Africa
FOR THE WILD AT HEART
South Africa
This vast country is undoubtedly one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth. Fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', South Africa has 11 official languages and its multicultural inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of African, Asian and European cultures. Spend your days: discovering the gourmet restaurants, impressive art and nightlife scenes and fine beaches of Cape Town. Due to its rich and turbulent history there are plenty of historical attractions to explore including the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, South Africa’s attraction lies in its remarkably untamed wilderness with its astonishing range of wildlife roaming freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world famous Kruger National Park. With all of this variety on offer, it is little wonder that South Africa has fast become Africa’s most popular tourist destination.
Cape Town
Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, extraordinary architecture, breath-taking landscapes and extraordinary natural wonders are awaiting you.
Addo National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is south Africa’s 3rd largest national park that covers a wide range of landscapes, fauna and flora spaning over 180,000 hectares. Its finely-tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 600 elephant as well as lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species. The park can exclusively claim to be the only park in the world to conserve the “Big 7” – Rhino, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, the southern right whale and great white shark off Algoa Bay.
Knysna
Knysna is situated in the heart of the Garden Route, between George, Plettenberg Bay, the spectacular Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, it is one of the most famous towns along this scenic route. Wedged between a beautiful lagoon and ancient forests, this beautiful town is the culinary capital of Oysters and the perfect base for exploring the surrounding areas.
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Oudtshoorn
Situated in the heart of the Klein Karoo, and between the spectacular Swartberg and Outentiqua Mountains on the famous Route 62, Outdshoorn is renowned for its ecological wonderland above ground, but is also home to the spectacular Cango Caves, Africa’s largest show cave system, below ground. If you are looking for animal encounters, get up close and personal with the world’s largest land based bird, the Ostrich or meet Africa’s most inquisitive little mammals – the Meerkat.
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth or otherwise known as PE, is located on the Indian Ocean,on the shores of the beautiful Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape. Known as the friendly city or the windy city, Port Elizabeth boasts moderate to warm temperatures all year round which makes it the perfect destination for water sports, popular bathing beaches and great surfing areas. It's greatest treasure are malaria free wildlife areas in its vicinity.
Montagu
Located on the famous Route 62, Montagu is renowned for its Mineral springs, flowing naturally from a fissure in the rock face, these waters have healing powers and although the water comes to the surface at 43°C, it reaches the various pools at different temperatures, so you can enjoy a variety of experiences. The scenic township, surrounded by the Langeberg Mountains, has wide streets bordered by national monuments, art deco buildings, great restaurants and quaint boutiques to explore.
2018/2019 Tours
South Africa Highlights
Cape Town via the Garden Route to Addo National Park
18 days - escorted tour
From $8,500pp twin share
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Explore cosmopolitan cities and dramatic coast lines, unearth the beauty of the Karoo, meet the locals and discover the wonders of South Africa's untamed wilderness with its vast array of wildlife roaming free.
NAMIBIA
Namibia is a land of diversity and sheer natural beauty. From the shifting red sand dunes of the Skeleton coast and the Namib desert and the haunting dead tree valleys at Sossusvlei to the scaling mountain ranges and jaw dropping canyons traversing the heart of the country and the lush rivers and wetlands of the Caprivi strip, with a wealth of wildlife to behold, Namibia really does have it all. Uncover the secrets of the Namib desert from the traditional San people, take in the immense expanse of this magical country from the top of a sand dune, encounter the industrious Himba tribes in the north, discover the country's fascinating and tumultuous colonial history, enjoy the exhilaration of sand boarding or skydiving in Southern Africa's adventure capital Swakopmund and look for the big 5 in one of Southern Africa's best parks, Etosha National Park.
The epic landscapes of the Namib desert, which stretches across Namibia, is one of the oldest and driest ecosystems on earth and is almost completely uninhabited by humans except for a few indigenous settlements. Sossusvlei is one of the top tourist attractions, yet when visiting this hauntingly beautiful area, the feeling of isolation and other worldly-ness is apparent, especially at the ancient ghost forest of Deadvlei. Climbing the great dunes (then sliding down), that reach as high as 325m, is a must do to really experience the changing colours of the desert.
Sossusvlei & Namib Desert
Swakopmund
Swakopmund, located between the Namib Desert and the wild Atlantic Ocean, is known as Namibia's adventure capital and is the perfect stop for thrill seekers or as a base to explore the glorious skeleton coast. Dune surfing, sky diving, quad biking and big game fishing, to name a few activities, are on offer.
The town itself, is a beautiful seaside resort with a decidedly German feel. Its stunning Germanic architecture and German inspired cuisine, a throw back from its fascinating colonial history, makes it quite unique as a city on the African continent.
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is one of the world's largest nature reserves and one of the best of Southern Africa's wildlife viewing locations. Spaninng more than 20,000 sq kms, with vast salt pans, natural water holes, expansive grasslands and sweeping savannas, Etosha is home to the big five as well as an array of birdlife, other predators and grazing animals such as elephants, giraffes, rhino, zebra, and gazelles Etosha means "Big White Place" referring to its huge salt pan within its centre, that attracts a multitude of animals year round.
BOTSWANA
If you want to see some of the best wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is the place to be. A nature lovers paradise, you can canoe into the stunning beauty of the Okavango Delta where animals great and small roam free and in abundance, cruise down the Chobe river and watch the hippos play in the mud flats whilst a plethora of land bound animals graze, or take in the expansiveness of the Kalahari desert, the largest unbroken stretch of sand on the planet - there really is nowhere quite like it on earth. Botswana is also renowned for its array of luxury lodges and tented camps, like nowhere else in Africa, so if luxury is what you want, Botswana is perfect for you.
Africa's most extraordinary watery paradise, the UNESCO world heritage listed Okavanga Delta really is a bucket list place to visit. Teeming with wildlife that shifts with the seasons, this 18,000 sq km expansion of the Okavanga river has created one of the worlds largest inland deltas, made up of network of waterways surrounding numerous islands that hold luxury lodges and camps. The best way to explore the region is by the traditional mokoro, a wooden canoe that can take you into the wilds of the delta to experience the daily drama of the wildlife that inhabit this beautiful region. The Okavanga Delta is a once in a lifetime experience,
Okavango Delta
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park, fondly known as the Land of the Giants, is located in the north eastern part of Botswana and famous for some of the worlds largest herds of elephants as well as unparalleled abundance of wildlife and birdlife. The park lies on the bank of the beautiful Chobe River, where you can take a cruise to see hippos wallowing in mud pools, crocodiles basking on the river banks and a suite of land based animals playing in the African bush. Chobe also has a growing number of luxury lodges and retreats to relax after a day of viewing some of the most extraordinary animals that Africa has to offer.
The Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is the largest unbroken stretch of sand on earth but it is not just some ordinary desert. Stretching over 900,000 square kms, you will find not only rolling red sand dunes but expansive grasslands and open woodlands in southern and central Botswana and extensive salt pans in the north. The Kalahari desert is home to a vast variety of wildlife, such as Hyena, leopard, cheetah, lion and antelope. It is also home to the fascinating San Bushmen, a nomadic people that are the story tellers of their land having lived there for over 30,000 years. A meeting with the shy but welcoming San people is a human experience you will never forget.
VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls is located at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia and is definitely one of the bucket list places to visit in Africa. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Falls is the world's largest curtain of falling water in the world, twice as tall and longer than Niagara Falls. View the falls from all sides, in all its glory from a helicopter or peek over the edge from the Devil's Pools or take in is magnificence from the many walking tracks only metres from the falls - wet weather gear is a must! Victoria Falls is also known as the adrenaline capital of Zimbabwe, where you can bungee jump off the bridge, bridge slide or white water raft grade 5 rapids on the Zambezi River or get up close and personal with the local wildlife with a Walk with Lions, Elephant back safaris or Rhino encounters.