South Africa Tour with Trafalgar – Save $1,744 per couple*

DAY 1 – WELCOME TO JOHANNESBURG

Your seamless South African journey begins with an airport transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport to your hotel. Settle in to the pace of Africa’s most energetic city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner.

Accommodation: The Maslow Hotel Johannesburg

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2 – JOURNEY TO THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA

The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa’s Lowveld. Admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, you’ll venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, your home for two nights.

Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort Hazyview

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included experiences: Scenic Drive Along Panorama Route

DAY 3 – SAFARI IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Connect with nature and explore South Africa’s oldest and most iconic national park in the company of a Local Specialist. Uncover the secrets of the bushveld and keep a lookout for the magnificent Big Five, the Little Five and everything in between. See the glistening yellow golden orb spider waiting on her web, smell the damp scent of acacia trees in the early morning and keep your head down in search of animal spoor. Spend your afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort Hazyview

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included experiences: Kruger National Park Tour LS

DAY 4 – ONWARDS TO ESWATINI

Travel to landlocked Eswatini and get a real feel for the local culture. You’ll visit a Swazi Chief’s village, meet the community and learn about their way of life before sampling some of the local pap and stew. Admire their striking crimson traditional dress up close and feel the beat of this vibrant culture during a spirited drumming class. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to the villagers and their traditions.

Accommodation: Royal Swazi Spa Hotel Mbabane

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Included experiences: Visit a Local Chief’s Village in Eswatini

DAY 5 – HEAD TO HLUHLUWE

Venture to the ‘garden of province’ of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, you’ll arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4×4 game drive. This evening, enjoy a delicious South African braai (weather dependent) – a perfect way to end the day.

Accommodation: ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Optional experiences:

DAY 6 – VENTURE TO DURBAN (UMHLANGA ROCKS)

Board an optional morning cruise on Lake St. Lucia and get up close to the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife residing in the estuary. Alternatively, explore the town of St. Lucia. Continue south to Durban for an effortless encounter with this tropical east coast hub, beginning with a delicious curry buffet at The Oyster Box Hotel, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a seaside hotel that captures the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Accommodation: The Oyster Box Durban

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included experiences: Durban Orientation

Optional experiences: St. Lucia Boat Cruise

DAY 7 – MAKE TRACKS FOR THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

Venture through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills bound for the spectacular escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. The Underberg’s vibrant arts and crafts scene and stunning setting provide a beautiful backdrop for a morning drive. You’ll continue to the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and stay overnight.

Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass Southern Drakensberg

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included experiences: Valley of 1000 Hills Scenic Drive

DAY 8 – A DAY IN THE DRAKENSBERG

Enjoy the freedom to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site your way. You might choose to join an Optional Experience and head off-road on a 4×4 Sani Pass adventure, climbing to 2,874 m (9,429 ft) and crossing into Lesotho. Stop to take in the incredible mountain views from Africa’s highest pub, before enjoying lunch at another local spot en route. Prefer to keep things low-key? Stay grounded and soak up the Drakensberg’s dramatic beauty at your own pace.

Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass Southern Drakensberg

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Optional experiences: Sani Pass 4×4 Tour with Lunch

DAY 9 – ON THE ROAD TO THE EASTERN CAPE BEACHES

From enigmatic mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, venture through the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover the legacy of Nelson Mandela at his birthplace in Xunu, then enjoy the unspoiled Wild Coast beaches of Chintsa, where the only footprints in the sand will be yours.

Accommodation: Crawfords Beach Lodge Eastern Cape

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included experiences: Xunu Orientation

DAY 10 – TRAVEL TO GQEBERHA

Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surroundings before your journey to Gqeberha. Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, a quality you’ll experience first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.

Accommodation: Boardwalk Hotel Gqeberha

Meals: Breakfast

Included experiences: Gqeberha Orientation

DAY 11 – ON TO TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK AND KNYSNA

Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma’s giant and ancient Yellowwoods, then arrive at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella’s work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. It is famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads, which stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon, shielding the town from the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Meals: Breakfast, Knysna Traditional Meal

Included experiences: Knysna Traditional Meal and Visit the Emzini Organisation in Knysna

DAY 12 – KNYSA YOUR WAY

You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head.

Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Meals: Breakfast

Optional experiences: Featherbed Nature Reserve Eco Experience with lunch

DAY 13 – CONTINUE TO CAPE TOWN

Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).

Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast

Included experiences: Cape Town Orientation

DAY 14 – CAPE TOWN YOUR WAY

Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit the infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at dinner with your travelling companions, indulging in delicious Cape Malay speciality dishes.

Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Optional experiences: Cape Peninsula Tour – Full Day or Cape Winelands Tour – Full Day or Robben Island Tour or Cape Town Helicopter Flight – 12 Minutes

DAY 15 – FAREWELL CAPE TOWN

Bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast