South Africa

Self-drive / Family / Walking / Romance / General Tours / Specials
Camping Tours / Wildlife Training Courses / Victoria Falls

Mellow South Africa

This three week self drive holiday begins in Cape Town and ends at the Kruger. It takes in the Winelands & the Garden Route and the sub-tropical KwaZulu Natal with time visiting Zulu cultural villages and game reserves. Travel through the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland to enjoy some time on safari in the Kruger Park before relaxing in the Blyde River area at the end. Uses mainly boutique guest lodges and intimate game lodges (of premier standard, sometimes even more luxurious).

Meals As in text - mostly Bed & Breakfast (14 nights) and DBB (5 nights)
Accommodation Premier accommodation
Departure Dates On request
Transport Group B rental car with unlimited kilometres. Upgrades to larger vehicles easily arranged.
Price Includes Meals and accommodation as shown in text, Group B car rental
Price Excludes International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
Minimum Number 2
Climate Varying climate - Mediterranean in the Cape to sub-tropical in northern KwaZulu Natal & Mpumalanga
Best time to go Suitable all year round
Health Requirements Anti-Malarial precautions essential. Sunblock essential.
Combines well with Victoria Falls

Day 1 - 3 nights Cape Town
On arrival at Cape Town Airport you drive to Welgelegen Guesthouse for a three night stay.
Welgelegen is a stylish boutique guest house set in two pretty Victorian buildings, in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Gardens area - adjacent to trendy Kloof Street with its inviting bistros, restaurants and shops. Bedrooms all have telephone, air-conditioning, TV, bar-fridges and tea & coffee tray and are decorated in an understated contemporary style. There is a courtyard garden with a plunge pool, ideal for alfresco breakfasts.

Cape Town is Southern Africa's oldest city and its most scenic. The unique cultural blend, part African, part European and part Asian reflects its colonial past. From your base here, you can explore both the city centre and further afield. Take time to walk or take the cable car up Table Mountain, visit the charming Malay quarter and the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Spend a day at the Waterfront, take a boat trip from the harbour, or just relax on the beach.
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Welgelegen Guest House

Day 4 - 2 nights Hermanus
Continue along the coast to Hermanus for a two night stay. The cosmopolitan former fishing village of Hermanus boasts some of the finest land-based whale-watching in the world from August to November, as well as spectacular mountain scenery and lovely sandy beaches for swimming and surfing. (Approx drive time: 1½ hours, 130km).

Schulphoek is situated in a protected marine sanctuary by the ocean, with spectacular sea views from the sitting/dining room and terrace. A coastal walking trail runs past the lodge and there is a heated salt water pool and jacuzzi. Six spacious bedrooms offer garden views whilst the Scallop suite, on the first floor, offers magnificent sea views. Each room has hand-crafted wooden beds, percale linen, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, TV/Video, complimentary sherry, tea & coffee facilities. Bathrooms are modern with bath and shower, sometimes spa baths. The atmosphere is relaxed with an emphasis on good quality cuisine.
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Schulphoek Seafront Guest House

Day 6 - 3 nights Garden Route
Today you drive to Knysna in the Garden Route region. The Garden Route thoroughly deserves its reputation for enchanting beauty. The "Garden" refers not to cultivated gardens, but to the indigenous forests of tall yellowwoods and milkwoods, covering the slopes of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. This region, between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, offers a spectacular coastline of dramatic headlands giving way to white sandy beaches. Behind the sand dunes lie placid lagoons and wetland lakes, bordered by indigenous rainforest and soaring mountains (Approx drive time: 4 hours, 380km).

The elegant Falcons View Manor has a gorgeous hillside setting, with spectacular views down over Knysna Lagoon and out to the Knysna Heads and Indian Ocean. This tranquil setting belies the fact that it’s only minutes away from the galleries, shops and restaurants of the bustling town of Knysna below. The Victorian homestead, with its polished yellowwood floors and high ceilings, has a wraparound veranda with views of the lagoon - the ideal spot for relaxing with a book or a drink or both! The original ambience has been enhanced with select use of modern furnishings and vibrant colours.
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Falcons View Manor

Day 9 Fly to Durban, 2 nights Dolphin Coast
Today you drive to Port Elizabeth Airport for your domestic flight to Durban (Approx drive time: 3 hours, 260km to PE, 40mins to Dolphin Coast hotel). FLIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN THE WEB TOUR PRICE. On arrival at the Durban Airport you collect your rental car for your two night stay at Lalaria Lodge. The Dolphin Coast, north of Durban, is made for swimming, relaxing and enjoying alfresco seafood cuisine.

Lalaria is bright and modern with well-equipped guest rooms and stunning views over the ocean. Errol and Caryl offer friendly personal service and every comfort at this spacious villa. The bedrooms, with sea or pool views have king-sized beds, fine percale linen, satellite TV, telephone, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and minibar. The spacious deck overlooking the Indian Ocean is ideal for sundowners and dolphin spotting. There are several good restaurants nearby as well as safe swimming, leisurely beach walks, dolphin boat cruises, microlighting and golf.
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Lalaria Lodge

Day 11 - 2 nights Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Head north to Hluhluwe region particularly famed for the Hluhluwe Game Reserve with its concentrations of rare white rhino, as well as elephant, black rhino, buffalo and predators. (Approx drive time: 2½ hours, 220km).

Hluhluwe River Lodge overlooks the Hluhluwe floodplain and borders the St Lucia Wetlands. Popular activities include game drives to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and bird watching boat trips on the river. For adventure seekers there is quad biking, horse-riding and mountain bike trails on offer. Between activities you can take a self-guided walk or relax and soak up the sun at the secluded pool
Full Board & 1 Activity. Accommodation: Hluhluwe River Lodge

Day 13 - 2 nights Pongola Game Reserve
Drive north to the Pongola Game Reserve at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains, overlooking the beautiful Lake Jozini for your two night stay at White Elephant Safari Lodge. Here you encounter a variety of antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hyena and elephant plus loads of activities - open top game drives, sunset boat cruises, nature walks, Tiger fishing and unique excursions to track rhino or elephant. White Elephant Lodge is an elegant, colonial lodge in the beautiful Pongola reserve. (Approx drive time: 1 hour, 80km).
Full Board & Game Drives. Accommodation: White Elephant Safari Lodge

Day 15- 1 night Swaziland
Head into the small kingdom of Swaziland today to spend the night at Reilly's Rock Lodge. Swaziland provides a fascinating cultural experience. Travel through undulating country dotted with Swazi villages and enjoy game viewing in the Mlilwane reserve. The Swazis are renowned craftsmen, and you can buy terrific basket ware, colourful fabrics, carvings, and Mother of Pearl in friendly markets and roadside stalls.
Reilly's Rock Lodge is the utterly captivating former homestead of conservationist Ted Reilly. The colonial homestead has a colourful pioneer history and has been sympathetically restored with great attention to period detail. (Approx drive time: 2 hours, 160km)
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Reilly's Rock Hilltop Lodge

Day 16 - 2 nights Kruger National Park
Today you drive through the undulating northern uplands of Swaziland to Buhala Lodge on the edge of the Kruger National Park. Buhala has a stunning location on the Crocodile River, the border of the Kruger Park.

It's a magical experience to sit on the veranda or at the pool, and watch the wildlife coming to the river to drink - hippo, buffalo and elephant cross onto the lawn quite often. Buhala, on a tropical fruit and sugar cane farm, is the perfect bush retreat, offering spacious air-conditioned bedrooms furnished with antiques, as well as two garden suites with private plunge pool. Rangers offer guided day and night 4x4 game drives and walks in the Kruger. Nature drives on the farm, outdoor spa, fly-fishing and golf at the prestigious Leopard Creek also available. (2½ hours, 160km).
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Buhala Game Lodge

Day 18 2 nights Blyde River area
Today you travel to Tanamera Lodge for a two night stay. The Drakensberg escarpment provides welcome relaxation after the excitement of a safari. This area of tumbling streams and waterfalls amongst indigenous woodland and forest plantations provides scenic drives, relaxing walks, horse riding and golf.

Tanamera, meaning "place of the red earth" has a hillside forest setting between Hazyview and Sabie in the heart of the Drakensberg escarpment. It offers breathtaking views of the fast- flowing Sabie River far below the lodge and the forested slopes all around. Five spacious thatched chalets all enjoy the river and forest views and are luxuriously appointed with fireplace, unusual 'waterfall' shower, large oval stone bath, private deck and private plunge pool. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the forest surroundings or for the energetic, there are forest and birding walks. The main lodge has a stylish sitting area and a communal dining table, though private dining in your room or on the deck is also an option. The lodge deck has a large rimflow swimming pool with the best views of the valley below. Tanamera is well positioned for touring the panorama route and the Sabie waterfalls. Fly-fishing and the Kruger Park are also possibilities. (2½ hours, 160km through the Kruger).
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Tanamera Lodge

Day 20 Return rental car to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Today you drop off your rental car at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in time for your onward flight.

Price per person sharing: 01 Apr 2009 - 31 Aug 2009 = US$2543.00