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Kruger National Park South Africa Zebra

South Africa Rainbow Route

South Africa Rainbow Route

HIGHLIGHTS

National Parks, Game Drives, Beaches, Mountains and Culture

FROM

NZ$4,520

DURATION

17 Days

Why you’ll love this trip?

  • A comprehensive introduction to the Rainbow Nation – a world in one country!
  • Exciting trip with culture, wildlife, adventure, walking, mountains and beaches.
  • Explore stunning destinations like Kruger NP, Swaziland, Zululand, Drakensberg, Garden Route and Cape Town.
  • Enjoy cultural experiences, adventurous activities, and wildlife encounters throughout the trip.

What’s the Activity level?

  • Suitable for individuals generally active and in good health
  • Full itinerary with a couple of long driving days
  • Road conditions through wilderness areas can be very poor, resulting in slow and dusty progress
  • Reminder to hold on at all times and embrace the adventure of the ride!

What’s the transport and accommodation like?

  • Custom made vehicles ensure comfortable, safe touring with latest safety standards.
  • Stay in a range of small lodges and guest houses, all with ensuite facilities
  • Active involvement in tasks like setting up tents and packing.
  • Tour leaders handle meal prep; clients help with washing up.
  • Some long travel days may require early starts, necessitating teamwork for efficiency.

Departs most Saturdays. Please enquire for more availability.

*All our tours are non-smoking

TRIP SUMMARY

Duration: 17 days from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Trip focus: A great classic overland journey taking in the highlights of the National Parks, Game Drives, Mountain walks and finishing off with the sights and sounds of Cape Town
Accommodation: 14 nights on safari we stay at small lodges (including tented lodges), with en suite facilities, 2 nights on the Wild Coast are in self-catering chalets where two bedrooms share a bathroom.
Transport: Custom-built 4WD Safari truck or a 12 seater minibus
Group size: Maximum 12 + tour leader and driver
Single supplement: NZ$904 – If you are traveling on your own, and wish to share, you will room with another same gender client. You do not pay extra when booking as a single person. If however you request a single room, then you’ll pay the single supplement.
Operator: This tour is run by one of our trusted local partners

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • Meals as stated in itinerary
  • All park Entrance fees
  • All accommodation and transport within the tour
  • English speaking driver and local tour guide
  • Local game trackers and guides

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

  • All items of a personal nature, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not stated in the itinerary
  • Local payment if required to be paid on day 1 of your tour to your guide
  • International flights and internal flight departure taxes
  • Travel insurance, visas and vaccinations
  • Tips for your tour leader and driver

DAYS 1 & 2 – ARRIVAL DAY JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA

Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterise the landscape. Enjoy the views from God’s Window before descending off the escarpment and heading to our game lodge on the border of the Greater Kruger NP.

The following morning, we are up early for a full day of game viewing in Kruger National Park. We will return to our lodge in the late afternoon to enjoy sunset over the Drakensberg Mountains, a swim in the pool and a hearty meal before falling asleep to the sounds of Africa.

Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

DAY 3 – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

We stretch our legs on a short morning walk exploring the surrounding bush before we re-enter Kruger NP and head south. Kruger NP is 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 4 – KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAYS 5 & 6 – ZULULAND

We visit a craft market near Mbabane which has a range of handmade crafts and a local witchdoctor stall! We re-enter South Africa and head to our private Game Reserve located on the Ukuwela Conservancy, where our local guide will lead us on a walk through bushveld and riverine vegetation of the Msinene River, bird watching and game tracking. The next day we take a game drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the embattled rhino, followed by a visit to a local Zulu village. Relax in the late afternoon with a cold drink while enjoying the views over the reserve from the lodge.

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

DAYS 7 & 8 – DRAKENSBURG MOUNTAINS

The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” – the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Mkhuze we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in quaint cottages. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, or just enjoying the spectacular views.

En-route to the Drakensberg we will visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Museum and pay our respects to this great man.

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

DAYS 9 & 10 – WILD COAST

The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise with unspoilt stretches of dramatically beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight in Kei Mouth and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or go down to the beach.

Meals included: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

DAY 11 – ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 600 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

DAYS 12 & 13 – KNYSNA / TSITSIKAMMA

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 bungee jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna’s great restaurants (own expense).

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts and 1 Lunch

DAY 14 – HERMANUS

Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From June to November, Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to calve and mate in the shallow waters around the Cape. In whale season we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline. In the summer months we will explore the flowering fynbos in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Enjoy the evening meal out at a local restaurant (own expense).

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

DAYS 15 & 16 – CAPE TOWN

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 the harbour at Hout Bay, visit Cape Point, 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).

Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts

DAY 17 – DEPARTURE DAY

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 curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 6:00pm at the guest house.

Meals Included: Breakfast
SightseeingWildlife WatchingCultural ExperiencesPlaneNature

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

DATES

Start Date End Date Availability Cost
16th Nov 2024 2nd Dec 2024 LIMITED AVAILABILITY NZ$4,520
23rd Nov 2024 9th Dec 2024 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,520
30th Nov 2024 16th Dec 2024 AVAILABLE NZ$4,520
11th Jan 2025 27th Jan 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
18th Jan 2025 3rd Feb 2025 AVAILABLE NZ$4,880
1st Feb 2025 17th Feb 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
22nd Feb 2025 10th Mar 2025 AVAILABLE NZ$4,880
8th Mar 2025 24th Mar 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
22nd Mar 2025 7th Apr 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
5th Apr 2025 21st Apr 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
26th Apr 2025 12th May 2025 AVAILABLE NZ$4,880
10th May 2025 26th May 2025 AVAILABLE NZ$4,880
24th May 2025 9th Jun 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
21st Jun 2025 7th Jul 2025 GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NZ$4,880
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