The South African Highlights Tour is a 14 day itinerary visiting the key attractions of South Africa. It departs from Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town. From exploring the majestic Panorama Route to a ‘Big 5’ safari in the Kruger National Park. Ending in the best city in the world, Cape Town via the Winelands of the Cape. In between, explore iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the beauty of the Drakensberg and the Garden Route. This tour also passes through Eswatini (ex-Swaziland) and has an option to visit Lesotho.
The scheduled South African Highlights tour departs on selected Mondays in English and German. Choose to join others on the scheduled departure dates; or enjoy on a private basis. For the more adventurous, hire a car and travel the route yourselves.
Johannesburg, also known as Egoli, the City of Gold, is alive with adventure. Beginning as a tent city during the gold rush, its eclectic mixture of diverse cultures reflects the uniqueness of South Africa. You’ll soon get used to the sound of hooting taxis and chatter of street vendors rising against the distinctive, modern city skyline. Enjoy the day at leisure or take an optional, guided afternoon tour of Johannesburg and Soweto’s highlights (at your own expense).
Discover the history of Johannesburg, the city of gold and experience the vibrant and upbeat, Soweto. Visit Constitution Hill which is home to the Constitutional Court and the site of Johannesburg’s Old Fort Prison, Kliptown Open Air Museum, Hector Pieterson Memorial, view the iconic Soweto towers and experience Vilakazi Street and an authentic street market. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Meet your tour guide at the hotel for the tour briefing at 6 pm. Enjoy dinner (at your own expense) either at the hotel or in the Sandton City complex with its giant statue of Mandela in the Square.
Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Balalaika Sandton or similar
Day 2, Tuesday
After breakfast, we leave the city and head towards the scenic Panorama Route. Passing rolling grasslands and small towns, the road eventually climbs an escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains to enter a scenic wonderland. Blyde River Canyon, the world’s largest green canyon, filled with waterfalls and ancient geological features, will take your breath away. Spot the Three Rondawels – three conical peaks resembling African huts. Stand on the bridges over the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where millennia of swirling water have carved giant holes into the sandstone. Get your cameras ready for the panoramic vistas of Wonder View, the highest point of the day.
Visit the Panorama Route on this tour
The town of Graskop (grassy peak), established in the 1880s at the height of gold rush, is now part of the local timber industry. Visit one of its famous pancake bars and then browse the many curio shops to find unique artifacts. The scenic drive to Hazyview winds through rolling hills and dense forests. Take a breath and soak in the outstanding natural beauty of Mpumalanga as we head for your hotel.
Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar – Breakfast
Day 3, Wednesday
After an early breakfast, a full day of adventure awaits you in the world’s premier safari destination. The Kruger National Park will immerse you in the world of the ‘Big 5’: lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, and elephant. The Park, sprawling over 20,000 km², is slightly smaller than Belgium and supports a staggering variety of fauna and flora. Including rare bird species. The slow pace of the touring vehicle and the focus on the bush will take your mind to a place as quiet as an elephant’s footfall.
Please note: Included game viewing in the Kruger National Park is in a closed vehicle. An optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle with an expert guide is available (at your own expense, excluding lunch). We exit Kruger National Park and head back to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks before dinner (both at your own expense).
South Africa safari
Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at one of the park’s rest camps, before continuing on the bush adventure.
Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar – Breakfast
Day 4, Thursday
After a good night’s rest, enjoy an early breakfast before spending a second day in the park in a closed vehicle. Driving from Phabeni Gate to exit at Malelane Gate in the south. If you want to feel the air of adventure on your face, pre-book the optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle. Be ready to add to your game and bird viewing list and look out for unique flora. There’s a lot to look for, with 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 116 reptile, 507 bird, and 147 mammal species. For birders, there is the chance to find a lifer.
Use the lunchtime spent in a rest camp to look for one of the ‘Little 5’: the ant lion, the buffalo weaver, the elephant shrew the leopard tortoise, or the rhino beetle. One of those would be a find! Our time in the park ends in the late afternoon as we exit at the Malelane Gate.
The overnight accommodation is situated on the border of the famous Park. You will be able to enjoy drinks on a deck overlooking the Crocodile River and watch the animals come down to the river to drink as the sun sets on the experience of a lifetime.
Overnight at Pestana Kruger Lodge or similar – Breakfast
Day 5, Friday
After an early breakfast, the adventure will continue as you depart for Hluhluwe. Via the often misty mountains of the Kingdom of Eswatini and into the Ezulwini Valley. The valley is aptly named – Ezulwini means ‘place of heaven’. It provides panoramic views of the Kingdom and access to several notable wildlife sanctuaries. Craft markets, overflowing with carvings, beadwork and colorful materials, provide wonderful shopping opportunities. Sample local food specialties, such as Buganu, a marula fruit drink, or Sishwala porridge, served with a meat stew or vegetables. There will be a stop for lunch on the way to Hluhluwe.
Continuing a magical tour of three different regions in a day, you will re-enter South Africa via KwaZulu Natal. Arriving in time for a Zulu cultural experience and dinner (at your own expense).
Overnight at ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe & Safaris or similar – Breakfast
Day 6, Saturday
There is an opportunity to go on a morning open safari vehicle game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (time permitting and at own expense). After breakfast, we visit the coastal town of St Lucia, at the heart of South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Go on an optional boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary (at your own expense). The Estuary, with its island like setting, is one of the largest estuaries in Africa and a recognized natural wonder. This rich wetland is home to a mind-boggling 2,180 plant species, over 1000 Nile crocodiles, more than 800 hippos and many prehistoric-looking monitor lizards. With over 400 species of birds, it is a watery paradise. Gliding over the water will be a very different experience from the Kruger safari but equally exciting.
Load up with snacks before we leave St Lucia, as there will be a late lunch (at your own expense) at Salt Rock Hotel. Take a short stroll on the beach before we journey inland through miles of golden sugarcane fields and the small, previously predominantly German town of Wartburg. We arrive in the quaint village of Hilton in the late afternoon. Enjoy your evening in this historic hotel.
Overnight at ANEW Hotel Hilton or similar – Breakfast
Day 7, Sunday
After breakfast, you will visit the place that changed the course of South Africa’s history. The Mandela Capture site marks where the apartheid police apprehended Nelson Mandela in 1962.
Nelson Mandela tour
We continue to the small town of Howick for a stop at the beautiful Howick Falls. It is the second highest waterfall in South Africa, with a drop of 95m into a large pool.
We head for the majestic Drakensberg (Dragon’s) Mountains via the country villages of Underberg and Himeville. The mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a high point of 3,482m. You will arrive at the hotel by midday with plenty of time to enjoy lunch (at your own expense).
Spend the afternoon taking in the mountain scenery, stretch your legs on one of the hiking trails, or enjoy the many resort activities. If you want an exhilarating mountain experience, take the 3 hour excursion up the Sani Pass (at your own expense; a multiple entry visa may be required for Lesotho). The Pass is a rugged dirt road only accessible in 4×4 vehicles. Ascend through breathtaking landscapes, winding roads, and dramatic cliffs. Experience the thrill of crossing into Lesotho, immersing in its rich culture. Dine at the hotel restaurant.
Overnight at Premier Resort Sani Pass or similar – Breakfast and dinner
Day 8, Monday
Enjoy breakfast and take time to drink in the champagne air. Enjoy the majestic peaks as you spend the morning at your leisure or take a walk and look out for black eagles or Cape vultures. On the mountain slopes, you will find proteas, South Africa’s national flower, growing amongst the fynbos.
Drakensberg tour
Be ready to leave later in the morning as the coach takes us back down the mountain roads, over rivers and through valleys. There will be a stop en route to Mthatha for lunch (at your own expense). With a late afternoon arrival in Mthatha, we visit the Nelson Mandela Museum in town (time permitting). After checking in, there will be time to relax before dinner (at your own expense) at the hotel restaurant.
Overnight at Garden Court Mthatha or similar – Breakfast
Day 9, Tuesday
After breakfast, we continue to the coast. The road winds through the green hills of Nelson Mandela’s heartland, to the cluster of tiny villages that make up Qunu. And the village of Mvezo, where Nelson Mandela was born and buried. This is a rural area, where goats roam the streets and many of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers. Mandela first built a small home on his family plot and then a larger home where he stayed on his visits to Qunu. He never forgot his humble roots. And his childhood shaped by the tradition, customs, and power of this close-knit community, was a deep part of the man who walked out of a narrow, grassy valley to become a legend.
After a morning spent soaking in history, we will be back on the road, reaching the beautiful marina town of Port Alfred in the late afternoon. End the day with a sunset cruise along the tranquil Kowie River. Keep an eye out for kingfishers, water monitors and crocodiles. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at The Royal St Andrews Lodge or similar – Breakfast and dinner
Day 10, Wednesday
After an early breakfast, we depart for Knysna along the N2 highway via Gqeberha (ex-Port Elizabeth). A route famous for its outstanding natural beauty. One of the many gems of the Garden Route is the Tsitsikamma Forest, were we will enjoy lunch (at own expense). As we enter the Storms River section of the Garden Route National Park, watch for when the road suddenly tops a rise, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean and a deep, emerald-green gorge. Cross the famous Storms River suspension bridge and experience the thrill of standing high above the vast rocky chasm below you. There are a series of 3 bridges with stable wooden paths and stairs. This hour long walk offers spectacular views of the gorge and ocean.
Garden Route tour
The afternoon continues with a scenic drive through Plettenberg Bay to Knysna. The beauty of Knysna is found in its inland waterways and the Heads rock formations, towering over each side of a vast lagoon. Spend your afternoon at leisure, relaxing or exploring the many craft shops and art galleries, or Gin Distillery before heading back to your hotel for dinner.
Overnight at Premier Hotel The Moorings Knysna or similar – Breakfast
Day 11, Thursday
After a hearty breakfast, there will be a photo opportunity from a panoramic lookout point with sweeping views of the Knysna Heads and Lagoon before leaving for Oudtshoorn. The drive to Oudtshoorn runs through pretty seaside towns, past lakes, and mountains. From the town of George, the road turns inland and up the 13km Outeniqua Pass, with waterfalls and views of the ocean. The Pass exits into the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo where we find the town of Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. See an ostrich farm the traditional way by taking a fun and interactive tractor tour of the farm.
You will be served a farm lunch (at your own expense) and be sure to try ostrich biltong (dried meat). You will have traveled through game parks, up mountain passes and across estuaries, but the Cango Caves Heritage Tour will take you into an astounding subterranean world. The Caves, approximately 20 million years old, are an underground wonder. Don’t worry about claustrophobia; the Van Zyl’s Hall cave is 107m long and 54m in width. With leisure time in the evening, you can have dinner at the hotel (at your own expense).
Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Riempie Estate or similar – Breakfast
Day 12, Friday
Enjoy breakfast as you prepare to head to one of South Africa’s premier destinations, the magnificent city of Cape Town. The road twists along Route 62, the longest and most mountainous wine route in the world. Your touring vehicle window will feel like a series of picture postcards as you pass through the changing landscape. There will be time for lunch in one of the charming towns along the way (at your own expense).
The beauty of the Cape Winelands
After lunch, indulge in a cheese and wine pairing and cellar tour of one of the many fine vineyards on the route (at your own expense). South Africa is justifiably famous for its wine industry, which dates back to the 17th century. Making it one of the oldest in the world. There are 148 wine farms along our route but we will not have time for all of them. Table Mountain awaits and you will soon be in the most beautiful city in South Africa.
With an afternoon arrival in Cape Town, enjoy a relaxing dinner at the hotel or venture out to a restaurant in the city. There is so much on offer so make the most of your time in the Mother City.
Overnight at StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl or similar – Breakfast
Day 13, Saturday
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for a full day at leisure. There are a myriad of activities on offer in Cape Town which we would recommend pre-booking. After a full day, enjoy dinner in town or choose a restaurant at the fabulous and cosmopolitan V&A Waterfront.
Overnight at StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl or similar – Breakfast
Day 14, Sunday
After breakfast at the hotel, spend the morning at leisure. Tour ends.
South African Highlights Tour Rates
Scheduled* Tour Rates until 31st October 2025:
€ 1,899 per person sharing
Single Supplement: € 570
Children from 7-11 years pay € 950
Only one child permitted per 2 adults sharing and subject to availability at accommodation
The adult sharing rate will apply to one child sharing with one adult
*This scheduled tour is with other people on scheduled Mondays
South African Highlights Private Tour Rates
Number of travelers
Per Person Rate
1 person
€7920
2 people
€4215
3 people
€3925
4 to 6 people
€3460
7 to 9 people
€2580
Single Supplement
€585
Child seats are available on request at a surcharge on private and self-drive tours.
South African Highlights Scheduled and Private Tour Includes:
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle of appropriate size
Experienced tour guide and driver or driver/guide
Entrance fees, conservation fees and sightseeing as per itinerary
Porterage
Green Seat donation in support of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Trees for Tourism
Excludes:
Flights, visas, travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities, drinks and meals not mentioned
OR: For the more adventurous, and independent, the same itinerary with a hired vehicle (excluded):
South African Highlights Self-drive Tour Rates
Number of travelers
Per Person Rate
1 person
€1775
2 people
€1170
3 – 4 people
€1150
5 – 7 people
€1135
Single Supplement
€600
South African Highlights Self-Drive Tour Inclusions:
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Arrival English Airport Meet and Assist
Green Seat contribution
Select conservation fees and excursions as per itinerary
South African Highlights Tours Exclude
Car hire (based on number of people),
Flights, visas, travel insurance, porterage, gratuities, drinks and meals not mentioned
Conservation fees, entrance fees, optional excursions as per itinerary
*Options: Scheduled tour (with others), private tour basis or self-drive tour (hire a vehicle).
You can also customize this tour to suit your preferences so for a tailor made option, please do contact us with the changes you would like.
All our South Africa Safaris and Tours ↓
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