12-Day South Africa Safari and Cape Tour with Lesotho and Knysna

1

Day 01

Arrival at Kruger and Night Safari

• Our tour starts at Kruger National Park, officially at 8:00 pm.
• Please be in the lobby at this time, as your tour guide and driver should be waiting for you there.
• We are taken into the park for a night safari.
• Animals often seen at this hour include lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, zebras, elephants, and buffaloes.
• Note that Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga Airport) is reached through Johannesburg or Cape Town in South Africa, or through Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

2

Day 02

Full-Day Kruger Safari and Transfer to Hazyview

• We spend the day exploring Kruger National Park by jeep.
• Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other game reserve in Africa.
• All the so-called 'big five' game animals roam within this park.
• They are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo.
• Following the full-day safari, we relocate to the village of Hazyview.

3

Day 03

Blyde River Canyon and God's Window

• We make a day trip today to Blyde River Canyon.
• Compared with canyons worldwide, Blyde is one of the largest on earth.
• It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet.
• It is also the second largest canyon in Africa.
• Attractions we visit include Graskop Gorge, God's Window cliffs, Lisbon Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and a viewpoint called Three Rondavels.

4

Day 04

Fly to Durban and Explore the City's Highlights

• We relocate by flight from Kruger National Park to Durban.
• We have a private tour guide and driver who show us the highlights of South Africa's third largest city.
• One of the many attractions we visit is the Golden Mile beachfront.

5

Day 05

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and iSimangaliso by Boat

• We go on a day trip today.
• First is Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
• It is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and has the largest population of white rhinos in the world.
• What's more, each of the big five game animals can be found there.
• Next is iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where the Saint Lucia Game Reserve serves as our focal point.
• The park is home to around 1,200 crocodiles and 800 hippos.
• Other animals roaming around include elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos.
• Sea animals include whales, dolphins, and marine turtles.
• We explore the reserve by boat.

6

Day 06

Drakensberg, Sani Pass, and Lesotho Culture

• We go on another day trip today.
• The first stop is uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.
• It is known for exceptional beauty, ancient caves, and rock shelters.
• In fact, this park has the largest and most concentrated group of prehistoric paintings in Africa south of the Sahara.
• Some of the cave paintings may date back to 100,000 years ago.
• Next is South Africa's most scenic drive, known as the Sani Pass.
• The last destination for today is the country of Lesotho.
• There we meet natives and are offered traditional beer and homemade bread.

7

Day 07

Storms River Adventure and Arrival in Knysna

• We relocate from Durban to Knysna, making several stops en route.
• From the airport in Port Elizabeth, we are taken to Tsitsikamma National Park.
• The first stop within this park is Storms River.
• There we go on a guided zip lining tour.
• Next, we go on a suspension bridge walk.
• Afterwards, we head to Bloukrans River Bridge.
• It is home to one of the world's highest commercial bridge bungees.
• You do not have to jump. It is an optional activity with an additional charge.
• Last but definitely not least is the coastal town of Knysna.
• Before checking into the hotel, we are taken to a fantastic viewpoint at Knysna Heads and then walk around the waterfront.

8

Day 08

Cango Caves, Wildlife Ranch, and John Benn Cruise

• We go on a day trip today.
• We start at the Cango Caves.
• We are provided with two different options for exploring.
• There is a Standard Tour and an Adventure Tour.
• The Adventure Tour consists of crawling through narrow passages and climbing up steep rock formations guided by small lights.
• Both tours feature halls and limestone formations.
• Following our tour, we are taken to the Cango Wildlife Ranch.
• There we are provided with a guided tour.
• The ranch is home to around 90 different species of animals.
• Lastly for today, we head to the Knysna Waterfront Pier.
• There we take the sunset boat cruise.
• The boat is called John Benn.
• It is best described as a double-decker floating restaurant offering lagoon cruises to the Knysna Heads.

9

Day 09

Cape Town, Table Mountain, and Robben Island

• We relocate by flight from Knysna/George to Cape Town.
• An attractive city resting upon natural beauty, surrounded by fine scenery and dominated by Table Mountain, this relatively prosperous metropolis is the undisputed architectural gem of South Africa.
• Cape Town is not only the most popular international city destination in the country, but in Africa as a whole.
• This is due to its good climate, intimate setting, and the many historic landmarks dating from colonial times.
• No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to Cape Town.
• After ascending and visiting Table Mountain, we are taken on a boat ride to Robben Island.
• There we are provided with a guided tour.
• Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on this island.
• Once used for the isolation of mainly political prisoners, Robben Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Following our tour, we return to Cape Town's Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
• It attracts more than 23 million visitors a year.
• The complex houses over 450 retail outlets.
• It is also still a working harbor.

10

Day 10

Cape Winelands Day Trip and Estate Tastings

• We make a day trip today to Cape Winelands.
• This area, famous for its vineyards, is only a 1-hour drive away from Cape Town.
• Thanks to Cape Winelands, South Africa ranks among the top wine-producing countries in the world.
• Wine tasting is included on our tour, specifically in the estates.

11

Day 11

Cape Peninsula, Penguins, and Coastal Viewpoints

• Today we explore in and around Cape Town.
• Highlights include a beach stretch called Sea Point.
• Camps Bay Beach.
• Maiden's Cove.
• Hout Bay.
• Duiker Island (seals are everywhere).
• Chapman's Peak.
• Noordhoek Beach.
• Cape Point Nature Reserve.
• Cape of Good Hope.
• False Bay.
• Simon's Town.
• Boulder's Penguins Colony (home to approximately 2,500 breeding penguins).
• Muizenberg Beachfront (home to colorful beach huts).
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

12

Day 12

Departure from Cape Town

• Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Cape Town.
• Note that if you can extend your trip, consider doing so.
• Give yourself another day or two to explore inside the city.
• Upon request, we can provide you with a private tour guide and driver.