Highlights of South Africa Tour Itinerary
This was a 1-day guided tour taken with TUI in October 2024. The tour included all the highlights of South Africa – Johannesburg, the Panorama Route, the Garden Route, Cape Town, one full day safari, two half day safaris and a day in Eswatini. There were a total of 27 people on the tour.
A degree of fitness is required to fully enjoy this tour – there is a lot of walking including uneven ground and steep steps, as well as long days travelling on the coach. Many of the hotels used do not have lifts or walk-in shower facilities.
That said, it is a great itinerary designed to give you a brief look at the Highlights of South Africa.
Day One – Travelling
Took an overnight flight from London Heathrow to Johannesburg with Virgin Atlantic.
Day Two – Johannesburg
Arrived in Johannesburg at 10.15 and took the shuttle to the OR Tambo Garden Court. For those that had arrived in the morning there was an opportunity to take a 4 hour tour of downtown Jo’burg and Soweto. The price for the tour was 1100 Rand (£55 approx) and was excellent value.
The tour began at 2pm with a drive from the hotel to downtown Johannesburg. The city was founded in 1886 when gold diggers settled in the region. Some of the original mining structures are now preserved as points of interest.
South Africa proudly hosted the World Cup in 2010. The First National Bank Stadium (FNB) was renovated and enlarged for the tournament.
From the stadium we drove to the township of Soweto, the home of Nelson Mandela. The house he lived in from 1946 to 1962 in Vilakazi Street has been preserved as a museum to Mandela, his family and the struggle against apartheid.
Our guide gave us lots of information about Nelson Mandela’s house, family as well as the fight against apartheid.
The last stop on the tour was the memorial to Hector Peterson, a 12 year old boy who was shot and killed on 16th June 1976, during protests against the government policy of making Afrikaans (the language of the white population) mandatory in all schools.
The Soweto Uprising escalated following the shooting and it is estimated that at least 600 protestors were killed.
Day Three – Pretoria – Kloppenheim Country Park
Today began with a drive to South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria. Our first stop was the Paul Kruger House museum. Kruger was instrumental in fighting back against the British in the Anglo-Boer War. He later became President of South Africa.
The four-bedroomed house has been well preserved with authentic or period furniture.
Our next stop was South Africa’s Union Buildings in Pretoria, situated high on a hill overlooking the city. The cannon in the shot serves as a reminder of the Boer War.
The gardens are also home to the World’s largest statue of Nelson Mandela. Standing at nine metres tall with arms outstretched, seemingly to embrace the nation.
Leaving Pretoria behind we began the 225 km journey to our stop for the night. A lunch and comfort stop was made at the Alzu Petroport on the N 4. The view from the complex is amazing with a host of wild animals including Rhino, Zebra, Eland and ostriches grazing just a few metres from us – an unexpected treat.
All too soon it was back on the coach for the rest of the journey to the Gooderson Kloppenheim Country Estate Hotel. Set in 500 hectares (5 km²), the estate is home to Wildebeast and Blesbok, and boasts uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside.
Day Four – Panorama Route – Hazyview
Today we made the 180km journey north east to Hazyview. We travelled along the scenic Panorama route, located within the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. The area is renowned for its stunning scenery.
First stop was the Three Rondavels. Named after African traditional rounded huts, the Three Rondavels are three rounded mountain tops that have been created through erosion of the rock.
Next stop was Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Named after gold prospector Bernard Thomas Bourke, the potholes have been created by underwater vortexes in plunge pools that have eroded the rock leaving a hollowed out circle.
We stopped at this location for lunch and A number of wild baboons tried their best to join us. Some succeeded.
Our last stop along the Panorama Route was God’s Window. Located high on the Drakensberg Escarpment, a vantage point offers uninterrupted views of the lowveld.
Day Five – Safari, Kruger National Park
It was a very early 4.15am start this morning to reach the park entrance by 5.15am. Here we were transferred into open-sided jeeps with seating for 9 people in 3 rows.
We set off on our hunt for the big five as the sun was rising. It wasn’t long before we had our first sighting. During our full day tour we were lucky enough to see an array of animals including wild dogs, buffalo, impala, giraffe, zebra and elephants. we also saw lions and leopards through binoculars.
Day Six – Off to Eswatini (Swaziland)
Today was a 550 km, long, hot day of travelling as we made the seven-hour coach journey from Hazyview to Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.
Day Seven – Back to South Africa
Leaving Ezulwini we travelled to the Swazi Candle centre in the Malkerns, Eswatini. Here we were able to witness the candle making process and also purchase candles in all shapes and sizes, including typical African animals.
The location is also home to a small artisan crafters’ market where you can purchase an array of home made goods.
A 2 hour drive took us to the border and we left Swaziland / Eswatini and re-entered South Africa. We reached Mkuze, our stop for the night, around lunchtime.
In the afternoon there was an optional Game drive in the Mkuze Game Reserve. Once again we saw Impalas, elephants and giraffes. Although we stayed in the park until sunset we did not see any animals that we had not seen in Kruger Park.
In the evening, after dinner, we were treated to a display of Zulu dancing.
Day Eight – South to Durban
It was another early start today as we embarked on our last game drive of the tour. It was an hour’s drive to the Hluhluwe Game reserve, the oldest in South Africa. This reserve has a high population of rhino and about halfway into the tour we spotted a family of three – a mother, daughter and 2-week old baby.
We also saw elephant, warthogs, buffalo and cheetahs tracking a lone zebra.
Leaving the game reserve we began the 270km journey to Durban. Along the way we stopped at a Zulu village for a cultural experience with more Zulu dancing. It was dusk when we reached the seaside town of Durban.
Day Nine – Travelling
Today we flew from Durban to Port Elizabeth and then onwards to Cape St Francis where we stopped for the night.
Day Ten – Garden Route
Today we began a first day travelling the famous garden route making various stops in the Tsitsikamma National Park. First stop was the Storms River deck arch bridge on the N2 highway.
Next it was on to the mouth of Storms River.
From here we walked 1km to the Storms River Suspension Bridges. The two bridges are both 7 metres high. One has a span of 39.5 metres while the other is 50.5 metres.
It was very windy on the day we visited and the bridges rocked from side to side as we crossed.
After that we drove on to Plettenberg Bay a popular whale-watching location. The landscape is dominated by the Beacon Island Resort.
Finally, we drove on to Knysna for a two-night stay.
Day Eleven – Knysna
Today was a free day and after a long lay in and leisurely breakfast I decided to take a look at the town. Firstly, I walked to the Waterfront where there are artisan shops, restaurants, numerous boats moored in the harbour and plenty of places offering a variety of boat trips.
Leaving the Waterfront behind I walked along Waterfront Drive and then along Long Street which connects Thesen Island to Knysna. It is flanked on both sides by areas of wetland.
The island is named after the Thesen family who moved to Knysna from Norway in 1870. The family played a big part in making Knysna a successful fishing and shipping port.
Knysna is also home to two endangered species: blue stingrays and the Knysna seahorse. If you are not lucky enough to spot the seahorses in the estuary you can see a few in an aquarium in the SanParks office on Thesen Island.
Day Twelve – Ostriches in Oudtshoorn, Caves in Cango
Today began travelling 120km north-west from Knysna to Oudtshoorn where we visited Safari Ostrich Farm. First we boarded tractor-driven trailers to view the Ostriches. Many wander freely and quickly approached us looking for food.
Next we learnt some facts about the life of an ostrich and were lucky to see some baby ostriches.
After a tasty lunch in the Ostrich Safari café it was back on the bus for the 28 km journey to the Cango Caves. This cave system extends for a total of 4km and is thought to date from the stone age.
The public route through caves goes through four chambers each smaller than the last. All are full of impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
Day Thirteen – On the Bus
Today was a long day travelling as we travelled the 390 km distance from Oudtshoorn to Stellenbosch. This was the final leg of our journey through the Garden Route and its stunning scenery.
In the afternoon there was a wine tasting option but as I don’t drink wine I did not participate. It was then on to Stellenbosch for our overnight stop. As it was too late to visit the museum, it was rescheduled for the next day.
Day Fourteen – Cape Town
The first hour and a half today was spent exploring Stellenbosch. Founded in 1685, Stellenbosch was originally discovered by Simon van der Stel in 1679. It is famous for being the second oldest town in South Africa and the museum contains furniture and other artefacts from the 18th century.
Leaving Stellenbosch behind we journeyed on to our final stop of the tour – Cape Town. One of the three capitals of South Africa, Cape Town is dominated by Table Mountain. The tour included a stop at the foot of the mountain where there is a cable car to the top.
I chose not to participate in this part of the tour but instead to take a helicopter flight around the Cape. I was dropped off a few hours before my flight time so I spent time enjoying the sights and sounds of the V & A Waterfront.
Street musicians and buskers are encouraged to play in the area which is also home to a number of art installations. I particularly liked the collection of colourful rhino.
After enjoying the sights and sounds and a delicious lunch it was time for my flight. I was very lucky to be given the front seat in the helicopter and the views were magnificent.
It was a lovely clear day and it was possible to see dolphins swimming in the bay. We also got a good view of Robben Island.
The flight was soon over but well worth the money.
Day Fifteen – Cape Town
Today was a free day in Cape Town. Although there was an optional excursion to see penguins in Boulder Bay, I opted to join a tour of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 18 of his 27 year imprisonment. Robben Island is 13.6km from Cape Town and the boat journey took around 30 minutes.
On arrival we met our guide and were taken through the entrance gate to the prison.
Our guide, a former political prisoner, took us into a communal cell and gave us a talk on what life was like for prison inmates. Up to 60 inmates could be held in a communal cell.
Next we were given a tour of B Block, the maximum security part of the prison where Mandela was held in an isolation cell.
We then left our guide behind and boarded a bus for a tour of the rest of Robben Island. Finally, it was time to return to the boat and back to Cape Town.
This was the final day of the tour (tomorrow will be spent travelling home to the United Kingdom). The setting sun over Cape Town marked the end of my Highlights of South Africa adventure.
