South African Explorer by Panorama Tours

All package tours can be customised to suit your interests and requirements. Please contact Panorama Tours should you wish to have this tour customised or to have a package tour tailor-made for you.

Package Tour - South African Explorer

Categories: Big 5 / City / Countryside / Historical / Nature / Sightseeing / Wildlife

Highlights include: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Drakensberg Escarpment, Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondawels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, Pilgrim's Rest, Graskop, Sabie, Hazyview, the Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand, Zulu Culture, Durban, Valley of 1000 Hills, Pietermaritzburg, Howick Falls, Natal Midlands, Drakensberg, Golden Gate, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Big Hole, Gariep Dam, Great Karoo, Graaf Reinet, Valley of Desolation, Addo Elephant Park, Port Elizabeth, Garden Route, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Outeniqua Tjoe-Choo, Oudtshoorn, Cango Caves, Ostrich Show Farm, Mossel Bay, Overberg and Cape Town.

At a Glance

Tour duration

22 days / 21 nights

Tour departs from

Cape Town or Johannesburg

Price

No price range submitted

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Johannesburg or Cape Town to Sandton
Arrival transfer to your hotel. Remainder of day at leisure (optional excursions available).

Overnight: Sunnyside Park Hotel

Day 2: Sandton to Hazyview
Depart after breakfast for a full day of sightseeing as we travel along the Drakensberg escarpment. The scenic Panorama route takes us to the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondawels, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the nostalgic village of Pilgrim’s Rest. We continue on our decent down the mountain into the Lowveld, a sub-tropical paradise of fruit. Indulge in nature’s beauty at the misty Lone Creek waterfall before we continue to our hotel near Hazyview.

Overnight: The Winkler Hotel

Day 3: Hazyview to Kruger National Park
Early morning at sunrise we make our way into the world famous Kruger Park for a full day game drive in search of the wildlife wonders Africa offers her visitors in this unspoiled land where big game still roam freely. We might even spot the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard). At sunset we arrive at our restcamp for dinner and overnight. Option for open vehicle night game drive.

Overnight: Rest Camp in Kruger National Park

Day 4: Kruger National Park
Depart at sunrise for another full day filled with the search for big game. Breakfast packs on board. Return to restcamp late afternoon for dinner and overnight. Option for open vehicle night game drive.

Overnight: Rest Camp in Kruger National Park

Day 5: Kruger National Park to Mbabane
Depart the Kruger Park and continue to the Kingdom of Swaziland. Visit the Ngwenya Glass Factory and open market near Mbabane.

Overnight: Piggs Peak Hotel

Day 6: Mbabane to Hluhluwe
Depart after breakfast and visit the Swazi Candle Factory before continuing south towards KwaZulu Natal. After the border formalities we continue to Hluhluwe.

Overnight: Bushlands Game Lodge

Day 7: Hluhluwe to Durban
After breakfast we travel to a famous traditional Zulu Village for cultural experience and dances and learn more about the lifestyle of this proud nation. Lunch (included) is served here as well. From here continue along the sugarcane fields of the North Coast to Durban where we arrive late afternoon.

Overnight: Holiday Inn Garden Court

Day 8: Durban to Drakensberg
Depart after breakfast. Travel via valley of 1000 Hills to Pietermaritzburg and Howick Falls. Continue to Natal Drakensberg, Central Berg region.

Overnight: Drakensberg Gardens Resort

Day 9: Drakensberg
Full day at leisure to explore the surrounding area. Activities include hiking, golfing and horse riding.

Overnight: Drakensberg Gardens Resort

Day 10: Drakensberg to Bloemfontein
Depart after breakfast. Travel along the escarpment via Oliviershoek Pass to Golden Gate. Continue to Bloemfontein along Lesotho border. Arrive late afternoon.

Overnight: Holiday Inn

Day 11: Bloemfontein
Morning excursion to Kimberley "City of Diamonds" for guided tour and visit to "Big Hole" open air museum. Return to Bloemfontein after lunch (not included) for city tour and visit to Woman’s Memorial - commemorating the thousands of woman and children who lost their lives in concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the century.

Overnight: Holiday Inn

Day 12: Bloemfontein to Graaf Reinet
Depart after breakfast and continue southwards towards to the Gariep Dam - largest man-made dam in South Africa. From here we travel into the Great Karoo (semi desert) via Middelburg to Graaf Reinet.

Overnight: Drostdy Hotel

Day 13: Graaff Reinet
Full day to explore the many interesting and historical attractions this town (4th oldest town in South Africa) has to offer including Graaf Reinet Club, Dutch Reformed Church, Galleries, Museums and Reinet House. We depart to the "Valley of Desolation" for sunset.

Overnight: Drostdy Hotel

Day 14: Graaff Reinet to Port Elizabeth
After breakfast we travel towards the coast to the famous Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth. Lunch en-route (not included). Arrive in Port Elizabeth late afternoon.

Overnight: Brooke’s Hill Luxury Suites

Day 15: Port Elizabeth
Day at leisure (optional excursions) to explore this city with its strong British influence since the 1820 settlers.

Overnight: Brooke’s Hill Luxury Suites

Day 16: Port Elizabeth to Knysna
After a short orientation tour of this city influenced by the 1820 British Settlers, we continue along this spectacular coast known as the garden route along Storms River, Plettenberg Bay, to beautiful Knysna.

Overnight: Knysna River Club

Day 17: Knysna
After breakfast we depart to George where we board the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Steam Train for a scenic trip over the Kaaimans River Bridge and along the spectacular coastline to Knysna. After a cruise on the Knysna Lagoon return to hotel. Remainder of day at leisure.

Overnight: Knysna River Club

Day 18: Knysna to Oudtshoorn
We continue via the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the feather capital of the world. Visit the famous Cango Caves as well as an Ostrich Show Farm and the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Cheetah Breeding Centre for guided tours.

Overnight: Adley House

Day 19: Oudtshoorn to Cape Town
Depart after breakfast and continue to Mossel Bay where we visit the Maritime Museum and old Post Office Tree. From here we continue to Swellendam and on to Cape Town to arrive late afternoon.

Overnight: St Georges Hotel