Day 1: Flight to Africa

Today the journey begins with the long-haul flight to South Africa

 

Day 2: Welcome to South Africa

In the morning you will arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport, known as O.R. Tambo. Here you will be welcomed by your English speaking tour guide. Together we drive an approximately 5 hour trip to the Mpumalanga Province. This drive will lead us to our beautiful lodge in the Kwa Madwala Game reserve (meaning ‘place of rocks’), located in the famous Kruger National Park.  The 4,000-acre Kwa Madwala private wildlife sanctuary is home to a large amount of wildlife. Once we have checked in, the rest of the afternoon can be spent relaxing before enjoying a sundowner overlooking the African bush. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner in the lodge’s own restaurant. As soon as tonight we will be falling asleep to the sounds of Africa. 408 Km / D

 

Day3: To the Private Balule Nature Reserve via the Kruger National Park

After a scrumptious breakfast, we head North via the Kruger National Park to your next lodge. The drive to our next lodge offers amazing scenes of African wildlife in the Kruger National Park. The park covers an area of approximately 20 000 square kilometres, which is about the size of Belgium. With luck, we will be able to spot the “Big Five” in the comfort of our own mini-bus. By this afternoon we will reach the beautiful Balule Nature Reserve. For the next two nights we will be staying in a beautiful lodge situated in the Balule Nature Reserve. The lodge is fantastically located with beautiful views and is a paradise for bush lovers, surrounded by fever acacias and evergreen date palms. A delicious dinner will be served in the lodge’s own restaurant. 297 km / B, D

 

Day 4:  A day in the Balule Nature Reserve

Today we explore the wildlife masses of Balule. The 38,000 hectare reserve forms part of the larger Kruger National Park Biosphere. The Olifants River flows throughout the year through the Balule Nature Reserve and is home to many hippos and crocodiles. The lodge offers two fantastic game drives, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The game drive is in an open 4X4 vehicle, with an experienced English-speaking ranger. Lets get our cameras ready to gets snaps of lions, rhinos, elephants, leopard and antelopes. 0 km / SC, B, D 

 

Day 5: The beautiful panoramic route

Today our trip continues along the Panorama Route, one of South Africa’s most scenic routes, where we will visit the Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Portholes. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world and the view is dominated by the Three Rondavels: large, freestanding rocks at the bottom of the canyon. The Bourke's Luck Potholes are impressive rock formations formed millions of years ago by erosion. After these scenic highlights, in the afternoon we will reach our comfortable hotel, where we will be staying for the night. 270 km / 

 

Day 6: Back to Johannesburg to catch our flight to the Garden Route

After a scrumptious breakfast , we make our way to Johannesburg in a Westerly direction. In the early evening we will arrive at Johannesburg Airport, where we will catch a flight to Port Elizabeth (flight not included in the tour price). Once there we take a short drive to our beautiful hotel directly on the sea promenade, where we stay for the night. 395 km / D, SC

 

Day 7: The last jungle of the Garden Route

This morning we continue our journey into South Africa’s paradise, the Garden Route. Today's destination is the Tsitsikamma National Park, situated at the mouth of the Storms River. The park also has a maritime protection zone that extends more than 5 km into the open ocean. The park covers an area of approximately 70,000 hectares. It is said that the mystical atmosphere of the dense jungle inspired South African born writer J.R.R Tolkien to write his masterpiece “The Lord of the Rings”. Short, adventurous walks are offered in this area, where we will get to pass suspense bridges over rumbling waters passing into the Indian Ocean from the Storms River. Tonight, we spend the night in a hotel situated at the edge of the park. 182 km / B

 

Day 8: Portuguese Mariners and the “Bahia Famosa”

This morning we will visit the Robberg Marine and Nature Reserve on a trip to the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay. A highly rewarding hike takes us along high cliffs, amongst native fynbos vegetation, around the spectacular peninsula (the walk can can be individually shortened). The bay, which the Portuguese sailors called “Bahia Famosa”, provides us with a stunning view whilst walking. Our destination today is the beautifully located coastal town of Knysna, famous for its beautiful lagoon. After exploring the cultural Knysna township, we arrive at a beautiful, centrally located hotel in the early evening. 104 km / B

 

Day 9: Feather Barons and old stalagmites

Today our tour continues to the Little Karoo. We will be going to a town known as the “ostrich capital”, Oudtshoorn. On this outing we have first-hand contact with the ostriches and also learn about their value to this region. We then visit one of South Africa’s seven wonder, The Cango Caves. Tonight we stay in a lovely country estate, situated at the foot of the Swartberg mountains. 117 km/ B

 

Day 10: The famous Cape Winelands via Route 62 

Today, we slowly approach the Cape Wine region via the Route 62. After the spectacular drive along the Du Toits Kloof Pass (where you can see Table Mountain on a clear day), we will reach the city of Paarl. At the foot of the Paarl Rock we spend the next two night on a lovely wine producing farm. 367 Km/ B

 

Day 11: From the penguins , the Huguenots  and the first vineyard farmers

This morning we drive along a beautiful coastal road along the False Bay and reach the preschool kindergarten Pikkewyntjies in Betty's Bay, which is financially supported by African Kombi Tours. After an inspiring visit and getting to know the generous kindergarten teachers and the happy children, we visit a large penguin colony. There are many African penguins living in a small nature reserve here. We then go over the imposing Franschhoek Pass in the old Huguenot immigrant town of Franschhoek. On a tour through the unique wine-growing regions of South Africa, we will also get to know the local cultivation and production methods on a guided wine cellar tour. We also visit the famous university town of Stellenbosch before returning to our wine farm in the early evening. 324 km / B

 

Day 12:  From Apartheid to the Rainbow Nation

Today we arrive in one of he most beautiful cities in the word, the “Mother City”, Cape Town. Here we visit the popular Cape Town Waterfront, which impresses with a great atmosphere, good shopping and good restaurants. We then make our way to Robben Island, the prison island off Cape Town, where the cell of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela is visited (weather permitting), here you will experience cultural enrichment. In the Afternoon, we will reach your guest house for the next three nights. 132 Km/ B

 

Day 13: Highlights of the metropolis Cape Town

During a tour in the city, we will visit the Company’s Garden, an African flea market, the parliament, City Hall, Cape Castle and the Slave Lodge. At lunchtime, a short transfer will take us to Blouberg Strand, where Table Mountain displays itself beautifully. The colourful Malay Quarter also invites us to take pictures in the afternoon and brings us closer to the lives of former slaves and today's Cape Town “coloureds".  60 km / B

 

Day 14: From the Cape of Good Hope to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden 

Today we explore the entire Cape Peninsula with all its fascinating highlights. A drive over the most beautiful pass in the Cape, Chapmans Peak(possibly closed in bad weather conditions), brings us to the most south-westerly point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. Along False Bay in the early afternoon, we pass the old South African naval base Simon's Town. Shortly before Cape Town, we will visit the breathtaking Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which offers over 500 hectares of insight into the richness of the local vegetation and is part of a World Heritage Site. 116 km / B

 

Day 15: Until next time!

In the morning there is another unforgettable highlight, an optional trip on the 1,085 m high Table Mountain, from where we can enjoy the spectacular view of Cape Town (extremely weather-dependent, optional program point and payable at the cash desk). We then drive to Cape Town International Airport together, where it’s time to end our spectacular trip in South Africa. Would you like to extend this trip with a visit to the incredible Victoria Falls or a tropical beach holiday in Zanzibar? Talk to us. B

 

Day 16 : Return Home

 

Arrival at home 

 

 

Prices and Dates on request.
Travel Code: Sugarbush

 

* The offer is valid for a group size of 6 - 9 participants.

* At the latest 30 days before departure, the achievement of the minimum number of participants is confirmed (see Terms and Conditions).

* The travel price excludes general increases in transport costs and currency fluctuations.

* Prices are subject to the availability of selected accommodation.

* We reserve the right to change the travel program at short notice.

 

Included in the tour price:

• Private, local, qualification, English speaking tour guide from O.R. Tambo International Airport  to Cape Town International Airport
• 13 nights in selected, beautiful accommodation (mostly 4 star rated establishments)
• Meals as advertised, excluding drinks (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Excursion and round trip program with modern, air conditioned customary minibus
• All entrances, activities and parking fees as mentioned (except optional program points)
• Drinking water supply during bus ride (EUR 5.00 per person), to support the  pre-school Kindergarten Penguin Kids in Betty’s Bay South Africa
• Luggage transport 

 

Excluded in the tour price:

• International flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa
• Domestic flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth 
• Optional activities and additional services
• Travel Insurance
• Drinks, tips and personal expenses