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2022 SELF DRIVE AFRICA SAFARI

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A FULLY ESCORTED SELF DRIVE TOUR
FROM
CAPE TOWN TO JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
APRIL 24th TO MAY 9TH 2022
JOIN US ON THIS
Join us on this 16 day Fully Escorted 5 Star Self Drive tour from Cape Town in the south
through the highlights of South Africa to Johannesburg. !
Our itinerary has been prepared in conjunction with South Africa’s leading touring
experts and we will explore the stunning scenery of South Africa and Swaziland, stay in
luxury five star accommodation, drive the fabled Garden Route, the desert areas of the
Karoo, tour the historic Boer war battlefields and take no less than eight game drives in
three of South Africas best private game reserves to see the Big Five up close.!
With an average of only 250 kilometres a day and ample rest days, we have time to
enjoy the local colour that is often by passed by lesser tours. Your tour leaders are
highly experienced and each car is provided with a GPS programmed with each days
itinerary so you can leave each day in your own time and stop as and when you wish
en-route.!
With sealed roads nearly all the way, we visit the wine lands of Stellenbosch and
Franschhoek, spend a day in a world famous elephant sanctuary to get up close with
these beautiful animals, overnight at a luxurious beach front hotel at Hermanus for
whale watching and cross some of South Africas famous mountain passes. We’ll drive
through some of the world’s most spectacular scenery and mountain regions before
crossing into Swaziland to overnight at an internationally awarded resort then cross
back into South Africa for our Farewell Dinner in Johannesburg.!
We will be driving current model Toyota air-conditioned, automatic SUV’s however due
to the limited availability of accommodation in the luxury game parks, we are strictly
limited to 24 guests in 12 cars, so don’t delay!!
GREAT ADVENTURE
the itinerary
The tour commences with our Welcome
Dinner at a restaurant overlooking the inner
harbour on the Victoria & Albert Waterfront in
Cape Town on Wednesday September 29th
Day 01 - Welcome Dinner in Cape Town!
Day 02 - Cape Town to Stellenbosch!
Day 03 - Stellenbosch to Hermanus!
Day 04 - Hermanus to Sanbona Game Reserve!
Day 05 - Sanbona to Oudtshoon!
Day 06 - Oudtshoon to Plettenberg Bay!
Day 07 - Plettenberg Bay - Rest Day!
Day 08 - Plettenberg Bay to Graaf-Reinet!
Day 09 - Graaf-Reinet to Samara Game Reserve!
Day 10 - Samara Game Reserve to Clarens!
Day 11 - Clarens to Rorkes Drift!
Day 12 - Rorkes Drift to Manzini Swaziland!
Day 13 - Manzini to Kruger National Park!
Day 14 - Kruger National Park - Rest Day!
Day 15 - Farewell Dinner in Johannesburg!
Day 16 - Johannesburg Tour End
DAY THREE
Leaving Stellenbosch we take the highway through Helshoogte Pass to
Franschhoek, a beautiful city nestled between the towering mountains
of the Franschhoek Valley. The outstanding Franschhoek Motor
Museum is on the way and there is a vast choice of restaurants here for
lunch. Early afternoon we turn back south across the mountains to
Gordons Bay for the fantastic Clarence Drive around the coast of Betty’s
Bay to see the African Penguin colony. Our hotel tonight is The Marine
at Hermanus on the shores of Walker Bay and site of the closest land-
based whale watching in the world. Hermanus is the mating and
breeding grounds of the Southern Right Whales during the winter and
spring months (from June through November). Calving takes place in
August and September and the males arrive for mating in October when
the whale population peaks, so hopefully you will see whales in the bay,
and if lucky will also see them breach or spy-hop.
DAY TWO
Leaving Cape Town, we head north towards Wellington and take
a loop through Gouda and Tulbagh, a wine town known for its
champagne style wines before lunch under the trees at a local
restaurant. Turning South we pass through a precipitous cliff to
a stretch of rapids, waterfalls and natural pools to cross the
Bainskloof Pass (595 metres) and some spectacular views. We’ll
continue South to Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South
Africa knows for its oil lines avenues, Cape Dutch architecture,
history and culture. Surrounded by wine farms, the town is
abuzz with hotels, wine shops, cafes, restaurants and art
galleries. It’s quite small so there will be time in the afternoon to
wander around on foot before dinner tonight at our hotel, the
Lanzerac Wine Estate.
DAY FOUR
Driving north from Hermanus we pass through the Heme-en-Aarde valley Hemel-
en-Aarde (meaning "Heaven and Earth" in Afrikaans) an area of 15 wineries that
rises from behind the coastal village of Hermanus. The 20km-long meandering
route through the valley is rich with vineyards, wine estates, restaurants and is
undoubtably one of the most scenic areas in Hermanus.
The village of Greyton follows and a walk down the main street offers several
morning tea options. Our destination today is the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve but
we will stop for lunch at Montagu before heading into the park. Known as the
‘mountain mecca’ of the Cape, Montagu lies surrounded by the Langeberg
mountain range nestled between the Keisie and Kingna Rivers in the western
corner of Kannaland, and is famous for orchards, vineyards, local herbs, rock
formations and healing hot mineral springs.
Once in Sanbona, we will be escorted to our lodge with time to prepare for the
first of our game drives. The drives are led by a qualified ranger in a comfortable
open Land Cruiser and during the drives, either in the early morning or at sunset
we will have the chance to see the birds, animals and big game that roam freely
throughout the park. A hot beverage of your choice is offered during the sunrise
game drives and Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as
the sun sets over the Little Karoo. Don’t forget your binoculars, camera, warm
clothing, a hat and sunscreen. Dinner tonight will be a Briaai in the Boma at the
lodge.
DAY FIVE
An early rise this morning for another game drive
before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Leaving
the park we head east to Calitzdorp, a quaint little
town on Route 62, nestled in the heart of the klein
karoo and known as the port wine capital of South
Africa. Our destination today is Oudtshoorn, the
ostrich capital of the world where we have a guided
tour of the private Cango Ostrich Farm and lunch in
the farm restaurant with spectacular views of the
lush Schoemanshoek valley. There will be time to
visit the Cango Caves after lunch or it’s just 5
minutes drive to The Rosenhof Country House, our
home for tonight.
DAY SIX
Our destination today is the fabulous Plettenberg Hotel where
we will spend the next two nights there for some R&R. Enroute
is the 13 kilometre Outenique Pass at 580 meters with several
excellent viewing sites before we reach the beachfront at
Wilderness and continue eastwards to at Sedgefield where we
turn inland to drive the spectacular scenery of the Phantom
Road and lunch at a Farm Restaurant. After lunch its less than
an hour’s drive to the Plettenberg Hotel situated on a rocky
headland in Plettenberg Bay, regarded as the ultimate South
African seaside escape. With only 35 beautifully appointed
rooms with views of the ocean, mountains and endless
stretches of golden sand we will enjoy world-class cuisine
where fresh seafood is the order of the day. Dinner tonight is
included.
DAY SEVEN
Be prepared for a fabulous experience today as we visit the Knysna Elephant
Park, just 15 minutes from the hotel. The park was founded in 1994 by husband
and wife team Ian and Lisette Withers. Ian’s family had lived and worked in the
Knysna area for several generations and Ian himself grew up surrounded by
the legends of the forest and the famous Knysna forest elephants. Sadly, by
the time Ian and Lisette settled on their farm just outside Knysna, the elusive
forest elephants were all but extinct, with a mere five animals thought to still
survive. Then, in 1994, Ian and Lisette heard of two young elephant calves,
rescued from a cull in the Kruger National Park, that were in need of a safe
home. And so the foundations of the Knysna Elephant Park were built on the
struggles of the elephants in the Knysna Forest. Harry and Sally (named after a
famous movie of the 1990’s) arrived at the Park in October 1994 and twenty
years later, more than forty elephants have passed through the gates of the
park. There are no fences to spoil the close encounter and you can lunch at
the park restaurant after the tour if you wish. Dinner tonight is your choice.
DAY EIGHT
We head east this morning through Storms River then turn north onto the last
section of the famous R62 route which will take you through the Langkloof fruit
growing area to Uniondale and then Willowmore, a small town littered with
antique furniture stores, delis, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. It's colourful,
to say the least. There is a donkey cart ride around town, known as the Willow
Limo, but don't try taking a sneak photo of the donkeys without asking
permission first, as the oom who drives the cart is more likely to remonstrate
with you about the R5 fee he charges to have his face and cart grace your
camera, than comply. Look out for the little yellow vintage car on the south
side of town, the red pedestrian bridge (rooi bruggie) used during floods,
antiques at Sophie's Choice where will have lunch.After checking into the hotel
at Graaf-Reineit, late afternoon we take a drive to the Camdeboo National Park
to visit the Valley of Desolation (beautiful views and a great spot to watch the
sunset) Dinner tonight is included in Camdeboo Restaurant in the hotel.
DAY NINE
Leaving our hotel this morning it’s just a 30 KM drive to the entrance to the
Samara Private Game Reserve. Spanning 70,000 acres of malaria-free
wilderness in the Great Karoo, the award-winning Samara offers a Big Five
safari with a difference The landscape itself is unique – an unexpected and
diverse semi-arid paradise of mountains and grasslands, where thousands of
wild animals, from cheetah to elephant to springbok roam.
Perched high on a mountain plateau with 360 degree views, this ‘Serengeti of
the South’ unfurls over mile upon mile of golden grasslands, framed by purple
mountains and teeming with game – Black wildebeest, endangered Cape
Mountain zebra, eland and gemsbok.
We’ll have an evening game drive tonight before dinner then retire to the luxury
of the Karoo Lodge and The Manor House. We have another game drive early
morning tomorrow before breakfast and departing for Clarens.
DAY TEN
Another early start today as we plan on reaching our overnight stop at Clarens by
early afternoon so there is ample time to explore the village. We’ll stop at The
Cabin Farm Stall which serves up a wide variety of delicious food, including a
curry peach salad and boerejongens - perfect for a road trip lunch! Just before
Clarens we visit the Lethoteng Weavers in Clocolan, started as local women
attempted to eke out a living by producing saleable merchandise. Today, s a
successful business that produces beautiful hand woven wall hangings from
typical African fibres including wool, mohair and cotton.
Clarens"lies at the foot of Mount Horeb, on the Free State Highlands Route close
to the"Golden Gate National Park. The town first enjoyed a revival when it became
something of an artists' haven during the early nineties and a stroll down the
Artists Amble with its tree-lined streets and enticing restaurants, art galleries and
boutique style stores will fill the afternoon. Dinner tonight is your choice on one
of the village restaurants.
DAY ELEVEN
Just 20 minutes from Clarens we enter the Golden Gate National Park that derives
its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the sandstone cliffs,
especially the imposing Brandwag rock. The park is also home to a variety of
mammals that include Burchell's Zebra, Black Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbok,
Springbok and the threatened Oribi so keep the camera handy. Some great
scenery as we skirt the Drakensberg Mountains and the Sterkfontein Dam with its
deep blue waters on the way to Dundee and finally to Rorkes Drift and the
Fugitive’s Drift Lodge. Lunch will be served on arrival and at sunset we’ll drive to
the nearby battlefields to hear the famous story of Rorke's Drift, one of the most
famous battlefields in the country, and also perhaps in British history. It was here
that, in a furious two-hour battle,"Zulu"forces armed primarily with traditional
spears and shields thrashed the mighty"British"Colonial Empire forces, one of the
few times they were ever routed by an indigenous army. Eleven Victoria Crosses
were awarded to those who defended Rorke's Drift where 139 British soldiers
were attacked by 4,000 Zulu warriors, winning more Victoria Crosses than in any
other battle in history. We’ll return to the Lodge in time for a drink around the
fireplace and dinner.
DAY TWELVE
After breakfast we continue our tour of the Boer War battlefields at Isandlwana
and our host David Rattray will talk about the background to the Anglo-Zulu War
on the Day of the Dead Moon and the remarkable story of this fantastic Zulu
victory. In 1879 the British invaded Zululand. Click HERE for the full story on the
Isandlwana Battle. After some refreshments we head back to Dundee then north
to cross the border into Swaziland. The country here is lush and productive with
dense forests and great mountain vistas until we reach our hotel for tonight, The
Summerfield Botanic Resort is set in 100 hectares of garden featuring lakes,
waterfalls and cascades with exhibits of rare, indigenous, tropical and exotic plant
species including a grand display of the much admired pre-historic cycad plant.
The garden lies close to the banks of the Bobokazi River and is situated in the
Nokwane valley, renowned for its scenic beauty, spectacular rock formations and
majestic mountain range.
Dinner tonight is included in the Palm Cascade Restaurant.
DAY THIRTEEN
This afternoon’s destination is Jock Safari Lodge in the heart of the Kruger
National Park. Not far from our hotel this morning we tour the Ngwenya Glass’
charming complex set in large indigenous gardens and is considered one of
Swaziland’s major tourists attractions. As we cross the border there is the option
to visit the Matsamo Cultural Village before we enter Kruger through the Malelane
Gate.
The Lodge’s location within the Kruger that makes the experience completely
unique and untamed. It`s "in the heart of the original Kruger, so the wildlife has
never been displaced or had to be reintroduced to the area. It also sits next to the
Napi Wilderness Area (an untouched area of Kruger) so as bigger animals and
predators search out new territories they often filter into the Jock private
concession.
The lodge itself is perfectly positioned on the confluence of two rivers, inviting all
animals directly in front of the lodge for a thirsty drink and is widely known for its
intense Big 5 game viewing. The lodge also received a complete multi-million rand
face life in 2018, completely elevating the property to a new height and we stay in
individually screened and private suites with outdoor bath and shower and beautiful
double indoor showers. We will arrive in time for lunch and later in the afternoon
board the covered 4x4 Land Cruisers for the first of our four game drives in the park
conducted by highly experienced rangers. The wildlife here his sometimes
staggering with elephants, prides of lions and buffalo. At dusk, a vantage point is
chosen to overlook one of the many breath-taking views of the Kruger National Park
for Sundowners and tales of what this unique wilderness has to offer. On the way
back to the lodge there’s the opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as leopard,
hyena and lion. Dinner tonight in the boma is included.
DAY FOURTEEN
A day to relax and enjoy the lodge. We have
scheduled morning and evening game drives
but the rest of the day is yours to relax
around the lodge or join one of the
Wilderness"Walks. "Qualified walking guides
provide the opportunity for guests to
experience the excitement of approaching
species on foot. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
are included.
DAY FIFTEEN
Our final day on the road as we head towards
Johannesburg and our final night in the luxurious
Fairlawns Hotel & Spa. We’ll stop for lunch at
Milly’s of Machado a restaurant and farm stall
that has grown from a wooden stall selling fresh
trout next to the N4 highway in 1974 to a popular
stopover on the way to Johannesburg.
On arrival at the hotel, we have time to freshen
up before pre-dinner drinks and our Farewell
Dinner in the hotel’s Amuse-Bouche Restaurant.
DAY SIXTEEN
Our tour ends after breakfast and it’s time to bid farewell to new and old friends,
return our cars to the Johannesburg Airport to head home or continue touring.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
STANDARD INCLUSIONS
•
15 Nights Luxury Accommodation
•
15 Days Automatic!Air-conditioned!SUV Hire with Insurance
•
11 Dinners including Welcome and Farewell Dinners
•
Entry to Game Parks and National Parks
•
Sanbona Game Reserve evening and morning game drives
•
Samara Private Game Reserve evening and morning game safaris
•
Kruger National Park evening and morning game drives
•
Knysna Elephant Reserve
•
Valley of!Desolation
•
Cango Ostrich farm Tour
•
Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana Battlefield Tours
•
Ngwenya Glass Tour
•
Comprehensive Road Book and Daily Route Notes
•
GPS Navigator with Full Route Planning (returned!at tour!end)
•
Classic Driving Tours Travel!Pack
THE CARS
Standard tour car is Toyota 4x4 SUV
FEATURE DINING EXPERIENCES
•
Welcome Dinner at Table Bay Hotel (beverages included)
•
Sanbona Game Reserve Braai
•
Plettenberg Hotel Private!Dinner!
•
Samara Private Game Reserve Braai
•
Jock Lodge in Kruger National Park Lunch and Evening Braai and Dinner
•
Grand Farewell Dinner at Fairlawns Hotel & Spa (beverages included)
!
TOUR COST
US$10,595- A$14,750!- UK£8,100
Per Person based on two sharing a room and car hire
A non-refundable deposit of US$1,000 per person is required to be sent with the Booking Form
and received by us in clear funds to secure your booking. The balance owing for the Tour is due
and payable four months prior to Tour departure, however you may remit payment of the Tour
prior to this date. ! !All Tour prices (Tour Prices) are based on the exchange rate for the South
Africa ZAR applicable on the 1st of January 2019, include VAT, and are subject to change and
availability. Price increases may occur by reason of matters outside our control, which
include, but are not limited to, adverse currency fluctuations, variations in international
shipping and transportation costs, fuel surcharges and other taxes, fees or charges. Please see
the Classic Driving Tours Purchase Terms & Conditions for more information.!
!
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
!! !•! Return airfares to South Africa!and airport transfers
!! !•!! !Cost of meals and drinks and entry to places of interest other than those specifically
included in the final itinerary
!! !•!! !Personal expenses
!! !•!! !Fuel and Tolls
Classic Driving Tours!
Email: driver@classicdrivingtours.com!
Web:" www.classicdrivingtours.com!
Call:!
AU:"" +61 (0) 412 918 297
2022 AFRICA BROCHURE
Classic Driving Tours
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