Rainbow Nation Safari Tour

18 Day/17 Night itinerary for South Africa

Day 1 – On arrival in Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International airport you will be met by your guide for the first part of you tour. He will drive to the lovely country town of Dullstroom. You overnight at the beautiful Critchley Hackle Lodge DBB (overnight near airport if flight arrives later in the day) Your stay includes dinner and breakfast the next morning, lunch own account.

O/N Critchley Hackle Lodge in town of Dullstroom.

Day 2 – Today is all about scenery and you will explore the scenic Panorama Route with included visits to Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Lisbon waterfall (all included)

Your stay includes dinner and breakfast the next morning, lunch own account.

O/N Hippo Hollow Country lodge outside town of Hazyview.

Day 3 – After breakfast we head to the entrance gate of Kruger Park.

We take a safari drive in our van (included) and enjoy the search for the huge variety of mammals and birds which call this home.

Later in the afternoon your guide will drop you at the Umlani safari lodge , your home in bush for the next 3 nights. (Here all safari activities and meals and drinks are included for the duration of your stay)

You will still be in time for your afternoon jeep safari which will continue till after dark. Return to the lodge for dinner. Lunch today is for your own account and dinner is included at Lodge.

O/N Umlani Safari lodge in Timbavati Game reserve - part of the Greater Kruger Park.

Day 4 – An adventurous day ahead as you search for the Big 5 during morning and afternoon safaris. During the heat of the day you can relax by the pool or take a free bushwalk with an armed ranger.

Your stay at Umlani includes all safari activities breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

Overnight at Umlani in Timbavati.

Day 5 - Morning and afternoon safaris are departing from Umlani safari lodge in the heart of the Timbavati Game Reserve. After morning safari another change to do the free optional bushwalk if you didn’t do it yesterday.

Includes all safari activities breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Overnight at Umlani Safari lodge in Timbavati.

Day 6 – No safari drive this morning because after breakfast we travel south towards Swaziland or the new name Eswatini. Once inside Eswatini we pay a visit to the famous Ngwenya glass factory (included) before we continue through the Ezulwini Valley (Valley of heaven). We arrive at Mlilwane where you can enjoy some lovely walks and overnight in the famous beehive huts. Breakfast and dinner included, lunch own account.

O/N Mlilwane in Elzulwini Valley

Day 7 – Today we drive futher south through the Ezulwini valley and pay a visit the original Swazi Candle factory (included). Later we exit Eswatini in the south and enter the Kwazulu- Natal province of South Africa. This afternoon you enjoy a visit to a traditional Zulu  village to learn more about their culture. The tour (included) ends with a Zulu dance show. Includes breakfast and dinner, lunch own account. O/N Dumazulu.Lodge in Zululand

Day 8 It doesn’t take long to travel to the wilderness area of the Isimangaliso Park and the town of St Lucia where hippos walk the streets at night. Your guide will take you to the beach so you can enjoy your first sight of the Indian ocean. Later in the afternoon you will join the famous Hippo and croc cruise (included) a highlight of the day. Lunch and dinner for own account, breakfast included tomorrow,

O/N Umlilo Lodge, St Lucia  

Day 9 Free day to relax on beach or take an optional excursion to Cape Vidal (highly recommended) or safari to Hluhluwe/ Umfolozi game reserve. There are some interesting free walking trails in and around town to explore as well. Lunch and dinner can be enjoyed at one of the numerous restaurants in town. (own account), breakfast included tomorrow morning.

O/N Umlilo lodge, St Lucia

Day 10 – Today you good bye to the east coast and make your way to the south coast with and included domestic flight. Your guide will transfer you to the King Shaka airport north of city of Durban for included domestic flight to Port Elizabeth- the southern most city in Africa.

Once at you hotel in Port Elizabeth you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon strolling along the promenade and visit Boardwalk shopping centre.and casino. Breakfast and dinner included, lunch own account.

O/N at the Beach Hotel - Summerstrand

Day 11-  Exciting day ahead as we travel west toward the only indigenous forest area in South Africa. We first pay a visit to the 1000 year old Big Tree (included) and later enter the Tsitsikamma National Park (included) we you can walk the 1km scenic mouth trail. Your lunch is own account, dinner is included and breakfast included tomorrow morning.

O/N Tsitsikamma Village Inn – town of Storms River

Day 12 – After breakfast we make a stop to view the highest Bungy jump in the world at the Bloukrans bridge. We then travel to the beautiful town of Knysna next to a natural estuary. Here you will enjoy a lovely cruise to Featherbed Nature reserve. Once in the reserve you partake in a downhill hike with spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs and ocean. After the easy walk to the jetty you can enjoy the buffet lunch (included) under the Milkwood trees.

Lunch, dinner and breakfast next morning included.

O/N Knysna The Moorings .

Day 13 – Today we continue to a drier region the country namely the Small Karoo, translated as Small Dry place. The road takes us via the towns of Sedgefield, Wilderness George to the ostrich capital of the world namely Oudtshoorn. Enjoy a guided tour of the ostrich farm with lunch included afterwards.

Breakfast included this morning, lunch included as well as dinner.

O/N  Berluda outside Outshoorn

Day 14 - After breakfast you depart for the world-renowned Cango Caves - vast limestone grottoes with extraordinary calcium formations built up over thousands of years. Here you join a included guided Heritage Tour of the Caves, showing these amazing formations. After your caves adventure your guide will drive along and over the historic Swartberg pass to the small hamlet of Prins Albert where you can enjoy an optional lunch at one of the lovely small restaurants in town. After lunch travel back to Oudtshoorn but this time via Meiringspoort which has some of the most incredible rock formations in the region. Also visit the Meiringspoort waterfall. Lunch own account, Dinner included.

O/N Berluda outside Oudtshoorn

Day 15 After breakfast drive along another famous road in South Africa - Route 62 with stops in Barrydale and Montagu. Later enter the Breede river wine region with a wine tasting at Van Loveren. Here one can also enjoy a big or a small lunch at Christina’s Bistro. Our day continue with a scenic drive through the vineyards and mountains to the lovely town of Stellenbosch. Lunch and dinner own account.

O/N Stellenbosch

Day 16 Today we start the journey to our final destination but first you can enjoy a walk through the historic town of Stellenbosch or opt for another wine tasting at Spier wine estate. Your guide will continue to the beautiful city Cape Town and if weather allows you will head directly to the most famous landmark of South Africa -  Table mountain and take a ride with the cable car to the top where spectacular view and vistas awaits. Breakfast included this morning, lunch and dinner own account.

O/N Hotel Sky in Cape Town.

Day 17 – Full day tour of Cape Peninsula. Your guide will drive  along the Atlantic coast to Hout Bay where you can enjoy a 45 minute cruise(included) to Seal Island,home to hundreds of Cape fur seals.

Next the road winds up the spectacular and photogenic Chapmans Peak Drive taking you to Simon’s Town home to the penguin colony (included) at Boulders Beach. Cape Point Nature reserve (included) with the famous Cape Point Light House is your lunch stop and on the way back to Cape Town your guide will stop at “the Southernmost western point of Africa” called Cape of Good Hope(included). Breakfast included this morning, Lunch and dinner are own account .

O/N Hotel Sky in Cape Town

Day 18- On your last day (if time allows) enjoy a city tour and take time to explore the Mother City with a city orientation tour of Cape Town.

Your tour guide will point out historical landmarks such as The Castle of Good Hope, The Company's Gardens and Houses of Parliament.

Hidden in central Cape Town is the Company’s garden and here we take a leisurely walk. The site is important historically, and is also home to the South African Museum and the Cape Town Holocaust Centre.

Afterwards we visit the V&A Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront is an iconic mixed-use destination located in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere. There are a huge variety shops, restaurants, attractions and activities to enjoy.

Your guide will transfer you to Cape Town International airport for departure flight. Breakfast included this morning and lunch own account.

Dinner on flight.

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