Travel overview
The trip highlights: Safari in the Addo Elephant National Park, where you can see elephants, buffalo, lions and many antelopes and zebras, cycle along jungle-covered paths to the beautiful beach in Nature's Valley, visit an ostrich farm and the Kango stalactite cave, cycle through the wine regions around Stellenbosch and do a wine tasting, hike up Table Mountain and explore the Cape of Good Hope by bike.
Travel Information
A goog basic level of fitness is required for this trip. A good level of fitness is required for this trip. The route is entirely on tarmac roads. It goes over several mountain passes with a difference in altitude of up to 650 m. An accompanying vehicle is always present. The climate is as varied as the route: temperatures in the Little Karoo can climb to 32 °C during the day in summer, while on the coast it is pleasantly warm at 20-25 °C.
Tour description
International flights from Europe land in Johannesburg in the morning. You will be greeted by your tour guide. Drive across the Highveld to Dullstroom, located on the edge of the Drakensberg. The route leads over Mpumalanga's highest pass, the Long Tom Pass, to Sabie and then on to Graskop, where you will stay at the beautiful Graskop Hotel. (B)
A short transfer takes you to the gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest. Then you go to Bourke's Luck Potholes, an impressive system of whirlpools through which the Blyde River makes its way into the Blyde Gorge. On a short hike you can sometimes see a herd of chacma baboons. On an idyllic route you drive from the 3 Rondavel viewpoint into the lowlands to the Kruger National Park for your first safari on the way to your accommodation. (SC)
In the morning and evening, with a little luck, you can go on a safari in your own vehicle and see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes, wild dogs, as well as a colorful bird life and diverse vegetation. There is also the option of going on a safari in an open vehicle. (SC)
On the way to the park exit, another safari is on the agenda. You will reach the Ithala Game Reserve via the gold mining town of Barberton and Piet Retief. The still very pristine game reserve stretches from an altitude of 450 m on the Pongolo River to over 1400 m in the Ngothse Mountains. The flora and fauna are correspondingly diverse. You will be accommodated in simple chalets in the park. (F)
This morning you will go on a short bush walk in the Ithala Game Reserve. In the late morning you will travel on to the St. Lucia Lagoon. For the next two nights you will stay in a beautiful guesthouse in the seaside resort of St. Lucia. The place is located directly on the UNESCO World Heritage Site iSimangaliso Wetland Park. (B)
In the morning, we recommend a boat trip on the St. Lucia Lagoon (optional). In addition to crocodiles and hippos, the mixed waters are also home to African fish eagles, Goliath herons and many other bird species. In the nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, world-famous for its successful species protection program for white and black rhinos, you will go on safaris in your own vehicle today and tomorrow. In addition to the Big 5: lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo, you can also find the beautiful lowland nyala, a native antelope species. Here, too, you can optionally book a safari in an open vehicle. (2 x SC)
A short drive will take you to the superbly located Didima Camp for the next 2 days, with a view of one of the highest peaks in the Drakensberg, the 3000 m high Cathedral Peak. If climbing the Cathedral Peak seems too strenuous for you, hike into the beautiful Rainbow Gorge, which is covered in fantastic jungle. There are also many waterfalls to admire here. (2 x B)
Today you will travel to Underberg in the southern Drakensberg with great views of the rugged Drakensberg mountain range. Here too there is the option of a short hike. (B)
Cycling route 74 km, 1350 hm, 5% asphalt, 95% jeep track/piste
Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h
Today you will drive through the former Transkei to the beautiful Wild Coast to Coffee Bay. The "Hole in the Wall" rock formation has a deep mythical meaning for the Xhosa tribe who live here. On a short hike you will get to know the coast and beaches where the Xhosa's Nguni cows also graze. Accommodation right by the sea. (2 x B,D)
After breakfast, you will drive back inland and through the hilly landscape of the Eastern Cape to the coast to Kidd’s Beach, where the Indian Ocean invites you to swim. (B)
Continue to the jungle-covered coast of the Tstsikamma region. In Stormsriver Village you can do various activities, short hikes, cycling, a treetop walk and a visit to a nature reserve for endangered monkey species and birds. A short transfer takes you to the Tstikamma National Park. Here you can take a great hike over a suspension bridge over the mouth of the Stormsriver through the jungle to a high plateau with breathtaking views of the wild coast. (B)
Today we continue to Nature's Valley. One of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the Garden Route is perfect for swimming. Afterwards, you will go on a lovely hike on the geologically interesting Robberg Peninsula near Plettenberg Bay with impressive views of the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the sea. (B)
After breakfast, you will visit the pretty town of Knysna, beautifully situated on the lagoon of the same name. From the so-called "Knysna Heads" you have a great view of the lagoon. You will drive over the historic Montagu Pass back to the coast inland with fantastic views. The landscape will quickly take on a different appearance. From the evergreen coast you will head into the Little Karoo, which is covered in succulents. You will stay on an ostrich farm near the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn. (B)
Today you will learn all about these huge birds on an ostrich farm. Then you will visit the impressive Cango Caves. Drive through the vastness of the Little Karoo to Montagu, a small town with charming colonial-style houses. There are also hot springs in a gorge here, which you can hike to via the so-called "Lovers Walk". (F)
After a hike in the beautiful mountains near Montagu, we head back to the coast to one of the most beautiful nature reserves in South Africa, the De Hoop Nature Reserve. There are many species of antelope and zebras here, but no dangerous animals, so you can move around freely, on foot or by bike. The white dune landscape is unique and invites you to go hiking. With a bit of luck, you can watch whales directly from the shore. You will spend the night in chalets right on the lagoon. (SC)
After breakfast, drive to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. In the coastal town of Hermanus, you can once again watch whales from the shore on a beautiful coastal trail. In the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, you will stay in a beautiful chalet in the middle of the nature reserve. Here you can go hiking through the unique fynbos with countless types of protea and heather. The river's white sandy beaches are perfect for swimming! (SC)
In the late morning, you will drive to Betty's Bay at the foot of the Kogelberg massif. Here you will visit a colony of African penguins. These and the rock hyraxes that live there are not shy. The route along the Atlantic Ocean along False Bay offers fantastic views as far as Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. Here, too, you will often see whales and Cape fur seals. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Cape Town. Your boutique guesthouse with just 3 rooms is quiet and central. (B)
Over the next 2 days you will get to know Cape Town and the surrounding area. On the way to the Cape Peninsula you have the unique opportunity to visit a kindergarten project in the Khayelitsha district supported by AFRICAN BIKERS. This gives you a deeper insight into the social structures and the challenges of Cape Town. The tour continues along False Bay to the Cape of Good Hope, where you will visit another penguin colony. At the Cape of Good Hope you will hike to Cape Point with great views. On the west side of the Cape Peninsula you will return to Cape Town. The coastal road via Chapman's Peak and Hout Bay is rightly considered one of the most breathtaking routes in South Africa. You will also visit Kirstenbosch Gardens, one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world. Afterwards, if the weather permits, you will hike up the city's landmark, Table Mountain. The view of Cape Town, 1000 m below, is breathtaking. You will go back down by cable car. A walking tour takes you to the main sights: Parade Square, Castle, City Hall, Greenmarket Square, Parliament Garden, Natural History Museum and Art History Museum, as well as the Malay Quarter and the trendy Woodstock district. The lively waterfront offers many opportunities for shopping and dining. A trip to the Winelands in Franschhoek together with a hike in the Mount Rochelle area is also possible. (2 xF)
Depending on your departure time, you may still have the opportunity to go shopping at one of the many markets. A visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium or Robben Island is also worthwhile before you head to Cape Town Airport, where this wonderful trip ends. (F)
Services
Included in the price
- All accommodation in chalets, lodges and guesthouses as per itinerary
- Entrance fees for all activities mentioned
- All transfers and journeys in air-conditioned vehicles
- All meals as per itinerary
- Qualified English-speaking tour guide
Not included in price
- Flights
- Meals and drinks not mentioned
- Tips
- Optional activities
- Expenses of a personal nature
