South Africa Tour _ Berg, Bush, Battlefield and Beach
Let us show you KwaZulu-Natal. From the mountains to the beach, covering a private game reserve with the big 5 and the major battle fields that have made this area famous.
Day 1 - Himeville Your guide will collect you from Durban and you take a scenic drive to the Southern Drakensberg, making some interesting stops along the way.
Arrive in Himeville and visit the Himeville Museum, which was built in 1900 as the last of Natal's loop-holed forts before housing prisoners until 1972. An open-air exhibition of settler and agricultural history is surrounded by display rooms housing military, African traditional and even trout- fishing memorabilia. Further, the museum is home to a valued collection of San artefacts and an insightful interpretation of the life and times of these ancient ones is to be found there.
OVERNIGHT: KarMichael Guest Farm MEALS: None INCLUDED: Entry to Himeville Museum
Day 2 - Sani Pass, Lesotho We set off to conquer Sani Pass. The awe-inspiring Sani Pass climbs the face of the escarpment to an altitude of 2874m and into the "Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho". It is the getaway to the "Roof of Africa". The scenery is breathtaking and attracts visitors from all over the world. Originally developed as a bridal path in 1913, the pass served as an important link between the Underberg district and the remote settlement of Mokhotlong, in north-eastern Lesotho. The first vehicle negotiated the path in 1948. It is now used for the most part by 4x4 vehicles and has become the highlight of the Southern Drakensberg. The tour will reveal the history of the pass, geology of the mountains, flora & fauna, and a unique experience with the Basotho people.
OVERNIGHT: KarMichael Guest Farm MEALS: Breakfast: KarMichael Guest Farm INCLUDED: Guided tour in 4x4 up Sani Pass EXCLUDED: Visa if required (Lesotho)
Day 3 - Nambiti Conservancy After an early breakfast, travel along the Midlands Meander to the Nambiti Conservancy.
Nambiti is a private Big Five bush retreat set on 20,000 acres of Bushveld. Nambiti is the only reserve in the region with the Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and leopard) and also currently has over thirty species of game including Cheetah, Hyena, Giraffe, Hippo, Kudu and Eland. It has an incredible biodiversity and is also home to several rare bird species.
Join your ranger for an afternoon game drive in open safari vehicles.
Day 4 - Nambiti Conservancy Continue exploring the diversity of Nambiti with an early morning game drive in open safari vehicles.
After breakfast, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with cheetahs on the lodge’s Cheetah Interaction Program. The session starts with a talk about the cheetahs, their history and future conservation projects and goals, followed by the interaction. One on One Interaction inside the enclosure is for approximately 30 minutes. Photos can be taken at any time.
In the afternoon, set off on another open vehicle game drive.
Day 5 - Battlefields Today you visit some of the battlefields that have made this area famous, namely the Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of Rorkes Drift. These 2 encounters between the Zulu’s and the mighty British Empire have gone down in history.
During the Battle of Isandlwana, the Zulu’s wiped out almost an entire regiment of the mighty British Empire – the greatest defeat Britain ever suffered from a native force. Rorkes Drift, on the other hand, holds the record of the most Victoria Crosses (11) ever awarded during a single encounter.
OVERNIGHT: Sneezewood B&B MEALS: Breakfast: Springbok Lodge Lunch: Packed Lunch Dinner: Sneezewood B&B INCLUDED: Services of a specialist battlefield guide Entry fees to the battlefields
Day 6 - St. Lucia We enter The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park World Heritage Site. Here we embark on a Hippo & Crocodile Estuary Cruise, a leisurely boat trip down the St Lucia Estuary, where you can watch fish eagles, hippos, crocodiles and goliath herons against a backdrop of mangrove swamps.
Day 7 - Durban St Lucia lies on The Elephant Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Elephants, Rhino and Lion, Whales, Turtles and Marlin, Warm Indian Ocean, Pristine Beaches, Sub-Tropical Climate are some of the terms associated with this area…
You have the opportunity to partake in one of the following morning activities before departing to Durban, where we bid you farewell and drop you off at the airport or your hotel in the late afternoon.
Option 1: Whale Watching: Early morning departure. 2 Hours at sea with a specialized Marine Mammal Guide. See Humpback whales from as close as 50m's! Seasonal: June, July, August, September, October, November only *R300 Cash refund if you have not seen a whale after 2 hours on the ocean R930-00 pp
Option 2: Ocean Adventure Early morning departure. 2 Hours at sea. Experience the thrill of surf launching with the possibility of seeing turtles, sharks, dolphins, pelagic sea birds & flying fish. Year Round. R530-00 pp
Option 3: Horse Riding: Enjoy the beach on horseback, or a Game Ride within the Eastern Shores to see species of wildlife, accompanied by a qualified guide and rider. Year Round 1 Hour: R250-00 pp 2 Hour: R500-00 pp *Beach Ride subject to tides
MEALS: Breakfast: Avalone Guest House EXCLUDED: Activities in Option 1 - 3
US Dollar (based on R7.70/$1) 2 Pax - US$ 2233 pps 4 Pax - US$ 1584 pps 6 Pax - US$ 1376 pps SSup - US$ 750
Included in Price: The price will include all transport, accommodation, meals, entrance fees, activities and guides during the safaris, as indicated in the itinerary. Unless indicated otherwise, the tour will be done in an air-conditioned vehicle to ensure your every comfort.
Excluded from Price: Accommodation and meals that are not specified in the itinerary. International flights. Drinks, curious, laundry, gratuities and other items of a personal nature. Travel insurance, required inoculations and malaria medications, visas (if required).
Our unique relationship with our tour operators ensures only people who have participated in a trip after making an enquiry for it at The Africa Guide can leave a review.
The email we send you when you make an enquiry has full instructions for registering a booking and leaving a review - both are free services.
Feel free to read through the reviews for any trip you like the look of.
Trips with no reviews are usually new to the The Africa Guide but are normally operated by a tour operator who is established here. Most tour operators listing here will usually have gained reviews about other trips they have listed here.
Thanks for visiting, happy travels and don't forget to send us your reviews...
The operator did a great job of planning our 26 days in South Africa, accommodating all our requests.
Their itinerary included a great variety of accommodations, and a comfortable vehicle for the many kilometres from Cape Town to Kruger.
Vaughn, our guide for the entire trip, was interesting and colourful. He went out of his way to make sure that we saw exactly what we wanted, that we were comfortable, and had everything we needed.
Our experience was awesome, enjoying several public and private game park safaris, boat and train rides, and great food. We truly enjoyed the scenery and viewing the wildlife in South Africa, a troubled, yet beautiful country.
We were extremely pleased with all aspects of our tour, from initial arrangements through delivering us to the airport for the return trip.
Their selection of activities, lodging, etc. considered and suited our interests and needs very well. Our only regret is that we did not involve them earlier in our planning.
Pierre and Karen are both great people and very trustworthy.
They were the greatest! Just having my husband and I with the tour guide made it so personal... truly worth the investment.
The tour guides Melanie & Mike went out of their way to make us have a vacation of a lifetime. We customized our tour from Johannesburg and Cape Town to see the culture, beauty, and history of each place. Breathtaking..... simply.... fabulous...
We went to to the Timbulvalti on safari and stayed at the Kambaku Lodge where we celebrated our anniversary and Christmas which was SO remarkable, one we shall treasure forever.
We made new friends and plan to do it again with them... all the way.
Our trip was wonderful. They coordinated many exciting activities and arranged beautiful accommodations and delicious meals for us. Our guide was friendly and informative.
We definitely recommend them, especially for people who want a customized itinerary
Book now! Without hesitation, that is our advice to any person who is considering using this tour operator to plan and guide their tour of South Africa.
We have never used a guide before and chose them because they offer private tours and do not combine parties to fill their vehicles. We were extremely satisfied with all aspects of our tour from the planning stages to the choice of accommodations to the guide himself.
We booked the 21 day tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Our guide, Pierre, is a knowledgeable and very personable guide who made us feel at home in South Africa from the moment we met him. The choices of game reserves and other stops on the tour were excellent and when we wanted to add or change part of the tour while in route, Pierre did everything he could to accommodate our requests. He even swung through the trees with us when we wanted to do the Tsitskamma Canopy Tour and "suffered" through a full day at the spa with us at the Pongola Game Reserve.
We especially enjoyed spending a day stopping at Zulu villages handing out clothing and soccer balls to the local people, as well as, having the opportunity to purchase old spears and other crafts directly from the Zulus. Our 21 days tour gave us a fantastic overview of the diversity and beauty of South Africa.
As Pierre told us we would be, we are now hooked on Africa. We hope to return soon to travel with them to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
We give our highest recommendation and are looking forward to our next tour with them.
Dr. Karsten and Sydney Eden Anchorage, Alaska, USA
We have travelled the world. Forget coach tours. This operator is the best by far.
Pierre and his team provide us with a fantastic holiday and I strongly recommend them to those who want to see the best, with the best at a very reasonable cost.
My husband, my thirteen year old grandson and I just returned from an absolutely glorious exploration of South Africa.
Our trip from the time we landed in Johannesburg and departed from Cape Town was 23 days packed full of adventures. From Soweto to game safaris to Victoria falls on to whale watching and visiting schools and homesteads way back in the bush we were cared for, transported and wined and dined by our guides Pierre, Tony and Mike who had exceptional knowledge and skill. Beside their knowledge, we were constantly amazed at their ability to see and identify birds and animals in the bush or even as we drove along roads at highway speeds.
Our accommodations were always lovely and in ideal locations and settings. We stayed in a 2 bedroom log cottage by the sea, a tented lodge in Kruger National Park, an outstanding guest house on the ocean where we could whale watch from our balconies and an European style mansion in Cape Town. Because all the places were small and intimate we got to spend time with South Africans which certainly enhanced our experience. Meals were a varied experience from in the lodges to interesting but lovely restaurants and even, BBQ's cooked by our wonderful guide, Pierre. Food was plentiful, excellent and we were encouraged to order way more than we could eat. Our grandson loved this as he tried every exotic food on the menu.
Our guides Pierre, Tony and Mike, besides being unbelievably knowledgeable and informative, are wonderful company. One example is the day that Mike, a history expert, drove us to one of the Zulu-British battlefields, sat us in canvass chairs under an African tree and with props reenacted the battle. We were sure that 20,000 Zulu warriors would crest the hill at any moment.
Since I am not the easiest client to deal with as I ask too many questions and want to be involved in all decision making, I can testify to the patience and attention to details that this company provides. Having a 13 year old traveling with you can present other parameters but Pierre and Company were just incredible with our grandson making sure that he was always included, engaged and excited.
I am sure that you can tell that this is an absolute rave review. I cannot wait to travel again with Pierre and company next time to Namibia and Botswana.
8
Client:
Debbie Jones - from United States
Trip:
currently unavailable
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
We returned last week from our first trip to Africa.
I have to say, that after months of anticipation, this trip was everything we expected, and more. I would highly recommend this safari operator for anyone planning a trip to Africa.
Pierre and Mike went out of their way to make sure that each person on the tour was happy and comfortable.
We intended this to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but, since we have come home, we have been talking about planning another trip as soon as time and money allow!
The wildlife was amazing, as was the scenery at Victoria Falls. We really could not pick just one favorite thing about the trip, it was all wonderful.
Just got back from 20 nights in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Pierre couldn't have put together a more perfect itinerary.
Four nights at A'Zambezi Lodge enjoyed the Walk With Lions, Elephant Ride Safari, Helicopter Tour of Victoria Falls, Day Trip to Botswana (Chobie)and had fun at the market. The lodge was beautiful with a friendly staff and excellent food. Returned back to Johannesburg to meet Pierre and head to Greater Kruger with stops such as waterfalls and God's Window. Timbavati reserve was teaming with wildlife and we stayed at Gomo Gomo. Another beautiful lodge with great staff and great food.
Our ranger, Trevor was fantastic at spotting and tracking animals and birds. We go so close to so many different animals it seemed like something out of a wildlife show. Trevor and Pierre's humor made the game drives and meals even more enjoyable. We spent one night in Kruger National Park where we finally spotted the infamous Bushbabies. Yes, they really do exist! Then on to Pongola where we stayed at Mvubu. Beautiful accodomations with world class views. It was here that we caught tiger fish and spotted the rhinos. Great place. Swaziland was a great experience for two nights to see how tribes really live. The entertainment, tour, food and people were again the best.
Sadly, we had to leave our beloved Pierre and fly from Durban to George where we met the other guide Pierre had arranged to show us around the Cape Town area. Mike....what a nice guy! Always working hard to meet our needs and please us. We spent 3 nights in Wilderness at Shinning Waters BB where Ann made sure we were comfortable. Beautiful home with ocean views in each room. Visited National Park, kids went Bungy Jumping, took a little hike and rode the ostriches! Great fun! Last three nights were spent in Cape Town at Blackheath Lodge. John and Antony were wonderful hosts. The home was very nice with good location. We spent our time at the Waterfront, on Table Mountain, Cape Good Hope and touring around the city.
While I was not to sure about booking a trip for my family and my husbands parents and being able to meet everyone's needs, Pierre put me at ease with his many e-mails, phone calls and listening to the endless list of things we wanted to do and see. I could have never put such a wonderful trip together myself. Pierre kept my mother in law fed and happy....a feat in itself, listened to my son's never ending stories and tolerated my daughters simple minded questions like "how did those rocks get there?" and "why is the car driving backwards?"
If you are looking for a tour company who knows their way around South Africa, Pierre will provide the trip of your dreams for a a personalized, helpful and exciting experience
We had a great couple of days in Kwa-Zulu Natal. We wanted a customised tour to fill three spare days and this safari came up trumps.
Pierre was great, meeting us at Durban and arranging every aspect of the safari and the battle field tour we had wanted to cover on our brief stay in KZN.
We would thouroughly recommend this safari operator. The Guest House, owned by Pierre in Dundee was really comfortable and we were made very welcome by Pierre and his wife Karen - great
