Grand Tour of South Africa

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Departure
• Day 2
  Arrival in Johannesburg - We'll arrive this morning and spend the rest of the day at leisure in the city.   Jo'burg, South Africa's largest city, is a city for style, art and music. You could learn more about the country's history with a visit to the Apartheid Museum - a fascinating, horrifying, humbling and ultimately inspiring journey from the dark days of ‘whites only’ privilege, through to Nelson Mandela’s historic release. It’s a truly fascinating exhibition charting the apartheid years and the struggle against it, culminating in the first democratic elections. It is a superbly presented walk through contemporary history using original material, riveting eyewitness accounts, photographs and film. Alternatively, you could stop by the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Vilakazi Street. 
• Day 3
  Panorama Route - After breakfast we depart for the open spaces and farmlands of the Highveld, following the Panorama Route to Kruger National Park, one of the most scenic drives in South Africa. We follow the rim of the Blyde River Canyon, an amazing 20-mile long and 2,300-foot-deep gorge cutting a vast swathe through the Great Escarpment separating the temperate grasslands of the highveld and the drier savannah beyond. Deep circular rock formations created by years of erosion and many excellent vantage points offer superb photo opportunities for some of the most breath-taking views in Africa.  Our hotel for the next three nights is beautifully located in the midst of lush forest on the banks of the Sabie River, on the edge of Kurger National Park. Dinner is included tonight.
• Day 4
  Kruger Game Drive - Our first day in the world-famous Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest game reserve, will be spent on a full day's game drive. This is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries on the planet. With nearly two million hectares of unfenced African wilderness, more mammal species roam free here than in any other game reserve. Travelling in specially adapted 4x4 vehicles, we'll be off to experience areas of sweeping savannah, bisected by rivers full of hippos, muddy waterholes lined with animals quenching their thirst, and the bush itself, studded by biscuit-coloured termite mounds. There is simply nothing to beat that rising feeling of anticipation and excitement as we enter the nearby park in the half-light of the African dawn, surrounded by the noise of a unique dawn chorus.   Which animal do you think we'll spot first? Perhaps an elephant or a family of warthogs or possibly even the elusive cheetah. The experienced game rangers know the best tracks and waterholes, their stories will amuse, inform and fascinate you. Most have lived here all their lives, accumulating insider knowledge you won't read in any book or article.
• Day 5
  Kruger free day - We'll spend the day at leisure in Kruger National Park - you can take it easy by the pool at the hotel or do some hippo-spotting from the lovely lawn overlooking the river.   Alternatively, you could descend 60 metres down into the heart of one of Mpumalanga's last forested wonderlands on a visit to Graskop Gorge Lift. The glass-bottomed lift is the first of its kind in South Africa and offers knee-knocking views of the surrounding gorge and forest. Once at the bottom, you can stroll the series of elevated walkways at your leisure, exploring the local flora and fauna set against the craggy cliff faces that make up the gorge.   There’s also the opportunity for a morning game drive or a sunset safari with dinner. A sunset safari is perfectly timed to try and spot nocturnal animals as they become more active.  Exclusively for Riviera Travel guests, there are also a limited number of places available to stay the night at a tented camp and go on a bushwalk. Personalise your holiday - Overnight tented accommodation at Kruger National Park Buffalo Rock is located in Kruger National Park and offers a comfortable camping experience in luxury tented accommodation with en-suite bathrooms.  Enjoy an early morning bush walk led by an experienced ranger, who will introduce you to the bush’s natural wonders.  Spend a leisurely morning relaxing or swimming in the pool at a nearby lodge before a spot of lunch at your camp.  In the afternoon you will embark on a sunset safari and end a memorable day with dinner where our chef will create excellent wholesome cuisine and you can listen out for any nocturnal visitors whilst sitting around the campfire! You then re-join the main tour on the morning of Day 6. For a Double/Twin from £299pp & For Single from £439pp(2024) For a Double/Twin from £269pp & For Single from £399pp (2025) Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
• Day 6
  Eswatini & Kwazulu Natal - Today we'll leave Kruger on our way to the battlefields of Zululand. After breakfast we’ll drive south, entering the small but beautiful country of Eswatini. Formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official name Swaziland, is a landlocked country within Southern Africa. As the road climbs past the interestingly named Piggs Peak, we descend through lush green fields and rolling hills interspersed with small farms. Then, we’ll drive through the country’s small capital Mbabane, passing the parliament house and Royal Palace en route.  We cross back into South Africa in the afternoon and enter Kwazulu Natal province. A region where glassy malls touch shabby suburbs, and the people are fiercely proud of their traditional Zululand culture.
• Day 7
  Isandlwana & Rorke’s Drift - After breakfast, we'll visit the battlefields of the Zulu Wars, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift – one the site of a crushing British defeat that sent shock waves throughout the Empire, the other a valiant stand of just 140 against 4,000 Zulus. Brilliantly dramatized in films like Zulu Dawn and Zulu, these two battles, just a day apart, became a defining moment for the British Empire.   In 1879 at Isandlwana, a depleted force of 1,300 were surprised and outmanoeuvred by a 20,000-strong Zulu army armed with cowhide shields and spears. Only a handful survived.  The next day just 9 miles away, about 140 British soldiers, some wounded, held off 4,000 Zulus for over ten hours at Rorke’s Drift, an action earning eleven Victoria Crosses, the largest number ever awarded in a single engagement. Isandlwana particularly, remains a haunting and lonely place, with mass graves marked by simple white stones. Our specialist Zulu guide will really make those desperate encounters come alive. We'll hear old Zulu stories of the battle to recreate the events of the day, as our guides explain how this battle was won, and give insight into the brave soldier warriors and Zulu chieftains who fought and died here. We return to our hotel in the afternoon. Lunch is included today.
• Day 8
  Knysna - After breakfast we'll return to Johannesburg airport, flying to George in the Western Cape and at the heart of the gorgeous Garden Route, before the short drive to the Jewel of the Garden Route, Knysna.   Knysna sits within the unmatched beauty of the indigenous forests, miles of sandy beaches, rivers and lakes that border the town. There's also a picturesque lagoon which opens between two massive cliffs called The Heads. Standing on either head offers panoramic views over the lagoon to the mountains and out towards the ocean. The small but spirited town has a lovely harbour front lined with galleries, shops, restaurants and cafés - the perfect place to explore for dinner this evening overlooking the lagoon.
• Day 9
  Featherbed Nature Reserve - Leaving our hotel this morning, we'll drive to Knysna where we'll take a ferry across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve - a privately-owned reserve in the middle of a scenic lagoon. We'll board 4x4 vehicles to explore the area.  Stopping at some magnificent viewpoints, our guide will describe the area’s fauna, flora, history and shipwrecks before an easy downhill guided walk and delicious buffet lunch under the canopy of the milkwood trees. (Note: Due to weather conditions over the winter period, departures between May and Aug will have lunch at a restaurant in Knysna).  After taking the ferry back to Knysna, you will have some free time to explore this small town, with its numerous art galleries, craft shops and the Knysna Quays marina shopping complex. 
• Day 10
  Hermanus - This morning, we'll take the long scenic drive to the Cape’s beautiful Winelands before continuing to Hermanus, a lovely town that’s also the world’s best spot for onshore whale watching, usually between July and November. During the whaling season, the local 'Whale Crier' walks the streets to inform visitors when whales are present with a blast on their kelp horn. These gentle giants move in seemingly permanent slow motion and are a truly amazing sight as they playfully cavort in the water.