South Africa
- Destination: International
Africa is a dream destination for travellers. It offers everything from thrilling action-adventure to sheer, indulgent opulence. Our African Safari Experts take the guesswork out of planning your journey, while our comprehensive African Safari Guide puts the fun into finding out where you want to go and what you want to see. Our advice is based on firsthand experience; our recommendations are tried-and-tested.
South Africa Tour Package (12 Nights / 13 Days)
Itinerary
Day 1 : Durban
Head down to the Golden Mile for a cocktail and some group bonding. Don not stress, nobody will force you to wear name tags or play icebreaker games. Perhaps visit the Art Gallery, the Juma Masjid Mosque or enjoy a bay cruise or surf lesson.
Day 2-3 : Drakensburg
The Drakensberg mountain range (3482m), Barrier of Spears, Dragon mountains - call it what you want, as long as you lace up your walking shoes and go for a hike. Leave Durban and travel inland towards the Drakensberg mountain range (260 km, approx 5-6 hrs). Enjoy a whole day to explore part of the mountain range on foot. Enjoy a sun-downer from the thatched loft lounge room that has a big screen, HD television, book swap and internet cafe Other facilities include a pool, jacuzzi, barbeque area and fire pit.
Day 4-5 : Lesotho Highlands
Drive past the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and keep your eyes peeled for elands, zebra and mongoose. Possibly less friendly but definitely hairier. Stop by a village in Lesotho and spend time with the locals. Leaving the Drakensberg behind, head into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho (370 km, approx 7-8 hrs).
Perhaps set off on a Bushman painting hike or the Pitseng Canyon hike.
Day 6-7 : Wild Coast/Cintsa
Cintsa is on the coast, so pack your trunks (insert elephant joke here). Plenty of time for hiking, swimming, mountain biking and surfing. Visit a Xhosa village and see what rural life is like. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are from Xhosa tribes, so that is a good indication of how lovely the locals will be. South Africa tour head to the Wild Coast of South Africa and the small town of Cintsa .Arrive in the late afternoon and have time to relax before an optional group dinnerEnjoy plenty of time to explore the town, relax on the beaches or make the most of optional activities such as hiking, swimming, mountain biking and surfing.
Day 8 : Addo Elephant National Park
South Africa Tour start on track wild life the reasons to be envious of elephants: They spend 18 hours a day eating, they have great memories, they have no natural predators and they can sleep standing up. Travel on to Addo Elephant National Park (310 km, 7-8 hrs). On arrival at the park, take an afternoon game drive in our truck and try to spot some of the local residents.
While in Addo, stay at a campground that has basic shared facilities.
Day 9-10 : Garden Route/Tsitsikamma National Park
If the coastline here was any more dramatic it would need its own reality show. There is a bit of ocean, a bit of forest and heaps of optional activities like bungee jumping, snorkelling and taking the canopy tour. Spend the next few days discovering the most spectacular stretch of the Garden Route. Perhaps opt for a bungee jump, a canopy tour or snorkelling.
Day 11 : Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn and Knysna are just two of the places you will fail to pronounce correctly today. 97% of the worlds ostriches live at Oudtshoorn. An ostrich eye is the size of a billiard ball, and it can run at 64kph. Don not try and keep up. Head out across the arid Karoo region bound for Oudtshoorn (220 km, approx 4-5 hrs).
Stop off at Knysna en route to stretch your legs and explore this quaint little hamlet.
Day 12 : Swellendam Wine Region
In the Cango Caves you will see stalagmites (the hanging ones) with names like the bridal couple, glass flower fantasy, weird Cango candle and the hanging shawl. Then say hello to some old friends, namely chardonnay, sav blanc, shiraz and cab sav.
Explore the Cango Caves and learn about their formation and history from our local guide. Travel from Oudtshoorn to Swellendam (225km, approx 4-5 hrs) on the scenic.
Day 13 - Cape Town
Travel on to Cape Town (300km, approx 4-5 hrs). On the way, we will head out on a wine tour to sample some of the local produce from this beautiful area. Tour will head to Long Street for bars, bookstores, restaurants, clothes and antique shops. Find a fairy-lit balcony or a lounge on the sidewalk to toast the end of the trip with your favorite South African wine.
Enjoy a host of optional activities in Cape Town such as abseiling, kloofing, scuba diving, a harbour cruise and much more besides Perhaps visit the Botanical Gardens, the District Six Museum, the national gallery or spend some time on Table Mountain.
South Africa Travel Guide
South Africa National Parks
Your venture to any of the South African National Parks will transfer you into another world. They protect a huge variety of environments - from deserts to rainforests, and from coral reefs to eucalypt woodlands. Most parks and reserves are co
- Karoo National Park
- Tsitsikamma National Park
- Augrabies Falls National Park
- Golden Gate Highlands National Park
- Mountain Zebra National Park
- Bontebok National Park
- Marakele National Park
- Wilderness National Park
- Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
- Mapungubwe National Park
- Addo Elephant Park
- Mokala National Park
- Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
- Kruger Park
- Tankwa Karoo National Park
- Tembe Elephant Park
South Africa Art & Culture
South African playwright Athol Fugard, the creator of anti-apartheid masterpieces such as Blood Knot, The Island and Master Harold and the Boys, has been named as the first African recipient of a Praemium Imperiale International Arts Award, Japans highest honour in the arts. Black African culture is most obviously known for its art, dance and music these have been profoundly influenced by more than two centuries of colonialism and the work of Christian missionaries.
- Tribal cultures
- Beadwork adornment
- The beauty of beads
South Africa Festivals
South Africa has no shortage of events there are over eighty music festivals each year, nine of them over the Easter weekend alone. Apart from these there are umpteen minor events in countless small towns. Diverting as these may be, you are not going to plan your trip around them, but there are a number of more significant events (listed here) that may be worth penciling into your holiday diary.
- Prickly Pear Festival
- Cape Town International Jazz Festival
- The Rotary River Festival
- The Burning Man festival
- Philippolis Witblits Festival
- Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival
- Dullstroom Winter Festival
South Africa Foods
With a range of climates and growing conditions, the ingredients for African cuisine are diverse. However, certain foods are common to many regions. The food of North Africa has been heavily influenced over the centuries by the ingredients brought by traders, invaders and migrants. Palm wine and locally brewed beers are popular beverages. However, water also has a very strong ritual significance in many African nations and is often the first thing an African host will offer to guest.