South African Grand Tour

21 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

A typical 4* holiday costs from

4,295 per person

(Based on two people travelling. Low season can be a lot cheaper, and peak season or 5* hotels can be substantially more expensive.)

Speak to an expert on

01242 253 073

or add this holiday to your online quote

Get a Quote

Cape Town

The Overberg

The Garden Route

Durban

The Battlefields

The Escarpment

The Kruger

Day 1

Fly overnight to Cape Town.

Day 2

Collect your hire car on arrival, or be met by one of our representatives and start with four nights in Cape Town. Cape Town has got a huge range of wonderful hotels, from grand, luxurious affairs, to smaller, more characterful guesthouses and B&Bs.

Day 3

There’s a wide range of excursions in and around the city which will easily fill your time here. Robben Island and Table Mountain are two of the city's icons and form a great day's combination. Cape Town is also blessed with numerous incredible restaurants and we’d be happy to make some recommendations and reserve tables for you.

Day 4

Spend a full day exploring the beautiful Cape Peninsula. The beauty of the peninsula is as much in the uncovered corners and beaches as it is in the more famous highlights like Cape Point and the penguins of Boulder’s Beach.

Day 5

Perhaps take an Uthando Philanthropic Cultural Tour to learn more about the townships and how people are seeking to improve their lot there. Or alternatively you might like to explore the Winelands in the company of legendary guide Pietman Retief.

Day 6

Drive to the Overberg, an overnight stop on your way east. The town of Swellendam, although small, has a number of beautiful boutique hotels and guesthouses, makig it the ideal place to break your journey to the Garden Route.

Day 7

Continue to the Garden Route, where you spend four nights. Choose from hotels on the beach, in the heart of the pretty towns, or secreted away on islands and in the forests that carpet the hills of the region.

Day 8

There are some amazing excursions to fill your days with on the Garden Route. We particularly recommend whale watching in season (June – December), or perhaps explore the back roads in the forests.

Day 9

To unwind after a busy few days, maybe relax by walking along the gorgeous beaches.

Day 10

We’d always recommend you take a day to Head to the Crags near Plettenberg Bay and visit the Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, the Birds of Eden and the Tenikwa Big Cat Experience. Here you’ll also find Bramon, the Garden Route’s only wine estate and somewhere that serves an amazing tapas lunch!

Day 11

Drop the car at George airport and fly to Durban for an overnight stay. Relax at the hotel for the afternoon or head to uShaka Marine World and take a stroll along the beachfront.

Day 12

Having collected a new hire car, head up to the Battlefields for a three night stay. Accommodation here is generally in lodges where all or most of your meals are included – a necessity given the remote setting!

Days 13-14

Undertake tours of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift as well as relaxing and maybe visiting other notable battlefields in the area.

Day 15

Drive north, past Swaziland, to the Escarpment for a three night visit. The drive will take the best part of a day, but is the most logical way to get between the Battlefields and the Lowveld and Kruger regions.

Days 16-17

Explore the Blyde River Canyon, or perhaps learn about the settler history of Pilgrim's Rest. The region is stunning beautiful and perfect for scenic drives and relaxation.

Day 18

Head to the Kruger for three nights of safari. Whether you want basic thatched rondavels, luxury tented camps or the most opulent safari lodge imaginable, the Kruger will have something to suit you!

Days 19-20

Be thrilled and awed by the big game you’ll encounter on your game drive and the smaller residents you find on bush walks.

Day 21

Fly back to Johannesburg and then overnight on to London.

Where you'll go
What you'll do
Where you'll stay

Similar Holidays

Everything we do is tailor-made; our itineraries are just suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible. Please contact us so we can tailor the perfect holiday exclusively for you.

This itinerary will really leave you with a comprehensive feel for the beauty and diversity of South Africa. With your hire vehicle you are free to explore every geographical corner of South Africa as your heart desires, from breathtaking Mountain ranges to far stretching beaches and influential historical sights to mesmerizing wildlife.

Beginning in historic, cosmopolitan Cape Town, you work your way east through the forests and past the lagoons of The Garden Route, where you can walk the beaches, visit the wildlife attractions and take an ocean cruise, before beginning the historical section of your trip. This includes visiting the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, to learn more about the comprehensive Zulu victory at Isandlwana and the subsequent heroic British defence of Rorke’s Drift, and the settler country of the Escarpment. You conclude with what will undoubtedly be a major highlight, a safari amidst the big game of the Kruger Park; expertly guided by your lodge ranger.

4 nights Cape Town – 1 night Overberg – 4 nights Garden Route – 1 night Durban – 3 nights Battlefields – 1 night Piet Retief – 3 nights Escarpment – 3 nights Kruger safari

When to go:

Year-round

Weather:

Average Temp. - 14-25C
Rainfall - 45mm/month
Water Temp. - 17C

Flight time:

12 hours from London

Testimonials:

“We also found all the information you sent us on recommended excursions/sights to see/restaurants etc really invaluable and definitely enabled us to get the most out of the trip….

V&G, Leicester