15 Day Kruger, Coast & Cape (Johannesburg via Swaziland & Mozambique to Cape Town)

  Mozambique

• Other Cities in Mozambique: 
Nampula

  South Africa

• Other Cities in South Africa: 
Johannesburg

  Swaziland

• Other Cities in Swaziland: 
Kruger

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All Year - Please Contact Us

Description: Day 1: Johannesburg Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.

You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. Your leader will collect your local payment at this meeting. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.

Please note this is a combination trip. The composition of your group, your group leader and your overland vehicle will change in Durban.

If you arrive early head out to see the sights of Jo'burg, such as the chilling Apartheid Museum, landscapes-filled Art Gallery or fun-filled Gold Reef City, an amusement park.

Tonights' accommodation is in comfortable town man dome tents at our beautiful, safe and exclusive Johannesburg camp. The toilet facilties have flush toiltes and hot showers. On site, there is a swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Days 2-3: Kruger National Park
After breakfast we continue to southern Africa's most famous premier game reserve, the Kruger, where we spend two nights. Enroute we visit the spectacular viewpoint for the Blyde River Canyon. We enter Kruger through one of the central gates and immediately begin game driving enroute to our campsite. The total driving time from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park including lunch and visiting Blyde River canyon is approximately 9 hours (600kms).

Our campsite tonight has hot water and flush toilets.

The following day we explore the diversity of the Kruger landscape ranging from rolling hills with granite outcrops to savannah grasslands during a full day game drive. In the evening, there is the option of taking an additional night drive with park authorities to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even night-time predators. If you're interested in having more animal encounters while here, there is also the options of going on an early morning guided game walk.

While in Kruger we camp in two-man dome tents. Our campsite has flush toilets and hot showers.
Please note that the trip departing on the 4th of July 2009 will camp in a bordering game reserve rather than in the National Park.

Day 4: Hlane Royal National Park
We game drive out of Kruger and then it's only a short drive to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland. The distance is about 120 kms, which will take us approximately 2 hours including the border crossings.

Swaziland is a landlocked country wedged between Mozambique and South Africa, set on the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. We hit the local market - always a great way to get to know a new country, before visiting the local candle factory which provides valuable employment to local women.

We spend tonight in the Hlane Game Reserve, a relatively small but very scenic and peaceful reserve. The highlight here is a rhino walking safari which gives you the unique experience of seeing white rhino from eye level.

Tonight we camp at a campsite with hot and cold running water.

Days 5-6: Ponta d'Ouro/Mozambique Beach Camp
This morning we drive the 140km from Hlane to the Golela Border Post where we exit the park. From here we head 210km to the Kosi Bay Border Post where we leave our safari vehicle behind, jumping into 4 wheel drives for the short drive (approx. 1 hour) to the coast. We camp at the beachside and enjoying two days of fun and relaxation. Options for you to choose from here include scuba diving, snorkelling, dolphin viewing and boat cruises.

Our campsite for these nights has flush toilets and hot and cold running water.

Day 7: St Lucia Estuary
Enroute to St Lucia we game drive in the prestigious Hluhluwe Game Reserve, the oldest game reserve in South Africa and home of the largest population of rhinos in the world. With luck, you might see both black and the white rhinos here, as well as the rest of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. While game driving we drive very slowly to keep under national park speed limits, disturb any animals as little as possible and give you the best chance of spotting them. In total today we'll be driving for about 7 hours.

We arrive in time for an optional boat cruise on the St Lucia estuary where there is the chance to view hippos, crocodile and a large variety of bird life.

Tonight's campsite has hot showers and flush toilets.

Day 8: Durban
We wind our way down the coast to the seaside playground of Durban, where the tour ends late in the afternoon. Todays drive is 400km, approximately 4.5 hours driving time.

Durban is South Africa's second most populous city and a tourist magnet thanks to its wealth of golden, sandy beaches and glitzy nightlife. Tonight you could explore the Golden Mile, a stretch of fine sands bordered on one side by frothy surf and on the other by an attractive beachfront of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Please note that this is a combination trip and the composition of your group may change today. There will be a second group meeting this evening where you will meet your new travel companions and learn more about the second part our travels. Your leader will collect the second part of your local payment at this meeting.

Tonights accommodation is in simple, comfortable twin or triple share rooms. Bathrooms are shared with hot water and flush toilets.

Days 9-10: Cintsa
Leaving Durban behind, we travel along the rugged and remote Wild Coast, formally known as the Transkei. The drive time from Durban to Cintsa is around 9 hours including our lunch break.

The Xhosa people who inhabit this region are still deeply rooted in tribal traditions and customs, which gives good insight into rural South African life, and you'll be dazzled by their warmth and friendliness. We spend two nights in beautiful Cintsa, which leaves plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors. Spend time exploring this charming little coastal town, sunbaking on the stunning beaches or pursuing the many optional activities on offer including hiking, swimming, mountain biking and surfing.

These nights we stay in simple accommodation with shared ablution facilities.Please note at times three single travellers may share in triple rooms rather than twin.

Day 11: Addo Elephant National Park
The Addo Elephant Park marks the beginning of our journey along the gorgeous Garden Route. The approximate driving time between Cintsa and Addo is 6 hours. We arrive here in time for an afternoon game drive and during our explorations, we hope to see some of the reserve's many wonderful species.

The Addo is a true success story in conservationism. Set up in 1931 to protect the region's remaining 11 elephants, today, there are over 450 elephants plus Cape buffaloes, black rhinos, all kinds of antelopes and even the unique flightless dung beetle, which is exclusively found within the park.
While in Addo we camp in two-man dome tents. Our campsite has flush toilets and hot showers.

Days 12-13: Tsitsikamma National Park
The next day, after an early morning game drive in Addo, we travel the Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park, our base for the following two days. Travel time from Addo to Tsitsikamma is approximately 4 hours. Here steep ancient forests meet the pounding Indian Ocean and the vegetation-clad mountains and rugged, unspoiled coastline harbour prolific bird and marine life. So bring your binoculars because there's sure to be plenty to see.

We have a whole free day here for you to explore. Options include many hiking trails, a tree top canopy adventure, and a snorkeling trail! You may even like to take the opportunity to attempt the highest bungee jump in the world!

We camp here in some of the best scenery nature can provide. Our campsite has camp toilets and showers.

Day 14: Oudtshoorn
We begin our day with a visit to the beautiful seaside town of Knysna where there will be some free time to explore the many quaint stores or walk around Knysna heads for stunning coastal views. We'll be driving time for approximately 1-1.5 hours to reach Knysna (45km).

After lunch we make our way to Oudtshoorn. Travel time from Knysna to Oudtshoorn is approximately 120km and should take from 2.5 to 3.5 hours. This afternoon we have a chance for a very special experience when we head off to a local settlement. We are taken by a local to learn more about the lives of people in this community and enjoy a traditional dinner. Our visit is helping to fund local community initiatives.

Tonight we camp. There are hot showers and flush toilets.

Day 15: Cape Town
We begin our day by getting our blood pumping, exploring the Cango Caves where we'll learn more about the formation and history of these remarkable caves.

We pass through the verdant Cape Region and visit one of the many famous wineries to sample, taste and perhaps even purchase some of the product. This is the perfect place to celebrate our wonderful journey before travelling on to cosmopolitan Cape Town, where the journey comes to an end in the late afternoon.

Cape Town is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous city, with plenty to see and do if you have a few extra days here. Consider taking a cable car up the iconic Table Mountain, chill out in the Botanic Gardens, take an amazing prison tour to see where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated on Robben Island, or head to a museum - District Six and South African Museums are both worth a wander.

Our tour finishes at the Saasveld Lodge in Cape Town. From here you can book a taxi to take you to the airport.

No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to arrange post-trip accommodation at Saasveld Lodge should you wish to spend more time in beautiful Cape Town. Please ask us at the time of booking.

Highlights: With its world-renowned national parks, intricate tribal and cultural history, rugged coastline and impressive mountain ranges, southern Africa is a beautiful and diverse region. This trip gives you the best of South Africa and neighbouring Swaziland and a taste of Mozambique. From the famous Kruger National Park to tropical beaches, the Wild Coast of the Transkei and the lovely Cape vineyards, it's highlights all the way.

To save you money and the hassle of booking multiple trips, this journey is a combination of some of our most popular adventures, Kruger & Coast and Garden Route Adventure. As this is a combination trip your leader and group may change.

Cost in US$: Please Email Us For Latest Pricing

Cost Excludes optional activities, visas, flights, travel insurance and all items not listed on Itinerary.

Important Notice

These details, guidelines and figures are accurate at time of posting (April 2009) and should remain so. They may change without notice should our local service providers update their tariffs due to unforeseen circumstances (such as Tax or Fuel Increases). Please ensure you email us to reconfirm this at time of enquiry or booking.

Typical Application Process:

The client will email FYI Travel, we will send out our application & indemnity form via email or fax. They need to complete it (hand sign it) and scan & email or fax it back to FYI Travel for approval.

They will be contacted and notified according to availability and date requirements. Full acceptance will be confirmed with an invoice from FYI for payment. Once payment is received, the program is confirmed and booked with service providers.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Varies per tour

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

FYI Travel's Mission Statement: Travel is a life-changing experience and FYI Travel will assist those who wish to, providing important information, giving peace of mind and support throughout their journey. FYI Travel is a link between traveller's and ground operators/service providers. We empower those in South Africa and Africa who offer extraordinary experiences. Our goal is to be instrumental in assisting individuals in making their trip a memorable one, being part of the traveller's life experience. We firmly believe that South Africa and Africa have so much to offer. The beauty and character of these countries are unique and should be experienced by everyone on this planet.

Year Founded: 2007