Your tour representative will meet you upon your arrival at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and take you to Humala River Lodge, 5 hours away deep within the Songimvelo Game Reserve. ‘Songimvelo’ means ‘we are conserving nature’ in the siSwati language. This park forms part of the nearly 170 000-hectare Songimvelo-Malolotja Transfrontier Conservation Area straddling the northern border of Swaziland and the South-Eastern border of South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. It’s a World Heritage Site as it has the best-preserved volcanic and sedimentary rock formations in the world which date back well over 3 billion years and are decorated with some of the world’s oldest Rock Art. Afternoon tea will set you up nicely for your first sunset game drive to experience first-hand the twilight beauty of the African bush and her wild creatures. Then it’s back to the lodge for dinner accompanied by the unparalleled orchestra and chorus of the wild African night, making your first night in the bush unforgettable.
Rising before dawn is a necessity if you want to see wildlife as they are most active in the cool early mornings or late afternoons. Strong coffee and one of South Africa’s iconic snacks, homemade rusks, will be served to see you through your game drive to brunch. Game drives are the best way to experience the reserves spectacular scenery and extraordinary wildlife. And each game drive is unique and unpredictable. After brunch you will have the afternoon to laze around, go swimming or enjoy a guided bush hike to see the bushmen paintings. Afternoon tea and then a sunset game drive is topped off with sundowners under the Southern night sky awash with stars; glimmering constellations not seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Back at the lodge, you will be treated to a mesmerizing Swazi Dance Performance before a delicious dinner.
After breakfast, you head out to enjoy the day following the Panorama Route on your way to the Greater Kruger National Park. Stopping first at the Lisbon Waterfalls, named after the Portuguese who, in the late 1800s, panned for gold in the area, plunges over 300 feet into the ravine. You will then find yourself staring out of God’s Window at the canyons that seemingly stretch forever and the waterfalls, and indigenous forest nearly 3000 feet below. After lunch in Graskop, view the intricate network of large, otherworldly potholes, tunnels and whirling pools at Graskop. These bizarre shapes in the sandstone were formed over millennia at the mouth of the canyon by the raging Blyde and Treur Rivers swirling and crashing together. Visible on the other side of the northern edges of the Drakensberg mountains and shaped like traditional African huts are the iconic Three Rondavels, once known as the Chief and His Wives. From there, the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world and largest green covered canyon in the world opens out before you. And now! Welcome to the Tshukudu Private Game Reserve which will be your home for the next three days. Nestled between the Blyde River Valley and the Kruger National Park with whom Tshukudu shares an unfenced border. Freshen up and relax before dinner.
Tshukudu Game Reserve is home to some of the most endangered wildlife in Africa - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Other, but equally fascinating wildlife, such as the shy, spiral-horned nyala, and the not-so-shy vervet monkeys are only 2 of the myriad of species that live in the environs of Tshukudu Private Game Reserve. It’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, not to mention twitchers. Apart from the four-legged creatures, there are 477 species of birds in the Greater Kruger area, from Little Grebes to Goliath Herons, Pink-backed Pelicans to Lappet Faced Vultures, as well sparrow hawks, falcons and quail. After your sunrise game drive and brunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon to yourself. A delicious High Tea before your first sunset game drive is the perfect introduction to life, sophisticated and wild, at Tshukudu. You will have plenty of time once you return to the Lodge to freshen up before dinner.
MIDNIGHT Joint Party!
An hour is rewarding, but a whole day is a life-changing experience.
It has been said that even an hour in paradise is a rewarding experience and this can also be said to be true of Africa's greatest wildlife sanctuary, the Kruger National Park. For an authentic safari experience, our full-day Kruger safari will give you an unbelievable overview of this iconic destination. Game viewing from open safari vehicles in Kruger has to be one of the ultimate safari experiences in Africa and being able to do this in a day is ideal for those with limited time available. If the weather permits, dinner back at the Lodge will be in the outdoor boma, around the fire, under the star-filled African sky.
Your final morning at Tshukudu Game Lodge provides you an opportunity for one more wild encounter in your last sunrise game drive. Savour the moment with coffee and muffins as the animals and birds welcome the new day. After brunch, a short transfer to catch your flight to Cape Town means you will enjoy lunch en route. Upon arriving in Cape Town, you will be whisked out to a classic Cape Dutch manor house amidst the beautiful vineyards and forests of Constantia Valley. This is Stillness Manor. That evening, enjoy the lazy sunset over the stunning views of both mountain and valley before your scrumptious dinner - a great way to mark your arrival in South Africa's Mother City and the start of your new adventure.
Today's full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula begins in Hout Bay. Here, you can explore the largest bird park in Africa - World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park. From Hout Bay, a quaint village with a fishing harbour, a 40-minute cruise charter takes you past the famous Maori Bay Wreck, to the protected home of thousands of wild Cape Fur Seals - Duiker Island Seal Colony. After lunch in Hout Bay Harbour, you journey beyond Simon's Town to Boulders Beach, including a photo stop at Chapman's Peak. The highlight at Boulders Beach is the colony of vulnerable African Penguins in their natural habitat. Then, take in the countryside en-route to the southern point of the Cape Peninsula. Here three promontories tower over 200 metres above the sea - Cape of Good Hope, Cape Maclear and Cape Point. The Cape Point Funicular Railway takes you to the old lighthouse and panoramic views at the summit of Cape Point. You will be returned to your hotel for the night where you will have dinner.
After an à la carte breakfast at Stillness Manor, your Adventure begins with a drive of never-ending breath-taking scenery along part of the Atlantic Seaboard which stretches from Hout Bay to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (V&A). Your first stop today is at the V&A for the Shimansky Diamond Experience. Discover a diamond’s journey from the Earth’s core to sparkling gem. From the depths of the Earth to the depths of the Ocean, your next stop is the Two Oceans Aquarium. Meet the creatures which inhabit both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans which meet at the southernmost tip of Africa. After lunch at the V&A Waterfront, you rise above the city in a rotating cable car to the top of Cape Town’s most iconic natural landmark – Table Mountain. At 3563 feet above sea-level, it’s one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Settled within the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of only 6 Floral Kingdoms in the world, and the most diverse, Table Mountain is a place of myth, legend, and spectacular views! The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus which will take you to Table Mountain and back again hosts the rest of your day’s adventure and will allow you to experience all that cosmopolitan Cape Town has to offer. Dinner that evening will be at GOLD Restaurant, complete with a djembe drum performance and a 14-dish tasting menu. Each dish is based on African culinary traditions and storytelling.
What better way to start your day after a scrumptious breakfast than by heading into the Winelands surrounded by the breathtaking views of the Stellenbosch Hills. The relaxed atmosphere sets you up for a delicious day of food, cheese, and wine, all produced on the centuries-old vineyards of the region. Here is where you will find some of South Africa’s finest wines and beautiful architecture. Nestled among the green and fruitful vines are stunning examples of the area’s Cape Dutch homes. If you like cheese, then you’ll find the cheese tasting opportunities a delight as the region produces a vast range of both cow and goat milk cheeses. Following trails of flowers and wildlife winding their way through the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve overlooking the Franschhoek Valley will help you build up your appetite once more as they lead to another foodie delight for dinner in a wine estate setting.
The Tour is Over
Wednesday through Thursday, Friday, or whatever your departure date is are ours to plan - head on over to the Discussion page to talk options!