Safari Self Drive – 2 nights Johannesburg | 3 nights Sabi Sand | 4 nights Cape Town | 1 night Franschhoek | 1 night Swellendam | 1 night Wilderness | 1 night Plettenberg Bay | 1 night Port Elizabeth
Overview
It was a lovely surprise to see you in Port Elizabeth & to personally thank you for the hard work. We can honestly say that the whole trip ran very smoothly and it was a lovely introduction to South Africa. A big thank you for all your hard work. We know it only comes together when everything has been thought of & dealt with – from hotels, people, down to route maps & directions. It makes a huge difference.
We have already recommended you to a friend and would happily endorse Pembury to others! Thank you Melanie
Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, you are met in the arrivals hall by our representative, who will hand over your travel documents and transfer you to your hotel for your overnight stay.
Transfer time – OR Tambo airport to your hotel in Johannesburg: approx 40 minutes
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and is the financial and commercial capital of Africa. It is in this fast-paced metropolis that the country’s radical political and social transformation is most evident – this is the “Rainbow Nation” at work. You have the opportunity to learn about the rich historical legacy of the city and Soweto.
This morning, after an early breakfast, you are met at reception and transferred to Johannesburg airport for your flight to Hoedspruit. On arrival in Hoedspruit, you are met and transferred to your lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. You have time to settle in to your lodge before your first game drive.
Transfer time – Johannesburg hotel to OR Tambo airport: approx. 40 minutes
Flight time – Johannesburg to Hoedspruit: approx. 1 hour
Transfer time – Hoedspruit airport to lodge in Sabi Sand: approx. 2½ hours
Forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Reserve has no fences and the wildlife is able to cross freely between the Sabi Sands and the rest of the Greater Kruger National Park. The safari experience in the Sabi Sand is highly personalised because game drive vehicles have exclusive traversing rights in their area. The Sabi Sand Reserve is a remarkable natural sanctuary known for its exceptionally high concentration of animal and bird life. Close contact encounters are guaranteed as the animals are not threatened by the presence of vehicles thanks to sound conservation management policies. Safaris are led by experienced rangers coupled with local Shangaan trackers. With exceptional sightings of leopard (usually the most elusive of cats), lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo during game drives – visitors are never lacking in exciting photographic content.
After your morning game drive and brunch, you are collected from your lodge and are transferred by road to Hoedspruit airport for your flight to Cape Town. On arrival in Cape Town you are transferred to your hotel for your four night stay.
Transfer time: Sabi Sands to Hoedspruit airport – approx. 2½ hours
Flight time: Hoedspruit to Cape Town – approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes
Transfer time: Cape Town airport to Cape Town hotel – approx. 35 minutes
Explore the Mother City and the Fairest Cape – from the oldest buildings in South Africa to trendy waterfront shopping; from majestic Table Mountain to sun drenched beaches; and from dramatic seascapes to verdant vineyards. Cape Town regularly tops many lists of world must-visit destinations and Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain has recently been voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Cosmopolitan and fashionable, the relaxed atmosphere and pavement café culture give Cape Town a Southern European feel – but with a distinctive African twist. Your hired vehicle is delivered to your hotel on your second day in Cape Town.
You check out after breakfast and make your way to the heart of the Cape Winelands, with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges, lush valleys and verdant vineyards. After a full day of exploring the various Wine Routes and enjoying wine tastings along the way, you make your way to Franschhoek where you check in for your overnight stay.
The village of Franschhoek is at the heart of the Franschhoek Wine Route and is surrounded by craggy mountains and verdant vineyards. Many of the 42 wine estates on the Franschhoek Wine Route offer informative guided wine-tastings to the public as well as cellar tours or tours of the vineyards. Some of them also make cheese, chocolate and olive oil and offer tastings of these products alongside their wines. Many of them have on-site restaurants offering food that ranges from gastronomical delights to picnic hampers to enjoy under the oak trees. There is a hop-on hop- off Wine Tram, which visits some of these estates. Franschhoek village, South Africa’s “French Corner”, has a distinct French feel and is undoubtedly South Africa’s gourmet capital, with several of South Africa’s Top Ten restaurants. It is also filled with quirky shops.
Driving time: Cape Town to Franschhoek – approx. 1½ hours (direct drive)
After breakfast, you leave the Winelands behind as you drive through the rolling wheatfields of the Overberg region, where pairs of South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, can be spotted standing in the fields. You continue your journey to Swellendam, a pretty town nestled at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains. Upon arrival in Swellendam, you make your way to your country house in the quaint town for your one night stay.
Driving time: Franschhoek to Swellendam approximately 2 hours (direct drive).
This morning after breakfast, you take a leisurely drive to the Garden Route area and Wilderness, stopping at scenic viewpoints along the way. Surrounding Wilderness you find the towns of Mossel Bay, George, Oudtshoorn and Knysna . George is only 10km west of Wilderness, Knysna about 50km from Wilderness on the N2 a beautiful 40-minute drive through the Garden Route’s “Lake District”. Mossel Bay is 70km from Wilderness, along the shore of the Indian Ocean with attractions like the Diaz museum, Seal Island where the notorious great white sharks hang out.
Wilderness not only overlooks the sea, but also the placid lagoon (Touw River Estuary), the Serpentine, which meanders between the Touw River, Island Lake and Rondevlei. At Wilderness you can take quiet walk along the boardwalk (wheelchair-friendly and part of the Pied Kingfisher Trail) that winds through the reeds of the Wilderness Lagoon
Various restaurants close by offer a variety of dishes and lovely fresh fish. Some spectacular view sites are: Map of Africa with breath taking scenery of forests, lakes, mountains and coastline and Dolphin’s Point, an excellent vantage point from which to study whales and dolphins.
Driving time: Swellendam to Wilderness – approximately 2 to 2½ hours (direct drive)
This morning you depart Wildnerness and make your way along the Garden Route, passing through the scenic coastal town of Knysna and on to the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay, where you spend the night.
The town of Plettenberg Bay lies almost on the border of the Western and Eastern Cape. Built on the hillside, most of the town is on a steep slope leading down to the sea, which means that regardless of where you find yourself accommodated, you will be treated to spectacular views of the bay and surrounding hills and mountains. Plett, as it is popularly known, has sweeping golden beaches, the iconic Robberg Peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers, vineyards and wine estates.
Driving time: Wilderness to Plettenberg Bay – approx 1½ hours (direct drive)
This morning you set off on your final leg of your drive. After breakfast, you check out of your guest house and start your drive to Port Elizabeth.
You can stop for optional activities in Plettenberg Bay or en route to Port Elizabeth in the Tsitsikamma / Storms River Area of the Garden Route or drive straight without any stops to Port Elizabeth where you check in at your beachfront accommodation for your overnight stay.
Driving time: Plettenberg Bay to Port Elizabeth – approx. 2½ hours
This morning is at leisure to enjoy breakfast on the terrace and catch a last glimpse of the beachfront. You check out of your hotel and make your way to Port Elizabeth airport where you return your hire car at the rental kiosk and check in for your flight to Johannesburg.
On arrival in Johannesburg you make your way to international departures lounge to connect with your international flight home.
Driving time: Port Elizabeth hotel to Port Elizabeth airport – approx. 15 minutes
Flight time: Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg – approx. 1 hours and 40 minutes