Whole world in one country
This three week lodge-safari from Johannesburg to Cape Town simply has it all: Africa’s exciting wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and insights into the culture and history of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- World famous Kruger National Park with Africa’s iconic big game animals
- Walking in the Drakensberg plus horse riding and an interactive cultural experience in the Kingdom of Lesotho
- Addo Nationalpark’s elephants, limestone caves and lush flora along the south coast’s Garden Route
- Winetasting in Stellenbosch and the many attractions in an around the beautiful city of Cape Town
During this comprehensive, three week long lodge-safari, you will really find out why South Africa is able to promote itself with the slogan ”The whole world in one country”. The tour also offers a couple of days is both of the two exciting kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho.
Huge range of experiences
The varied sites are impressive: from the savannah of Kruger National Park with its classical African big game animals, to the dramatic mountain landscapes along the Panorama-route and in the Drakensberg Mountains, to St. Lucia's quiet wetlands and the untamed ocean along the south coast’s famous Garden Route. From Hluhluwe-iMfolozis rhinos and Addo's elephants, over exciting cultural meetings with a range of local peoples, to wine tasting in Stellenbosch and the beautifully situated international city of, Cape Town, near the Cape of Good Hope. What else could you wish for in one trip?
Good Accommodation
You well stay in well located, typical African standard lodge and hotel accommodation. The tour is run as a small group tour with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 14 participants.
Explore Kruger, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Addo Elephant National Parks
You will drive in a Toyota Quantum (or similar) with an experienced driver and guide during the whole tour. If you book in advance you can arrange, at an extra charge, to drive in open safari vehicles in Kruger, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Addo Elephant National Parks.
Practical information about the tour
The following meals are included in the price: 19 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 evening meals. It is possible to book a ”dinner package” that includes 14 evening meals in the respective lodges, but this must be booked in advance. If the tour is fully booked with 14 participants you will drive in a large 4x4 safari vehicle. The guide will make sure you all swap seats regularly, so the sun and wind is shared equally, as not everybody will have a window seat.
Day to Day Programme
DAY 1: Departure from home airport
You will take an overnight flight to South Africa.
Naturally meals are included on your flight, as well as entertainment and free drinks.
DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN JOHANNESBURG
On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met and transferred to the Safari Club. You have the remainder of the day at leisure. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of the group for your pre-departure meeting at 18h00.
Overnight accommodation in the Safari Club (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 3: JOHANNESBURG TO MPUMALANGA
Departing from Johannesburg we head east towards Mpumalanga. A landscape characterized by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We spend the night in the town of Graskop, a small forestry town situated on the Drakensberg Escarpment at the start of the Panorama route and the gateway to the Kruger National Park.
Circa 385 km driving and departure at 06:30
Overnight accommodation at the Graskop Hotel including breakfast.
DAY 4: MPUMALANGA TO KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
This morning we start with a scenic drive along the Panorama Route, arguably one of the most beautiful destinations in South Africa. The most spectacular stretch is the Blyde River Canyon, which is the 3rd largest canyon in the world, and filled with lush vegetation and wildlife. We make a stop at Bourke’s Luck Potholes to view these spectacular rock formations. In the afternoon we head into the Kruger National Park. We spend two nights inside the park.
Circa 250 km driving and departure at 07:00
Overnight accommodation at the Berg en Dal camp (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 5: KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
We spend the whole day in Kruger National Park, which is home to just about all the most well-known classic African big game species. We will have game drives in the morning and in the afternoon. If you would like to drive in an open safari vehicle, you must book and pay for this before departure.
Overnight accommodation at the Berg en Dal camp (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 6: KRUGER TO SWAZILAND
Today we cross the border into the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, led by King Mswati III, and one of 3 monarchies in Africa. You will explore the traditions and discover the culture of which the Swazis are so proud. We spend two nights in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland’s pioneer conservation area situated in the “Valley of Heaven”. Apart from abundant bird life, there are a number of animal species to be seen including hippo, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of antelope, which we hope to spot on a guided walk in the afternoon.
Circa 190 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at the Mlilwane Rest Camp (or similar) including breakfast and lunch.
DAY 7: SWAZILAND
TODAY we visit the Umphakatsi Chief’s homestead, for an interactive experience where you will get to try your hand at grinding maize and plaiting mountain grass or join the children in Swazi song and dance. An offering of a taste of local food is made but forget about your cutlery and try it the Swazi way… with your hands!
Overnight accommodation at the Mlilwane Rest Camp (or similar) including breakfast and lunch.
DAY 8: SWAZILAND TO ZULULAND
After visiting a craft market en-route, we re-enter South Africa via Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. In the afternoon we make our way to The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Here we enjoy a boat cruise on the St Lucia estuary, getting up close to the hippos and crocodiles that inhabit the lake.
Circa 440 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at the Ezulwini Game Lodge (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 9: ZULULAND
Today we will go on safari to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, during a game drive in our tour vehicle. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is the oldest game reserve in Africa and is a safe haven to both the endangered black and white rhino. This park was perhaps the most important on the continent for the conservation of these two species during the whole of the 20th century. If you would like to drive in an open safari vehicle, you must book and pay for this before departure.
Overnight accommodation at the Ezulwini Game Lodge (or similar) including breakfast
DAY 10: ZULULAND TO DRAKENSBERG
Driving further inland, we will spend the next two nights at The Cavern, which lies in a 3,000 ha private reserve in the mountains. It borders the Royal Natal National Park, which is a part of uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, which has been designated as a World Heritage site. The park’s most famous localities include the 5km long and up to 1,200m in height rock wall - the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, the peak of Mont-Aux-Sources where the Orange and Tugela rivers have their sources, and the 947m high Tugela waterfall, which is the second highest in the world.
Circa 540 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at The Cavern (or similar) including breakfast and dinner.
DAY 11: DRAKENSBERG
Today is dedicated to exploring the area’s beautiful scenery on guided walks.
Overnight accommodation at The Cavern (or similar) including full board.
DAY 12: DRAKENSBERG TO LESOTHO
Today we cross the border into another small country, which is totally surrounded by South Africa, namely the Kingdom of Lesotho, the southernmost landlocked country in the world, rich in natural beauty, flora, fauna and cultural heritage. Malealea is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho that is breath-taking in its beauty. We have the chance to experience traditional Basotho life, a nation with solid traditions, beliefs and customs.
Circa 420 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Malealea Lodge (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 13: LESOTHO
No visit to Lesotho would be complete without riding a pony, the local’s favourite means of transport. Today we will we take a ride on one of these sturdy animals that handle the narrow trails in these spectacular mountains, better than any 4x4 can!
DAY 14: LESOTHO TO CRADOCK
We leave the beauty of Lesotho and drive toward the dry Karoo plateau and the historical town of Cradock, which was founded in 1814. Today Cradock is an important agricultural center with many fine historic buildings, but is perhaps best known for its hot sulphur springs.
Circa 415 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Die Tuishuise (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 15: CRADOCK TO ADDO ELEPHANT NAIONAL PARK
Today our tour takes us to a benchmark conservation success; Addo Elephant National Park offers a unique wildlife habitat, famous for the Addo elephants and the remaining population of the flightless dung beetle. We spend the afternoon on a game drive in our tour vehicle, in search of elephant, black rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. If you wish to drive in an open safari vehicle, you must book and pay for this before departure. An evening spent at the floodlit waterhole allows us to watch the nocturnal animals and listen to their calls.
Circa 300 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Addo Elephant Rest Camp (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 16: ADDO TO TSITSIKAMMA
This morning after breakfast our journey takes us to a region of startling beauty along South Africa’s southern coastline, known as the Garden Route. We spend two nights in the Storms River Village, at the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest.
Circa 240 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Tsitsikamma Village Inn (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 17: TSITSIKAMMA
Today we will have time to explore the beautiful scenery of this area. We will take a leisurely hike along one of the short trails, which allow you to explore the coastal bush and rocky shoreline. There is also time, if you are feeling adventurous, to plunge off the world’s highest bungy jump at the Bloukrans River (at your own expense).
Overnight accommodation at Tsitsikamma Village Inn (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 18: TSITSIKAMMA TO OUDTSHOORN
After visiting the impressive cliffs known as ‘The Heads’ in Knysna, a town nestled on a tranquil lagoon, we continue our journey, travelling over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo arriving in the town of Oudtshoorn. We take a trip to the famous Cango Caves, with their impressive ancient stalagmites and stalactites before overnighting in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world.
Circa 280 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Turnberry Boutique Hotel (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 19: OUDTSHOORN TO CAPE TOWN
En-route to Cape Town, we visit the pretty university town of Stellenbosch, which is the center of South Africa’s wine industry, for wine tasting and a cellar tour. Once in Cape Town the afternoon is at leisure, enjoy sundowners at one of the fabulous beaches or indulge in some last minute shopping at the V&A Waterfront.
Circa 450 km driving and departure at 08:00
Overnight accommodation at Townhouse Hotel (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 20: CAPE TOWN
Today we will go sightseeing in Cape Town, which is also known in Africa as the Mother City, and visit Cape Point - The Cape of Good Hope - which is the most south-westerly point in Africa.
Overnight accommodation at Townhouse Hotel (or similar) including breakfast.
DAY 21: CAPE TOWN AND DEPARTURE FOR HOME
On the final day of the tour you can explore more of Cape Town on your own (and at your own expense). If the weather is good why not take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy the views and unique nature of the summit.
The last point on this tours comprehensive program is your transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.
DAY 22: ARRIVAL HOME
You will arrive back in Europe early the morning, taking any connecting flight necessary later in the morning.
Accommodation on the tour
Safari Club Hotel
The Safari Club Hotel is a country style lodge hotel on Pomona Road in Johannesburg. The lodge has 17 rooms each of which has been styled to represent unique parts of Africa, for example, the Kalahari Room, Etosha Room or the Okavango Room. All rooms have their own bathroom and access to the gardens. The hotel’s facilities include a lounge, a themed bar referring to the famous Nguni cattle, a business center, a separate dining area and a swimming pool.
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Graskop Hotel
The Graskop Hotel lies on the slopes of the Drakensberg mountains, right on the very popular ”Panorama Route”. From here you have wonderful views over the enormous valley. The rooms are decorated in the modern, artistic style, which is used throughout the hotel. The Graskop Hotel also has an art gallery, where a number of artworks are exhibited. The Graskop Hotel’s restaurant offers a large buffet breakfast in the morning and a 3-course dinner menu in the evening. The hotel also has a lounge, bar, small garden and a swimming pool.
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Berg en Dal Camp
The Berg en Dal Camp, which translates to ”mountain and valley”, is located in the midst of Kruger National Park. Its place in the heart of Kruger National Park means that adventure is always surrounding you. All the buildings in Berg en Dal Camp are beautifully situated and surrounded by the gardens and small trees. The rooms are all built in an African style, and have their own bathroom and terrace. The camp’s restaurant is wonderfully situated, offering views over the Matjulu Dam. Many of the rooms are also equipped with their own kitchen and grill, so it is possible to cook your own food. There is a small shop in camp, where you can buy vegetables, meat and other supplies. During your stay you can use the camp’s internet cafe, swimming pool, cafeteria and other facilities.
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Mlilwane Rest Camp
Mlilwane Rest Camp offers great accommodation in genuine African style. Experience one of the many ”beehive huts”, staying in one of these circular buildings built in the shape of a beehive is an experience in itself. All rooms are attractively decorated and have their own bathroom and toilet. Miliwane Rest Camp also has its own restaurant and swimmingpool.
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Ezulwini Game Lodge
Ezulwini Game Lodge lies in Zululand, which is renowned for its animal life, wetlands and Zulu culture. The lodge is close to Mkuze Game Reserve and one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, iSimangaliso Park. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation in all of its many rooms. In the main building you can find the restaurant where all the meals of the day are served. You can also find a small, attractively decorated bar, where you can spend a really enjoyable evening. You can also just lean back and enjoy the good weather or take a dip in the lodge’s swimming pool.
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The Cavern
The Cavern lies at the foot of the northern part of the mountains and is close to the Royal Natal National Park. The Cavern’s name is rooted in history, referring to the infamous nearby Cannibal Cavern, which was used by the Amazizi tribe many years ago. The hotel offers comfortable accommodation and has a spa, swimming-pool, bar, restaurant all set in beautiful nature.
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Malealea Lodge
Malealea Lodge is situated in the mountainous territory of Lesotho. Here you can experience wonderful sunsets in the incredibly beautiful mountains. Malealea Lodge has good accommodation in attractive chalets all with a fantastic view. Nature lovers especially will enjoy a visit here. The lodge’s restaurant offers lovely food in great surroundings.
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Die Tuishuise
Die Tuishuise Hotel can be found in the town of Cradock. When the hotel was restored, it was decided to keep to the classical style of the 1840’s, the period when the buildings were originally from. At Die Tuishuise you will escape the present day and go back to a more gracious bygone era. Every room is decorated and furnished in the elegant style of the 1840s. Dinner is served in a nearby restaurant, which has also been beautifully restored in the style of the 1840’s. Die Tuishuise also offers a spa, swimming pool and massages.
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Addo Elephant Rest Camp
In every room you can enjoy very comfortable accommodation, and all have their own bathroom and toilet. From the rooms there is a wonderful view out over the plains. During your stay at Addo Elephant Rest Camp, it will be possible to visit their restaurant, take a dip in the swimming pool and make your own braai-picnic.
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Tsitsikamma Village Inn
The Tsitsikamma Village Inn is a charming, beautifully situated hotel, close to the Storms River. The rooms are spacious and attractively furnished, and all have ensuite bathroom and toilet, a coffee machine and air conditioning. The Tsitsikamma Village Inn also offers a fireplace, a small garden with a picnic area, a swimming pool, lounge and entertainment room.
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Turnberry Boutique Hotel
The Turnberry Boutique Hotel can be found in Klein Karoo Town in the Oudtshoorn district. Throughout the hotel you will find a very Scottish style. Turnberry Boutique Hotel offers fantastic evenings in their own Scottish pub, which is open every day. The large, spacious rooms are very welcoming and well furnished.
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Townhouse Hotel
Townhouse Hotel lies on Corporation Street in Cape Town’s city centre in a location with more than 350 years of city history behind it. The hotel is managed with a very green agenda and is very socially engaged. It is close to parliament and the historic Company Gardens. With its central location, the hotel is within walking distance of many of the city’s best attractions. For example, you can walk to Cape Town’s popular V & A Waterfront in half an hour. There are 107 rooms and suites in different categories, all with ensuite bathroom, spread over 11 floors and with views of Cape Town’s uptown city.
Read moreAttractions on the tour
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is the largest in South Africa and nearly 20,000 km2 in size. On top of this comes the large private reserves on the western side of the park. Kruger is also one of the oldest national parts in the world, with a history of more than 100 years to look back on. This means the animals have long lived peacefully here and are not shy. Like all parks and reserves in South Africa the Kruger is fenced, but the fences have been taken down along a stretch of circa 100 km where it shares a border with the majority of the private reserves, which together with a few private concessions in Kruger itself provide safaris of the very highest standard.
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THE BIG FIVE
The Big Five is a historic term that comes from big game hunting. It groups together the five animals that were considered to require the most courage and skill to hunt: Elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. The term has been readily adopted by today’s wildlife safaris, on which rifles have been swapped for a camera and animals are only “shot” through a telephoto lens. It is also widely used in the marketing of reserves, camps and lodges, where the “Big Five” can be found, and visitors have a reasonable chance of encountering them.
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Garden Route
Driving along this famous route takes you to the beautiful landscapes along South Africa’s south coast through a number of very different destinations between the long stretched Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and the Indian Ocean. It has the reputation of being one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, while the climate is very mild, with winter temperatures seldom dropping below 10oC and summer temperatures rarely climbing over 28oC. Originally the name applied only to the stretch between the town of Mossel Bay and the mouth of the Storms River in Tsitsikamma National Park.
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Johannesburg
Johannesburg, which is usually referred to just as ”Joburg” lies in Gauteng-province and is some 60 km from the South African capital, Pretoria. Johannesburg is, with its 10.3 million inhabitants, the third biggest city on the continent after Lagos and Cairo, and therefore one of Africa’s biggest urban areas. A little over 20 years ago, the city was reserved for members of the white population. Blacks only came into the city to work, being forced to live in so-called townships around the city, of which Soweto is perhaps the best known. Today the city is multi-ethnic, and has nearly grown together with Pretoria. Johannesburg was founded after large amounts of gold were found here in 1886, and today the city is at the center of the world’s production of gold, diamonds and many other minerals. A visit to Soweto and its Apartheid museum and the chance to visit a goldmine, are just two of the many activities available here that we could mention.
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Swaziland
The small mountainous kingdom of Swaziland is totally surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. It is the smallest country on the African continent. Swaziland is named after the swazi, a Bantu tribe which has populated this area for centuries. It was recognised as an independant country by the British in 1881, later becoming a British protectorate. The country regained its independence in 1968 and today is ruled by King Mswati III.
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Greater St. Lucia Wetlands
Next to the Indian Ocean and less than 250 km north of Durban along good asphalt roads lies St. Lucia. It is surrounded by a mosaic of smaller protected districts, which together are known as the Greater St Lucia Wetlands, which is South Africa’s third biggest protected wildlife reserve. All the wildlife and other activities here are based around water, either in the form of the large 60 km long lake or the Indian Ocean, the two of which are separated by huge forest clad dunes.
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Zululand
In South Africa, covering an area of about twice the size of Denmark, you can find the Provence of Zululand. In Zululand you can find unique game reserves and national parks, incredibly beautiful beaches and a mix of many different cultures. Zululand itself is a magnificent district, in the north you can find many big game animals.
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Drakensberg
Close to South Africa’s east coast you will find the Drakensberg Mountains, an area that includes the independant state of Lesotho. The highest point in the Drakensberg range is Thabana Ntlenyana at 3482 meters above sea level.
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Lesotho
The beautiful kingdom Lesotho is a state in central South Africa. The state is completely independant of South Africa even though this country completely surrounds Lesotho. Lestotho is located relatively high up in the mountains. The areas lowes point lies cirka 1450 meters over sea level. The country is populated by the so-called Basatho-people, who are often seen wearing their traditional clothing in small villages consisting of small round huts with a thatched roof.
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Addo Elephant Park
As the name of this national park implies, elephants are the main area of focus here. The park was originally established to protect the last remaining elephants of its most southernly population. They are an unusual variant of African elephant, in that nearly none of the females bear tusks, as is the case for most Asian elephants. This population reached its lowest ebb in 1931 when there were only 11 of these elephants remaining, 3 bulls and 8 cows. The population now numbers around 600, so it can be seen that Addo has succeeded in its mission. These huge animals are easy to see in the park, which is not just because of their size and number, but also because the vegetation here mainly consists of low bushes and more open areas with grasses and herbaceous plants. It is a wonderful experience to see the elephants of Addo during the months of spring when the plants are flowering, as it looks as if they are walking around in a beautiful garden.
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The Wine Country
Where fantastic wine tasting goes hand in hand with gourmet food THE WINE COUNTRY
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Cape Town
Africa’s southernmost city. It is also the major city with the most beautiful location on the continent, if not the world, with the spectacular Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean providing the perfect setting. Including its suburbs, around 3.7 million people live in and around Cape Town, and the city has a large international airport offering good connections to a large part of the continent, as well as a number of direct routes to Europe. South Africa’s parliament is housed in Cape Town, which is the country’s legislative capital, while Pretoria is its administrative and Bloemfontein its judicial capitals.
Read morePrices
The Price Includes
- Return flights N. Europe - South Africa
- Accommodation as described in the itinerary
- Meals as described in the itinerary
- Excursions and safari drives as described in the itinerary
- English speaking chauffeur/guide
- Contribution to the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund
The Price does NOT Include
- Beverages & gratuities
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Extra excursions
- Vaccinations
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- EU-Liability Insurance: EUR 10,- pr. person
- Everything else not listed under “The Price Includes"
