Best of South Africa
Travel South Africa on a Small Group tour that brings together the country’s big-name icons and local connections. Search for wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park, visit a Swazi Chief’s village and continue through the Eastern Cape towards the Garden Route. Explore Knysna, follow the coastline and end in Cape Town, where Table Mountain, ocean views and the city’s cosmopolitan energy show you another side of South Africa.
- 02 Jan 2027 – 16 Jan 2027
from $9,025 pp twin share * - 16 Jan 2027 – 30 Jan 2027
from $8,122.50 pp twin share * - 13 Feb 2027 – 27 Feb 2027
from $8,122.50 pp twin share * - 27 Feb 2027 – 13 Mar 2027
from $9,025 pp twin share * - 13 Mar 2027 – 27 Mar 2027
from $8,122.50 pp twin share * - 03 Apr 2027 – 17 Apr 2027
from $8,725 pp twin share * - 17 Apr 2027 – 01 May 2027
from $8,725 pp twin share * - 08 May 2027 – 22 May 2027
from $7,852.50 pp twin share * - 22 May 2027 – 05 Jun 2027
from $8,495 pp twin share * - 05 Jun 2027 – 19 Jun 2027
from $7,852.50 pp twin share * - 19 Jun 2027 – 03 Jul 2027
from $8,725 pp twin share * - 03 Jul 2027 – 17 Jul 2027
from $7,852.50 pp twin share * - 17 Jul 2027 – 31 Jul 2027
from $8,725 pp twin share * - 07 Aug 2027 – 21 Aug 2027
from $8,495 pp twin share * - 21 Aug 2027 – 04 Sep 2027
from $8,725 pp twin share * - 04 Sep 2027 – 18 Sep 2027
from $8,185.50 pp twin share * - 18 Sep 2027 – 02 Oct 2027
from $8,185.50 pp twin share * - 09 Oct 2027 – 23 Oct 2027
from $8,185.50 pp twin share * - 23 Oct 2027 – 06 Nov 2027
from $9,095 pp twin share * - 06 Nov 2027 – 20 Nov 2027
from $8,185.50 pp twin share * - 20 Nov 2027 – 04 Dec 2027
from $9,095 pp twin share * - 07 Dec 2027 – 21 Dec 2027
from $9,095 pp twin share * - 18 Dec 2027 – 01 Jan 2028
from $8,545.50 pp twin share *
* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.
Itinerary
- Day 1 – Welcome to Johannesburg:
Your South Africa small group journey begins in Johannesburg, the country’s largest city and a place shaped by gold rush history, creative neighbourhoods and South Africa’s modern spirit. Known as Jo’burg or Jozi, its mining past, art spaces and evolving urban culture give you an immediate sense of the country’s contrasts. Settle into your hotel and take time to unwind after your travels. Later, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over dinner in a local restaurant to get a feel for the adventure ahead. - Day 2 – Journey to the Kruger National Park Area:
The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa’s Lowveld. Admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, you’ll venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, your home for two nights. - Day 3 – Safari in Kruger National Park:
Set out on a Small Group safari through Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s great wildlife sanctuaries and South Africa’s oldest national park. With your Local Specialist guiding the way, follow the tracks, calls and movement of the bushveld as you search for the Big Five, the Little Five and everything in between. Scan the golden grass for lions, watch for elephants moving between the trees and look closer for the smaller wonders, from animal spoor in the dust to a golden orb spider waiting on her web. Spend your afternoon at leisure, with the sounds of Kruger all around you. - Day 4 – Onwards to Eswatini:
Travel to landlocked Eswatini and get a real feel for the local culture. You’ll visit a Swazi Chief’s village, meet the community and learn about their way of life before sampling some of the local pap and stew. Admire their striking crimson traditional dress up close and feel the beat of this vibrant culture during a spirited drumming class. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to the villagers and their traditions. - Day 5 – Head to Hluhluwe:
Venture to the ‘garden of province’ of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, you’ll arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4×4 game drive. This evening, enjoy a delicious South African braai (weather dependent) – a perfect way to end the day. - Day 6 – Venture to Durban (Umhlanga Rocks):
Explore St. Lucia, a relaxed coastal town surrounded by wetlands, wildlife and the warm Indian Ocean. Take in its easy pace before choosing to join an Optional Experience cruise on Lake St. Lucia, gliding past reed beds and mangroves as you look for hippos, crocodiles and rich birdlife along the water’s edge. Continue to Durban for an orientation of South Africa’s vibrant Indian Ocean city, where colonial buildings, beachfront energy and Indian heritage meet. End the day at the Oyster Box Hotel with a curry buffet, a local favourite that celebrates Durban’s famous spice-filled food culture. - Day 7 – Make Tracks for the Drakensberg Mountains:
Journey through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills, travelling towards the escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. Stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where a sculpture and visitor centre mark the place where Mandela was arrested in 1962 before his 27 years of imprisonment. Continue through the Underberg, known for its arts and crafts scene and mountain setting, before arriving in the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and take in the valley’s views. - Day 8 – A Day in the Drakensberg:
Enjoy the freedom to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site your way. You might choose to join an Optional Experience and head off-road on a 4×4 Sani Pass adventure, climbing to 2,874 m (9,429 ft) and crossing into Lesotho. Stop to take in the incredible mountain views from Africa’s highest pub, before enjoying lunch at another local spot en route. Prefer to keep things low-key? Stay grounded and soak up the Drakensberg’s dramatic beauty at your own pace. - Day 9 – On the Road to the Eastern Cape Beaches:
Travel from mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, crossing the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover Nelson Mandela’s legacy in Qunu, where stories of his early life connect you to the rural landscapes that shaped him. Continue to Chintsa on the Wild Coast, where unspoiled beaches and rolling dunes set the scene for your Stays with Stories experience at Crawfords Beach Lodge. Settle in by the ocean and take in this remote stretch of coast. - Day 10 – Travel to Gqeberha:
Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surroundings before your journey to Gqeberha. Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, a quality you’ll experience first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening. - Day 11 – On to Tsitsikamma National Park and Knysna:
Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma’s giant and ancient Yellowwoods, then arrive at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella’s work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. It is famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads, which stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon, shielding the town from the Indian Ocean. - Day 12 – Knysna Your Way:
You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head. - Day 13 – Continue to Cape Town:
Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting). - Day 14 – Cape Town Your Way:
Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit the infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at dinner with your travelling companions, indulging in delicious Cape Malay speciality dishes. - Day 15 – Farewell Cape Town:
Bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport.
Highlights
- Search for wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park.
- Visit a Swazi Chief’s village and explore the Eastern Cape.
- Discover the natural beauty of the Garden Route and Cape Town.
Travel South Africa on a Small Group tour that brings together the country’s big-name icons and local connections. Search for wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park, visit a Swazi Chief’s village and continue through the Eastern Cape towards the Garden Route. Explore Knysna, follow the coastline and end in Cape Town, where Table Mountain, ocean views and the city’s cosmopolitan energy show you another side of South Africa.
Inclusions
- 1 Be My Guest.
- Visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Kruger National Park, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna and Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting) in Cape Town.
- View Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window, the Drakensberg mountains and Storms River Mouth, South Africa’s wildlife and birds on safari.
- See South Africa’s wildlife and birds on safari.
- Hazyview: Take in the magnificent sights of Kruger National Park Area on your scenic drive.
- Kruger National Park: Explore Kruger National Park with a Local Specialist, learning how to read the bushveld through fresh tracks, distant calls and movement in the long grass.
FAQs
- Anew
- Boardwalk
- Crawfords Beach Lodge
- Knysna Hollow Country Estate
- Premier Resort Sani Pass
- Royal Swazi Spa
- Sabi River Sun Resort
- Southern Sun The Cullinan
- The Maslow
- The Oyster Box
How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 15 days and 14 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 02 Jan 2027 and 01 Jan 2028, subject to live availability.
Are there different departure options?
Yes, multiple departures may be available depending on your preferred travel period.
Are discounts available?
Seasonal or loyalty discounts may be available on selected departures at the time of enquiry.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
Provided by: Trafalgar ToursFine Print
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