Summary

A very varied tour for the traveller that has more time and wants to experience as many highlights of South Africa as possible. For the first part of the tour you will be surrounded by the majestic landscape of the Drakensberg. Then you discover untouched beaches, wetlands, Big 5 nature reserves, and snorkel with tropical fish! You end in Cape Town where you will visit Table Mountain, Robben Island, and explore Cape Point!
TOUR TYPE
Self-drive or guided
PRICE
From ZAR 28150 per person
FOCUS
Scenery, safari, beach and culture
NUMBER OF DESTINATIONS
10
MALARIA RISK
Low risk
Key highlights
Drakensberg Mountains
  1. Take photos of the magnificent Amphitheater (a vertical wall of almost 1 kilometer high!) during sunrise
  2. See the Tugela Waterfall of 947 meter (the world’s second highest waterfall)
  3. Visit the San Rock Art museum
  4. Go zip lining or horse riding at the Adventure Centre
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Elephant Coast
  1. See crocodiles, hippos and birds during a boat tour at St. Lucia Estuary
  2. Enjoy an amazing day trip to the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a combination of game drives, snorkeling and a lovely lunch
  3. Have a genuine experience of contemporary Zulu life during a fun and authentic cultural excursion
  4. Visit rehabilitation centres where you can touch an elephant and take a picture with cheetahs
  5. Enjoy 3 amazing days of safari looking for the big-5 in the famous Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
  6. Visit the famous kuMasinga hide in Mkhuze Game Reserve
  7. Enjoy the fig forest walk and spot a Pel’s fish owl or an elephant
  8. Go on a boat tour on the lakes of Kosi Bay and enjoy the view of the traditional fish traps
  9. Snorkel in the Kosi Bay Lagoon surrounded by hundreds of tropical fish
  10. Spot the biggest elephants in the world and other big-5 animals in Tembe Elephant Park

Cape Town and surrounds
  1. Visit the famous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was kept in prison for 18 years
  2. Ascend Table Mountain
  3. Shop till you drop in the V&A Waterfront
  4. Go on the Cape Point Tour and see Cape of Good Hope, penguins and more!
  5. Go on a winetasting in the wine lands
  6. Visit Hermanus, world’s best place to spot whales from land (June-November).
Itinerary
Here at Tailor Made Safaris, we will happily adjust the itinerary below should you wish to see any changes. Of course it is possible to add some days or take some out, and don't forget to take a look at our add-ons! ​Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this tour.
day 1 - Flights to south africa
Upon your arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg will be welcomed by a representative of your guesthouse. He will take you to your guesthouse, where you can relax after your flight for the evening.
day 2 - Johannesburg, drive to Royal Natal National Park
Today your guesthouse representative will drive you back to the airport. At the AVIS office you will pick up your rental car. From here you can start your journey to the Royal Natal National Park, in the picturesque Drakensberg Mountains. You will stay two nights in Thendele camp, which has a beautiful view of the mountains.  After the long drive, you may want to stretch your legs and go for a short (1.5 km) walk to the Cascades waterfall or you can just choose to explore the camp.
day 3 - Tugela Gorge hike
The Royal Natal National Park is characterized by its Amphitheater, an impressive cliff 5 km long and nearly 1000m high. The Tugela River falls down through the amphitheater, forming one of the highest waterfalls in the world, and flows on all the way to the Indian Ocean. Time to put on your walking shoes! You can walk towards the base of the Amphitheatre Wall where the Tugela River has carved a tunnel into the sandstone, or you can choose one of the many walks Royal Natal National Park has to offer. Those who would prefer not to walk can take part in other activities such as horse riding (OA ± €15 pp) or a helicopter flight (OA ± €65 pp).
day 4 - Short hike to the Cascades Waterfalls, drive to Didima Camp, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve
Before you check out this morning you may wish to complete one of the shorter hikes in the area, like the short walk to the Cascades Waterfalls, or try to get a sunrise shot of the Amphitheatre. After breakfast you will pack up and drive the short distance to Didima Camp. The theme of this resort is inspired by the nearby rock art caves of the San people (Bushmen) and the accommodation of this resort also represents the housing of the San who once lived in these mountains. It is situated in a stunning mountain paradise and bathed in the scenic beauty of rivers, streams, waterfalls, meadows and jagged cliffs. Striking reproductions of the rock art of the San people can be seen in the San Rock Art Center. In the afternoon you can visit this center, take a short walk in the mountains or rest, enjoying the magnificent view.
day 5 - Rainbow Gorge Walk, San Rock Art Museum
Today you can go to either the beautiful Rainbow Gorge or the Fern Valley, depending on how fit you feel. Rainbow Gorge is a lovely walk through woods to a gorge carved by a river. The Fern Valley is filled with tree ferns which are also worth photographing. For those not keen to walk the San Rock Art Museum is definitely worth a visit. This is a celebration of one of the earliest cultures of South Africa and, unfortunately, a culture that no longer exists. After an introduction to the fascinating culture and lifestyle of the San, you can enjoy a small, cave-like room of traditional folk tales of the San, as they were told around the campfire. Then you can attend an inspiring audiovisual presentation.
day 6 - Drive from Didima to St Lucia
After breakfast you embark on the long journey to St Lucia . This drive will take 7 hours but the destination makes the drive worthwhile. Once in St Lucia you will be welcomed at your B & B and have time to relax and explore this special small town. Bordering the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, this little coastal town is unique in many ways. After all, you won’t find hippos grazing the grass verges in many other towns in South Africa! The St Lucia Estuary, which separates the town from the ‘mainland’, is home to hippos, crocodiles and a huge variety of water birds, which can all be viewed during a boat cruise on the estuary.
day 7 - Estuary walk & boat cruise
This morning, after your delicious breakfast at the B&B, you can enjoy a walk around St Lucia Estuary, where you will get a good overview of the estuary system. Later in the day you will get to enjoy the estuary from the water during a boat tour. The boat tour will give you up close encounters with hippos, possibly crocodiles, and you’ll also get to see the wonderful variety of water birds resident on the Estuary.
day 8 - Wetland Game Drive
Today you will be collected and taken on a game drive through the Eastern Shores Game Reserve en route to the beach at Cape Vidal for some snorkelling and lunch. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is known as the ‘premier bush and beach destination’ and has completely different ecosystems than Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Tembe Elephant Park. After the drive through the wetland park, where you should see rhino, kudu and other, smaller species of animals, you can enjoy a few hours on the beach, swimming or snorkelling at low tide. Lunch is served at the beach and the day will draw to a close with a game drive through the wetland park as you return to St Lucia.
day 9 - Close encounters with elephant and big cats
Today is your day of close encounters you will never forget! Experience a close encounter with elephants at a nearby sanctuary. These individuals were rescued as youngsters after the culling of their family. Hand reared but wild, they have become habituated to humans and experiencing them up close is an excellent way to learn about these majestic beasts. 

Later in the day you can make your way to a nearby cat sanctuary (OA ± €15 pp) where you will get to experience a close encounter with cheetah and other, smaller, cats. This sanctuary focuses on the rehabilitation of cats and the tour of their premises is an excellent educational tool.
day 10 - ZULU CULTURAL TOUR
Your tour guide for this activity will collect you from your B&B in St Lucia and drive you to his home village for a genuine experience of contemporary Zulu life. Here he will take you around the village, giving you lots of interesting information on the Zulu culture and way of life. The tour includes lunch, served at his mother’s house. You will also visit a Sangoma (traditional healer), a crèche, a high school class or attend part of a mass service at a church. This all depends on what is going on that day in the village. Your guide will then drive you back to St Lucia.
day 11 - St Lucia – Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Approximately 60km inland from St Lucia, this Big 5 game reserve is internationally renowned for its rhino conservation efforts and large rhino population. With its stunning savannah landscapes and rolling hills, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi provides not only excellent game viewing but also wonderful photographic opportunities. This afternoon you will enjoy a self-drive game drive through this wonderful terrain, keeping an eye out for members of the Big 5. Tonight you’ll stay in comfortable chalets in an unfenced camp inside the park.
day 12 - Game drives in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
The early morning and late afternoon are the best times to look for members of the Big 5, cats an wild dogs, most of the animals are active then. We suggest you leave the camp early. There are several picnic areas and viewpoints where you can stretch your legs, have a drink or take pictures. After the drive you can return to the camp, relax for some hours and go for another drive in the late afternoon. In the evening you can enjoy a braai while you are listening to all the animal noises around you.
day 13 -  Mpila Camp - Hilltop Camp
This evening you will spend in one of the northern camps of the park and you have the whole day to drive there. While you’re on the road you will be on the lookout for members of the big five that you haven’t seen yet. There are lovely picnic areas along the way where you can stop for lunch, for example on the banks of the Hluhluwe River where many animals come to drink, or with views of cliffs and rocks while watching and listening to the huge variety of birds.
day 14 - Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park – Mantuma Camp, Mkhuze Game Reserve
This morning you leave the Hluhluwe - iMfolozi Park and drive to the north, to Mkuze Game Reserve. Here you will stay for a night at Mantuma Camp. A mecca for bird lovers, with over 400 species on record, Mkhuze has an astonishing diversity of natural habitats, from the slopes of the Lebombo Mountains along its western boundary, to broad stretches of acacia savannah, swamps and a variety of woodlands and riverine forest. Once at Mkhuze, you can spend some time in the famous kuMasinga animal viewing hide. This fantastic hide is placed in the middle of water holes where the animals come down to drink. On this occasion, the animals can come to you to be photographed and, with a little luck, you will see rhinos or even elephants drinking!
day 15 - Mantuma Camp - Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
Following a walking safari accompanied by an armed ranger through the Fig Forest (OA ± €13 pp) you will leave Mkhuze Game Reserve and head further north to Kosi Bay, where you will stay at the superbly located Kosi Bay Lodge. Kosi Bay is the northern most extent of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and a beautiful lagoon where you can visit traditional fish traps. These fish traps have been used for centuries and the fish kraals are spread over two of the four lakes in the azure water. The best way to get a good idea of the 700 year old fishing methods of the local people is on a boat trip during which a guide will inform you of all sorts of interesting facts. This afternoon will indeed be spent on a boat cruise, where you’ll see hippo, lots of birds and beautiful scenery. During summer (Nov-Feb) you may be able to go on a turtle walk along the beach (OA ± €20 pp) and, with some luck, see either the loggerhead or leatherback turtles laying eggs in the sand, or see the hatchlings making their way towards the ocean.
day 16 - Snorkelling in Kosi Bay estuary
Kosi Bay has a healthy estuarine system, consisting of four natural lakes connected by channels. Kosi Bay Mouth, where the first lake connects to the ocean, is one of the best places to snorkel in South Africa, with over 200 species of tropical fish having been identified here; anything from devil fire fish to different species of moray eels and Picasso triggerfish. Join an  excursion to Kosi Bay Mouth, where you can overlook the estuarine system and the traditional fish traps from the elevation of a dune, and enjoy the underwater world while you are snorkelling.
day 17 - Kosi Bay - Tembe Elephant Park
After enjoying a hearty breakfast at Kosi Bay Lodge, you will jump in the car for the short drive to Tembe Elephant Park. Tembe is an amazing place; an elephant sanctuary and a Big 5 game reserve including the beautiful African wild dog. Accessible only with 4x4 vehicles and, with no more than ten vehicles per day allowed entry into the reserve, you will experience a complete wilderness feeling. In addition, Tembe is the only place in South Africa where the indigenous elephants of Maputaland are found. These Maputaland Great Tuskers are quite a bit bigger than the ‘ordinary’ African Elephant found elsewhere in the country. This afternoon you will experience a game drive in an open game viewer, during which you will be on the lookout for these magnificent beasts.
day 18 - Tembe Elephant Park
Fully taken care of by the lodge personnel, you will spend another day at Tembe. Today you will enjoy a game drive in the morning as well as one in the afternoon. Look out for, amongst others, lion, African wild dog and, of course, elephants.
day 19 - Tembe - Durban Airport - Cape Town
After an early morning game drive begins the long journey south, leaving the Elephant Coast behind you. You arrive at Durban airport where you hand in your car and get ready for your flight to Cape Town. After your arrival in Cape Town you will have some time to relax at your guesthouse.

During these 5 days you’ll see all the highlights of the Cape. The following five day Cape programme is a proposal only and may be adjusted to your preferences.
day 20 - Robben Island Tour
What about visiting Robben Island today, the famous island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years? Here you will go on an extensive tour of the prison and learn about what happened during those years. In 1997 a museum was built and the entire island is declared as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. This iconic place is well worth a visit.
Day 21 - TAble mountain and V&A Waterfront
Today you will ascend Table Mountain by cable car, once on top, you can spend a few hours walking around, enjoying the natural surroundings and magnificent views. Afterwards, you can visit the V & A Waterfront. Here you can enjoy the bustle of the harbour and shops, visit the Two Oceans aquarium, or enjoy lunch at one of the many terraces or fish restaurants
Day 22 - Cape Point Tour and a visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach
Today you will explore some of the sights around the beautiful Cape Point, including Muizenberg, Simon's Town with the penguins, Cape Point (with time for a walk in the Table Mountain National Park), and Hout Bay. Cape Point has a very rich and diverse flora and fauna, including antelope, baboon, Cape Mountain zebra and over 250 bird species.
Day 23 - Wine Tour
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a visit to one of the many vineyards in the region. You can have lunch/ or even picnic in the vineyards. Here you can taste the local wines and cheeses, a true culinary delight! ​
day 24 - Whale watching in Hermanus (possibly diving with great white sharks ) - Cape Town airport
From July to November whales can be seen from the coast of South Africa. Hermanus is about 1.5 hours driving from Cape Town. Hermanus is a popular tourist destination and is known as the best place in the world to see whales from land.  From July, the southern right whales visit the waters around the Cape to mate and give birth to calves in The Bay of Hermanus. Walker Bay, is ideal for this and thus has a high concentration of whales. Here the whales often come up to 10 meters from the coast, where they sometimes jump out of the water. The rocks in the bay will give you a perfect view of this. If you want you can also take a kayak with whales or whale on a larger boat. For the more adventurous, visit Gansbaai and do a cage dive to see the White sharks! In the evening you have to go to the airport in Cape Town again where you will fly back home.
Please note: Accommodation can potentially differ from the establishments mentioned in this itinerary (if fully booked). In such cases we will look for suitable and similar accommodation. Any changes will be discussed with you. We can only book accommodation after you have confirmed your booking with us. 

The European ANVR Travel and Booking Terms & Conditions apply to your booking with us. For full details, click here.
Price Overview

Self-drive tour

Price per person:
 
With 2 persons
With 4 persons
With 6 persons
With 8 persons
Priced
​from
R 31650
R 30300
R 29800
R 28150
For the most recent exchange rate see www.XE.com.
Prices are partly dependent on which type of rental vehicle you choose. For more information about car rentals, click here.
Includes: Car hire, extensive self-drive pack including GPS navigation device & South African cell phone and SIM card, all accommodation, all meals and guided activities as mentioned as included in the quote above/table below, 14% Value Added Tax (VAT).

Excludes: Airfares, travel and cancellation insurances, petrol, road tolls, parking fees, entry fees, meals & activities mentioned under excluded in the table below, snacks and drinks, gratuities for guides and local restaurants.

​Included in the car rental is the Super Cover insurance with zero liability and unlimited kilometres. Not included are the following fees though, which will be charged to your credit card upon collecting the vehicle: 
  • AVIS contract fee: ZAR 85  (once off)
  • Additional driver fee: ZAR 385
  • Fuel: cost of refuelling if the car is not handed in full
  • One-way fee (if the car is returned to a different location from where it was picked up): Between ZAR 869-1177 depending on distance)
  • If the car is handed in late you will be charged an extra day of rent
These costs cannot be paid by us and therefore will be charged on your credit card by AVIS. AVIS also requires a refundable rental deposit (between ZAR 3500-4000). This sum will be taken off your credit card at the beginning of your trip and if all is well it will be deposited back into your account at the end. For renting a vehicle the driver must be over 18 years old and must have had a valid drivers licence for over a year, which must be valid for at least a year at the start of the rental period, and a valid passport and credit card. Please note that without a credit card, you cannot rent a car! 
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Self-drive tour
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Destinations
For more information about the destinations you'll visit on this tour, follow the links below.
Add-oNs