South Africa Escorted Tour & Safari Itinerary
DAY 1 – Fly to Cape Town
Depart for Cape Town to enjoy the beauty of South Africa’s Garden Route and one of the many highlights of the trip, a Big Five game safari!
DAY 2 – Cape Town
Discover Table Mountain and Orientation Tour
We have arrived! Let’s meet our guide and kick start our holiday with an excursion to the iconic Table Mountain (weather permitting). Take in the spectacular views of the city on the cable car ride up the mountain, stretching to False Bay, including Robben Island and the Devil’s Peak on a clear day. After our excursion to Table Mountain, we enjoy a short orientation tour en-route to our hotel.
The rest of the evening is yours to relax and become familiar with your surroundings. Our guide will be happy to tell you of further places to visit in your free time.
DAY 3 – Guided tour of the winelands
Embark on a picturesque journey through the delightful Winelands countryside. First stop on our full day excursion is the charming town of Stellenbosch. Let’s enjoy a short walk through the town centre. Next we take in the beauty of rolling vineyards while sampling some South African wines, and enjoy a game of wine blending. After our wine blending we savour a some lunch (included). Later we experience the town of Franschhoek on a short orientation tour, before making our way back to Cape Town.
Enjoy the evening at leisure.
DAY 4 – Cape Peninsula Tour with Boulders Beach Penguins
On today’s guided Cape Peninsula excursion, you will be treated to some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world! We drive along the coast route, overlooking the rocky peninsula and take in stunning views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans along the way. We experience one of the highlights to Cape Point, Boulders Beach for an up close and personal encounter with African Penguins! Discover the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias first established trading routes between Africa and Asia in the fifteenth century. En- route to your hotel you will have the opportunity of visiting Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Lunch is included.
We make our way back to Cape Town and enjoy the rest of our evening at leisure.
DAY 5 – Robben Island – Transfer to Arniston or Hermanus
Morning: Uncover the Historic Robben Island
Weather permitting; today you will catch the boat from the Victoria & Alfred waterfront out to Robben Island. Located almost 7km off the coast in Table Bay, the island is internationally known as the location where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Today the island is a UNESCO world heritage site and a living museum, welcoming thousands of visitors every year. You will have a guided tour of the island and museum. Afterwards catch the boat back and transfer onwards to your next destination. Please note: your next destination can vary according to your chosen date of departure.
Afternoon: Travel to Arniston
Depart Cape Town and transfer onwards to the tranquil small fishing village of Arniston for the next two nights of your stay, depending on your chosen date of travel. This quaint village is an attraction for artists and photographers, known for its prettiness, rolling sand dunes, blue sea and rugged cliffs. The transfer will take approximately three hours (210km).
OR Travel to Hermanus (Depending on your chosen date) in the afternoon.
On certain chosen dates, your itinerary will include two nights in Hermanus. Please enquire with your sales agent for available dates and more details.
DAY 6 – Arniston or Hermanus (depending on chosen date)
Orientation tour of Arniston – Day at leisure
This morning let’s discover Arniston together on an orientation walk. The rest of your day is a free day to embrace the essence of this enchanting seaside destination. Take a leisurely stroll and fully enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. Ask your guide to tell you more insider tips on must-see attractions for you to discover.
Optional excursion:
Discover Arniston with a local guide on a history and cultural walking tour. Visit the fishing village of Kassiebaai, a heritage site; weather and tide permitting, we will climb into the Waenhhuiskrans (via the cliffs) to see where endangered cormorants’ nest. Uncover more on a walking tour of Arniston.
Sturdy, non slip shoes are recommended. This tour will involve walking for approximately 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace.
Please note this may not be a private Travel Department tour and subject to minimum numbers.
Or Hermanus (Depending on your chosen date)
This morning let’s discover Hermanus together on an orientation walk. The rest of your day is a free day to embrace the essence of this enchanting seaside destination. Take a leisurely stroll and fully enjoy the refreshing sea breeze, coastal walks, and small shops. Ask your guide to tell you more insider tips on must-see attractions for you to discover.
Optional Whale Watching Hermanus only
Join us on an optional excursion when staying in Hermanus, for a sea adventure in search of whales and marine life! From June to November, Hermanus offers prime whale watching. On our journey, we may encounter Southern Right, Humpback, and Bryde’s whales, along with dolphins, seals, and diverse marine birds, including the African penguin. The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
Transfer from your hotel to the excursion is included – return. Minimum numbers apply for this excursion to operate
DAY 7 – Travel to Knysna via the Garden Route
After breakfast transfer from Hermanus or Arniston (depending on your chosen date) along the N2 via Mossel Bay to Knysna, enjoying some of the most scenic landscape in the world along the Garden Route, the journey will take approximately six hours drive to the coastal town of Knysna (364km) with comfort stops. This town lies on the Knysna lagoon, the mouth of which is guarded by two promontories known as ‘The Heads’ and is famed, due to the number of sailors who lost their lives sailing through this dangerous stretch. Arrive in the evening in time to check in.
Relax and unwind, tonight dinner is included. Spend the next two nights of our stay in Knysna.
DAY 8 – Uncover Featherbed Nature Reserve
Today we visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where we make our way by ferry across the Knysna Lagoon. The reserve lies on the unspoilt western head of Knysna, and here you will be driven in a 4×4 to see stunning views and beautiful flora and fauna. Savour a buffet lunch sitting underneath a canopy of Milkwood trees. Also included is the option to take a guided walk through coastal forest and fynbos into ancient sea caves.
Note: Please note your visit to the Featherbed Nature Reserve is subject to weather conditions. If possible, another attempt will be made and/or an alternative excursion organised. Our guide will reconfirm the arrangements locally. It is recommended to wear comfortable and supportive shoes during this excursion for the walk.
Let’s enjoy the rest of our day at leisure to further soak up our surroundings.
DAY 9 – Port Elizabeth via Tsitsikamma National Park
Let’s see more as we depart Knysna and make our way to Tsitsikamma, where we experience the dramatic coastal areas of the Garden Route, where the forest meets ocean. Visiting the Tsitsikama National Park, a glorious 10km stretch of wild and rocky coastline characterised by massive cliffs, narrow isolated beaches and shady indigenous forest, composed of Stink Woods and Yellow Woods along the river valleys.
After, we make our way towards our hotel in Port Elizabeth where we will spend the night, our journey today will take approximately five hours (261km) plus comfort stops.
Arrive in the evening, check in and enjoy the rest of our time at leisure to relax and unwind.
Dinner is included tonight at our hotel.
DAY 10 – Transfer to Kariega Game Reserve -“Big Five Safaris”
This morning we will leave Port Elizabeth and make our way to Kariega Game Reserve approximately two hours journey (144km), where we will spend the next three nights. Kariega is a family-owned and operated private safari reserve located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape (Kariega is currently a Malaria free area) and is situated along the Garden Route and one of the many highlights on our tour. Make sure to have your camera ready, as animals can appear at any time, not just while on a safari drive!
We will spend three nights here on full board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
After lunch at the lodge, we experience our first game drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. The experienced game rangers will try to bring you close to the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard as well as a multitude of other African wild game and bird species. Have your camera ready and the binoculars polished in anticipation for your game drive.
After the game drive, dinner will be served in the lodge. Enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure. Relax more and soak up the enchanting African surroundings and sounds, there is nothing like hearing a lion roar in the background or the trumpet of an elephant in the distance.
DAY 11 – Big Five Encounter
It’s time for safari! We set off early this morning while it’s still cool and the animals are most active, in an open top four-wheel drive vehicle to explore some of the magnificent 10,000 hectares of Kariega Game Reserve (wrap up warm as it’s crisp in the mornings). If you are lucky today, you might witness a lion hunting, or the heart-warming social interactions of an elephant herd.
The morning is not over, strap on your sturdy walking shoes as we are going on a guided walk before lunch.
Let’s experience more on our second game drive today in the reserve. You might be able to see other species such as hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, waterbuck and a variety of other antelope, as well as a myriad of bird species including the nesting crowned eagle, martial and fish eagles, keep your eyes peeled, however our expert guides will point out game as we go along. Its incredible how our guides can spot a lion, or a bird you couldn’t see as it blends seamlessly into its surroundings!
DAY 12 – Kariega’s Game Drive Experience Discover More
Discover more as we fall in love with our safari experiences! Rise and shine we are off on another early morning start! This morning, we start with a safari game drive, we never tire of seeing elephants and lions! Next, we cruise down the river (pending weather) and have more opportunities to spot wildlife from a different perspective.
After enjoying lunch at the lodge, we savour our last game drive in the at Kariega Game Reserve. This is your last chance to see the big 5 so keep your eyes peeled! Savour the moment of this memorable experience.
Later this evening let’s get together and enjoy a roaring fire and maybe a sundowner (not included) after all we are on safari!
Optional – Kariega Local Township visit
Optional Excursion- Kariega Local Township Visit.
Connect with the heart of a local community on the Kariega Foundation Community Tour! Led by a passionate Community Manager, this immersive journey offers a glimpse into rural township life and Xhosa traditions. Visit an RDP (low-cost housing) house, a shack, Xhosa kraal, spaza shop, local school, and a community library. You’ll also see the Kariega Foundation’s projects in action and discover the impact of the conservation and community levy. This 90-minute tour departs at 11:00, returning by 13:30, with travel by vehicle or on foot, depending on the weather and group size.
Minimum numbers apply for the operation of this prebook able tour.
DAY 13 – Return Home via Johannesburg
Today we say farewell and transfer to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Airport for your flights home, the journey will take approximately two hours (144km). Check in for your return flight home after enjoying the many memorable highlights South Africa has to offer. Please note – Tours with flights that depart from Port Elizabeth after 10am do not include a city tour of Johannesburg.
25th September 2026 does not include a city tour of Johannesburg as flights depart after 12 midday from Port Elizabeth.
06th November 2026 does not include a city tour of Johannesburg as flights depart after 12 midday from Port Elizabeth
Tours only with early 7am Port Elizabeth Departures only – City tour included
If your flight departs at 7am from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg a city tour is included due to the layover time for the international connecting flight.
Johannesburg City Tour for 7 am departures from Port Elizabeth Airport to Johannesburg
We have arrived in Johannesburg airport. Let’s collect our bags on arrival in Johannesburg airport and meet our guide in arrivals.
Let’s experience more as we embark on a panoramic tour of Johannesburg including Soweto. Discover Constitution Hill and a visit to Nelson Mandela’s house (unless closed, and will be replaced with the Apartheid Museum. These can change due to operational reasons).
We discover more with a panoramic tour passing Soccer City and enjoy some free time for lunch (included).
Return to the airport in the afternoon and check in for our return flights home.
Please note these dates do not have a Johannesburg city tour for 2026 included due to flight times:
19th June
25th September
06th November
DAY 14 – Arrive home
