Sensational South Africa

Itinerary

Day 1 – UK – In flight

Titans VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Johannesburg.

UK – In flight

Day 2 – Johannesburg – Pretoria – Sandton

We arrive in Joburg this morning and transfer to Pretoria, where well enjoy an orientation tour. The attractive centre is less cosmopolitan than youd expect from a suburb of Johannesburg. Well see leafy neighbourhoods, wide streets lined with jacarandas and old architecture. Well stop by the hilltop monument that commemorates the settling of South Africas interior by the Boer pioneers, known as Voortrekkers. We stay overnight in Sandton, a hub, where there are plentiful shopping opportunities.

Excursions & visits:

Pretoria orientation tour (afternoon)

Protea Balalaika Hotel, Sandton (4-star)

Day 3 – Panorama Route – Kruger National Park

Today well wind along the beautiful Panorama Route into the state of Mpumalanga. Well pass through Pilgrims Rest – a historic spot frozen in time since the 19th-century gold rush. If the weather is good, well stop at Gods Window for captivating views across a 900m gorge filled with trees, shrubs and wildlife. If the skies are clear enough, youll even be able to spot Kruger National Park in the distance.

Excursions & visits:

Visits to Voortrekker Monument; and Pilgrims Rest and Gods Window (all day)

Protea Kruger Gate Hotel (4-star)

Day 4 – Kruger National Park

We delve deep into the Kruger this morning on our first game drive of the trip. We set off before sunrise and watch the bush wake up around us as we seek out our first sightings of the Big Five – lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos. Dont forget your camera and your binoculars – theres always something to see, with 150 species of mammals roaming the bush, together with hundreds of birds and Lowveld flora. After a morning spent spying on lions and snapping photos of glorious giraffes, well stop for a well-earned break at a rest point. But not for too long – well do it all over again this afternoon.

Excursions & visits:

Game drive (all day)

Protea Kruger Gate Hotel (4-star)

Day 5 – Kruger National Park

A full day to do as you like. You can spend today at leisure to recuperate by the pool, or return into the Kruger on an optional game drive for more wildlife action.

Protea Kruger Gate Hotel (4-star)

Day 6 – Johannesburg – Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

This morning we make the drive back to Johannesburg for our flight to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Steeped in history and edged by long swathes of golden sand, it doesnt take long to get a sense of what Gqeberha is all about. A world away from the bustle of Johannesburg, this laid-back province takes it one day at a time.

Boardwalk Hotel, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) (5-star)

Day 7 – Tsitsikamma National Park – Knysna

We head off for one of the most scenic drives in South Africa – the Garden Route. This thrilling drive offers dramatic coastline, idyllic beaches and rolling hills – theres a picture-worthy moment at every turn, so make sure you keep your camera handy. Well pause at Storms River to soak up the views of the forest and famous coastline. We arrive in Knysna, the real heartland of the Garden Route, this afternoon. This vibrant town hugs a sparkling lagoon – the hub of activity.

Excursions & visits:

Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River & the Garden Route (morning)

Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays (4-star)

Day 8 – Knysna

With the lagoon a real part of day-to-day life in Knynsa, wed be missing a trick if we didnt take to the water during our stop here. We board our ferry and head out across the lagoon to the western headland to stop at Featherbed Nature Reserve. Our guide will ensure we see the most magnificent viewpoints as we explore, and you can choose a guided walk through the coastal forest and fynbos – all before lunch! Stepping back into Knynsa, the afternoon is yours to explore as you please.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to Featherbed Nature Reserve (morning)

Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays (4-star)

Day 9 – Oudtshoorn – Cape Town

Leaving Knysna behind, we cross the Outeniqua Mountains that separate the lush coastal area from the arid Klein Karoo. We arrive in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, where youll get up close to these fascinating creatures on a guided tour. This afternoon we continue to the last stop on our tour, Cape Town.

Excursions & visits:

Tour of ostrich farm (morning)
Drive along spectacular Route 62 from Oudtshoorn to Swellendam (afternoon)

Southern Sun The Cullinan Hotel, Cape Town (5-star)

Day 10 – Cape Town

The Mother City is a vibrant fusion of culture, cuisine and scenery. The Atlantic Ocean claws at its bustling waterfront, while flat-topped Table Mountain crowns the city to the south. Well spend a day exploring all that lies between the two, starting with a half-day city tour taking in the buzzing waterfront and the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. If weather allows, well also take a cable car trip to the top of Table Mountain to drink in the views of the city and beyond. The afternoon is at leisure to spend as you please. Perhaps head back down to the V&A Waterfront for a cocktail and people-watching in the sunshine, or dive into the citys poignant history at the District Six Museum.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Cape Town including Table Mountain cable car (weather permitting) (morning)

Southern Sun The Cullinan Hotel, Cape Town (5-star)