16 day South Africa Odyssey

After landing in Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Today you’ll leave Johannesburg and travel to South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, before continuing to the Mpumalanga Province. Also known as "Paradise Country" – you'll drop several hundred feet as you pass through the lush, subtropical region of the Lowveld.

By late afternoon you’ll arrive at your hotel, where you’ll have time to relax and freshen up before dinner

Early this morning you’ll head out via the magnificent Panorama Route and see the most spectacular scenery over at Blyde River Canyon. From many vantage points you’ll have a view of the 33-kilometre-long gorge, which starts at Bourke's Luck Potholes and the historic God's Window. 

You’ll return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the rest of your day at your leisure. 

Starting your day off with a perfect brew followed by an adrenaline-fuelled, open-vehicle safari at Kruger National Park. In addition to searching for the iconic "Big Five"- one of the world’s greatest experiences - at Kruger you'll get to see an incredibly diverse line-up of wildlife. Particularly famous for exotic birdlife and numerous other game, you'll be thrilled at what find. You will also learn more about the KNP Anti-poaching Dog Unit with a presentation given as part of your drive.

Opt for an afternoon, open-vehicle game drive -  available as an extension to the morning game drive (optional and fees applicable)

After breakfast, you’ll travel to eSwatini (Swaziland). This tiny mountainous kingdom is filled with bygone African traditions and culture, as well as offering beautiful scenery and attractions, such as game reserves, and art and craft outlets. You can take part in the interactive cultural experience, which introduces you to the welcoming people of Eswatini (Swaziland) and their traditions. 

Travelling through the capital city, Mbabane, to the beautiful Ezulwini Valley for overnight stay.

This morning you’ll take a journey south through Eswatini (Swaziland). You’ll continue on, passing traditional round huts and endless vistas into Zululand. 

Enjoy an afternoon open vehicle game safari in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, which contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white Rhino.

Today you’ll enjoy a cruise on Lake St Lucia (weather conditions permitting) before setting off for Durban. Catch epic views along your journey of traditional Zulu Kraals, Eucalyptus plantations and fields full of sugar cane.

Arriving early afternoon at your hotel, you'll have the rest of the day to relax or enjoy the golden beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Re-fuel with breakfast before you fly from Durban south to Port Elizabeth (recommended flight is FA421 departing Durban at 14h05, arriving Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) 15h35)

Depart Gqeberha at 4pm, continuing straight onto Knysna and relax for the rest of your evening.

After breakfast, visit the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River Mouth and the magical Knysna Forests, the stamping ground of the elusive Knysna elephants. Discover the stories of the woodcutters who worked the forests, the elephants that were hunted to extinction and the discovery of gold. Your expedition into the forest starts with a visit to the Dalene Matthee Big Tree Memorial. The enormous Yellowwood tree of over 880 years was named after Matthee, best known author of four books on the Knysna Forest.

Enjoy a delicious lunch en route of traditional cuisine and local treats. Overnight in Knysna with dinner at Drydock Restaurant, renowned for dishes with glorious aromas and flavours, using the finest local ingredients and freshly picked herbs from the region. 

After breakfast and check-out, travel through the Outeniqua Pass, stopping at the 'Dolphin Point' along the way, a beautiful viewpoint in Wilderness. Arriving in Outdshoorn, known as the ‘ostrich capital’ of the world due to its large ostrich farming industry, you’ll visit a working ostrich farm for a guided tour. Next up will be a tour of the limestone caverns of the Cango Caves - one of the world's great natural wonders.

Arrive late afternoon at your hotel for a leisurely evening.

Get up close to incredible creatures at an early morning Meerkat Safari (fees apply). Soak up some sunshine before you journey through "Little Karoo" onto Barrydale. Here, you'll learn a little about the local farming community and interact with teachers and children at a local school (subject to openings). You'll then continue your journey towards Cape Town.

You will have the option today (at a supplementary cost) of adding an overnight stay in the picturesque village of Franschhoek, re-joining the main tour on Day 12.

Take your pick from two incredible options - take a break and relax on one of Cape Town's lush beaches at your leisure, or join a Marine Big Five Safari (fees apply) where you may be able to see great white sharks, whales and Cape fur seals. This will be a 2hrs cruise with marine biologists on hand to answer any questions. 

There's so much more to do in Cape Town, too. It's filled with great bars, cafes and restaurants as well as colourful craft markets, so you can enjoy a lively evening in one of the worlds most beautiful cities.

Get ready for a full days tour at Cape Peninsula, where you'll see world class views of the coastal surroundings. Drive through the Hout Bay and the sea side village of Sea Point. You may opt to embark on a seal island boat cruise (fees apply), an exhilarating experience where you'll catch a glimpse of seals playing. You'll also get to see eye-catching bird-life and wonderful landscapes all around you. Journeying via Simon's Town, you'll stop and visit the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach (fees apply), Fish Hoek fishing village and Muizenberg.

Return to your overnight accommodation in Cape Town for some relaxation time.

You’ll spend your day on a tour of Cape Town city and Table Mountain. During the delightful drive you’ll pass famous landmarks and wind your way past Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter to see the art of diamond cutting demonstrated by skilled experts. Weather permitting, you could be offered the chance to ascend to the top of Table Mountain on a revolving cable car (fees apply). You could be lucky enough to see Robben Island on a clear sunny day from the summit!

Enjoy a well deserved rest at your hotel after a full day of adventure.

This morning you’ll be collected from your hotel to explore the Cape Winelands, made up of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Take in the endless beauty of the rolling vineyards with dramatic valley and mountains views above. Then, enjoy a tipple or two during a wine tasting and cellar tour. Off to the village of Franschhoek next, where the Drakenstein Mountains form part of the Cape Fold Belt.

Indulge in some more wine tasting at a local vineyard, before taking a lunch break. Heading to second oldest town in South Africa, the historic heart of the country's wine region - Stellenbosch. You'll enjoy picturesque vineyards on the banks of the Eerste River and enjoy your final wine tasting before returning to Cape Town.

After breakfast you’ll check-out of your hotel. Grab a quick souvenir or two with a last-minute shopping spree. You'll also have the opportunity to join the Robben Island Tour (fees apply & time permitting) . Your tour ends with drop-off at the airport, harbour, or railway station, where you'll continue your onward journey.