14 Day Best of South Africa
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P a g e | 1 14 Day Best of South Africa Kruger National Park (Private Concession) - Mpumalanga Highlands - uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains - Durban - Addo Elephant National Park - Tsitsikamma National Park - Plettenberg Bay - Cape Town 14 Days / 13 Nights Trip Code: 14DBSA P a g e | 2 Introduction Our 14 Day Best of South Africa is one of our guided small group tours and has scheduled departure dates. Focusing on South Africa's most sought-after destinations and experiences, highlights include; Big Five safaris in the Kruger (Private Concession) and Addo Elephant National Parks, Drakensberg Mountains, lazing on a Durban beach, the Garden Route and exploring Cape Town and its breathtaking surrounds. This exceptional tour of South Africa includes handpicked accommodation, a professional guide / driver, air- conditioned transport, activities, most meals and park and entry fees. Start Accommodation Destination Duration Day 1 Rhino Post Safari Lodge Kruger National Park 2 Nights Day 3 Cherry Grove Mpumalanga Highlands 1 Night Day 4 The Cavern Resort & Spa uKhahlamba Drakensberg 2 Nights Mountains Day 6 Royal Palm Hotel Durban (Umhlanga Beach) 1 Night Day 7 Addo Rest Camp Addo Elephant National Park 1 Night Day 8 Storms River Mouth Rest Camp Tsitsikamma National Park 1 Night Day 9 AfriCamps at Ingwe Plettenberg Bay 2 Nights Day 11 Rouge on Rose Boutique Hotel Cape Town 3 Nights Price On request Included • 2 Nights en suite safari lodge accommodation, Kruger National Park (Private Concession) • 1 Night en suite Apartment accommodation, Mpumalanga Highlands • 2 Nights en suite mountain lodge accommodation, Drakensberg Mountains • 1 Night en suite hotel accommodation, Durban (Umhlanga) • 1 Night en suite chalet accommodation, Addo Elephant National Park • 1 Night en suite chalet accommodation, Storms River, Tsitsikamma National Park • 2 Nights en suite chalet accommodation, Plettenberg Bay • 3 Nights en suite hotel accommodation, Cape Town • Professional Fly in Safari Company guide / driver for the duration of the tour • Transport in air-conditioned minibus or 4x4 depending on group size • Meals included as per itinerary • All guided open vehicle game drives in the Kruger National Park • Drakensberg Mountains hiking trails • Umhlanga Beach P a g e | 3 • Guided game drives in Addo Elephant National Park • Storms River Village • Tsitsikamma National Park and hiking trails • Plettenberg Bay • Guided tour through the Knysna Forest • Cape Town • Cape Peninsula day tour including Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach penguin colony • Cape Winelands day tour • All park fees Excluded • Items of a personal nature • Visas • Flights • Meals not specified • Gratuities Day 1 Private Mutlumuvi Concession, Kruger National Park This vast country is undoubtedly one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth. Fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', South Africa has 11 official languages and its multicultural inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of African, Asian and European cultures. Spend your days: discovering the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches of Cape Town; enjoying a typical local braai; browsing the bustling Indian markets in Durban; or sampling some of the world’s finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting picturesque Cape Winelands. Above all else, South Africa’s attraction lies in its remarkably untamed wilderness with its astonishing range of wildlife roaming freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park. With all this variety on offer, it is little wonder that South Africa has fast become Africa’s most popular tourist destination. P a g e | 4 Stretching over more than two million hectares, the Kruger National Park is one of the world’s largest game reserves and a truly remarkable destination. Owing to its exceptional size, visitors can experience fantastic diversity – from changing scenery and ecosystems to an impressive array of animals, plant life and birdlife. The park is home to over 130 mammals and over 500 bird species. Visitors can look forward to learning about the area’s prehistoric past, enjoying a host of accommodation options, and viewing abundant wildlife including the famed Big Five. The diversity sheer density of wildlife makes Kruger National Park an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience. Day Itinerary Depart Johannesburg in the early morning and drive north with your guide towards the world-famous Kruger National Park. Once we enter the park we enjoy our first game drive en route to our camp located in a private concession within the park. We settle in and have time to relax before we head out on an afternoon game drive. Your naturalist guide will educate you on the surrounding landscapes and wildlife you will encounter. Due to the location of the private concession our game drive can carry on until after dark when we use spotlights. The area is home to the famous Big Five and much more. Return to camp after dark for dinner and relaxation around the campfire. Overnight: Kruger National Park (Rhino Post) A natural extension of the bush and landscape, Rhino Post Safari Lodge is the perfect base from which to explore South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park. Experience responsible eco-conscious tourism, affordable, stylish accommodation, knowledgeable guides and staggering biodiversity, including the highly publicised big five. Enjoy our relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and let us show you Africa’s heartbeat. Included All meals at camp, professional guide / driver, guided open vehicle day and night game drives, park fees Excluded Drinks P a g e | 5 Day 2 Private Mutlumuvi Concession, Kruger National Park Day Itinerary Spend the day exploring the Kruger National Park with your guide on guided open vehicle day and night game drives. The private concession allows us to explore parts of the park that are restricted from the public. Kruger is home to the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant), a huge variety of antelope species and other big game like giraffe and hippo, and excellent birdlife. Included All meals, professional guide / driver, guided open vehicle day and night game drives, park fees Day 3 Dullstroom, Mpumalanga Highlands Set high on the escarpment, the Mpumalanga Highlands feature endless savannah plains meeting steep mountain passes hugging rugged rocky cliffs. The Highlands of Mpumalanga are a playground for nature and adventure lovers. Several charming, high-altitude, grassland villages are scattered on a sea of cattle ranches which are interspersed with numerous trout fishing locations and mountain hideaways. Aside from the trout and quaint towns the highland scenery and flora and fauna are also major attractions. Visitors can enjoy several wonderful activities including: discovering crystal-clear streams and cascading waterfalls, visiting the Highland’s tourism mecca of Dullstroom, as well as horse riding, whiskey and beer tasting, hiking, fly fishing and much more. Day Itinerary Start the day with a morning game drive and return to camp for breakfast. The drive from camp to the exit gate will be your final Kruger game drive. Enjoy a scenic drive to the tiny hamlet of Dullstroom located in the Mpumalanga Highlands, arriving in the late afternoon. Dullstroom is a stopover en route to the Drakensberg Mountains. Rest of afternoon free to have a walk around the village. This evening you will enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants (own account). Overnight: Dullstroom (Cherry Grove Luxury Apartments) Located in Dullstroom, South Africa, Cherry Grove offers accommodation in a climate which has all year-round beauty. Guests have the option of en-suite bedrooms with double or two single beds; furthermore, there is a small kitchen featuring an oven hob and a double sink as well as a sitting area with a fireplace. The en-suite bathrooms include a bathtub, shower, and a separate toilet. P a g e | 6 Each apartment features a small balcony, underfloor heating, DSTV, tea and coffee-making facilities and a table with two chairs. Included Breakfast, professional guide / driver, guided open vehicle morning game drive, Dullstroom, park fees Excluded Lunch, dinner, drinks Day 4 Royal Natal National Park, uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains Located in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains fall within the eponymous park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its exceptional natural beauty featuring soaring mountains, hidden caves, dramatic rock formations, and sandstone embankments all blanketed by lush greenery. Visitors can spot an array of endemic species that thrive in the Drakensberg's diverse habitats including many endangered plant and bird species, discover the most concentrated group of rock paintings in Africa and soak up spectacular views of the magnificent Tugela Falls, the highest waterfall on the continent. Other popular activities include: hiking, bird watching and horse riding. Day Itinerary We depart Dullstroom after breakfast and drive south towards the majestic Drakensberg Mountains where we spend 2 nights at a mountain lodge. We reach our lodge in the afternoon and have time to settle in. The main attraction here is the mountains and the great variety of excellent hiking trails. For those not interested in hiking, there are plenty of facilities available at the lodge; swimming pool, spa, game and TV room, gardens and optional activities such as horse riding and quad biking to name a few. P a g e | 7 Overnight: Drakensberg Mountains (The Cavern) The Cavern Resort & Spa, named after the infamous Cannibal Cavern, is nestled in the foothills of the Northern Drakensberg in the Amphitheatre World Heritage Site area. A place of captivating beauty, it is surrounded by majestic mountains, lush indigenous forests and clear ’berg streams. Once a humble homestead, rustic and simple, today The Cavern is a comfortable home-from-home for many families who holiday in these majestic mountains. The Carte family has owned the Cavern for 75 years and from the outset have given guests memorable family holidays – not just a stay at a good lodge.