Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and board your touring vehicle for the drive to the Makalali Private Game Reserve. We will stop en route in Dullstroom, a quaint country town known for its trout fishing and tranquillity. The main street of the tiny town is packed with quirky shops and restaurants. From Dullstroom, we wind through the grasslands and hills of the Limpopo Province to the private game reserve.

Your open safari vehicle and expert guide will be waiting to take you into the 25,000 hectares of reserve. Have your binoculars and cameras ready – this is ‘Big 5’ territory and we’ll be looking for lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. There is plenty of other wildlife, including hyena and the elusive cheetah. As you adjust to the rhythm of the bush, you will see animals of all sizes. The reserve is an important conservation area for the enormous, endangered Southern Ground Hornbill, which can be found hunting snakes or frogs.

A delicious dinner will be served at the lodge as the star-studded southern sky makes its appearance. It’s another beautiful evening in Africa.

Early morning in the bush is extraordinary. The clear air is filled with birdsong; animals make their way to drinking holes. Be part of the wilderness on a guided walk through the bush, or head out on an open vehicle game drive.

After a lodge breakfast, we drive the Panorama Route where the road enters a scenic wonderland. Blyde River Canyon, the world’s largest green canyon, filled with waterfalls and ancient geological formations, will take your breath away. Spot the Three Rondawels – three conical peaks resembling African huts. Stand on the bridges over the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where millennia of swirling water have carved giant holes into the sandstone. Be ready for the vistas from God’s Window, the highest point of the day.

We stop in an old mining town for a late lunch (at your own expense). Established in the 1880s, at the height of the gold rush, these towns are now mostly part of the timber industry. Savour a pancake bar and browse for curios. The scenic drive to Hazyview winds through rolling hills and forests. Soak in the outstanding natural beauty of the Mpumalanga Province as we head for your hotel.

After an early breakfast, we enter the Kruger National Park, the world’s premier wildlife destination, through the Phabeni Gate, for a game viewing journey to Malelane Gate in your touring vehicle, immersing you in the world of the ‘Big 5’. Sprawling over 20,000km², The Kruger National Park is slightly smaller than Belgium and supports a staggering variety of fauna and flora – including rare bird species. The slow driving pace is in contrast to the anticipation of spotting an elusive cheetah or the highly endangered rhino. There’s a lot to look for, with 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 116 reptile, 507 bird, and 147 mammal species. Graceful giraffe graze amongst the thorn trees, while raptors glide in vast African skies.

We stop for lunch at a bush picnic spot (at your own expense). Listen for the laughing call of a hyena or the unforgettable, full-throated roar of a lion. At a water hole, look for crocodiles or a hippo suddenly surfacing for air. We exit the Park via the Malelane Gate.

After the excitement of the morning, we make our way to the misty mountains of Eswatini, entering through Jeppes Reef Border Post in the late afternoon, leaving time to relax and enjoy dinner at the lodge.

NOTE: When entering the Kingdom of Eswatini, guests must ensure they have a valid passport and for nationals of applicable countries, multi-entry visa regulations apply (own expense)

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before visiting the Swazi Candle Factory. The candles, handmade in a music-filled workshop, are not ordinary. A special wax is used to create distinctive and colourful designs. The candle has a hard veneer from the ancient technique of “millifiore”. This candle factory started as a simple initiative in a cowshed in 1982, now has a global reach and supports over 200 local people. Eswatini’s vibrant craft market is overflowing with carvings, beadwork and colourful materials.

Visit the Yebo Art Gallery to view the work of talented local artists. Sample local specialties, such as Buganu, a marula fruit drink or enjoy tea and cake at the Sambane Tea Garden. For something fiery, try the Black Mamba chilli sauce, a local delicacy.

After a fascinating morning, we re-enter South Africa through the Lavumisa Border Post. We will enjoy lunch on the way to St Lucia. The landscape changes dramatically as we approach the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We travel through lush wetlands and dense forests in this paradise on the pristine shores of the Indian Ocean on the way to your lodge and a delicious dinner (at your own expense).

Start your morning on an open safari vehicle, driving through wetlands teeming with wildlife and enjoy coffee with rusks on the beach. iSimangaliso is home to both white and black rhino; it’s not often you are presented with the possibility of seeing both in one day. Keep your cameras ready for buffalo, elephant, and the elusive leopard. Buck are plentiful, from ever-present impala to the curved horned kudu, waterbuck with its distinctive markings, and rietbuck.

After breakfast, take a boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary. The Estuary, with its island-like setting, is one of the largest estuaries in Africa and a recognised natural wonder. This rich wetland is home to a mind-boggling 2,180 plant species, over 1, 000 Nile crocodiles, more than 800 hippopotami and many prehistoric-looking monitor lizards. With over 400 species of birds, it is a watery paradise. Gliding over the water will be a very different experience from the morning safari. Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) on the banks of the lake listening to the sweet song of an Oriole or the chatter of the vibrantly plumed St Lucia Parrot.

You will be loath to leave St Lucia, but more adventure awaits. We depart for a late afternoon arrival in Umhlanga, where you will bid farewell to your tour guide on the Northern portion of your tour. Dine at a restaurant at the hotel or in town (at your own expense).

NOTE: TIRS Northern portion Tour guide services end

After breakfast at the hotel, take a stroll along the promenade that stretches along 3km of shoreline. If you’re an early bird, sit on a bench and watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean. Walk out on the Whalebone Pier and watch the fishermen casting their lines from the rocks. You will pass the iconic Umhlanga Lighthouse with its distinctive red stripe. It flashes a warning of the perilous coast to ships over a distance of 24 nautical miles.

Be ready for your transfer to King Shaka International Airport and a flight (at your own expense and arrangement) to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). You will soon find yourself in a beachfront hotel in what is affectionately known by the locals as the “Windy City”. Settle into your hotel and then go for a walk along King’s Beach, swim or relax on the white sands and enjoy the ocean view, watching daredevil surfers making the most of the excellent waves. Once back at your hotel, enjoy an unhurried dinner (at your own expense) and take time to relax before your Garden Route exploration.

After breakfast, be ready to meet your local tour guide for the Garden Route journey to Cape Town. The road takes us to Knysna along the Garden Route, famous for its outstanding natural beauty. The excellent road ensures a smooth trip past coastal vistas and indigenous forests on our way to one of the gems of the Garden Route. We enter the Storms River section of the Garden Route National Park for a walk across the unique Storms River Suspension Bridge and experience the thrill of standing high above the vast rocky chasm below you. There are a series of 3 bridges with stable wooden paths and stairs. This hour-long walk offers spectacular views of the gorge and ocean.

After enjoying lunch in the forest (at your own expense), the afternoon brings us to Knysna, famous for its inland waterways and the Knysna Heads, the twin sandstone cliffs towering over the entrance to a vast lagoon. End a perfect day with a sunset oyster cruise on the lagoon. The sun will set on the day as you enjoy the local delicacy of fresh oysters. Watch for dolphins at the river mouth and enjoy the abundant birdlife. After your cruise, dine (at your own expense) at a restaurant on the shores of the Estuary.

NOTE: TIRS Southern portion Tour guide services start

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s a short drive to Plettenberg Bay. This little town, with its blue flag beaches and sweeping bay is a premier tourist destination and one of the best whale spotting areas in the world. Your marine adventure starts at Central Beach, from which the boats are launched. In the impossibly blue ocean, you will have the opportunity to see humpback or southern right whales. The excitement of seeing whales breaching and crashing back into the ocean is unforgettable. These waters are home to large schools of dolphins and there are often great white sharks cutting through the waves. The protected beaches of the Robberg Nature Reserve are home to large seal colonies. Keep your binoculars ready for elegant Swift Terns, Cormorants, or a rare sighting of a Frigatebird.

Back on dry land, we visit Qolweni Township, a vibrant Xhosa community. A representative of the Qolweni Community Development Trust will share insight into the project and how your contribution is utilized to pay teachers’ salaries and towards the maintenance of the Qolweni crèche and its 188 children. The locals invite visitors to experience an authentic African way of life and happily share their history and culture. The children in the crèche will soften your heart with their beautiful singing. Visit a spaza shop or have a traditional drink in a shebeen. We head back to Knysna for dinner (at your own expense) at the Waterfront.

After breakfast, we continue along the Garden Route past lakes and wooded mountains to the town of Wilderness and the Map of Africa viewpoint, where the Kaaimans River creates a clear map of Africa. We turn inland and climb the Outeniqua Pass. The Pass takes us to the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo and Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. You will have travelled through game parks, up mountain passes and across estuaries, but the Cango Caves Heritage Tour will take you into an astounding subterranean world. The Caves are considered to be one of the great wonders of the world. The Caves, approximately 20 million years old, are an underground marvel. Don’t worry about claustrophobia; the Van Zyl’s Hall cave is 107m long and 54m in width.

We will have lunch (at your own expense) before arriving at your lodge in Oudtshoorn in the late afternoon. The dry climate here is ideal for olive growing. The estates in the region produce award-winning handpicked olives, which create exceptional quality extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy an olive tasting, paired with a Protea Rosé or fruit juice, while taking in spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountains. With leisure time in the evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to visit one of the famous ostrich farms. A fun and interactive tractor tour will take you through the farm’s breeder bird camps where you will learn about and see three different species of ostrich. The ostrich feather trade boomed during the Victorian era but collapsed during World War I. Modern farmers have successfully adapted and now farm mainly for meat, leather, and eggs. Grab some ostrich biltong (dried meat) to enjoy on the drive along Route 62, the world’s longest wine route. The scenery is captivating, with wine and orchards greening the countryside.

We stop for lunch along the route and your will have an opportunity to taste local wines (all at your own expense). The scenery on the way to Cape Town via Stellenbosch is a canvas of beauty. The road wanders through valleys and past farmhouses with historic Cape Dutch architecture in Stellenbosch. The road into Cape Town presents a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and of the most beautiful South African city. There’s time to explore the V&A Waterfront to try one of the many restaurants for dinner.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for one more day of adventure as we head to Cape Point. Cape Town is built on a mountainous peninsula. Travel along the Atlantic seaboard with its white beaches and rugged mountains to Hout Bay.

If time permits, there is the option of taking a half hour boat trip to Duiker Island to see a Cape Fur Seal colony (at your own expense). If open, continue on Chapman’s Peak Drive, noted as one of the most stunning roadways in the world. Visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve and the tip of the Cape Peninsula, which has captivated travellers for centuries.

The return journey to Cape Town takes us along the False Bay coast with the option of visiting the colony of rare African Penguins at Boulders Beach (entrance fee at your expense). We will pass through the naval village of Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg. Visit the Rhodes Memorial viewpoint and learn about the significance of this historical site before returning to the hotel. After a full day, enjoy dinner in town or choose a restaurant at the fabulous and cosmopolitan V&A Waterfront.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your transfer to the Cape Town International Airport. You will arrive home changed by your South African journey.