| South Africa is home to many of the best managed and most pristine wildlife habitats in the world. The country is also renowned for its vast expanses of untouched wilderness. This journey is tailor-made for those who wish to experience a cross-section of the country's wilderness and wildlife, and we have paid attention to represent a diversity of experiences in the space of just 16 days. |
Day One
Arrive in Johannesburg. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, located in a plush residential suburb of the city. Relax in the environs of the hotel, and perhaps get some gift shopping out of the way at the nearby mall.
Days Two, Three and Four
Transfer to the domestic airport in time to catch the noon flight to Hoedspruit, the airport near the game lodge. Upon arrival in Hoedspruit, you will be met and transferred directly to the private game lodge where you will spend the next three nights. The lodge is set in the heart of the Timbavati game reserve, adjacent to the famous Kruger National Park.
A typical day at a private lodge consists of an early start, for the first of the day's wildlife viewing drives. These drives are done in open Land Rovers, which afford incredible viewing and photographic opportunities. In order to maximize the likelihood of encountering the "Big Five" of the African bush, namely lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, rhino and leopard, a tracker normally sits at the front of the vehicle to spot the telltale footprints of a passing animal. The safari returns to camp around midmorning, in time for a hearty brunch, followed by a few hours of relaxation in the vicinity of the camp. The second drive of the day departs after tea, and after a few hours of game viewing, you will stop for drinks while watching the sun sink below the horizon. After drinks, you will return slowly to camp, using a spotlight to locate the large predators, setting out on their evening hunting forays. Back at the camp, sumptuous cuisine will be served around the bonfire under the bright stars of the African sky.
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Day Five
Around noon on Day Five of your trip, you will transfer back to the airport in time for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in Cape Town, you will pick up your rental car from the airport office, and drive to your hotel, located close to the Waterfront area of the city. You will spend the next four nights in Cape Town.
Days Six, Seven and Eight
Cape Town is a stunning and vibrant city situated at the base of the 3000-foot high Table Mountain and surrounded by ocean, forested hills, wine farms and spectacular coastline. You will have three full days to see the city and its surrounds really well, and we have suggested a few activities that would make very good use of your time (Wildspace can arrange these activities in advance, or you keep things flexible and book them yourself as required).
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City Tour and Table Mountain
In order to familiarize you with the city, we recommend a half-day tour of Cape Town. A short tour might take in a visit to the V&A Waterfront (where there is a great aquarium for kids), a walk around the Cape Castle dating back to the 17th century, browsing the stalls at Greenmarket Square, and much more. A city tour however, is not complete without a trip to the summit of Table Mountain in the new revolving cable car in order to view the city and surrounding coastline from above!
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Cape Peninsula Drive
A drive around the Cape Peninsula is highly recommended. The spectacular drive takes you to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, where some people claim that the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet - others maintain they meet at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. An interesting stop on the way back to Cape Town is the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, near Simonstown. |
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Cape Winelands Tour
The Cape Winelands are located scarcely an hour from Cape Town near the town of Stellenbosch. There are numerous properties offering tours of the winemaking facilities and vineyards, and many offer free wine tastings. The region is fast becoming known for the quality wines produced here. |
Days Nine and Ten
Today you will depart early for Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, located on the coast just two hour's drive east of Cape Town. Have lunch en route in the picturesque seaside resort of Hermanus, before continuing to Grootbos, reaching the property around mid-afternoon. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing in the environs of this stunning property. The following day we highly recommend a half-day boat trip to view the endangered Great White Sharks that come to feed at the seal colony at nearby Dyer Island. The lodge offers plenty of other activities for those wanting a more sedate day.
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Dyer Island, very close to Grootbos Nature Reserve, is a breeding colony for jackass penguins while a colony of some 50,000 Cape Fur Seals is resident on nearby Geyser Island. A narrow channel separates the two islands, and it is here that the endangered Great White Sharks come to prey off unwary Fur Seals. A limited number of boats have been granted permission by the Department of Nature Conservation to operate tours to view these incredible fish.
The sharks are brought close to the boat using chum (ground up fish), and one then has the option of viewing them from aboard the boat, or from a cage dropped over the side (if one is a certified diver). These trips are highly recommended and very informative, and the operator that Wildspace uses contributes greatly to the gathering of knowledge about these sharks and thereby to their conservation. |
Days Eleven and Twelve
In the morning you will join up with the famous Garden Route, which you will follow for roughly five hours until you reach the coastal town of Knysna. Shortly after Knysna, you will reach the much-acclaimed Phantom Forest Eco Lodge where you will spend the next two nights. Optional activities here include mountain biking, canoeing, and forest walks, but the lodge also has a Wellness Centre where you can indulge yourself with full-body massages, aromatherapy massages, Swedish massages, Shiatsu, Reiki and other treatments.
Days Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen
After breakfast, proceed the very short distance to your next stop located only 18 kilometres past Plettenberg Bay. Hog Hollow Country Lodge, where you will spend the next three nights, has only twelve uniquely individual rooms, each offering uninterrupted views over the indigenous forests and Tsitsikamma Mountains. Spend the next two full days exploring this area with the lodge as your base. Suggested optional activities include boat-based whale and dolphin watching, scenic glider flights over the coastline, a visit to the nearby primate sanctuary, horse riding and river excursions, and magnificent forest walks.
Day Sixteen
Drive the few hours to the city of Port Elizabeth from where you will catch your return flight to Johannesburg. (If your return flight originates in Cape Town, a nice option would be to drive back to Cape Town on this day and overnight at the Spier Wine Estate, located close to the International airport.)
^Please note: An alternative to a private game lodge is to stay at the famous Kruger National park. Accommodation here is much less expensive than at the private lodges, but the accommodation and restaurants are basic (a typical hut is pictured to the right), and one is also required to drive oneself around the park in hired vehicles.
Request more information about this option. |
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Inclusions |
