Best of South Africa

Your seamless South African journey begins with an airport transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport to your hotel. Settle in to the pace of Africa’s most energetic city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Hotel: The Maslow

The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa's Lowveld. We admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga's Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, we venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, our home for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Sabi River Sun Resort

Connect with nature and explore South Africa's oldest and most iconic national park in the company of a Local Specialist. Uncover the secrets of the bushveld and keep a look out for the magnificent 'Big 5', the Little 5 and everything in between. See the glistening yellow Golden-orb spider waiting on her web, smell the damp scent of acacia trees in the early morning and keep your head down in search of animal spoor. Spend your afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Sabi River Sun Resort

Travel to landlocked eSwatini. Dive Into Culture during a visit to a Swazi Chief ’s village and gain insights into the community’s way of life, sampling some of the local pap and stew, and admiring their striking crimson traditional dress.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Royal Swazi Spa

We venture to 'garden of province' of KwaZulu Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, we arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4x4 game drive. This evening enjoy a delicious South African braai – a perfect way to end the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Anew

Optional Experiences:

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Drive - If you visit Kwazulu-Natal, you can't leave without visiting Big Five country in the oldest park in South Africa: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi. This is the legendary park where a dedicated team made worldwide conservation history with their successful efforts to bring the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. You won't simply be enthralled with this game-rich reserve and the extraordinary beauty of the terrain, but also with the sense of history having been made here. Our specialist tours are all conducted in specially modified open safari vehicles to enhance your game viewing, and give photographers the very best vantage point to capture that perfect image. We only tour with qualified, experienced guides, so you will not only be one step ahead because of their intimate knowledge of the animal movements and habitats, but you'll learn more than you could have imagined possible about everything from trees, to animal spoor, to the rich bird life.
Adult: 1115.00 ZAR

Board an optional morning cruise on Lake St. Lucia and get up close to the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife residing in the estuary. Alternatively, explore the town of St. Lucia. We continue south to Durban for an effortless encounter with this tropical east coast hub, which begins with a delicious Curry Buffet at the Oyster Box Hotel, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a seaside hotel that captures the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: The Oyster Box

Optional Experiences:

St. Lucia Boat Cruise - All aboard the comfortable Santa Lucia, a spacious double-decker boat on St Lucia Estuary, with ample room for everybody to have the best view possible. We're off on a two-hour relaxed interpretative cruise from the smartest vantage point - the water. We'll get up close to the sight and sounds of hippo, crocodiles and other game species, and if we're lucky, we'll be serenaded by the haunting cry of the fish eagle...perhaps even watch one catch a fish. The boat has a coffee, snack and full bar on board, so relaxation is the order of the day.
Adult: 295.00 ZAR

Venture through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills bound for the spectacular escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. The Underberg’s vibrant arts and crafts scene and stunning setting provide a beautiful backdrop for a morning drive. You’ll continue to the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and stay overnight .

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Premier Resort Sani Pass

Indulge in the freedom of a day spent exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your terms. Consider joining an optional 4x4 Sani Pass drive, ascending to a heavenly height of 2,876 meters for lunch at Africa’s highest pub in Lesotho, or alternatively relax down here on earth amidst the Drakensberg’s lofty peaks.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Premier Resort Sani Pass

Optional Experiences:

Sani Pass 4 X 4 Tour - The Tour departs at 09h30 and takes approx. 2.5 hours to reach the summit, climbing a grand 2874 meters above sea level, stopping at breath taking view sites along the Sani Pass and the two border posts i.e. The South African Border Control and Lesotho Border Control. Once at the Top of the Sani Pass, we enjoy lunch at the highest Pub in Africa - The Sani Mountain Lodge. After lunch the Tour continues into a living Basotho village, where our experienced mountain guide will interest you on Lesotho and its people - the hardy mountainous Basotho folk. Traditional beer and homemade bread offered on request .We wind down the Sani Pass after this cultural experience and arrive back in Underberg between 16h00- 16h30 depending on the wildlife spotted along the way.
Adult: 1312.00 ZAR

From enigmatic mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, we venture through the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover the legacy of Nelson Mandela, at his birthplace in Xunu, then enjoy the unspoiled Wild Coast beaches of Chintsa, where the only footprints in the sand will be yours.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Crawfords Beach Lodge

Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surrounds before we begin our journey to Port Elizabeth. Once a British settlement, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, which you’ll encounter first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Boardwalk

Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma's giant and ancient Yellowwoods, arriving at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect With Locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that will accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella's work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. Famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads that stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon which shield the town from the Indian Ocean.

Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest

Hotel: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head. This evening, why not join an Optional Experience sunset cruise to the Knysna Heads and see where the Indian Ocean crashes against their towering sandstone cliffs?

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Optional Experiences:

Featherbed Nature Reserve Eco Experience with lunch - Cruise on Knysna Lagoon over to Western Head where you'll join a tour through Featherbed Nature Reserve, a South African Heritage site. You'll make stops along the way to take in spectacular viewpoints, whilst your specialist guide will give plenty of information on the flora and fauna that surround you and explain how the reserve has recovered following the devestating fires in 2017 and is once again flourishing. Take a short guided walk through the coastal forest and fynbos, before enjoying lunch served al fresco under the surrounding milkwood trees.
Adult: 981.00 ZAR

Knysna Lagoon Sunset Dinner Cruise - Take to the waters of Knysna Lagoon aboard a unique paddle cruiser vessel for a lesiurely dinner cruise. Depart as the sun sets and travel to the famous Knysyna Heads whilst enjoying a delicious Mediterranean cuisine buffet. Note: Drinks are not included and bills must be settled directly with the onboard staff.
Adult: 830.00 ZAR

Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Southern Sun The Cullinan

Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of a tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour around the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at a Farewell Dinner with your traveling companions indulging in delicious Cape Malay specialty dishes.

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Hotel: Southern Sun The Cullinan

Optional Experiences:

Cape Peninsula Tour - Full Day - Cruise along Millionaire's Paradise from Clifton to Camps Bay. Wind along Chapman's Peak Drive with lunch (own account) at Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park before meandering back along the coast, visiting Simon's Town and the penguin colony at Boulder's Beach.
Adult: 1375.00 ZAR

Cape Winelands Tour - Full Day - A superb day dedicated to celebrating the glorious grape, the exceptional winelands region, and the heavenly scenery. The area's rich with history, and guests can't help but feel it as you move through the region to experience a wine cellar tour and tasting, where you'll learn all about the process of winemaking, from grape to goblet. Visit the exquisite little town of Franschhoek, pass by the impressive Huguenot Monument, and in a town with a reputation for gourmet fare, where else could you choose to enjoy lunch. Wind your way to the heady heights of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass to meet the charming university town of Stellenbosch on the other side. Stroll through this little town, absorbing the quaintness, and sneaking into the odd shop or two (on Sundays not all galleries and shops are open). Enjoy a wine tasting at two different wine estates where you'll be able to purchase your favorite wine to take back home.
Adult: 1155.00 ZAR

Robben Island Tour - Journey to the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to board a ferry to Robben Island (weather permitting), a home of our icon Nelson Mandela for more than a quarter of a century. It’s a highly charged and emotional moment when you visit the site of this suffering, and realise how far South Africa has come from those days. During the apartheid years Robben Island was used to isolate opponents of apartheid and to crush their morale. Freedom fighters, like Nelson Mandela, spent many years in this prison for their beliefs. Take the ferry to this historic site, pass buildings and a high wall built by prisoners during the 1960s before meeting your guide, a former political prisoner from the Island, fully conversant and knowledgeable about the Island's multi-layered 500 year old history. Your route, aboard a bus, includes the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe's house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers and the Maximum Security Prison where thousands of South Africa's freedom fighters were incarcerated for years culminating with a viewing of Nelson Mandela's cell. The round trip is approximately 3.5 hours long, including the two half-hour ferry rides, and is subject to weather conditions.
Adult: 975.00 ZAR

Cape Town Helicopter Flight - 12 Minutes - Spectacular views and a different perspective of the city await you on this 12-minute helicopter flight that showcases Cape Town's iconic sights. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of whales and dolphins below you in the Atlantic ocean, as you take off and return to the V & A Waterfront. Fly over the city's famous Green Point stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Then your route tracks the Atlantic coastline, showing you a birds-eye view of Robben Island on your right and Table Mountain and the Cape Town City Bowl on your left. Admire the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles mountain range before your pilot turns around and follows the same route back to the launchpad. Note: this activity is subject to weather conditions on the day being suitable for the helicopters to operate.
Adult: 1695.00 ZAR

We bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

Meals: Breakfast