Sublime South Africa
A comprehensive trip: travel from Cape Town along the magnificent garden route, explore the big cities and safari parks of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal & return on the world-famous Blue Train
A comprehensive trip: travel from Cape Town along the magnificent garden route, explore the big cities and safari parks of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal & return on the world-famous Blue Train
Upon arrival at Cape Town Airport, you, our guests, will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your accommodation in the heart of the South African winelands, Akademie Street. A hire-car will be provided on whichever day of your stay in Franschhoek you require it.
Over the next few days, you can visit nearby Cape Town, with its numerous attractions, explore the winelands around Franschhoek.
Today, you can indulge in some wine-tasting , go cage-diving with great white sharks and whale watching in Hermanus or visit one of the many beaches in the area.
After breakfast, you will leave Franschhoek and drive down Route 62 to Oudsthoorn, through the Little Karoo via Montagu, where you will spend 1 night. During your stay here you can enjoy a meerkat safari at sunrise, where you will be taken to see these fascinating creatures emerge from their burrows. The town’s heritage as an ostrich producer means you can also try ostrich-riding or buy numerous ostrich-related souvenirs around town.
Today, you will cross over the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to the Garden Route, passing through the towns of George and Knysna on your way to Plettenberg Bay where you will spend 2 nights.
Today, ease gently into the day with a generous breakfast served on the veranda, complete with its spectacular view of the ocean, before setting off to explore the many surrounding attractions or relax around the pool, soaking up the sun.
After breakfast, you will drive to Addo Elephant National Park, where you will spend 1 night in Camp Figtree, going on a game-drive in the evening and morning to view wildlife.
After breakfast, you will drive to Port Elizabeth Airport, where you will drop off your hire car and catch a flight to Durban, where you will spend 1 night in Lalaria Lodge. Activities around the Durban beachfront and hotel include visiting uShaka marine world, where you can swim with sharks, golf, a dolphin-viewing cruise and visits to various nature reserves and parks around Durban.
After breakfast, you drive through the Natal Midlands to the Zulu War battlefields, where you will spend 2 nights at Fugitives’ Drift Guest House on a full-board basis.
You will be provided with a battlefields tour of Rorke’s Drift, where 150 British fought off 4,000 Zulu warriors, (the film Zulu was based on this battle) and Isandlwana (the battle in Zulu Dawn), where the British were butchered by the Zulus earlier the same day. The tours are fascinating, even if you have no interest in history.
After breakfast set out for Ghost Mountain, where you will spend 1 night at Ghost Mountain Inn. An array of wildlife and coastal reserves lie on its doorstep, such as Mkuze and Lake Jozini, which you can visit during game-drives, guided walks, cultural excursions and boat cruises, all in the company of knowledgeable rangers. Back at the hotel, the spa offers a range of skin and body treatments, and the main pool, situated in the inn’s beautiful gardens, provides the perfect respite after a busy day.
Carry on into Swaziland and towards your accommodation, Forester Arms, where you will spend 1 night on a bed & breakfast basis. Its pleasantly decorated rooms are reminiscent of a Scottish country manor, with similar activities on offer, such as fishing, hiking, tennis, golf, boules and even croquet.
Leave Swaziland and crossing the Crocodile River pass into the Kruger National Park, where you will spend 2 nights in Berg-en-Dal Main Camp.
You can drive around the Kruger at leisure, allowing you to explore the park and view wildlife at your own pace.
After leaving the Kruger drive on to Johannesburg, where you will stay at Melrose Arch Hotel for 2 nights on a bed & breakfast basis. A complimentary shuttle to/from Sandton Gautrain station means that you can visit the famous shops of downtown Johannesburg without having to worry about any danger or difficulty in getting into town. The hotel and surrounded area is also patrolled by 24hr security.
At Leisure
After a relaxing 2 days in Johannesburg, drive through Magaliesburg and Rustenburg to Sun City, where you will spend 2 nights at Sun City Cascades on a bed & breakfast basis.
Sun City, a Las Vegas-esque casino and luxury resort, may be a bit garish; however, there is endless entertainment on offer, such as the casinos, relaxing in the extravagant pools and gardens around the hotel, safaris and golf.
Drive back to Gauteng, this time heading to Pretoria, where you will spend 1 night at Cricklewood Manor. Although Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, and therefore not as exciting as South Africa’s other principal cities, it does have charm; the jacaranda-lined streets and museums are worth a visit and fine-dining can be found in the centre.
In the morning you will be transferred by one of our representatives to Pretoria Station to catch the Blue Train, on which you will spend 1 night en-route to Cape Town. There will be pre-departure drinks in the train station lounge and formal dress is required for dinner on-board.
Upon arrival at Cape Town Station you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to Victoria & Albert Hotel for 2 nights on a bed & breakfast basis.
Over the next few days you can explore the city of Cape Town and have a few extra days to do some last minute shopping or any trips you missed out on during the first few days of your trip.
After check-out on your final morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.