Lalibela Marks Camp

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

City, Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

South Africa’s culture, safari and beaches rounding off with an indulgent island escape.

15 days

from £5,010 pp

The Best of South Africa

Romantic Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Cape Town, wine & wildlife: South Africa's highlights over 11 days.

11 days

from £3,225 pp

Classic South Africa

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

A classic South African holiday, with a few lesser-visited surprises.

17 days

from £3,655 pp

Go Local in South Africa

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Real people. Real stories. Real South Africa.

19 days

from £6,690 pp

South Africa Safari Explorer

South Africa's wildlife at its best.

14 days

Safari Wildlife & Nature

from £5,850 pp

Bergs, Battlefields & Bush

Safari Adventure + 2 more + 3 more

Exploring the history & wildlife of KwaZulu-Natal.

13 days

from £4,750 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Historical tour

The Eastern Cape has seen the convergence of many cultures, often with bloody results. The indigenous Khoi-Khoi people, the Xhosas (originally from further north in Africa), the British settlers and the Boer farmers all trod paths here and there were a series of conflicts as a result. The tales from this region are not as well-known as those of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift in KwaZulu-Natal, but they are no less interesting and they have had no less an influence on modern-day South Africa. Alan Weyer is a local man who has steeped himself in this history, and also happens to be a superb raconteur and guide, so a tour with him is the best way to get to know more about Eastern Cape history – a side of the Eastern Cape that deserves much greater recognition. Some of our recommended safari lodges work with Alan Weyer and it will be easy to arrange a tour (subject to his availability), other lodges it may take a bit more organizing: if this is something you would like to do, please let us know so we can take it into account when planning your trip. &;

Horse-back safaris

The Addo Elephant National Park offers a range of rides for inexperienced and experienced riders. Some of the rides go through the Nyathi section of the park: here you may encounter big game (although not lions or hyenas, which spook horses), as well as plains game. So your ride will focus on the game, getting close to impressive herds of antelope, and maybe even spotting elephant or rhino from horseback. The Zuurberg Mountain section of the park, there is no large game, just wonderful plains game, and miles and miles of the most amazing mountain views to enjoy. The rides are all organized by the South African National Parks board and riding hats are available. Booking in advance is essential. If you’re staying at somewhere like Elephant House, where safari activities are not included in the price, they will happily book the excursion for you and, if you wish, transfer you to and from the Addo. If you are staying on a private game reserve, they are normally prepared to transfer you to and from the Addo, although this varies from lodge to lodge: please check with us. Game viewing on horse back is a specially experience: because the animals do not perceive horses as a threat, you can get much closer to the game than you can on foot, and you can do it without the sound of a game drive vehicle. It makes it a much more intimate game viewing experience, and one you should definitely consider.

Eastern Cape Game Drives

When staying at a private safari lodge, the bulk of your game viewing will be done on safari drives. These take place in the early morning and late afternoon, as many of the animals everyone wants to see (notably the predators) are most active around dawn and dusk. In the morning you'll be wakened by a call from your ranger, who will then be waiting for you with coffee or tea before you get into the safari drive vehicle. You may stop during the morning drive for more coffee! After a drive of around three hours, you'll be returned to the lodge for a massive breakfast. Your time is then yours to do as you please until mid/late afternoon. Usually lunch will be served (although sometimes not during their winter) and you may have the chance to go on a safari walk. Then you meet your ranger again for afternoon tea before heading off on your evening drive. You'll stop for sundowner drinks, and the last hour or so of your drive will be in the dark, using a spotlight to try and spot some of the nocturnal creatures. Upon your return its time for a gorgeous dinner before retiring to bed in order to be as fresh as possible when that morning call comes! Drive times are determined by dawn and dusk. So in their summer, morning drive starts very early and the evening drive starts quite late, allowing for a big chunk of free time in the middle of the day. In their winter, these times get compressed as the day is shorter – hence some lodges skipping lunch during the winter months. When out on drive your ranger (and his tracker in those reserves where they are used) will use his skills and experience of the bush, plus information from other rangers out on game drives, to pinpoint the best game viewing. He (or she!) will also provide a running commentary on the animals you are seeing – it is truly amazing how much information they are able to pass on. If you particularly want to see certain animals, do let your ranger know and he'll try to oblige wherever possible, although much is dependent on the animals cooperating, and of course the wishes of the other guests in your game drive vehicle (unless you have paid for a private vehicle).

Eastern Cape Bush Walks

Most lodges in private game reserves, in the period around lunchtime between the two usual daily safari drives, offer guests the chance to go on a short safari walk. The focus on these is not the game you’d see on drive. Instead you’ll concentrate on learning about the trees and plants, including their various uses in bush medicine and bush craft. You’ll also have the chance to look at the much, much smaller animals like spiders and millipedes, no less worthy of your attention than the bigger animals in the reserve! Some of the private reserves offer a more intensive walking safari experience, where you’ll walk for large parts of a day through the bush, or even for a couple of days, camping out. Sometimes these will be to walk with cheetahs, which seem particularly comfortable being accompanied or tailed by humans; other times it will just be about the thrill of spending protracted amounts of time on foot in what has become an alien and fascinating environment for modern man, never knowing what is around the next corner, and really getting the chance to understand and appreciate nature. If this is something you are particularly interested in, please let us know so we can direct you towards appropriate lodges and reserves.