Vantage World Travel

South Africa - A World In One Country - 14D/13N

South Africa is a diverse and enchanting country offering the visitor an exotic combinations of landscapes, people and culture for a truly a unique experience with a heady mix of third and first world cultures plus wildlife parks such as Kruger, beautiful nature, an endless succession of different sceneries and great infrastructure. A fully guided tour of South Africa. The classic itinerary for a visit to South Africa. Includes Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Oudtshoorn & Cape Town. Starts in Johannesburg, Ends in Cape Town.

Highlights:

• Explore the historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest.
• View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window.
• Seek out the Big Five in the Kruger National Park in open safari vehicles.
• Visit a traditional African craft market in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
• Enjoy a Swazi cultural experience.
• Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake St Lucia. A World Heritage Site.
• Stroll through the Tsitsikamma National Park, renowned for its age-old trees.
• Journey via ferry to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated at the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.
• Discover the Cango Caves with its magnificent dripstone formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
• Enjoy an ostrich farm experience.
• The best land-based whale watching in the world, is in Hermanus. (Seasonal July to Nov).

Included: Transportation in air-conditioned micro-buses or 16-seater mini-buses - Escorted by professional tour guides - Hotels with private facilities - 13 Breakfasts. 3 Lunches. 4 Dinners - Airport transfers - Hotel porterage - Kruger National Park Conservation Levy

Not Included: All domestic and international airfare and airport taxes. Tips and expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc. Other tours & meals not mentioned in the program. Travel & Personal accident insurance.

Please Note: The internal flight between Durban and Port Elizabeth is not included. We can assist you in obtaining these flights but if you book flights tdirectly with the airline you must arrive in Port Elizabeth no later than 12h30.). Visa conditions apply for Swaziland and passports are required.

Departure day: SUNDAY - Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants MINIMUM.

Daily Sketch Itinerary

• Day 1 Johannesburg - Touch down at OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) where you will be met and transferred to Protea Hotel Wanderers, or similar. Rest of the day at leisure, exploring the magnificent surburban shopping malls or take an optional Soweto Tour (own account).
• Day 2 Pretoria / Mpumalanga - Deaprt Johannesburg by 7:30 and leave the distinctive skyline and head for Mpumalanga, dropping several hundred feet into the lush, subtropical region of the Lowveld. We travel via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom, and Lydenburg, passing over the famous Long Tom Pass onto the small town of Sabie. This afternoon explore living history in the form of Pilgrim’s Rest, the old mining village where gold was first discovered. Accomodation is at the Royal Hotel or similar. (BLD)
• Day 3 Kruger National Park - This morning enjoy glorious vistas of God’s Window, a boundless view of forested mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa. We arrive at our overnight hotel, the Kruger Rest Camp or similar, in time for a welcome sundowner (own account). (BD)
• Day 4 A full day of Big Five game viewing in Kruger Park - Set off before breakfast in an open safari vehicle in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard, and all manner of wildlife, birds, and plant species. Savour the magic of this enormous wildlife sanctuary that is world renowned as pioneers in nature conservation, game capture, and relocation.(B)
• Day 5 The Kingdom of Swaziland - Enjoy an enchanting drive to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. Witness a Swazi cultural experience before visiting the famous Ngwenya Glass Factory to see master craftsmen fashion collectable figures and funcational art out of molten glass. We continue through the capital city, Mbabane, known for its vibrant markets packed with woven baskets, beadwork, and carvings. Spend the night in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley at the Lugogo Sun or similar.(BLD)
• Day 6 The Kingdom of the Zulu’s - Visit the Swazi Candle Factory, teeming with exquisite wax artworks in every shape and color imaginable. Then on into Zululand, passing traditional round huts and endless vistas. Arrive mid-afternoon to the town of St. Lucia, a World Heratige Site and home to hippo, crocodile, and no less than 367 bird species. Accomodation at the Protea Hotel St. Lucia or similar. (An optional excursion in an open safari vehicle to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is offered) (B)
• Day 7 Durban - THis morning enjoy a cruise on Lake St. Lucia before departing for Durban. Hug the lush KwaZulu-Natal coastline en route to Durban, watching the sugar cane fields do their own version of the Mexican wave at the urging of the wind. Check into the Protea Hotel Umhlanga and have the afternoon to your leisure, where you may opt to spend the afternoon taking the optional Durban City Tour (own account). (B)
• Day 8 Port Elizabeth / Knysna - Morning at leisure until your collection and transfer to the airport for your mid-morning flight to Port Elizabeth (cost of flight not included). There you will be met by your new guide who will, upon everyone arriving, take you through the glorious Tsitsikamma Forest, before reaching Knysna, South Africa’s most visually arresting resort in the heart of the famous Garden Route. Accomodations at Knysna Log-Inn or similar. (BD)
• Day 9 Kynsna - Cruise on the vast Knysna Lagoon and visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Enjoy an amazing view of the imposing sandstone ‘Heads’ which guard the sea entrance to Knysna’s huge tidal lagoon, and the forests, marshes, and pristine beaches beyond. After lunch the remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy this lovely and special town. (BL)
• Day 10 Oudtshoorn - This morning we enjoy the wonderful views of the spectacular Outeniqua Pass en route to Oudtshoorn, the ‘feather capital of the world’, so named because it is the center of South Africa’s ostrich industry. After lunch, we learn more about these hardy, enigmatic creatures during a tour of an ostrich farm. We then head underground for a fascinating tour of the Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s most incredible natural wonders. Accomodations at the Queens Hotel or similar.(BL)
• Day 11 Cape Town - A day of magnificent vistas. Enjoy the ever-changing passing canvas as we travel to Cape Town. During the whale season we will travel via the seaside village of Hermanus in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the southern right whales (July to November only). Out of season we reach Cape Town along ‘Route 62’, South Africa’s version of America’s ‘Route 66’. Accomdations at Protea Hotel President or similar. (B)
• Day 12 Cape Peninsula - Today enjoy a full day touring the ruggedly beautiful Cape Peninsula via the Atlantic seaboard. We stop at the fishing village of Hout Bay, where you can opt to take a cruise (own account) to Seal Island to watch the antics of these natural performers. Then we continue to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, before stopping off to see the lovable penguins at Boulders Beach. We drive through the quaint naval viallage of Simon’s Town on our way back to Cape Town. (B)
• Day 13 Cape Winelands - Journey into the beautiful and tranquil Cape Winelands, visiting both Paarl and Stellenbosch before stopping for wine tasting at two well known estates. A visit to the Huguenot Memorial Museum and the Afrikaans Language Monument provides a historical perspective. (B)
• Day 14 Cape Town - Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport. (B)

We provide, through “Insure My Trip” comparison site, travel insurance policies from Access America, AIG Travel Guard, CSA Travel Protection, Global Underwriters, HTH Worldwide, International Medical Group, MEDEX, MedjetAssist, MultiNational Underwriters, On Call International, RBC Travel Protection, Seven Corners, Travel Insured, Travelex and TravelSafe. Click to compare the policies available.

• About Vantage
• View all countries
• Help
• Site map
• Employment Opportunities
• Contact

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• orangecoat design
• xhtml 1.0

Vantage Inc. ~ 1324 East North Street ~ Greenville, SC. 29607

This web site includes images from Corel CD's. Used under license. Additional images have been provided by each country's tourism offices or directly from suppliers, and are subject to their restrictions. (view photo credits)