The South African Explorer (JHB - CT) is a 14 day / 13 night package tour by African Blue Tours & Travel

Day 1: Johannesburg
On arrival in Johannesburg, your expert guide will meet and privately transfer you to your hotel. Embark on a half day City Tour of Johannesburg. Highlights of this half day tour include:

The historical buildings of downtown Johannesburg passing Hillbrow and the landmark Post Office tower en-route; the 'Top of Africa' at the Carlton Centre; the Brixton Tower; the affluent suburb of Houghton, the Supreme Court, 'Museum Africa' (time permitting), the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Newtown and a fully guided tour of Constitution Hill - home of South Africa's new Constitutional Court and site of Johannesburg's Old Fort Prison.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Wanderers or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 2: Johannesburg to Sabie
Depart Johannesburg and travel to Mpumalanga, ‘Place where the Sun rises’. Today’s route takes us via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg. Continue along the Long Tom Pass to the quaint town of Sabie. Visit the Lone Creek Waterfalls before arriving at your elegant hideaway. Enjoy a delectable dinner that can only be described as a 'culinary masterpiece'.

Overnight: Lone Creek River Lodge (Timber Cottages) or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Day 3: Sabie to Makalali
After an early morning breakfast, enter the world famous Kruger National Park, unrivalled for its diversity of flora, fauna and bird life, seeking the Big 5. Leave the park and continue to your private game lodge. Arrive in time for afternoon tea, followed by your evening game drive in an open safari vehicle. Return to the lodge for dinner under the stars (weather permitting).

Overnight: Makalali Private Game Reserve or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 2 game viewing activities

Day 4: Makalali to Hazyview
After an early morning bush walk or game drive and breakfast leave the lodge and travel via the Panorama Route featuring the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window and Mac Mac Waterfalls. Arrive at your overnight destination late afternoon.

Overnight: Casa Do Sol Hotel or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Day 5: Hazyview to Hluhluwe
After breakfast enter the Kruger National Park. Exit the park and travel to the Kingdom of Swaziland. The scenic drive winds through the Lebombo Mountains, Mbabane, Manzini and sugar cane areas of Big Bend. Re-enter South Africa near the town of Mkuze and commence to your lodge in the Ubizane Game Reserve. Dinner served in the Boma, under the African sky (weather permitting).

Overnight: Ubizane Game Reserve or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis + 1 game viewing activity

Day 6: Hluhluwe to Durban
Early morning breakfast followed by a game drive in the closed vehicle in Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Visit iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site (previously known as The Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park). Enjoy a river cruise on the estuary. Highlights include prolific wetlands bird life, fish eagles, hippo and crocodiles. Continue south along Indian Ocean coastline, arriving in the bustling city of Durban during the late afternoon. Drop off at your hotel in Umhlanga.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Umhlanga or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 7: Durban
Optional full day tour of Shakaland.
Depart Durban and travel to Eshowe, as well as the authentic Zulu Kraal of Shakaland. Experience the sight of assegaai wielding warriors, share the fascinating secrets of Sangomas and witness traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear making and the beer making ceremony. Traditional Zulu lunch will be served. Please note that this excursion is not included in the package price. For those not taking the tour, enjoy the day at leisure in Durban.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Umhlanga or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 8: Durban to Port Elizabeth
Morning at leisure. Semi-private transfer to Durban International Airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth (not included). On arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport, semi-private transfer to your beachfront hotel.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Marine or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 9: Port Elizabeth to Wilderness
Departing Port Elizabeth, explore the Garden Route. Attractions include the Tsitsikamma Forest area, home to the Knysna loerie, the Big Tree and the suspension bridge over the Storms River. Continue to the quaint seaside village of Wilderness via Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Sedgefield. Dinner (not included) is available at the hotel or at one of the nearby restaurants.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Wilderness Resort or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 10: Knysna
From your hotel in Wilderness, travel to the Knysna Waterfront and embark on the Featherbed Nature Reserve ferry. On arrival we take a ‘Unimog’ (tractor driven wagon) ride to the top of the Western Head. An optional hike can be taken through the indigenous Knysna forest to the restaurant area where lunch (included) is served. Upon returning to Knysna, enjoy an interactive elephant experience. Return to Wilderness via a scenic sightseeing drive in the late afternoon. Dinner (not included) is available at the hotel or at one of the nearby restaurants.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Wilderness Resort or similar - bed and breakfast basis including lunch

Day 11: Oudtshoorn
Experience the stunning views of the Outeniqua Pass as we travel towards the Klein Karoo’s capital - Oudtshoorn. Here we visit the Safari Ostrich Farm for a guided tour and a traditional ostrich lunch (included). After lunch, visit the Cango Caves, where a guided tour allows us to explore the ancient stalactites and stalagmites. En-route back to

Wilderness, visit endangered animals at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Dinner (not included) is available at the hotel or at one of the nearby restaurants.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Wilderness Resort or similar - bed and breakfast basis including lunch

Day 12: Wilderness to Cape Town
After breakfast, your journey to Cape Town begins, visiting the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay and then via Barrydale. Enjoy a wine tasting and typical South African lunch in Barrydale. Continue through the Little Karoo to Montagu, Robertson and Worcester. The adventure ends with drop-off at your hotel in Cape Town.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Fire & Ice or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 13: Cape Town
Full day Cape Highlights tour (English Only). This full day tour includes: Camps Bay; Hout Bay; Chapman's Peak (subject to the road being open); the Cape of Good Hope Reserve; Simonstown; Muizenberg; one wine tasting of South African wines at a local wine estate; the University town of Stellenbosch.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Fire & Ice or similar - bed and breakfast basis

Day 14: Cape Town
Private transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your homebound flight.