Day 1: Departure to Africa

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

 

Day 2: Welcome to South Africa

Arrival at Cape Town International Airport, where you will collect your pre-booked rental car.  You then drive to your cozy guesthouse where you will stay for the night. To get your tour started, you can enjoy the dramatic sunset on Cape Town's "local mountain", Signal Hill, which is well worth a visit. 28 km

 

Day 3: The whole universe in the Great Karoo

Early morning you set off and drive in a Northeasterly direction into the seemingly endless Karoo semi-desert. Karoo is an ancient word of the Bushmen for "Great Thirstland". It's all about spectacular mountain passes before you see the "Big 5" on a game drive in a small private game reserve (optional - not included in the tour price). You then drive towards Sutherland, South Africa's "Stargazing Capital". A hobby astronomer can give you insight into the incredible world of the universe by looking through his very own telescope. A cozy guesthouse is your home for tonight. 326 km / F

 

Day 4: Prehistoric fossils in the heart of the semi-desert

You start your day with an early morning visit to the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere (optional - not included in the tour price). Here you will be introduced to the exploration of the star system on this side of the world on a fascinating tour. Your journey will take you further inland and finally into the heart of the Great Karoo to Beaufort West, the birthplace of the world-famous cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard. The gravel roads along the way, provide you with a real Karoo atmosphere. In the afternoon you can visit the Karoo National Park, which shows a small section of the vast expanse and unique landscape of the Great Karoo. You will be accommodated in a cozy, Victorian guesthouse in the small town. 297 km / F

 

Day 5: From Bushmen to the Anglo-Boer War

After an interesting visit to the Christiaan Barnard Museum, you continue through the Great Karoo semi-desert to Graaff-Reinet, the "Pearl of the Karoo”. Graaff-Reinet is the only town in South Africa that is completely surrounded by a national park. On display are unbelievably beautiful,  Cape Dutch and Victorian buildings, dreamy streets, blooming Jacaranda trees and the incomparable charm of a typical Karoo town. You will spend the night at a guest farm where you can visit ancient rock carvings of the indigenous peoples of South Africa, the San Bushmen, on a guided tour (optional - not included in the tour price). 203 km / F

 

Day 6: The Big 5 at Addo National Park

Your destination for this day is South Africa's second largest national park, the Addo Elephant National Park. The park near Port Elizabeth gives you the typical "Out of Africa" feeling and offers you a rare opportunity to go on a safari and watch the “Big 5” in a malaria-free area. For the next two nights you stay in a beautiful chalet in the Addo Elephant National Park. 326 km

 

Day 7: Addo Elephant National Park

We suggest you get up very early this morning and have your first safari drive before breakfast. Many animals make their way to the waterhole during early morning hours. For lunch, you can eat in the park's very own restaurant. In the afternoon you also have the option to go another game drive and observe all the magnificent animals. Alternatively, the day can also be used to relax and unwind in the surroundings of the camp.

 

Day 8: The last jungle of the Garden Route

In the morning we continue along the coast to the world-famous Garden Route. Today's destination is the Tsitsikamma National Park situated at the mouth of the Storms River. It is said that the mystical atmosphere of the dense jungle inspired the South African born writer J.R.R. Tolkien  to his masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings". Here you can take a short, easy hike along wooded cliffs and nearly 1,000 year old yellowwood trees to the unique suspension bridge across the mouth of the Storms River to the Indian Ocean. At the edge of the park, you will spend the night in a charming hotel. 206 km / F

 

Day 9: By Portuguese Mariners and the "Bahia Famosa"

In the morning, you can visit the Robberg Marine and Nature Reserve on a trip to the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay. A rewarding short hike along high cliffs with a view of the horizon can also be done. The view over the bay, which the Portuguese sailors called "Bahia Famosa", is unforgettable. Your destination for this day is the beautifully located coastal town of Knysna, famous for its beautiful lagoon. After exploring a typical township in Knysna, you arrive in a beautiful, centrally located hotel. 104 km / F

 

Day 10: Rest on the Knysna Lagoon

In the morning, you can go shopping for food and drinks for the next two days, as the next two days will be spend on a houseboat on the Knysna lagoon. After a short briefing about the operations of the boat, you are your own captain! The boat is comfortably furnished with a bedroom, shower cubicle and kitchenette, suitable for 2 persons. You will experienced true tranquility as you ride into the sunset.

 

Day 11: Relaxing on a houseboat on the Knysna Lagoon

Today you spend on your beautiful houseboat. The activities today include drifting along the lagoon, sunbathing on the deck, swimming in the gloriously warm lagoon, bird watching, relaxing and maybe even fishing your own dinner!

 

Day 12: By Federbarons and millions of years old stalagmites

It's time to say goodbye to the Indian Ocean, as the trip leads you up the 800 m high Outeniqua Pass to the so-called Little Karoo, the ostrich capital of South Africa, to Oudtshoorn. In the place of the former Federbarone, you can visit one of the typical local ostrich farms, where you can learn more about the history and economical importance of the ostriches in this area. Afterwards you can visit one of the seven wonders of South Africa, the world famous Cango Caves. Tonight, you will be staying at a stylish guest farm situated at the foot of the beautiful Swartberg mountain. 117 km / F

 

Day 13: Via Route 62 to the world famous Cape wine

Today you drive along the famous Route 62, past the picturesque “Klein Karoo” (Little Karoo) towns of Calitzdorp and Ladismith. Ladismith is known for its locally produced cheese. Via the interesting Huisrivier Pass, you will reach the small arty town of Barrydale as you slowly approach the Cape wine region. After the spectacular Du Toits Kloof Pass, from where you can see Table Mountain on a clear day, you reach the city of Paarl in the early evening. At the foot of Paarl Rock, you spend the next two nights on a beautiful, producing wine farm. 367 km / F

 

Day 14: From the African Penguins to the Huguenots and the first wine growers

This morning you will start by driving a beautiful coastal road along False Bay. In the morning you can visit a large penguin colony in Betty's Bay. The road leads you over the imposing Franschhoek Pass in the old Huguenot immigrant town of Franschhoek. On today's tour of South Africa's unique wine-growing regions, you can also learn more about local cultivation and production processes on a guided wine cellar tour. You can also visit the famous university town of Stellenbosch before returning to your wine farm in the early evening. 324 km / F

 

Day 15: From Apartheid to the Rainbow Nation - Welcome back to Cape Town!

The circle closes as you come back to the “Mother City”, Cape Town. Here you can visit the popular Cape Town Waterfront, which impresses with a great atmosphere, good shopping and delicious restaurants. Take a trip to Robben Island for some cultural enrichment (optional - not included in the tour price). The cell of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Afterwards you check into your cozy and centrally located guest house in Cape Town, where you will spend the remaining three nights. 132 km / F

 

Day 16: One of the most beautiful cities in the world - South Africa's "Mother City" Cape Town

On a city tour, you will see the Company's Garden, an African flea market, the Parliament, the City Hall, the Cape Castle and the Slave Lodge. You can enjoy the relaxed and colourful flair of this fascinating city. At lunchtime you can drive out to Blouberg beach, where Table Mountain offers a spectacular view for a photograph. The colorful Malay Quarter can also invite you to take pictures in the afternoon and bring you closer to the lives of former slaves and today's "coloreds" in Cape Town. 60 km / F

 

Day 17: From the Cape of Good Hope to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Today you can explore the entire Cape Peninsula with all its fascinating highlights. A drive over the most spectacular mountain pass of the Western Cape, the Chapmans Peak Drive (possibly closed in bad weather conditions). The pass takes you through the rural coastal village of Noordhoek, to the most south-westerly point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Along False Bay you pass the old South African naval base, Simon's Town. Shortly before you return to Cape Town you will visit the breathtaking Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which offers a green haven of local vegetation on more than 500 hectares. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is part of the World Heritage site. 116 km / F

 

Day 18: Take one last look at Table Mountain before departing

In the morning you can have one last spectacular experience, an optional trip on the 1,085 m high Table Mountain. Here you can enjoy the spectacular view of Cape Town (extremely weather dependent, optional program point and payable directly at the cash desk on site). You then drive to Cape Town International Airport, where it is time to say goodbye to South Africa. Would you like to combine this trip with a visit to the "Big 5" in Kruger National Park or a unique beach holiday on Zanzibar? We are happy to help you with the extension of your dream vacation. F

 

Day 19: Return home

 

Arrival at home.

Prices and Dates on request.

* The offer is valid for a group size of 2 participants.

* Excluded from the travel price are general increases in currency fluctuations.

* Prices are subject to the availability of selected accommodation.

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

 

Included :

- Rental car Group C (VW Polo Saloon or similar) from a reputable provider; full insurance coverage (no deductible - the terms and conditions of car rental apply); including all driven kilometers and taxes

- 14 nights in selected, comfortable accommodations in the 3-4 star range

- 2 nights on a houseboat on the Knysna Lagoon

- Breakfast on all days (except Addo National Park)

- detailed, English, personal travel guide with exact directions, distances, road map, excursion tips and restaurant recommendations

- African Kombi Tours emergency telephone number - available on-site around the clock

- detailed travel documents

- EUR 5 per person to help kindergarten Penguin Kidz in Betty's Bay, South Africa

 

Excluded:

- long distance flights to and from South Africa

- Rental car security deposit (to be paid on site by credit card deduction), fuel costs, tolls, if necessary. Management fee for additional services on site, accidents or misdemeanors, additional driver's fee and navigation device

- Deposit for rent of houseboat (in cash on delivery and refund after delivery), fuel costs

- all meals (except breakfast as mentioned above) drinks, gratuities, personal expenses

- Parking fees (except Addo National Park - already included in the tour price), nature conservation fees, admissions to museums, optional activities, gratuities and - expenses of a personal nature

 

- Travel insurance