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Mellow South Africa | South Africa | Cape Town |
| This three week self-drive holiday begins in Cape Town. It takes in the Winelands and the Garden Route and then the beautiful sub-tropical province of KwaZulu with time visiting Zulu cultural villages and game reserves. Travel through the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland to Mpumalanga with time on safari in the Kruger Park before enjoying the tranquillity of the Drakensberg escarpment area. Using PREMIER/COMFORTABLE accommodation. |
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| Meals |
As text- mostly Bed & Breakfast |
| Accommodation |
Mix of Premier with some Standard accommodation |
| Departure Dates |
On request |
| Transport |
Group B rental car with unlimited kilometres. Upgrades to larger vehicles easily arranged. |
| Price Includes |
Meals and accommodation as shown in text, Group B car rental |
| Price Excludes |
International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified |
| Minimum Number |
2 |
| Climate |
Varying climate - Mediterranean in the Cape to sub-tropical in northern KwaZulu Natal & Mpumalanga |
| Best time to go |
Suitable all year round |
| Health Requirements |
Anti-Malarial precautions essential. Sunblock essential. |
| Combines well with |
Victoria Falls
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| Other Ideas |
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| Notes |
Daily flights into Cape Town with SAA or BA from £590 including taxes |
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 Day 1 : Arrive Cape Town, 3 nights, Welgelegen, Bed & Breakfast
On arrival at Cape Town Airport you drive to Trevoyan House for a three-night stay. This is a gracious colonial home on the slopes of Table Mountain. Cape Town is Southern Africa?s oldest city and its most scenic. The unique cultural blend, part African, part European and part Asian reflects its colonial past. From your base here, you can explore both the city centre and further afield. Take time to walk or take the cable car up Table Mountain, visit the charming Malay quarter and the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Spend a day at the Waterfront or take a boat trip from the harbour, or just relax on the beach. Welgelegen is the alternative lodge.
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Day 4 : 2 nights, Schulphoek Seafront Lodge
Continue along the coast to Hermanus for 2 nights. The cosmopolitan former fishing village of Hermanus boasts some of the finest land-based whale-watching in the world from August to November, as well as spectacular mountain scenery and lovely sandy beaches for swimming and surfing.
Schulphoek is situated in a protected marine sanctuary by the ocean, with spectacular sea views from the sitting/dining room and terrace. A coastal walking trail runs past the lodge and there is a heated salt water pool and jacuzzi. Six spacious bedrooms offer garden views whilst the Scallop suite, on the first floor, offers magnificent sea views. Each room has hand-crafted wooden beds, percale linen, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, TV/Video, complimentary sherry, tea & coffee facilities. Bathrooms are modern with bath and shower, sometimes spa baths. The atmosphere is relaxed with an emphasis on good quality cuisine (1½ hours, 130km).
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Day 6 : 3 nights, Falcons View Manor, Knysna, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive to Knysna in the Garden Route region. Falcons View Manor has an stunning setting, high above the lagoon and minutes away from beaches, galleries and restaurants.
The Garden Route thoroughly deserves its reputation for enchanting beauty. The 'Garden' refers not to cultivated gardens, but to the indigenous forests of tall yellowwoods and milkwoods, covering the slopes of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains. This region, between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, offers a spectacular coastline of dramatic headlands giving way to white sandy beaches. Behind the sand dunes lie placid lagoons and wetland lakes, bordered by indigenous rainforest and soaring mountains (4 hours, 380km).
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Day 9 : 2 nights, Lalaria Lodge, Natal North Coast, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive to Port Elizabeth Airport for your domestic flight to Durban (3 hours, 260km to PE, 40mins to hotel). FLIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE. On arrival at the Durban Airport you collect your rental car for your two night stay at Lalaria Lodge. The ?Dolphin Coast? north of Durban is made for swimming, relaxing and enjoying alfresco seafood cuisine.
Lalaria is bright and modern with well-equipped guest rooms and stunning views over the ocean. Errol and Caryl offer friendly personal service and every comfort at this spacious villa. The bedrooms, with sea or pool views have king-sized beds, fine percale linen, satellite TV, telephone, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and minibar. The spacious deck overlooking the Indian Ocean is ideal for sundowners and Dolphin spotting. There are several good restaurants nearby as well as safe swimming, leisurely beach walks, dolphin boat cruises, microlighting and golf.
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Day 11 : 2 nights, Hluhluwe River Lodge, Full Board and 1 Game Drive,
Head north to Hluhluwe region particularly famed for the Hluhluwe Game Reserve with its concentrations of rare white rhino, as well as elephant, black rhino, buffalo and predators. Hluhluwe River Lodge overlooks the Hluhluwe floodplain and borders the St Lucia Wetlands. Popular activities include game drives to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and bird watching boat trips on the river. For adventure seekers there is quad biking, horse-riding and mountain bike trails on offer. Between activities you can take a self-guided walk or relax and soak up the sun at the secluded pool (2½ hours, 220km).
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Day 13 : 2 nights, White Elephant Bush Lodge, Pongola Game Reserve, Dinner, Bed, Breakfast & 1 game drive or activity
Drive north to the Pongola Game Reserve at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains, overlooking the beautiful Lake Jozini. Here you encounter a variety of antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hyena and elephant and loads of activities - open top game drives, sunset boat cruises, Tiger fishing and tracking rhino or elephant. The reed and thatch cottages of Bush Lodge are simple but charming with mosquito nets and fans and a large walk in shower. (1 hour, 95km)
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Day 15 : 1 night, Reilly's Rock Lodge, Swaziland, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Head into the small kingdom of Swaziland today to spend the night at Reilly's Rock Lodge. Swaziland provides a fascinating cultural experience. Travel through undulating country dotted with Swazi villages and enjoy game viewing in the Mlilwane reserve. The Swazis are renowned craftsmen, and you can buy terrific basket ware, colourful fabrics, carvings, and Mother of Pearl in friendly markets and roadside stalls. Reilly?s Rock Lodge is the utterly captivating former homestead of conservationist Ted Reilly. The colonial homestead has a colourful pioneer history and has been sympathetically restored with great attention to period detail. (2 hours, 160km)
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Day 16 : 2 nights, Buhala Game Lodge, adjacent to Kruger National Park, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive through the undulating northern uplands of Swaziland to Buhala Lodge or Malelane Lodge on the edge of the Kruger National Park. Buhala has a stunning location on the Crocodile River, the border of the Kruger Park. It?s a magical experience to sit on the veranda or at the pool, and watch the wildlife coming to the river to drink - hippo, buffalo and elephant cross onto the lawn quite often. Buhala, on a tropical fruit and sugar cane farm, is the perfect bush retreat, offering spacious air-conditioned bedrooms furnished with antiques, as well as two garden suites with private plunge pool. Rangers offer guided day and night 4x4 game drives and walks in the Kruger. Nature drives on the farm, outdoor spa, fly-fishing and golf at the prestigious Leopard Creek also available. (2½ hours, 160km).
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Day 18 : 2 nights, Tanamera Lodge, Drakensberg Escarpment, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you travel to Tanamera Lodge to stay for 2 nights. The Drakensberg escarpment provides welcome relaxation after the excitement of a safari. This area of tumbling streams and waterfalls amongst indigenous woodland and forest plantations provides scenic drives, relaxing walks, horse riding and golf.
Tanamera, meaning 'place of the red earth' has a hillside forest setting between Hazyview and Sabie in the heart of the Drakensberg escarpment. It offers breathtaking views of the fast- flowing Sabie River far below the lodge and the forested slopes all around. Five spacious thatched chalets all enjoy the river and forest views and are luxuriously appointed with fireplace, unusual 'waterfall' shower, large oval stone bath, private deck and private plunge pool. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the forest surroundings or for the energetic, there are forest and birding walks. The main lodge has a stylish sitting area and a communal dining table, though private dining in your room or on the deck is also an option. The lodge deck has a large rimflow swimming pool with the best views of the valley below. Tanamera is well positioned for touring the panorama route and the Sabie waterfalls. Fly-fishing and the Kruger Park are also possibilities. (2½ hours, 160km through the Kruger).
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 Day 20 : Return car to Kruger Park Airport
Today you drop off your rental car at Kruger Park International Airport in time for your onward flight.
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1 Apr 2008
to
31 Aug 2008
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1 May 2008
to
31 Jul 2008
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1 Sep 2008
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31 Oct 2008
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1 Nov 2008
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31 Dec 2008
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| Per person sharing |
ZAR R 20,250 |
ZAR R 19,300 |
ZAR R 22,750 |
ZAR R 24,300 |
| Prices may be based
on current exchange rates and are subject to change prior to booking. |
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| Contact us for more information or book your trip by clicking on the appropriate button below. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have. |
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