18 Day Private South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho & Mozambique

What we didn’t manage to do/see yesterday on the Panorama route we shall do this morning before departing for Kruger. Arrive in the late morning at the famous Kruger National Park and begin our safari into this bush veld wonderland. Enjoy a light lunch from a viewpoint on the banks of the mighty Sabie River. Continue our game drive and around 3 pm check in at your accommodation. At 16:30 pm you begin your exciting late afternoon/sunset game drive with a professional game ranger. The professional game ranger will enthrall you with stories of the African bush and point out the Big 5 and other rare and endangered species. (Please note these 2 extra safari activities can only be operated by the parks board, and staying inside the park therefore making it a special experience.) On your return Bianca and I will have the fire ready to prepare your traditional South African BBQ.

• Accommodation: Olifants Rest Camp or similar 
• Breakfast and Dinner (traditional South African barbeque)
• Mineral water, wine, beer and soft drinks 

Today we drive East to Ponta Ouro. Time permitting we can do a historical tour of the charismatic Mozambique capital Maputo, arriving at Ponto in the mid afternoon. Ponta is known as a diving and surfing hot spot, as well as the place to be for swimming with dolphins and whale sharks. In the summer months generally from September to December, endangered turtles come onto the beach to lay their eggs, and in the winter whale watching is a popular attraction. .

• Main Destination: Ponto 
• Accommodation: Gala Gala Eco Resort
• Breakfast 
• Mineral water and soft drinks 

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is one of South Africa’s best-known, most evocative parks. World renowned for having saved the white rhino from extinction, it is the 2nd oldest national park in the world, home to the Big Five and situated in the heart of Zululand. Spend much of the day exploring this 98000 hectares of wilderness on a guided self-drive safari with me. Later in the afternoon we arrive in St Lucia village. Time to soak up the last sun rays on the beautiful sub – tropical beaches, or walk through indigenous forests which surround the famous estuary.

• Accommodation: Elephant Lake Hotel
• Breakfast
• Mineral water and soft drinks
• Bianca can assist with laundry

Depart for St Lucia Wetlands Park, one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Returning to the main estuary, you take a sunset boat cruise on the St Lucia wetlands, home to a multitude of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and a World Heritage Site. It is in this complex ecosystem where bush meets beach, mangrove and sand forests are home to a stupendous diversity of wildlife and flora. You have the opportunity to encounter hippos, crocodiles, eagles and maybe even the elusive leopard.

• Accommodation: Elephant Lake Hotel
• Breakfast
• Mineral water and soft drinks
• Bianca can assist with laundry

This morning you depart for the Drakensberg mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A good place to stop for lunch is Howick, the peaceful capital of the Natal Midlands, where the Umgeni River plunges 95 m forming a spectacular waterfall. Head to the Mandela Capture Site, where the late Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 before the famous Rivonia trial when he was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Robben Island. A monument commemorates this event that changed the course of history.

• Main Destination: Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (Drakensberg, South Africa)
• Accommodation: Karmichael Guest Farm
• Meals & Drinks:
• Breakfast  
• Mineral water and fruit juice

Many optional activities are available in this region, which may vary depending on where you are situated in the Drakensberg. You can opt for a 4×4 excursion and visit Lesotho for the day, via the Sani Pass, the highest in Africa or similar if situated in the Northern Drakensberg. Optional but highly recommended, you can go on a guided hike to the famous cave paintings left by the Bushmen about 4000 years. You can trek to the Tugela Falls, the 2nd highest falls in the world, or visit the Golden Gate National Park, with its unique sandstone rock formations and wildlife. Browse around the pretty town of Clarens, with its many little restaurants, or visit the historic battlefields of the 18th century where the English, Afrikaans and Zulu armies, engaged in bloody battles. Note: The last 3 activities are only possible if you opt to stay in the Northern Berg.

• Main Destination: Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (Drakensberg, South Africa)
• Accommodation: Karmichael Guestfarm
• Breakfast and Dinner
• Mineral water and fruit juice

Depart the Berg, arriving in Durban in the late morning where we do an historical city tour, walk the Golden Mile and visit the modern Durban coastal hub of Umhlanga Rocks, admiring its award winning pier and lovely lighthouse. Flight to Cape Town, transfer to your hotel.

• Accommodation: Sky Hotel 
• Breakfast
• Mineral Water

This region is a World Heritage site for its exceptional floral diversity. We follow the west coast via Clifton with a stop at Maiden’s Cove to enjoy a magnificent view of the Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay then to Hout Bay, a charming town where we enjoy a cruise to Duiker Island, home to the world’s largest fur seal colony. The scenic Chapman’s Peak Pass offers breathtaking scenery. The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve is where the cold Atlantic waters meet the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Journeying down to the False Bay coast, lunch is at the old harbor of the historical naval port of Simon’s Town. We finish our day with a visit to Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest Cape Dutch manor house and wine farm built by the first Governor of the Cape.

• Accommodation: Sky Hotel, Cape Town
• Breakfast
• Mineral Water

This morning we depart for the stunning Cape winelands, which includes a city tour of Stellenbosch and degustation de vin.  Thereafter drive to the charming town of Hermanus known for being the world’s best land-based whale watching spot between the months of June to December. Today you can also take a whale boat cruise (optional) or the next day to get close up to these magnificent baleen and other marine life. Our special rates apply. Hermanus has a world renowned (18 hole) golf course, hiking, shopping, wine tasting etc..

• Accommodation: The Windsor – Hermanus (situated 20m from the ocean, room with sea view).
• Breakfast
• Mineral water and soft drinks

Note: Early morning shark cage diving – optional/weather dependent (optional). After breakfast and perhaps a last whale sighting we continue to Betty’s Bay and visit/walk the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. Please note that if you do the shark dive the itinerary could change a little to accommodate.  Visit Africa’s largest African Penguin colony at Stoney Point. We continue hugging the cliffs of the scenic Clarence Drive, voted as one of the world’s most spectacular coastal passes. We stop along the way to admire the sun setting over False Bay, arriving in Cape Town around 20:00 after dinner.

• Accommodation: Zonnekus – luxury boutique hotel 
• Breakfast and Dinner 
• Mineral water and soft drinks

Kalk Bay was voted the “coolest neighbourhood in the world” a few years ago. Its my home village, and the perfect place to finish your South African safari holiday. This quaint and colourful seaside fishing village is only 30 minutes drive from Cape Town city centre – it’s hard to imagine that you are in one of South Africa’s largest cities when visiting Kalk Bay. Kalk Bay is famous for its boutique antique shops, excellent restaurants and the most famous fish and chip shop in the city. Everything is within a 3 min walk from your guest house. There are a few tidal pools, safe coastal walks, cave trails in the mountain, surfing lessons at Muizenberg beach, snorkelling with seals and penguins, great white shark cage diving, whale and dolphin watching in season (June to December), fishing off the harbour wall and more. St James tidal pool is famous for those colorful Victorian changing rooms. I will take you on a coastal hike and show you around.

• Accommodation: Zonnekus – luxury boutique hotel
• Breakfast and lunch

Time permitting we can organize inspiring activities for you before your airport transfer.

• Airport transfers
• Meals, drinks as per itinerary