In a nutshell
A participation tour that offers an accommodated safari at a reasonable price, accommodated in chalets, cabins and hotels. A South Africa participation safari with a bed each night.
- A comprehensive introduction to the Rainbow Nation – a world in one country!
- Exciting trip with culture, wildlife, adventure, walking, mountains and beaches.
- Kruger NP, Swaziland, Zululand, Drakensberg, Garden Route and Cape Town.
Why travel with us?
We understand that there are several options available to you when choosing your African safari. We also know that you want to make the most informed decision about your safari, what you get, what’s included and what you see and experience. So these are just a few of our qualities and facts:
- Small groups – by travelling with a maximum of 12 people, you are able to witness Africa and have first-hand contact with this amazing continent and its people without being a negative influence. This has been a key factor in our continued success. Our trips appeal to a wide demographic of traveller. Our clients range in age from 25 to 65+ with the average being 45. The range of travellers gives a variety of perspectives which adds to the experience of each safari.
- 2 tour guides – group leaders are the key to any safari. On one of our safaris you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (Field Guides Association of SA). Two guides as crew, not a guide and a driver, means interesting trips with maximum knowledge and information. Our guides have a passion for Africa, her people and her wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with you.
- Guaranteed departures on selected dates otherwise a minimum of 4
- All inclusive price – when we travel ourselves, we always feel that if we’re in a country we should find and see the best it has to offer. So when planning the routes we ensure that each trip provides the best inclusions and experiences. For example, if you go to Botswana – you have to visit the national parks in an open 4WD – it is the essence of the Botswana wilderness. If you tour Zambia, then you must visit South Luangwa NP and do a game walk with a local scout. When booking on a Safari there are no hidden costs. All of the entrance fees are included, and a wide range of activities, and most meals. We have included many highlights in our tours, so that you will see and experience the highlights without having to pay extra when you get there. So when you decide on which safari company to book with, look carefully at what you’re actually getting. You may only visit a place once, make sure you get the most out of it.
- Safety – our fleet of vehicles are custom built to ensure comfortable and safe touring. Each is constructed, by an authorised passenger vehicle builder, to the latest safety requirements, with a safety shell, and every seat has a lap belt. This gives you peace of mind when travelling with us on the often demanding African roads.
- Responsible travel – Our commitment to sustainable & responsible tourism is reflected in our low impact travel style where all we take is photographs and all we leave is our footprints. Being an African company we have the grassroots contacts to make a real difference in the lives of the people whose lands we visit.
- Solo Travellers – going it alone won’t make your holiday more expensive; our reservations staff will match you up with another same-gender traveller to keep your holiday affordable. If however you request a single room or tent these are available, with a price supplement
- Experience – we have more than 22 years’ experience planning tours throughout Southern Africa. As such, our itineraries and routes have been perfected over many years ensuring that your tour will run smoothly. We visit the highlights of Southern Africa, but ensure that you do not follow the well-trodden tourist track.
- Based in Africa – probably the most important part of our safaris is that we are an African company with offices in South Africa and Botswana. We live in Africa, we travel in Africa and it is our passion for this amazing continent that makes our Safari’s your best travel option.
Limited participation an essential part of your safari is some participation. From carrying your own bag to cleaning your window and packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly (especially on the longer days). Where the tour leaders provide meals we ask that clients help (on rotation) with the washing up.
The Rainbow Route is an overview tour of South Africa including neighbouring Kingdom of Swaziland. The tour covers many highlights with a strong focus on the national parks. This diverse country is explored over great distances that may involve long days on the road, generally followed by a full day to experience the area. The fully accommodated tour offers a great value for money way to explore South Africa.
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$800 – or you can request to share with someone of the same gender
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. We 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.
Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners
DAYS 9 & 10 – WILD COAST
En-route to the Wild Coast we visit Qunu, the home town of Nelson Mandela, and pay our respects to this great man. 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
HIGHLIGHTS
DATES
| Departure Dates | Cost |
|---|---|
| Please enquire - Departs every 2nd Saturday from 04 April | NZ$3,735 |
