Day 1 JOHANNESBURG to KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana. We pass Serowe, birthplace of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This 4300 hectare reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. We take our first game drive around the open grassland of Malema and Serwe Pans. (Chalets)

Day 2 MAUN We drive through the Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun is a bustling frontier town where we prepare for the delta excursion. After setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool. (Chalets)

Day 3, 4, 5 OKAVANGO DELTA
Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on Makoro (dugout canoes). The delta forms as water flows from the Angolan highlands out over the Botswanan flat Kalahari Desert sands creating a delicate, green oasis for birds & wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment & enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear water. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 5 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta. [tented camp Bx3, Lx3, Dx2]

Day 6 – 8 MOREMI & SAVUTI

We have 4 nights in these conservation areas with time to explore the various habitats. We spend our time on game drives watching the plentiful wildlife including wild dog, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game.

Moremi Game Reserve rates as one of the leading wildlife areas of the world and we take our open 4WD vehicle into Moremi for fantastic game viewing! Grasslands, floodplains, forests, lily lagoons and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats.

Moving north over the sand ridge and into the Mababe depression we arrive at the Savuti Marsh. This open grassland area attracts herds of zebra and wildebeest, which in turn draw the large lion prides for which Savuti is famous. The waterhole near camp is also a favourite drinking point for many elephant and the sunsets here are fantastic. [tented bushcamp BLD]

Day 9 MAKGADIKGADI PANS

We have time for an optional game flight over the Okavango before we head to Nata. The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi appear as a glaring white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as thousands of wildebeest and zebra migrate to the sweet nutritious grasslands and clouds of flamingo feed in its algae rich waters. It is an area of low rainfall so this spectacle only lasts a short while. [tented lodge or chalets BL -]

Day 10 – 11 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. In the early morning we search for game and return to camp for brunch. The late afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise is a highlight as we see the mighty elephant herds returning to the Chobe River to quench their thirst. We camp at Kasane on the Chobe River for night 11. [lodge B L ]
Day 12 – 13 VICTORIA FALLS / LIVINGSTONE
We camp for 2 nights in Zambia near Livingstone town on the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” – Victoria Falls. Opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, Bungi Jump, or take a “flight of angels” (own expense). [chalets Bx2 – -]

Day 14 LIVINGSTONE – TOUR ENDS

Tour ends at 08:00 after breakfast. Transfers to local airports are available. [- B – -]

Day 1 – 2 JOHANNESBURG to ZULULAND

Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we travel into the heart of KwaZulu Natal where we will stay in the Mkuzi Game Reserve, a last safe haven for the endangered Black Rhino. We explore the reserve on game drives and visit a hide overlooking one of the waterholes to watch the game come down to drink. [chalet / tented lodge Bx1 Lx2 Dx2] [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 3, 4, 5 KOSI BAY

Kosi Bay Nature Reserve covers a region of fertile estuaries, mangroves, dune forest and lakes, which we explore on foot and by kayak. Leatherback turtles lay eggs on the beaches in season (November – January). We’ll visit the Kosi Bay river mouth to snorkel and watch the local fisherman in the estuary. A local guide will lead us on a walk in the neighbouring village where we meet local Zulu people and are introduced to their culture and customs. [chalets Bx3 Lx3 Dx2]

Day 6 SWAZILAND

Our camp in Hlane Game Reserve, Swaziland, is surrounded by beautiful African bushveld. We’ll take a game walk with a local ranger looking for rhino, elephant and fantastic bird life. [chalet BLD]

Day 7 MAPUTO

We enter Moçambique at the Namaacha border post and travel to Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques. Portuguese and African cultures meet in an exquisite blend of seafood and vibrant life. Sample the excellent seafood in a local restaurant (own expense). [chalet BL-]

Day 8, 9, 10 INHAMBANE

Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200 year old cathedral, before moving to Praia de Barra to our casitas under the palms next to the beach. Dhow rides and scuba diving on coral reefs are available (own expense). [casitas BLD]

Day 11 BILENE

We turn south along the coast to the town of Bilene situated on the shores of the Uembje lagoon. The lagoon is 8km wide and 27km long with clear water and white, sandy beaches. We spend the afternoon exploring the lagoon with options of kayaking and snorkeling (own expense), and swimming in the shallow, calm waters. [casitas BL-]

Day 12 – 13 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

We enter Kruger National Park, South Africa, and visit big game country! Exciting game drives to spot lions, giraffe and the mighty elephant. Relaxing in the tranquil bush we experience a land forgotten by time, a true African wilderness. [chalet BLD]

Day 14 JOHANNESBURG

After an early morning game drive we return to Johannesburg in the evening, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends. [- B – -]

Day 1 – 2 MPUMALANGA

After the tour briefing, we depart Johannesburg at 06:30am and head east towards Mpumalanga. During the afternoon we visit the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest, explore Bourkes Luck Potholes and the viewpoint over God’s Window. We then make our way to our chalets near the escarpment. We spend the next day exploring the Blyde River canyon on foot. [chalets Bx1 Lx2 Dx2] [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 3 – 4 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Big Game Safari. We spend the next 2 days on game drives in search of the elusive leopard, the majestic lion and the mighty elephant. Exciting game viewing on morning and afternoon game drives with the midday spent out of the heat resting in the camp. Our professional guides will impart their extensive knowledge of ecology, fauna and flora during our time in the bush. Night game drives with spotlights are available (own expense).[tented lodge or chalets BLD]

Day 5 – 6 KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND

We enter the Kingdom of Swaziland and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains of Swaziland. We spend 2 nights in Malalotja Nature Reserve with a full day to walk through this seldom explored mountainous reserve. The Swazi people have a rich cultural heritage and we will visit the craft and medicine markets on day 7 as we pass through the capital, Mbabane. [cabins BLD]

Day 7, 8, 9 ST LUCIA

We cross back into South Africa and head into the Zululand heartland. We visit a traditional village to learn more about the proud Zulu culture, and get a chance to meet the local people. We base ourselves on the shores of Lake St Lucia – a Unesco world heritage site. The park’s uniqueness lies in its remarkable combination of estuarine lakes, subtropical coastline, forests and wildlife. We will spend a day in the Hluhluwe game reserve where rhino conservation has been a priority. We then have another full day free to explore the St. Lucia estuary and the beaches, as we enjoy a boat cruise or kayak excursion (own expense). [cabins Bx3 Lx2 Dx1]

Day 10 BATTLEFIELDS

We leave the coastline and make our way through the scenic hills and valleys of Zululand to the small town of Dundee. Here the battles were fought between the Zulus, British and the Boer troops – war cries still resound in the hills. We spend time at Rourkes Drift and Islandwana battlefields with an informative visit to the Tulana museum.[lodge BL-]

Day 11 – 12 DRAKENSBERG

Witness the grandeur of the Drakensberg or Ukhahlamba “Barrier of Spears” Mountains. We overnight at the base of the “berg” and spend a day walking the trails or taking a dip in the clear streams. The crisp mountain air is refreshing and invigorating and our lodge is a fantastic place to relax at the end of our tour. [tented lodge or chalets BLD]

Day 13 JOHANNESBURG/TOUR ENDS

Morning free to take a last walk in the mountains before we make our way back to Johannesburg. Tour ends at +/-18:00pm.[BL-]

Safari Grade:

A comfortable participation accommodated safari staying in permanent tents, chalets and guest houses, 13 nights en suite facilities.

1 night where two rooms share a bathroom and 4 nights basic huts / bedded tents with communal facilities.

2 nights serviced camping with basic facilities (sleeping bag and pillow provided)

Tour guide will shop and prepare meals and group participation in camp chores is required.

Day 1 CAPE TOWN

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. After a tour briefing at 8:00am, we visit the African Penguin colony en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve, and spend the rest of the day relaxing on Hout Bay beach. We sample some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense). [guest house – – -]

Day 2 CEDARBERG

guided walk included The Cederberg is a massive rock wilderness with giant sandstone boulders that have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. We head north to the Cederberg and explore the rugged landscape on foot before relaxing in chalets for the evening. [chalet BLD] [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 3 GARIEP RIVER

We make our way into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, we stay at a lodge on the Gariep River. Namibia’s southern border river flows quietly and peacefully and the river valley is hardly affected by tourism. The riverbed is sandy, the water clean and clear. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can adventure down the river in canoes (own expense). [tented lodge BLD]

Day 4 FISH RIVER CANYON

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. With its depth of up to 550 metres, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. We make our way to the canyon and in the afternoon and watch a spectacular sunset as the sun slips over the canyon’s rim. [Lodge BLD]

Day 5 – 6 NAMIB DESERT guided walk included

The parched Namib Desert has endless orange dunes blown into sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind and at Sossusvlei they form a gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes. [lodge or tented lodge BLD]

Day 7 – 8 SWAKOPMUND

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterized by numerous colonial buildings. In terms of flora, both the Welwitschias Mirabilis and the Kokerboom grow on the stony plains of the Namib and many beautiful specimens surround the coastal town. Swakopmund is also the adventure activity capital of Namibia. Day free to explore the town or try quad biking / dune boarding (own expense). [guest house Bx2 Lx1-]

Day 9 – 10 DAMARALAND guided walk included Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, petrified forests and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massive Mountains. We’ll also visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. [chalets BLD]

Day 11 – 12 ETOSHA NP Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha NP dried up thousands of years ago when the river waters chose a new course. Etosha is big game country. We take game drives around the huge pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. We stay at a lodge on the outskirts of the national park. [guest lodge or tented camp BLD]

Day 13 WINDHOEK This pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era. The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense). [Guest House BL-] Cape to Namibia clients end tour +/-08:00am on morning of day 14, please contact Sunway office for details. [B–]

Day 14 KALAHARI guided walk included Crossing into Botswana we overnight in rustic, grass huts in the heart of the Kalahari. The sand masses were created by the erosion of soft stone formations. The wind shaped the sand ridges, which are so typical of the landscape in the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills. [San bushmen Huts BLD]

Day 15, 16, 17 OKAVANGO DELTA guided walk includedThe Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water, spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. We journey deep into the Okavango Delta on Makoro (dugouts). We have 2 nights at our tented camp and enjoy game walks, swimming, the birdlife and game in this pristine wilderness area. We return to Maun late in the afternoon on day 17. Mokoro trail included For the two nights spent in the Okavango Delta you stay in a pre-erected tented camp. The facilities are very basic but you will be provided with a simple bucket shower and a toilet (of the “sand and bury” variety). All water, equipment and provisions need to be taken with us and all rubbish taken out again. All camping equipment is supplied including a sleeping bag and pillow. The tents used are dome tents with built-in insect nets. Mattresses are supplied and are about 5cm think. Please note: Our local guides are wildlife experts and it is important to pay close attention to their requests in terms of safety. The delta is an exciting place to explore, but it needs to be understood and respected, and following their advice is paramount. [tented camp x2 BLD] [tented lodge x1 BL-]

Day 18 MAKGADIKGADI PANS

The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi are the size of Switzerland and most of the time appears as a glaring, white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as the pans come to life with frantically feeding water birds and great herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok. [Tented Lodge or Chalets BL-]

Day 19, 20, 21 ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS guided walk included

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the falls in 1885 and named them after his Queen. The scene he encountered was a mile-wide (1.6 km) sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbled to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, elephant back rides, scenic flights or a 111m bunge jump (own expense). Tour ends. [tented camp Bx3 – -]

Day 1 JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterise the landscape. Few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the lowveld & escarpment. We visit Pilgrims Rest, Mac-Mac Falls and God’s Window, before staying in a lodge on the edge of the escarpment near Graskop. [lodge -LD] [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 2 – 3 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK The largest game reserve in South Africa, boasts the world’s greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness. [tented lodge or chalets BLD]

Day 4 KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND guided walk included Malolotja Nature Reserve in the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland is our next attraction. Renowned for a great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist forest, we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the fantastic mountain views. Relax around a campfire dinner and stay in mountain cabins for the night. [cabins BLD]

Day 5 – 6 ZULULAND We visit craft markets near Mbabane that have a fascinating range of handmade crafts and the local witchdoctor stall is not to be missed! We re-enter South Africa and head to Mkuzi Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino. We visit a waterhole hide and watch game come down to. An early morning game drive is followed by a cultural afternoon where we visit a Zulu village on the border of the game reserve and learn about the Zulu culture. [tented lodge or chalet BLD]

Day 7 – 8 DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS guided walk included The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” – the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Mkuzi we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in a quaint cottage or chalets. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying spectacular views. [cottage BLD]

Day 9 – 10 WILD COAST guided walk included The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise in South Africa. There are unspoilt stretches of dramatic and savagely beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight within walking distance of the beach and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or relax on the beach. [chalets BLD] Day 11 ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 350 elephants roam through the area. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area. [chalets BLD]

Day 12 – 13 KNYSNA / TSITSIKAMMA guided walk included For two nights we will stay in a lodge resort in Knysna, which is nestled on a tranquil lagoon. We will take a day trip to the Storms River mouth where there are walks up the gorge and along the rocky coast. The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80km of spectacular sea and landscapes; a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys, coastal forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. There is also an option of the world’s highest bungi jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna’s great restaurants (own expense). [lodge B – -]

Day 14 HERMANUS Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From May to December Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to the coast to calve and mate in the shallows. In the afternoon we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline before having a meal out at local restaurant (own expense). [guest house BL-]

Day 15 – 16 CAPE TOWN guided walk included Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. On our way into Cape Town, we visit Stellenbosch, South Africa’s renowned wine region, for wine tasting (own expense) and a cellar tour. The “mother city” has many attractions; we will visit Cape Point, the harbour at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). We sample the local fare at a variety of local restaurants (own expense). [hotel B – -]

Day 17 TOUR ENDS – TRANSFERS In the morning we climb Table Mountain, offering panoramic views over Cape Town reaching out into the bay and Robben Island. Having explored the highlights of the Rainbow Nation we take a last look at Cape Town and catch up on last minute curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 18:00. [- B – -]