Grand Tour of South Africa

Today we'll leave Kruger on our way to the battlefields of Zululand. After breakfast we’ll drive south, entering the small but beautiful country of Eswatini. Formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official name Swaziland, is a landlocked country within Southern Africa. As the road climbs past the interestingly named Piggs Peak, we descend through lush green fields and rolling hills interspersed with small farms. Then, we’ll drive through the country’s small capital Mbabane, passing the parliament house and Royal Palace en route. 

We cross back into South Africa in the afternoon and enter Kwazulu Natal province. A region where glassy malls touch shabby suburbs, and the people are fiercely proud of their traditional Zululand culture.

Leaving our hotel this morning, we'll drive to Knysna where we'll take a ferry across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve - a privately-owned reserve in the middle of a scenic lagoon. We'll board 4x4 vehicles to explore the area. 

Stopping at some magnificent viewpoints, our guide will describe the area’s fauna, flora, history and shipwrecks before an easy downhill guided walk and delicious buffet lunch under the canopy of the milkwood trees. (Note: Due to weather conditions over the winter period, departures between May and Aug will have lunch at a restaurant in Knysna). 

After taking the ferry back to Knysna, you will have some free time to explore this small town, with its numerous art galleries, craft shops and the Knysna Quays marina shopping complex.

Not far from Cape Town is the Cape Winelands, home to some of the most prestigious wineries in the world. Today, we'll tour a valley backed by majestic mountains, rows of manicured vines and orchards stretch into a distance studded by lime-washed, often thatched, 300-year-old wineries built in the unique Cape Dutch style, seemingly mirroring the undulations of the surrounding countryside. Our first stop is elegant Stellenbosch, South Africa's second oldest town, established 300 years ago and home of South Africa’s most prestigious university. Its historical hub is home to period buildings and historic streets that reinforce the town’s dignified atmosphere, and we'll have time to explore this delightful town before a cellar tour and tasting at the award-winning Neethlingshof Wine Estate.

After that, we'll visit the small town of Franschhoek, set at the head of a valley. As well as outstanding wines and fine foods, you'll also find some wonderful art. Tonight, we’ll enjoy an included typical South African BBQ or Cape Malay buffet dinner at our hotel.

Today, we escape the bustle of the city and head out to the Winelands area of the Cape, stopping at Viljoensdrift.  

Nestled on the south of the Elandsberg Mountain, on the banks of the River Breede, is the Robertson Wine Valley and our first destination of the day, the Viljoensdrift Wine Estate. Their winemaking heritage dates back over 200 years when their French Huguenot ancestors planted the first vines here. Five generations have lovingly toiled the fertile land and, today, the estate is still family-run, producing award-winning wines. Here we'll enjoy a tasting of their distinctive wines and take a boat ride along the river, flanked by indigenous Breede River Yellowwood and Wild Olive trees teeming with a variety of bird species. 

Later, we'll continue on to Montagu, with its Wineland scenery, whitewashed farms and dramatic mountain backdrop - it's known for its springs and was a popular Victorian spa resort.  

This small town is on one of South Africa's most popular road routes, Route 62, which meanders from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. The road follows winding mountain passes that unfold before your eyes, opening into green valleys, past crystal-clear streams and framed by distorted geological shapes and richly coloured rock faces dating back hundreds of millions of years.

Make sure you have a hearty breakfast today as we'll start the day's exploration with a brandy tasting at a local distillery and learn all about Cape Brandy. It's a product of diverse cultural influences and a testament to the historical art of distilling - a process, legend has it, they've been honing since 1672.  

It's made from grapes grown in the Cape Wine Regions. Each swig of the 38% proof spirit is aged for a minimum of 3 years and perfectly captures the flavours and aromas unique to the region, as well as the creativity and artistry of the people who produce them. 

As we continue on Route 62, we'll visit an ostrich farm situated in the heart of “Ostrich Country”. This is an area of the Cape well known for its ostriches which are particularly valuable thanks to their lean, tasty meat; their feathers, which can be used for clothing, dusters and ornaments; eggs which can be eaten or decorated; and exquisite leather, perfect for bags, shoes, wallets and furniture. We'll take a tractor ride - the only ostrich tractor safari in South Africa - to see their flocks, including Kenyan (Massai), Zimbabwean Blue and South African Ostriches, and visit the chick-rearing area to see the adorable hatchlings. We'll also enjoy lunch in the farm's restaurant (yes, ostrich meat is available but optional, we checked).

Today, we'll head to the Swartberg Mountains for a drive through the Swartberg Nature Reserve in 4x4 vehicles.   

The Swartberg Mountains - or "Black Mountains" in English - runs east to west along the northern edge of the Klien Karoo. Most of the mountain peaks are above 2,000 metres high, making it the highest mountain range in the Western Cape - and the longest spanning at around 230km. The Swathberg has an interesting history, and the mountain complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Cape Floral Kingdom. It’s one of only six botanical kingdoms on earth, thanks to its vast and pristine environment. There are two official ranges here, Klien Swartberg and Sweseekspoor which, according to legend, were split by a spell and a bolt of lightning (although, we're guessing geologists might disagree with that story). 

Regardless of how they came to be, the diversity of the vegetation is very impressive. The soil is poor in nutrients and the slopes are steep, yet proteas, ericas, watsonias, gladioli, Haemanthus species as well as many lesser-known rare plants are scattered across the landscape in bright floral displays. It's also home to a wide variety of native animals, including baboons, various species of antelopes and more than 130 species of birds - there are even the occasional sightings of leopard and caracal. 

We will continue to the 200-million-year-old Cango Caves, South Africa’s best-known caves. This underground cave system consists of a series of deep-cut, rugged limestone chambers brimming with unique rock formations and low passageways creating a labyrinth of kaleidoscopic colours. Our tour of the caves will reveal beautiful helictites, celestial crystals, aquamarine cave pools and grottos.  

Later, we'll travel back to Oudtshoorn for an evening at leisure in the ostrich capital of the world.