Safari`s Op Maat - Tailor Made Safaris

Paul’s Grand Tour: Self Drive to Drakensberg, KwaZuluNatal & Cape Town
Paul’s Grand Tour: Self-drive through the Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal & Cape Town!
Thank you for considering being our guest for an amazing safari, tailor
made especially for you. We promise you excellent service and are
convinced you will experience the safari of a lifetime with us!
The itinerary below concerns a tour of 25 days (including 2 flight days),
in the period of XXXX.
Key: B, L, D at the end of each day shows which meals are included; B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Reisplan:
This is a very varied tour for the traveller that has some more amount of time, likes to experience as much as
possible highlights of South Africa and isn’t bothered to drive a few big travel distances.
This tour is a self-drive but also includes some guided activities on different locations.
During the first part of the tour you will be surrounded by the majestic landscape of the Drakensberg. Here
you can hike many different and adventurous routes, but you can also enjoy a breath taking view from your
chalet. From the mountains you will continue your tour to the untouched beaches, wetlands, Big 5 wild
reserves, elephant and cheetah interaction, and lagoons with tropical fish where you can snorkel. From the wild
nature back into the civilisation where your tour ends in Cape Town where you can taste local wines, watch
whales, visit Table Mountain and Robben Island, and join a Cape Point tour that will show you the penguins.
Day 1 : Flight to South Africa
Upon your arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg will be welcomed by a representative
of your guesthouse. He will take you to your guesthouse, where you can relax after your flight for the evening.
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Day 2 : Johannesburg Airport - Royal Natal National Park
Today you will be driven back to the airport by your
guesthouse representative. At the AVIS office you will pick
up your rental car. From here you can start your journey to
the Royal Natal National Park, in the picturesque
Drakensberg. You will stay two nights in Thendele camp.
The camp has a beautiful view of the mountains. After the long drive, you may want to stretch your legs and
go for a short (1.5 mile) walk to the Cascades waterfall or you can just choose to explore the camp. (B)
Day 3 : Relax / Tugela Gorge walk
The Royal Natal National Park is characterized by its amphitheater , a cliff 5 km long and nearly 1000m high.
The Tugela River falls down through the amphitheater, forming one of the highest waterfalls in the world, and
flows on into the Indian Ocean.
Put on your walking shoes! For walking enthusiasts, there is
a
brisk walk on today’s programme. You can walk along the
contour towards the base of the Amphitheatre Wall where
the
Tugela River has carved a tunnel into the sandstone. This is
a
playground for photographers. Those who would prefer not
to
walk the 7km there and 7km back can quietly enjoy the
beautiful view from camp or do a shorter walk, or take part in other activities such as horse riding or a helicopter
flight. (-)
Day 4 : Thendele Camp - Camp Didima
Before you check out this morning you may wish to complete one of the
shorter hikes in the area or try to get a sunrise shot of the Amphitheatre.
After breakfast you will pack up and drive the short distance to Didima
Camp. The theme of this resort is inspired by the nearby rock art caves of
the San people (Bushmen ) and represents the accommodation of this
resort also the housings of the
San who once lived in these
mountains . It is situated in a
stunning mountain paradise
and bathed in the scenic
beauty of rivers, streams,
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waterfalls, meadows and jagged cliffs. Striking reproductions of the rock art of the San people can be seen in
the San Rock Center. In the afternoon you can take a short walk or rest, enjoying the magnificent view. (-)
Day 5 : Rainbow Gorge hike / San Rock Art Museum
Today you can go to either the beautiful Rainbow Gorge or the Fern Valley, depending on how fit you feel.
Rainbow Gorge is a lovely walk through woods to a gorge
carved by a river. The Fern Valley is filled with tree ferns which
are also worth photographing. For those not keen to walk the
San Rock Art Museum is definitely worth a visit. This is a
celebration of one of the earliest cultures of South Africa and,
unfortunately, a culture that no longer exists. After an
introduction to the fascinating culture and lifestyle of the San,
you can enjoy a small, cave-like room of traditional folk tales of the San, as they were told by the campfire.
Then you can attend an inspiring audiovisual presentation.
Day 6 : Didima - St Lucia
After breakfast you embark on the long journey to St Lucia . This drive
will take 7 hours but the destination makes the drive worthwhile. Once in
St Lucia you will be welcomed at your B & B and have time to relax and
explore this special small town. Bordering the iSimangaliso Wetland
Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, this little coastal town is
unique in many ways. After all, you won’t find hippos grazing the grass
verges in many other towns in South Africa! The St Lucia Estuary, which separates the town from the
‘mainland’, is home to hippos, crocodiles and a huge variety of water birds, which can all be viewed during a boat
cruise on the estuary. (-)
Day 7 : Estuary walk & boat cruise
This morning, after your delicious breakfast at the B&B, you
can enjoy a walk around St Lucia Estuary, where you will get a
good overview of the estuary system. Later in the day you will
get to enjoy the estuary from the water during a boat tour. The
boat tour will give you up close encounters with hippos, possibly
crocodiles, and you’ll also get to see the wonderful variety of
water birds resident on St Lucia Estuary. St Lucia has a good
array of restaurants so meals in town will always be delicious with many choices. (B)
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Day 8 : Wetland Game Drive
Today you will be collected and taken on a drive through the Eastern
Shores Game Reserve en route to the beach at Cape Vidal for some
snorkelling and lunch. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is known as the
‘premier bush and beach destination’ and has completely different
ecosystems from
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
and Tembe Elephant Park. After the drive through the
wetland park, where you should see rhino, kudu and other,
smaller species, you can enjoy a few hours on the beach,
swimming or snorkelling at low tide. Lunch is served at the
beach and the day will draw to a close with a game drive through the wetland park as you return to St Lucia.
(B,L)
Day 9 : Meet the Elephants and Cats close up
Today is your day of close encounters you will never forget! Experience a close
encounter with elephants at a nearby
sanctuary. These individuals were rescued as
youngsters after the culling of their family.
Hand reared but wild, they have become
habituated to humans and experiencing them
up close is an excellent way to learn about
these majestic beasts. Later in the day you can
make your way to a nearby cat sanctuary where you will get to experience a close encounter with cheetah and
other, smaller, cats. This sanctuary focuses on the rehabilitation of cats and the tour of their premises is an
excellent educational tool. (B)
Day 10 : Zulu Cultural Tour
Your tour guide for this activity will collect you from your B&B
in St Lucia and drive you to his home village for a genuine
experience of contemporary Zulu life. Here he will take you
around the village, giving you lots of interesting information on
the Zulu culture and way of life. The tour includes lunch, served
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at his mother’s house. You will also visit a Sangoma (traditional healer), a crèche, a high school class or attend
part of a mass service at a church. Your guide will then drive you back to St Lucia (B,L) Dag 11: St Lucia –
Day 11 : St Lucia - Hluhluwe - Imfolozi Game Reserve
Approximately 60km inland from St Lucia, this Big 5 game reserve is
internationally renowned for its rhino conservation efforts and large
rhino population. With its stunning savannah landscapes and rolling
hills, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi provides not only excellent game viewing but
also wonderful photographic opportunities. This afternoon you will
enjoy a self-drive game drive through this wonderful terrain, keeping an
eye out for members of the Big 5. Tonight you’ll stay in comfortable
chalets in an unfenced camp inside the park. (B)
Day 12 : Game drives in the Hluhluwe - Imfolozi Game
Reserve
An early morning game
drive will see you
exploring a different
part of the reserve from yesterday, still on the lookout for members of the
Big 5 which you may not yet have seen, as well as the many species of
antelope. After lunch and a few hours relaxing in your chalet, you can
choose to go on either an afternoon game drive or a night drive which will
give you the opportunity of seeing the nocturnal species you may not yet have seen. (-)
Day 13 : Mpila Camp - Hilltop Camp
This evening you will spend in one of the northern camps of the park and
you have the whole day to drive there . While you’re on the road you will
be on the lookout for members of the big five that you haven’t seen yet.
There are lovely picnic areas along the way where you can stop for
lunch, for example on the banks of the Hluhluwe River where many
animals come to drink, or with views of cliffs and rocks while watching and
listening to the huge variety of birds. Once in the camp you can consider
booking a night game drive at reception where you will have a chance to spot nocturnal animals that you have
not seen yet. (-)
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Day 14 : Hluhluwe - iMfolozi - Mkhuze Game Reserve
This morning you leave the Hluhluwe - iMfolozi Park and drive
to the north, to Mkuze Game Reserve. Here you will stay for a
night in the Safari tents at
Mantuma Camp. Once at
Mkhuze, you can spend
some time in one of the
animal viewing hides. These fantastic hides are placed in the middle of
water holes where the animals come down to drink. On this occasion, the
animals can come to you to be photographed and, with a little luck, you will
see rhinos or even elephants drinking! You will be able to do game drives in the reserve during which you’ll be on
the lookout for elephant, cheetah, African wild dog and all the other, smaller species the park has to offer. (-)
Day 15 : Mkhuze Game Reserve - Kosi Bay Lodge
Following a walking safari accompanied by an armed ranger
through the Fig Forest you will leave Mkhuze Game
Reserve and head further north to Kosi Bay, where you
will stay at the superbly located Kosi Bay Lodge. Kosi
Bay is the northern most extent of the iSimangaliso
Wetland Park, and a beautiful lagoon where you can visit
traditional fish traps. These fish traps have been used for centuries and the fish kraals are spread over two of
the four lakes in the azure water. The best way to get a good idea of the 700 year old fishing methods of the
local people is on a boat trip during which a guide will inform you of all sorts of interesting facts. This afternoon
will indeed be spent on a boat cruise, where you’ll see hippo, lots of birds and beautiful scenery. During summer
(Nov-Feb) you may be able to go on a turtle walk along the beach and, with some luck, see either the
loggerhead or leatherback turtles laying eggs in the sand, or see the hatchlings making their way towards the
ocean. (-)
Day 16 : Snorkelling at the Kosi Bay Mouth
Kosi Bay has a healthy estuarine system, consisting of four natural lakes
connected by channels. Kosi
Bay Mouth, where the first lake
connects to the ocean, is one of
the best places to snorkel in
South Africa, with over 200
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species of tropical fish having been identified here; anything from devil fire fish to different species of moray
eels and Picasso triggerfish. Join an excursion to Kosi Bay Mouth and overlook the estuarine system and the
traditional fish traps from the elevation of a dune, or you can enjoy a short walk to get a closer look at the
mangrove trees and associated fauna. (-)
Day 17 : Kosi Bay - Tembe Elephant Park
After enjoying a hearty breakfast at Kosi Bay Lodge, you will
jump in the car for the short drive to Tembe Elephant Park.
Tembe is an amazing place; an elephant sanctuary and a Big 5
game reserve including the beautiful African wild dog.
Accessible only with 4x4 vehicles and, with no more than ten
vehicles per day allowed entry into the reserve, you will
experience a complete wilderness feeling. In addition, Tembe is the only place in South Africa where the
indigenous elephants of Maputoland are found. These Maputoland Great Tuskers are quite a bit bigger
than the ‘ordinary’ African Elephant found elsewhere in the country. This afternoon you will experience a
game drive in an open game viewer, during which you will be on the lookout for these magnificent beasts. (L,D)
Day 18 : Game drives between Great TuskersFully taken care of by
the lodge personnel, you will want for nothing at Tembe. Today you
will enjoy a game drive in the morning as well as one in the afternoon.
Look out for, amongst others, lion, African wild dog and, of course,
elephants. (B,L,D)
Day 19 : Tembe - Durban Airport - Cape Town
Today begins the long journey south, leaving the Elephant Coast behind
you. You arrive at Durban airport where you hand in your car and get ready
for your flight to Cape Town. After your arrival in Cape Town you will be
picked up and driven to a 4 - star guest house in Somerset West. Due to its
favorable geographic location it is the ideal place to explore Gansbaai,
Hermanus, Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Once at your guesthouse, you
have the option of relaxing by the pool, or paying a visit to Stellenbosch and/or some wine farms in the vicinity.
Otherwise, you could spend a few hours relaxing at the pool and then explore the area. Depending on your
time of arrival at the airport, activities can also be scheduled for today. (-)
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Day 20: Robben Island Tour
Today you are going to Robben Island, the famous island where Nelson
Mandela was imprisoned for many years. Here you will go on an extensive tour of
the prison and get an explanation of what took place. In 1997 a museum was built
which is named World Heritage. (B)
Dag 21: Tafelberg en V&A Waterfront
Today you will ascend Table Mountain, where, once on top,
you can spend a few hours walking around, enjoying the
natural surroundings and magnificent views. Afterwards, your
guide will be waiting for you and will take you to the V & A
Waterfront. Here you can enjoy the bustle of the harbour and shops, visit the aquarium, or enjoy lunch at one
of the many terraces or fish restaurants. (B)
Day 22: Cape Point Tour and a visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach
Today your guide will show you some of
the sights around the beautiful Cape Point,
including Muizenberg, Simon's Town with
the penguins, Cape Point (with time for a
walk in the Table Mountain National
Park),and Hout Bay. Cape Point has a
very rich and diverse flora and fauna,
including antelope, baboon, Cape
Mountain zebra and over 250 bird species. (B)
Day 23 : Wine Tour
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a visit to one of the many wineries in
the region . You can also have lunch and / or picnic at one of the vineyards. At
the vineyards, you can taste the local wines and cheeses, a true culinary and
scenic delight. (B)
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Day 24 : Whale watching in Hermanus (possibly diving with great white sharks ) Cape Town airport
From July to November whales can be seen from the coast of South Africa .
Hermanus is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Cape Town. Hermanus is a popular
tourist destination and is known as the best place in the world to see Whales from
land. From July, the southern right whales visit the waters around the Cape to
mate and give birth to calves in The Bay of Hermanus. Walker Bay, is ideal for this and thus has a high
concentration of whales. Here the whales often come up to 10 meters from the coast, where they sometimes
jump out of the water. The rocks in the bay will give you a perfect view on this. If you want you can also take a
kayak with whales or whale on a larger boat trip (own expense). For the more adventurous you can also choose
to visit Gansbaai and do a cage dive to see the White sharks (own expense). In the evening your guide will take
you to the airport in Cape Town where you will fly back home. (B)
Day 25: Arrival Home
We trust that you have had the vacation of a lifetime.
Please note that guests are welcome to adjust the timing of the itinerary to their liking (if circumstances allow of
course). We are, after all, offering Tailor Made Safaris!
Price per person:
The law requires us to quote our tours in South African Rand. For the most recent exchange rate see
www.XE.com. Your plane tickets (if applicable), however, are booked by a Dutch Travel Agent. These you
will pay directly into their account and in Euro.
For the price calculation we have divide the tour in two parts: one part is a self-drive en the price of this part
depends on the car that you choose. The second part is the tour in Cape Town where you will be guided and
also will have a private vehicle
Voor de prijsberekening van deze tour hebben we de tour in 2 delen gesplitst: een deel is zelfstandig en de prijs
daarvan hangt af van welke huurauto u kiest. Het tweede deel is de tour in Kaapstad waar u een privé gids en
privé transport tot uw beschikking heeft.
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Price per person for a self-drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town, 18 nights:
Price per person, car rental included:
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup A: ZAR 20.400 per person
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup B: ZAR 20.800 per person
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup C: ZAR 21.150 per person.
For 4 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup C: ZAR 17.800 per person
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup O: ZAR 22.950 per person
For 4 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup O: ZAR 18.700 per person
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup K: ZAR 25.600 per person
For 4 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup K: ZAR 20.500 per person
For 2 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup I: ZAR 28.950 per person
For 4 travelers using a vehicle of cargroup I: ZAR 22.200 per person
Price per person for the guided part of the tour in Cape Town, 5 nights and 6 days:
For 2 travelers: ZAR 11.700 per person
For 4 travelers: ZAR 8.830 per person
Self-Drive Tour Includes: Car hire; extensive self-drive back including GPS navigation device, all
accommodation including single surcharge if applicable; all meals and activities as mentioned in the itinerary as
B, L, D.
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Self-Drive Tour Excludes: Flights, petrol, road tolls, parking fees, entry fees, meals as mentioned in the
itinerary above as B, L, D. Activities that can't be booked in advance, snacks and drinks, local tips for guides
and for restaurants.
De kosten voor activiteiten die wij niet vooraf voor u kunnen boeken zijn hierbij nog niet in rekening
gebracht. Deze activiteiten zijn: Bezoek aan het katachtigen-rehabilitatiecentrum ± €15 pp op dag
9, nachtsafari in HIP ± €26 pp op dag 12, en de vijgenbos wandeling in Mkuze ± €20 pp op dag 15, evenals
alle entreegelden in Kaapstad.
De autohuur is inclusief 'super cover' verzekering en een onbeperkt aantal kilometers, maar exclusief extra
bestuurder (optioneel, kost R265), one way drop-off kosten (R760 voor van Johannesburg naar Durban), en
contract kosten (R60). Deze kosten zullen van uw credit card afgeschreven worden wanneer u de auto ophaalt.
Ook vraagt AVIS een borg van R2000 die aan het begin van de tour van uw creditcard afgeschreven zal
worden. Dit bedrag zal, indien er niks geks gebeurd, aan het einde van de tour weer teruggestort worden.
Het gegidste gedeelte in Kaapstad is inclusief: Vervoer van en naar het vliegveld van Kaapstad, vijf dagen de
privé gids en vervoer voor een maximum van 250 km per dag, tol en parkeer kosten, verblijf in een 4 sterren guest
house op basis van bed en breakfast.
Het gegidste gedeelte in Kaapstad is exclusief: vliegtickets, reisverzekering, maaltijden, snacks en drankjes,
mogelijke extra excursies, entree gelden voor de genoemde excursies, en fooien voor gidsen en restaurants..
Lunch in Kaapstad kost zo rond de 6-8 euro en in een restaurant kost een maaltijd tussen de 8 en 16 euro
afhankelijk van welk type restaurant u kiest. Voor de activiteiten kunt u rekenen op de volgende prijzen per
persoon:
• Tafelberg: € 18,• Robben Eiland incl. Boot tour: € 19,• Two Oceans zeeaquarium: € 9,• Cape Point: € 7,• Boulders Beach (pinguïns): € 2,• Wijnproeven: € 2,• City tour Hop on hop off bus: € 12,• Witte Haai kooi duiken in Gansbaai: € 110,• Whale Watchen vanaf een boot in Hermanus: € 50,-
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Opmerking: De precieze accommodatie kan mogelijk verschillen van de hierboven genoemde opties, indien
deze al geboekt zouden blijken te zijn. In een dergelijk geval zullen wij passende en vergelijkbare accommodatie
voor u zoeken, zonder daar een meerprijs voor te rekenen. Veranderingen zullen wij met u overleggen.
Accommodaties en vliegtickets kunnen door ons pas vastgelegd worden wanneer u uw boeking bij ons
bevestigd heeft.
De ANVR algemene reis- en boekings- voorwaarden zijn van toepassing op uw boeking bij ons. Voor meer
informatie kunt u terecht op:
http://www.safarisopmaat.nl/uploads/2/0/8/1/20817686/safaris_op_maat_anvr-reis_en_boekingsvoorwaarden.pdf
Graag passen wij deze offerte aan indien door u gewenst. Pas nadat u helemaal tevreden bent gaan we over tot
een mogelijke boeking. Schroom dus niet ons te mailen indien u aanpassingen wilt aanbrengen of vragen heeft.
In afwachting van uw reactie verblijf ik,
Hartelijke groet,
Geert-Nick van de Wiel
Eigenaar/MD Safaris Op Maat
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