Departures Weekly on Sundays

A 16 day tour between Johannesburg and Cape Town featuring the highlights of South Africa, including open vehicle game drives in the Kruger Park, Swaziland, lunch and cultural show in a traditional Zulu village, the Garden Route and Oudtshoorn famous for the Cango Caves and ostrich farms. The ultimate tour of South Africa with splendid scenery, exciting wildlife and ethnic diversity, at a leisurely pace, with leisure time at the start and end.

The prices include: ** A mixture of independent and guided touring; ** Transportation via modern motorcoach; ** Professionally-trained, English-speaking drivers; ** Meals as detailed in brackets following each day's description below; ** All park entrance fees, VAT and other government taxes; ** Comprehensive pre-trip material with discount coupons for travel gear and equipment. Additional expenses not included: - Meals not included; - All beverages; - Requisite visas and other travel preparations like inoculations; - Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth (DUR/PLZ); - Tipping.

Contact EWT for the best international air fares and for recommendations on how to use your frequent flyer miles.

Whenever you arrive at Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport, you are privately transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.  [no meals]

Depart Johannesburg for Mpumalanga. See the Blyde River Canyon, the third deepest in the world, and God's Window where sheer cliffs plunge 700 meters to the lowveld. Overnight near Hazyview.  [b- - ]

Now the size of Wales, Kruger National Park has protected South African wildlife since 1898. Renowned for its research studies of Southern Africa's native flora and fauna, the park offers one of the best wildlife experiences on the continent. Start your exploration of the park on an early morning game drive, stopping for a picnic breakfast along the way. Search for the 'Big Five' (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and hippo), and enjoy spotting prolific birdlife and smaller game. Your afternoon is at leisure at your hotel. Optional late afternoon or night open-vehicle game drives are available at an additional charge. Overnight at your hotel.  [b- - ]

PRIVATE GAME LODGE OPTION
DAYS 3 & 4 MPUMALANGA- SABI SAND CONSERVANCY
Award winning luxury and warm African hospitality. The SabiSabi Game Reserve lies on the banks of the Sabie River, within the Sabi Sand Conservancy and adjacent to the Kruger National Park. SabiSabi offers personal game rangers who ensure exciting and memorable wildlife experiences.
TUES Meet game rangers. Transfer to Sabi Sabi for lunch, and afternoon game drive. Overnight on full board basis.  [b-l-d]

WED Early morning game drive followed by breakfast before rejoining main tour.

Begin the day with early morning coffee or tea, then enjoy a second morning in the park on an open vehicle game drive. Thanks to Kruger's wide variety of ecosystems, you are likely to come across vast herds of impala, zebra, giraffe and wildebeest, and if lucky, may spot some of the endangered wild dogs that call the park their home. Stop for a picnic breakfast later in the morning. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure or optional late afternoon or night open-vehicle game drives. Overnight at your hotel.   [b- -]

Depart Kruger following an early breakfast and travel east to Swaziland. Although the Swazi economy is primarily based on agriculture, especially the production of sugar cane, there is growing industrial sector. A visit to a glass factory that produces lovely art glass is included this morning and later this afternoon, you may want to take advantage of an optional (complimentary) excursion to a candle factory. Overnight in Swaziland.   [b- -]

After breakfast, re-enter South Africa and travel into Kwazulu-Natal. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhino. It contains hundreds of endangered black rhino and the largest population of white rhino in the world. Overnight in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi region.   [b- -]

After breakfast, travel to a traditional Zulu village for a lunch and show displaying the local culture. The Zulu, which means people of heaven, are a proud nation that treasure their heritage, are friendly and always hospitable. After enjoying their hospitality, continue to Durban where you spend the night.   [b-l-]

A full day at leisure in Durban, a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city on the Indian Ocean. Take an optional day excursion, shop or relax, then enjoy your choice of regional or fine dining in one of Durban's many restaurants.  [b- -]

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth. After transferring to your hotel, the remainder of day is at leisure in Port Elizabeth.   [b- -d]

Follow the southern coast today via the Tsitsikamma Forest, the "Garden of the Garden Route". This beautiful indigenous forest is home to centuries old trees and much wildlife and birds. Over the millennia, rivers have cut awesome gorges through the coastal plateau as they flow down to the spectacular coastline. Later, check into your overnight accommodations in quaint Knysna situated in a picturesque setting between lush forests and the shores of a peaceful lagoon.  [b- -]

A leisurely start this morning before taking a cruise to the Knysna Heads; two great sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon which connects the estuary with the sea. The Western Head is the privately owned Featherbed Nature Reserve. On disembarking here, take a trailer ride to the top of Western Head, and walk back through milkwood trees for an included lunch. Return to Knysa where your afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight in Knysna.   [b-l-]

Travel over Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn. Learn about the world's largest bird on a guided tour of the Ostrich Show Farm, then tour the vast halls and towering limestone formations of Cango Caves. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.   [b- -d]

Travel scenic Route 62 via the 'Klein Karoo' wine region and the awe inspiring rock formations of Montagu to Cape Town, arriving in the late afternoon.   [b- - ]

Full day at leisure. Renowned for its pleasant climate and picturesque setting that includes landmarks such as Cape Point and Table Mountain, Cape Town is is one of South Africa's most popular tourist destinations. Become acquainted with this lively city and its environs on an optional day excursion or explore on your own. Overnight in Cape Town.   [b- - ]

Another full day on your own. Be sure to take in the V & A Waterfront with its many shops and the Two Oceans Aquarium. From here you can take a ferry to Robben Island where you can learn about Nelson Mandela's struggle to end apartheid. Nature lovers can enjoy whale or penguin watching excursions or a stroll on one of the many beaches. There is much to see and do in and around Cape Town!  [b- - ]

More leisure time in Cape Town before your private transfer to the airport, harbour or railway station for your onward journey.   [b- - ]
END OF EWT SERVICES

LM