17-day South Africa Rainbow Route

An accommodated safari through South Africa, trekking, cultural visits and wonderful game viewing in the Rainbow Nation.

Highlights:

• Mpumalanga Panorama Route – sight seeing
• Kruger National Park – game drives
• Swaziland – mountain walks
• Drakensberg mountains – maintain walks
• Wild Coast – beach walks & Xhosa villages
• Addo - game drives
• Tsitsikamma – forest walks
• Hermanus – beaches and whales
• Cape Town – Cape Point & Table Mountain

 

Includes:

• 16 nights in hotels, cabins & guest houses
• Entrance fees
• Transport in Safari Truck or Minibus
• Meals as per itinerary
• Professional guide

Group Size: Maximum 12 people
Type of Safari: Semi-participation accommodated safari
Accommodation: Carefully selected 3-4 star hotels, guest-houses, chalets and restcamps

Price: from NZD3055  per person sharing*

Excludes: flights, airport taxes, visa costs, all lunches and dinners where not specified, optional excursions, drinks, mineral water, gratuities and personal expenses

 

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Day 1 JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA
Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterise the landscape. Few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the lowveld & escarpment. We visit Pilgrims Rest, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window, before staying in a lodge on the edge of the escarpment near Graskop. [lodge -LD]

Day 2 - 3 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
The largest game reserve in South Africa, boasts the world's greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness. [tented lodge or chalets BLD]

Day 4 KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
guided walk included Malolotja Nature Reserve in the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland is our next attraction. Renowned for a great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist forest, we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the fantastic mountain views. Relax around a campfire dinner and stay in mountain cabins for the night. [cabins BLD]

Day 5 - 6 ZULULAND
We visit craft markets near Mbabane that have a fascinating range of handmade crafts and the local witchdoctor stall is not to be missed! We re-enter South Africa and head to Mkuzi Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino. We visit a waterhole hide and watch game come down to. An early morning game drive is followed by a cultural afternoon where we visit a Zulu village on the border of the game reserve and learn about the Zulu culture. [tented lodge or chalet BLD]

 

Day 7 - 8 DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
guided walk included The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” - the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Mkuzi we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in a quaint cottage or chalets. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying spectacular views. [cottage BLD]

Day 9 - 10 WILD COAST
guided walk included The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise in South Africa. There are unspoilt stretches of dramatic and savagely beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight within walking distance of the beach and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or relax on the beach. [chalets BLD]

Day 11 ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 350 elephants roam through the area. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area. [chalets BLD]

Day 12 - 13 KNYSNA / TSITSIKAMMA
guided walk included For two nights we will stay in a lodge resort in Knysna, which is nestled on a tranquil lagoon. We will take a day trip to the Storms River mouth where there are walks up the gorge and along the rocky coast. The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80km of spectacular sea and landscapes; a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys, coastal forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. There is also an option of the world’s highest bungi jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna's great restaurants (own expense). [lodge B - -]

Day 14 HERMANUS
Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From May to December Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to the coast to calve and mate in the shallows. In the afternoon we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline before having a meal out at local restaurant (own expense). [guest house BL-]

Day 15 - 16 CAPE TOWN
guided walk included Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. On our way into Cape Town, we visit Stellenbosch, South Africa’s renowned wine region, for wine tasting (own expense) and a cellar tour. The “mother city” has many attractions; we will visit Cape Point, the harbour at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). We sample the local fare at a variety of local restaurants (own expense). [hotel B - -]

Day 17 TOUR ENDS - TRANSFERS
In the morning we climb Table Mountain, offering panoramic views over Cape Town reaching out into the bay and Robben Island. Having explored the highlights of the Rainbow Nation we take a last look at Cape Town and catch up on last minute curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 18:00. [- B - -]

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