South Africa Rainbow Route Safari

An accommodated safari through South Africa, trekking, cultural visits and wonderful game viewing in the Rainbow Nation.

Price: (Valid: Jan 2010 – Dec 2010)
€ 1,395 pps + local payment of ZAR 1,600 pp
17 Days Safari

Highlights * Mpumalanga Panorama Route – sight seeing * Kruger National Park – game drives * Swaziland – mountain walks * Zululand – game drives & cultural village * Drakensberg mountains – maintain walks * Wild Coast – beach walks & Xhosa culture * Addo - game drives * Tsitsikamma – forest walks * Hermanus – beaches and whales * Cape Town – Cape Point & Table Mountain

Departs from: Johannesburg - Ends: Cape Town

Includes
* 16 nights in lodge / hotel / chalet or cabin
* Entrance fees
* Transport in minibus / safari truck
* Meals as per itinerary
* Professional guide

South Africa Rainbow Route Safari Itinerary

Meal codes [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 1 JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA [Lodge LD]
Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterise the landscape. Few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the lowveld & escarpment. We visit Pilgrims Rest, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window, before staying in a lodge on the edge of the escarpment near Graskop.
Includes: Entrance to Mac Mac falls & God’s Window
Overnight: Chalets - 2 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 bathroom shared between 2 bedrooms. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant
Distance/time: 380kms, ± 5½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, breakfast & lunch

Day 2 - 3 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK [Tented Lodge or Chalet BLD]
The largest game reserve in South Africa, boasts the world's greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5” (lion,
leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness.
Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park, morning & afternoon game drives
Overnight: Chalets – twin chalets (or lodge tent) shared facilities, swimming pool, restaurant
Distance/time: 150kms, ± 2 hours + 3 x 3 hour game drives
Optional Activities: Night game drive in National Parks open game viewing vehicle

Day 4 KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND [Cabin BLD]
Malolotja Nature Reserve in the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland is our next attraction. Renowned for a great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist forest, we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the fantastic mountain views. Relax around a campfire dinner and stay in mountain cabins for the night.
Includes: Entrance fees to Malalotja Nature Reserve
Overnight: Cabin – each cabin sleeps a maximum of 6 people in 2 bedrooms and a loft room which
share a ablution facilities, hot showers
Distance/time: 200kms, ± 4 hours, excluding 2-3 hour morning drive out of Kruger, shopping stop in Malelane, Jeppes Reef border formalities & stops for sightseeing etc

Day 5 - 6 ZULULAND [Tented lodge or Chalet BLD]
We visit craft markets near Mbabane that have a fascinating range of handmade crafts and the local witchdoctor stall is not to be missed! We re-enter South Africa and head to Mkuzi Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino. We visit a waterhole hide and watch game come down to. An early morning game drive is followed by a cultural afternoon where we visit a Zulu village on the border of the game reserve and learn about the Zulu culture.
Includes: Entrance to Mkuzi Game Reserve, morning and afternoon game drive & Zulu village visit with local Zulu community guide
Overnight: Chalets - 2/3/4 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 or 2 bathrooms shared. Swimming pool, restaurant & shop
Distance/time: 300kms, ± 4 hours, including border formalities + game drives in Mkuzi

Day 7 - 8 DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS [Chalets or Cottage BLD]
The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” - the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Mkuzi we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in a quaint cottage or chalets. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying spectacular views.
Includes: Morning and afternoon hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains
Overnight: Chalets or Cottage – 2/3 twin bedrooms with 1/2 bathrooms shared between rooms.
Distance/time: 500kms, ± 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch. The last 50km is a slow gravel road

Day 9 - 10 WILD COAST [Chalet or Guesthouse BLD]
The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise in South Africa. There are unspoiled stretches of dramatic and savagely beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight within walking distance of the beach and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or relax on the beach.
Includes: Scenic coastal walks
Overnight: Chalets or guesthouse – twin rooms with shared ablutions, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: 600kms, ± 8½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch – a long day!
Optional Activities: Quad bikes, ocean fishing & village walks

Day 11 ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK [Chalets BLD]
The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 350 elephants roam through the area. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area.
Includes: Entrance fees to Addo Elephant National park, afternoon & morning game drive
Overnight: Chalets – twin room, with en-suite facilities, restaurant & floodlit waterhole.
Distance/time: 500kms, ± 7½ hours – a long day! Excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch + game drives
Optional Activities: Night game drives in National Park open game viewing vehicles

Day 12 - 13 KNYSNA / TSITSIKAMMA [Lodge B]
For two nights we will stay in a lodge resort in Knysna, which is nestled on a tranquil lagoon. We will take a day trip to the Storms River mouth where there are walks up the gorge and along the rocky coast. The Tsitsikamma National
Park incorporates 80km of spectacular sea and landscapes; a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys, coastal forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. There is also an option of the world’s highest bungi jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna's great restaurants (own expense).
Includes: Entrance fees to Tsitsikamma National Park
Overnight: Chalets – 2 twin bedrooms in each chalets with 1 bathroom shared between 2 rooms. Swimming pool & restaurant.
Distance/time: 300kms, ± 4½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities: Bungi jumping, whale watching & treetop canopy tour

Day 14 HERMANUS [Guest house BL]
Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From May to December Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to the coast to calve and mate in the shallows. In the afternoon we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline before having a meal out at local restaurant (own expense).
Includes: N/A
Overnight: Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool & restaurant
Distance/time: 500kms, ± 7 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch
Optional Activities Whale watching by boat, shark cage diving

Day 15 - 16 CAPE TOWN [Hotel B]
Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. On our way into Cape Town, we visit Stellenbosch, South Africa’s renowned wine region, for wine tasting (own
expense) and a cellar tour. The “mother city” has many attractions; we will visit Cape Point, the harbour at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). We sample the local fare at a variety of local restaurants (own expense).
Includes: Cellar tour, Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape Point National Park
Overnight: Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities.
Distance/time: 150kms, ± 2 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing + 150kms full day Cape Peninsular tour on day 16
Optional Activities: Robben Island cruise, shark cage diving, seal colony visit

Day 17 TOUR ENDS - TRANSFERS [B]
In the morning we climb Table Mountain, offering panoramic views over Cape Town reaching out into the bay and Robben Island. Having explored the highlights of the Rainbow Nation we take a last look at Cape Town and catch up on last minute curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 18:00.
Includes: Guided walk up Table Mountain

Please note:
The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and photo stops!

PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION:
This tour departs from Johannesburg, please make sure you are there well ahead of the time. This tour ends in Cape Town.