16 Day South African HIghlights Scheduled Tour (German)

Day 1: Arrive - Sandton, Johannesburg (Monday)

Destination: Sandton (Johannesburg)
Accomodation: Protea Hotel Balalaika
Meals included: none
Attractions include: Sandton (Johannesburg) .

Welcome to South Africa! Your tour starts at the hotel where you will spend your first night, in Sandton- Johannesburg.

Your arrival time will determine the program for the day. You may decide to leave the day open to recuperate from your travels or, if you're scheduled to arrive on an early flight, you may elect an optional (half-) day Johannesburg-area tour. We'll gladly advise you on options and book for you ahead of time (own account).

At around 18:00 you meet up with your tour guide for the trip, as well as the other tour members. The tour guide will give an overview of your upcoming tour and confirm arrangements for the evening and departure tomorrow morning. He or she will answer any questions you may have.

Thereafter dinner is at your own leisure, either at the hotel or at one of the host of restaurant options nearby (own account).

• Note: Getting to the tour's starting point, The Protea Hotel Balalaika, is for your own arrangements and cost. We will gladly assist with arrangements if requested.

• Extending your Johannesburg stay: Should you be scheduled to arrive a day or two before the tour commences, we’ll gladly assist you with all arrangements - including accommodation and touring.

Day 2: Johannesburg to Hazyview via Panorama Route (±500km)

Destination: Hazyview
Accomodation: Casa do Sol Hotel & Resort
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Attractions include: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Three Rondavels Viewpoint , Wonder View , Graskop , Bourke's Luck Potholes , Mpumalanga Lowveld .

After breakfast you travel to the Mpumalanga province in the north-east of South Africa where you get to explore the Panorama Route. The Three Rondavels Viewpoint is perched high above the Blyde River Dam and the Blyde River Canyon - providing spectacular views of both. A little further, at the origin of the Canyon you’ll visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where an early explorer discovered alluvial gold.

Moving beyond the Canyon you’ll make a stop at Wonder View, the highest point on the Panorama Route, located on the edge of a steep escarpment. Enjoy lunch at nearby Graskop (own account), before descending the escarpment towards Hazyview.

Near Hazyview you check in for a two night stay at your village-style country hotel. Dinner is at the hotel's restaurant that includes outside seating in the lush garden.

Day 3: Full Day in the Kruger National Park (±250km)

Destination: Hazyview
Accomodation: Casa do Sol Hotel & Resort
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Attractions include: Kruger National Park .

Enjoy an early breakfast before leaving for the nearby Kruger National Park for a full day game drive. You will try and spot as many of the large variety of animals as possible. Lunch will be at one of the rest camps in the park (own account).

The Kruger National Park is huge. It covers 19,485 square kilometres and the distance from its southern to northern borders is 360km. It boasts a remarkable variety of fauna and flora. More than 500 bird and 147 mammal species have been identified. These include the ‘Big Five’ - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

After an enjoyable day in the African bush seeing wild animals in their natural surroundings, you return to your hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening.

• Optional: Your game drive above will be in the air-conditioned tour vehicle. You may opt for a full day of game viewing in an open safari vehicle (own account and excluding lunch).

Day 4: Full Day Kruger National Park (±200km)

Destination: Malelane
Accomodation: Pestana Kruger Lodge
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Attractions include: Kruger National Park .

After an early breakfast you check out of your hotel before travelling a short distance to- and spending another full day in, the Kruger National Park. Once again you’ll travel with your air-conditioned tour vehicle in search of the Big Five and the myriad of other game that roam the Park. Lunch (own account) will again be at one of the rest camps in the Kruger National Park.

Late afternoon you exit the Park via Malelane Gate on the Kruger’s southern border. Your overnight accommodation is a hop, skip and a jump away - right on the Crocodile River. You may opt for pre-dinner drinks (own account) on the resort’s pool / viewing deck, with views onto River and into the southern Kruger. With a bit of luck you may spot elephant, hippopotamus, crocodiles or other animals. Dinner is to be enjoyed at the resort's own restaurant.

• Optional: Your game drive above will be in the air-conditioned tour vehicle. You may opt for a full day of game viewing in an open safari vehicle (own account and excluding lunch).

Day 5: Malelane to Hluhluwe through Swaziland (±420km)

Destination: Hluhluwe
Accomodation: DumaZulu Lodge and Traditional Village
Meals included: Breakfast
Attractions include: Swaziland , KwaZulu-Natal , DumaZulu Lodge and Traditional Village , Ezulwini Valley .

After breakfast you head south to enter the kingdom of Swaziland. Travel through rolling hills, dotted with rural traditional homesteads, past Swaziland’s capital city Mbabane and onto the beautiful Ezulwini Valley.

The Valley is a popular destination for national head offices, leisure developments and expats. It features one or two western-style shopping malls, golf resort hotels and a number of worthwhile informal markets. Lunch (for your own account) will be enjoyed enroute. Continue southwards to re-enter South Africa.

You are now in the beautiful subtropical KwaZulu-Natal province. KwaZulu means ‘home of the Zulu’. Close to the town of Hluhluwe you arrive at your overnight stop. Enjoy dinner at the DumaZulu Restaurant (own account).

• Visa requirements: Passing through the independent kingdom of Swaziland requires that you have a valid passport. Please check on visa requirements for nationals from your country. Keep in mind that re-entering South Africa may require a multi-entry visa.

Day 6: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park & afternoon at leisure

Destination: Hluhluwe
Accomodation: DumaZulu Lodge and Traditional Village
Meals included: Breakfast
Attractions include: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , Zulu people of South Africa , DumaZulu Lodge and Traditional Village .

In the morning you head to the nearby Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve for an open-safari-vehicle game drive. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is the only public reserve in KwaZulu-Natal that features the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). This Reserve is famous for successfully saving the endangered white rhino in the past - a species that is once again under threat. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is different from the Kruger National Park in terms of climate (subtropical), as well as vegetation and is generally quite hilly.

Return to DumaZulu where you have the rest of the day free to relax and recuperate. You may also explore the DumaZulu Cultural Village for an introduction to the Zulu people and -culture, including traditional dances. DumaZulu also has a small bird & reptile park.

Day 7: Hluhluwe to Port Edward via St. Lucia (±495km)

Destination: Port Edward
Accomodation: The Wild Coast Sun
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , St. Lucia Estuary & Lake , St. Lucia boat cruises , KwaZulu-Natal South Coast , Hibiscus Coast .

Depart after breakfast for St. Lucia in the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, containing the largest estuarine system in Africa. On arrival you join a cruise on the estuary, known for its large population of hippo’s, as well as crocodiles and a multitude of birds. Enjoy lunch in St Lucia (own account).

From St. Lucia you travel down the N2 Coastal Highway, passing the outskirts of Durban, a coastal city, before venturing onto the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. It is a popular holiday destination for South Africans with dozens of small holiday towns and resorts all along the subtropical coastline.

Your overnight destination is at the southernmost end of the South Coast. Your hotel is located within the expansive Wild Coast Sun resort. Enjoy dinner at your own leisure at one of the resort’s various restaurants.(own account).

Day 8: Port Edward to Mthatha (±280km)

Destination: Mthatha (a.k.a. Umtata)
Accomodation: Garden Court Mthatha
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Attractions include: Transkei , Xhosa people , Nelson Mandela .

Enjoy some morning leisure time in the expansive Wild Coast Sun Resort. You may opt to go hiking on the beach or even head out on horseback (own account).

Late-morning you journey into the Transkei, home to South Africa’s Xhosa people. This is rural country and much of the Xhosa people’s traditional lifestyle is still retained. The countryside is dotted by small compounds of traditional (circular and often thatched) rondavels. Many people travel on foot and you will probably encounter free roaming cattle and goats along the way. Enjoy lunch en route (own account)

Nelson Mandela grew up in Qunu in rural Transkei. Driving through the rolling hills and on arriving in Mthatha you are also tracing some of his footsteps. You’ll explore this theme further before checking into your Mthatha-based hotel for the night.

Day 9: Mthatha to Port Alfred via Qunu (±365km)

Destination: Port Alfred
Accomodation: The Royal St Andrews Hotel & Spa
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Attractions include: Transkei , Port Alfred , Kowie River , Nelson Mandela , Sunshine Coast .

On leaving Mthatha you travel via Qunu, the birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela. Qunu consists of a number of small villages. This is where he grew up, herded cattle and went to school. He never lost touch with this region which was dear to him and where he was eventually buried.

From Qunu you continue to East London, a small coastal harbour city, where the Sunshine Coast begins. You continue to Port Alfred, founded by British Settlers who were brought into the country in 1820 to serve as a buffer between the British Cape Colony and the Xhosa people. The town and it’s Royal Alfred Marina is centred around the Kowie River and beautiful coastline. Check in and relax. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Day 10: Port Alfred to Keurboomstrand via eastern Garden Route (±380km)

Destination: Keurboomstrand
Accomodation: The Dunes Hotel & Resort
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Tsitsikamma , Storm's River Mouth suspension bridge , The Big Tree (Tsitsikamma) , Kowie River boat cruises , Keurboomstrand .

Enjoy an early breakfast before joining a river cruise for a scenic trip up the Kowie River (weather permitting). On your return, you take your leave of Port Alfred and travel further along the Sunshine Coast, crossing tidal rivers and passing through rolling green hills.

Continue your travels to the Garden Route, named after the abundance and variety of indigenous plants. The Garden Route lies between the Tsitsikamma Mountain Range and the Indian Ocean. At Storm's River Mouth you may hike along specially constructed boardwalks to three pedestrian suspension bridges that spans a small bay and the actual river mouth. Lunch will be enjoyed en route (own account).

Arrive in the afternoon at Keurboomstrand, near Plettenberg Bay. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some time on the 8km-long pristine beach, behind which the hotel is located. Dinner is at the hotel (own account).

Day 11: Day at leisure - Keurboomstrand (Garden Route)

Destination: Keurboomstrand
Accomodation: The Dunes Hotel & Resort
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Knysna , Featherbed Nature Reserve , Knysna Estuary , Knysna Heads .

Enjoy a day of leisure at the resort and on the beach.

Optional day tour (own account) Visit nearby Knysna. At Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated on the Western Head of the Knysna lagoon and reached by ferry, take a tractor-trailer ride to the top of the Heads for breathtaking views over the Indian Ocean and the Estuary. Hike along a scenic pathway (±2 km) through a Milkwood Tree Forest, past sea caves and finally along the tranquil Estuary river banks. Arriving back at the Featherbed jetty you enjoy a buffet lunch (included in the optional tour) at their open air restaurant.

On returning to Knysna by ferry, pay a visit to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Dinner is at the hotel (own account).

Day 12: Keurboomstrand to Oudtshoorn (±160km)

Destination: Oudtshoorn
Accomodation: Protea Hotel Riempie Estate
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Knysna , Cango Caves , Knysna Heads , Oudtshoorn ostrich farms , Outeniqua Pass .

Today offers various photo opportunities. Before departing Knysna you will have beautiful views over the Indian Ocean and the Knysna lagoon from the Knysna Heads. Leaving Knysna you pass through Sedgefield and Wilderness and past various inland freshwater lakes. Next up is the town of George from where you pass the Outeniqua Mountains, beyond which you enter the arid Klein Karoo.

Travelling onwards you reach Oudtshoorn and visit one of the ostrich show farms outside town. Lunch to be enjoyed at the ostrich farm (own account).

Journey further to the Cango Caves, that extends deep into the Swartberg Mountains. Do a guided tour (1h) that include chambers with large dripstone stalactites and stalagmites. Return to Oudtshoorn and your country hotel for the evening. Dinner at the hotel (own account).

Day 13: Oudtshoorn to Stellenbosch via Route 62 (±410 km)

Destination: Stellenbosch
Accomodation: Protea Hotel Stellenbosch
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Route 62 , Barrydale , Klipdrift Brandy Distillery , Klein Karoo .

Today you travel from Oudtshoorn to Stellenbosch via the iconic Route 62. The latter mostly follows the Little Karoo, an extended valley between two major mountain ranges. This makes for ever changing scenery that includes mountain passes, gorges and valleys with vineyards and orchards. Route 62 is also known as the longest wine route in the world.

Enjoy lunch at a restaurant overlooking quaint Barrydale (own account) before continuing to Montagu. At Robertson you stop at a distillery (Klipdrift or similar) for brandy tasting before continuing through the magnificent Du Toit's Kloof and eventually the Huguenot Tunnel into the Cape Winelands and on to Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa. It is known for it's historical architecture, Oak-lined streets, it's viniculture and local University. Check in at your hotel on the edge of Stellenbosch. Dinner is in one of the hotel's restaurants (own account).

Day 14: Stellenbosch to Cape Town via the Cape Winelands (±100 km)

Destination: Cape Town
Accomodation: The President Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Paarl wine estates , Afrikaans Language Monument , Stellenbosch walking tour , Paarl Mountain , Wine tastings at estates in South Africa .

After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of Stellenbosch, rich in culture and history. Wander along the oak-lined streets and stop at some of the historic old buildings in typical Cape Dutch style. Depart Stellenbosch for Paarl in the Cape Winelands. You visit one of the many wine estates around Paarl for wine tasting and lunch (both for your own account).

Paarl is South Africa's third oldest city, after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. The name ‘Paarl' is old-Dutch for ‘pearl’ and is derived form the huge granite boulders on top of the Paarl Mountain that shimmer like pearls in the sun after rain. Paarl is renowned for viniculture and has some outstanding wine estates in the vicinity. It is also known for the role it played in the recognition of Afrikaans as an official language. Visit the "Afrikaanse Taalmonument" (Afrikaans Language Monument) on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain..

Continue to Cape Town at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain. Your hotel is situated just above the shoreline of Bantry Bay (suburb) and below Lion’s Head (buttress). Enjoy dinner at the hotel (own account).

Day 15: Day at leisure in Cape Town

Destination: Cape Town
Accomodation: The President Hotel
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Cape Town .

Cape Town is a truly remarkable city, it is regularly ranked amongst the top cities to visit in the world in publications such as Condé Nast Traveller and similar. One could stay for a week and still not experience all that the city has to offer. Today, you have the opportunity of exploring some of greater Cape Town's attractions (own account).

Consult our 'tour finder' (see left menu) or go to the 'Tours & Safaris' link at the top of this page and click on 'Day Tours' in order to view a range of possible half-day and full-day touring options in and around Cape Town. If you choose not to extend your Cape Town stay we'd advise that you choose from one of the following options, the typical tours for a three-day Cape Town stay: Table Mountain & Cape Town City Half Day Tour, The Cape Peninsula Full Day Tour or the Cape Winelands Full Day Tour. You'll find many other options as well by following the links discussed above, or you may of course decide to spend a day on one of Cape Town's spectacular beaches, go shopping or whatever tickles your fancy.

• Note: On enquiring about or booking this tour you may request us to quote for extending your stay in Cape Town, with or without pre-booked touring.

Day 16: Day of departure (Tuesday)

Destination: Cape Town International Airport
Meals included: breakfast
Attractions include: Cape Town .

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. How you spend this day will depend on the departure time of your flight back home. If time allows, we recommend that you consider one of the touring options discussed on Day 15 above..

Your transfer from the hotel to the airport is not included in your tour price and should be arranged separately. We will gladly assist with that (for your own account). Should you decide to extend your stay in Cape Town with an extra day or two you may request us to quote for this on enquiring about or booking this tour.

Return back home enriched with your experience of South Africa, hopefully to return again soon!