South Africa 2017

selling

2 

Welcome 

We are delighted to invite agents on perhaps unfamiliar with the many scenic 

a journey through South Africa by attractions, game parks, vibrant cities or historic 

reading this dedicated selling tool. 

sites on offer, or are one of our South Africa 

We recognise the trade is crucial to our 

Specialist agents looking to convince more 

success and this guide is the result of feedback clients to pay a second, third or fourth visit, 

we received from agents across the UK 

there should be plenty in the pages that 

at our many trade evenings, training 

days, road shows and other events. 

Kgalagadi 

National Park 

follow to help you convert more of those 

clients curious about South Africa into 

The content that follows directly 

clients booking South Africa. 

reflects those conversations – your 

Enjoy this guide and look out in 2017 

recommendations to us – and has been 

for our many trade initiatives, including a new 

designed to provide you with some of the newsletter that will provide details on training 

essential information and tips to help you sell opportunities and some fabulous fam trips. 

more of one of the world’s most diverse and Tolene Van der Merwe, 

appealing holiday destinations. 

UK Country Manager 

Whether you are new to selling the country, South African Tourism 

Upington 

Augrabies 

National Park 

Kimberley 

Namaqua 

National Park 

NORTHERN CAPE 

Proudly published for South African 

Tourism UK by BMI Publishing Ltd 2016 

© 2016. 

Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, 

Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK 

T 020 8649 7233 | F 020 8649 7234 

enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk 

bmipublishing.co.uk 

sellingtravel.co.uk 

Written by: 

Peter Ellegard 

Editorial Director: 

Steve Hartridge 

Designer: 

Zoë Tarrant 

Advertisement Manager: 

Lisa Merrigan 

Whilst every effort is made to ensure 

accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held 

responsible for any errors or omissions. 

ISSN: 2056-9319. 

Cover image: Main image: Victoria and 

Albert waterfront, with table mountain in 

the background, Cape Town 

All maps are artist impressions 

West Coast 

National Park 

National Capital 

Provincial Capital 

Town, Village 

Itinerary One (page 20) 

Itinerary Two (page 22) 

Itinerary Three (page 24) 

Itinerary Four (page 26) 

Paternoster 

Stellenbosch 

Cape Town 

Hermanus 

Cederberg 

wilderness area 

WESTERN CAPE 

Franschhoek 

Airport 

Game reserve 

Battlefields 

Marine reserve 

National Monument 

Site of historical importance 

Wine tours 

George 

Mosselbaai 

Oudtshoorn 

Knysna 

Valley of 

Desolation 

Tsitsikamma 

National 

Park 

saspecialist.southafrica.net

3 

Mapungubwe 

National Park 

Louis Trichardt 

MOZAMBIQUE 

LIMPOPO 

Timbavati 

Kruger 

National Park 

4 The Bare essentials 

Visas, health, currency 

BOTSWANA 

Madikwe 

Game Reserve 

Pilanesberg 

National Park 

NORTH WEST 

Waterberg 

Sun City 

Cradle of Humankind & 

Sterkfontein Caves 

Pretoria 

Johannesburg 

GAUTENG 

Polokwane 

Graskop 

Hazyview 

Nelspruit 

MPUMALANGA 

Hoedspruit 

Sabi Sands 

Skukuza 

SWAZILAND 

5 Getting around 

Planes, trains, buses 

6 Wow factor 

The perfect dozen 

8 Did you know? 

South African surprises 

FREE STATE 

Bloemfontein 

Golden Gate 

National Park 

LESOTHO 

Drakensberg Range 

Midlands 

Meander 

KWAZULU 

NATAL 

Battlefields 

Jozini Dam 

Hluhluwe– 

Imfolozi Park 

Ballito 

Umhlanga 

Durban 

Greater 

St. Lucia 

Wetlands 

10 Bush babies 

On safari 

12Day in the life of... 

A private game reserve 

13 Find your wild 

Adrenalin rushes 

EASTERN CAPE 

Qunu 

(burial site of 

Nelson Mandela) 

Wild Coast 

INDIAN OCEAN 

14 Exploring 

Johannesburg 

Vibrant and dynamic 

18 Driven to distraction 

Take to the open roads 

Addo Elephant 

National Park 

Grahamstown 

East London 

20 Itineraries 

Four suggested 

driving routes 

Port Elizabeth 

30 Lodges 

Safari choices 


4 

The bare 

essentials 

Top Left: Stunning beaches 

are found along the Garden 

Route. Bottom Left: walking in 

Ficksburg; Free Sate; Moyo Pier, 

Durban; hiking in Mapungubwe, 

Limpopo 

At just over one-third the size of the EU and 

four times the size of Germany, South Africa is big! 

Kruger National Park alone is the same size as Wales. 

There are nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, 

KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North 

West and Western Cape. The capital, Pretoria, lies in Gauteng and 

is the fifth-largest city, behind Johannesburg and Soweto (also 

both in Gauteng and the third- and fourth-largest respectively), 

Durban (in KwaZulu-Natal) and its most-populous city, Cape 

Town (Western Cape). 

The north and large swathes of the centre and west are arid, 

covered by the Kalahari Desert and Karoo semi-desert region. 

The mighty Drakensberg Mountains form its south-western 

spine. Tourism is mainly centred on its coastal regions and in 

the Kruger and other game parks in the east. The Western and 

Eastern Capes are temperate, while KwaZulu- 

Natal is sub-tropical – which means you can 

enjoy its beaches year round 

GET A GRIP OF THE BASICS 

Entry requirements: Visas are not 

needed by British and EU nationals 

for stays of up to 90 days. UK passports must 

have at least six months’ remaining validity 

and include a minimum of two blank pages 

for entry stamps. 

Under current rules, all parents travelling 

with children under 18 must produce an 

The peak summer 

season in Cape 

Town and along 

the Garden Route 

is from September 

to April, when the 

days are warm 

and there is less 

rainfall 

The beaches and 

game parks of 

sub-tropical 

KwaZulu- 

Natal are best 

enjoyed in the 

drier months 

between April and 

September, when 

the humidity also 

drops 

unabridged birth certificate for each child, detailing the 

parents, and a consent form signed by the other parent 

if only one is travelling. See southafricahouseuk.com/documents/ 

childtravel13jan2016.pdf 

Health and innoculations: Consult a doctor for advice 

on vaccinations. Much of South Africa is malaria-free, 

however, there is a malaria risk in the Kruger National Park, 

northern Limpopo and northern KwaZulu-Natal. 

Electricity: South Africa’s electricity supply is 220/230 

volts 50HZ, so UK appliances will work without 

transformers. Plugs have either two or three rounded pins, 

requiring adapters. Some hotels have English sockets. 

Currency: The Rand (R). The current tourist rate is about 

R16.5 to £1 (at November 2016). ATMs are widely 

available at airports, banks, hotels and some shops. Travellers’ 

cheques are difficult to change. 

Flying time: Direct flights from London 

to Johannesburg take about 11 

hours. Onwards flights to Cape Town take 

two hours; Port Elizabeth is one hour and 40 

minutes; Durban and Hoedspruit is an hour 

and Nelspruit is 45 minutes. 

Time zone: South Africa is one hour 

ahead of the UK during the British 

summer time and two hours ahead during 

the winter, so visitors experience no jet lag. 

Learn more: Sign up to South African 

Tourism’s official interactive online 

training programme: saspecialist.southafrica.net 


5 

around 

Getting 

South Africa is a vast country – the 25th largest in size – 

with a coastline that stretches over 1,555 miles, but there 

are plenty of ways to get between its main tourism centres 

FLIGHTS 

Flight Paths: Visitors from the UK have a number of 

options for getting to South Africa. There are 37 direct 

flights each week between London’s Heathrow Airport and 

Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, operated by 

British Airways and South African Airways (both twice daily) 

and Virgin Atlantic Airways. 

From November 24 2016, British Airways flies to Cape Town 

from London Gatwick three times a week, a switch from 

Heathrow. Thomas Cook is also operating three flights a week 

from Gatwick to Cape Town this winter. Clients can also travel 

from UK regional airports with airlines such as KLM, Air France, 

Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, connecting 

via the airlines’ main hubs. 

Domestic flights: South Africa is easy to get around by air, 

with routes served by several airlines: British Airways (operated 

by Comair), South African Airways, South African Express 

and Airlink, which fly between major centres as well as some 

smaller destinations, and low-cost carriers (Kulula.com), Mango 

and Safair, which operate popular routes. 

Key domestic destinations include Johannesburg, Cape Town, 

Durban (also an international gateway), Kimberley, East London, 

Bloemfontein and both George and Port Elizabeth, which offer 

easy access to either end of the Garden Route. 

Port Elizabeth is also the gateway to Eastern 

Cape’s malaria-free game reserves. Kruger Park 

can be accessed from several airports: Nelspruit’s 

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Skukuza for the 

southern Kruger, Hoedspruit [also known as Eastgate Airport] 

for the central Kruger, and Hoedspruit and Kruger Park Gateway 

Airport [in Phalaborwa] for the northern Kruger. Among gateway 

airports close to private game reserves are Skukuza (five minutes 

from Sabi Sand) and Hoedspruit (30 minutes from Timbavati). 

Pilanesberg Airport is just minutes from both Sun City and 

Pilanesberg National Park. Small charter airlines also fly directly to 

private game lodge airstrips. 

OTHER TRANSPORT OPTIONS 

Bus: Regular, scheduled buses linking towns and cities 

across South Africa and beyond are operated by private 

companies including Greyhound and its subsidiary Citiliner, City 

to City, Translux, Intercape and Eldo Coaches. Baz Bus, a hop-on 

hop-off service that can carry bicycles and surfboards, connects 

destinations between Cape Town and Johannesburg. 

Rail: Travel in luxury with Rovos Rail and the Blue Train or 

aboard the Shongololo Express, a three-star train which 

was bought by Rovos Rail and began operating in summer 

2016 after a complete revamp. The rapid rail Gautrain links 

Pretoria and Johannesburg and also serves OR Tambo Airport. 

Wine buses: Join a wine bus tour in Stellenbosch and 

around Cape Town aboard the Vine Hopper and on 

safari-style Wine Hoppers in Hermanus. Or take a hop-on, 

hop-off tour on the open-sided Franschhoek 

Wine Tram. 

Top Right: Franschhoek wine 

tram in the western cape; 

Bottom left: take a guided 

motorbike tour of cape town; 

cheese and wine tasting; Take a 

trip on the Rovos rail 

Suggest clients 

take a guided 

motorcycle tour, 

such as an eyeturning 

Harley- 

Davidson tour of 

Cape Town and 

the Winelands 


6 

Explore where our 

ancestors originated at the Cradle 

of Humandkind UNESCO World Heritage 

Site, 50 kilometres north-west of Johannesburg. 

Fossils found at sites such as the Sterkfontein Caves 

give an astonishing insight into how hominids developed two 

to three million years ago. maropeng.co.za 

When southern right whales visit from June to November, Hermanus is 

the place to be for the world’s best land-based whale-watching 

and boat tours But the leviathans can also be seen all 

along the Garden Route coast and round the Cape 

peninsula. Other marine giants to watch 

out for are migrating humpback 

whales and whale sharks. 

hermanustourism.info 

Join a turtle tour 

from St Lucia, KwaZulu- 

Natal, to see huge leatherback 

and loggerhead turtles laying eggs at 

iSamangaliso Wetland Park from November. 

Or, between January and March, watch the turtle 

hatchlings emerge. The coastline is the last remaining nesting 

site in Africa for the two species. zulu.org.za 

The advent of spring turns the Namaqua National Park in the Northern 

Cape into a vivid patchwork of rainbow colours as daisies and other 

wild flowers carpet landscapes from mountains to river 

estuaries and the coast, while flamboyant blooms 

along the rest of the province’s Wild Flower 

Route produce one of the world’s 

great natural flower shows. 

experiencenortherncape.com 

Star gaze in the 

Northern Cape. The clear 

skies of the Karoo attracted the 

Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), 

erected on a remote 2,000-metre-high plateau 

outside Sutherland (a four-hour drive from Cape Town). 

Join a guided tour or sign up for a 90-minute stargazing 

session. Pre-booking is essential. experiencenortherncape.com 

Experience Xhosa (pronounced kh-o-sa) hospitality and learn about Xhosa 

arts, crafts and culture on a visit to cultural villages such as Mgwali 

in the Eastern Cape. Visitors are invited to help prepare 

meals including the staple umngqusho maize and 

bean dish, meet traditional healers and pipe 

makers, watch dance displays and buy 

clothing. visiteasterncape.co.za. 


7 

Stay 

in the North 

West’s malaria-free 

Madikwe Game Reserve to see its 

wild dogs. Accommodation ranges from 

an eco-bush camp to ultra-luxury lodges. The 

reserve lies on the South Africa/Botswana border and is 

four hours by road from Johannesburg (320km) and two and a 

half hours (230km) from Sun City. tourismnorthwest.co.za 

Take a cultural tour through northern Limpopo and discover the heritage 

of the 800-year-old Mapungubwe kingdom. Explore the traditions 

of the Venda people and their arts and crafts. Visit galleries, 

workshops and museums in communities along 

the Ribolla Art Route, which stretches from 

Polokwane to Louis Trichardt and 

Kruger Park. golimpopo.com 

Spot distinctive blackmaned 

lions in the Kgalagadi 

Transfrontier Park, the vast Kalahari 

Desert conservation area linking South 

Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It covers 2.5 million 

square kilometres of sand and scrub. Stay at the Twee 

Rivieren Rest Camp or wilderness camps and take guided safaris 

drives to find them. sanparks.org 

The Sardine Run is one of the world’s great marine spectacles. It sees 

billions of sardines gather to spawn off the KwaZulu-Natal and 

Eastern Cape coasts from May to July, attracting whales, 

dolphins, seals and sharks. Follow the huge shoals 

by boat or get close to the action on a snorkel 

or diving trip. visiteasterncape.co.za. 

The Big Hole, close to 

Kimberley, is a 215-metre-deep 

chasm excavated for diamonds after 

they were found on what was then a flattopped 

hill in 1871. Both Rovos Rail and the Blue Train 

stop at Kimberley on some tours and offer excursions to the 

Big Hole. freestatetourism.org 

Acrtists’ enclave Clarens offers everything from galleries to activities 

like white-water rafting, horse riding, quad biking, abseiling, 

mountain biking, fly-fishing, tennis and golf – all in 

a striking landscape of sandstone cliffs. The 

Golden Gate National Park, South Africa’s 

only grassland national park, is 

nearby. freestatetourism.org 


8 

Did you know? 

Top left: KwaZulu-Natal’s 

coastline. Bottom left: Penguins 

at Boulders Beach; AfrikaBurn, 

an event held annually in 

the Tankwa Karoo; Monster 

Mountain Scooters 

Due to its sheer size and diversity, South Africa 

throws up plenty of surprises for visitors. If you 

think you know all about the Rainbow Nation, read on! 

Snow wonder: You can ski and snowboard at South 

Africa’s only alpine resort, Tiffindell, 2,720 metres 

above sea level on Ben McDhui mountain in the southern 

Drakensberg, Eastern Cape. The ski season runs from the end 

of May to the end of August. 

Beach life: KwaZulu-Natal’s 120km coastline is lined 

with pristine beaches that can be enjoyed year-round 

in its sub-tropical climate in resorts such as Ballito, Umhlanga, 

Margate, Ramsgate, San Lameer and Southbroom. All 

swimming beaches have shark nets. 

Surf or dive: Action-seekers can go surfing off Durban or 

try shark cage-diving and snorkelling at top diving site 

Aliwal Shoal, 45 minutes south of Durban. Surfing dudes also 

congregate on the beaches of Port Elizabeth. faliwalshoal.co.za 

Burn, baby burn: Unusual South Africa festivals include 

AfrikaBurn, a regional event of America’s Burning Man, held 

each April on an isolated farm in the Northern Cape desert just 

outside Tankwa Karoo National Park. It involves music, colourful 

costumes, wacky vehicles and giant art installations, some of 

which are burnt at the festival’s end. afrikaburn.com 

Monster thrills: Enjoy an exhilarating 

downhill ascent on Monster Mountain 

Scooters at Table Mountain (Cape Town), 

Garden Route National Park (Kynsna) and the 

Drakensberg Mountains (KwaZulu-Natal). 

features 'Lizzie' the articulated T-Rex, by art 

collective Fata Morgana 

With over 560 

wineries and 

4,400 producers, 

South Africa’s 

Winelands offer 

ample tasting 

opportunies. 

Visit during the 

autumn harvest 

(February-April), 

when the weather 

is warm and 

winds are light 

Tee off: Enjoy world-class championhsip golf for 

amazing value on courses that include include Fancourt 

Resort near George and Sun City’s two Gary Player-designed 

layouts in the North Wet. A round at top-rated Durban Country 

Club costs just R565 (about £33), and R160 (£10) plus a 

discretionary tip for a caddy. 

Animal magic: You don’t have to be in a game reserve to 

spot wildlife. See zebras on Table Mountain, penguins at 

Boulders Beach near Cape Town or Stony Point near 

Hermanus, ostriches around Oudtshoorn, sea lions in Hout Bay 

and baboons at Cape Point. 

Seal of approval: Playful, wild Cape fur seals often 

interact with snorkellers on shallow-water snorkelling 

trips to Duiker Island, in Cape Town’s Hout Bay, which is home 

to 5,000 of the mammals. Cool Atlantic waters and thick kelp 

forests help keep the sharks away. 

Sex and grub: Ronnies Sex Shop is actually a remote 

pub on Route 62 (90 minutes/150km from Oudtshoorn) 

in the Klein Karoo that’s now a popular pitstop after it was 

renamed from Ronnies Shop to drum up passing trade. Its 

restaurant is called the Roadkill Café. 

High drinks: Africa’s highest pub is located 2,873 

metres up in the Sani Mountain Lodge, at the top of 

spectacular 4x4 trail Sani Pass in KwaZulu- 

Natal’s Drakensberg Mountains, bordering 

Lesotho. The Sunlands Baobab Bar has 

been serving customers from inside a huge, 

hollowed-out baobab tree on a mango farm 

near Tzaneen, Limpopo, since 1933. 


Bush b 

10 

From the North West to the Northern Cape, 

South Africa’s provinces boast an incredible array 

of wildlife – and there are plenty of ways your clients 

can experience it. Whether they have deep pockets or are 

looking for a more budget-wary safari option, there are 

plenty of ways of getting out into the bush. The challenge 

for agents is matching the client to the right lodge 

In the Eastern Cape, the bush experience stays 

consistently good any time of the year, with the best 

game viewing months being those from May to 

September due to the concentration of wildlife 

around water holes, and October when many 

animals give birth and the predators are 

much more active. 

or reserve. 

PRIVATE GAME RESERVE OR 

There are national parks, provincial parks and 

NATIONAL PARK? 

private game reserves offering game drives and 

Game shows: National 

overnight lodging in every province, with parks such as Kruger, Addo, 

Limpopo and Mpumulanga sharing the 

world-famous Kruger National Park. 

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and Pilanesberg offer 

excellent game-spotting opportunities, as do private 

game reserves like Sabi Sabi, Madikwe and Phinda – but agents 

WINTER OR SUMMER? 

should be aware of the key differences in the experience 

Well seasoned: Thanks to between a national park and a private reserve. 

the diversity of weather National parks, with their tarmac roads, allow self-driving, 

patterns across the country, a safaris can 

be enjoyed at any time of the year. 

The Kruger is great for game viewing during the dry 

season winter months, from May to September, when animals 

congregate at water holes. The nights are cool but days are 

warm. The same holds true for reserves in the North West, 

Limpopo and Mpumalanga. 

In KwaZulu-Natal, the dry season runs from 

June to October, and the best time for game 

viewing in its parks is just before the rainy 

however all vehicles must stay strictly on the roads and be 

back in camp or out of the park at night. 

By contrast, private reserves benefit from ranger-guided 

safari vehicles which can go off-track to allow visitors the 

chance to follow wildlife as it move through the bushveld. 

This is particularly exciting when you are following lions 

that are hunting! 

Guests are taken on game drives by highly- 

-qualified rangers in smaller safari vehicles 

for a more intimate experience. The reserve’s 

season (November to late January) begins. The Blue Train has rangers also keep in radio contact to let 

added departures 

between Pretoria 

and Hoedspruit 

for passengers 

to stay in Kruger 

Park. Departures 

are on selected 

Fridays and 

Saturdays in 

March, July and 

August in 2017 


11 

abies 

each other know where animals are and to limit the number 

of vehicles at sightings, particularly where there are cubs, to 

ensure the animals are not stressed. 

Nightly rates for private reserve safari stays are 

much higher than those in the national parks, 

but it is importamt to share that these include all 

game viewing activities and meals – usuallyl three 

a day – and the majority also include drinks. 

Accommodation in the national parks is operated by 

SAN Parks and generally comprises self-catering in tents 

or bungalows with en-suite facilities. There are on-site, selfservice 

restaurants and convenience stores where guests can 

buy food to cook themselves. 

Guests staying in national parks can head 

out on a pre-booked game drive, although 

group sizes and vehicles are larger than in 

the private reserves. 

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE 

Heads up: Many clients will hope the see 

the Big Five of elephant, buffalo, leopard, 

rhino and lion, but there are plenty of other 

animal encounters on offer. Meerkats can be 

Advise clients that 

animals in parks 

and reserves are 

wild and that 

sightings are not 

guaranteed 

Garonga SA Guide FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2016 14:44 Page 1 

found across the country’s more arid areas, such 

as Oudtshoorn on Route 62 near the Garden Route, or 

in the Northern Cape’s Kuruman River Reserve (where TV the 

series Meerkat Manor is filmed), Kalahari Trails park and 

nearby Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Kgalagadi is also 

famed for its black-maned lions while Madikwe Game 

Reserve in the malaria-free North West province is 

knowwn for its excellent sightings of wild dogs. 

BEYOND THE BIG FIVE 

True gold: Visit Golden Gate 

Highlands National Park in Free 

State to see antelopes 

bounding across 

shimmering 

grasslands. Or 

visit iSimangaliso 

Wetland Park in NZN 

whose eight ecosystems 

include swamps, lakes, coral reefs 

and 220km of Indian Ocean beachfront. 

You might see whales and rhinos on the 

same day. 

unassuming… unhurried… untamed 

It’s the Garonga difference: 

Six luxurious safari tents and 

three sumptuous suites, set in 

the exclusive Makalali Reserve, 

west of the Kruger National Park. 

Experience guided walks, game drives 

and sleep outs, or simply relax with 

a bush bath or outdoor aromatherapy. 

www.garonga.com 

Untitled-3 1 19/08/2016 15:37

12 

A day in the 

game reserve 

life of a private 

Top: Elephant at Madikwe 

Private Game Reserve. Bottom 

left: Monkey at iSimangaliso 

Wetland Park; Bush colours; 

Lionesss in the Kruger 

Lodges on private reserve include all meals 

and generally all drinks, both alcohol and soft 

drinks. The more information you can give the lodge 

about your clients, the better they will be able to cater to 

their needs and the more special the experience will be. 

RISE AND SHINE 

Morning: After a pre-dawn wake-up call guests gather 

for tea or coffee in the lodge, before embarking on an 

exciting safari game drive at sun-up, typically lasting three 

hours. The early morning is one of the best times to view 

wildlife and to see predators such as lions on the hunt or 

elephants seeking out new areas to forage. Open-top safari 

vehicles generally take a maximum of six passengers, each 

with an eagle-eyed ranger and tracker who know the reserve 

well and can spot animals that guests often miss. 

When a good sighting is made, the rangers in the camp’s 

vehicles communicate with each other by radio to alert them 

to animal sightings. This also ensures that the animals are not 

disturbed by having too many vehicles around them at one 

time. The limit is often just two vehicles at a sighting. 

Tea and coffee with snacks are generally served halfway 

through the safari drive at a scenic location, whether that be 

by a river filled with hippos or a vantage 

point overlooking the surrounding bushveld. 

Back at the lodge, guests enjoy a full 

breakfast on the deck with views out over 

the bushveld or forest. Some lodges offer 

guided walks with rangers, who take guests 

South Africa’s 

winters require 

warm sweaters 

or jackets for 

morning and 

evening game 

drives, although 

the lodges also 

provide blankets 

and rain capes. 

Smart clothes are 

not required for 

dinner 

out out into the bush. Not only does this give visitors a chance 

to experience the game reserve on foot and see the smaller 

creatures and plant life, it also helps them work up an appetite 

for lunch. A bush walk is a must do and enclosed shoes are 

required. Alternatively, guests can just enjoy the facilities of 

the lodge. Lunch is generally served in a lodge location that 

overlooks the bush or an animal watering hole. 

Afternoon: As the day hots up after lunch guests can 

choose to relax in their rooms or take a dip in the 

swimming pool, if the lodge has one. Some lodges have rooms 

that come with their own plunge pool. Afternoons are also 

a good time to enjoy a massage at lodges that feature a spa. 

Many lodges offer a high tea, usually served on the deck, from 

which guests can look out for nearby game on the move. 

Early Evening: As the sun starts to set and the day cools 

off it’s time for another game drive in the ebbing daylight, 

stopping halfway for sundowners – alcoholic or non-alcoholic 

beverages of choice - as you watch the sun set over the Africa 

bush while listening out for the calls of birds, monkeys and 

hyenas. Driving through the bush in darkness is a completely 

different experience, the eyes of nocturnal animals such as 

prowling leopards or bush babies lighting up in the tracker’s 

spotlight while overhead the stars shine brilliantly in the ink-black 

sky. Back at the lodge there is time for guests 

to soak in a hot bath before dinner. Dinner can 

be served in the lodge, in the boma (an open 

outdoor space around a fire pit), or out in the 

bush. Most lodges rotate dining locations to 

make things interesting for guests. 


13 

Find your 

wild 

Whether your clients are looking to dive with great white 

sharks, jump off a decommissioned power station or ride 

world-cass rapids, there are no shortage of adrenalininducing 

thrills in every province of South Africa. 

Tiger tiger: Battle tenacious fighting tiger fish, renowned 

as the best African game fish, on a two- or three-night 

luxury houseboat cruise on Lake Jozini in Kwazulu-Natal. 

Besides fishing, pontoon tender boats take passengers close to 

the shore for game viewing and bird watching. The prime tiger 

fishing season runs from September to April. 

Surf’s up: Catch a ‘supertube’ at Jeffreys Bay in Eastern 

Cape. Foaming breakers up to three metres high create 

fast, hollow waves riders can surf through, making it one of 

the top surfing destinations in the world and attracting surfers 

from around the globe. Good surfing conditions, produced 

by strong westerly winds, can be found on approximately 150 

days of the year. 

Fall guys: Soweto’s brightly-painted twin Orlando Towers 

– actually decommissioned power station cooling towers – 

offer adrenalin junkies either a 100-metre bungee jump between 

the towers or the chance to abseili down them. Then there’s the 

latest extreme craze: the world’s highest SCAD (suspended catch 

air device) freefall experience sees ‘jumpers’ 

hurl themselves into one tower before 

plunging 70 metres down into a to a huge 

net– and without a harness. 

South Africa’s blue 

skies make it an 

excellent place to 

skydive. There are 

‘drop zones’ close 

to Cape Town, 

along the Garden 

Route, in KwaZulu- 

Natal and around 

the Johannesburg 

area 

Get cagey: Experience heart-pumping 

thrills whilst cage diving among great white 

sharks at Gansbaai, two hours east of Cape Town in the 

Western Cape. Alternatively, come face to face with ragged 

tooth sharks at leading KwaZulu-Natal diving spot, Aliwal 

Shoal, located 45 minutes south of Durban. 

Going underground: South Africa is not just 

stunningly beautiful above ground it also has some 

amazing subterranean wonders to explore. The Cango Caves, 

30 kilometres from Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo, comprise 

huge chambers and narrow passageways that can be explored 

on easy-paced or more or adventurous tours. 

River fun: The Orange River, South Africa’s longest at 

2,200km long, stretches along the border between 

Northern Cape and Namibia and offers a wealth of adventure 

for outdoor enthusiasts including guided rafting, canoeing and 

fly-fishing trips. Tours, which can last from half a day to a 

four-day expedition, often start in Augrabies Falls National Park 

or the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld National Park, which straddles the 

Namibia border. Both offer adventure tour options. 

Take a hike: Suggest your clients turn a blind eye to the 

cable car and hike up Table Mountain instead. The 

Platteklip Gorge hiking route, which starts a 

few metres to the right of the lower cableway 

station, is the most direct route - and the 

most challenging. 

Top: Guided rafting on the 

Orange River. Bottom left: Diving 

among great white sharks at 

Gansbaai; The amazing Cango 

Caves; great surfing in the 

Eastern Cape 


14 

Exploring Jo 

South Africa’s second-largest city and 

its economic powerhouse has undergone a 

remarkable renaissance in recent years. Once a virtual 

no-go zone for visitors, an impressive urban regeneration 

of its downtown means that Johannesburg 

– affectionately called ‘Jo’burg’ or ‘Jozi’ – 

now has a vibrant, beating heart that 

welcomes tourists and has plenty for 

them to explore. 

Echoing upmarket Sandton and 

Rosebank, central districts such 

as Newtown and Braamfontein 

now bristle with cafes, 

restaurants and cultural 

attractions while the 

funky Maboneng Precinct is the 

city’s hottest (and coolest) new urban 

area, featuring shops, restaurants, art galleries 

and entertainment venues. 

The 80km Gautrain rapid rail system – built for the 2010 FIFA 

World Cup – has made Johannesburg far more accessible. 

It links the city centre with OR Tambo 

International Airport and Pretoria, as well as 

Sandton and Rosebank. 

HISTORY COMES ALIVE 

Darkest hour: The intensely-moving 

Apartheid Museum charts the rise 

and fall of South Africa’s 

darkest chapter through 

photographs, videos, 

press cuttings and 

moving anecdotes. 

Covering a century 

of history, 

Constitution 

Hill its 

Constitutional 

Court built within a 

fort-turned-jail whose prisoners 

included Nelson Mandela and 

Mahatma Ghandi. 

Another key site in apartheid history is Liliesleaf 

Farm, tucked away in the northern leafy suburb of 

Rivonia. It is now a museum and heritage site but 

it once provided safe and secretive refuge for many 

ANC dissidents, including Mandela, in the early 1960s. 

 

See 

Johannesburg’s 

main sights 

on a hop-on, 

hop-off city 

sightseeing tour, 

aboard a topless 

red doubledecker 

bus with 

informative audio 

commentary. 

Tickets are valid 

for one or two 

days 

City sights: Enjoy panoramic views from 

the Top of Africa viewing deck, atop 

the 50-storey Carlton 

Centre, Africa’s tallest 

building. Then browse a huge 

collection of African crafts to drumbeats 

in the daily Rosebank Art and Craft Market. A 

Sunday version takes place on the rooftop of 

Rosebank Mall. 


15 

hannesburg 

Bargaining is expected and savvy shoppers 

can take home some great bargains. The 

Gold Reef City theme park, built around 

an old gold mine, can be explored 

on tours. It blends thrill rides with 

Johannesburg’s mining heritage and 

is where visitors can learn about 

the 1886 Witwatersrand Gold 

Rush that led to the founding 

of Johannesburg. Or your clients 

can seek their own riches at the Tuscanflavoured 

casino and entertainment complex, 

Montecasino. The complex has some of the city’s most 

popular bars and eateries. 

Soweto: Take an official tour of Soweto (an 

acronym for South-Western Townships) for 

some insights into South Africa’s past 

struggles and the gritty lives many lead 

today. A guided bicycle tour, which can last 

from two hours to a full day, is one of the best 

ways of experiencing the sights, sounds, aromas 

and atmosphere of Soweto on a 

personal level. Your clients can also 

opt for a tuk-tuk tour. 

Soweto’s Vilakazi Street is the only 

street in the world to have been home to 

two Nobel Peace Prize winners: the 

recently-revamped Mandela House, now a 

Try local beers 

at the SAB 

World of Beers, 

twice named 

the number one 

tourist attraction 

in South Africa 

Then visit SMACK! 

a craft beer 

brewery in the 

trendy downtown 

Maboneng 

precinct 

museum but where Nelson Mandela 

lived after his 27 years in prison; 

and the family home of 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 

where his family still live. 

The street has several restaurants 

and bars that make a great tour 

stop or somewhere to go 

for dinner. Another significant 

place in Soweto’s story is the 

Hector Pieterson Memorial 

and Museum, the site of the 

infamous 1976 Soweto uprising 

and located two blocks from 

where in 1976 the 12-year-old 

Hector was shot by police, leading to 

uprisings around the country. 

Beyond Johannesburg: 

There is plenty to see 

and do without travelling too far out 

of ‘Jozi’. Just 50km north-west of the city, the 

Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site comprising a 116,000- 

acre landscape of limestone caves where rich 

fossil discoveries have shed light on the dawn 

of man. Visitors can take tours of two key 

sites, the Sterkfontein Caves 

and Maropeng. 


Driven to d 

18 

Top: Scenic backdrops often 

accompany a South African road 

trip; Below: Cheetah crossing 

in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; 

Golden Gate National Park; 

Johannesburg 

South Africa is made for exploring by car. 

The country has an excellent road network, both 

in and between the main tourist regions, and your clients 

won’t even need a 4x4 vehicle if they are visiting game 

reserves or staying at safari lodges. 

Renting a 4x4 is certainly an option for those who want 

to get off the beaten track, but even the dirt tracks that 

lead to the safari lodges are well 

maintained. And should clients 

wish to go on a self-driving 

safari through national parks, 

such as Kruger or Addo, 

they must stick to the 

tarred and gravel roads 

anyway as off-road 

driving is not 

allowed. 

All the major 

car rental companies 

operate in South Africa, along 

with a number of local operators, with 

locations in major cities and at international 

and larger domestic airports. Rental vehicles 

range from budget through to luxury, and 

even campervans and luxury motorhomes. 

Motorcycles and scooters can also be rented. 

Drop-off fees may apply if renting from one 

city or airport and returning at another. 

ROAD WORTHY 

The basics: Traffic moves on the 

left, as in the UK. Seatbelts are 

compulsory and the use of mobile 

phones is illegal, unless with a 

hands-free kit. The minimum 

age for drivers varies. Some 

allow 18-year-old drivers 

to rent 

while others 

limit rentals to those 

over 20 or 23. Distances 

are in kilometres and speed limits 

are 60km/h for urban roads, 100km/h for 

secondary roads and 120km/h for national 

highways unless otherwise posted. Drink/ 

drive limits are stricter than in the UK. 

Tolls: Some national roads have tolls, 

particularly those around major cities 

and on popular tourist routes. For example, 

between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth there 

is a toll plaza at Tsitsikamma on the Garden 

Route, with a toll fee of R45 (about £2.50), and 

if driving on to Durban there are three more 

tolls, making a total of R95 (£5). Individual tolls 

in South Africa range from R4 (20p) to R75 (£4). 

National park fees: National parks have 

a daily ‘conservation fee’ that visitors 

must pay. The Kruger Park’s tariff is R280 


19 

istraction 

(about £19) per day for international visitors while the Garden 

Route has a cluster of three areas with charges, totalling R372 

(£26) a day. 

However, overseas visitors can buy a Wild Card, giving entry 

DISTANCES AND JOURNEY TIMES 

to national parks and conservation partner parks, reserves and 

resorts for a year and costing R1,920 (£133) for individuals, 

R3,005 (£209) for couples and R3,590 (£250) for families of up 

to seven, including two adults (2016 prices). 

Petrol stations attendants and car guards: Petrol 

stations (called garages in South Africa) are not 

self-service. Attendants wearing high-vis bibs will 

fill your car, take your payment and may 

also wash your windscreen. Tip 

them R5-R10 (£35p-70p). 

Keep some small change 

handy as you will need this 

when parking in a car park or 

on the street. ‘Car guards’, who 

keep watch on your vehicle, are 

widespread in South Africa. If 

official, they usually wear bibs, but 

may be self-appointed. Advise clients 

to tip at least R5 (35p). 

CAPE TOWN 

JOHANNESBURG 

South Africa is a big country and many of the 

main tourism centres are far apart. Here are 

some distances and non-stop driving times: 

JOURNEY 

DISTANCE 

(KM) 

TIME 

George 436km 5 hours 

Port Elizabeth 765km 8 hours 

Durban 

(Via Port Elizabeth) 

1,658km 

20 hours 

Johannesburg 1,393km 13 hours 

Pretoria 63km 1 hour 

Nelspruit 358km 3.5 hours 

Durban 566km 5.5 hours 

Top: Cars in South Africa’s 

National Parks must follow the 

central roads - as this elephant 

is doing 

the Voortrekker Monument 

experience it! 

culture, heritage & history... 

www.vtm.org.za 

Untitled-1 1 02/08/2016 09:15

20 

GREEN ROUTE 

The Cape escape 

Driving Route One: Cape Town-Winelands-Hermanus-Garden Route-Eastern Cape game reserves 

Total distance: 1,200km; 14 days 

5-6 

1-4 

7 

CAPE TOWN: DAYS 1-4 

After renting a car from Cape Town 

International Airport it is just a 20-minute 

drive into the Cape Town. Alternatively, 

arrange an airport transfer so clients can 

enjoy Cape Town’s many experiences without 

worrying about driving. Suggest they have 

their vehicle delivered prior to leaving for the 

Winelands. Here are some recommendations 

for activities in Cape Town: 

Table Mountain: A must visit, its two 

disabled-friendly cable 

cars each take 65 people and 

run all day. Journeys to the 

summit take three minutes and 

the cars rotate for 360-degree 

views. tablemountain.net 

Robben Island: See 

∩ where Nelson Mandel 

spent 18 of his 27 years in 

prison. It is now a museum. 

robben-island.org.za 

District Six Museum: 

This museum recalls the 

once-lively multicultural Cape 

Town community that was torn 

apart by apartheid. districtsix.co.za 

Clients on the 9.00 

boat from the 

V&A Waterfront to 

Robben Island will 

be back in Cape 

Town in time for 

lunch. Suggest The 

Test Kitchen – but 

reserve a table 

as there’s a sixmonth 

waiting list 

Hop-on, hop-off bus: A good way to 

explore the Mother City’s sights is on a 

narrated hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour in 

open-top, double-decker buses. 

citysightseeing.co.za/cape-town 

V&A Waterfront: Cape Town’s revitalised 

harbour offers stunning city and Table 

Mountain views and houses numerous 

restaurants and shops, hotels and the Two 

Oceans Aquarium. waterfront.co.za 

Get with the beat: Enjoy 

jazz in clubs such as The 

Crypt (thecryptjazz.com), below the 

city’s St George’s Cathedral, and 

Asoka (asoka.za.com), or African 

beats at venues including Long 

Street institution Mama Africa 

(mamaafricarestaurant.co.za). 

WINELANDS: DAYS 5-6 

Known for its pretty towns, 

Cape Dutch architecture 

and scenic mountains, the 

area known as the Cape 

Winelands is packed with 

self-drive possibilities. This 

tour takes in the Cape’s 

southern wine areas, comprising Constantia, 

the closest to Cape Town at just 20 

minutes south of the city, and the Southern 

Hemisphere’s oldest wine-producing region, 

Stellenbosch, a 40-minute drive from Cape 

Town. Thirty minutes further on is historic 

Franschhoek, regarded as the culinary capital 

of South Africa due to its its many world-class 

restaurants. Experiences include: 

Vine Hopper: Take one of three hop-on, 

hop-off wine bus tours for visits and tastings 

at wine estates in Stellenbosch. vinehopper.co.za 

Franschhoek Wine Tram: Enjoy tastings and lunch 

at wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley aboard 

the open-air, hop-on and hop-off Wine Tram. 

winetram.co.za 

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve: Just a 

15-minute drive from Stellenbosch, visitors 

can hike, cycle or swim amidst glorious mountain 

scenery. capenature.co.za/reserves 

HERMANUS: DAY 7 

A 70-minute drive from Franschhoek, bustling 

Hermanus is also a wine-growing area and 

has been listed by WWF as one of the 12 best 

whale watching destinations in the world. 

From July to November, southern right 


21 

11-13 

14 

8-10 

whales come to mate and calve in Walker Bay 

and can be viewed just metres offshore as 

well as on boat tours. Activities include: 

Dine and whale-watch: View whales while 

dining on the terraces at Bientang’s Cave 

restaurant, on the Walker Bay shore. 

bientangscave.com 

Sea kayaking: See magnificent whales 

and Cape fur seals on a sea kayaking trip. 

walkerbayadventures.co.za 

Wine Hopper: Safari-style Hermanus Wine 

Hopper wine tours visit vineyards along the 

Hermanus Wine Route. hermanuswinehoppers.co.za 

Cage diving with sharks: Across the bay, 

Gansbaii is the world’s great white shark 

capital. Licensed operators offering cage dives 

include Great White Shark Tours (sharkcagediving.net), 

Marina Dynamics Shark Tours (sharkwatchsa.com) and 

Shark Diving Unlimited (sharkdivingunlimited.com). 

GARDEN ROUTE: Days 8-10 

From Hermanus, the 300km drive to Mossel 

Bay takes around three hours. Beyond Mossel 

Bay, the spectacular Garden Route coastline 

stretches over 200km to Storms River. 

Driving times from Mossel Bay are: George 

(great for golfers), 35 minutes; Wilderness (a 

seaside resort with a lagoon and long sandy 

beach), 50 minutes; Knysna (an adventure 

playground with a lagoon and ancient 

forests), 1.5 hours; Plettenberg Bay (nature 

and activities are close by this seaside town) 

two hours; The Crags (a mountainous area 

with attractions including Birds of Eden, the 

world’s largest free-flight aviary), two hours; 

and Storms River (a scenic river offering 

outdoor adventure in Tsitsikamma National 

Park), two hours 30 minutes. Suggest these: 

Knysna Township Tour: 

Experience life in a 

township with Xhosa drumming 

and singing. visitknysna.co.za 

Knysna Oyster Cruises: 

Knysna is famous for 

its oysters and clients can 

enjoy them with wine on a 

Knysna Lagoon sunset cruise. 

knysnacharters.com 

Bramon Wine Estate: The 

first-ever wine estate in the 

Western Cape’s eastern section. 

bramonwines.co.za 

Tenikwa Wildlife 

Rehabilitation Centre: This 

facility rehabilitates injured creatures from wild 

cats to seals and birds. tenikwa.com 

Storms River sea kayaking: Kayak through 

the Storm River gorge to the ocean. 

untouchedadventures.com 

Suggest clients 

head up Table 

Mountain at the 

first possible 

opportunity. 

Srong winds 

and low clouds 

can prevent 

the cable car 

from operating. 

Afternoons are 

quieter 

EASTERN CAPE GAME RESERVES: DAYS 11-13 

End this road trip with a dafari in a malariafree 

Big Five reserve. Suggest: 

Game Reserves: Addo Elephant National 

Park (sanparks.org), South Africa’s 

third-largest national park; 

and private reserves Shamwari 

(shamwari.com), Amakhala 

(amakhala.co.za), Kwandwe 

(kwandwe.com), Lalibela (lalibela. 

net), Kariega (kariega.co.za) and 

Pumba (pumbagamereserve.co.za). 

From Storms River to the 

furthest reserve, Kwandwe, 

takes just over three hours. 

DEPART FROM PORT 

ELIZABETH: Day 14 

Clients return their car at Port 

Elizabeth International Airport 

for the connecting flight home.

22 

YELLOW ROUTE 

Over and above 

Driving Route Two: Cape Town-Winelands-Oudtshoorn-Garden Route-Eastern Cape game reserves 


5-6 

1-4 

CAPE TOWN: DAYS 1-4 

Your clients will want several days to explore 

the large array of places to see and things 

to do, both in the Mother City and in the 

surrounding area. These are a few options: 

Cape of Good Hope: 50km south of Cape 

Town is a wildlife reserve that is home 

to 1,200 plant species of plants and mammals 

including antelope, zebra and baboons. Take the 

funicular to the top of Cape Point. capepoint.co.za 

Boulders Beach: A unique chance to see 

resident endangered 

African Penguins from a 

viewpoint and boardwalks at 

their Simons Town colony, on 

the Cape Peninsula: 

sanparks.org/parks 

Kirstenbosch National 

Botanical Garden: On 

the slopes of Table Mountain, 

Kirstenbosch is acclaimed as 

one of the world’s greatest 

and most beautiful botanical 

gardens. See flora from across 

southern Africa or catch a 

summer concert in the gardens. 

sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch 

See rare roaming 

white lions at the 

Sanbona Wildlife 

Reserve, a private 

reserve three 

hours from Cape 

Town, off Route 

62, as well as at 

Pumba Game 

Reserve in the 

Eastern Cape 

Township tours: Experience the vibe and 

community spirit of a township on a tour. 

Options include Cape Town’s oldest, Langa, 

established in 1923. 

townshiptourscapetown.co.za 

Swim with seals: Go snorkelling with 

playful Cape fur seals on boat trips from 

Hout Bay Harbour (from September to May). 

sealsnorkeling.com 

Sidecar tours: See the Cape Town area as 

a passenger in a vintage, ex-military 

motorcycle sidecar. sidecars.co.za 

Cool food and drink: 

Hang out in cafes and 

restaurants along Cape Town’s 

hippest street, Bree Street and 

visit Neighbourgoods Market in 

the Woodstock area of the city. 

neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za 

WINELANDS: DAYS 5-6 

From Cape Town, the inland, 

scenic Route 62 links the 

Mother City with the Garden 

Route via the arid Klein Karoo 

(Little Karoo) region, passing 

through fertile wine-growing 

valleys and historic communities. 

The Route 62 Wine Route spans 70 wine 

farms in the northern Cape Winelands. Wine 

towns to visit include 330-year-old Paarl, 

(45 minutes from Cape Town), its 12km-long 

Main Street lined with restaurants and coffee 

shops; Wellington (45 minutes from Cape 

Town) noted for its Cape Dutch homesteads, 

gardens and wine farms; the neoclassical 

architecture and wide, tree-lined streets of 

Worcester (80 minutes from Cape Town); and 

Robertson, western gateway to the heart of 

Route 62. Things to see and do include: 

Mandela’s long walk: The ‘Long Walk to 

Freedom’ statue of Nelson Mandela 

outside the gates of Drakenstein Correctional 

Centre, near Paarl, marks where he spent his last 15 

months in prison before being released in 1990. 

River rafting: Raft on the Breede River near 

Worcester from a base camp in a private 

game reserve with Breakwater Adventures. 

breederiverraftingworcester.co.za 

Trolley rail adventure: The Hexpas 

Express is a five-hour trip and picnic stop 

aboard trolley carriages pulled by an adapted 

tractor on a historic railway track up the Hex River 

Pass, near Worcester. impangelemountainlodge.co.za 


23 

7 

8-10 

14 

11-13 

Brandy: Besides its wines, the Western Cape 

produces some of the world’s best 

brandies. Clients can visit 20 Brandy Homes – 

distilleries offering tours and tastings – in the 

Cape Winelands and along Route 62. 

sabrandy.co.za/brandyhomes 

OUDTSHOORN: DAY 7 

Take Route 62 for quaint towns such as 

Barrydale (three hours from Cape Town), with 

its own art and crafts artisans; Ladismith, (three 

hours 45 minutes from Cape Town), known for 

its wines and cheeses (it has a Cheese and Wine 

Festival in October); and Calitzdorp (30 minutes 

from Oudtshoorn), the ‘port wine capital’ of 

South Africa. In the Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn 

(four hours 45 minutes from Cape Town) is 

South Africa’s ostrich town. The town’s fame 

and fortune was built on ostrich feathers in the 

late 1800s and the birds are still farmed today, 

mostly for their lean meat. 

Aardvark tracking: At the Aardvark 

Nature Reserve, a short detour off 

Route 62 between Barrydale and Ladismith, 

clients can go on guided nature walks, take horse 

safaris or join a three-hour tour tracking aardvarks. 

aardvarklodge.co.za 

Meerkat tours: On a farm just outside 

Oudtshoorn, see habituated wild meerkats 

in their natural habitat. meerkatadventures.co.za 

Cango Caves: Explore vast rock halls, 

striking rock formations, stalactites and 

stalagmites 30 minutes from Oudtshoorn. 

cango-caves.co.za 

Cango Ostrich Show Farm: Visitors can 

hand-feed ostriches and even ride them. 

cangoostrich.co.za 

Crocodile cage diving: Visitors are 

lowered in a cage into a 

clear, heated pool for a 

10-minute encounter with 

four-metre crocodiles at the 

Cango Wildlife Centre, which also 

offers interaction with cheetahs. 

cango.co.za 

GARDEN ROUTE: DAYS 8-10 

From Oudtshoorn, the drive 

through the Outeniqua 

Mountains to the Garden 

Route takes an hour, either 

via the historic, gravel 

Montagu Pass to Mossel Bay 

or on the N12 route to George 

via the Outeniqua Pass. 

Other activities along the 200km Garden Route 

not mentioned in Itinerary One include: 

Garden Route National Park: sanparks.org/parks 

Tsitsikamma hiking trails: A series of 

walking trails goes through indigenous forests 

surrounding the pretty Garden Route town. 

tsitsikamma.info 

Bloukrans Bridge Bungee: The fearless 

can try the world’s highest commercial 

bungee bridge jump, at 216 metres. faceadrenalin.com 

Scootours: A unique 

way to experience the 

Knysna Forests on monster 

mountain scooters. 

scootours.co.za/knysna-forest/ 

A three-hour 

circular driving 

tour from 

Oudtshoorn to 

Prince Albert, 

gateway to the 

Great Karoo, 

takes in two 

spectacular 

passes through 

the Swartberg 

Mountains 

EASTERN CAPE GAME 

RESERVES: DAYS 11-13 

See Itinerary One for game 

reserve options. 

DEPART FROM PORT 

ELIZABETH: DAY 14 

Clients return their car at 

Port Elizabeth Airport for the 

connecting flight home. 


24 

BLUE ROUTE 

Take a meander 

Driving Route Three: Durban-Midlands-Drakensberg Mountains-Battlefields-Jozini Dam 

Hluhluwe-St Lucia Wetlands-North Coast Beaches 


MIDLANDS: DAY 1 

After picking up their rental car at Durban’s 

airport, clients can explore KwaZulu-Natal’s 

hinterland. Pietermaritzburg is the gateway 

to the Midlands, a scenic area of lakes and 

rivers in the foothills of the Drakensberg 

Mountains dotted with small towns. The 

journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is 

about 75 minutes, so suggest a short detour 

through the picturesque Valley of 1000 Hills, 

rich in Zulu traditions. Places to visit and 

things to do include: 

Midlands Meander: This 

80km network of routes 

features arts and crafts galleries, 

studios, shops and activities. 

midlandsmeander.co.za 

Karkloof Canopy Tour: 

Soar through the 

canopy of Southern Africa’s 

second-largest indigenous 

forest on 10 zip line slides. 

karkloofcanopytour.co.za 

Horse-riding: KwaZulu- 

Natal’s Midlands is horse 

country: BergTrails offers 

guided horse riding on 

Turtle season in 

the bays north 

of St Lucia lasts 

November- 

March. Take a 

day beach tour to 

see loggerhead 

and leatherback 

turtles lay their 

eggs and a night 

tour to see the 

hatchlings 

Appaloosa horses on trails, framed by the 

Drakensberg. bergtrails.co.za 

Nelson Mandela’s Capture Site: Mandela 

was captured in 1962 near Lions River in 

the Midlands. See a portrait sculpture made from 

50 10-metre-high laser-cut steel poles. 

thecapturesite.co.za 

DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS: DAYS 2-3 

The scenic Drakensberg Mountains, a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a highlight 

for adventure and outdoor 

activity lovers. Choose from 

the Southern Drakensberg 

region, around Underberg, 

the Central Drakensberg 

such as Giant’s Castle and 

areas such as Royal Natal 

National Park in the Northern 

Drakensberg (distances from 

Pietermaritzburg range from 

1.2-2.5 hours). Suggest: 

Drakensberg Adventures: 

Hiking, pony trekking trips 

and 4x4 tours up the Sani Pass 

to the Roof of Africa, bordering 

Lesotho. sanilodge.co.za/da 

San rock art: The ancient San bushmen 

left rock paintings at hundreds of sites in 

the Drakensberg. View some and get an insight 

into their art and culture at the Didima San Rock 

Art Centre at Cathedral Peak. didima.info/ 

Accommodation/didima-camp-rock-art-center.html 

Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve: Popular with 

ramblers, hikers and mountain climbers, 

this reserve is home to majestic eland – large 

antelopes – and birds including rare-bearded 

vultures, which can be viewed from the 

restaurant at Giant’s Castle Camp. giantscastle.info 

Tugela Falls: The Tugela River drops 950 

metres down from the top of the 

Amphitheatre plateau in Royal Natal National Park: 

see the world’s second-highest waterfall. royalnatal.info 

BATTLEFIELDS: DAY 4 

The hills, valleys and plains around Ladysmith 

and Dundee (around 2.5-3 hours from the 

Drakensberg Mountains), north-west of the 

Drakensberg peaks, are sprinkled with names 

of places that still resonate today for bloody 

battles fought during the Zulu and Anglo- 

Boer Wars. Sites include: 

Spion Kop: The hill where this famous Boer 

War battle was fought (both Winston 


25 

5 

6-8 

4 

9-10 

2-3 

1 

11-12 

Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi were involved) 

gave its name to Liverpool Football Club’s Kop for 

the many local soldiers who died there. Take a 

guided battlefield tour or a safari drive in the 

game reserve. spionkop.co.za 

Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana: Depicted in 

the 1964 film, Zulu, Rorke’s Drift was where 

140 British soldiers fought off thousands of Zulu 

warriors for 12 hours – the same day that the 

British suffered a humiliating defeat at nearby 

Isandlwana. Half-day tours take in both sites. 

Dundee: This coal-mining town was 

where the Second Anglo-Boer War began. 

Seethe Talana Museum and Heritage Park, where 

exhibits portray battles. talana.co.za 

JOZINI DAM: DAY 5 

A three-hour drive north from Dundee 

this dam has created a lake amidst scenic 

mountains that is a haven for wildlife. Game 

reserves and lodges border its shores while 

activities on the lake include houseboat trips, 

canoeing and fishing. 

Tiger fishing: Jozini Dam is regarded as the 

best place in South Africa to pit your wits 

against tiger fish, the game fish of inland waters. 

jozinitigerfishing.org 

HLUHLUWE: DAYS 6-8 

An hour from Jozini Dam, Hluhluwe–Umfolozi 

Park is South Africa’s oldest proclaimed 

nature reserve and one of its largest. Wildlife 

includes the Big Five, wild dogs, cheetahs, 

hippos, hyenas and giraffes, and more than 

340 bird species. Accommodation ranges from 

rondavels (thatched huts) to luxury lodges. 

Game drives and walks: Look for big game 

or nocturnal species such as leopards and 

bushbabies. There are several private game 

reserves in the area. kznwildlife.com 

ST LUCIA WETLANDS: DAYS 9-10 

An hour from Hluhluwe, St 

Lucia is the gateway to the 

St Lucia Wetlands (now the 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park), 

South Africa’s first UNESCO 

World Heritage Site. This 

coastal wildlife paradise has 

lakes, swamps, forests and 

offshore reefs and offers 

activities galore. They include: 

Wildlife boat cruises: 

Clients can join pontoon 

boat tours on Lake St Lucia to see 

hippos, Nile crocodiles and birds. stluciasouthafrica.com 

Whale-watching tours: Beach- 

boat tours operate from St 

launched 

Lucia to see migrating humpback whales from 

June to the end of November. advantagetours.co.za 

NORTH BEACHES: DAYS 11-12 

Before flying back from Durban, clients can 

relax by golden beaches in holiday towns 

such as Ballito on the Dolphin Coast (45 

minutes north of Durban), and Umhlanga 

(20 minutes from the city) 

which has a huge choice 

of restaurants and shops. 

Both make a good base 

for exploring the area and 

visiting Durban. Among 

options are: 

Shaka Marine World: 

Durban’s water park 

and the Southern Hemisphere’s 

Mahatma Gandhi 

spent 21 years 

in South Africa, 

20kms north 

of Durban, the 

cottage where 

Ghandi lived with 

his family and 

several other 

buildings related 

to his life are now 

a museum 

largest aquarium, it has a 

restaurant where sharks 

swimming past your table, 

separated only by the 

aquarium’s thick acrylic wall. 

ushakamarineworld.co.za 


26 

RED ROUTE 

Game on 

Driving Route Four: Hazyview-Sabi Sands Game Reserve-Graskop-Timbavati Game Reserve 

Total distance: 550km; 10 days 

HAZYVIEW: DAYS 1-3 

After their flight arrives into Johannesburg’s 

OR Tambo International Airport, clients would 

fly to Nelspruit’s Kruger Mpumalanga Airport, 

pick up a rental car and point their sat nav in 

the direction of Hazyview, approximately a 

50-minute drive. Hazyview is a regional 

hub that offers easy access to Kruger 

National Park, with the park’s 

nearest gate, Phabeni, just 

15km away. There are also 

plenty of activities within 

easy reach of Hazyview. 

These include: 

Elephant Whispers: 

Clients with young 

families will love interacting 

with the trained and tame 

elephants, which they can 

follow with by a short ride on 

one through the African bush. 

seasonsinafrica.com 

River rafting: Ride the 

gentle rapids of the 

Sabie River near Hazyview on a 

three-hour rafting trip. 

hazyviewactivities.co.za 

From Graskop, 

photographers 

will find the 

best light in the 

mornings for 

the waterfalls by 

heading south and 

the afternoon light 

better for sights 

north of Graskop, 

including Blyde 

River Canyon, 

Three Rondavels 

and God’s Window 

Canopy Tours: Two different adventures 

offer the chance to enjoy the region’s 

natural environment from a thrilling aerial 

perspective. skywaytrails.com 

Sabie Brewing Company: In the nearby 

town of Sabie (a 30-minute drive away) 

your clients can enjoy tasting local craft beers. 

sabiebrewery.com 

SABI SANDS GAME 

RESERVE: DAYS 4-5 

An hour’s drive from 

Hazyview, Sabi Sand (sabisand. 

co.za) is the oldest private 

game reserve in South Africa, 

having been established 

in 1948. It shares a 50km 

unfenced border with Kruger 

Park, so that animals can pass 

freely between them. Sabi 

Sand comprises a collection 

of private game reserves 

and lodges spanning 65,000 

hectares and is known for its 

frequent leopard viewing as 

well as possessing many other 

species, besides the Big Five. 

The game reserve’s name derives from the 

Sabie and Sand rivers that flow through it 

providing an important water source for the 

region’s wildlife. 

Airport: Kruger Mpumalanga Airport is 

around1.5 hours away (from Hazyview) 

by road, but the closest airport is Skukuza, just a 

few minutes from the closest reserve within Sabi 

Sand. Skukuza is served by direct daily flights 

from both Johannesburg and Cape Town and 

has car rental facilities. Game lodges close to 

Skukuza Airport will collect guests and transfer 

them to their accommodation. 

GRASKOP: DAYS 6-7 

A 90-minute drive from Sabi Sands, Graskop 

is a small town noted for its pancake bar and 

curios shops. It makes an excellent base from 

which to visit the area’s many scenic wonders 

and other attractions. Among them are: 

Pilgrim’s Rest: Twenty minutes from 

Grashop this former gold rush town and 

national monument has been preserved as it was 

in the late-1800s when it attracted a rush of 

prospectors. The Royal Hotel takes visitors on a 

nostalgia-filled trip to a bygone era. 

pilgrimsrest.org.za 


27 

1-3 

8-10 

6-7 

4-5 

Long Tom Pass: A 50-minute drive from 

Graskop, Long Tom Pass is a hairpin-filled 

22km mountain pass named after a cannon used 

in the Anglo-Boar Wars. 

Panorama Route: Clients can take in the 

many spectacular sights of the 

Panorama Route. These include one of the 

world’s largest canyons on the journey to 

Timbavati Game Reserve. The Panorama Route 

drive is about 130km, but advise clients to allow a 

full day for the journey to Timbavati to include 

sightseeing. Highlights along the route are: 

Mac Mac Falls: Fifteen minutes south of 

Graskop these twin waterfalls plunge 65 

metres (entrance fee R10, around 58p) per car. 

Another two kilometres on is Mac Mac Pools, 

where you can swim or go on a circular walk; 

entry R20 (approx. £1.16) per person. 

Pinnacle Rock: Heading north back through 

Graskop for 20 minutes, this free-standing 

Clients can 

fly directly to 

airports in or 

near the Kruger 

National Park if 

they prefer not 

to drive from 

Johannesburg

28 

pillar towers 30 metres above a forested ravine; 

entrance fee R10 (approx. 58p) per car. 

you to these deep cylindrical scours in soft 

bedrock created by waterfalls. There are also two 

God’s Window: Around six minutes along short hiking routes as well (entry fee is R20,approx. 

the R523 road, the viewpoint offers 

£1.14, per car and R30, around £1.58) per adult and 

amazing panoramic views of the Lowveld and 

Kruger Park beyond (fee R10 (approx. 58p) per 

car; toilet facilities and curio 

stalls are on site. Another two 

kilometres further on, parking 

is free at the roadside Wonder 

R20, approx. £1.16 per child). A visitor centre with 

toilets and curio stalls are on site. 

Three Rondavels: The drive 

from the potholes is just 

20 minutes but around the 

half-way mark, the roadside 

View viewpoint – and the vistas 

Lowveld View viewpoint affords 

Flower lovers 

are as impressive. 

stunning views of the Blyde 

should look out 

Lisbon Falls: These 

River Canyon. The Rondavels 

for proteas on the 

spectacular falls, the 

Panorama Route. are giant hut-shaped peaks 

highest in the area at 92 metres 

high, are 10 minutes on from 

God’s Window, partly on a 

The Blyde protea is 

indigenous to the 

area 

standing 700m above the 

canyon floor; entrance fee R10 

(approx. 58p) per car, which 

gravel road (fee R10, around 

58p per car). 

Berlin Falls: Just five 

minutes away, these falls 

are said to resemble a candle 

for the shape of the tumbling 

cascade (fee R10, around 58p 

per car). 

Bourke’s Luck Potholes: 

A 20-minute drive brings 

Remind clients 

that malaria is a 

risk in the Kruger 

Park and the 

private reserves 

around its borders, 

so they should 

take appropriate 

precautions 

includes Blyde River Canyon 

viewpoint; toilet facilities and 

curio stalls on site. 

Blyde River Canyon: Another 

12 minutes on, the upper 

and lower lookouts give 

breathtaking vistas of the 

third-largest canyon in the 

world and the winding Blyde 

River far below (entrance fee 

R10, approx. 58p per car, which includes the 

Three Rondavels). 

Echo Caves: Another half an hour’s drive 

will bring motorists to this ancient cave 

system which has a 60-metres high cavern and 

San rock paintings (entrance fee R60, approx. 

£3.43 per person, which includes a guided tour 

lasting 45 minutes); toilet facilities and curios 

shop on site. echocaves.co.za 

TIMBAVATI GAME RESERVE: DAYS 8-10 

Authentic luxury: From Echo Caves, 

it is around a 75-minutes to Timbavati. 

Created by conservation-minded landowners in 

1956, this private reserve spans 53,000 hectares of 

pristine bushveld. It shares a fenceless 

border with Kruger Park to allow animals to 

migrate freely and forms part of the Greater 

Kruger National Park. 

The reserve has a choice of private lodges and 

has abundant game including all the sought-after 

predators, but is best known for its rare white 

lions, first seen in the 1970s. 

Clients can fly from Hoedspruit Airport, half 

an hour away from the reserve. For the return 

journey, they could drive to Johannesburg, 

480km and a five-hour journey from Timbavati. 


TAKE THE 

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30 

Lodges 

Ekuthuleni Lodge 

Ekuthuleni Lodge in the malaria-free 

Welgevonden Game Reserve invites guests 

to relax next to the swimming pool 

overlooking sweeping grassy plains. Each of 

the five suites offer guests intimacy, privacy 

and magnificent views of the grasslands, 

giving a whole new meaning to nature on 

your doorstep. 

+27 11 3273910 

reservations@rareearth.co.za 

www.rareearth.co.za 

Ghost Mountain Inn 

Situated in Mkuze, KwaZulu Natal near the 

historical and legendary Ghost Mountain, 

this 4 Star Country Inn with its welcoming 

hospitality is central to many game and 

coastal reserves. Enjoy a variety of wildlife, 

Zulu cultural and boat safaris and walks or 

be pampered with an African inspired spa 

treatment. 

+27 (0)35 573 1025 

gmi@ghostmountaininn.co.za 

www.ghostmountaininn.co.za 

Gondwana Game Reserve 

Gondwana provides the perfect safari break 

for Cape Town visitors. Less than a four-hour 

drive away along South Africa’s popular 

Garden Route, the 11,000-hectare (26,000 

acre) private game reserve offers a distinctive 

malaria-free safari with free roaming Big 5 

game. Luxury accommodation in Kwena 

Lodge or Bush Villas ideal for families. 

021 555 0807 

reservations@gondwanagr.co.za 

www.gondwanagr.co.za 

Isibindi Zulu Lodge 

Located in a private game reserve in the heart 

of the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields, KwaZulu Natal, 

Isibindi Zulu Lodge rises majestically from 

the rugged bushveld and is the ideal place 

from which to enjoy exhilarating cultural 

experiences and explore the battle sites of 

Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift with expert 

guides. 

+27 (0)35 474 1473 

res@isibindi.co.za 

www.isibindi.co.za 

Kosi Forest Lodge 

Tucked into the tranquil sand forest 

alongside the Kosi lake system in an unspoilt 

wilderness that is part of the iSimangaliso 

Wetland Park. This 20-bed lodge offers 

comfortable accommodation, unique open 

air bathrooms and a host of estuarine, 

beach and wilderness activities. A nature 

lovers’ paradise. 

+27 (0)35 474 1473 



Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge 

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is situated in 

the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, KZN. Enjoy 

spectacular views over Big 5 territory from this 

chic eclectic lodge. Accommodation ranges 

from Honeymoon Villas with private plunge 

pools, Luxury Bush Villas to Safari Family 

Rooms. Relax at the infinity pool area or 

indulge in the spa. 

+27 (0)35 474 1473 




7 

31 

9 

LIMPOPO 

1 

MPUMALANGA 

GAUTENG 

NORTH WEST 

2 

5 

8 

FREE STATE 

4 

KWAZULU 

NATAL 

6 

NORTHERN CAPE 

EASTERN CAPE 

WESTERN CAPE 

3 

The Outpost 

The Outpost lies in the Makuleke Contractual 

Park, part of Kruger National Park. 

Accommodation consists of 12 standalone 

Luxury Spaces offering spectacular panoramic 

views of the river and bush below. Game 

drives and walking safaris are undertaken 

in one of the most scenically beautiful and 

diverse wilderness areas in the Kruger. 

+27 11 3273910 

reservations@theoutpost.co.za 

www.theoutpost.co.za 

Thonga Beach Lodge 

This intimate, luxury lodge is nestled on the 

pristine coast of the iSimangaliso Wetland 

Park. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer superb 

snorkelling and world class off-shore SCUBA 

diving. Air-conditioned suites, delectable food, 

romantic candlelight dinners on the beach and 

relaxing spa treatments. Guided forest walks, 

kayaking and turtle tracking. 

+27 (0)35 474 1473 



Tshwene Lodge 

Surrounded by rock outcrops, Tshwene Lodge 

is a secluded oasis in the rugged valley of the 

Taaibos River in the malaria-free Welgevonden 

Game Reserve. Tshwene offers peace and 

tranquility for those seeking to get away from 

it all. Five strategically located suites all offer 

exhilarating views of the valleys below and 

the hills beyond. 

+27 11 3273910 

reservations@rareearth.co.za 

www.rareearth.co.za 


“South African Tourism is committed to working 

closely with the UK travel trade. We will continue to 

work with agents and develop the tools that will help 

them sell more South Africa holidays” 

Tolene Van der Merwe, Country Manager, 

UK & Ireland 

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