Lovely trip, this is my second explore trip, the first was a very experienced guide in Costa Rica, Nathi was our guide for this one he said he was new to explore, what he lacked in explore experience he gained in his buzzing personality and local knowledge, he was a great kind and considerate guide nothing was too much trouble. He arranged things and recommend things sharing his knowledge freely. As he gets more experience he’ll be a great asset to Explore. You never know what people you’ll get on such a holiday and I’m always a bit apprehensive since I don’t suffer fools. Fortunately everyone seemed to bond by the end of the 2 weeks. Re the itinerary it was a good balance, maybe include the wine tasting as part of it instead of an option.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Hermanu
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Hermanus, Kruger National Park, Stellenbosch, Garden Route National Park, Cape Winelands, Tsitsikamma National Park, Table Mountain, Port Elizabeth, Knysna
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.
It was a great trip with fantastic game viewing and knowledgeable guides. The accommodation was unique & comfortable, but Rhino lodge at Kosi bay was the poorest -the rooms etc were lovely but there was a decidedly run down aspect to the site and the dinning room service was notable lacking -2-3hr wait after ordering but the food when it came was fine -very understaffed and pushed, not helped by sharing facilities with an inebriated wedding group. Wernan the guide was competent, knowledgeable and did all he could to facilitate the experience -including re driving thro the mountains so we could see Gods Window etc as our first journey was thro thick fog etc with no visibility. Great trip, especially for the kids.
Great trip with good mixture of activities and wildlife. The weather was perfect for an August trip - warm during day, cooler at night, and fortunately only 10 minutes of rain in 2 weeks. Well looked after by our guide Bianca. Food was very good value. Expect some flexibility in the itinerary - we couldn’t sea kayak due to choppy sea but alternative hike was great. Highlights were climbing Table Mountain (2-3h strenuous hike), surfing lesson, optional Whale Watching boat trip, Addo Elephant National Park and optional Schotia Private Game Reserve drive on the morning of departure.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Hut, Lodge, Camping
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Tsits
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma Forest, Addo Elephant National Park, Robben Island, Breede River, Cango Caves, Plettenberg Bay, Robberg Nature Reserve
Definitely would recommend this trip. All the games drive was amazing seen loads of animals. Safari was on my bucket list for a long time and to do it was amazing.
South Africa doesn’t need an intro, but this 10-day Solo-ish adventure is one you'll want to hear about. We know going on safari solo can be a bit daunting, but with this trip, you’ll be joining a crew of like-minded explorers just as excited to roam as you are. Start in Cape Town, hitting all the must-sees like Table Mountain and Boulders Beach — with a special G surprise, of course. Then, it’s off to the wild East for a few epic days in Kruger National Park, spotting the Big Five and more. Ready to make some wild memories?
Spend nine days exploring Cape Town and The Garden Route in South Africa, filling your days with scenic landscapes and delicious food and wine. With a knowledgeable and experienced leader by your side, you’ll drive along Cape’s peninsula, stopping in at gorgeous bays, beaches and scenic viewpoints, before diving into the sobering history of slavery, Apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment during a city tour. Then, you’ll head on to the Cape Winelands to your Feature Stay in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley for a scenic stay and a six-course feast of local cuisine with a wine pairing. Continue to indulge in local food and wine with group dinners and a home-cooked spread in a local family’s farm home. Go hiking in the Garden Route National Park, learn about local culture and lifestyles and end it all back in Cape Town, where you can hike up Table Mountain and soak up the last of the beautiful ocean landscapes.