The 13-day South African Explorer Tour covers the highlights of South Africa – Cape Town, Garden Route, Durban, Hluhluwe, eSwatini (Swaziland), Kruger National Park, Panorama Route, and Johannesburg. The tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town. It can be done on either a scheduled guided tour (departing on selected Sundays with a maximum of 8 people) or on a private guided basis (for a small group of friends or family). Alternatively, there is also an option to drive yourselves on this tour (self-drive tour). The private and self-drive options may start on any day of the week, however; there may be slight price differences on other days. The tour is available in English, German, and French. See scheduled departure dates.
Enjoy game viewing in 3 different areas; stay at a private game lodge and see Africa’s ‘Big 5’. Spot unique wildlife at a World Heritage Site; board an ocean safari; enjoy a sunset oyster cruise on the Knysna Estuary and walk through the Tsitsikamma Forest.
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South African Explorer Tour Highlights
‘Big 5’ private 5-star game lodge
Kruger National Park game viewing
Tick off the Panorama Route sights
Game viewing in a World Heritage Site, St Lucia
Dolphin watching on an ocean safari
Township school visit
Sunset Knysna oyster cruise
Tractor tour on an ostrich farm
Olive and wine tasting
South African Explorer Tour Summary
Day | Place |
Day 1 | Johannesburg (±30km) |
Day 2 | Johannesburg to Makalali Game Reserve via Dullstroom (±456km) |
Day 3 | Makalali Game Reserve to Hazyview via Panorama Route (±180km) |
Day 4 | Hazyview to Eswatini via Kruger National Park (±160km) |
Day 5 | Eswatini to St Lucia (±335km) |
Day 6 | St Lucia to Umhlanga (Durban) (±225km) |
Day 7 | Umhlanga to Port Elizabeth (now called Gqeberha) – Flight (Own Account And Own Arrangements) |
Day 8 | Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) to Knysna via Tsitsikamma Forest (Garden Route) (±285km) |
Day 9 | Knysna to Plettenberg Bay And Back (±60km) |
Day 10 | Knysna to Oudtshoorn Via Wilderness (±125km) |
Day 11 | Oudtshoorn to Cape Town Via Route 62 (±420km) |
Day 12 | Cape Town – Cape Point Full Day Tour |
Day 13 | Day Of Departure |
Scheduled Tour Departure Dates
Tour Language: | Bilingual – English and German | French |
November 2022 | 6, 13, 27 | 20 |
December 2022 | 4, 11, 18, 25 | – |
January 2023 | 1, 8, 22, 29 | 15 |
February 2023 | 5, 12, 26 | 19 |
March 2023 | 5, 12, 19, 26 | – |
April 2023 | 2, 9, 23, 30 | 16 |
May 2023 | 7, 14, 21, 28 | – |
June 2023 | 4, 11, 18, 25 | – |
July 2023 | 9, 16, 23, 30 | 2 |
August 2023 | 13, 20, 27 | 6 |
September 2023 | 3, 10, 17, 24 | – |
October 2023 | 1, 8, 15, 29 | 22 |
South African Explorer Tour Rates
Scheduled Tour Rates from 1st November 2022 until 31st October 2023: R 54,915 per person sharing (Single Supplement: R 24,085). Children from 7-11 years pay R 27,460.
South African Explorer Scheduled and Private Guided Tour Includes:
Accommodation: 3 and 4-star hotels; 5-star private game lodge
Meals: 12 breakfasts and 4 dinners
Entrance Fees: Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, conservation fee into Kruger National Park and private game reserve and Garden Route National Park (Storms River) conservation fee
Transfers: All airport transfers (within 2 days before or after the tour)
Excursions: 2 x open safari vehicle game drives in private game reserves and 1 x game drive in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia Estuary boat cruise, sunset Knysna oyster cruise, ocean safari, ostrich farm tractor tour, Cango Caves heritage tour, olive and wine tasting, Cape Point full day tour
Green Seat: SANParks Honorary Rangers, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Trees for Tourism
Exclusions
Travel insurance, tolls, flights, visa fees, porterages, meals not mentioned, optional excursions, gratuities, and personal expenses