from 2 participants

Day 1              The Eastern Drakensberge

Most international flights land in the morning in Johannesburg. Your tour guide will welcome you. Drive via the Highveld to Dullstroom, which is located at the escarpment of the Drakensberge. Via the highest mountain pass in Mpumalanga, the Long Tom Pass, the road takes you to Sabie and further to Graskop where you are accommodated at Graskop Hotel. (B)

Graskop Hotel

Day 2              Pilgrims Rest and Blyde River Canyon

A short transfer takes you to the former gold-digging town of Pilgrim’s Rest. Afterwards you continue to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, an impressive system of potholes through which the Blyde River makes its way towards the Blyde River Canyon. During a short hike one can sometimes see a group of baboons. The idyllic route takes you from Three Rondavel Viewpoint to the Lowveld and Kruger National Park. (SC)

Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

Day 3              On Safari in Kruger National Park

In the morning and evening you can go on safari in our tour vehicle and if you are lucky you will see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes and wild dogs as well as colorful birdlife and diverse vegetation. There is also the possibility to book an optional safari drive in an open game drive vehicle. (SC)

Berg en Dal Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

Day 4             Zululand

En route to the exit of the park we will do another safari. Via the gold-digging town of Barberton and Piet Retief you will get to Ithala Game Reserve. The Game Reserve is still fairly untouched an reaches from an altitude of 450m at the Pongolo River to the Ngothse Mountains with an altitude of 1400m. Therefore the flora and fauna is incredibly diverse. Accommodation in basic chalet in the park. (B)

Ithala Camp

Day 5              Isimangaliso Natural World Heritage Site

In the morning you will go on a short bush walk in Ithala Game Reserve. Later in the morning you leave the bush and make your way to the lagoon in St. Lucia. For the next two nights you are accommodated in a beautiful guesthouse in the beach town of St. Lucia. The town is bordering the Natural World Heritage Site iSimangaliso Wetland Park. (B)

Umlilo Lodge

Day 6 & 7        Safaris in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve

In the morning an optional boat cruise on the St. Lucia Lagoon is recommended. The mixed water is home to crocodiles and hippos, but you will also see many birds, like the African Fish Eagle or Goliath Heron.

In the nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, which is world renowned for its successful conservation program for black and white rhinos, you will go on safari in the tour vehicle.  Besides the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo) you might also see the beautiful Lowveld Nyala.  There is also the possibility to book an optional safari drive in an open game drive vehicle. (2 x SC)

Hilltop Camp

Day 8 & 9       Hike in Royal Natal National Park

On the transfer via the Natal Midlands you will pass a lot of Zulu Kraals and will reach Bergville which is located at the foothills of the uKhahlambra Drakensberge, which are more than 3000m high and also part of the UNESCO word natural heritage. Accommodation fort wo nights in a beautifully located lodge.  Hike in Royal Natal National Park along the Tugela River uphill. A slightly hilly path leads you to the Tugela Gorge where the Tugela Waterfalls drop 1300m from the Amphitheatre. On the 6 hour hike you see a lot of indigenous rain forest, ferns, proteas and orchids. (2 x B)

Tower of Pizza

Day 10 & 11    Cathedral Peak

A short transfer takes you to Didima Camp where you will stay fort wo nights. The beautiful location of the accommodation allows for a view of the highest peak of the Drakensberge, the 3000 m high Cathedral Peak. Should the hike to the top of Cathedral Peak be too strenuous there is a nice alternative hike through the Rainbow Gorge, which is covered in phantastic indigenous rain forest and passes lots of waterfalls.  (2 x B)

Didima Camp

Day 12 Underberg

Today you transfer to Underberg in the Southern Drakensberge where you have stunning views of the rugged mountain range. Here you will also have the opportunity to go on a short hike. (B)

Malachite Manor

Day 13 & 14    To the Wild Coast

Trough the former Transkei you will transfer to Coffee Bay, located at the gorgeous Wild Coast.  The rock formation „Hole in the Wall“ is of mystic importance for the indigenous tribe of the Xhosa. During a short hike you will experience the coast and beaches where you might even meet some of the Nguni cows of the Xhosa. Accommodation right at the sea.

(2 x B,D)

Ocean View Hotel

Day 15            Through the Eastern Cape

After breakfast you make your way back to the interior of the country and via the hilly landscapes of the Eastern Cape back to the coast again to Kidd’s Beach, where the Indian Ocean invites you for a swim. (B)

Breeze Inn

Day 16            Forest and Coast in Tstsikamma National Park

Continue to the coast of the Tstsikamma region, which is lined with primeval forest. In Stormsriver

Village there are many various activities, small hikes, cycling, a treetop path and a visit to a nature reserve for endangered monkey species and birds. A short transfer takes you to the Tstikamma National Park. There is a great hike over a suspension bridge where you will cross the mouth of the Storms River and hike through the Primeval forest on a high plateau with breathtaking views of the wild coast. (B)

Tsitsikamma Village Inn

Day 17            Natures Valley and Plettenberg Bay

Today you continue first to Nature‘s Valley. One of the most beautiful and lonely beaches on the Garden Route invite you to swim. Afterwards take a beautiful hike on the geologically interesting Robberg Peninsula in Plettenberg Bay with impressive views towards the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the sea. (B)

Cornerway House

Day 18            Klein Karoo

After breakfast visit the pretty town of Knysna, beautifully located at the Knysna Lagoon. From the so-called Knysna Heads you a great view of the lagoon. On the historic Montagu Pass you are spoilt with beautiful views of the coast while transferring up country. The landscape quickly changes. From the evergreen coast you will reach the Klein Karoo where succulents are the main vegetation. You will be accommodated on a farm close to the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn. (B)

Oue Werf Country House

Tag 19            Ostrich Farm and Dripstone Caves

Today you will learn all about these giant birds on an ostrich farm. Then visit the impressive Cango Caves. Drive through the vastness of the Little Karoo to Montagu, a small town with charming colonial-style houses. There are also hot springs in a gorge which you can hike to via the so-called „Lovers Walk“. (B)

Montagu Country Hotel

Day 20            De Hoop Nature Reserve

After a hike in the beautiful mountains near Montagu, make your way back to the coast to one of the most beautiful nature reserves in South Africa, the De Hoop Nature Reserve. There are many antelope species and zebras, but no dangerous animals, so you can move around freely, on foot or by bike. The white dine landscape is unique and invites you to go for a hike. With a little luck you can watch whales right from the shore. You will spend the night in chalets directly on the lagoon. (SC)

De Hoop Cottages

Day 21            Whales and Proteas

After breakfast drive to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. In the coastal town of Hermanus you can again watch whales from the shore on a beautiful coastal trail. In the Kogelberg Nature Reserve you stay in a beautiful chalet in the middle of the nature reserve. There are hikes through the unique fynbos with countless protea and heather species. The river invites you to swim with its white sandy beaches! (SC)

Kogelberg Mbali Collection

Day 22            Cape Town

In the late morning you drive to Betty‘s Bay at the foot of the Kogelberg massif. Here you visit a colony of African Penguins. The penguins and the Cape hyraxes living there are not shy at all. The route on the Atlantic Ocean along False Bay offers fantastic views to Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. Here, too, you can regularly spot whales and cape eared seals. In the afternoon you arrive in Cape Town. Your boutique guests house with only 3 rooms is located in a quiet and central area. (B)

Himmelblau Boutique B&B

Day 23 & 24   Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain

In the next 2 days you will get to know Cape Town and the surrounding area. On the way to the Cape Peninsula you have the unique opportunity to visit a kindergarten project supported by AFRICAN BIKERS in the Khayelitsha district, where you get a deeper insight into the social structures and learn about the challenges of Cape Town. Transfer along False Bay to the Cape of Good Hope. At the Cape of Good Hope you hike to Cape Point with great views. On the west side of the Cape Peninsula make your way back to Cape Town. The coastal road over Chapman’s Peak and Hout Bay is rightly considered to be one of the most breathtaking routes in South Africa. You will also visit Kirstenbosch Gardens, one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world.

If the weather permits, hike to the city’s landmark, Table Mountain. The view of Cape Town, 1000 m below, is breathtaking. Decent with the cable car. A tour on foot takes you to the main sights: parade, castle, city hall, Greenmarket Square, Parliament Garden, the Museum of Natural History and Art History as well as the Bo Kaap and the trendy Woodstock district. The lively waterfront offers many opportunities for shopping and dining. A trip to the winelands together with a hike in the Mount Rochelle Nature Reserve in Franschhoek is also possible. (2 xB)

Himmelblau Boutique B&B

Day 25            Return flight

Depending on the time of departure, there is still the opportunity to shop at one of the many markets. A visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium or Robben Island is also worthwhile before you drive to Cape Town Airport, where this beautiful tour ends. (B)

  Accommodation subject to availability