South Africa Safari Highlights

Welcome to Cape Town! You will be met at the door of your aircraft by a Big Journey Company representative and assisted through immigration, baggage collection and customs. Your private transfer will take you to your hotel.
After hours of air travel, enjoy this afternoon at Leisure to take in the views of “Mother City”. Perhaps wander around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a working harbour and hub of entertainment and shopping opportunities within walking distance of your hotel.

You will be met in the hotel lobby by your guide today, ready for a full day exploring the Atlantic Seaboard, travelling down to the South Eastern corner of the Cape Peninsula, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. There are magnificent mountain and beach views, quaint villages and fishing harbour, as we travel via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, to Hout Bay and continue via Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breath-taking coastal drives, to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. We’ll stop at Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and we’re likely to see a large African penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach.
A lunch stop is made nearby (not included). End the day with a visit to the well-known Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. The Garden includes five of South Africa’s six different biomes and is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays as well as for the superb setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The tour ends late afternoon with a drop-off at your hotel where the rest of your day can be spent at leisure.

You will be led by your guide on a fabulous day including 3 wine tastings and pairings, whilst taking in superb mountain range scenery, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads.
One of the most celebrated wine and food destinations in South Africa, the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, was established by French Huguenot refugees in 1688. Offering a captivating blend of European charm with the main street dotted with exclusive boutiques, gourmet restaurants and art galleries. The Cape Dutch-style farms in the valley produce all the noble and classic cultivars - from superlative whites such as Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon and Chenin Blanc, to intense Syrah, complex Pinot Noir and the famed Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wines.
The heart of the Cape winelands is the vibrant town of Stellenbosch, a wine lover’s paradise of bars and bistros. Grapes have been cultivated around Stellenbosch for more than 350 years, and the area is recognized for producing South Africa’s finest reds. It is best for those curious to try South African Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
After exploring these two famed wine routes, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today you’ll bid a fond farewell to “The Mother City” and travel East along Route 62. We’ll travel past eccentric little villages, farming communities and fruit & wine producers. The route is an off-the-beaten-path glimpse of life in the more remote regions of the Cape, and its charm lies in its tranquillity and unpretentiousness. Striking mountain passes such as the Swartberg, Mitchell's and Prince Alfred's Pass cut through the region affording panoramic views from winding roads.
Continue to Oudtshoorn, known as the Ostrich Capital of the world with a large farming industry based on these birds and their feathers. You’ll visit a working Ostrich Farm for a guided tour before checking into your accommodation in the late afternoon before enjoying dinner.

Enjoy a Morning tour of Cango Cave's underground limestone caverns and dripstone formations. Travel along what is many visitor’s favourite stop along the Garden Route - Knysna. This vibrant town nestles on a massive lagoon, the entrance to which is guarded by the iconic Knysna Heads. Enjoy some time at Leisure at Knysna Waterfront - perhaps try some local mussels for lunch . After your free time we’ll continue along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay for the next two nights.

After Breakfast, put on your comfortable shoes and do not forget to carry your camera. Today you will be visiting The Birds Of Eden Sanctuary – the largest free flight bird aviary in the World. For a little bit of something out of the ordinary a horse drawn carriage trail through Bramon Wine Estate including wine tasting. We cannot recommend the tapas highly enough, which can be enjoyed at your table set amidst the vineyards. Return to your lodge for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure before dinner.

The beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park is our first stop today with a walk along the suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth gorge that offers incredible views and photo opportunities. Head into Stormsriver town for some free time and an opportunity for you to get some lunch before heading to the ‘Friendly City’ - Port Elizabeth. Arrive in Port Elizabeth at approximately You may want to take a stroll out to see the ocean, or unwind in the Champagne Lounge, go for a dip in the rim-flow pool or enjoy a fine dining dinner at the onsite restaurant.

Today we’ll fly from Port Elizabeth to Durban, where we’ll be transferred to the north, to the village of Umhlanga. This afternoon we can witness the variety of customs, traditions and cultures that creates the vibrant buzz in this city. It is a city of contrasts - both a busy business district and a laid back tourist destination and surfing mecca. The Art-deco, Indian and Colonial architecture reflect the influences that have helped to create this fascinating hub.
After our city visit we’ll head back to Umhlanga. Our guest house is only a short stroll from the beach and Umhlanga’s restaurants, bars and coffee shops so a great opportunity to go exploring at your leisure.

Head off on an early morning journey along the Elephant Coast of KwaZulu Natal to St Lucia which is located at the southern extremity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. A World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso offers supreme diving, a variety of ecological zones and claims the world's highest vegetated dunes. Continue to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park is home to a healthy population of highly endangered black and white rhino.
Evening arrival at your hotel for the next two nights, just in time for dinner before retiring for the day.

Enjoy a morning at leisure to relax or embark on one of the optional morning activities on offer from the lodge. Later in the day, embark on a scenic drive up the Ubombo Mountains, with views over Lake Jozini. The drive will be combined with a visit to a local and authentic Zulu homestead for a glimpse into real Zulu life in today’s world. Return to the hotel for dinner.Enjoy a morning at leisure to relax or embark on one of the optional morning activities on offer from the lodge. Later in the day, embark on a scenic drive up the Ubombo Mountains, with views over Lake Jozini. The drive will be combined with a visit to a local and authentic Zulu homestead for a glimpse into real Zulu life in today’s world. Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, travel to the landlocked Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). This tiny mountainous kingdom is filled with bygone African traditions and culture. Lush valleys rise to misty mountains and ancient rock formations and plunging waterfalls dot the landscape. Travel via Big Bend to the Swazi Candle Factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the age-old technique "millefiore". You can spend some time at the craft markets before heading to your hotel located in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. There is a choice of elegant fine dining or relaxed informal alfresco meals at this hotel.

This morning the tour continues through Swaziland. En-route you will stop at the Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen create beautiful sculptures and artwork from molten glass. At the Jeppe’s Reef border, enjoy a showcase of the traditional Swazi culture followed by lunch at the Matsamo Cultural Village. Continue the journey to your hotel for late afternoon arrival at Rissington Inn, just outside Kruger National park in Hazyview. After some time at leisure, head down to the restaurant for dinner.

Today we’ll explore the Mpumalanga highlands, taking in the scenic highlights as you travel along the Panorama Route to the Kruger. It is worth taking the scenic route to enjoy the most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route; the Blyde River Canyon. From many well-positioned vantage points you can get a great view of the 33k long gorge, which starts at “Bourke’s Luck Potholes” and ends at “The Three Rondavels”. Enjoy a late afternoon game drive and dinner at Kapama River Lodge.

Today we’ll travel to Johannesburg via the magnificent Panorama Route. The most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon. From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33 km long gorge, which starts at "Bourke's Luck Potholes" and ends at the "Three Rondavels". Late afternoon we’ll arrive at Kapama River Lodge, located in the Kapama Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger.

A private transfer will be available to take you to the Airport to meet your departing flights from Hoedspruit Airport. Or you may wish to extend your stay with a visit to Victoria Falls before you say farewell to Africa ...until the next time.