The Grand South African Adventure
TIRG - Gold Class Tour
Johannesburg to
Cape Town
Day 01
On arrival in Johannesburg, an expert driver/guide, who will privately transfer
you to your northern suburbs hotel, will meet you. Enjoy a half-day Rebirth of a
Nation Tour consisting of Johannesburg city sightseeing, Nelson Mandela Bridge,
Newtown and Constitution Hill. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Melrose Arch Hotel or similar - bed and breakfast basis
Day 02
Depart from Johannesburg and travel to the 'Province of the Rising Sun',
Mpumalanga, via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg. Travel
over the famous Long Tom Pass on to the small town of Sabie. Visit the Lone
Creek Waterfalls before arriving at your elegant hideaway. Enjoy a delectable
dinner that can only be described as a 'culinary masterpiece'.
Lone Creek River Lodge (River Suites) or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast
basis
Day 03
Enjoy a full English breakfast on the verandah overlooking the Sabie River
before departing via Pilgrim's Rest to the breathtaking Panorama Route featuring
the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and Lisbon
Waterfalls. Proceed to the exclusive private game lodge, arriving in time for
high tea. Late afternoon game drive in an open safari vehicle with an
experienced ranger and tracker who will endeavour to spoil you with sightings of
the 'Big Five'. Enjoy a safari style bush dinner under the stars (weather
permitting).
Sabi Sabi Game Lodge or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 2 game
viewing activities
Day 04
An early morning bush walk or game drive. After brunch leave for the Kruger
National Park. Established in 1898, this National Park of over two million
hectares is unrivalled in the diversity of its flora and fauna. Leave the Kruger
Park and continue onward to the Kingdom of Swaziland, visiting the capital city
of Mbabane. Visit the Ngwenya Glass Factory with a late afternoon arrival at the
luxury hotel situated in the majestic Ezulwini Valley. Fine dining and an
evening of entertainment and excitement awaits you.
Royal Swazi Spa or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 1 game viewing
activity
Day 05
After a sumptuous breakfast, visit a typical Swazi Market and the Swazi candle
factory. Travel through pineapple plantations and beautiful mountainous scenery,
leave Swaziland and proceed to the next exclusive private game lodge. After high
tea, set out on an afternoon game drive in an open safari vehicle. Experienced
game rangers and trackers are sure to enthrall you with the best game viewing
this private reserve has to offer. Enjoy a truly African cultural experience and
bush dinner (weather permitting) before retiring to your luxurious villa.
Thanda Private Game Reserve or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 2
game viewing activities
Day 06
Enjoy an early morning game drive. After brunch, travel to St Lucia, a World
Heritage Site. Set out on a river cruise over the estuary known as 'birder's
paradise'. Here pelicans, fish eagles, hippos and crocodiles may be seen. Drive
through sugar cane plantations along the Indian Ocean seaboard toward the
bustling city of Durban where the day concludes at a luxurious resort hotel on
Durban's pristine North coast.
Zimbali Lodge or similar - bed and breakfast basis
Day 07
Enjoy a full day at leisure. This jewel in the crown of KwaZulu-Natal's pristine
coastline offers its guests the opportunity to relax or explore. The hotel
itself is sheer luxury and provides a myriad of contexts for relaxation. For the
ultimate in self-indulgence, treat yourself to a day soaking up the sun and
enjoying the beaches of the warm Indian Ocean.
Zimbali Lodge - bed and breakfast basis
Day 08
Morning at leisure followed by a private transfer to Durban International
Airport for the scheduled flight to Port Elizabeth (not included). You are met
on arrival in Port Elizabeth and transferred to the hotel.
Protea Hotel Marine (Loft Wing) or similar - bed and breakfast basis
Day 09
Departing Port Elizabeth, enter the Garden Route via the high forests of the
Tsitsikamma Mountains. Spectacular scenery awaits you as you cross the bridge
over the Storms River where photographic opportunities abound. Attractions to be
visited through the Tsitsikamma Forest area include the Big Tree and the
suspension bridge over Storms River mouth where we will take a meal stop (not
included). Continue to Nature's Valley and enjoy a short stroll on the beach.
Travel to the 'millionaires playground' of Plettenberg Bay to the exclusive
hotel with its spectacular views. Enjoy a superb dinner served in the dining
room or terrace (weather permitting).
The Plettenberg or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis
Day 10
After breakfast, depart on a fascinating ocean safari adventure where various
whales, dolphins, penguins and seals can be seen in their natural habitat
(weather and sea conditions permitting). Between noon and early afternoon, relax
and enjoy a meal option of your choice (not included). After lunch, enjoy a hard
earned lazy afternoon at the hotel, around the pool or soaking up the sun on the
spectacular beach. For those interested in Knysna, your driver/guide will
perform an afternoon excursion to the 'oyster capital' where you can stroll
along the Knysna waterfront and observe the famous heads from the top of the
eastern Knysna Head. Here, spectacular panoramic views of the lagoon may also be
enjoyed. In the early evening, freshen up for an elegantly presented and
sumptuous dinner.
The Plettenberg or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis
Day 11
After breakfast, start the day with a scenic drive through Knysna, Wilderness,
Dolphin Point and George. Continue over the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn. Time
permitting; an optional extra tour of the Crocodile and Cheetah Park is
available. The remainder of the afternoon is spent visiting the Cango Caves for
a fully guided tour. After returning to the hotel, enjoy a hearty dinner served
in the elegant dining room famous for its ostrich fare and fine wines.
Rosenhof Country House or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis
Day 12
After an early breakfast, our journey to Cape Town begins. Leaving the Klein
Karoo, visit the towns of Calitzdorp and Barrydale where the true diversity of
landscapes is highlighted through the everchanging semi-desert areas. Traverse
the famous Route 62, passing through the towns of Robertson and on to Worcester
via Montagu. The day ends with the first glimpse of Table Mountain, from the top
of Du Toit's Kloof Pass and drop off at your hotel or at Cape Town International
Airport.
AT A GLANCE
Accommodation
- 5 Star hotels and private game lodges
- Wellness treatment opportunities at specified properties
Flights
- Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth, not included
- Flights may be arranged through your agent or our central ticketing entity The
Flight Zone
Driver / Guide
- Services of SA Tourism registered driver/guides throughout the tour
- Wildlife viewing with an experienced local guide/ranger and tracker
Main Attractions
- Cultural and historical Johannesburg, featuring Constitution Hill, Newtown
and northern suburbs
- Panorama Route featuring Pilgrim s Rest, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke s Luck
Potholes, God s Window and Lisbon Falls
- World famous Kruger National Park, rich in fauna and flora, with game viewing
in open safari vehicles
- Royal Kingdom of Swaziland
- Thanda Private Reserve with game viewing in open safari vehicles
- Greater St Lucia Wetlands National Park, a World Heritage Site - estuary river
cruise
- Pristine, unspoilt KwaZulu-Natal beaches
- Scenic Garden Route featuring attractions such as Bloukrans, Stormsriver,
Tsitsikamma
Forest, Big Tree and Nature s Valley - The oyster capital of Knysna
- Ocean safari viewing various whales (in season), dolphins, seals and penguins
at a 50m range
- The ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn, with a tour of an ostrich farm and fully
guided tour of the Cango Caves
- Magical Cape Town featuring: Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
and Cape Point, Malay Quarter, world famous and award winning wine estates
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