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Hiking Safari through South Africa
offered by supplier M16394 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 16
day(s)
Group Size: 6
- 15
people
Destination(s):
South Africa
Specialty Categories:
Hiking & Trekking
National Parks
Season: October - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3210 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3210 US Dollar (USD)
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Tour Highlights:
- Golden Gate National Park: Visit of the vulture restaurant
- Sotho Cultural Village: Visit of to the local medicine man
- Tugela Waterfall: Awesome view on top of the highest waterfall in Africa
- Rainbow Gorge: Hike through pristine rain forest
- Marianhill Mission Station: Stay with local Sisters of the precious blood
- Imfolozi/Hluhluwe National Park: Hiking safari with armed ranger
- St. Lucia: Boat trip in the UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Nature’s Valley: Hike through magnificent coastal fynbos
- Cedarberg Mountains: On foot to the Maltese cross and Wolfberg Arch
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: After your arrival in Johannesburg you are greeted by your tour guide. Together we drive through the Orange Free State, to an area bordering the Kingdom of Lesotho. We visit a cultural village of the friendly Basotho who live in this region, and learn about the various building styles of their houses. Close by lies Golden Gate National Park with its impressive sandstone cliffs. A feeding station has been set up here for the Bearded Vulture as well as the endangered Cape Vulture. Anyone who is not too tired after the long flight can participate in an hour-long hike to a large sandstone cave. We spend the night in the comfortable Glen Reenen Camp.
Day 2: We hit the road early. We travel up through the Qua-Qua Highlands to the 2500 m high start of the Sentinel Trail. From here we hike across the over 3000 m high plateau of the "Amphitheater" to the point where the Tugela River plunges over the edge of a waterfall more than 1000 m high (4 hours). In the process it is necessary to climb up and down a safe, 25 m high metal ladder. The view is one-of-a-kind. In the late afternoon we drive to the neighboring province of Kwa-Zulu Natal to the Royal Natal National Park. The comfortable, thatched cottages of the Tendele Camp are situated in front of the 3000 m high "Amphitheater". Here we will spend the next two nights. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 3: Today we hike through the rugged, partly forested Tugela Gorge to where it ends at the wall of the Amphitheater and we literally cannot go any further. With a bit of luck we might see some delicate Klipspringer. (6 hours). Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 4: We drive through idyllic Zululand with its typical painted round huts to Cathedral Peak, situated in the middle of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a world heritage site. We hike in Rainbow Gorge with its fantastic forest and awe-inspiring cliff walls. We are accommodated in a beautiful hotel with the Drakensberg Mountains as its backdrop. (4 hours). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 5: We drive via the pretty university town of Pietermaritzburg on to the lively port of Durban. En route we visit the largest mission station in Africa in Marian hill. A Sister will introduce us to a few of the impressive welfare projects. Passing the lively Indian market and Victorian-era city hall we arrive at Durban’s colorful beach promenade. The sea with its warm temperature is a great place for a swim. The Ushaka Marineworld Aquarium is also worth a visit. It is the sixth largest in the world with a multitude of marine life: the sharks and rays are of particular interest. We are accommodated in a cosy guest house. Includes: (B).
Day 6: We leave Durban and continue north to the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi National Park, which is particularly well known for its rhino population. In the afternoon we do our first game drive in search of rhino, lion, giraffe, elephant and zebra. In a comfortable camp we fall asleep to the voices and noises of Africa. Includes: (B).
Day 7: In the early morning we experience the bush firsthand on a three-hour hike with an armed ranger (3 hours). We leave the National Park and drive to the world heritage site of Isimangaliso Wetland Park. A boat trip on the St. Lucia estuary displays a plethora of water birds such as the Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, kingfishers and many others. Families of hippopotamus as well as Nile crocodiles cavort in the water. We spend the night in a cosy guest house. The beach and forest are in close proximity. Once in a while hippos and leopards are spotted in the area! Includes: (B).
Day 8: We leave this unique natural area and drive back to Durban, from where we catch a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth (not included in tour price). Afterwards we continue on to the Tsitsikamma Forest, where we stay in a beautiful lodge. A short hike brings us to an idyllic bathing pool in the forest. Includes: (B).
Day 9: After breakfast we visit the Tsitsikamma National Park with its gigantic, ancient yellow wood trees and hike along a forest path and across a suspension bridge over the churning Storms River Mouth (1 hour). Afterwards we drive to Nature’s Valley, an idyllic holiday resort with beautiful sandy beaches and a lagoon. We do a hike through the forests of the Kalanda Gorge on the coastal plateau (3 hours). Here we see a variety of erica and protea species, which are part of the unique Capensis fl oral kingdom. We spend the night in a good hotel near the holiday resort of Plettenberg Bay. Includes: (B).
Day 10: A short transfer brings us to the Robberg Nature Reserve. A four-hour hike takes us around the peninsula and offers very pretty views of the 1800 m high Tsitsikamma Mountains. Due to exposed sedimentary layers, the geological development of this area can be traced. The swimming beach in Plettenberg Bay invites one to take a swim. The neighboring town of Knysna is well-known for its "Heads" – two steeply towering rocks which mark the inlet to the Knysna lagoon. Here we are accommodated in a cosy guest house. At dinner we can try the local "Mitchell’s Beer". Includes: (B).
Day 11: Today we drive over the 800 m high Outeniqua Pass in the Klein Karoo to Oudtshoorn. We visit an ostrich farm and the impressive Cango Caves, before we cross over the imposing Swartberg Pass through the mountain range of the same name. We arrive in the wide expanse of the Great Karoo. We drive over the Theronsberg Pass into the rugged solitude of the Cedarberg Mountains. Our comfortable cottages are idyllically situated on a farm on the river, where we are accommodated for the next two nights. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 12: Today we take a steep route up to the plateau full of mysterious mythical creatures, which were created in sandstone by extreme weather conditions. We traverse some narrow tunnels, crevices and bridges en route to our destination, the Wolfberg Arch, an enormous stone archway from where we have unrivaled views over the southern Cedarberg (6 hours). Alternatively there is also an easier route. In the afternoon we visit a cave in the bizarre rock landscape with interesting rock paintings by the indigenous Khoisan people. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 13: We hike from the beautiful Kromriver Valley up to the Maltese Cross, a free-standing rock formation created by erosion (6 hours). Afterwards we leave the Cedarberg and drive to Cape Town where we will spend three nights in a comfortable guest house at the foot of Table Mountain. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 14: In the morning we visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and hike on the landmark of Cape Town, Table Mountain (4 hours). The views of Cape Town 1000 m below are incomparable. We come down the mountain again with the cable car. In the afternoon we do a walking tour of the Mother City: the castle, parade ground and city hall, Green market Square, parliament gardens, Natural and Cultural History Museum, Malay Quarter, harbor and waterfront. Includes: (B).
Day 15: After a visit to the Boulders penguin colony we drive along the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, were we do a beautiful hike in the Nature Reserve off the tourist trail (3 hours). In this fl oral kingdom we see many species of protea, many of which are found only in this area of the Peninsula. We drive back to Cape Town on the Atlantic side along the most breathtaking stretch of coast in South Africa, Chapman’s Peak. Includes: (B).
Day 16: In the morning you have the opportunity to visit a kindergarten project as part of a township tour of Khayelitsha, which is supported by our company. Until the departure flight there is enough time for some shopping. This scenic and culturally diverse hiking tour ends with a transfer to Cape Town airport. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Qualified English-speaking tour guide
- Accommodation in double rooms with own shower/toilet (3*), during the multiple day hikes simple huts with bunk beds, mattress and communal toilet (1*)
- All meals as mentioned
- All entrance fees
- All transfers and travel in a air conditioned minibus
Price Excludes:
- Flights within South Africa
- Flights to and from South Africa
- Gratuity
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Hiking & Trekking
National Parks
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