Safari, Garden Route & the Cape

Two Pilanesberg safaris, Sun City, ostriches and caves in Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and Cape Town.

Your route

1. 1 Johannesburg 1 night
2. 2 Pilanesberg 1 night
3. 3 Sun City 2 nights
4. 4 Knysna 2 nights
5. 5 Cape Town 3 nights

1. Day 1 Johannesburg

   Arrive, check in.

   Welcome to South Africa. On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, our driver meets you for a private transfer to your hotel in Sandton, the city's modern business and shopping district. Check in and rest after the flight. In the evening, walk around Nelson Mandela Square, with its tall bronze statue of Madiba, and Sandton City mall, where you will find restaurants serving many cuisines, including Indian food. Keep valuables out of sight and use hotel taxis at night. Overnight in Johannesburg.

2. Day 2 Pilanesberg

   Drive to the park, afternoon safari.

   After breakfast, drive from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park, about two and a half hours. The park lies inside the crater of an ancient volcano and is home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Check in to your safari lodge and enjoy lunch. In the late afternoon, set out on your first game drive in an open vehicle with an experienced ranger, as the animals become active in the cooler hours. Dinner at the lodge under the African sky. Overnight in Pilanesberg.

3. Day 3 Sun City

   Morning safari, on to Sun City.

   Wake before sunrise for a second game drive, the best time to spot lions and leopards returning from the night's hunt. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then transfer a short distance to Sun City. Check in and spend the afternoon exploring the resort and the Lost City, built around the legend of a lost African palace. Walk across the Bridge of Time, which shakes every hour, and relax by the pool. Carry binoculars and a warm layer for the open vehicle. Overnight in Sun City.

4. Day 4 Sun City

   Free day, Valley of the Waves.

   A free day at Sun City. Spend it at the Valley of the Waves, a water park with a large wave pool, sandy beach and water slides, included in your stay. You can also try zip-lining, quad biking or golf at extra cost, or try your luck at the casino. Families enjoy the maze and the resort's gardens. In the evening, dine at one of the resort's many restaurants. It is a relaxed day after two safaris. Overnight in Sun City.

5. Day 5 Knysna

   Fly to George, drive to Knysna.

   Today, travel south to the Garden Route. Drive to Johannesburg airport for a flight to George, about two hours, then continue by road to Knysna, about one hour. Knysna is a pretty town on a large lagoon, protected from the ocean by two sandstone cliffs called the Knysna Heads. In the evening, visit the Knysna Waterfront for dinner, and try the local oysters if you like seafood. Domestic flight timings are confirmed with your booking, and our driver waits at George airport. Overnight in Knysna.

6. Day 6 Knysna

   Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves and ostriches.

   A day trip to Oudtshoorn, about one and a half hours inland, the ostrich capital of the world. Visit an ostrich farm to learn about these huge birds, then explore the Cango Caves, a beautiful system of limestone chambers formed over millions of years. Continue to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, where you can see cheetahs, white lions and crocodiles up close. Return to Knysna through the mountain passes and enjoy a quiet evening by the lagoon. Wear comfortable shoes for the caves. Overnight in Knysna.

7. Day 7 Cape Town

   Garden Route drive to Cape Town.

   Drive west along the Garden Route to Cape Town, about 490 km and six to seven hours, with stops on the way. Pass Wilderness, Mossel Bay and the farmlands of the Overberg, with views of mountains and beaches. Break for lunch at a roadside town. Arrive in Cape Town by late afternoon and check in. In the evening, visit the V&A Waterfront, a lively harbour with shops, restaurants and views of Table Mountain. Whales can be seen offshore from June to November. Overnight in Cape Town.

8. Day 8 Cape Town

   City, Table Mountain, wine tasting.

   A guided tour of Cape Town. Ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, whose cars rotate as they climb, for views over the city and coastline, weather permitting. Visit the colourful Bo-Kaap quarter and the Company's Garden. In the afternoon, drive to Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa, founded in 1685, for a tasting and a walk through the Cape Dutch manor house and vineyards. Non-alcoholic options are available. The mountain is often covered by cloud, called the tablecloth. Overnight in Cape Town.

9. Day 9 Cape Town

   Cape Point, Boulders, Seal Island.

   A full day around the Cape Peninsula. From Hout Bay, take a boat to Seal Island, home to thousands of Cape fur seals. Drive along Chapman's Peak, one of the world's great coastal roads, to Cape Point. Ride the Flying Dutchman funicular up to the old lighthouse and walk to the Cape of Good Hope. On the way back, visit Boulders Beach to see the colony of African penguins walking on the sand. Return to Cape Town by evening. Overnight in Cape Town.

10. Day 10 Cape Town

    Departure.

    After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Depending on your flight time, enjoy some last shopping at the V&A Waterfront for rooibos tea, African crafts or South African wine. Our driver transfers you to Cape Town International Airport for your flight home. Please reach three hours before departure, and claim VAT refunds on eligible purchases at the airport. Pack wine bottles well in checked baggage. Your South Africa holiday ends here, with memories of safaris, mountains, penguins and two oceans meeting at the Cape.

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