Day 1: (Sun) Cape Town
Touch down at Cape Town International Airport, where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city or famous waterfront and adjusting to the laid-back rhythms of the 'Mother City'.
Accommdation: Protea Hotel President or similar
Day 2: (Mon) Cape Winelands (B)
Journey into the beauty and tranquillity that is the Cape Winelands. Sip some of South Africa's finest wines at two well-known estates in Paarl and Stellenbosch. A visit to the Huguenot Memorial and the Afrikaans Language Monment provides a historical perspective.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel President or similar
Day 3: (Tue) Cape Peninsula (B)
A full-day's touring of the ruggedly beautiful Cape Peninsula via the Atlantic seaboard. We stop at the fishing village of Hout Bay, where you can opt to take a cruise (own account) to Seal Island to watch the antics of these natural performers. Then we carry on along the Indian Ocean coastline to Boulders Beach for close encounters with another of the Cape's adorable creatures - the penguins. We drive through the quaint naval village of Simon's Town on our way back to our Cape Town hotel.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel President or similar
Day 4: (Wed) Cape Town / Oudtshoorn (B)
We depart by 07h30 and travel via the town of Montagu on 'Route 62' (South Africa's version of America's famous 'Route 66') to the pretty village of Barrydale where we stop for tea (own account) at the Country Pumpkin Restaurant. Then on to Outshoorn, known as the 'Feather Capital of the World' thanks to its huge ostrich industry. After a fascinating tour of an ostrich farm, we go underground to marvel at the icy formations in the Cango Caves, regarded for good reason, as one of South Africa's most spectacular natural wonders. We overnight in an Oudtshoorn hotel.
Accommodation: Queens Hotel or similar
Day 5: (Thu) Oudtshoorn / Knysna (B)
We drive via the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to the town of George, where we then continue onto Knysna. Upon arrival in Knysna spend the rest of the day discovering the joys of the town's many art galleries, craft shops and coffee bars.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar
Day 6: (Fri) Knysna (BL)
Cruise on the vast Knysna Lagoon, then visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Enjoy an amazing view of the imposing sandstone 'Heads' which guard the sea entrance to Knysna's huge tidal lagoon, and the forests, marshes and pristine beaches surrounding it. After lunch spend the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy this lovely and special town.
Accommodation: Knysna Log-Inn or similar
Day 7: (Sat) Port Eizabeth / Durban (B)
We get to Port Elizabeth via the glorious indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest. Board a mid-afternoon flight to Durban (cost of flight not included). There you'll be met and transferred to your Durban hotel for the night.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Edward or similar
Day 8: (Sun) The Kingdom of the Zulu's (BL)
Meet your new guide this morning and travel to the kingdom of the Zulu's via the lush north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. First stop is a vibrant cultural village. Thrill to the sight of Zulu dancers performing their ancient high-kicking routines to the beat of drums, sample traditional Zulu beer and watch women craft clay pots and intricate beadwork. After a hearty lunch, we proceed to the village of St Lucia checking in at your hotel.
Accommodation: Elephant Lake Hotel or similar
Day 9: (Mon) Swaziland (BLD)
The day begins with a motor launch cruise amid the breathtaking wilderness of Lake St Lucia, a World Heritage Site. Back on dry land, we drive past the traditional rural homesteads of Zululand and into the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. Enjoy a visit to the Swazi Candle Factory, where waxy works of art beckon from groaning shelves. We arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Lugogo Sun or similar
Day 10: (Tue) Kruger National Park (BD)
We visit the famous Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen fashion collectable figures and functional art out of molten glass. We enter the vast Kruger National Park through its southern-most gate and head north to our camp in time for a welcome sundowner (own account) in the African bush.
Accommodation: Kruger Rest Camp or similar
Day 11: (Wed) Kruger National Park (B)
A full-day safari. We set off before breakfast in open safari vehicles in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, and all manner of wondrous wildlife, birds and plants. Savour the magic of this enormous wilderness.
Accommodation: Kruger Rest Camp or similar
Day 12: (Thu) The Lowveld & Panorama Route (BD)
Explore living history in the form of Pilgrim's Rest, the old mining village where gold was first discovered; gasp at the glory that is God's Window, a boundless view of forested mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa. We spend the night in Pilgrim's Rest.
Accommodation: The Royal Hotel or similar
Day 13: (Fri) Pretoria & Johannesburg (BL)
We leave Moumalanga rising several hundred feet into the Highveld en route to Pretoria, South Africa's Capital City. After lunch, we proceed on a tour of our Capital, tracing South Africa's extraordinary history with visits to Kruger Museum and the Voortrekker Monument. Arrive in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Rosebank Hotel or similar
Day 14: (Sat) Johannesburg (B)
The end of the tour. Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.