| ZA 01) SOUTH AFRICA SPECIAL SAFARI |
Arrive in Johannesburg : South Africa Tour Day 1
Tour arrival in Johannesburg . We transfer to our hotel in Sandton, a suburb north of Jo'burg. Overnight in Sandton. Holiday Inn Garden Court Hotel or similar. Dinner if required.
Johannesburg & Hazyview: South Africa Tour Day 2
From Jo'burg we head off through the vast wilderness of Mpumalanga (formerly The Eastern Transvaal), the "Land of the Rising Mist". Along the way we travel from the vast grasslands of the High Veld, with its huge farms and ranches, down to the drier Low Veld region characterized by rocky hills and acacia scrub forest. This is an expansive landscape of mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, primal forests, and colourful flora. Steeped in a history of pioneers and fortune-seekers, we will pass many Gold Rush towns and farming communities en route. Lydenburg ("town of suffering") established by Voortrekkers in 1849 lies at the bottom of Long Tom pass. This pass, named after the big gun used by the Afrikaners during the Anglo Boer War, is one of the most scenically dramatic in the country. It links Sabie on the escarpment with Lydenburg on the Drakensberg plateau. The area around Lydenburg and neighbouring Dullstroom has many streams and rivers well stocked with trout. Fishermen from all over the world come to try their luck or pit their fly-fishing skills against the slippery fish in these famous waters.
Highlights of our sightseeing today are the spectacular Blyde River Canyon . This great escarpment is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views. The Blyde River Canyon is one of the most spectacular in Africa and its cliffs rise between 600-800 m (2,000-2,640 feet) from the river bed. At the "Three Rondavels viewpoint" is an unforgettable view of three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon. Their tops appear to have a hut-like rounded roof. Where the Blyde River ("river of joy") and the Treur River ("river of sorrow") meet, water erosion has formed one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the country, known as "Bourkeís Luck Potholes". Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water, have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks. Following the road and the Treur River south, there are further viewpoints; Wonder View, Godís Window and the Pinnacle. Their names help to conjure up the indescribable vastness of the scenery.
From here we continue to Hazyview, near the Kruger National Park . Overnight in Hazyview. Hazyview Protea Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Hazyview & Kruger National Park : South Africa Tour Day 3
Early this morning we enter South Africa's largest game reserve, the Kruger National Park, named after Paul Kruger who was the first to initiate the setting aside of this area as a reserve in the 1890s. Here we transfer to open safari vehicles and make a full-day excursion through the southern sector of this fascinating and beautiful park. The Kruger is an enormous area of flat veld, broken by rivers, and comprised of mixed vegetation and terrain. The park, officially founded in 1926, supports more species of wildlife than any other African reserve--over 137 mammal species, 49 fish species, 112 reptile species, and nearly 500 bird species! With some luck we may see and photograph lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and many other wonderful African animals. Return to Hazyview in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hazyview. Breakfast and dinner.
Hazyview, South Africa & Mbabane , Swaziland : South Africa Tour Day 4
We travel south today and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland , an independent country completely landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique , and smaller than Kruger Park ! Naturally fortified by beautiful mountains, Swaziland remains one of the last kingdoms in Africa , a continent once dominated by colonialism. The pace of life here is relaxed and the lifestyle traditional; we will see rural people working their farms and tending their herds as we make our way to Mbabane, the capital city. On arrival in Mbabane we will make a stop in the local craft market before checking in to our hotel.
Swaziland -- one of three African monarchies -- once spread from the Lourenco Marques in Maputo land in the East to the Limpopo River that separates modern day Zimbabwe and South Africa . Today, Swaziland covers an area of 17, 364 km¾ (6,704 sq miles,) roughly the size of Wales , Hawaii , or Kuwait .
The kings of Swaziland date back a considerable time to when the Royal line of Dlamini lived in the vicinity of Deloga Bay . The Nguni people are recorded as having entered the territory of Swaziland around the year 1600. Under the leadership of Dlamini III, settlement took place in 1750, along the Pongola River where it cuts through the Lobombo Mountains . The land they entered was neither vacant or sparsely populated, it was teeming with game, rich in natural resources, a haven for crop raising and cattle rearing. Overnight in Mbabane . Mountain Inn or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Mbabane , Swaziland & Hluhluwe: South Africa Tour Day 5
This morning we travel into the Swazi Lowveld, an area of tiny villages and endless rolling hills planted in sugarcane. Just outside Mbabane we will make a stop at small but excellent National Museum where we will learn about King Mswati III and his forbears. We will also see the National Parliament buildings located next door. Later this morning we cross back into the Republic of South Africa , and travel into the province of Kwazulu-Natal . This area is a nature-loverís paradise, boasting unforgettable untamed African wilderness. This is the traditional homeland of the Zulu people whose informal economy was historically based upon livestock, subsistence agriculture and hunting. The Zulus have lived in southern Africa for over 300 years and have maintained their traditions and customs perhaps more than any other indigenous southern African ethnic group.
In the late 18th century, the Zulu clan was but one of a number of small groups among the northern Nguni. By the 1820s, a powerful Zulu state had emerged under the control of Shaka. Historian's contiune to debate the reasons for the rise of a militarised and authoritarian Zulu state. It is possible that the expansion of international trade, in ivory, cattle and possibly slaves, from Delagoa Bay after the 1760s sparked competition for resources and trade routes and promoted political centralizations among the various northern Nguni chiefdoms. Other reasons advanced by historians to explain the rise of the Zulu state include population growth, following the introduction of maize in the 18th century, which put pressure on scarce resources; severe drought and ecological crisis in about 1806; and such innovations as the short stabbing spear and new formations in battle.
This afternoon we settle into our comfortable home in the African bush, situated in close proximity to the Umfolozi, Mkuze and Hluhluwe National Parks , as well as the breathtaking and unique St Lucia Wetlands. Overnight near Hluhluwe. Bushlands Game Lodge or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Hhuhluwe, Durban & Port Elizabeth: South Africa Tour Day 6
This morning we will participate in an early morning game drive through Hluhluwe game reserve. Umfolozi/ Hluhluwe Game Reserve is the oldest conservation area in Africa, established on 30 April 1895, and is famous for saving the White Rhino from extinction. The area currently boasts the largest Rhino populations in Africa , and both the Black and White Rhinos are endemic to the area. Apart from the "Big Five," the area is also refuge to the endangered Wild Dog and the elusive Cheetah. Today's game drive will be 'Safari style,' and will allow for an unforgettable, "Out of Africa ," experience.
This afternoon we travel toward the Indian Ocean and continue on to Durban , the Garden City of South Africa. The Voortrekkers opened up this area to white settlement in the early 19th century, though the Portuguese were navigating the coast here as early as the late 15th century. Vasco da Gama was the first European to sail along this coast, giving it the name Natal to commemorate his Christmas Day arrival. In 1899 the British and the Boers went to war, but under reconciliation in 1910 formed the Union of South Africa with an agreement signed in what is now Durbanís modern-day Main Post Office.
This evening we fly from Durban to Port Elizabeth , the start of the famous " Garden Route ." Overnight Port Elizabeth . Holiday Inn Garden Court or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Port Elizabeth , Knysna & Oudtshoorn: South Africa Tour Day 7
Port Elizabeth is South Africa 's fifth largest city and the third largest port. We will tour this city, visiting the Market Square and the beaches of Algoa Bay . Port Elizabeth is very English in character. From Port Elizabeth , we travel along the world-famous Garden Route to Knysna. This route is parallel to the ocean, and features lakes, mountains, beaches, and steep cliffs. We pass beautiful Jeffery's Bay, a popular surfing beach. The Tsitsikamma Forest Park contains many huge Yellowwood trees -- the national tree of South Africa . We will see "The Big Tree" which is 800 years old!
This part of the garden route reminds one somewhat of the Oregon Coast (USA) or the Cornwall Coast ( Britain ) with its sand dunes and great surf beaches. Knysna affords tremendous views of a lagoon and the surrounding mountains. George Rex, reputed to be an illegitimate son of King George V. Known for its picturesque lagoon, founded the town in 1817; the town was first established as a timber port. Separated from the ocean by the imposing Knysna Heads, Knysna is proud of its Riviera atmosphere with its sidewalk cafes and shops.
We continue through the towns of Wilderness and George to Oudtshoorn (pronounced "Oats-horn"). Overnight Oudtshoorn. Breakfast and dinner.
Outdshoorn & Cape Town: South Africa Tour Day 8
This is the ostrich capital of South Africa with thousands of these unusual birds dotting fields throughout the area. Big bodies but small brains, these long legged creatures eat pebbles to aid digestion and are particularly attracted to the odd earring or glinting necklace from unsuspecting tourists. At the turn of the century ostrich feathers were in such demand that the fashion conscious paid a premium and feathered the nests of the barons who built magnificent mansions known as "Feather Palaces." This fine architecture can still be seen around the sedate and pleasant town. There are several ostrich show farms, which still sell the beautiful downy feathers but now make more money out of the desirable soft strong knobbly leather. There is also an export demand for the eggs, one of which makes an omelette for 20 people.
The bottom suddenly dropped out of the feather market in 1914, leaving ostrich farmers penniless. There were some 750,000 domesticated ostriches on Little Karoo farms in 1914; today there is about a tenth of that number. Today it is not merely the plume feathers of the males, but the whole birds, that are utilised. We will have a tour of one of the regions main ostrich show farms before continuing our journey to Cape Town .
From Oudtshoorn we travel through the Huis River Pass with its spectacular rock formations. The little farming town of Ladysmith was named after the beautiful Spanish wife of British Cape Governor Sir Harry Smith. The town of Swellendam , established in 1745, is the third oldest in South Africa . Here we see several historic buildings built in the charming Cape Dutch style. These buildings have whitewashed walls and black, thatched roofs. We pass through a wheat growing and sheep farming area on our way to Cape Town . In the late afternoon we cross the Hottentot 's-Holland Mountains , the centre of South Africa 's apple growing region, to arrive in Cape Town , one of the world's most isolated and beautiful cities. Overnight in Cape Town . Breakfast and dinner.
Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain : South Africa Tour Day 9
Today we enjoy a tour of the Cape Peninsula , including a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. The Nature Reserve is a wildflower, bird and animal paradise on 77 km¾ (30 sq miles) of the Cape Peninsula . Here we may see South Africa 's national flower, the King Protea, as well as orchids and ericas. The reserve is also home to eland, springbok, bontebok, baboons, and zebras. Within the reserve are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope , the most southwesterly point on the African continent. We travel along Chapman's Peak Drive, rated among the world's most spectacular marine drives, and stop at the beautiful town of Hout Bay, which once declared itself an independent republic!
Late this afternoon we will take a gondola trip to the top of Table Mountain , Cape Town 's most famous landmark.
Please Note: Views from Table Mountain in Cape Town are spectacular -- but only on a clear day! The order of days spent in Cape Town may be changed in order to go up Table Mountain on the clearest day. Should the weather be too cloudy, and/or winds are too high to travel safely in the gondola, the Table Mountain visit may be abandoned and the programme adjusted at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Overnight in Cape Town . Breakfast and dinner.
Robben Island & Cape Winelands : South Africa Tour Day 10
This morning we make a excursion by boat to Robben Island , site of the famous (or infamous) prison in which Nelson Mandela and other Apartheid Freedom Fighters were incarcerated for many years. Accompanied by a local site guide, we will tour the island and the former prison facilties and learn much about life on the island, its now famous former inmates and staff, and about this dark period of South African history.
Later we travel through the rolling winelands of the southwest Cape . The Cape vineyards were originated at Constantia by Jan van Riebeeck in 1685, and were advanced in 1688 by Hugenot refugees who brought their vine seedlings and skills with them from France . The Cape 's different soils and climatic variations allow a wide variety of wines to be pressed, from exquisite sweet whites, through dry whites to fruity reds. Along our route today, we will see the wine estates, with their delightful Cape Dutch houses, with thatched roofs and decorative gables. Time permitting (the Robben Island excursion can vary in duration depending on space availability and weather conditions), we may visit a wine estate for a tour and tasting. We will visit Stellenbosch , South Africa 's second oldest settlement. You will notice some of the finest examples of traditional Cape Dutch architecture along the town's oak-lined streets. Overnight in Cape Town . Breakfast and dinner.
Departure: South Africa Tour Day 11
The total cost of the safari including land transportation, local air flights which are mentioned in the itinerary, local accommodations in twin rooms are all included.
End of the SAFARI.
High Season : 1st July - 20th December and 5th January - 31st March of every year.
Low Season : 1st April - 30th June of every year.
Christmas Season: 21st December - 04 January of every year
Organized Group Rates : Special Group travel rates are available on request
Your Safari Includes:
Meet and Greet Services with assistance
All airport/Airstrip transfers with assistance
Complimentary baggage handling of two pieces per person
Direct check-in with assistance in your South Africa Hotels
Bed & Full Breakfast accommodation in South Africa city Hotels
Transport in a comfortable custom-built safari vehicle with a window seat guarantee
All park entry fees
Full board accommodation whilst on Safari
Two full Game-viewing drives per day whilst on safari
Services of an English-Speaking and professional safari driver/guide
All Government taxes and levies where applicable
Your Safari Price Excludes:
International Airfares
Tourist entry VISA where required
International airport(s) departures taxes
Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and /or quoted separately
Expenditures of personal nature such as telephone calls, faxes, Internet access, laundry etc.
All alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits.
Tips and gratuities to driver /guides/lodge porters/hotel staff
All other extras not mentioned in the 'what's included.
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