The Very Best of South Africa Tour

Choose the UK airport most convenient for you and depart with British Airways. Your flight to South Africa will depart from London Heathrow but we can arrange regional connections from Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Belfast at no additional cost.

We land in Johannesburg, where our waiting coach will take us to the Protea Hotel Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton, ideally situated in Johannesburg’s fashionable Sandton district. The rest of our day is at leisure until the early evening, when we shall gather for drinks so we may become acquainted for our forthcoming travels together.

Today we will be introduced to Johannesburg with a full day tour of the city and its best known township, Soweto. We begin at Constitution Hill, a former prison and military fort which is now a living museum telling the story of South Africa’s long journey from colonialism and apartheid to democracy. Soweto (an acronym for South Western Townships) is a sprawling urban complex of over 1.5 million people, an area known for its rich political history and vibrant trend-setting culture. We visit key sites including Vilakazi Street, famed for having been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners in Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; the Hector Pieterson memorial and Regina Mundi, the largest Roman Catholic church in South Africa. We end our afternoon at Rosebank Sunday Market, a lively centre of arts and craft stalls, bric-a-brac, food stalls and live music with stunning views of the Johannesburg skyline.

Tour Highlight

This afternoon we check in at Pretoria Station and board the Blue Train to embark on one of the most incredible railway journeys in the world. Our Blue Train experience begins the moment we step into the train’s VIP departure lounge. Settle in with an aperitif and delicious canapes and be entertained by live music, whilst we await the beginning of our adventure. Once onboard, our butler will escort us to our Deluxe Suite and give us an orientation tour of the train as our 1,600 km journey to Cape Town begins. Our suite provides a spacious lounge by day and a peaceful sanctuary by night. Settle in to life on board as the Blue Train rolls out of Pretoria, before an elegant High Tea is served. Dinner is a stylish affair, so dress up to the nines and enjoy an aperitif in the Lounge Car prior to a sumptuous dinner paired with exquisite wines.

This morning the Blue Train arrives into Kimberley, the capital of South Africa’s Northern Cape. Kimberley prospered thanks to the discovery of diamonds in the area and during our stop here we learn more about the diamond rush with a tour of the fascinating Open Mine Museum. Learn more about the intriguing history and peer over the edge of the Kimberley ‘Big Hole’ diamond mine. Returning to the train, lunch is served and the afternoon is ours to enjoy as we watch the vast African panoramas unfolding. A delicious dinner of local cuisine and fine Cape wines will round off a wonderful day.

Enjoy breakfast before we bid farewell to the Blue Train as we arrive into beautiful Cape Town, where our rail journey ends. Our waiting coach will take us on a short orientation tour of the city prior to our arrival at The President Hotel, in Bantry Bay.  With views of the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel is a stone’s throw away from the trendy Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Our day begins with a tour of Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, taking in its impressive buildings and monuments, its lively yet relaxed atmosphere, and of course its picturesque scenery. Enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, weather permitting, followed by a relaxing stroll through Malay Quarter of Bo Kaap. We’ll also visit Greenmarket Square and District Six. During the apartheid, around 60,000 residents were removed from District Six, and we’ll pay a visit to the museum dedicated to them. We will also enjoy a stroll through Company Gardens before enjoying a drive past the Houses of Parliament and City Hall. Our morning comes to a close as we visit the Castle of Good Hope and Slave Lodge, a museum covering the long history of slavery in South Africa.

In the afternoon, we’ll be visiting the exquisite Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens located alongside the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The gardens were founded in 1913 to preserve South Africa’s unique flora. Today, the medicinal garden is home to 2,500 species of plants native to the Cape Peninsula, including the Protea (sugarbush). This is the national flower of South Africa that represents hope.

Leaving the city behind today we discover the beautiful and scenic landscapes that surround the city. Enjoy a scenic drive through Bakoven and Camps Bay, before taking a short cruise from Hout Bay to Duiker Island to see it’s famous seal inhabitants. Our  journey continues along Chapman’s Peak Drive, a 9-km coastal road with breathtaking views to Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. We will also pay a visit to Boulders Beach to witness its land-based African Penguin Colony, established in 1983. The raised boardwalks offer the greatest viewing experience. As we travel back to Cape Town, we stop at Simon’s Town – home to the South African Navy and famed for its maritime history – before arriving in Cape Town in the late afternoon.

Our first Freedom Day has arrived, where we can relax or explore as we please. Your Tour Manager will be on hand to advise on things to do, where to visit and the best places to eat. They can also arrange additional excursions to help you explore the area to its fullest. One of our optional trips includes a boat ride to Robben Island, an island museum commemorating the struggles of heroes like Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu. The island was brought to the attention of many after Mandela was released from prison in the early 1990s, after a two-decade-long battle against the apartheid government. Today the island is a museum and World Heritage Site that pays its respects to Nelson Mandela and many others that paid for the freedom of democracy.

With a vast expanse of vineyards set against a landscape of towering green mountains, the Cape Winelands are home to some of South Africa’s most stunning scenery. As we leave Cape Town behind, our winelands journey begins with a picturesque drive through valleys and vineyards and includes a cellar tour and wine-tasting in one of the region’s fabulous wineries. Upon arrival in Stellenbosch, we will have plenty of time to discover the second oldest town in South Africa. The oak tree-lined streets and whitewashed Cape Dutch-style buildings make this a delight for exploration on foot. We continue to Franschhoek via the scenic Helshoogte Pass. We stay the next two nights at the delightful Protea Hotel.

French Huguenots settled in Franschhoek in 1688, bringing their vines with them. Over 300 years later, this lovely winelands town still retains many of its French roots. It’s a wonderful place to spend a relaxing day exploring its art galleries, stylish architecture and wonderful array of cafes and restaurants. For those who would prefer to venture a little further, we have arranged tickets for the Franschhoek Wine Tram. This hop-on hop-off service provides a unique way to discover the Franschhoek Valley as you journey through the vineyards visiting some of South Africa’s most distinguished wine estates.

Today, we say goodbye to Cape Town’s winelands, as we begin our Garden Route tour. Our journey takes us along Route 62, which links Cape Town in the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. We travel through numerous picturesque towns and villages including Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, Ladismith and Calitzdorp. Crossing the spectacular Huisrivier Pass, we descend to the laid-back country town of South Africa’s ostrich capital, Oudtshoorn, where we enjoy a guided tour of an ostrich farm, tracing the ostrich from egg to adulthood. Our home for the night is the historic Queen’s Hotel.

After breakfast, we explore the pretty Victorian buildings of Oudtshoorn, before heading to the Cango Caves, a vast series of magnificently colourful limestone caverns, which to this day have only been partially explored. This afternoon, we take a drive over the visually stunning Outeniqua Pass as we make our way from the beauty of the semi-arid Klein Karoo to the Protea Hotel Knysna Quays, situated on the edge of Knysna Lagoon.

A day at leisure to relax or explore the beautiful scenery of Knysna Lagoon. An excursion to one of South Africa’s Natural Heritage Sites, the Featherbed Nature Reserve is highly recommended.  The reserve is a 150-hectare private nature reserve that encompasses the entire Western Head of Knysna. Soak up the stunning scenery on offer as we enjoy a cruise across the charming Knysna Lagoon. The reserve is home to many native flowers, trees and species – such as the endangered Blue Duiker, a native antelope. We’ll also catch a glimpse of Cape Mountain Tortoises, Blue Cranes and rare Back African Oystercatchers.

Our South Africa journey continues along the Garden Route, via Plettenberg Bay, as we stop for many photo opportunities along this fantastic route. After lunch, we travel to Port Elizabeth to catch our flight to Durban, located in the KwaZulu-Natal province. On arrival in Durban, our transfer awaits to transport us to the upmarket Umhlanga Rocks  and the wonderful Beverly Hills Hotel, with amazing views over the Indian Ocean.

After enjoying breakfast, we travel to Durban for a half-day tour to explore City Hall, Victoria Embankment and Durban’s waterfront. Look out for the ornate Vasco da Gama Clock at the Port of Natal, passed on in 1897 by the Portuguese government. We will also visit the Durban Botanical Gardens, Africa’s oldest surviving gardens that were first founded in 1849. In the afternoon, we head back to the hotel to relax – or, if you prefer, explore the local area at your own pace.

Another Freedom Day is upon us, presenting an amazing opportunity to participate in a new excursion. We recommend a full-day excursion to explore the 19th-century Anglo-Zulu battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Our knowledgeable, local guides will inform us about its fascinating history dating back to 1879. Alternatively, join an adventurous trip to the landlocked kingdom of Lesotho. Travel in style in a 4×4 vehicle over Africa’s highest pass, he 9,435-foot-high Sani Pass, to enter Lesotho. Inside, we visit a Sotho village to experience life like a local, making this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tour Highlight

This morning we travel to Durban Airport for our flight to Nelspruit Airport, from where we make our way to Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest game reserve. On arrival at the reserve, we will be met by a fleet of specially-adapted 4×4 vehicles which will transport us on our first safari in the Kruger. Renowned as one of South Africa’s greatest wildlife-watching destinations, Kruger National Park is home to the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino – along with iconic African species, such as cheetah, giraffe, hippo, hyena and zebra. After a thrilling introduction to the Kruger, we arrive at the Kruger Gate Hotel.

Early today, our experienced rangers help us explore the sights on a morning game drive in Kruger National Park. As we traverse vast areas of sweeping savannah, keep a look out for hippos bathing in rivers, warthogs quenching their thirst or possibly the elusive leopard lazing in a tree. We return to our hotel where there is time to relax and unwind before we head out on our second game drive late in the afternoon.

Following breakfast, we check out from the hotel and enjoy our final game drive in Kruger National Park in our 4×4 vehicles. This morning’s route explores new areas of the park and provides a great opportunity to spot even more of South Africa’s incredible wildlife. We leave the park in the afternoon, transfer to a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and journey to the Sabi River Sun Resort in Hazyview, for the next two nights.

We spend our day exploring the Panorama Route, winding its way through some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery of mountains, waterfalls and canyons. We follow the incredible Blyde River Canyon, a deep gorge which carves its way through 20 miles of the Drakensberg Escarpment, separating the temperate grasslands of the highveld and the drier savannah beyond. Highlights of the day include the rainforest at God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. We also visit the former gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest to see the Victorian-era wooden and corrugated houses lining its main street, and to learn about its chequered history

Today we travel west, ascending the Drakensberg Escarpment from the low country to the wide-open spaces and vast farmlands of the Highveld. Upon arrival into Pretoria, we make our way to the beautiful Irene Country Lodge, situated just a 15-minute drive from the city centre, for our final two nights in South Africa.

This morning, we visit the wonderful city of Pretoria. We will visit the Union Building and Voortrekkers Monument before paying a visit to Smuts House Museum. Afterwards, we return to our hotel where our afternoon is at leisure to relax in the most beautiful of settings.

The day is ours to spend as we please prior to our departure to the airport later in the day. Perhaps visit the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Breeding Centre. First established in 1971, the cheetah conservation centre is home to rare cheetah species and aims to release cheetahs born in captivity into the wild. This evening we say goodbye to South Africa and board our flight for our homebound journey to the UK.

Experience more of Africa

Why not discover more of Southern Africa with our delightful three-night Victoria Falls holiday extension, or our wonderful six night Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park holiday extension.

Arriving in London Heathrow with morning, our Very Best of South Africa experience comes to an end. Connecting flights to UK regional airports connect at Heathrow.