TOURING SOUTH AFRICA

The 'Best' of South Africa - SA Surprise Tour

The South African Surprise

You will not find better value anywhere else!
Put us to the test!

An unforgettable 15 days in one of the world's most exciting and diverse countries! This incredible tour takes in the best South Africa has to offer with its variety, fun and adventure - at unbeatable value for money!

From Johannesburg through to Cape Town, this tour will take you through some wild and unspoilt beaches (Transkei coastline) to wildlife and wilderness in the game reserves of Kruger and Hluhluwe, to dramatic mountain scenery of the Drakensberg Mountain Range (a World Heritage Site)... and more...
Truly a value-for-money round-trip of South Africa not to be missed!

Departure Dates | Highlights | Prices | Itinerary | Book Now

Departure Dates: 2009
14 Jun
19 Jul 
16 Aug 
06, 20 Sep
11, 25 Oct

Highlights of the Tour:
See the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window.
Spend a day with the lions and the elephants in the Kruger National Park
Visit a traditional African craft market in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Explore and soak up the atmosphere in the tourist town of St Lucia, situated within the World Heritage Site.
Tour the city of Durban, the cultural ‘melting pot’ of South Africa.
Relax or go hiking in the majestic Drakensberg Mountains in this World Heritage Site.
Discover the beauty of the untamed ‘Wild Coast’, popular for it’s magnificent unspoilt beaches.
Travel through the Eastern Cape where the British settled in 1820.
Get close to mother nature at her best by walking amongst the ancient trees in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Walk (the more adventurous may crawl!) around the famous Cango Caves with their magnificent dripstone formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
Ride an Ostrich or just enjoy an ostrich farm experience in Oudtshoorn – ‘Ostrich Capital of the World’.
Watch the great humpback whales and their calves from the shore at the town of Hermanus. (Seasonal Jul to Nov only).
Spend quality time enjoying Cape Town in all its splendour.

Tour Prices:
Per Person sharing: R14350 x2
or Single Person R17580
These rates are valid to 30 October 2009

The Itinerary:
Day 1: (Sun)  Johannesburg / Rosebank
After arriving off your international flight, you are under own arrangements until 19h00 when we all meet at the Hotel Reception for a briefing on the tour and a chance to meet up with your fellow passengers. (Meet and Greet and hotel transfer is not included on this tour - We will be happy to arrange this for you!)

Day 2: (Mon)  Johannesburg / Hazyview (BD)
This morning we leave for Mpumalanga, dropping several hundred feet into the lush sub-tropical region of the Lowveld. Travel along the circular Panorama Route via Graskop, visiting the view sites of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the natural wonders of Africa; gasp at the glory of God’s Window, with a boundless view of mountains and fertile plains and finally a visit to Bourke’s Luck Potholes before heading to Hazyview.

Day 3: (Tue)  Kruger National Park (B)
A bright and early start to the day in order to enjoy the wonders of exploring the Kruger National Park. Enter the Park, and keep a lookout for the wonderful flora and bird life that abounds. The Kruger National Park is an internationally renowned game reserve of nearly 2 million hectares, and supports the largest variety of wildlife species on the African continent. Spend the day in search of game before returning to your hotel.

Day 4: (Wed)  Hazyview / Swaziland (B)
This morning after breakfast, checkout and depart on your journey to Swaziland. Use the opportunity to seek out the elusive ‘Big Five’ before leaving the Kruger Park at Malelane Gate. Visit the famous Ngwenya Glass Factory before arriving at the hotel for overnight.

Day 5: (Thu)  Swaziland / St Lucia (B)
This morning we journey through Swaziland into Zululand stopping en-route to bargain for curios and souvenirs at the roadside markets. Our journey continues into the Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal where ancient traditions and modern cultures of both Zulu and Settler have combined into a vibrant society living in peace and harmony. The World Heritage Site of St Lucia offers the opportunity of sighting many hippos, crocodile and bird life.

Day 6: (Fri)  St Lucia / Durban (B)
Checkout after breakfast this morning. Head towards Durban where we visit the Botanic Gardens and continue with a city centre orientation tour, including a stop at the famous ‘Indian Market’.

Day 7: (Sat)  Durban / Drakensberg (BD)
A very early start this morning as we head into the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. Day at leisure soaking up the surroundings, or go fishing, hiking, playing bowls or tennis and even horse riding in clean mountain air.

Day 8: (Sun)  Drakensberg / Wild Coast  (BD)
After breakfast this morning, we depart and set off for the wild untamed coast of the Transkei. We make our way south towards the coast but not without first visiting Umtata to visit the area where our most famous citizen, Nelson Mandela, was born and grew up. After visiting the museum dedicated to the life and achievements of this incredible man, we continue and arrive mid afternoon at our coastal hotel, which offers some of the most incredible views of this spectacular coastline.

Day 9: (Mon)  Wild Coast / East London (B)
Spend the morning taking in more of the magnificent scenery before we depart and continue south to East London, the only river port in Southern Africa. Check-in for your overnight accommodation.

Day 10: (Tue)  East London / Port Elizabeth (B)
After breakfast, checkout and travel through East London for a short city tour. Continue through ‘Settler Country’ via King William’s Town towards Grahamstown. Visit the 1820 Settler Memorial. Stop briefly at the Fish River for a photo stop then continue on to Port Elizabeth. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Port Elizabeth’s beaches are magnificent and justifiably world famous.

Day 11: (Wed)  Port Elizabeth / Knysna (BD)
Checkout of your hotel after breakfast and our journey continues towards the Cape. Visit the Tsitsikamma Forest, which provides scenic walking opportunities. A walk to the suspension bridge over the Storm’s River is a highlight of today. Arrive in Knysna mid-afternoon and check-in at the charming overnight accommodation.

Day 12: (Thu)  Oudtshoorn (B)
After breakfast travel inland over the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the ‘Feather capital of the world’ because of its ostrich industry. Visit the famous Cango Caves and an Ostrich Farm where you have the opportunity of riding one of these giant birds. Return to Knysna for overnight.

Day 13: (Fri)  Knysna / Cape Town (B)
Today’s journey ends in Cape Town. On the way we stop off in Mossel Bay to visit the famous Post Office Tree, the Bartholomeus Diaz Museum and Shell Museum. We drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowrys Pass before arriving in Cape Town in the late afternoon.

Day 14: (Sat)  Cape Town (B)
Enjoy a day of leisure in the ‘Mother City’ and a visit to the V&A Waterfront is recommended.

Day 15: (Sun) Cape Town (B)
This morning after breakfast, you will be under own arrangements until your transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

TOUR ENDS!

Other IMPORTANT Tour Information!
Transportation and Accommodation
Tour in luxury in our air-conditioned microbuses, 16-seater mini-buses or 25/44 seater luxury coaches.
Professionally Escorted - Discover South Africa with our professional tour guides.
Accommodation is on a twin share basis, and all rooms have private facilities. All accommodation is of a 3 star standard.
Dining & Other Inclusions
14 Full Breakfasts and 5 Dinners included.
Hotel porterage included.
Visa conditions apply for Swaziland and passports are required.
EXCITING OPTIONAL EXTRAS AVAILABLE ON TOUR
Your Tourist Guide will give you all the info! Have sufficient spending money available for these extra optional excursions!
This tour is designed to allow you the opportunity of customising your experience without interrupting other passengers!
Johannesburg city tour OR Soweto tour. 
Open 4x4 Safaris in the Kruger Park.
Open 4x4 Safaris in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Game viewing boat cruises in St Lucia.
Zulu cultural experience in St Lucia.
4x4 adventure tour up Sani Pass and into Lesotho (Passport required).
Quad biking, 4x4 excursions, guided walks in Transkei.
Boat Cruise on Knynsa Lagoon.
Full day tour to the Cape Winelands or a Scenic full day Cape Peninsula tour.  

You might want to look at our other escorted tours!
Our Fully Escorted Tours:
South African Surprise - 15 days and 14 nights - from Johannesburg
A World in One Country - 14 days and 13 nights - from Johannesburg
The Kruger and Kingdoms - 7 days and 6 nights - from Johannesburg
The Garden Route Splendour - 4 days and 3 nights - from Port Elizabeth
The Cape to Kruger - 14 days and 13 nights - from Cape Town
The Majestic Drakensberg - 4 days and 3 nights - from Durban
The Garden Route Wonderland - 4 days and 3 nights - from Cape Town
The Kruger Wildlife - 3 days and 2 nights - from Johannesburg

Our Day Tours
These tours operate daily with a minimum of 2 Passengers. Full day Tours from Durban include a light lunch - Half day tours do not! Full day tours elsewhere do not include lunch! Tours include all entrance fees unless stated otherwise in the itinerary.

Day Tours from Durban
Durban Durban City Tour - 3hours, covering the Beachfront, City, Indian Market & Botanic Gardens
Shakaland - full day Zulu Cultural Experience with lunch.
Hluhluwe Game Reserve - Seek out the "Big 5" in the oldest proclaimed Game Reserve
Sani Pass & Lesotho - Discover the Sotho Culture in 4x4 vehicles up the highest road pass
Durban Highlights - Full day without lunch - Ushaka Marine World and City Tour Combo

Day Tours from Cape Town
Cape Town City - 3 hours incl Parliament, Company Gardens
Cape Winelands - Full day - Visit 2 wineries and taste the best of South Africa
Cape Point - Full day visiting Cape Point where 2 oceans meet.
Walk to Freedom - Full day - Visit Robben Island where Mandela was held prisoner

Day Tours from Johannesburg
Johannesburg City - 3 hours visiting the highlights of this city.
Pretoria City - 3 hours visiting the highlights of this city.
Soweto Township - Discover life in the Black Township.
Lesedi Cultural Village - Full day with dinner - Experience many local cultures Sun City & Pilanesberg Reserve - Full day with lunch - Experience many local cultures

We are also in a position to assist you with any custom itinerary that you may have! We will beat any written quote, providing that the accommodation & sightseeing is the same - guaranteed!

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