Adventuring in South Africa

Dazzling seascapes stretching along the coast from Cape Town, exquisite wineries set amid rolling vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads, misty mountains graced with Bushman rock paintings, prime savannas teeming with big game—our hiking and safari adventure in South Africa has it all! We explore along “the fairest Cape,” savor wine country at its best at Franschoek, and hike breathtaking trails above a turquoise sea and in the craggy Drakensbergs (Dragon’s Mountains) of Zulu country. For a grand finale, we set out for three days of phenomenal gameviewing at one of the mostexclusive private reserves in the world, Sabi Sand, where we encounter lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo—the legendary “Big Five”—in the spectacular habitats of Greater Kruger National Park.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Cape Town / Cape Peninsula

Cape Town is set in a spectacular meeting of mountains and sea. With accommodations at the lovely Cape Grace Hotel, we hike on Table Mountain, explore the National Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch, ferry out to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve.

Day 4
Cape Winelands / Franschoek

We savor South Africa’s famous wine country, with an overnight at the luxurious Franschoek Country House.

Days 5-9
The Garden Route / Drakensberg Mountains

A scenic panorama of mountains, towering bluffs, indigenous forests, tiny coastal towns, beaches, wetlands, and bays greets us as we head to Tsitsikamma National Park. Our hikes here bring us through pristine indigenous forest and feature magnificent coastal scenery rich with tidepool life. Overnights are at The Fernery, a gorgeous hideaway of secluded chalets. In the Drakensbergs, Zulu country, we discover another hiker’s paradise, with trails leading to fantastic rock formations and a wealth of birdlife from the mighty lammergeier to tiny sunbirds.

Days 10-13
Gameviewing at Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

No fences lie between Sabi Sand and renowned Kruger National Park, and the combined ecosystem offers one of the largest and most diverse wildlife populations in Africa. We savor exceptional gameviewing at Londolozi, an award-winning lodge where the leopard tracking is out of this world. Our daily activities include game drives in open 4WD vehicles and optional bush walks. After dark, a new world opens up as we look for nocturnal wildlife including elusive genets and perhaps leopards on the hunt. Depart on Day 13, or join our Shumbalala Game Lodge Extension.

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What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 2+, moderate to strenuous. This is a luxury hotel-and-lodge-based adventure tour with several days of walking and hiking. Some of the hikes could be considered a bit strenuous, but there are easier walking options available. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we still recommend that each participant undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning. Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, stair-climbing, and so forth are excellent preparatory exercises.

Explanation of Trip Levels