One of our Africa Overland Adventures, this tour takes you on an overland journey encompassing many of the incredible landscapes and cultures found in Africa. An incredible trip for any budget, this trip takes you from the calm tropical waters of Zanzibar to the wild Atlantic Ocean of Southern Africa - the contrasts abound. Whether you want to discover the wildlife of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Etosha National Parks or explore the playgrounds of Victoria Falls and Swakopmund, this is a fantastic adventure tour that will leave memories that last forever.
Note: This is one of our Overland Adventures which are run using one of our specialist famous yellow overland expedition trucks. Trips are run on a participatory basis – you’ll be involved in the day to day running of the trip and have fun taking turns helping to shop and cook for the group. Expect to sometimes get dusty and dishevelled and not to be able to have hot showers every night. Groups of up to 24 people are led by our crew of two.
Please note that the accommodation on this trip is predominantly camping, though there may be opportunities to upgrade this locally where rooms are available. Please see the trip inclusions for an approximate percentage of camping and room nights.
Our Overland Adventures provide once in a life time experiences and whilst some safari activities may be included in the itinerary, or be available to book locally, this should not be considered a traditional safari holiday, though we consider that part of the fun!!
Overland Journeys
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hostel, Hotel, Tent
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Nairobi, Cape Town, Western Cape
Nairobi, Cape Town, Western Cape, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta, Etosha Village, Spitzkoppe, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Stellenbosch, Arusha, Marangu, Zanzibar, Lake Malawi, Harare, Great Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
Just 2.5 hours from Johannesburg you will find the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, one of the best places in South Africa to see the famous Big 5 (the elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard).
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is also one the most important geological sites on earth. The reserve has very unique geological features due to an extinct mega volcano which erupted 1.2 million years ago. Pilanesberg is also a paradise for bird lovers, with more than 370 bird species to be seen and heard.
Start your day early by arriving at the Pilansberg Game Reserve gate by 8:00 (8:30 at the latest). From here you will begin your game drive through the park. Along the way the tour will stop at points of interest. Stop at the Pilanesberg Centre for lunch where you will have the opportunity to photograph the animals that come to drink at the waterhole and maybe also purchase some typical African souvenirs.
After a delicious lunch, get back on game drive mode looking to spot more of the local wildlife.
In late afternoon the tour proceeds to the gate and exits the reserve. Make one last stop to stretch your legs and get ready before the ride back to Johannesburg. In the city, your driver will transfer you to your home/destination of your choice.
Experience breathtaking views of South Africa's wine region, Stellenbosch, from a hot air balloon during this ten-hour, guided tour and taste locally produced Methode Cap Classique (MCC) wines, South Africa's equivalent of French Champagne. This tour starts with a pickup at your hotel in Cape Town form where we will drive you to the balloon launch site in Stellenbosch.
See hills swathed with neat rows of vines and quaint buildings from above as you fly over the area. Toast the landing where ever that may be with a traditional glass of sparkling wine and/or orange juice. Our retrieval vehicle will take you back to the venue for breakfast/brunch. Receive a commemorative certificate which proves that you defied the laws of gravity.
Time to sample some locally produced sizzling bubbles after your feet are safely back on the ground during a visit to the wine estates that you flew over. Without any delay, we head off to the house of JC Le Roux, a leading wine estate dedicated exclusively to creating sparkling wine. It was also the first wine estate in South Africa to undertake this endeavour. Using traditional French technique, this wine estate created South Africa's finest, vintage Methode Cap Classiques.
Our next stop Lanzerac Wine Estate. This wine estate came to existence in 1962 when Isaac Schrijver was granted a piece of land by the then Governor of the Cape, Simon Van Der Stel, and it has since grown into an iconic South African wine estate it is today. Sample their Methode Cap Classique (MCC) before it is time to head home. We will drop you off at your hotel in Cape Town after the tour is over.
Our guide Anthea was excellent. After a driving tour through the downtown sites and a stop at the park near Parliament, we went to Table Mountain where the clouds had cleared and views we beautiful. The Groot Constantia winery lunch & wine tasting were fantastic, and our walking tour through Kirstenbosch Garden & the Tree Canopy memorable.
Don't miss this chance to go out on a scenic helicopter flight over Cape Town and to a private game reserve of your choice. This private tour is the fastest and one of the most convenient ways to see some of the most beautiful places in Cape Town, since you get to see the Mother City from above, without having to negotiate your way through its traffic on the streets.
Fly to a wildlife reserve of your choice next. You have the option to choose among Aquila, Inverdoorn and Fairy Glen. On reaching the reserve, explore its rich flora and fauna. See the Big 5 and learn about the importance of wildlife and nature.
Cover two of the major highlights of South Africa on a single trip in a matter of a few hours. If you are ready for an experience of a lifetime, hop into our chopper.
The tour starts off with a visit to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu Natal. There we will stop by Pietermaritzburg's City Hall, which claims to be the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere. There we will visit the Gandhi statue also before we head towards the Drakensberg mountains.
We head towards the Giants Castle Reserve in Drakensburg Mountain range. Conveniently built high on the front of the Drakensberg, Giant's Castle camp is surrounded by beautiful landscape, deep valleys and grassy highlands which presents tourists with spectacular unforgettable views.
Giant’s Castle Reserve has a set of sandstone caves which have been turned into an outdoor museum. The San Rock Art depicts life of the San and Khoekhoe people who lived in South Africa for 1000s of years before Bantu and European migration. Both considered ‘hunters and gatherers’, the San were more nomadic that the Khoekhoe, who started to herd cattle when introduced by the bantu people who migrated from central Africa. The San and the Khoekhoe used rock art to communicate their story between clans and people.
Giants Castle’s caves is one of the best maintained Cave Rock Sites in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. The site has been developed for tourism and offers guided tours on the hour from 9am – 3pm daily. Only 30 minutes from the camp the leisurely trail offers guests an original cultural experience and a spectacular landscape adventure. The local guide will elaborate and display the history and culture behind some of the best-preserved artwork by the San people.
Next stop will be the small town of Howick to visit its waterfall. KwaNogqaza or Howick Falls is approximately 95 m in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The local Zulu people named it the “Home of the Tall” referring to its height. Next to the falls lies a quaint old section of Howick which has a selection of historical museums and antique stores to visit.
Next is the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Statue and Apartheid Museum. The Capture Site boasts a large sculpture of Nelson Mandela made up of multiply steel columns which stand between 6 and 9 metres tall. Tourists at the Capture Site are required to stand 35 meters away from the large Nelson Mandela bust for it to come into clear focus. Facing west the impressive sculpture creates a uniquely beautiful landscape for the local Howick community. The museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against Apartheid government.
Leave Durban from your Hotel, Guest House or B&B and drive through Northern Zululand through Timber and Sugar plantations and the beautiful Zulu villages.
Isimangaliso (Greater St Lucia) Wetlands Park UNESCO site is South Africa’s third largest protected area spanning 280km of coastline. As part of this tour you will among others enjoy a 2 hour guided boat tour of the estuary where you will be taken up close to crocodiles, hippopotamus and the beautiful fish eagle and many other birds found in South Africa. This tour also includes a leisurely walk along the estuary and the coastline of the area. We will also make a visit to the Reptile Park.
iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).
We look forward to providing you with an amazing day surrounded by Mother nature at her best.
Cruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The tour departs from Durban, heading north along the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. The first stop is the town of St Lucia and the estuary inside the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. There you will board a riverboat for a 2-hour guided tour of the estuary. The local guide will inform you of the reserve's history and its incredible wildlife.
After lunch, you will continue with your safari before leaving the park on route to Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary. During the guided tour to the cat project, visitors can get up close and personal with some of South Africa's endangered cat species; caracal, serval, cheetah and the African wildcat. This once in a lifetime opportunity can be enjoyed whilst being educated on a tour. This activity is very popular!
After the tour we start the two hours journey back to Durban for drop off.
Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site (UNESCO) and is considered South Africa's third largest park with 280km of near pristine coastline and 328 000 hectares of magnificent scenery. The protected area is home to one of the largest population of hippopotami in SA, an estimated 1000 crocodiles as well as a wealth of plant, bird and animal life. The park was proclaimed a world heritage site because of the rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems and natural beauty occurring in a relatively small area. Animals occurring in the park include lion, African elephant, leopard, black and southern white rhino, buffalo and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle.
Emdoneni Cat Project offers a guided tour of South Africa's endangered wild cat species. The aim of the Emdoneni Cat Project is to care for cheetahs, serval cats, African wildcats and caracal (lynx), which have been orphaned or injured in the wild and need care and rehabilitation.