Best of South Africa
From CAD $8,175
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Experience Overview
Connect with the culture of two countries as you travel from north to south to encounter South Africa’s legacy of Mandela and the cosmopolitan spirit of Cape Town.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 10 Dinner (D)
- 14 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
Be My Guest
- Knysna: Join host Ella and friends for a traditional meal and insights into the local Xhosa culture, including traditional dress, language and songs.
Dive into Culture
- Eswatini: Step into the heart of Eswatini’s vibrant culture on a guided tour of a Swazi Chief’s village. You’ll feel the energy of this community as you watch an energetic dance performance, taste local pap and stew, and roll up your sleeves for a hands-on drumming class with the villagers.
Iconic Experience
- Hazyview: Take in the magnificent sights of Kruger National Park Area on your scenic drive.
- Kruger National Park: Travel to the most iconic national park in South Africa and marvel at its wildlife.
- Durban: Enjoy the views of the tropical east coast hub in Durban.
- Mpumalanga: Bask in the beautiful views of the Valley of 1000 Hills on your scenic drive.
- Chintsa: Venture along the beautiful coast of Xunu and discover its rich historic roots.
- Gqeberha: Spend the day exploring Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, and all of its wonders.
- Cape Town: Discover the iconic sights in Cape Town.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Knysna: Emzini is a not-for-profit organization supporting the local community providing education, food, clothing and a safe place to live. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 & 4: No Poverty & Quality Education.
Must-see Highlights
- Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, Kruger National Park, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna and Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting) in Cape Town
- View Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, the Drakensberg mountains and Storms River Mouth, South Africa's wildlife and birds on safari
- See South Africa's wildlife and birds on safari
Trafalgar Difference
- Durban: Durban’s award-winning, five-star Oyster Box Hotel is one of South Africa’s finest. Enjoy unmatched service, elegant charm, a garden terrace, and stunning ocean views over Umhlanga Beach and Lighthouse.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34610
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 375.1039B
Starts: Johannesburg, South Africa
Finishes: Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $8,175 ($545 /day)
Itinerary
Your seamless South African journey begins with an airport transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport to your hotel. Settle in to the pace of Africa’s most energetic city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.
Accommodation: The Maslow
Meals: Dinner
The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa's Lowveld. We admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga's Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, we venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, our home for two nights.
Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Connect with nature and explore South Africa's oldest and most iconic national park in the company of a Local Specialist. Uncover the secrets of the bushveld and keep a look out for the magnificent 'Big 5', the Little 5 and everything in between. See the glistening yellow Golden-orb spider waiting on her web, smell the damp scent of acacia trees in the early morning and keep your head down in search of animal spoor. Spend your afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Sabi River Sun Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to landlocked Eswatini and get a real feel for the local culture. You’ll visit a Swazi Chief’s village, meet the community and learn about their way of life, before sampling some of the local pap and stew. Admire their striking crimson traditional dress up close and feel the beat of this vibrant culture with a spirited drumming class. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to the villagers and their traditions.
Accommodation: Royal Swazi Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We venture to 'garden of province' of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, we arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4x4 game drive. This evening enjoy a delicious South African braai (weather dependent) – a perfect way to end the day.
Accommodation: Anew
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Board an optional morning cruise on Lake St. Lucia and get up close to the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife residing in the estuary. Alternatively, explore the town of St. Lucia. We continue south to Durban for an effortless encounter with this tropical east coast hub, which begins with a delicious Curry Buffet at the Oyster Box Hotel, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a seaside hotel that captures the nostalgia of a bygone era.
Accommodation: The Oyster Box
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Venture through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills bound for the spectacular escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. The Underberg’s vibrant arts and crafts scene and stunning setting provide a beautiful backdrop for a morning drive. You’ll continue to the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and stay overnight .
Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy the freedom to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site your way. You might choose to join an Optional Experience and head off-road on a 4x4 Sani Pass adventure, climbing to 2,874 m (9,429 ft) and crossing into Lesotho. Stop to take in the incredible mountain views from Africa’s highest pub, before enjoying lunch at another local spot en route. Prefer to keep things low-key? Stay grounded and soak up the Drakensberg’s dramatic beauty at your own pace.
Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
From enigmatic mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, we venture through the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover the legacy of Nelson Mandela, at his birthplace in Xunu, then enjoy the unspoiled Wild Coast beaches of Chintsa, where the only footprints in the sand will be yours.
Accommodation: Crawfords Beach Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surrounds before we begin our journey to Gqeberha. Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, which you’ll encounter first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.
Accommodation: Boardwalk
Meals: Breakfast
Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma's giant and ancient Yellowwoods, arriving at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that will accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella's work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. Famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads that stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon which shield the town from the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate
Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest
You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head.
Accommodation: Knysna Hollow Country Estate
Meals: Breakfast
Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals: Breakfast
Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of a tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour around the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at a Farewell Dinner with your traveling companions indulging in delicious Cape Malay specialty dishes.
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Thora Lynn Weir - Traveled, October 2019
I have travelling with Trafalgar since 2006 and I would highly recommend this as the best tour I have been on. Our tour director, Craig Olivier was amazing! The love he has for his country really shone through. We all leaned so much about this beautiful country from him. The tour was extremely well organized. The places visited were awesome! It was definitely a trip of a lifetime! The tour was very well paced. Not too slow; not too hectic. The optional excursions are a must in my opinion and I would recommend they be added to the itinerary. If I had not taken them, I would have missed out on a lot of highlights of this trip. Thanks to both Trafalgar and Thompson’s for this amazing experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2019
Anthony Hughes - Traveled, October 2019
The very best of South Africa. Johannesburg to Cape Town. The travel director and the driver made the trip interesting and informative for the small group of 8. The Director gave us knowledge and in depth details on the trivia and history for the different areas we travelled through and what we should expect to see and do each day. His profound knowledge of the 4200 km trip was appreciated by all. This trip was truly THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA, as claimed. The driver steered a safe reliable course and also added to the overall experience. The driver went the extra mile to ensure that all of the luggage was loaded and the bus that we travelled in was clean, tidy and well maintained so that that all we had to do was enjoy the sights and sounds that Africa had to offer. Both men were pleasant to be with in spite of their different jobs and worked as a team to make the experience very pleasant and memorable. This was our first Trafalgar experience but not the last. We would rate this trip 10 out of ten. Itinerary varied and interesting.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2019
Trusted Customer - Traveled, October 2022
Well-organized trip. Thank you! All accomodations and transportation were first-rate.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/16/2022
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2019
One of the best trips we have taken. Information was good. Things went off without any problems. Very informative, the smaller group was nice.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2019
Trusted Customer - Traveled, October 2019
Well organized and tour guides were all well informed, obliging and friendly. Accommodation was always very comfortable. Good meals throughout! Provided a variety of accommodation which allowed unforgettable experiences with natural surrounds and animals. Great tour guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2019
Andrew Habib - Traveled, September 2019
Summer 2019. Really best of South Africa. A great trip Great itinerary Only one not so gear hotel for one night of the two weeks.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2019
Maurice Ward - Traveled, October 2019
Travel with the best and you receive the best. This being my fourth tour with Trafalgar and all have given excellent service by tour directors coach drivers and local specialists and shows the companies selection of personnel is first class. Each tour has been different with the best of South Africa being unique and I experienced the best holiday ever. I will be referring this tour to others. Every day of the tour gave new and exciting adventurers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/19/2019
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2019
Well- organized, one of our best Trafalgar tours. Well- planned. Knowledgeable guide Adel. Treated everyone in a caring professional manner- no favorites. Well- run tour. We have already recommended this tour to friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/21/2019
Shashi Parashar - Traveled, March 2019
Need more free time. Excellent trip, great guide and driver.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2019
Malti Massey - Traveled, March 2019
South Africa with Victoria Falls. Trafalgar service was great. We had a wonderful Tour Director Siboniseni, who had knowledge and good organization skills. He gave information as needed and was patient when things were difficult. The driver too was very skilled and drove with care. Our tour Director was Siboniseni and the Driver was Justin. We were only 7 of us in a van so we traveled in comfort as well as not much time was wasted at stops. Sometimes the travel time was a little too long in the van. I do understand we had to cover certain miles to get to our destination. The itinerary covered most of South Africa. We were fascinated with the luscious land as well as the cities. We enjoyed the cultural encounter with the locals. Entering the different countries went off very smoothly. The trip to Sani Pass was a difficult drive over big stones and rough roads. The food was disappointing there. The cruise on the Zambezi river was a big disappointment. We did not see any animals and we were over charged. We were overcharged which I do want Trafalgar to reimburse us. The service was not good on the boat.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/22/2019
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