South Africa - 14 Day Fully Escorted Tour - A World In One Country

Johannesburg | Pilgrim's Rest | Kruger National Park | Swaziland | Zululand | Durban | Port Elizabeth | Knyna | Oudtshoorn | Cape Town


Escorted Tours A signature tour of Thompsons offers a comprehensive tour of South Africa's highlights in just 14days. South Africa's sensational mix of miles of unspoilt beaches, vast tracts of game-rich wildlife reserves and wilderness areas, sunny climate and a vibration totally 'African', make it a diverse, unparalleled holiday destination.

Highlights

  • Visit the diamond mine that produced the 'Great Star of Africa'.
  • View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and God's Window.
  • Seek out the 'Big Five' in the Kruger National Park in open safari vehicles.
  • Visit a traditional African craft market in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
  • Enjoy a Swazi cultural experience.
  • Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake St Lucia - A World Heritage Site.
  • Swim, bathe, and surf along the pristine beaches of Durban's 'Golden Mile'.
  • Stroll through the Tsitsikamma National Park, renowned for its age-old trees.
  • Journey via ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated at the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.
  • Discover the Cango Caves with its magnificent dripstone formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
  • Enjoy an ostrich farm experience.
  • The best land-based whale watching in the world, is in Hermanus. (Seasonal July to Nov only).
  • Explore the coastline of the Cape Peninsula.
  • Enjoy wine tasting at some of the Capes most famous wine estates.
Itinerary

Day 1: (Sun) Johannesburg
Touch down at Johannesburg International Airport where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, exploring the magnificent suburban shopping malls or take an optional Johannesburg City Tour (own account).
Accommodation: Rosebank Hotel or similar

Day 2: (Mon) Pretoria / Mpumalanga (BLD)
Leave Johannesburg's distinctive skyline and head for Pretoria, South Africa's capital city. Marvel at this country's miraculous transformation while visiting the Voortrekker Monument, regarded as a shrine to the Afrikaaner community. On to the world famous Premier Diamond Mines, which produced Africa's biggest diamond, the Cullinan, from which the Great Star of Africa was cut to grace the scepter of the British Crown Jewels. After lunch we leave for Mpumalanga, dropping several hundred feet into the lush subtropical region of the Lowveld.
Acc: The Royal Hotel or similar

Day 3: (Tue) The Lowveld & The Kruger National Park (BD)
Explore living history at of Pilgrim's Rest, the old mining village where gold was first discovered; gasp at the glory of God's Window, a boundless view of mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa. We arrive at our Kruger National Park camp in time for a welcome sundowner (own account) in the African bushveld.
Acc: Kruger Rest Camp or similar

Day 4: (Wed) A full day's Big Five game viewing in Kruger National Park (B)
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 plant species. Savour the magic of this enormous wilderness.  
Accommodation: Kruger Rest Camp or similar
 
Day 5: (Thu) The Kingdom of Swaziland (BLD)
Enjoy an enchanting drive to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. Witness a Swazi cultural experience before visiting the famous Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen fashion collectable figures and functional art. Our next stop is the capital city Mbabane, known for its vibrant markets packed with baskets, beadwork and carvings. Spend the night in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley.
Acc: Lugogo Sun or similar

Day 6: (Fri) The Kingdom of the Zulu's (B)
Visit the Swazi Candle Factory, teeming with exquisite wax artworks in every shape and colour imaginable. Then on into Zululand, passing traditional round huts and endless vistas. Arrive mid afternoon at the town of St Lucia, a World Heritage Site and home to hippo, crocodile and no less than 367 bird species.
Acc:  Elephant Lake Hotel or similar

*Clients have the option to purchase an exciting  afternoon open vehicle game drive into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve.

Day 7: (Sat) Durban (B)
This morning enjoy a cruise on Lake St Lucia before departing for Durban. Hug the lush KwaZulu-Natal coastline en-route to Durban, watching the sugar cane fields do their own version of the Mexican wave at the urging of the wind. Check into your hotel just before lunch (own account). Explore the beachfront and its many attractions at leisure, or take an optional afternoon Durban City Tour (own account).
Acc: Protea Hotel Edward or similar

Day 8: (Sun) Port Elizabeth / Knysna (BD)
An early start. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Port Elizabeth (cost of flight not included). There you'll be met by a new guide who'll take you through the glorious, indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest. We make several scenic stops before arriving at Knysna, perhaps South Africa's most visually stunning resort in the heart of the Garden Route. Dinner and overnight in Knysna.
Acc: Knysna Log-Inn or similar

Day 9: (Mon) Kynsna  (BL)
Cruise on the vast Knysna Lagoon and 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 beyond. After lunch spend the remainder of the day at leisure, to enjoy this lovely and special town.
Acc: Knysna Log-Inn or similar

Day 10: (Tue) Cango Caves & Oudtshoorn (BL)
This morning we embark on a journey to get from Knysna to Wilderness. We then enjoy the wonderful views of the spectacular Outeniqua Pass en-route to Oudtshoorn, the 'feather capital of the world', so named because it's the centre of South Africa's ostrich industry. After lunch, we learn more about these hardy, enigmatic creatures during a tour of an ostrich farm. We then head underground for a fascinating tour of the Cango Caves, one of South Africas most incredible natural wonders. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Acc: Queens Hotel or similar

During the period 01 May - 31 August 2007 the Outenique Choo Tjoe does not operate on Tuesdays and clients will do the train journey on the Monday afternoon, instead of the day at leisure.

Day 11: (Wed) Cape Town (B)
A day of magnificent vistas. Enjoy the ever-changing passing canvas as we travel to Cape Town. During the whale season we will travel via the seaside village of Hermanus in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Southern Right Whales, which frolic offshore (July to November only). Out of season we will return to Cape Town along Route 62, South Africa version of America's Route 66. 
Acc:  Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 12: (Thu) Cape Peninsula (B)
A full day 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, penguins. We drive through the quaint naval village of Simon's Town on our way back to Cape Town.
Acc: Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 13: (Fri) Cape  Winelands (B)
Journey into the beautiful and tranquil 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 Monument provides a historical perspective.
Acc: Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 14: (Sat) Cape Town (B)
This brings us to the end of our World in One Country. Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home

 Includes

  • Transportation
    Tour in air-conditioned micro-buses or 16-seater mini-buses.
  • Professionally Escorted
    Discover South Africa with our professional tour guides.
  • Accommodation
    Rooms with private facilities, on a twin share basis.
  • Dining Inclusions
    13 Breakfasts.
    4 Lunches.
    4 Dinners.
  • Plus
    Airport transfers included.
    Hotel porterage included.
    Kruger National Park Conservation Levy included.
  • Please Note
    The internal flight between Durban and Port Elizabeth is not included. Clients are requested to book flights that arrive in Port Elizabeth  no later than 12h30.
    Visa conditions apply for Swaziland and passports are required.
 Price & Departures

  Twin Single
A World in One Country
01 November 07 - 30 April 08 £1243 £1504
01 May 08 - 31 August 08 £1176 £1420
01 September 08 - 31 October 08 £1243 £1504

Land content only
Departs : Sundays

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