South Africa

Departure from Canada to Cape Town.

Arrival in the evening at Cape Town airport, welcome by your French-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.

Check-in at the Cresta Grande Hotel or similar for 3 nights.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free morning.

Visit to Robben Island
Duration: approximately 4 hours (half-day).

Free dinner ($).

You will visit the Malay Quarter, or “Bo-Kaap”, which is notable for its mosques and houses of original architecture blending Georgian, Dutch, and Oriental styles.

Departure for the cable car ascent of Table Mountain to discover one of the most spectacular panoramas in the world (weather conditions permitting – if not, the excursion is postponed to the next day or the day after).

Tour of the city of Cape Town: Founded in 1652, Cape Town is the historical and cultural heart of South Africa.

Visit to Kirstenbosch Garden, South Africa’s National Botanical Center that is a paradise for naturalists with its masterful mixture of species, colors, and textures, the garden is almost exclusively dedicated to the cultivation of indigenous flora.

Djembe GOLD Restaurant Dinner: 6:30 PM (duration: 30 minutes) Dinner: from 7:00 PM

The GOLD Restaurant will take you on a taste safari from Cape Malay to African cuisine – from Cape Town to Timbuktu with its 14-dish menu served at your table.

Return to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for the tour of the Cape Peninsula. Departure along the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean to reach Hout Bay, a small fishing port nestled in its fjord like a postcard landscape. You can board a boat to observe Duiker Island where impressive colonies of seals live, with a wild landscape of wind-swept rocks.

You will stop at Boulders Beach to meet the colony of penguins.

Return via Simonstown, a South African Navy town, the beaches of Muizenberg – from Boye’s Drive you will have a beautiful panoramic view of all of False Bay.

Fish dinner by the sea.

Continued to the Cape of Good Hope, feared by navigators who made it so famous. Crossing the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This natural park spans 7,750 hectares of indigenous fauna and flora.

Return to Cape Town at the end of the day.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront: A new renovation and development project that brings back the port’s original atmosphere, with continual activity, shops, restaurants, museums to discover during a walking tour. Dinner in a seaside restaurant in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront area.

Dinner in the evening at a V&A Waterfront restaurant.

Return to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart towards the wine route, a region of the famous South African vineyards where towering mountains dominate fertile valleys in which wonderful properties and mansions imbued with Cape Dutch architecture nestle.

Visit to Stellenbosch and tour of this main town in the wine region, which today includes more than 100,000 hectares of vineyards. Cape wines have long since gained a worldwide reputation. In this region, you will see many “Cape Dutch” style houses, or Dutch houses. Wine tasting and dinner at the winery.

Travel to Franschhoek, the “corner of the French.” It is in this beautiful valley that the French Huguenots, along with the Dutch settlers, began cultivating vines in the 17th century. Visit the town with the Huguenot museum and the region.

Continue to Montagu, a town located in the heart of the Little Karoo. Montagu is part of Route 62, known for being the longest wine route in the world.

Check-in and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Oudtshoorn, a small town “lost” in the middle of the lands of the southern coast, a center for ostrich farming. Arrival in the afternoon, and a visit to a farm where you will be explained the ostrich feather industry.

Dinner and a visit to an ostrich farm, where we will learn all about this strange bird. Today, ostrich farming is the main source of income for the town with its by-products such as feathers, leather, and meat.

Departure for the visit of the “CANGO CAVES”. Famous throughout the country, these caves are a major tourist attraction for the region. In 1780, a shepherd named “Klaas Windvogel” discovered them by stumbling over a stone. A lighting system highlights the many treasures that this cave holds. You will see “Cleopatra’s Needle”, dating back more than “150,000 years”. Other caves have since been discovered.

Check-in for 1 night at the hotel and supper.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Knysna, the capital of precious woods, whose lagoon and surrounding landscapes form a true jewel. Knysna is a bustling, expansive agglomeration with a summery atmosphere. The port activities related to the wood industry and shipbuilding have thrived thanks to the immense sheltered lagoon, which opens behind high sandstone cliffs, and the region’s significant natural forests.

Visit to the unique private nature reserve of Featherbed, part of South Africa’s natural heritage sites. Only accessible by boat, we will cross the Knysna Lagoon, an excellent way to discover the cliffs and enjoy a comprehensive view of the lagoon. We will experience an ecological adventure with a 4×4 vehicle excursion and a pleasant 2.2 km guided nature walk through the forest, over the cliffs, into the caves, and along the rocky coastline.

Dinner at the restaurant. Return by boat to the Knysna Waterfront.

Free time for shopping.

Check-in at the hotel and supper.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continuation of the Garden Route crossing the Garden of Eden of South Africa, a combination of deserted beaches, tranquil lagoons, tropical forests, and mountain ranges. The “Big Tree” is located on the road between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. This tree is an impressive yellowwood that is over a thousand years old, measuring about forty meters and having a circumference of more than 7 meters.

Dinner along the way. Stop at Addo National Park. The park is famous for its elephants, black rhinos, and buffaloes… You will enjoy your 4×4 safari in the park.

Check-in at the hotel and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Port Elizabeth airport and then a flight to Durban early in the morning. Orientation tour of Durban, located on the edge of the Indian Ocean, formerly called Port Natal (Christmas) by the Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama, who sighted the coast on Christmas Day 1497, was named Durban in 1835 in honor of Benjamin d’Urban, governor of the Cape Colony, capital of Natal with its two million inhabitants.

The city is also the 9^th largest port in the world and the 2^nd largest port in South Africa, a seaside city (subtropical climate, endless white sand beaches, numerous surfers, street vendors…). It has a significant Indian population (nearly 1 million), and an important Hare Krishna community whose followers have built the Temple of Understanding – the largest on the continent! – Nearby, the Jumah Mosque, the largest in the southern hemisphere, stands alongside a cathedral! Among other things, we will discover its magnificent waterfront called the “Golden Mile.”

Afternoon free to enjoy the beach or stroll around the city.

Check-in at the hotel.

Breakfast and departure for Santa Lucia park.

The Santa Lucia Wetland Park (Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in English, iSimangaliso in Zulu) covers an area of 2,600 km² and is specialized in marine wildlife. It includes more than ten reserves, mostly around the lake-estuary, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999.

Upon arrival at the Santa Lucia estuary, you will discover a vast estuary surrounded by forests, mangroves, and dunes. 100 million years ago, the regions of Zululand, Tongoland, and Mozambique were submerged by the sea. The Indian Ocean lapped at the flanks of the Lubombo Mountains, leaving behind the most beautiful beaches of the coast on the former seabed.

Enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise on the estuary: the flat-bottomed boat moves slowly, giving you plenty of time to take photographs and observe. You can admire numerous hippos, crocodiles, birds, fish, etc. A light dinner will be served during the cruise.

Then head towards Zululand, located between the Transkei border to the south and the Swaziland border to the north. This vast Zulu territory still resonates with the music that Johnny Clegg made famous worldwide. You will have the opportunity to visit a reconstructed Zulu village.

Check-in at the hotel and buffet dinner.

Breakfast.

Departure for the Hluhluwe Reserve, renowned for its exceptional concentration of white rhinos. The simplest way to distinguish a white rhino from a black rhino is by observing their diet. Indeed, the white rhino is herbivorous (it grazes short grass), whereas the black rhino is a browser, meaning it feeds on leaves, buds, and the tips of shrubs and trees. Safari by 4×4 in the reserve.

Dinner in the heart of the wilderness. This bush dinner will give you the chance to observe the awakening of the animals or witness the end of a hunt.

Departure by coach for Eswatini, a small independent kingdom. With its 17,363 km², the kingdom of Eswatini is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere. It gained independence in 1968, after having long been a British protectorate. The territory is distinguished in the west by the highveld and its small mountains, and in the east by the Lebombo range. The current king, His Majesty King Mswati III, was crowned in April 1986. Eswatini owes its picturesque character to the preservation of its traditions, habitats, ceremonies, and political institutions. English is the official language alongside Siswati. It is traditional Africa. Most inhabitants still consult the “Inyanga”, a healer-witch doctor, or the “Sangoma”, a traditional healer.

Formalities at the borders of South Africa and Eswatini.

At the border, a Swazi in traditional costume will await you and accompany you throughout the day (or half-day, depending on the itinerary) to talk to you about his country and culture in his native language. Your French-speaking guide will provide translation! Visit the Swazi Market, the city’s traditional market, and its artisanal factories (if time permits).

Check-in at the hotel and dinner.

Breakfast.

The Ngwenya Glass Factory, opened in 1987, offers a chance to see glassblowers at work, creating tableware, vases, or even jugs. This company makes a great social and environmental contribution to the region, as it recycles used glass and a percentage of its sales is donated to a refuge for elephants and rhinos. (Closed on Saturday and Sunday, access to the shop only.)

Return to South Africa.

Formalities at the borders of Eswatini and South Africa.

At the Matsamo Cultural Village, you will discover the Swazi customs and language, which is strongly influenced by Zulu. The passion with which this community will share their knowledge with you is remarkable. Dinner en route.

Continuation towards White River.

Check-in at the hotel and dinner.

Breakfast.

Coach safari in Kruger Park to discover African wildlife. Here you will find the largest variety of animals gathered on African territory. Four hundred and fifty species of rare birds share an untouched nature with impalas, buffaloes, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, and leopards.

Exit the park and continue towards Hoedspruit.

Dinner and accommodation at Kapama River Lodge or a similar place for two nights.

Depart for your first 4×4 safari in the park at the right time when animals move to drink: antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, lions. Your rangers will help you discover the African wildlife. Many species of rare birds share an untouched nature with impalas, buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeests. But it is also the kingdom of elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, and leopards. You will dive into the atmosphere of the deep African bush.

Return to the hotel and supper.

4:45 AM: Early morning wake-up.

5:15 AM: Very early morning snack including tea, coffee, and rusk (local toast) in the lobby.

5:30 AM: Dawn departure for the 4×4 safari. The big cats are still prowling after their night of hunting, and there is a chance to track the “Big Five” (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalos) in a single day of safari. Many other species await you, such as magnificent multicolored birds and equally interesting flora.

8:30 AM: Return to the lodge and breakfast. Free time to enjoy the site at the heart of the private reserve.

1:00 PM: Buffet lunch at the lodge restaurant. Free time to enjoy the site at the heart of the private reserve.

4:00 PM: Tea, coffee, and biscuits at the lodge.

4:30 PM: Second 4×4 safari until sunset.

7:30 PM: Buffet supper at the boma.

4:45 AM: Early morning wake-up.

5:15 AM: Very early morning snack (tea, coffee, and local “rusk” biscuit) in the lobby.

5:30 AM: Departure at dawn for the 4×4 safari. The big cats are still prowling after their night of hunting, and it is possible to track the “Big 5” (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes) in one day of safari. Many other species await you, such as magnificent multicolored birds and equally interesting flora.

8:00 AM: Return to the lodge and breakfast.

8:30 AM: Check-out.

Departure to discover the magnificent Drakensberg region: after the mountainous region of Mpumalanga, where the Drakensberg range begins and holds many natural treasures, you will cross the plateaus of western Transvaal. You will travel through roads across rugged landscapes and stop to admire many sites.

Then, you will reach the most spectacular point of the journey by arriving at the Blyde River Canyon: 800 meters below, the Blyde River carves its path through hard rock formations. The canyon is superbly overlooked by three peaks resembling towers, nicknamed the “three rondavels.” The sight is breathtakingly beautiful.

Buffet dinner at Blydepoort Restaurant (or similar), with a panoramic view of the canyon.

You will then see “God’s Window,” which offers a grand panoramic view of the valley and surrounding mountains (weather permitting).

Continue to Pilgrim’s Rest, a small town with the look of a western village.

Visit this museum-town where the wooden houses on the single street, restored, date back to the gold rush era, at the end of the 19th century.

Check in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay.

• Breakfast.
• Departure for a visit to Pretoria, the administrative capital of the country (5 hours’ drive).
• Dinner at a restaurant in town.
• Tour of the city that became the capital of the Boer Republic of the Transvaal in 1855.
• Pretoria takes its name from A. Pretorius, victor over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River. At the time it was only a few farms scattered apart. Urban development accelerated rapidly after the discovery of gold near Johannesburg in 1886, followed by a rich diamond deposit to the east of the city.
• Visit the Voortrekker Monument. This monument alone encapsulates part of South Africa’s history and the various battles in which different tribes clashed.
• Discovery of the Union Buildings: built in a semicircle and overlooking the city, the Union Buildings offer a breathtaking view of Pretoria and its surroundings. In this neoclassical edifice the Government sits six months of the year.
• Pass by the statue of Nelson Mandela — smiling, in a suit, arms outstretched — the first black president of South Africa appears to greet the crowd. The pose evokes that of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
• Continue to Johannesburg.
• Check-in at Misty Hills Country Hotel (or similar).
• Dinner at the “CARNIVORE” restaurant. Renowned for its selection of exotic meats in a traditional setting — such as zebra, kudu, crocodile, impala and other specimens — served with various sauces.

• Breakfast.
• Visit to the Apartheid Museum, which traces the history of apartheid in South Africa. The various exhibits recreate the experience of racial segregation and provide many disturbing testimonies. It is a must-see museum to understand the country.

OPTIONAL: visit Constitution Hill instead of the Apartheid Museum. Duration: 1 hour.

This site, listed as a national heritage site, is the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. It was where Mahatma Gandhi, Robert Sobukwe and Nelson Mandela, among others, were imprisoned, as well as other students from the 1976 uprising. It houses the “Number Four”:

• • the Old Fort (one of Johannesburg’s oldest landmarks);
  • the former prison for white men (Nelson Mandela was the only black man to be incarcerated there);
  • the former women’s prison (where Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisulu and Fatima Meer were detained);
  • the new Constitutional Court.

• Departure for Soweto. The history of this famous Johannesburg township has been told around the world. It testifies, more powerfully than any speech, to the upheaval South Africa has experienced since the end of apartheid. “Greater Soweto” (southwestern municipality) is made up of three large parts: Soweto, Diepmeadow and Dobsonville. Dinner in a shebeen, an illicit pub from the time of apartheid.
• Dinner in a shebeen (an illicit pub from the time of apartheid).
• Panoramic tour of Soweto and stop at Pietersen Square, named after the 12‑year‑old schoolboy Hector Pieterson, who was killed by police during the repression of the 1976 student uprising.
• Depending on flight times, transfer to Johannesburg airport (O.R. Tambo International Airport). Return flights to Canada.
• Assistance with check‑in formalities.

Arrival in Canada.