Your Grand Tour of South Africa starts in Johannesburg, from where we will depart for Hazyview in the province of Mpumalanga.

Along the way you will experience the incredible beauty of the Panorama Route, with its dramatic, mountainous landscapes and winding roads. With highlights like God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and of course the mighty Blyde River Canyon, this really is South Africa’s nature at its best!

We will arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon and you will have time to freshen up before dinner.

You will have an early start to the day and embark on an open-vehicle safari through Kruger National Park, an iconic reserve boasting a wildlife experience ranking among the best in Africa. You often see elephant, giraffe and various antelope species grazing close to your vehicle, and it is not unusual to find a pride of lions blocking our way! Kruger National Park is the land of baobabs and mopane trees underneath which you can find some of the Big Five and also an abundance of animals and birdlife.

We return to the hotel in the afternoon and you will have the rest of the day at leisure. You will have the option of another game drive in the evening (for your own account) and this is a good time to observe the animals as they come down to the waterholes for their evening drink. It is at this time of day that we may even witness a lion kill. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Today we will travel to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. This small country is nestled between South Africa and Mozambique and the beautiful scenery is mountainous with lush forests.

En route you will have the opportunity to learn more about the Swazi culture at the Matsamo Cultural Village, where we will also have lunch. We will also visit the famous Ngwenya Glass Works.

Your next stop is the capital city Mbabane, where you will find vibrant markets packed with woven baskets, beadwork and carvings. You will spend the night at a hotel in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley.

After breakfast at your hotel, we will visit the Swazi Candle Factory. Each candle you will see here is individually handmade and unique, displaying a wide range of colours, shapes and patterns.

We will then leave Swaziland behind and travel into KwaZulu Natal. Your hotel for the next two nights is situated close to the town of Mkuze at the foot of the legendary Ghost Mountain.

In the afternoon we will embark on a scenic drive up into the Ubombo Mountains, the views over Lake Jozini are spectacular. From the summit we will watch the sunset transform the sky into a tapestry of colours, while sipping a sundowner. Also included in this excursion is a visit to a traditional Zulu homestead for a glimpse into the lifestyle of this fascinating culture.

Return to the hotel for dinner on the terrace or in the classically styled restaurant.

Today we will travel to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve for an afternoon game drive. The park contains a diversity of fauna and flora and is known for its conservation of black and white rhinos. It was here that the endangered white rhino was saved from extinction and the park boasts the largest population of these animals in the world.

We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon for dinner.

Today we travel along KwaZulu Natal’s Elephant Coast to St Lucia, situated at the southern end of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site. At the St Lucia Estuary there are high forested dunes, brilliant coral reefs, palm savannah, dense papyrus swamps and rolling acacia bushveld.

You will be taken on a boat cruise on the estuary, giving you the opportunity to view hippos, crocodiles and many different bird species in their natural habitat.

From here we will continue to Durban, a cosmopolitan city where East meets West. We arrive in the afternoon and check into your hotel, situated on the Golden Mile – a 6km stretch of beach.

This morning you will discover the cultural and historical contrast of Durban on a city tour before being transferred to King Shaka International Airport for your domestic flight to Port Elizabeth. You will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel, which overlooks Algoa Bay.

Port Elizabeth is known as the ‘Water Sport Capital of Africa’. The combination of heavenly shores and invigourating sea breezes draws sports lovers to enjoy some of the planet’s best sailing, surfing, scuba-diving and more.

This morning after breakfast we set out along the Garden Route, with the Indian Ocean on our left, mountains and green, rolling hills on our right. Our first destination is the stunning Tsitsikamma National Park. Many rivers run through the forest, forming spectacular waterfalls and deep gorges.

Enjoy an easy walk through the forest and along the suspension bridge, crossing the Storms River Mouth gorge.

From here we will continue to Plettenberg Bay and check into the lodge where we will spend the next two nights. This holiday town offers unspoilt beaches, the Robberg Peninsula, lagoons and indigenous forests.

Today we will visit the Knysna Elephant Park, where you will learn the story of the Knysna Elephants while having the opportunity to touch, feed and photograph these gentle giants under the expert guidance of their keepers.

Later we pay a visit to Birds of Eden – the largest free-flight bird aviary in the world. Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to rehabilitate and release a large collection of  African birds.

Time and weather permitting, another optional excursion is on offer at an additional cost in the form of an exciting Whale & Dolphin Ocean Safari! Spend the evening and enjoy dinner at the lodge.

After breakfast and check-out, we will proceed to Knysna, famous for its lagoon and oysters, as well as its 800-year-old iron and stinkwood trees.

Spend some time at leisure and explore Knysna Waterfront, where there are a variety of interesting shops and enticing restaurants. Weather permitting; we will embark on a cruise to the Knysna Heads.

We will then travel north to Oudtshoorn via the spectacular Outeniqua Pass. With more than 90% of the world's ostrich population found here, the town is known as the "ostrich-capital" and of course we will visit an ostrich farm to learn more about these giant birds and the history of their farming in this area. If you are brave enough you can even ride one of them!

Check into your accommodation in the late afternoon before enjoying dinner.

After breakfast we drive to the picturesque Cango Valley, where you can explore the limestone rock formations of the world famous Cango Caves. Afterwards we travel towards Cape Town along Route 62, known as the World’s Longest Wine Route.

The scenery along this route is superb, taking you over majestic mountain passes and winding rivers, past vineyards and orchards and through fascinating little towns.

Arrive in Cape Town in the early evening and check into your hotel situated close to the famous V&A Waterfront, which offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we head out on a full day excursion to the magnificent scenery and wildlife of the Cape Peninsula. The tour includes a visit to Hout Bay Harbour, where you can take an optional (for your own account) boat trip to Duiker Island, where thousands of Cape fur seals live.

We travel over the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Have your photo taken at the most south-westerly tip of the African continent and enjoy an invigourating walk, or leisurely funicular trip, up to the Cape Point lighthouses to admire the dramatic cliffs and amazing views.

Other interesting stops will include the old naval village of Simon's Town and Boulders Beach - to see one of South Africa's two land-based African penguin colonies.

The day ends at the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.

Today you will experience a full day wine tour in the Cape Winelands including a visit to the charming town of oak-lined streets, Stellenbosch. After some wine tastings, a chocolate tasting and an introduction to the South African winemaking tradition, we continue to the gourmet capital of South Africa, Franschhoek. After another round of wine tasting, there will be time to take a stroll in this beautiful and cosy little town.

The whole day is dedicated to showing you our favourite secret spots and wine cellars – a day to tantalise your taste buds in some of South Africa’s most beautiful landscapes!

On your final day in Cape Town you will be taken on a half-day city tour. Cape Town has a rich historical and cultural heritage, and abundant natural beauty.  Some of the highlights on this tour are the Company Gardens, the Castle of Good Hope and the lively Greenmarket Square – where you can purchase arts and crafts from all over Africa. You will also take a trip through the colourful Bo Kaap area, known as the home of the 'Cape Malays'.

As your tour ends with we will take you to Cape Town International Airport for your onward travel.

For a shorter variation of this tour, click here.

We are able to tailor-make a tour for you, so if you like this tour but wish to change it to suit your needs, please contact us

You can also combine South Africa with one or both of the following destinations: Botswana, Victoria Falls.