Itinerary
- Day 1
Johannesburg
You'll arrive at Johannesburg Airport and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to do what you like, but there's a guided tour option covering Johannesburg and Soweto if you're interested, starting at 1 pm. Your tour guide will meet you back at the hotel around 6 pm.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Guided city tour of Johannesburg and Soweto (starts at 1 pm)
- Day 2
Johannesburg to Hazyview
Start with breakfast, then head out on the drive to Hazyview using the Panorama Route. You'll stop at Blyde River Canyon where you can see the three rondavels and check out Bourke's Luck Potholes up close. Make sure to take some time at Wonder View vantage point to catch the scenery before continuing on. The drive runs about 500 km total, so you'll arrive at your hotel as the afternoon wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Blyde River Canyon with three rondavels
- Explore Bourke's Luck Potholes
- View from Wonder View vantage point
Landmarks Blyde River Canyon Three Rondavels Bourke's Luck Potholes Wonder View - Day 3
Kruger National Park
Early breakfast, then you're heading out in a closed vehicle for game viewing in Kruger National Park. You'll have chances to see the Big Five: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and buffalo, along with various plants and wildlife. Lunch is at one of the park's rest camps (your own cost). Back at the hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Game viewing in closed vehicle in Kruger National Park
Optional Activities
- Explore wildlife in open safari vehicle
- Lunch at rest camps in the park
Landmarks Kruger National Park - Day 4
Kruger National Park to Malelane
You'll start early with breakfast and another game drive in a closed vehicle through Kruger. If you want more exploration, there's an option to book an open safari vehicle too. After exiting at the southern Malelane Gate, you'll reach your accommodation late in the afternoon. Dinner will be on the deck with views of the Crocodile River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on the deck overlooking the Crocodile River)
Included Activities
- Game viewing in closed vehicle in Kruger National Park
Optional Activities
- Safari in open vehicle
Landmarks Kruger National Park - Malelane Gate Crocodile River - Day 5
Malelane to Hluhluwe via Eswatini
Today you're driving about 420 km through Eswatini to Hluhluwe, passing through the Ezulwini Valley with its nature reserves and local markets. The drive takes you through scenic areas and colorful surroundings. In the evening, you'll watch a Zulu cultural show.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Zulu cultural show
Optional Activities
- Visit colorful markets in Ezulwini Valley
Landmarks Ezulwini Valley 
- Day 6
Hluhluwe to Hilton via St. Lucia
After breakfast, there's an optional open safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve if you want. You'll then head to St. Lucia on the coast, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. An optional boat cruise shows off over 1,000 crocodiles, 800+ hippos, and 400+ bird species. After a short beach walk, you'll head inland through sugar cane fields and historic Wartburg, arriving at Hilton village late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in open safari vehicle
- Boat cruise on St. Lucia estuary
Landmarks Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve St. Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park St. Lucia Estuary Wartburg - Day 7
Hilton to Drakensberg Mountains
After breakfast, you'll visit the Mandela Capture Site, then continue to Howick Falls (95 meters high). From there, you'll drive through rural villages of Underberg and Himeville toward the Drakensberg Mountains, a UNESCO site with peaks at 3,482 meters. Arrival is around midday. There's an optional 3-hour Sani Pass excursion by 4x4 if you want something more rugged and adventurous, with a crossing into Lesotho. End with dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Leisurely dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Mandela Capture Site
Optional Activities
- 3-hour excursion to Sani Pass by 4x4 vehicle (may require Lesotho visa)
Landmarks Mandela Capture Site Howick Falls Underberg Himeville Drakensberg Mountains Sani Pass - Day 8
Drakensberg Mountains to Mthatha
This morning you can take it easy in the Drakensberg peaks, walk around, and maybe spot black eagles and Cape vultures. The bus leaves late in the morning, heading down mountain roads and crossing rivers through valleys. You'll reach Mthatha in the late afternoon. There's time to visit the Nelson Mandela Museum if you're interested in learning more about his life and the country's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Nelson Mandela Museum
Landmarks Nelson Mandela Museum - Day 9
Mthatha to Port Alfred
You'll walk in Nelson Mandela's footsteps at the Nelson Mandela Museum for insight into his life and the struggle for a new South Africa. From there, you'll travel via Qunu, his home and burial site, to Port Alfred about 365 km away. This coastal town sits at the mouth of the Kowie River and has grown from a fishing village into a small town with a marina. You'll finish the day with a walk along the harbor.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Nelson Mandela Museum visit
Landmarks Nelson Mandela Museum Qunu Port Alfred Kowie River - Day 10
Port Alfred to Knysna via Garden Route
After breakfast, you'll take a boat trip along the Kowie River if weather allows. Then you're heading about 410 km along the Garden Route with primeval forests, rivers, lagoons, and beaches. You'll stop in Tsitsikamma for lunch (your own cost) and walk to a suspension bridge over Storms River. You'll arrive at your Knysna hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Boat trip along Kowie River
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Tsitsikamma
- Walk to suspension bridge over Storms River
Landmarks Garden Route Tsitsikamma Storms River Suspension Bridge Knysna 
- Day 11
Knysna to Oudtshoorn
A short drive through Knysna includes a stop at a viewpoint for good photos of the lagoon and Knysna Heads. Then you're heading over the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, about 180 km away, known as the ostrich capital. There's an optional guided tour of an ostrich farm or a visit to the Cango Caves if you prefer. You'll relax at the hotel bar this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of ostrich farm
- Visit Cango Caves
Landmarks Knysna Heads Knysna Lagoon Outeniqua Pass Oudtshoorn Cango Caves 
- Day 12
Oudtshoorn to Cape Town via Cape Winelands
After breakfast, you're driving west along the R62 toward the Cape Winelands, about 450 km away. You'll notice the landscape shifting from red semi-desert to green wine country. There's a stop in Robertson Vine Valley where you can optionally do a wine tasting and cellar tour at one of the estates. You'll reach Cape Town late in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting and cellar tour at Robertson Vine Valley estate
Landmarks Cape Winelands Robertson Vine Valley Cape Town 
- Day 13
Cape Town
Cape Town has a lot to offer with Table Mountain in the background, vibrant nightlife, shopping, good restaurants, and cultural events. Spend the morning exploring on your own, or book an optional guided tour to Cape Point and Boulder's Beach if you want more structure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour to Cape Point and Boulder's Beach
Landmarks Table Mountain Cape Point Boulder's Beach Cape Town 
- Day 14
Cape Town
After a final breakfast at the hotel, the day is yours to do as you like. A city tour and cable car ride up Table Mountain are recommended as optional activities. The tour ends at your original hotel, though you can arrange additional stays, transfers, and excursions if needed.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- City tour
- Cable car ride up Table Mountain
Landmarks Table Mountain 
