Kruger, Coast & Cape
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Overview
Game drive tips:
- Repress your inner fashionista and stick to neutral colours. Neon might be in this year but the animals hate it.
- Remember your truck etiquette, and try not to leap into someone's lap every time you want to take a photo from their side of the vehicle.
- Ask questions. Your local leader knows heaps of interesting stuff and they love getting a chance to show off.
(Was African Mozaic)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Johannesburg
If you choose to go to the Apartheid Museum you'll be given a ticket that says either "White/Blanke" or "Non-White/Nie-Blanke" dictating what entrance you can use. It's a pretty confronting start to the tour, but an important one.
- Arrive in Johannesburg and get to know the city
- The adventure starts with a welcome meeting in the evening
- Perhaps arrive early and spend time exploring the Apartheid Museum, Museum Africa, the Art Gallery or set off on a Gold Reef City and Heritage Mine Tour
Day 2-3 - Kruger National Park
Sure, its fun to see lions lazing around in the sun during a day safari. But night is where the action is. So we'll take a safari under the stars.
- Travel along the famous Panorama Route through some of the most stunning scenery South Africa has to offer
- Sights en route include God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels (Sisters) and the magnificent Blyde River Canyon
- Arrive in Kruger National Park and head straight into prime game viewing areas
- Rise early the following day and embark on a morning game drive. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints.
- Take an additional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two
Day 4 - Swaziland/Hlane Royal National Park
At Swaziland's annual Umhlanga Reed Dance, around 20,000 topless virgins sing, dance and lay reeds at the feet of the king. The rest of the year they just wear jeans and listen to the Top 40.
- Take a final slow game drive before exiting Kruger National Park mid-morning
- Travel south-east and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland - nestled between Mozambique, Northern Zululand and Mpumalanga
- Explore the amazing Hlane Royal Nation Park on a guided game walk
- Perhaps make the most of an optional craft market and candle factory visit
Day 5-6 - Mozambique Beach Camp
You know those beaches you see on postcards, with the miles of white sand and sparkly blue water? Ponta Malongane is one of those. Snorkelling, scuba diving and a dolphin boat cruise are all on the menu.
- Continue on and enter Mozambique at Kosi Bay
- Jump into some 4x4s to travel on to the seaside village of Ponta Malongane
- Enjoy optional snorkelling, scuba diving and dolphin boat cruises at this unspoilt beach
Day 7-9 - St Lucia Estuary
In the Valley of a Thousand Hills you'll stay with a Zulu family who will entertain you with traditional song and dance. Make sure you enjoy a bit of sorghum home brew in a clay pot.
Day 7
- Head towards Zululand and the St Lucia Estuary - home to thousands of varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles - with its most popular residents being the hundreds of hippos and crocodiles
- Take a boat cruise on the estuary and perhaps spot hippos, crocodiles and countless birds
Day 8
- Journey to Valley of a Thousand Hills, the heartland of the Zulu nation
- Gain an insight into the daily life of the rural Zulu people by spending the night in a traditional homestay
Day 9
- Travel on to Durban - a tourist magnet thanks to its wealth of golden, sandy beaches and glitzy nightlife
- Visit the Golden Mile, a stretch of fine sands bordered by frothy surf on one side and an attractive beachfront of shops, restaurants and cafes on the other
- Perhaps spend time visiting the Art Gallery, the Juma Masjid Mosque or the Wet and Wild Theme park
Day 10-11 - Drakensberg
Some of the peaks in the Drakensberg mountain range include Thabana Ntlenyana, Makoaneng and Njesuthi. We think you should concentrate on walking, not pronouncing.
- Travel inland towards the majestic Drakensberg mountain range - home to an amazing amount of flora and fauna
- Spend a whole day exploring part of the mountain range on foot
- Take a short hour-long hike, or perhaps challenge yourself to a full day hike with a local guide
Day 12-13 - Lesotho Highlands
Lesotho has the highest lowest point of any country in the world. Read that sentence again carefully. You'll get it eventually.
- Head into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho - commonly known as the 'Kingdom in the Sky' with beautiful mountain ranges and endless hiking trails
- Visit the local school and museum
- Perhaps set off on a Bushman Painting hike or the Pitseng Canyon hike
Day 14-15 - Wild Coast/Cintsa
Winters in the tiny beach village of Cintsa reach a freezing 21 degrees Celsius during the day. If you think you can handle this extreme temperature then you might just enjoy your time here. Go surfing, swimming and mountain bike riding.
- Head to the stunning Wild Coast of South Africa and the small town of Cintsa, which is inhabited by the Xhosa people
- Spend the next 2 nights here and enjoy plenty of time to explore the town, relax on the stunning beaches or pursue the many optional activities on offer including hiking, swimming, mountain biking and surfing
Day 16 - Addo Elephant National Park
What do elephants, toddlers, great apes, magpies and dolphins have in common? They can all recognise themselves in a mirror (and they'd all make terrible pets).
- Travel on to Addo Elephant National Park - a true success story in conservationism
- Take an afternoon game drive and try to spot some of the 450 elephants in the park, Cape buffalo, black rhinos, all kinds of antelopes and even the flightless dung beetle which is unique to the park
- Perhaps set off on a night game drive
Day 17-18 - Garden Route/Tsitsikamma National Park
If you're looking for the Cape clawless otter, dolphins, tortoises, southern right whales, baboons, monkeys and birds then you've come to the right place.
- Spend the next few days discovering the most spectacular stretch of the Garden Route
- The first stop is the Tsitsikamma National Park - a spectacular place for walking and wildlife viewing
- Optional activities include a bungee jump, a canopy tour and snorkelling
Day 19 - Oudtshoorn
Hot showers! Flushing toilets! The most ostriches found anywhere in the world! Oudtshoorn has got it all.
- Head out across the arid Karoo region bound for Oudtshoorn - the ostrich capital of the world
- Stop off on the way at Knysna to stretch your legs and explore the quaint little hamlet
- Take a short stroll around town and discover all sorts of ostrich souvenirs
Day 20 - Stellenbosch Wine Region
Don't wear white today, because we're going to be sampling some of the world's best wine. Over one million litres of wine are made here each year. You're bound to find a favourite.
- Explore the Cango Caves and learn about their formation and history from a local guide
- Travel Stellenbosch on the scenic Route 62 via the towns of Calitzdorp, Ladysmith, Montaque and Robertson
- Arrive in Stellenbosch and head out to sample some of the local produce (wine!) from this beautiful area
Day 21 - Cape Town
So much Cape Town, so little time. Why don't you book a couple of extra nights, and check out Table Mountain, Robben Island or get in on some diving action.
- Travel on to Cape Town, boasting a stunning coastline, dominating mountain and modern cityscape
- With vineyards on its doorstep, adventure activities around every other corner and plenty of restaurants and cafes to while away the time, Cape Town is a very easy city to spend some extra time in
- Optional activities here include abseiling/kloofing, a harbour cruise, the Robben Island tour, scuba diving and hiking and cycling on Table Mountain
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What to Know
What's Included
An experienced safari guide and camp cook whilst on safari; park fees and Cango Caves; camping equipment; 20 nights camping, 4 nights dormitory, 2 nights permanent tented camp, 1 night homestay and 1 night hotel; transport in custom-built safari vehicle during safari.
Not Included
- International flights, local payment, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, all other meals, drinks, sleeping bag, pillow, all optional additional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights (unless specified).
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price Kitty Payment Total Price 01 Jun 2013 - 21 Jun 2013 7+ Request US $2,490 ZA R6,320 US $3,267 Book Now 27 Jul 2013 - 16 Aug 2013 4 Available US $2,605 ZA R6,320 US $3,382 Book Now 10 Aug 2013 - 30 Aug 2013 7 Available US $2,605 ZA R6,320 US $3,382 Book Now 28 Sep 2013 - 18 Oct 2013 3 Available US $2,605 ZA R6,320 US $3,382 Book Now 12 Oct 2013 - 01 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,605 ZA R6,320 US $3,382 Book Now 26 Oct 2013 - 15 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,490 ZA R6,320 US $3,267 Book Now 28 Dec 2013 - 17 Jan 2014 6 Available US $2,605 ZA R6,320 US $3,382 Book Now 04 Jan 2014 - 24 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 01 Feb 2014 - 21 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 01 Mar 2014 - 21 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 29 Mar 2014 - 18 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 26 Apr 2014 - 16 May 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 31 May 2014 - 20 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now 28 Jun 2014 - 18 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,370 ZA R6,320 US $3,147 Book Now Kitty payment is required in cash. It needs to be paid before the end of your trip, in the local stated above. It is generally paid on Day 1, and covers most on-ground expenses. Kitty payments calculated using exchange rates valid on 1 Jan 2012.
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