Safaris & Tours
12 DAY KRUGER PARK, CAPE TOWN & GARDEN ROUTE
Experience the Kruger National Park, beautiful Cape Town and the scenic Garden Route on this special 12 day safari tour.
Experience a fantastic tour to South Africa's most popular attractions, the Kruger National Park, beautiful Cape Town and the scenic Garden Route.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Panorama Route Sight-seeing
• The Kruger National Park under guidance of a safari guide
• Early morning and afternoon “Big Five” safaris in open 4x4 safari vehicles
• Guided orientation walk through Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
• Cape Town City, Table Mountain and Blouberg Beach Tour
• Full day Cape Point Tour
• Full day Cape Winelands Tour
• The “Garden Route” including all its most memorable sights
• The southernmost tip of the African continent at Cape Agulhas
• Swellendam, the 3rd oldest town in South Africa
• Whale watching at Hermanus (seasonal)
DEPARTS:
Mondays
PICK-UP LOCATION:
Johannesburg between 06:30 and 08:00, depending on location
DROP-OFF LOCATION:
Cape Town around 18:30
PASSENGERS:
2 – 8
PRICE:
Please request price for this package as rates vary across seasons.
INCLUDES:
• Accommodation as specified
• Meals as specified
• Transport in air-conditioned or open game-viewing vehicles
• Excursions, sight-seeing and game viewing activities as described in the itinerary
• Entry fees, park fees and conservation levies as described in the itinerary
• The services of a qualified and registered tour guide/driver
EXCLUDES:
• Meals not specified
• Drinks, gratuities, telephone calls & other items of a personal nature
• International & domestic flights
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Mpumalanga Province - Kruger National Park Border
Depart early from Johannesburg. Travel east towards Mpumalanga Province, passing through the open grasslands and agricultural areas of the “Highveld”. The journey continues via the scenic Schoemanskloof Pass into sub-tropical citrus farming and forestry areas. Visit the many attractions along the “Panorama Route”, including God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon at the Three Rondavels. The Panorama Route along the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga is arguably one of the most beautiful and popular travel destinations in South Africa. It leads through the rugged mountain range of the northern Drakensberg. At the north-eastern part of the Great Escarpment, the inland plateau declines abruptly and steeply and opens up fantastic views of the plains of the Lowveld up to a thousand metres below. Descend the eastern escarpment in the afternoon and travel through the warm “Lowveld” to a beautiful country lodge, located just a short distance from the nearest entrance gate to the Kruger National Park.
Accommodation: Close to the nearest entrance gate of the Kruger Park
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 2 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Kruger National Park
Depart before dawn and travel a short distance to the Kruger National Park. Once inside the Park, excitement will mount as you will be able to start seeing some of Africa’s Big 5 as well as numerous animals that inhabit this pristine wildlife sanctuary. Kruger National Park is home to a remarkable number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Breakfast packs will be provided which will be enjoyed at a picnic spot inside the Kruger Park. Spend almost the entire day travelling and sightseeing inside the Kruger Park, arriving at a “rest camp” in the late afternoon. The accommodation used in the Kruger National Park are brick or stone cottages or bungalows, usually with a thatched roof. These bungalows or cottages all have private en-suite facilities (WC, shower and wash basin) and air-conditioning.
Accommodation for this night is in comfortable en-suite bungalows or cottages, and dinner is enjoyed in the camp restaurant.
Accommodation: Satara, Olifants, Letaba or Skukuza Rest Camp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 3 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province – Private Game Reserve
Depart after breakfast from the rest camp, and spend most of the morning game viewing inside the Kruger National Park. Exit the Park mid-day and travel to an exclusive safari lodge at a nearby private game reserve, where you will experience an exhilarating afternoon game drive in specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles. At dusk sundowners are enjoyed deep in the bush, after which the drive continues, making use of spotlights to search for nocturnal animals. A final highlight today is a specially prepared dinner at the lodge.
Notes:
The Tour Operator makes use of a number of smaller and more intimate game lodges in one of the private game reserves that lie directly west of the Kruger National Park. The specific game lodge used will depend on availability, but should be one of the following: Jackalberry Game Lodge, Chapungu Luxury Tented Lodge, Thornybush Waterside Lodge or Kapama River Lodge.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
Day 4 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Private Game Reserve
An early wake-up call signals the start of yet another exciting day in Big Five territory. Depart on an early morning safari in open 4x4 vehicles after which you return to the lodge for a late breakfast.
After breakfast, embark on a guided bush walk with an armed ranger, who will identify spoor and droppings and share with you some of the fascinating secrets of the bush. You may come across the Big 5 - a truly exhilarating experience. This evening another safari in open 4x4 vehicles is undertaken, followed by a scrumptious South African dinner.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
Day 5 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
After a final open vehicle game drive and a late breakfast, you are collected from the lodge to travel back to Johannesburg, via the scenic Abel Erasmus Pass and through the interesting country towns of Lydenburg, Dullstroom and Belfast. In the late afternoon you are dropped off at the O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), in time for a domestic flight* to Cape Town. Please note the flights are not included in the tariff.
Upon your arrival at the Cape Town International Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel, ideally located at the entrance to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Notes:
* The domestic flight between the O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and Cape Town on Day 5 is not included in the tour price. We suggest that you book this flight as part of your international air ticket. When booking this flight, please make sure that the flight does not depart from Johannesburg before 18:30. The Tour Operator can offer assistance in booking this flight.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar accommodation
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 6 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
Undertake an orientation walk in the morning through the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, led by the tour guide. Depart on a Cape Town City, Table Mountain & Blouberg Beach Tour. This tour incorporates some of the most interesting and historical sights of Cape Town, unforgettable views from the Table Mountain Arial Cableway, and the summit of Table Mountain itself. The tour ends with a visit to Blouberg Beach which offers outstanding photographic opportunities of Cape Town City, the Cape Town Waterfront and Table Mountain across Table Bay.
Includes:
•Table Mountain – weather permitting (otherwise Signal Hill)
•Scenic City tour passing the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall & the Castle of Good Hope
•"Bo-Kaap" (traditional Malay Quarter)
•Green Market Square
•District Six
•Blouberg Beach
Notes:
As the operation of the Table Mountain Arial Cable Way is weather-dependent, the Cable Car Fare is for your own account and is payable at the ticket office.
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 09:00, and will be back at the hotel at approx. 17:30.
The City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an excellent 3-star hotel, well located at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront. However, there are numerous other hotels in Cape Town, any of which could be used as an alternative to the City Lodge. Should you wish to be accommodated at any other hotel of your choice please advise and the Tour Operator will send you an amended quote.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar accommodation
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 7 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
Enjoy a full day Cape Point Tour. First on the program is a drive to Cape Point, where traditionally the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian meet. Drive along the rugged and scenic Atlantic coast, visit Boulder’s Beach, home of one of the very rare African Penguin colonies on the African coast. The tour ends with a visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays, and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
Includes:
•Clifton & Camps Bay beach views
•Picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive
•Cape Point & nature reserve
•The Cape of Good Hope
•Penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach
•Fish Hoek & Simon’s Town
•Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
Notes:
For those who do not feel up to the stiff walk to the view site at Cape Point, there is an electrically powered funicular railway, the only one of its kind in the world. The cost of the funicular is included.
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 08:30, and will be back at the hotel at approx. 17:30.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar accommodation
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 8 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
Enjoy a full day tour of the magnificent Cape Winelands. Visit the picturesque towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, in the heart of South Africa’s wine producing areas. Apart from magnificent scenery, these towns have much to offer and one thing that may not be missed is a visit to a few of the many wine estates, where some of South Africa’s best wines can be sampled.
Includes:
Paarl
•An informative drive through the town of Paarl
•A cellar tour with wine tasting
•The Afrikaans Language Monument, the world’s only monument dedicated to a language
Franschhoek
•A visit to a wine estate with wine tasting
•The village of Franschhoek
•The Huguenot Memorial
Stellenbosch
•The Helshoogte Mountain Pass
•City tour of Stellenbosch with some free time to explore on foot
•A visit to a wine estate with wine tasting
Notes:
You are requested to be ready for pick-up at 08:30, and will be back at the hotel at approximately 17:30.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar accommodation
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 9 – Western Cape Province - Oudtshoorn
Depart on the exiting Garden Route leg of the tour. The route crosses over the Du Toit’s Kloof Mountain Pass, continues via Worcester and Robertson, and then along the well-known “Route 62” past the interesting towns of Montagu, Barrydale and Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, the “Ostrich Capital of the World”.
Includes:
•Du Toit's Kloof mountain pass & tunnel
•The interesting and historic towns of Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, Barrydale & Calitzdorp
•Oudtshoorn – The “Ostrich Capital of the World”.
•A guided tour of the awe-inspiring Cango Caves
Accommodation: La Plume Guest Farm or similar accommodation nearby
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 10 – Western Cape Province - Knysna
The day starts with a visit to an ostrich farm where you will get to know more about these fascinating birds through interesting talks and demonstrations by experts,. The route then continues over the Robinsons Pass to Mosselbay, and continues via George & Wilderness to the beautiful town of Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route.
Includes:
•Guided tour of an Ostrich farm
•The Diaz Museum in Mosselbay
•The “Post Office Tree” where early sailors left mail for homebound ships to Europe
•Scenic coastal drive between George and Knysna
Accommodation: Bradach Manor (Lagoon facing room) or similar accommodation nearby
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 11 – Western Cape Province - Knysna
A full day is spent exploring the Garden Route between Knysna and the Tsitsikamma forest, before returning to Knysna in the late afternoon for a romantic boat cruise on the Knysna Lagoon.
Includes:
•Plettenberg Bay
•Monkeyland, the world’s first free-roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary
•Garden of Eden, in one of the most lush and beautiful parts of the Knysna forest
•The Big Tree
• Experience views from the Paul Sauer Bridge over the Storms River
•A cruise on the Knysna Lagoon to the Knysna Heads
•The Knysna Waterfront
Accommodation: Bradach Manor (Lagoon facing room) or similar accommodation nearby
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 12 – End of tour
Depart early from Knysna and travel via Swellendam to the southern most point of the African continent at Cape Agulhas. The route then continues to the famous whale watching town of Hermanus, before ending back in Cape Town after four exciting days exploring the beautiful Garden Route!
Includes:
•Swellendam, the 3rd oldest town in South Africa
•The Southernmost tip of the African Continent
•Whale watching at Walker Bay in Hermanus (seasonal)
•The scenic coastal route past the villages of Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay
Arrive in Cape Town at approximately 18:30
ABOUT THE TOUR OPERATOR
Tours and Safaris are conducted by a leading tour operator in South Africa with years of local knowledge, travel experience and service excellence. Tours are conducted to ensure that your dream holiday to Southern Africa is a memorable, unmatched and effortless experience.
The tour operator was established in 1996 and is a long standing member of SATSA (Southern African Tourism Services Association), complies with all local and international travel services regulations and is comprehensively insured.
The guides are highly qualified, experienced and registered with the South African Tourism Authorities. Their extensive knowledge of the wildlife, history and attractions of Southern Africa is sure to enrich your tour.
Note: Photos copyright Johan van der Walt, Safari Link & Wildlife South Africa