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CULTURAL TOUR

Travel itinerary

Date

Day 1

Johannesburg – Tzaneen

Pick up by the guide (or self-drive option) at the International Airport in Johannesburg. We continue to the

500 ha Modjadji Nature Reserve, famous for its unique encephalartos transvenosus palmferns and the Balobedu culture and the Rain Queen. The reserve has the largest concentration of palmfern in the world. The largest plants are 13 meter high. These plants are delcared a National Monument.

Overnight including breakfast in Tzaneen.

Day 2

Tzaneen – Hazyview

Breathtaking views over the Blyderivierspoort Nature reserve and  God’s Window, with ravines up to 700 meter deep and when a clear day a view up to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the World. Enjoy the view over the 3 Rondavels (3 mountains in the shape of a traditional African hut) and the Bourkes Luck Potholes where nature has created bizarre holes in the rocks. We continue to Hazyview and visit the Shangana Cultural Village (or a cultural show in the hotel) where we see the traditional lifestyle of the Shangana people.

Overnight including breakfast in the Kruger National Park area.

Day 3

Hazyview – Kruger National Park

A visit to the famous Kruger National Park. Full day game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles or a drive with your own car through the reserve. This is Big-5 country (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard an buffalo).

Overnight including breakfast.

Day 4

Hazyview – Swaziland

Travel through the small Kingdom of Swaziland. Visit to a glass and candle factory, two specialities from the Swazi people. Overnight in a lovely hotel near the capital Mbabane. Overnight including breakfast.

Day 5

Swaziland - Eshowe

Driving through a beautiful landscape and back to South Africa in the Kwazulu-Natal Province, a agricultural area with traditional Zulu villages. We will meet the traditional Zulu during a cultural show. Overnight in a traditional Zulu Village (Shakaland or Simunye), including a traditional meal and cultural show.

Eshowe – Hluhluwe/Umfolozi National Park - Durban

Untouched African bush in the Hluhluwe Nature Resave, established in 1895 and one of the oldest reserves in Africa. Savannah plains, dense bush and riverbanks, this is Big Five country. The reserve is the proud home of  2000 black and white rhinos. Game drive in the reserve with open 4x4 safari vehicles. Overnight in the Durban region including breakfast.

Durban – Port Elizabeth

Two options: an inland flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth or a drive through the formal homeland Transkei with overnight (extra night) in Umtata where you can visit the Nelson Mandela Museum. You can also have a look in Mandela's home village near Umtata.

Overnight incuding breakfast.

Port Elizabeth – Garden Route

Driving along the Indian Ocean to the Tsitsikamma National Park. We continue to Knysna, a picturesque town along the picturesque Knysna Lagoon. Visit to the Knysna Heads, Featherbed Nature Reserve or a cruise on the lagoon.

Overnight including breakfast.

Knysna – Cape Town

Visit to one of the most romantic beaches in the region before driving off to Cape Town (or extra night in Knysna - to be recommended).

Overnight in Knysna or Cape Town.

West Coast Region

Drive along the West Coast with visit to the West Coast Fossil Park, a formal phosphate mine where thousands of fossils are found from extinct species, and a visit to the West Coast National Park. The national Park is famous for its beautiful lagoon and flower carpets during springtime.

Overnight in the region.

West Coast – Cape Town

Visit to South Africa's Mother City. We take the 360° rotating cable car to the top of Table Mountain. City trip with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope, VOC Botanical Gardens, South African Museum and the colourful Bo-Kaap.

Overnight including breakfast

Cape of Good Hope - Cape Peninsula

Once described as the "the fairest Cape of all". Drive along the Atlantic cost to Hout Bay and via Chapman's Peak Drive to the Cape Point Nature Reserve where we visit the famous Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

Overnight including breakfast.

Cape Winelands

Only 40 minutes from Cape Town. A visit to Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Wine tasting and cellar visit are a must. Visit to Dorps Museum in Stellenbosch, Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek and Language Monument in Paarl.

Overnight including breakfast in the winelands. 

Cape Town region

Driving along the famous Groote Schuur Hospital where the first heart transplant was performed by doctor Christian Barnhard. Visit to Rhodes Memorial, a monument in honou of John Cecil Rhodes and the grande dame Groot Constantia, one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa and ones owned by the first Cape governor, Simon van der Stel. Visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in the afternoon.

Overnight including breakfast.

Hermanus

Leaving Cape Town via the Sir Lowry’s Pass into the direction of Hermanus. Visit to the beautiful Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Betty's Bay.

Hermanus is a small fishermen town, known as one of the best whale sightings in the world (from May to November).

The Whale Crier, a famous character in town, walks through the streets and announces where the whales are seen.

A walk in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve is an interting tip.

Overnight in Hermanus.

Hermanus – Cape Town

Driving back to Cape Town via the coastal route. Depending on your return flight a possible visit to the beach in Gordon's Bay or Strand. Transfer to the Cape Town International Airport.