17-Day South Africa and Swaziland Tour

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Soweto is a cluster of townships on the south-western flank of Johannesburg and was created in the 1930s. It is the biggest black urban settlement in Africa with a rich political history. A visit to Soweto is seamlessly combined with a stop at The Apartheid Museum for an in-depth discovery of 20th-century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story – a nation’s resistance, courage and fortitude.

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This morning you are collected from your hotel and transferred back to O.R. Tambo to pick-up your car for your road trip. Your first day on the road takes you from Johannesburg via Middelburg, Dullstroom and Ohrigstad to Pilgrim’s Rest for lunch, an early gold mining town declared a National Monument. You'll then head to Chacma Camp in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve where you'll head out on an evening game drive.

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This morning, you'll head out on an early morning game drive followed by breakfast. Afterwards, you'll travel via Graskop to marvel at scenic areas such the Pinnacle, God’s Window, Lisbon Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the magnificent Three Rondavels viewpoint at the Blyde River Canyon. You'll walk along the cliffs to really appreciate the breathtaking views. You'll then head to Hazyview and on to the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve where you will spend the night.

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Today brings an early morning open vehicle game drive, after which you enjoy breakfast and, conditions permitting, a hike on foot searching for animals. For the more energetic, a bushwalk is a great opportunity to join the rangers and search for animals on foot tracing the previous nights' tracks. After lunch, you'll enjoy an afternoon/evening game drive followed by a freshly prepared dinner under the stars.

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There'll be an early rise for a game drive and then you'll return for breakfast at the camp. Upon check out from Umkumbe, you can either drive south along the highway or enter the Kruger Park and head south in the Park searching for game. From there, you can head for the mountain Kingdom of Swaziland. Drive through the capital, Mbabane, and continue to Mhlambanyatsi where you'll overnight in the mountains at Foresters Arms Hotel.

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This morning, you'll enjoy an early breakfast and then visit Swazi Candles in the Malkerns Valley. You'll continue along the Ezulwini Valley towards Manzini, the country’s industrial centre, and then swing south towards Nhlangano on a scenic route where crossing every hill opens up a new vista. Exit Swaziland at the Onverwacht border post and enter Zululand, then travel southwards to Hluhluwe and arrive at your private lodge. In the evening, you'll enjoy a game drive and a traditional dinner.

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Today, you'll have an early breakfast and travel into the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Reserve for another two hours of viewing in the Big Five Reserve. Thereafter, you'll travel to the village of St Lucia and join a boat cruise on the estuary of the famous Lake St Lucia (proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1999). The lake is a wildlife paradise with bird species such as fish eagle, Goliath heron and many more. After this unforgettable experience, you'll travel to Durban, South Africa’s holiday Mecca.

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This morning you will familiarise yourself with Durban on a half-day city tour. You'll drive along Durban’s distinctive beachfront, the Golden Mile, wander past art-deco buildings, drive along Victoria Embankment and pass buildings of historical significance. This afternoon, it is recommended that you drive yourselves to Ushaka Marine World to view this beautiful Aquarium and stay for dinner where there is a wealth of restaurants.

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Today brings an early wake-up for your flight to Port Elizabeth. You'll then pick up your rental car and drive from Port Elizabeth, also called the 'Friendly City', along the N2 national via Storms River. Stops en-route today include Tsitsikamma National Park, the Bloukrans Bridge (bungee jump optional), Birds of Eden and then past Plettenberg Bay to Knysna on the edge of the Knysna Lagoon with its entrance to the sea guarded by two promontories known as the 'Heads'.

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Spend the morning in Knysna visiting the “Heads”. On this late morning's drive, you'll experience some of the most magical views on the Garden Route, Wilderness National Park and scenic viewpoints along the way. You'll travel over the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo where you visit the Valley of Ancients, an endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire. You'll then travel to your overnight accommodation at an Ostrich Farm where you will enjoy a scrumptious Karoo farm dinner.

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After breakfast, you'll visit an ostrich farm for some unique experiences. You'll learn all about these curious animals and their behaviour. You'll also stop off and see the Cango Caves, regarded as one of South Africa's foremost natural wonders. The fascinating calcite caves comprise of an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. You'll then travel on to Swellendam and stay overnight.

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This morning in Swellendam, you'll visit arguably the oldest post office in Africa, the Post Office Tree and the site of the first landfall, made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. You'll then continue to Hermanus, one of the best places in the world to spot Whales from land (July to Dec). After lunch, you'll depart for Stellenbosch via the beautiful coastal route between Hermanus and Gordon’s Bay, arriving in the late afternoon.

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Today, you'll make your way out into the picturesque winelands to visit South Africa’s most famous wine region – Stellenbosch, via the R310 to Franschoek with many wine farm stops. Aside from the excellent wines, the area is renowned for its food and its buildings steeped in history such as the Taal monument, various museums and the contribution of the French Huguenots. This afternoon, you'll head to Cape Town and enjoy dinner in the city.

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Today, continue exploring South Africa with a recommended hop-on-hop-off Red Bus Tour. With over 30 stops, and taking you to over 50 of Cape Town’s top attractions, the bus allows you to hop-on and hop-off at your leisure. Choose to do the Peninsula route which ends at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where you can choose from a range of cafes and restaurants for dinner.

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Today, it is recommended that you take part in a Cape Town City Eats walking tour. You'll explore the city from all sides - the history, the people, their cultures, their cuisines, as well as contemporary Cape Town and its artisanal trends. It aims to climb under the skin of the city so that by the end of the day you understand the pulse of the city. Alternatively, you can just spend the day at leisure exploring Cape Town and surroundings on your own.