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Day-By-Day Itinerary |
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Departs Johannesburg on Sundays Day 1 Fly USA to Johannesburg Please note international air from the USA has not been included in the package price. Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg Upon arrival at Johannesburg International Airport you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Depending on the time you arrive, you may have time to explore the magnificent suburban shopping malls or take in an optional Johannesburg City Tour (own expense). A city of astonishing contrasts, a huge metropolis where opulent wealth and desperate poverty live side by side: Johannesburg is the intriguing, dynamic heart of this turbulent country. If you want to see the real South Africa - and try to understand it - Jo'burg has to be on your itinerary. Jo'burg, Jozi, eGoli or 'the city of gold' (never Johannesburg) is by far the largest city in South Africa. It's brash, fast-growing and often ugly, but it's got wealth, energy and a beautiful climate. If you take reasonable precautions and listen to the locals, you can enjoy it in safety.
Accommodation: 1 night Day 3 Travel Johannesburg to Mpumalanga Leave Johannesburg's distinctive skyline and head for Pretoria, South Africa's capital city. Marvel at this country's miraculous transformation while visiting the Voortrekker Monument, regarded as a shrine to the Afrikaaner community. On to the world famous Premier Diamond Mines, which produced Africa's biggest diamond, the Cullinan, from which the Great Star of Africa was cut to grace the scepter of the British Crown Jewels. After lunch we leave for Mpumalanga, dropping several hundred feet into the lush subtropical region of the Lowveld. Mpumalanga in South Africa often referred to as "Big Game Country" is the setting for dozens of sanctuaries teeming with wildlife and birds. The entire area of Mpumalanga offers exceptional opportunities for bird-watching, hiking, horse-riding and fishing. Streams once panned for gold have become the haunts of eager anglers and lazy trout. Mpumalanga is steeped in the history of pioneers, hunters and fortune seekers, fascinating gold rush towns abound. Barberton and Pilgrim's Rest are among the most famous. A special, additional dimension occurs in the Middleveld region which is inhabited by Ndebele people, notable for their traditional costumes and attractively decorated houses.
Accommodation: 1 night Day 4 Mpumalanga to Kruger National Park Explore the living history of Pilgrim's Rest, the old gold mining village where gold was first discovered, gasp at the glory of God's Window, a boundless view of mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa. We arrive at our Kruger National Park camp in time for a welcome sundowner in the African bushveld. As well as being one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world, Kruger National Park is among the biggest and oldest. You can see the 'big five' here (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos) as well as cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, all sorts of antelope species and smaller animals. Although most people will have seen African animals in zoos, it's hard to exaggerate how extraordinary and completely different it is to see these animals in their natural environment. That said, Kruger is not quite a wilderness experience: it's highly developed, organized, accessible and popular.
Accommodation: 2 nights Day 5 At leisure, Kruger National Park Enjoy your day at leisure exploring the area on a game viewing safari. Set off before breakfast in open safari vehicles in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, and all manner of wondrous wildlife, birds and plant species. Savor the magic of this enormous wilderness. Day 6 Kruger National Park to Swaziland Enjoy an enchanting drive to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. Witness a Swazi Cultural experience before visiting the famous Ngwenya Glass Works to see Master Craftsmen fashion collectable figures and functional art out of molten glass. Our next stop is the capital city Mbabane, known for it's vibrant markets packed with woven baskets, beadwork and carvings. Swaziland is the smallest country in Africa is also one of the most easy going - laid-back Swazis are more likely to celebrate for fun than demonstrate for reform. A progressive and hands-on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed it with a striking bunch of national parks. Black and white rhino, elephant, and more recently, lion, have been reintroduced into the collection of national parks and game reserves. You can trek, horse ride, raft on wild rivers or cycle through many of the parks and get surprisingly close to a huge variety of wildlife.
Accommodation: 1 night Day 7 Swaziland to St. Lucia Today you will travel to St. Lucia. Along the way you’ll visit the Swazi Candle Factory, teaming with exquisite wax artworks in every shape and color imaginable. Then on to Zululand, passing the traditional round huts and endless vistas. Arrive mid afternoon at the town of St. Lucia, a World Heritage Site and home to hippo, crocodile and no less than 367 bird species. St. Lucia is known as the gateway to the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park and therefore ideally positioned as an accommodation base for further exploration. Cape Vidal, one of the best snorkeling and spear fishing venues on the coast, is 32 Km north of St Lucia. Access is through a nature reserve containing 4 of the Big 5, Lion being absent for the safety of beach users. The world renowned Hluluwe/ Umfolozi game reserve is a mere 35 minutes drive away - close enough for a day trip.
Accommodation: 1 night Day 8 St. Lucia to Durban This morning enjoy a cruise on Lake St Lucia before departing for Durban. Hug the lush KwaZulu-Natal coastline en-route to Durban, watching the sugar cane fields do their own version of the Mexican wave at the urging of the wind. You will be dropped off at your accommodation before lunch time. Durban is a big subtropical city in the northeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal. It has been a major port since the 1850s and is home to the largest concentration of Indian-descended people in the country. Today the city is better known as a holiday-makers' fun parlor with a happening nightlife. The weather (and the water) stays warm year-round drawing the crowds to Durban's surf beaches. Apart from the waves, 'Durbs' has much to offer. The city hall houses a gallery with a good collection of contemporary South African art and a natural science museum.
Accommodation: 1 night Day 9 Fly Durban to Port Elizabeth Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth. Upon arrival at the airport you will be met transferred to your accommodation in Knysna. Along the way you will travel through the indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest towards the romantic seaside resort of Knysna in the heart of the famous Garden Route, with scenic stops along the way. A place of "People, Beauty and Mystery" is what comes to mind when describing Knysna. The exceptionally equitable climate with rain falling throughout the year ensures it remains perennially green. The town nestles between the impressive Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, with the world-renowned forests encircling it like a protective mantle. At the heart of Knysna is the 21 ha lagoon protected from the sea by the monolithic sandstone "Heads" - silent sentinels down the centuries of the rich history of this unique part of "paradise on earth".
Accommodation: 2 nights Day 10 Full Day in the Knysna Region Cruise on the vast Knysna Lagoon and visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Enjoy an amazing view of the imposing sandstone heads which guard the sea entrance to Knysna's huge tidal lagoon, and the forests, marshes and pristine beaches beyond. After lunch the remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy this lovely and special town. Day 11 Knysna to Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is situated in the Klein Karoo 55
kilometres from the large coastal town of
George. Enjoy the relaxed, friendly, hospitable
atmosphere offered in town or at the various
surrounding farms. Experience the joy of life in
the country!
Accommodation: 1 night Day 12 Oudtshoorn to Cape Town A day of magnificent vistas. Enjoy the ever-changing passing canvas as we travel to Cape Town. During the whale season we will travel via the seaside village of Hermanus in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Southern Right Whales, which frolic offshore (July to November only). Out of season we will return to Cape Town along Route 62, South Africa's version of America's 'Route 66'. Sir Francis Drake once described this area as 'the fairest Cape in all the world'. Cape Town's location is spectacular; the city is dominated by a 3 280ft-high, flat topped mountain with virtually sheer cliffs and surrounded by mountain walks, vineyards and beaches. There is a variety of things to do and see. Wander around the cosmopolitan Green Market Square located in center city, or sail on the harbor to gain a very different perspective on the beauty of Cape Town, enjoy a meal or shop at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront's working port; or visit Cape Town's new aquarium to see the myriad of sea life that the Cape is home to. In Cape Town, there is something for everyone.
Accommodation: 3 nights Day 13 Tour - Cape Peninsula full day tour See for yourself how this spectacular southern tip of Africa became known as the ‘Fairest Cape’. The tour begins with a stroll through the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then drive past the pristine beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno - currently the hottest real estate in the world – to Hout Bay, a functioning harbor and heart of the local crayfish industry (optional Seal Island cruise, time permitting). Drive along the breathtakingly scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, around the Atlantic Seaboard. After a stop for lunch (own expense), it’s on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and its scenic viewing point. The spectacular sea and mountain views are reason enough to make the 66km trip from Cape Town. Amid the rocky landscape - home to mountain zebra, eland and ostriches - blooms magnificent Cape flora. Continue along the coastline to the beautiful Boulders Beach where you can sit among a colony of penguins. Our last stop is the naval port of Simon’s Town, the country’s third oldest European settlement. Day 14 Tour - Winelands full day tour Escape to the beauty and tranquility of the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch Winelands. Our first stop is the Afrikaans Language Monument, perched on Paarl Rock, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding area. We then continue onto wineries of well-known estates, to sample wines of merit, before visiting the Huguenot Monument and Museum in Franschhoek, to discover the origins of this world renowned wine producing region. Lunch in one of the many fine restaurants in either Franschhoek or Stellenbosch (own expense). Don’t miss the world-famous 19th century-style general dealer in Stellenbosch’s Dorp Street - Oom Samie se Winkel. Day 15 Fly Cape Town to USA (Via Johannesburg) Today you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flights back to the USA. Day 16 Arrive USA |