A fantastic adventure that really transformed my previously negative view of group trips! Botswana, in particular, was absolutely stunning and GAdventures built an excellent itinerary to have an unforgettable experience in Southern Africa. The tour guides/CEOs were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and fun – they did a fantastic job with a large group of travellers (many of whom were travelling solo) and really facilitated the creation of lifelong memories and friends. I’d highly recommend GAdventures and will certainly sign up for many more in the future!
I've been solo traveling for the last 9 months and chose this tour with G Adventures as my grand finale and I'm so happy that I did. Our CEOs were so knowledgable and helpful that I felt like my brain was off for half of the month. Every day holds some sort of fun adventure without the usual work that comes along with most travel because those logistics are being taken care of for you. In my option, there is not better way to overland Southern Africa than this tour. We got to see things and go places that we never would have been able to go to on our own. It was such a wonderful experience.
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plateau, Windhoek, Ghanzi, Maun, Okavango Delta, Gweta, Kasane, Victoria Falls, Cederberg, Matobo National Park, Tshipise, Kruger National Park, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Kalahari Desert, Namibia, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe
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
This was a great tour - albeit full on and with a lot of travelling involved. However this was outweighed by seeing such a diverse range of landscapes and wildlife and experiencing so much in a short space of time. The game drives were the stand out for me, we were lucky enough to see the big 5 and it was honestly an incredible experience. I'd have loved to have had more time in the Kruger National Park, as our time was limited.
Highlights include: The incredible landscapes in the Drankensberg Mountains, the hippo cruise in St Lucia and the game drives in Kruger. Seeing lions in their natural habitat was a dream come true, but the elephants have to be the star of the show.
As someone who has never been on safari, this was the perfect introduction to this type of holiday and I'm already planning the next. Thanks Explore!
Experience the greatest adventures on the Garden Route, handpicked by our local experts to showcase the very best of South Africa. Begin in buzzy Cape Town, ascending Table Mountain by cable car, before touring the Winelands, exploring the 20m-year-old Cango Caves, and searching for ocean giants on a wildlife-watching boat trip. It ends in the African bush, where expert rangers help you spot those iconic safari animals. To elevate your experience, you’ll stay in Premium accommodation throughout – the perfect sanctuary after a day of adventure.
Experience the premier wine region in South Africa on a full-bodied exploration packed with fun, adventure and, yes, excellent wines. With the expert guidance of a local tour leader, you’ll explore the vineyards and mountains outside Cape Town on foot, e-bike, funicular, kayak and even on the iconic wine tram! Of course, there’s plenty of time to indulge your inner oenophile, stopping in historic wine estates, while our base for the adventure, the Protea Hotel Dorpshuis in Stellenbosch, provides a place to relax and unwind.
The Garden Route, the greatest road trip in South Africa, deserves an adventure to match. So, join this activity-packed itinerary for a showcase of its greatest experiences, handpicked by the local experts. You’ll discover the wonders of Cape Town and the glorious Cape Peninsula, ride the wine tram to legendary wine estates, marvel at mischievous meerkats, cruise the beautiful Knysna waterfront and hike through the dramatic landscapes of Tsitsikamma National Park. It ends with an unforgettable safari through the African bush, spotting beasts big and small with the help of an expert ranger.
Contiki is an amazing company and despite the fog at the top of table mountain it was great to connect with everyone on this tour and a wonderful way to enter Africa. did a great job. Thank you guys.
Join us on this half-day trip and embark on a scenic, guided tour of Durban and eThekwini municipality and learn about the diverse culture and history of this place during a visit to its various landmarks. We will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation in or around Durban (in case your accommodation falls within ten kilometres radius from Durban city centre) and take you to the Victoria Street Market, where you will get the chance to shop for African accessories, clothing and souvenirs.
Next to the Victoria Street Market is the Zulu Medicine Market where your guide will take you on an informative tour of Inyanga (Doctors) Lane. The marketplace is a unique place where Zulu culture has survived in the modern urban environment.
Moses Mabhida Stadium is next on the itienrary. This landmark has become a defining feature of the Durban skyline. It has a high-rise platform on top of its arch which is accessible by an elevator called the Sky Car for an additional fee (not included in the tour price). Your tour guide will show you around the exterior of the stadium and explain its history, use and significance. You will be given time to go to the sky platform if you want to.
Next, visit uShaka Marine World’s Village Walk, located along the famous Golden Mile Beachfront on Durban’s OR Tambo Parade. uShaka is home to Durban’s most unique shopping experience, a shopper’s paradise in an open-air environment that offers guests a world of entertainment, fun, shopping and dining.
The tour includes a stop at Durban's beautiful botanical garden, the oldest such garden in Africa, established in 1849. Your guide will show you some of the interesting and beautiful features of the gardens and give you extra time to explore the area on your own.
Head for the KwaMuhle Museum now. This museum was once the headquarters of Durban’s Native Administration Department and the centre of Durban’s harsh system of labour control. It has now been transformed into an apartheid museum that seeks to reflect Durban’s urban growth and the history of its residents. It also houses a very interesting HIV/Aids exhibition that educates the public on the situation of the disease in South Africa.
The other landmarks you will see during this tour are city hall, Durban Harbour and the Shiva statue at the Umgeni Hindu Temple. We will drive you back to your accommodation after the tour is over.
Are you interested in local African culture? This one-day popular tour is a culture tour dedicated to the culture and customs of the Zulu people. With pick up and drop off in Durban, this tour couldn’t be easier!
The tour’s first stop is the King Shaka Memorial. Here, you can enjoy a short presentation about King Shaka Zulu.
The next stop is Shakaland Zulu Cultural Village, the main attraction. Here, you will find the king’s royal homestead, which was built for the movie Shaka Zulu in the 1980’s. It is a life-sized replica of Shaka’s home, which now serves as a living museum for tourists and schools. The two-hour guided tour gives visitors an insight into Zulu Culture before colonisation and modernization. This includes an opportunity to taste authentic Zulu beer and culminates with a show of spectacular Zulu dancing.
We then travel to Dlinza Forest for a scenic, easy walk along the raised boardwalks that make their way through the beautiful reserve. The reserve is home to small duiker, monkeys and a wide variety of bird life. Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot something!
Explore the history of KwaZulu-Natal, the distant and the recent, on this guided tour. Learn about the struggles during and the triumphs over the apartheid as well as get a glimpse of Zulu culture before the dawn of the 20th century. End the day with a thrilling visit to a reptile park.
The tour departs from Durban for the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Your guide will give you a short tour of the city, including Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Next stop will be the small town of Howick to visit its waterfall. KwaNogqaza or Howick Falls is approximately 95 metres 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 fall lies a quaint old section of Howick that houses a number of historical museums and antique stores.
Next, head to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Apartheid Museum. The Capture Site boasts a large sculpture of Nelson Mandela made up of multiple steel columns. Tourists at the Capture Site are required to stand 35 meters away the steel columns to clearly see the large bust of Nelson Mandela in focus. Facing west the impressive sculpture is a unique monument for the local Howick community. The Apartheid Museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against the Apartheid government.
Next is the "Valley of 1,000 Hills" to experience traditional Zulu culture at PheZulu Cultural Village and visit the Reptile Park. Visitors are taken into a traditional Zulu sibaya or homestead to experience traditional Zulu life before modernization. Inside a traditional Zulu homestead there are thatched huts placed in a circular position, with the cattle placed in the centre as a form of protection. At PheZulu homesteads the thatched huts are surrounding the auditorium which faces the beautiful valley.
The local PheZulu guide will take you on a guided tour of the PheZulu sibaya and explain the Zulu cultural practices to gain insight into Zulu traditions during the 1800’s. The local Zulu dancing show serves both educational and entertainment purpose as local performers sing and dance to beautiful traditional Zulu songs with complete Zulu attire.
PheZulu also has the Reptile Park. The local guides are very knowledgeable and eager to take you around the park and share interesting facts about the animals in the park. PheZulu Reptile Park has diverse reptilian wildlife on site, including crocodiles, alligators, snakes, tortoises and iguanas. The guides will let you touch or hold some of the animals, including a small crocodile and the giant Burmese python, just long enough to take a photo.
Discover the ultimate South African adventure with a volunteer twist on a stunning Cape Town & Garden Route journey. Immerse yourself in Cape Town's vibrant culture, explore breathtaking landscapes, and make a difference through wildlife conservation projects. Highlights include Big Five safaris, the Garden Route's scenic beauty, and hands-on community projects. Perfect for those seeking meaningful travel experiences combining adventure, nature, and voluntourism in South Africa's most iconic destinations. Make memories while contributing to local communities!