Compare South Africa with a Twist by Rothschild Safaris vs The Garden Route tour - 7 days by Encounters Travel

Day 1 - 3: South Africa: Mala Mala Game Reserve - Mala Mala Main Camp, River View Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mala Mala Main Camp

On arrival in Johannesburg, a special meet & greet has been arranged for your arrival to assist you through customs, immigration and to connect with your onward flight. Please look out for an airport representative with your name on a signboard.

Johannesburg - Skukuza, Commercial Flight

On arrival into Skukuza Airport you will be met and transferred by road to your accommodation.

Accommodation:

Mala Mala Main Camp is located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The camp features air conditioned accommodation in 19 en-suite luxury rooms and suites. The camp's large wooden safari deck opens to views over the Sand River in the shade of a Jackalberry tree. Pathways wind their way along the perimeter of the camp to reveal individual ochre colored units tucked into the greenery which flanks the Sand River. Facilities include an infinity pool with views across the river, well-appointed safari boutique, fitness facility, library and massage service.

Inclusions:

Your 3 night stay includes:

 • Local beverages (beers, house wine & soft drinks)

• Limited laundry - Please allow 24 hours for your laundry to be returned to you

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent

Activities:

Morning & afternoon game drives and walking safaris. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day: 4 - 5: South Africa: Cape Town - Mount Nelson Hotel, Deluxe Room

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mount Nelson Hotel

South Africa: Cape Town - Mount Nelson Hotel, Deluxe Room

Today you will transfer by road to Skukuza Airport.

Skukuza - Cape Town, Commercial Flight

On arrival in Cape Town, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.

Accommodation:

Mount Nelson Hotel and Spa is set in the vibrant heart of Cape Town. From the elegant Junior to the magnificent Presidential, this luxury hotel offers an indulgent sanctuary. All rooms offer en-suite bathrooms with a separate shower and bath. The luxurious hotel offers easy access to all that's happening in this dynamic city. Facilities include two swimming pools, a fitness center, hair salon, boutique store and three restaurants.

Inclusions:

Your 2 night stay includes:

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent

January 5 Classic Cape Peninsula Tour Meet your guide for your full day Cape Peninsula tour in the lobby of your hotel. Today you will travel to the Southwestern tip of Africa, to the Cape Point, where it is fabled that two oceans meet. En-route you will stop at Boulder’s Beach, residence of the African Penguin, famous for its animated displays. Guests are restricted to a generous boardwalk, where you are able to view the African Penguin in its natural habitat without disturbing or infringing.

Continue your drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where you are provided with an opportunity to view animals like the Cape Mountain Zebra, the mischievous Baboon and the blissful Ostrich; all of which reside in the reserve among the indigenous Fynbos. Learn how the treacherous rocks running along the Atlantic Seaboard came to be known as the “Ship Graveyard”, why Bartholomew Diaz called this The Cape of Storms, and why Jan Van Riebeeck proclaimed Table Bay as The Cape of Good Hope. Lunch is typically enjoyed at the Harbour House which boasts an unbeatable location (as well as delicious fresh seafood) where waves are known to crash against the huge plate-glass windows at high tide. Please note that the cost of your lunch is NOT included in this tour. Your drive this afternoon continues along the dramatic and beautiful Chapman’s Peak drive. Hugging the face of Chapman’s Peak Mountain, this pass offers breathtaking vantage points that rise up to 593 meters above sea level. Each one of the 114 curves along the roadway offer incredible views - so get your camera ready! You will arrive back at your hotel late afternoon.

Day 6 - 7: South Africa: Cape Winelands - Grande Provence Estate, Shiraz Room

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grande Provence Estate

This morning you will be met by your guide for your Winelands tour. Following your tour, you will be dropped off at your accommodation in the Winelands.

Accommodation:

Grande Provence Estate is located on the main road in Franschhoek. La Provençale offers 2 air conditioned en suite bedrooms with showers only. The lounge leads directly onto a magnificent outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco living on warm African evenings and close to the private swimming pool available for use by La Provençale guests. The Owner's Cottage has 4 luxurious en-suite bedrooms and 1 deluxe suite. Facilities include a swimming pool and spa pools with loggia. The charming Huguenot-founded village of Franschhoek is a five-minute drive away with small museums, specialty shops, postal and banking facilities.

Inclusions:

Your 2 night stay includes:

•A complimentary bottle of award-winning Grande Provence wine

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent Activities: A complimentary wine tasting, cellar tour and guided walk through The Gallery and The Sculpture Garden.

Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

January 6 Classic Cape Winelands Tour Meet your guide for your full day tour, in the lobby of your hotel. Your day in the winelands can be custom designed for you. With hundreds of impressive farms and estates to choose from, you are spoilt for choice and may need guidance in where best to do your tasting. At your request, we can arrange wine maker meetings and tastings at unusual wine estates according to your wine preferences. There are few places on earth that can rival the Cape Winelands. With its unique combination of culture, history and people it is often called the “Gastronomic Capital of South Africa.” The Cape Winelands allows you to feast on the beautiful landscape with your eyes and nourish your soul with award-winning cuisine and wines that can rival some of the best in the world. Your day begins with a drive to the quaint town of Franschhoek. This lovely town plays host to some of South Africa’s most famed eateries and is surrounded by some of the region’s top wine estates. Some interesting places to indulge are the artisanal chocolatier’s boutique, art galleries, décor boutiques. Franschhoek is a great place to see examples of Victorian and Cape Dutch architecture. You proceed to the Anthonij Rupert L’Ormarins Wine Estate planted on the slopes of the Groot Drakenstein mountains. The property can be visited by appointment only, allowing for an exclusive and unique wine experience. The Anthonij Rupert Tasting room is located on the farm’s historic and recently refurbished Manor House. Enjoy your private wine tasting at leisure in this stunning home, furnished throughout in the mid-nineteenth century Cape Dutch style. Next you’ll be swept off to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the stunning wine estates in the area. After recharging with lunch you’ll head to Boschendal Estate, one of the region’s best examples of original Cape Dutch estate living. Continue with a scenic drive through historic Stellenbosch en-route to Jordan Winery, listed as one of the Best Vineyard Experiences in 2017. Situated on a hillside behind the Winery Chateau. Enjoy one of chef Todd Knoll’s inspirational deserts paired with a wine tasting or a delicious cappuccino in this oasis overlooking 112 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees and a one-acre garden. * Please note that the cost of your lunch is NOT included in this tour. HIGHLIGHTS: - Drive to the quaint town of Franschhoek to meander the shops and eateries (purchases and meals not included in the cost of the wine tour). - Lunch at one of the stunning vineyards in the area. We will reserve a table for lunch at either Delaire Graff or Jordan Wine Estates. (Lunch reservations require advance booking and is based on availability. Lunch not included with the cost of the wine tour.) - Award winning estate - Anthonij Rupert superior wine tasting (requires advance booking) - Wine Tasting and Cellar tours Jordan Estate

Day 8 - 10: South Africa: Southern Kalahari Game Reserve - Tswalu Kalahari Motse, Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tswalu Kalahari Motse

Meet your driver in the lobby of your hotel, for your transfer to Cape Town Airport.

Cape Town - Tswalu, Shared Charter Flight

Today you will be met at the local airstrip and transferred by road to your accommodation.

Accommodation:

Tswalu Kalahari is nestled at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains and facing westward across the grasslands of the Kalahari, Motse is a spectacular space, with elevated decks and elegant lounges. There are 8 spacious and secluded “legae” (suites) each with en suite bathroom, including both indoor and outdoor showers, a large dressing and study area, an open fire and private sun deck overlooking the waterhole.

Inclusions:

Your 3 night stay includes:

•Local beverages (house wine, beer and soft drinks)

• Laundry - Please allow 24 hours for your laundry to be returned to you

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives, guide and tracker (with a minimum 3-night stay), guided bush safari walks, horseback safaris, Junior Ranger program for children. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 10: Tswalu Kalahari Malori Sleepout

Sleep under the stars on the Malori sleep-out deck. This adventure offers you an unparalleled experience of sleeping safely in the wilderness.

Day 11:

Time permitting; enjoy a final game viewing activity. You are then transferred to the local airstrip for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival in Johannesburg, after you have collected your bags, you take a short 10-minute ride to the Johannesburg International Airport where you will be met and assisted to your onward international flight home. International flights should depart no earlier than 6pm.

Day 1 : Arrive in Cape Town Your tour starts with your arrival at Cape Town International Airport, from where you are transferred to your accommodation. This will be in the form of either a comfortable, high-quality backpacker lodge, or a more luxurious deluxe guesthouse or boutique hotel, depending on your choice. You will be free to spend the rest of the day, as well as the next day, exploring Cape Town on your own. Included activities: Airport transfer Approximate driving time: /- 30 minutes, 25 km | OVERNIGHT: Cape Town Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | EXTRAS: Extra day in Cape Town - pre-tour Day 2 : Free Day in Cape Town Today is your chance to experience the sights and sounds of Cape Town, the famous Mother City. Home to many important historical landmarks, as well some gorgeous natural sites, Cape Town has so much to offer. Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Robben Island, Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Clifton Beach, the V&A Waterfront, Constantia… your day will be action-packed and memorable! We recommend booking a tour on the city sightseeing bus; alternatively, you can try out a Cape Peninsula Tour or Cape Winelands Tour. We can assist with booking these. Optional Activities: Group Cape Winelands day tour, From R 880 per person, Group Cape Peninsula day tour, From R 1100 per person | OVERNIGHT: Cape Town Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast Day 3 : Cape Coast- Hermanus, Betties Bay, Cape Agulhas, Shark Cage Diving Day 3 of the tour is spent along the scenic Cape coastline. We depart Cape Town early, heading towards Hermanus. Guests who have chosen to do the shark cage diving activity depart separately and join up with the rest of the group later in the day. En-route to Hermanus, we make a stop at Betties Bay, where a marvelous sight awaits us: a colony of endangered African penguins. When we reach Hermanus, we are able to explore the charming seaside town’s shops and restaurants. We may also be able to see the famous Southern Right Whales, if we visit during the whale season (July to November). We then continue onto out next stop: Cape Agulhas. This is the southernmost point of the African continent, and is also where we can see the famous meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Included activities: Penguins at Betties Bay Optional activities: Shark cage diving - R2550, Whale watching boat trip (in season, July - November) - R900 Travel route, distance & time: Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape Agulhas: /- 249km /- 3hours | OVERNIGHT: L'Agulhas Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 4 : Wine Tasting and Cango Caves Tour Today we travel along a famous route in South Africa: Route 62, the longest wine route in the country. This area is famous for its wine production, and we stop off a local winery for a chance to experience a wine-tasting, along with our lunch. We then visit a truly spectacular place: the legendary Cango Caves. These underground caverns feature breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations, and a guided adventure tour gives us the ultimate Cango Caves experience. Included activities: Local wine tasting, Cango Caves tour Travel route, distance & time: Cape Agulhas – Route 62 – Oudtshoorn: /- 330km /- 4 hours | OVERNIGHT: Oudtshoorn Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 5 : Wilderness National Park and Knysna We have an adventurous and exciting day ahead of us today. We begin by crossing the magnificent Outeniqua Mountain Pass into Wilderness National Park. We explore this beautiful landscape in a unique way- by paddling down the Touw River in canoes. This is a truly enchanting way to experience the beauty of the park, and our journey takes us through the forest, which is abundant with life. After our boating excursion, we enjoy a short 2km hike to a lovely waterfall and rock pool area. We then leave the park and head for the well-known town of Knysna. The restaurants and shops give us a chance to refuel and explore, before we visit the Knysna Heads viewpoint, where we are treated to stunning views of the Knysna River estuary and Indian Ocean. We then depart for the town of Sedgefield, our overnight stop, where the pristine beaches are a lovely place to end the day. Included activities: Canoeing and hiking in Wilderness National Park Travel route, distance & time: Oudtshoorn – Wilderness – Knysna – Sedgefield: /- 144 km /- 2 hrs | OVERNIGHT: Sedgefield Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 6 : Tsitsikamma National Park and Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump Our destination today is Tsitsikamma National Park. En-route, we stop at the world-famous Bloukrans Bridge, the site of the highest bungee jump in the world. While the thrill-seekers in the group enjoy this must-do experience, the rest of us continue onwards to the park. Tsitsikamma National Park’s delightful combination of forest and unspoiled coastline provides a variety of activities for all. Go hiking and swimming, and cross an awesome suspension bridge across a river mouth. In the afternoon, we depart and head towards Addo. Included activities: Entrance to Tsitsikamma National Park Optional activities: 216 M Bloukrans bungee jump - R1350, Treetop canopy tour - R660 Travel route, distance & time: Sedgefield – Tsitsikamma – Addo area: /- 320km /- 4.5 hours | OVERNIGHT: Addo Backpackers or Deluxe Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 7 : Safari in Addo Elephant National Park, Transfer to Port Elizabeth Today is the last day of the tour, and what better way to spend it than on safari? We spend the morning exploring the vast wilderness of Addo Elephant National Park, home to an incredible diversity of wildlife species. The park is true to its name, and houses approximately 600 elephants. Also look out for zebra, kudu, eland, warthog, and, of course, the other members of the famous Big 5. We depart Addo and reach Port Elizabeth in the early afternoon. Those catching international flights will have ample time, as many depart in the early evening. Guests who wish to extend their stay may certainly do so. There is a number of options available- you can book extra nights in PE, at a lodge outside Addo, or even at a private game reserve. Please contact us for more information. Safari extension: If you wish you can also add on as many days as you would like at a private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, with round-trip transport from Port Elizabeth at the end of your tour with us. Please contact us for more information, options and prices. Included activities: Entrance and 2-3 hour drive with tour vehicle through Addo Elephant National Park Optional activities: 2-hour open vehicle game drive with Addo field guide - R390 Travel route, distance & time: Addo – Port Elizabeth: /- 40 km /- 30 minutes | OVERNIGHT: N/A | EXTRAS: Departure airport transfer in Port Elizabeth