Grand tour of South Africa

Grand tour of South Africa

Dates: 23^rd August-8^th September

Visiting:

Pretoria, Hazyview, Kruger National Park, Eswatini-Swaziland, St Lucia, Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma National Park, Oudtshoorn & Cape Town

WEDNESDAY, 23RD AUGUST/THURSDAY, 24TH AUGUST

We meet at the airport at 12.30 pm for our Emirates flight that leaves Malta at 3.35 pm and arrives in Dubai at 1.05 am. We then board our flight to South Africa departing at 4.05 am and arriving in Johannesburg at 10.15 am. Transfer to our hotel in Pretoria or Dullstoom & check in at The Maslow Time Square (or similar). Welcome dinner included.

FRIDAY, 25TH AUGUST

Breakfast, check-out, and then we make our way to Hazyview, visiting the magnificent Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes (included), and God’s window on the way. This is referred to as the Panorama Route. Our overnight stay in Hazyview is at Hippo Hollow Country Estate (or similar). Dinner – included.

SATURDAY, 26TH AUGUST

Early wake-up call. We depart at about 5.30 am for the Kruger National Park in search of the Big 5. Our safari in an open 4×4 vehicle safari-vehicles will end at about 4.00 pm back at the hotel. (Today packed breakfast will be provided). The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa, remaining white rhinos, together with other animals such as buffalo, elephants, black rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs & giraffes, and one of the few viable lion populations in southern Africa. Dinner – included.

SUNDAY, 27TH AUGUST

Breakfast and we check out. We make our way to the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini. At the border we will stop at a cultural village where we understand the way natives live and enjoy dancing, drumming, and singing with them. Entering through Jeppe’s Reef Border Post, we will continue to the Ngwenya Glass Works for a quick lunch – a charming complex set in large indigenous gardens considered one of Swaziland’s/Eswatini’s major tourist attractions. Upon arrival at Mbabane, Estwani we check in at Foresters Arms Hotel (or similar). Dinner – included.

MONDAY, 28TH AUGUST

After breakfast, check out and we set off to explore more of Africa. Our first stop is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where we will enjoy the “Umphakatsi Cultural Experience”, visiting a local homestead. Our next stop is at the Swazi Candle Factory which colourful handmade products featuring wax-encased lights, pure vegetables glycerine soaps, and marula body products. We cross over the border at Golela Border Post and travel to Mkuze, a small town situated in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Overnight at Ghost Mountain Inn, in Mkuze (or similar) Dinner – is included.

TUESDAY, 29TH AUGUST

Early check-out with breakfast boxes to meet our rangers in 4×4 safari vehicles this morning at Memorial Gate for a 4–5-hour game drive. Enjoy the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, proclaimed the oldest reserve in Africa. 96,000 hectares of wilderness, rolling hills and magnificent wildlife await you. Lunch and a visit at Dumazulu, South Africa’s biggest Cultural Village – situated in the heart of Zululand. Lunch – included. St Lucia was primarily known as a fishing destination before the establishment of the iSimangaliso Wetland World Heritage site in 1999. Overnight stay at Elephant Lake hotel (or similar) in St Lucia.

WEDNESDAY, 30TH AUGUST

After breakfast, we are transferred St Lucia Estuary, also South Africa’s first world heritage site, where we will embark on a 2-hour hippo and croc cruise safari. The Estuary is home to 800 Hippos and approximately 1200 Nile Crocodiles and an abundance of bird life. This afternoon will be at leisure to enjoy the beautiful town of St. Lucia where one can see beautiful, luxurious houses. Dinner – included.

THURSDAY, 31ST AUGUST

Today, we have breakfast, and check out and we are transferred to King Shaka Int Airport, Durban, for our domestic flight. We drive along the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal for the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). Upon arrival, we have a transfer from Chief David Stuurman Airport to Jeffreys Bay where we can enjoy a quick walk on the white sands of the bay. Our overnight will be at Hotel Mandeville (or similar). Dinner – included.

FRIDAY, 1ST SEPTEMBER

After breakfast, we will check out. We travel via the coastline to the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park ‘garden of the Garden Route’. One can enjoy a walk along the suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth gorge which offers incredible views. We then proceed to visit Kay & Monty Vineyard in Plettenberg Bay. Upon arrival at Knysna, we proceed to our hotel – Belvedere Manor Estate (or similar) and check in, Dinner – included.

SATURDAY, 2ND SEPTEMBER

Breakfast and transfer to Knysna Waterfront where we will board a ferry in order to visit Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated on the Western Head of Knysna, for a 3-hour eco-experience. Return ferry trip – 4×4 vehicle & trailer drive – Reserve Walk followed by lunch (included) under the milkwood trees on this small Island. Dinner (extra) either at the Hotel or overlooking the sunset at Brenton-on-Sea. This afternoon option to enjoy an optional whale-watching boat cruise or relax on the beach (weather permitting).

SUNDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER

We enjoy breakfast and later we make our way to Oudtshoorn – the ‘ostrich capital’ of the world. Oudtshoorn is a small town situated with the Swarberg mountains to its north and the Quteniqua Mountains to its south. We stop at an authentic working ostrich farm in the Schoeman’s Valley for a guided tour where we will learn about different kinds of ostriches and have the possibility to buy some ostrich products. Time permitting, we will also visit the Cango Caves, a cultural and natural heritage of South Africa, for a standard one-hour tour. Dinner – included. Overnight stay in Oudtshoorn at De Opstal Country Lodge (or similar).

MONDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER

The opportunity before breakfast for an optional excursion to enjoy a 1-1.5-hour meerkat experience. Check out and transfer to Cape Town via Barrydale, on a scenic Route, referred to as 62. Barrydale is a village located on the border of the Overberg and Klein Karoo regions of the Western Cape Province. Upon arrival in Cape Town, we check in at The Commodore Hotel (or similar) for our 3-night stay. Dinner – included.

TUESDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER

After breakfast, we travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton, and Camps Bay to Hout Bay (optional boat trip to Seal Island). We later continue via Chapman’s Peak (weather permitting) to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve (funicular included) and then to historic Simon’s Town – a village with charming Victorian architecture, and a naval base. We will stop at the beautiful Boulders Beach where we can enjoy watching a large colony of penguins wobbling along the beach and diving for fish. Today’s lunch is included.

WEDNESDAY, 6TH SEPTEMBER

Early breakfast and travel to the heart of the Cape Winelands through superb mountain ranges, vineyards, and Cape Dutch homesteads. We plan to visit an artist’s garden with sculptures on display in Stellenbosch. This artist is among the few living artists to have held solo auctions at Christie’s London. More than 60 sculptures have been carefully sited along 4 km of paths. Next a Wine Estate for wine tasting. Lunch – included.

THURSDAY, 7TH SEPTEMBER/FRIDAY, 8TH SEPTEMBER

On our last day in South Africa, we have an early breakfast and check out. We then are transferred to Table Mountain (weather permitting) where we have access (extra) to one of eight natural wonders of the world with a cable car. The panoramic views from the top of its 3,563-foot (1,086-meter) peak are well worth the visit. Later we proceed to Cape Town International Airport for our flight back to Malta which departs at 6.20 pm to Dubai, This is followed by the flight from Dubai to Malta departing at 8.00 am (8th September) and arriving at 2.05 pm.

PRICE PER PERSON

Adult in Triple (on request)

Adult in Twin €4173

Adult in Single €4653

The minimum group size is based on 20 passengers

PRICE INCLUDES:

Return flights with Emirates to Johannesburg / from Cape Town via Dubai Internal flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth (Ggeberha)

14 nights’ accommodation in 3* & 4* hotels as indicated (or similar)

12 buffet breakfasts, 2 packed breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 10 dinners

All excursions are guided by an English-speaking guide as per the itinerary

All the entrances, as mentioned in the program

All transfers as per program

Service of a tour leader

All taxes Insolvency fund

Note:

A Maltese passport with a validity date of 6 months beyond the departure date Vaccines:

Kindly check with the National Immunisation Service at Floriana Health center.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

Isimangaliso Easter Shore Sunset Drive / Night drive Safari on 30 Aug R520/€29

Dolphin ocean cruise in St Lucia on 30 Aug TBA

Close encounter Whale watching R1365/€75

Table Mountain, Cape Town cable car R380/€22

Circle Launces, Seal Island & Sentinal Mountain boat trip R100/€8