Including some of South Africa’s most tantalising sights and experiences, this itinerary offers game viewing in splendid national parks and the opportunity to explore many diverse landscapes.  The Cape of Good Hope is the starting point, from where you will travel through the beautiful Garden Route, and onwards to Zululand, INTRO of one of South Africa’s most famous tribes.


17-DAY: SELF DRIVE / FLY IN PROGRAMME

Day 1: Paris - Johannesburg - Cape Town
Depart Paris. Dinner on board.

Days 2 & 3: Cape Town
Founded in 1652, Cape Town, the ‘Mother City’, a melting pot of cultures, sights and sounds, is the historical and cultural heart of South Africa. Its exceptional environment between sea and mountain, dominated by Table Mountain, will charm and inspire you.

Day 4: Cape Town - Stellenbosch
Visit the Cape Winelands, where several wine routes link prestigious wine farms and historic cellars. You will visit Franschhoek, the ‘French Corner’ nestled in a beautiful valley. Its centuries-old French heritage lives on to this day, echoed in the names of wine estates, grape cultivars and wine labels.

Day 5: Stellenbosch - Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn, situated in the semi-arid area of the Little Karoo, has been synonymous with ostrich farming for well over a century. Unique opportunity to visit a farm specialising in breeding the flightless birds.

Day 6: Outdshoorn - Knysna
Proceed towards the Garden Route, a coastal region of dramatic beauty between Knysna and Port Elizabeth which offers enchanting views of splendid beaches as well riverine and forested landscapes.

Day 7: Knysna
Continue along the Garden Route, visiting Knysna, a charming town located alongside a lagoon.

Day 8: Knysna - Port Elizabeth - Durban
Fly to the port city of Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal, a sub-tropical region where the beaches alongside the warm Indian Ocean offer a taste of paradise.

Day 9: Durban - Hluhluwe
Highlights include visits to the charming seaside resort of St Lucia and its estuary and then, to Zulu kraals where the traditional culture of this famous tribe can be appreciated.

Day 10: Hluhluwe
Hluhluwe is the oldest reserve in Africa, INTRO to over 80 species of mammal (lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, leopard, antelope, black rhinoceros) as well as some 425 bird species.

Day 11: Hluhluwe - Swaziland
The kingdom of Swaziland, a small independent state landlocked within South African territory. Here you will experience the amiable hospitality of the Swazi people and be inspired by breathtaking scenery.

Day 12: Swaziland - Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park spans an area of 350 km by 60 km and is INTRO to an amazing variety of wildlife. It is regarded as one of Africa’s most fascinating nature reserves.

Day 13: Kruger National Park
One of the largest and most abundantly-stocked reserves on the African continent, the Kruger National Park boasts more than 140 species of mammal including the “Big Five” (lion, buffalo, black and white rhinoceros and leopard) as well as springbok, giraffe, zebra, crocodile, hippopotamus etc.

Day 14: Kruger National Park - Pilgrim’s Rest
Travelling via one of the most breathtaking scenic jewels of South Africa, the Blyde River Canyon, explore the museum-town which takes you back to the heady days of the Gold Rush.

Day 15: Pilgrim’s Rest - Pretoria / Johannesburg
Although it is the administrative capital of the country, Pretoria has retained the peaceful atmosphere of a provincial town. Noteworthy monuments include the Union Buildings, the Voortrekker Monument commemorating the tumultuous history of the Great Trek.

Day 16: Johannesburg - Paris
Return car to depot. Embark overnight flight for Paris.

Day 17: Paris


EXTENSIONS

• Victoria Falls (Zambia / Zimbabwe)
  
• Botswana
  
• Archipelago of Bazarutos (Mozambique)