11 Day Johannesburg - Cape Town Explorer

Day 1: (Sat) Johannesburg
On arrival in Johannesburg you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then enjoy a half day Johannesburg city tour including the downtown historical buildings and the arty suburb of Melville. Return to your hotel via the Emmarentia Gardens and Rosebank.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Wanderers or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinenr

Day 2: (Sun) Mpumalanga
Depart from Johannesburg and travel to the 'Province of the Rising Sun', Mpumalanga, via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg. Travel over the famous Long Tom Pass onto the small town of Sabie. Visit the Lone Creek waterfalls before arriving at your elegant hideaway. Enjoy a delectable dinner that can only be described as a 'culinary masterpiece'.
Accommodation: Lone Creek River Lodge (Timber Cottages) or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3: (Mon) The Lowveld & the Kruger National Park
After breakfast, visit the Mac Mac waterfalls. Along the Bonnet Pass pay a short visit to the historic town of Pilgrim's Rest, where the richest alluvial gold deposits in South Africa were discovered in 1873. Continue exploring the Panorama Route featuring: the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondawels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and various waterfalls. Travelling over Kowyn's Pass to the Hazyview area, arrive at your overnight stop. Enter the Kruger National Park for a short introductory game drive in the late afternoon and return to the hotel for dinner under the stars in a traditional African Boma (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Umbhaba Lodge or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4: (Tue) Kruger National Park
Early morning game drive in the Kruger National Park. (An open safari vehicle is available as an optional extra). Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before returning to the Kruger Park for further game viewing en-route to the private game lodge. Arrive in time for high tea and late afternoon game viewing in an open safari vehicle with an experienced ranger and tracker. Return to the lodge for dinner where an African feast awaits you.
Accommodation: Bongani Mountain Lodge or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: (Wed) Swaziland & the Kingdom of the Zulus
An early morning bush walk or game drive (optional). After breakfast depart via Jeppe's Reef through Eastern Swaziland and along the Lebombo Mountains. Leave Swaziland at Golela border post and continue via the town of Pongola to a Maputaland game lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner served under the African sky (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Gazebo Safari Lodge or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6: (Thu) St Lucia / Durban
After an early open vehicle safari and breakfast, visit St Lucia, a World Heritage Site, and enjoy a river cruise on the estuary. Here you may see pelicans, fish eagles, hippo and crocodiles. After driving through sugar cane plantations along the Indian Ocean seaboard, you arrive in the bustling city of Durban.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Umhlanga or similar
Includes : Breakfast

Day 7: (Fri) Durban
Optional extra full day tour of Shakaland: Depart Durban and travel to Eshowe and the authentic Zulu Kraal of Shakaland. Feel the pulsating rhythm of Africa as you re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulu's. Experience the sight of assegai - wielding warriors, share the fascinating secrets of Sangomas and witness traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear making and the beer making ceremony. Traditional Zulu lunch will be served. For those not taking the tour, enjoy the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Umhlanga or similar
Includes : Breakfast

Day 8: (Sat) Durban / Port Elizabeth
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Durban International Airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth (not included). On arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport, you will be met and transferred to your beachfront hotel.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Marine - Port Elizabeth or similar
Includes : Breakfast

Day 9: (Sun) Knysna
Departing Port Elizabeth, enter the Garden Route via the high forests of the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Bloukrans and Groot River passes. Attractions to be visited through the Tsitsikamma Forest area include the Big Tree and the Garden of Eden. Gaze in awe at the scenery whilst crossing the bridge over the Storms River where photographic opportunities abound. After a short refreshment stop in the 'millionaires' playground' of Plettenberg Bay reach South Africa's 'oyster capital', Knysna. After checking into your waterfront hotel, you
have sufficient time to enjoy a sunset cruise on the lagoon (optional extra) or a simple stroll through the village and Waterfront. Enjoy a superb dinner at a local restaurant on the Waterfront.
Accommoation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 10: (Mon) Cango Caves & Oudtshoorn
Start the day with a scenic drive through Wilderness via Dolphin Point to historical Mossel Bay. Send a postcard to friends or relatives from the famous Post Office Tree before visiting the Diaz and Maritime museums with relics of famous explorers. Continue over the Robinson Pass to Oudtshoorn. Visit a local Ostrich farm before checking into your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is spent visiting the Cango Caves for a fully guided tour. Time permitting, an optional extra tour of the Crocodile and Cheetah Park is available. Enjoy a hearty dinner at a local restaurant, famous for its ostrich fare and fine wines.
Accommodation: Hlangana Country Lodge or similar
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11: (Tue) Cape Town
After an early breakfast, our journey to Cape Town begins. Leaving the Klein Karoo, visit the towns of Calitzdorp and Barrydale as the true diversity of landscapes is highlighted through the ever-changing semi-desert areas. Over the folded sandstone mountains of the Huis River and Tradouw Passes, arrive at the charming town of Swellendam. After travelling the plateau of expansive apple orchards in and around Grabouw our day ends with the first glimpse of Table Mountain from the top of Sir Lowry's Pass
Includes : Breakfast