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| A 15-day adventure holiday which covers most of the country. Highlights of the trip include a safari, a hike up the Drakensberg mountains, a trip to the adventure centre of South Africa, and some whale-watching in season. We understand that it's important to have the right balance between adventure and relaxation so there are many options available on this holiday, depending on how much adventure or relaxation you want. We will discuss these with you and plan your holiday, according to your choices, when you book.
Your adventure holiday begins with a safari on the highveld, home to creatures like Lion, Elephant and Rhino. However, we also want you to learn about the smaller animals and their place in the ecology. Next is a trip up the Drakensberg mountains where the planned option is to sleep out in a cave. However you can choose to sleep in a hut or hotel, and for the next 2 days you can hike up the mountains or even experience the mountains on horseback, depending on your preference. Further on into the holiday you can choose to relax with a walk through the forest or choose one of many adventure options like tree-top tours, snorkelling or mountain biking. Later still you can see whales - depending on the season - and stop to watch bungee jumping. You can even participate if you like, although it doesn't form part of the trip.
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Big Trip Itinerary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 1: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport after an overnight flight and transfer to the scenic Mpumalanga, the former Eastern Transvaal. We leave Johannesburg soon after arrival and stop when convenient for breaks and to stretch our legs. We have lunch en route but your first night in Africa is spent in the comfort of a private reserve bordering the world famous Kruger National Park. With a welcoming drink and supper in the Boma under the stars, it is the perfect way to relax and adjust to Africa's pace of life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Accommodation | Your rooms | The Lodge | Bedroom interior | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 2, 3, 4 : | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is your chance to understand Africa. We enjoy a 3-day experience of the bush. Instead of using a vehicle, we experience the real Africa by travelling on foot and learning the complex relationships between terrain, Flora and Game. Evenings are spent in camp around a fire and under the stars, with the night sounds of the veld - there is no better way to experience Africa. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Day 5: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 We spend the day exploring the Panorama Route with
wonders such as Bourke's Luck Potholes, the Three Sisters, Mac Mac Falls, God's Window and the Blyde river canyon, reminiscent of
America's Grand Canyon. While stopping for lunch and for photo
calls, this is an opportunity to capture incomparable panoramas. Bourke's Luck
Blyde River Canyon
| Day 6:
| Leaving the Highveld, we travel South to the
"Barrier of spears" or Drakensberg Mountains. We journey through
the land which held such dreams of wealth for gold prospectors, and
venture into Chaka's Kingdom, famous setting of the Zulu Wars.
| Day 7, 8 :
| At this stage, we have a choice of venue and activity.
We have a chance to experience life on the mountain the way the
Bushman did thousands of years ago. We hike the foothills of the
Drakensberg for the next two days and marvel as limitless vistas
unfold before us by day. By night, we bed down in ancient caves where
Bushmen used to live and which are still adorned with their paintings on the walls.
As an alternative we can choose to spend some time in the comfort of a hotel located amongst the same spectacular peaks with the choice of activities including horse riding or hiking the foothills, returning
to the hotel each night.
|     The location | Your rooms | A view of the lodge | The Drakensberg
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Day 9:
| We come down out of the mountains heading South, through the rolling hills of Settler country with place names like Sittingbourne and Nottingham Falls. We spend the night at the University Town of Grahamstown. Alternatively we can journey round the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho to the East and stop off to sample the many activities in the area. We can explore the mountains on sturdy mountain ponies, hike trails or just go fishing. Because of the many choices available, this stopover is also available as an alternative to the Drakensburg.
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Day 10:
| Continuing our journey south, we head through the
spectacular and famous "Garden Route". A National Park and area of outstanding beauty, it is a unique combination of forested area alongside wild, rocky coastline. If we have time, we might stop to look for the elusive forest elephants or a group of sea otters along the way.
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Day 11, 12 :
| We stop in the heart of the "Garden Route"
and spend two days cycling through the Knysna Forest or undertaking one of a number of activities in the area. With accommodation in log cabins in the heart of the forest, and ending the following evening, this is an activity for all and a chance to gain an intimate look at the Outeniqua Mountains and the Sub-tropical forests of the area from an unusual perspective. The next day is spent canoeing down one of the numerous rivers in the area, affording the chance to unwind and enjoy the indigenous plant and aquatic life.
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Day 13, 14, 15 :
| We reach journey's end, and take some time to sample
some of the numerous pleasures which the "Mother City" offers.
For those who still fancy adventure, there is abseiling off Table Mountain, Mountain Biking to Cape Point, meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, or a Seaplane flight around the Cape Peninsula. For those who feel otherwise, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the other attractions such as the Wine Route, the Waterfront - the rejuvenated harbour area of Cape Town, or maybe a trip up Table Mountain by Cable car. Whatever you choose, it will be a city you will never forget and we will be happy to advise on choices.
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