• 13 Breakfast (B)

• Marrakesh: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Cape Town: Generally, the tap water in most of the locations we visit is safe to drink (and readily available too!) We don’t provide bottled water due to our sustainability promise, but your Trip Manager will sort you out for anything you might need during the trip.
• Cape Town: The question should be – when is it not the best time to travel to South Africa?In the summer (October to April), you’ll find perfect beach weather at our coastal destinations, and lush green landscapes everywhere. It also tends to be the birthing season (baby animals!!!). Winter (May to August) in South Africa is probably the best time for safaris since you’ll find wildlife gathering around waterholes.Luckily, the chances of spotting the Big 5 is equally good throughout the year. And if you’re here for the whales, visiting between June to November would be your best bet.
• Cape Town: You can book your flights with departure times after 7pm on our last day. We’ll arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at around 4pm.
• Cape Town: We recommend that you book an Uber from the airport. It’s the easiest and most convenient way to get to the start locations on our trips.
• Chobe National Park: As the name suggests, a Special Stay ain’t your ordinary accommodation – it’s much more than that. Think of it as an experience in its own right. On this trip, you’ll be able to camp under the stars (all while being surrounded by wildlife) at your Special Stay.
• Amboseli: Nope, you’re all good! All equipment (tents, sleeping bags, etc) will be provided for you.
• Amboseli: You don’t have to. Your road crew will set up camp, cook meals, and clean up afterwards – but you’re always welcome to help!
• Amboseli: You’ll have access to proper bathrooms with real toilets, hot showers and everything you need – just shared with the crew.

• Cango Caves: Tour Africa’s largest limestone caves system. At over 20 million years old, it makes our nan look like a spring chicken.  
• Addo Elephant National Park: See these gentle giants in their natural habitat as you cruise in our Contiki coach through this scenic National park. Also be on the lookout for giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs and all of Africa’s incredible wildlife.
• Jeffreys Bay: Known for its waves, its calamari and its natural beauty, there’s no beach quite like Jeffreys Bay Beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
• Knysna: If you’re looking for dramatic scenery, a trek through Tsitsikamma National Park will give you plenty of ops to fill up your memories and Insta feed. 
• Knysna: Stretch out on the golden sands and enjoy some sea air at one of South Africa’s best beaches.    
• Hermanus: Sensational scenery plus your favourite seabird, is this the detour of your dreams or is this the detour of your dreams?
• Stellenbosch: Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.
• Cape Town: Bo-Kaap. The City Centre. V&A Waterfront. This tour takes in all the historical sites & attractions of the Mother City.  
• Cape Town: Stroll around the scenic harbour and enjoy some Insta-worthy views, at South Africa’s most-visited attraction. 
• Mbabane: We’ll cross the border to Eswatini and travel to a local village where we’ll meet some locals, spend time with them and find out all about their culture and everyday life.
• Kruger: Our Special Stay is located right inside one of Africa’s most famous National Parks and is also within one of its most popular Main Camps – Lower Sabie. The fenced-in camp is perched on the banks of the Sabie River with a shop, swimming pool and riverside restaurant (to look out for wildlife coming down to drink!). Our exclusive camp comprises of canvas dome tents with stretchers, mattresses, linen and towels plus charging outlets and a communal firepit to sit around late into the night gazing at the stars and listening to the calls of nocturnal animals.
• Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary: Traverse through Mlilwane on your own two feet, keeping your eyes peeled for antelope, wildebeest and more as you go. With a local guide on hand to make sure everyone is going the right way.
• Kruger National Park: We’ll go on an adventure in the world famous Kruger National Park, keep your eyes peeled for animal sightings!
• Kruger National Park: Wanna know how K9 Dogs protect wildlife? Come meet one of our Rangers who’ll tell you all about the K9 Watchdog Project, their fight against poachers, and how your donations from the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps them save Africa’s wildlife from extinction.
• Kruger National Park: Keep your eyes peeled and those binoculars close. We’re heading out to spot more magnificent wildlife (cross those fingers for rhino’s!) and stunning scenery with our last game drive as we say goodbye to Kruger.

Explore Stellenbosch, an oak-shaded university town set amid vineyard-draped hills. Admire Cape Dutch architecture with whitewashed gables, browse artisan boutiques, and feel the easy rhythm of cafés and galleries lining the historic core.

Along oak-lined Dorp Street, your guide shares stories from the settlement’s 17th-century origins to its winemaking legacy today. The mix of academic energy and winelands heritage makes this a compelling cultural stop.

Ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, whose rotating cabins reveal 360-degree vistas as you glide onto the famous sandstone plateau. At the summit, stroll among fynbos and lookouts framing panoramas of the Atlantic Seaboard and city bowl.

Take in the serrated Twelve Apostles range, the Cape Flats and distant Robben Island. Cool mountain air, sheer cliffs and roaming rock hyrax add texture to Cape Town’s most iconic viewpoint.

Join a guided city tour through the Mother City, from the pastel terraces of Bo-Kaap to historic squares and the Company’s Garden. Hear how cultures converged here and shaped language, cuisine and identity over centuries.

Continue to City Hall and the lively V&A Waterfront, South Africa’s most-visited attraction, where working harbour scenes meet restaurants and public art. It’s a rich picture of Cape Town’s maritime and civic heritage in one sweep.

Visit a Swazi village to exchange greetings, learn about homestead life and hear how traditions evolve in modern Eswatini. Meet artisans, observe daily routines and engage respectfully with hosts who share language, craft and ceremony.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience supports local initiatives through responsible tourism. Conversations around kinship, music and weaving reveal the resilience and warmth of Swazi culture, while your visit helps support community initiatives.

Join a guided nature walk in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Eswatini’s oldest reserve and a Big-5-free haven ideal for walking. Traverse grassland and forested foothills as your guide interprets tracks, plants and behavior.

Keep an eye out for zebra, impala and warthog amid granite outcrops and open plains. The slower pace brings birdsong, wildflowers and sweeping valley views into crisp focus.

Sleep inside Kruger National Park at an exclusive canvas camp set within Lower Sabie’s main rest camp. Settle into ready-pitched tents with beds and linen, then gather at the firepit as night settles over the Sabie River.

Between silhouetted trees and a stars and crackling campfire soundtrack, listen for the nocturnal calls of hyena and lion. Shops, a pool and a riverside restaurant nearby add comfort to this pure bush experience.

Meet a conservation ranger working with Kruger’s K9 Watchdog Project. Learn how highly trained dogs track snares, follow scent trails and deter poachers across vast terrain, safeguarding rhino and other threatened species.

The session sheds light on technology, teamwork and community partnerships that underpin anti-poaching efforts. It’s an eye-opening look at modern conservation and what it takes to protect endangered rhino in one of Africa’s greatest parks.

Set out on a guided game drive across Kruger National Park, where thornveld and riverine woodlands host elephants, buffalo, towering giraffe and stealthy cats. Your ranger navigates waterholes and river crossings in classic Big Five country.

Interpret animal behavior, examine tracks in the dust and pause for photos and reflection at scenic viewpoints. The scale of Kruger’s wilderness delivers both intimate sightings and sweeping savanna drama.

Cycle or drive the historic Swartberg Pass, a hand-built 19th-century mountain road famed for switchbacks and dramatic sandstone folds within a UNESCO-listed floral kingdom. Guides share geology and history as vistas tumble to the Klein Karoo.

Round off with a traditional Karoo braai dinner on a local farm, savoring flame-grilled meats beneath a star-filled desert sky. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take a surf lesson in the home of world-class waves. Local instructors introduce paddling, popping up and ocean safety before guiding you into the gentler sections near Jeffreys Bay’s Supertubes point.

Feel the rush of riding your first lines on the Indian Ocean break and soak up the easygoing surf culture that defines J-Bay. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Paddle up the Storms River gorge, slipping beneath the suspension bridge into emerald river pools. Your guide sets a relaxed pace as cliffs tower overhead and forest drapes the canyon walls.

Between echoing chambers and tranquil eddies, this guided kayak adventure reveals a quieter side of Tsitsikamma’s wild coast. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Head out on a marine safari along the Garden Route coastline, scanning for common and bottlenose dolphins, playful Cape fur seals and, in season, migrating whales near the Robberg Marine Protected Area.

Expert skippers interpret behavior and ocean conditions while maintaining responsible distances. Sea spray, seabirds and sweeping headland views elevate the sense of adventure. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a township visit to meet residents, hear local stories and see community life first-hand. Guides introduce small businesses, schools and cultural spaces, highlighting resilience and creativity.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience supports responsible tourism and grassroots projects through your participation. Respectful dialogue and shared moments make this a memorable cultural exchange. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cruise the Knysna Lagoon as the sun sinks behind the Outeniqua Mountains. Glide toward the dramatic Knysna Heads, watching the water turn copper while seabirds skim the surface.

Harbour lights and gentle breezes set an easy mood for photos and conversation. It’s coastal serenity from the water’s best vantage point. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Lift off on a helicopter flight tracing the coast from Table Bay to Camps Bay. Circle the Twelve Apostles and sweep past Lion’s Head for a soaring perspective on beaches, cliffs and cityscape.

These aerial panoramas reveal Cape Town’s geography in a single breathtaking arc, from harbour to mountain ridge. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Sample Cape Winelands varietals at celebrated estates around Stellenbosch. Cellar hosts guide you through Pinotage and Chenin Blanc alongside other regional stars, explaining terroir, barrel regimes and food pairings.

Between vine-row vistas and gabled manor houses, the estate cellar door tastings deliver a polished, sense-led exploration of South African wine. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a hands-on cooking class celebrating Cape Town’s spice routes and home-kitchen traditions. Chop, simmer and season under friendly instruction as you prepare fragrant dishes to share.

With music and warm hospitality setting the tone, sit down to enjoy your creations while trading stories with hosts. A delicious taste of local culture. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cruise the St Lucia estuary within the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Glide past reedbeds and mangroves as pods of hippo wallow and Nile crocodiles bask on muddy banks.

Birdlife is prolific—kingfishers, herons and fish eagles patrol the channels—while guides share ecology and conservation insights. A tranquil wildlife encounter from the water. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit a Zulu village near St Lucia to learn greetings, etiquette and everyday practices. Engage with artisans and dancers, and see traditions, beadwork and dance that anchor community life today.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience directs income to local initiatives while fostering respectful cultural exchange. Expect warmth, insight and a chance to learn a few isiZulu phrases. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take a guided walking safari in the coastal forests and grasslands surrounding St Lucia. Track spoor, identify plants and read the landscape for elephant, buffalo and rhino signs at a respectful distance.

Guides share fieldcraft and conservation context as you move quietly through a mosaic of habitats. A tactile, ground-level encounter with wild nature. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a marine safari on the Indian Ocean to search for dolphins, seabirds and, in season, migrating whales off the St Lucia coastline. Skippers brief on safety and respectful wildlife viewing.

Ride ocean swells with views back to dune-fringed shores as your crew interprets behavior and habitat. A salt-sprayed, exhilarating perspective on the coast. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Set off on a sunset game drive as golden hour lights the bush and diurnal animals prepare for night. Guides track movement while the first nocturnal calls rise from the darkening thickets.

Return to savor a traditional South African buffet, swapping sightings under night sounds and southern stars. A rich end to a wildlife-filled day. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, famed for its white rhino conservation story. Traverse hilly bushveld and river valleys in an open safari vehicle as rangers share the park’s pivotal role in species recovery.

Look for elephant, buffalo and abundant antelope while learning how terrain and watercourses shape wildlife movement. A classic safari in South Africa’s oldest reserve. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pedal through Mlilwane on a guided MTB outing across well-marked trails in a Big-5-free reserve. Spin past grazing zebra and impala, with granite kopjes and valley vistas unfolding around each bend.

Your guide sets a comfortable pace, sharing natural history and keeping an eye out for birdlife. An active way to experience Eswatini’s wild side. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Head out before dawn to catch predators finishing the night’s hunt and plains game emerging in rose-gold savanna light. Your ranger interprets fresh tracks and early-morning behavior for a deeper understanding of the bush.

Cool air, birdsong and long shadows make this a prime time for photography and big-cat encounters. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Roll into Kruger’s dusk as nocturnal wildlife emerges. Elephants silhouette against the afterglow while antelope grow vigilant and lions stir to life.

Guides use spotlights to sweep the bush for elusive eyeshine and movement, offering a different lens on the ecosystem after dark. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Gather for a traditional braai at camp, where grills sizzle with boerewors and chops, and sides like pap and chakalaka bring heat and tang. The atmosphere is convivial and proudly local.

Trade stories under stars and a crackling fire as night sounds carry from the riverine bush beyond the fence. A flavorful celebration of South African hospitality. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Venture on open-vehicle drives across malaria-free Eastern Cape reserves renowned for healthy wildlife populations and striking scenery. Your ranger navigates golden grasslands and riverine bush, tracking elephants, buffalo and antelope while scanning for big cats.

Interpret fresh spoor, learn how acacia and fynbos shape the landscape, and pause at lookouts for sweeping views. The thrill of a careful search for the Big Five is paired with expert commentary that deepens every sighting.

Walk the wave-sprayed trails of Tsitsikamma National Park where indigenous forest meets the Indian Ocean. Follow boardwalks and rocky paths to the Storms River Mouth Suspension Bridge, pausing as swells thunder into the gorge below.

Along the Garden Route’s most dramatic coastline, your guide highlights fynbos, ancient yellowwoods and coastal birdlife. The crashing Indian Ocean swells and steep sandstone cliffs create a powerful backdrop for photos and reflection.

Stroll the sands of Jeffreys Bay, South Africa’s surf capital. Watch Supertubes roll along the point, feel the warm breeze off the Indian Ocean, and soak up the laid-back beach-town mood that draws wave riders from around the globe.

Between shells scattered on the shoreline and colorful surf shacks, this coastal stop offers time to relax, browse local cafés and enjoy the Indian Ocean rollers that define J-Bay’s legendary status.

Unwind on Plettenberg Bay’s Central Beach, framed by the rugged Robberg Peninsula. Swim in the gentle surf, stretch out on golden sand, or wander the shoreline as gulls wheel overhead and dolphins occasionally arc beyond the breakers.

Backdropped by forested hills and the warm Indian Ocean, this is classic Garden Route leisure with a refined edge. Breathe in the sea-breeze atmosphere and capture coastal panoramas from the tideline.

Scan the cliffs along the Hermanus Cliff Path for seasonal sightings of Southern Right whales breaching close to shore. The town’s amphitheatre-like bay offers exceptional land-based vantage points and crisp, salt-aired views.

Continue to the Stony Point penguin colony at Betty’s Bay, where boardwalks thread through boulders for intimate looks at Africa’s endangered penguins. The protected habitat and boardwalk viewpoints allow remarkable photography without disturbing the birds.

Discover Africa’s largest show caves on a guided walk through the Cango system in the foothills of the Swartberg. Wander beneath soaring limestone chambers, past rippling curtain formations and sculpted pillars as your guide explains the geology and fragile ecosystem shaped over millions of years.

Hear stories of early exploration while gazing up at features like Cleopatra’s Needle and the vast Van Zyl’s Hall. Subtle lighting and a cool underground climate enhance the sense of otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites that define this subterranean wonder.

Set out on a coach safari through the thicket and open plains of Addo Elephant National Park, home to one of the densest elephant populations on earth. Scan for relaxed herds, browsing buffalo, skittish warthog and elegant kudu that thrive in this biodiverse sanctuary.

Learn about Addo’s unique ecology, from carbon-rich spekboom to the park’s emblematic rare flightless dung beetle. With luck, you may also spot lion or hyena moving through the bush as guides share insights into Big Five country.