A South Africa Journey of Discovery

Travel to Cape Town, South Africa

After breakfast this morning, depart on a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula. This comprehensive tour shows you the best of the spectacular Cape Peninsula. Find out first hand why it's called the Fairest Cape! Travel past Sea Point and Camps Bay, past the famous beaches of Clifton and Llandudno towards Hout Bay. Drive along the Atlantic Seaboard and pass through Noordhoek and Scarborough. Stop at the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and ride the funicular to the scenic viewing point where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet. Stop for lunch at Two Oceans restaurant booked at 13h00. During lunch we have arranged for a specialist to meet you and give an informal presentation on the local bird and animal life in this area. From here we drive along the Indian Ocean coastline, where we visit the beautiful Boulders Beach and meet a colony of Jackass Penguins. Later this afternoon, enjoy a short stop at the naval port of Simon's Town. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and spend the evening at leisure.

The winelands of the Cape are world famous for their cultivars and for their beauty. Today you will discover the best of the Winelands. Head first for Paarl, famous for its oak lined streets and beautiful colonial buildings. Found high on the mountain overlooking Paarl is the Afrikaans Language Monument, visible from miles around and your stop here will give some magnificent views over the wine country. Your descent takes you on to the town of Franschhoek, founded by the French Huguenots and retaining much of it French charm and style today, but first is a stop at the world famous Boschendal wine farm for a wine tasting. Continue to Franschhoek, where you will have time to wander the delightful little town. Continue on to the Neetlingshof Estate for a tour of the cellar including a wine tasting and a lunch. Then it is on to Stellenbosch, capital of the Winelands, and well known for its distinctive Cape Dutch architecture that lines its narrow streets, and especially Dorp Street. Stop at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch for a wine tasting and visit to the Cheetah Breeding Program. Then it’s onto Oom Samie’s se Winkel, the oldest trading store in the country, before returning to Cape Town.

Check out after breakfast and head out early for your trip to Oudtshoorn. This is the tourist capital of the Little Karoo and ostrich capital of South Africa, with thousands of the beady-eyed birds all over the place. Big bodies but small brains, these long legged monsters eat pebbles to aid digestion and are particularly attracted to the odd earring or glinting necklace from unsuspecting tourists. At the turn of the century ostrich feathers were in such demand that the fashion conscious paid a premium and feathered the nests of the barons who built magnificent mansions known as ‘Feather Palaces’. This fine architecture can still be seen around the sedate and pleasant town. Stop at a local Ostrich Show Farm for an informative talk and tour of the working Ostrich Farm. Learn about the uses of Ostrich Feathers, ostrich leather and even sample some Ostrich egg or biltong! After the tour and lunch, head to the Rosenhof Country Lodge and check in. Dinner this evening is booked at Rosenhof.

Check out after breakfast and travel over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to the town of George.  Stop at George Station and board the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, an original steam train, bound for Sedgefield.  Upon arrival at Sedgefield, you will be met by your awaiting coach and transferred to Knysna. Knysna nestles on the banks of abeautiful lagoon in the heart of the ‘Garden Route’.It is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland.  This afternoon we board the Featherbed ferry for a cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.  Lunch is served on board. The Featherbed Nature Reserve, a unique 150 ha private Nature Reserve, encompasses the whole of the Western Head of Knysna and is one of South Africa's Premier Natural Heritage Sites.  After lunch and a cruise to the heads – giant outcrops of rock guarding the entrance to Knysna Lagoon – head back to your coach and continue your journey along the scenic garden route.  This afternoon arrive at Buffalo Hills Game Reserve and check in. Buffalo Hills is located near Plettenberg Bay in the Bitou River Valley.  The decision to develop the Bitou River Valley was an inspired one: although it's just 15 minutes drive from Plettenberg Bay and 25 minutes from Knysna, it's still more than far enough away from the trappings of western civilisation. And its close proximity to Plettenberg Bay - which is one of South Africa's best whale-watching destinations - means that we'll soon be able to offer you a BIG SIX EXPERIENCE that is almost unrivalled in Africa.  Buffalo Hills have already established buffalo, wildebeest, leopard, giraffe, sable, rhino, zebra, bush pig, bontebok, bushbuck, impala and elands, and, by end of 2002, you'll also be able to see elephant, and lion (the Big Five are elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion and rhinoceros). Between May and December, the whales that visit South 

Africa's coast make up the sixth member of Africa's Big Six.  This afternoon depart on an open vehicle game drive, returning to freshen up for dinner. 

Overnight: Buffalo Hills Game Reserve or similar.

Spend the day enjoying the activities of Buffalo Hills. Depart on an open vehicle game drive or join a guided walk. You could spot the big five or the small six - Knysna loerie, narina trogon, Knysna dwarf chameleon, lynx, honey badger and blue duiker. This is prime birding country - over 150 species have been identified at Buffalo Hills.

Check out early this morning and enjoy a short stop at Monkeyland. Situated in Tsitsikamma type forest 18km east of Plettenberg Bay. Monkeyland offers visitors monkey safaris conducted by our game rangers. On safari you can expect to see many species of monkeys, ranging from the majestic Black Lemurs of Madagascar to the delightful Squirrel Monkeys of South America. Our knowledgeable rangers will tell you all about these fascinating creatures and a large variety of forest dwelling birds that inhabit Monkeyland. Part of the safari for those who wish to, is a walk across our rope bridge which spans a canyon above the forest canopy giving you a birds eye view of a section of the forest and its inhabitants, otherwise seldom seen. In the late morning, head for Port Elizabeth and check in for your flight to Durban. Upon arrival in Durban, transfer northwards to Hluhluwe, where we check in at Hluhluwe Hilltop Camp for overnight. Depart on an open vehicle game drive, returning in time for dinner.

Hluhluwe Game reserve is situated in the Northern Zululand, 280km from Durban. Viewing of game is available from the instance you enter the reserve, and often you will see elephant, rhino (black & white) and buffalo within minutes. Other animals to be seen at Hluhluwe are: giraffe, nyala, blue wildbeest (gnu), warthog, zebra, reedbuck, bushbuck, impala, kudu, steenbuck, duiker, hippo and crocodile. Predators include lion, leopard, jackal, hyaena, wild dog and other smaller species. A vast network of all-weather dirt roads enable the visitors to view the game in relative comfort.

This morning depart on an open vehicle game drive and then spend the remainder of today relaxing at your camp. The Game reserve of Hluhluwe was proclaimed in 1895. It was until recently separated from Umfolozi, however the separating corridor has now been proclaimed and the two reserves are joined. The total area is 96000 ha. Amenities available at the reserve include the Mpunyane Restaurant, at Hilltop camp, where game dishes are often in the menu. The comfortable Uzavolo bar provides a relaxed atmosphere in which to discuss the day's viewing and bird watching. Day and night drives in open Land Rovers can be booked at the reception office in Hilltop. Guided walks, trails and auto trails are also available

Hilltop Camp is situated on the summit of a hill and offers fine views of the surrounding countryside. 20 twin bedded rooms under thatch are situated in close proximity to the main reception centre which includes a restaurant and bar lounge. Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly topography and is thus a particularly scenic reserve. The area is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. Most of the big game species including lion, elephant, white and black rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard and giraffe occur in the reserve. Apart from game viewing drives, there are two self-guided auto trails, which provide information on both the management and natural history of the reserve. Guided walks are also available. The early morning and late afternoon walks are particularly rewarding. Dinner and overnight at Hluhluwe Hilltop Camp.

An early start this morning. Check out after breakfast and transfer back to Durban Airport for your flight to Johannesburg and your connecting flight to Hoedspruit. Upon arrival into Hoedspruit, you will be met and transferred to Kings Camp Private Game Reserve. Spend the next 4 nights at Kings Camp on a full board basis + game activities.

With its unique romantic ambience, Kings Camp invites guests to relax in the bushveld in fine colonial style. Situated in the world-famous Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (part of the greater Kruger National Park) the camp is a game-viewing haven that features elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo. However, Kings Camp promises far more than just a good game-spotting destination - with access to 100 square kilometres of bushveld, guests are also treated to a brilliant abundance of birdlife. Private safaris under the guidance of a skilled ranger will prove to be an exhilarating experience for bird-watchers and tree enthusiasts as they explore the rarer sights and wonders of the bush. Any particular requests such as guided walks or "sleep-outs" under the great African skies will be arranged with pleasure. Kings Camp is exceptionally proud of its "hides" where guests can safely soak up the stillness and serenity of the bush while keeping a sharp lookout for passing animals and birds. At Kings Camp they are dedicated to a gracious style of hospitality, combined with a flexibility that puts the comfort of guests first - this is achieved in a manner that will never compromise the environment. Furnished in the style of a bygone era, this intimate twenty-bed lodge guarantees comfort and personal service for a memorable stay. Traditional thatched bungalows are spacious and luxuriously equipped with air-conditioning, mini-bar and en-suite bathroom. Camp facilities include a lounge bar and refreshing swimming pool with a viewing deck overlooking a waterhole. Managed by an experienced team of hosts, Kings Camp prides itself on flexibility. When it comes to mealtimes, true South African cuisine is offered in a homely atmosphere with dinner in the boma or a bush braai under the canvas of the dazzling African sky, all complemented by an exceptional wine cellar. Situated only five hours' drive from Johannesburg, Kings Camp is easily accessible by road. The lodge can also be reached via scheduled flights to Eastgate, or by charter to and from the camp's private tarred runway.

This morning enjoy your final game experience before you are transferred to Hoedspruit airport to connect with your flight to Johannesburg and your connection home.