The Cape Town to Kruger Experience

19 Days Standard Tour

DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN CAPE TOWN

Meet your friendly tour guide in the lobby for a welcome meeting and to mingle with your fellow travelers in the evening.

Hint: If you arrive a day ahead of schedule you could make time to hop on the famous Cable Car for a bite atop Table mountain whilst taking in stunning views of Cape Town, the Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Portswood Hotel or similar

DAY 2 Cape Town

Our tour begins!
We start off by letting the Mother City enchant and intrigue us with her centuries-old secrets, stories of colonial time hardships and of modern-day liberation triumphs.
We also immerse ourselves in the rich historical confluence of cultures and we feed our decadent side with a toothsome foodie tour where we eat traditional African grub at the legendary Mama Christina’s undisclosed hideaway (known only to Sidewalk Africa guides).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Portswood Hotel or similar

DAY 3 Oudtshoorn

We drive to Oudtshoorn – the “Ostrich Capital of South Africa” – via the well-known Route 62.
Here is wine tasting for the oenophiles (wine lovers) and, for the spelunkers (cave explorers), a visit to the ancient and mysterious Cango Caves, located in 20 million year old Precambrian limestone, at the foothills of the Swartberg (Black Mountain).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Swartberg Country Manor or similar

DAY 4 Tsitsikamma National Park

A full day’s scenic driving will take us past the quaint old towns of George and Knysna and eventually to the Bloukrans Bridge where the adrenalin junkies among us can do the highest bridge Bungee Jump in the world at 216 metres (709Ft).
Late afternoon we settle in at the quirky Storms River Village.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tsitsikamma Village Inn or similar

DAY 5 Tsitsikamma National Park

This morning we have the opportunity to do a shoreline hike inside the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park, taking in magnificent scenery as we fill our lungs with crisp coastal air.
In the afternoon we do the scenic suspension-bridge hike with an option to do a kayak safari on the mighty Storms River

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tsitsikamma Village Inn or similar

DAY 6 Addo Elephant National Park

We enjoy a half-day, African safari drive, in the comfort of our air-conditioned vehicle, inside this famous Elephant Park as we marvel at these magnificent African animals.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Addo African Home Lodge or similar

DAY 7 Graaff-Reinet

We arrive late afternoon in this charming historical town that dates from 1786.
Let our guide regale you with fascinating tidbits of its colorful history – for instance – Graaff-Reinet has more proclaimed national monuments than any other town in the entire country.

Recommended optional:
Take a sundowner trip, a mere 14km out of town, to the Valley of Desolation.
This is an awesome spectacle of nature forged over more than one hundred million years by the relentless forces of erosion.
The valley is rich with Kudu, Buffalo, Zebra, Plant life as well as an abundant birdlife. Boasting more than 200 species of birds, this is a veritable paradise for birdwatchers and anybody who enjoys the wonders of nature.
Photo opportunities abound!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camdeboo Cottages or similar

DAY 8 Lesotho

Today we cross over into the rugged, landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho.
Lesotho is a tiny African kingdom that finds itself entirely within the borders of The Republic of South Africa.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Malealea Lodge or similar

DAY 9 Lesotho

Today we wake up to some beautiful African scenery as we ease into a leisurely day under friendly African skies.
For the energetic, however, day hikes to a nearby waterfall and African cave paintings are available (optional).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Malealea Lodge or similar

DAY 10 Lesotho

Day number ten and today we make our way to the central part of The Kingdom and, in the afternoon, we embark on a ‘Donkey Pub Crawl’ experience!
Yes, really.
Donkeys – Traditional African Beer – What could go wrong?

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Semonkong Lodge

DAY 11 Drakensberg Area

Leaving the Kingdom we settle in to scan the changing scenery during a lengthy transfer through the southern side of Lesotho.
After a border-crossing, back into South Africa, we explore the town of Underberg, in the Mzimkulu River Valley, in the lush coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Premier Hotel Himeville Arms or similar

DAY 12 Drakensberg Area

An exciting day lies ahead!
Four-wheel-drive vehicles take us up and over the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountain back into Lesotho to enjoy stunning views and, once at the top, some well-deserved liquid refreshments and some hearty meals at the ‘Highest Pub in Africa’ at 2874m above sea level.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Premier Hotel Himeville Arms or similar

DAY 13 St.Lucia

Today we head back towards the coast to St. Lucia.
Watch out for Hippos in this unique seaside town of a mere 1000, or so, inhabitants.
Birdlife and biodiversity abound here and St. Lucia also boasts the second-highest vegetated dunes in the world.
The rest of the world says: “That’s only the tip of the iceberg” but here in St. Lucia they say: “That’s only the hippo’s ears”.
Come on a late-afternoon boat cruise on the lake and you’ll see what they mean as the resident hippos surface and frolic in the water.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: St. Lucia Eco Lodge or similar

DAY 14 St.Lucia

Today we take it easy with a full day at leisure to freely explore the rich natural surroundings.
There are lots to do including optional excursions to Cape Vidal or the Hluhluwe National Park (extra points for those who can pronounce “Hluhluwe”).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: St. Lucia Eco Lodge or similar

DAY 15 Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)

We say Goodbye to the beach and head off to the smallest monarchy in Africa – the Kingdom of Swaziland. Late afternoon we go on a Zebra walk.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Milwane Beehive Huts or similar

DAY 16 Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)

Today we’re out of bed at the crack of dawn as a local guide shows us some wonderful sights including an early-morning birding walk.
After breakfast we have a chance to explore the local markets such as Ngwenya Glass and Swazi Candles to stock up on some African gifts & goodies.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Milwane Beehive Huts or similar

DAY 17 Kruger National Park Area

Leaving the Kingdom behind, we now head towards the famous Kruger National Park where we will be entertained by a local African dance group before allowing the sheer wild majesty of the park to steal over us.
Established in 1898 the Kruger National Park needs little, if any, introduction.
The Park has an area of around 19 485 kilometres2 (7523 Miles2) and is about 320 kilometres (200 Miles) long and 40 to 80 km (25 to 50 miles) wide.
No fewer than six rivers traverse the park and it has an absolute abundance of vegetation and wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, rhinos, zebras, impalas, wildebeest and hundreds of species of birds.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Gecko Lodge / Umbhaba Eco Lodge or similar

DAY 18 Kruger National Park Area

Another early-morning-start sees us enjoying a full-day open vehicle safari-drive in the park inside the comfort of our air-conditioned vehicle.