart of the park and is not fenced in! Hyena, kudu and buffalo are often seen between the houses!!! (B,D)

Day 9 On foot among the giants: elephant and white rhino

An early morning game walk with ranger most likely in this park bring you close to rhino, a rewarding experience, seeing this majestic animals on even footing! A short hiking trail is nearby for the active ones after breakfast. The afternoon a game drive in open Landover along the Imfolozi Rivers lead to beautiful viewpoints and a bird hide. (B,D)

Day 10 Boat cruise in World Heritage Site: iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Leave Mpila Camp for St Lucia, some 80 km away. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a world natural heritage site. On a boat cruise see aquatic birds such as heron and pelican as well as many groups of hippo. Leave for Durban in the afternoon, 2.5 hrs away. Stay in a beautiful guesthouse in a quite residential area away from the city center. (B)

Day 11 Durban – Port Elizabeth

After breakfast drive to Indian Market famous for its spices. Visit the new development of uShaka Marine World. This 6th largest aquarium in the world offers a vast collection of fascinating marine life. Transfer to Durban International Airport and flight to Port Elizabeth. Guests can leave the tour in Durban or join in Port Elizabeth. Transfer to the beginning of the Garden Route into Tsitsikamma National Park. Stay in beautiful situated chalets right on the rocky coast. Rest of the afternoon is for relaxation; a short walk to suspension bridge across Stormsriver is recommendable. (B,D)

Day 12 Garden Route: Apes – Birds – Whales – Seals

Nearby an educational forest trail leads to a majestic 800 years old yellow wood tree. Head for Monkey land and Birds of Eden Bird Sanctuary the largest free flight bird aviary in the world. See various primates from Africa, South America and Madagascan lemurs. In afternoon go by canoe or boat to the Cape Fur Seal colony at Robberg nature reserve. It’s a smelly but rewarding visit. The seals come right to your boat. Stay in a beautiful comfortable guesthouse in Knysna, overlooking the lagoon. (B,D)

Day 13 Oudtshoorn: Drip stone cave & ostrich farm

Transfer to Oudtshoorn via George 120 km away. Drive to very beautiful Cango Caves with its flow and drip stone formations. An easy ride on a bicycle (30 km) down Schoeman’s Poort leads to ostrich farm. During the educational tour is possibility to ride one. Cycle further to charming Victorian guesthouse in Oudtshoorn. The charismatic owner invites you to a traditional South African braai (barbeque). (B,D)

Day 14 Contrasts: Dry Karoo savannah – evergreen coast near Hermanus

On popular Route 62 through the Klein Karoo we reach Barrydale, gateway to beautiful Tradouw Pass. In nearby Swellendam, the 3rd oldest settlement of the country, view fine examples of indigenous Cape-Dutch architecture and the former governors office. Further onto Hermanus popular because of its best land based whale watching on earth. The afternoon is spending whale watching during season, optional outing by boat, or relaxing or walking along coastal promenade. (B,D)

Day 15 Great white sharks: Caged & surrounded by the legendary hunters

Transfer to Gansbaai. Another amazing game encounter is a dive to see sharks. (Sight seeing package) You get a 7mm wetsuit and mask, standing up to your shoulders in a cage. In order to see just submerge yourself. No diving experience needed! Drive via Kleinmond to Stoney Point. Visit one of two land-based colonies of the African Penguin and see naughty rock dassis (hyrax) too. Carry on along scenic drive of False Bay for Cape Town. Stay at a cozy guesthouse on foot of Table Mountain, not far from Waterfront, Beaches and City Center. (B

Day 16 Cape Town: Walk with Baboons and swim with African penguins

Situated between two oceans and Table Mountain as a backdrop Cape Town is considered to be in one of the most beautiful locations for a city. Drive along the Cape Peninsula towards Cape Point, where the endangered Chacma Baboon face strong competition from human settlement. You follow with local guides on of the troops and experience their amazing social behavior. Visit famous Cape of Good Hope and drive back via beautiful Chapman’s Peak drive to the Mother City. (B)

Day 17 Travel back home

After a guided city tour on foot to see the highlights of the city there is time for shopping. Depending on your return flights, transfer will be done to Cape Town International Airport.

Cape Town is the ideal location to extent the vacation. Table Mountain, the wine lands, Township tours, Robben Island, – there is still a lot to do. (B)

Services

Included in price:

• Qualified English speaking national guide
• Transport in Toyota Quantum Minibus with air-conditioning, or similar
• Accommodation in 3-4* lodges, guesthouses, hotels, chalets. One night in Hlane & 2 nights in Imfolozi Park 2*
• All entrance fees and activities included
• Half board except day 10,15,16,17

Not included in price

• Flights to and from South Africa and Durban-Port Elizabeth
• Drinks
• Gratuities

Hints

This trip is not for the faint hearted and requires a basic level of fitness to enjoy the interactive walks, swimming and cycling. It´s spring time during October and November in southern Africa. Night teperatures range from 10-15 degrees and during the day between 20 and 35 degrees. Malaria is prevalent in Kruger National Park, Mozambique and Imfolozi/St. Lucia. Please contact your doctor.