Sea, Safari, South Africa
Experience Overview
The Garden Route and its varied beauty. Hippo-spotting on one of Africa’s largest lakes. Camping under the stars at Kruger National Park as hyenas call in the distance. There’s South Africa... and then there’s SOUTH AFRICA. On this jaw-droppingly awesome adventure, you’ll meet the locals, discover the history and sample the Cape’s finest wines in 14 days – with beach life, city life and safari life all high on the agenda.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 13 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- Marrakesh: What does a modular trip mean? 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: Is tap water in South Africa safe to drink? Will water be provided? 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: When is the best time to travel to South Africa? 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: What time can I book my return flight home? 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: How do I get from the airport to the trip start location? 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: What is a Special Stay? 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: Do I need to bring a sleeping bag? Nope, you're all good! All equipment (tents, sleeping bags, etc) will be provided for you.
- Amboseli: Do I need to set up camp, cook and clean when we're camping? 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: What are the bathroom facilities like when camping? You'll have access to proper bathrooms with real toilets, hot showers and everything you need - just shared with the crew.
Included Experience
- 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.
- Gqeberha: The good folks at the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre work around the clock to rescue injured seabirds and help them make their way back into the wild. On this visit, we’ll see first hand how they work – and meet plenty of adorable penguins too.
- 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.
- Stellenbosch: Get to know the photogenic wine town of Stellenbosch. Rich in vineyards, but even richer in history.
- Johannesburg: Harrowing and hopeful at the same time, you’ll delve deeper into the troubled history of South Africa – with the chance to visit the Nelson Mandela museum too, where you’ll learn about his life and work, as well as how apartheid was brought to an end.
- Durban: Hop onto the coach drop off and get ready for some ultimate beach vibes. This is the perfect spot to tune out the worries of life - just like the local Durbanite's do so well!
- 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.
- 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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 17485
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 608.2087A
Starts: Cape Town, South Africa
Finishes: Johannesburg, South Africa
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,263 ($233 /day)
Itinerary
Hello Africa… and hello Cape Town. Ready to get going? It’s off to the Karoo desert via the famous ‘Route 62’. Today's scenic drive goes through mountain passes, vineyards and epic desert scenery along the way.An included guided tour of Africa's LARGEST show cave system. The Cango Caves are replete with cavernous halls, limestone formations, cave paintings and artefacts (which indicate they were in use throughout the Middle Ages)! How's that for a pitstop?Welcome to the Klein Karoo! We'll check into Oudtshoorn with our first adventure on offer. How good does a scenic bike ride (or drive down) the UNESCO Swartberg Mountain Pass, plus a Karoo braai dinner on a local farm sound? (So good!). And this evening, you can opt to do just that.
Accommodation: Riempie Estate (or similar)
Good morning! Let's continue heading East towards one of South Africa's most loved National Parks: Addo Elephant. (Anyone guess which animal this place is famous for?) That’s right, it’s elephant time. After lunch, we’ll set out in our comfy (and tall!) coach in search of Africa's largest land mammal here at the Addo National Park, home to over 600 of these tusk-tastic creatures. (Keep your eyes peeled for lions, buffalo, and antelope too though!) We'll retreat here for the night but fear not, more safari adventures await in the morning. Stuck for something to do this evening? Let us introduce you to the karaoke bar just around the corner. (Cue your fave Lion King jams.)
Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today is all about wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. We’ll start with a morning tour of the SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre, who give sick and injured penguins the care they deserve and help them to return to the wild. Later this morning, we’ll set out on the first of today’s two private game drives (both optional but highly recommended!). The Eastern Cape’s game reserves are some of South Africa’s best spots for seeing the Big 5, home to valleys, plains, rivers and much more. Yup. That's three game drives in 36 hours, giving you the best chance of spotting the Big 5. Lucky you, right? Tonight we’ll head back to the city where a free evening awaits. Karaoke round two? We won’t stop ya.
Accommodation: Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Beach time. Desert? Tick. Caves? Tick. Safari? Tick. Now it’s time to make our way along the famous Garden Route to our next destination, Knysna – with a few sensational stop-offs on the way. Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, it’d be wrong not to start our day with some chill time on J-Bay… which is exactly what we’ll do. And of course, there's an optional surfing lesson for the wave-dodgers among us. Welcome to our next pitstop, known for the infinitely Instagramable Storms River Bridge – which we’ll take a picturesque hike to so you can get all the legendary snaps you need. Wanna up the adrenaline? You can choose to go kayaking up the mouth of Storms River. And then we pull into the beautiful coastal town of Knysna, ready to explore all the sights and activities the Garden Route is known for. (We've got two nights here too!)
Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Rise and shine, team. Today starts with an included breakfast, overlooking the Knysna lagoon, and then we’re off again once more. It’s ocean time! You can choose to join our marine safari and set out in search of whales, dolphins, seals and more spectacular sea life. Afterwards, we’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing on Plettenberg's main beach, catching those rays and helping ourselves to some splendid seafood. This evening, we’ll embark on an optional Township visit here in Knysna, where you’ll meet the locals and have the chance to make a positive impact for the children who live here. Afterwards, you'll have the option to cruise the Knysna lagoon & see the sunset onboard. And finally, we'll tuck into a group dinner by the water before finishing off with a night on the town (again, optional but unmissable!).
Accommodation: Knysna Quays (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Make sure you call dibs on a window seat. As we drive back to Cape Town, you’ll watch the magnificence of the Garden Route unfold as we pass coastal towns, forests, gorges and some jaw-dropping ocean views. Marine mania… We’ll have lunch and a little free time here in the coastal town of Hermanus, which is one of the world’s best areas for spotting whales – between July and November at least – so have your binoculars at the ready. And here we are, back in the city where it all began. Tonight, you can opt for a MasterChef-style cooking class and enjoy the food, music and drinks.
Accommodation: Waterfront Breakwater Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Fine wine, all in good time. Today we’ll add a touch of class to proceedings with a trip to Stellenbosch – the Cape’s famous wine region. But before that, why not choose to hit the skies on an epic helicopter ride over the seas and peaks? After some free time to explore (and shop till you drop) you have the option to discover Stellenbosch’s awesome wine farms, sampling the very finest of the Cape’s fine wines. With spectacular views, and a traditional South African braai for lunch, this really is one tasty excursion indeed. We'll then make our way to Cape Town and board our flight to the next destination - the biggest city in South Africa! Touching down, we’ll head straight to our hotel for the evening. The second half of our South African adventure awaits us in the morning...
Accommodation: OR Tambo Protea Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
A day of history. Here in the City of Gold, we’ll take a drive through the heart of South Africa to the coastal city of Durban. Along the way, we’ll stop off for a sobering exploration of the nation’s troubled history, with a visit to the site of Nelson Mandela’s capture during the apartheid era. We’ll then take a trip to the museum – yes, you’ll confront the history, but you’ll leave feeling hopeful as you learn how apartheid was finally brought to an end. Tonight’s accom is conveniently located next to plenty of shops and restaurants… So you can go right ahead and treat yourself.
Accommodation: City Lodge Umhlanga (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
You have a free morning here at one of the finest coastal spots in South Africa. Sleep in, take a walk and shop the strip or head down to the beach to simply sit back and soak up those rays like the sun junkie you are. Afterwards, we’ll make our way to St Lucia. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife by day and hippos by night here in St Lucia (we’re right by the UNESCO World Heritage listed iSimanagaliso Wetlands Park after all). And on an optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience this afternoon, we’ll visit a local Zulu village, learning all about the Zulu people and their traditions with a chance to meet some of the locals.
Accommodation: Forest Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Beach or bush? Why decide when you can do both? This morning you have the option to take a walking safari of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (so watch out for elephants, buffalo, rhinos & antelopes). Or, if you're craving Vitamin Sea, you can choose to join us for a marine safari (for whales, sharks, dolphins & more). In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a Sunset Hippo Boat cruise on Lake St Lucia (Africa’s largest estuary – home to over 800 hippos and 1200 crocodiles). So, join us if you please! And then, to round things off, you have the option to take a sunset game drive (with a traditional South African buffet dinner). Yup, this day's as action-packed as it is awesome.
Accommodation: Forest Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
It's an early start today – we’re heading inland to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and we aim to be there by sunrise. The Big Five. The option to take a half-day game drive at the reserve instrumental for bringing the White Rhino back from the brink of extinction. And even a picnic lunch if you like! Today’s excursion is a biggie indeed. With our wildlife bucket lists sufficiently checked, it’s time to set off for a brand new country. Passports at the ready folks – here in Eswatini, we’ll meet some of the locals and learn about their culture and language on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. You've learnt from locals. Now its time to sleep like them too. Tonight you will stay at Mlilwane's Main Lodge - unique beehive thatched huts with ensuite bathrooms (and hotel room amenities for a bit of comfort).
Accommodation: Mlilwane Beehive Huts (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Ah, to wake up in nature. We'll kick off the day with a hearty breakfast and then join the Trip Manager for a morning safari walk. Don't forget to sign up for the optional guided Mountain bike ride through the wilderness. There is no Big 5 here so feel free and safe to explore as you choose. Keep an eye out to spot some antelopes and warthogs! Next up, it’s the big one. The world famous one. Here in Kruger, we’ll stay at an exclusive safari campsite – located right in the middle of the park. (Struggling to picture it? Think glamping canvas tents with mattresses, linen and stretchers, a roaring bonfire burning all the while.) This is a true Once in a Lifetime experience, where you’ll fall asleep to the nocturnal calls of hyenas, jackals and lions.
Accommodation: Contiki Safari Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today we're up bright and early for our first taste of the fresh morning air. We'll start with an optional sunrise safari – just in time to catch Africa’s elusive predators finishing off their nocturnal hunt. At midday, you’ll have the chance to relax back at the camp: you can visit the local shop, take a dip in the pool or visit the nearby restaurant where you can look out over the Sabie River and watch as the animals come to quench their thirst (yup, it's preddy special.) This afternoon, it’s back to the safari vehicles for another optional sunset game drive to see the Big Five and more. Tonight back at camp, you've got the chance to join us for a traditional South African braai or BBQ, complete with local sides and desserts.
Accommodation: Contiki Safari Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Our final day. But is there time for one (or two) last morning game drives? You bet there is. You can choose to head out for a sunrise game drive to spot the nocturnal cats (or just choose to sleep in, like the rest of the animals). Then, we'll head out on our last game drive in Kruger as we make our way out of the park. It's our last chance to spot some spellbinding safari animals IRL. Have we saved the best for last? Let's hope so! And now, with heavy hearts (and even heavier camera rolls) we’ll make our way back to either the Kruger Mpumalanga Airport or Johannesburg International Airport. (Don't feel like leaving yet? Lucky for you, our Victoria Falls Explorer & Cape Town Explorer trips are starting later this evening!). Oh, it’s been a thrill… we’ve seen wildlife, we’ve made friends for life. The only question is: where next?
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Lillian - Traveled, December 2024
Booking with Contiki was simple and easy. It allowed for me to see what I was doing and how much it would cost me. The only part I would like to see changed is the time spent on the bus be included in the trip schedule as this trip does spend a fair bit on the bus. Also it may help travellers if the prices of the add ons is calculated to a full amount that way traveler's can see how much they need to save up on the trip. This trip was one of the best trips that I have ever been on, from the culture, food, people and of course the animals. Being able to see the big 5 was something that I will never forget. My trip manager was honestly the best person I could of had for this tour, from his knowledge, stories, personality and overall just making me feel safe in a country I have never been to before and my first as a solo female traveler. That is something I’ll always remember I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to get out of their comfort zone, the add on activities allowed for me to accomplish things I never thought I would do.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2024
Cameron - Traveled, December 2024
Easy to book and the online service for questions, etc was fast. Although we tried booking a flight through Contiki and the rates were outrageous, so perhaps find a better airline partner. We were quoted quadruple what our flight actually costed. This trip itself is awesome and we had the time of our lives. Our guide was also the best we could've ever asked for. In 14 days we covered so much ground and saw so much of this beautiful country. The accommodations are mostly decent with a few really good ones like in St Lucia, and the itinerary is pretty well thought out to see a lot of this country in this amount of time. If you ever wanted to do safaris, this is the trip for you. The cultural elements were also great, and it was awesome to see Contiki ensure that the people we met and places we see are ethical and helping with positive change in some of these communities. However, compared to Contiki trips we've taken previously, there isn't much included as far as experiences go. Pretty much everything exciting is an add-on, so budget accordingly. I can understand that hotels and travel are expensive, but a few things like the final campfire dinner or the cooking class at the end of the first leg could've been included. For those two experiences specifically, while fun, we felt that we were overpaying for what is essentially fun dinners with the rest of the group. I also thought it was strange that we flew from Capetown to Jo-berg and then drove 7 hours to near Durban. It would've saved us a lot of time to see stuff if we were simply flying to Durban. Lastly, the Kruger camping was very cool and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, however the group Contiki partners with will only stick to the main roads, often competing with heavy traffic from the general public. We didn't get to see that much of Kruger considering it's such a massive park; we essentially kept to one small corner of it. We found that in contrast the private game reserves allowed us to get much closer to the animals and went off the "beaten path" much more. All-in-all, we had the absolute best time and the value here is top-notch for travelling SA. We do not have any regrets, just want to ensure we note some of the things that could've been a bit better. But that's all in hindsight. We could not have asked for a better package for travelling through this beautiful country for a reasonable budget, and from the research we did prior, I don't think that you could find better value for money to give you the best South Africa experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
The trip of a lifetime! I'm so glad I partook in all the free time add-on's and feel so grateful to have had as my tour guide. He was down to earth, and emotionally vulnerable with us. Really made the trip what it was!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2024
Srinath - Traveled, June 2024
It was incredible tour in South Africa, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations! The trip was intense, filled with breathtaking sights and experiences, and our tour manager was absolutely fantastic. He truly brought the group together, and by the end, we felt like one big family. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been an extra day for farewells, as it felt bittersweet to part ways so soon after growing so close. I loved every moment and wished the trip never ended !!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2024
This was the best trip I've ever been on! There were so many fun activities and lots of locations visited. There was a good mix of sightseeing, adventurous activities, cultural experiences, safaris, and opportunities to socialise. Our trip manager and guides along the way were all exceptionally friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited, the country's history, and the wildlife. I felt very safe the entire time and got to visit places I wouldn't have seen on my own. The places, people, and animals in South Africa are unforgettable and I only wished it could've been longer.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/26/2024
Adam - Traveled, July 2024
Everything was easy as normal but loving the cyber sale discount after changing the date of the trip start was disappointing. Having Melissa as a guide was fantastic. She made all aspects of the trip more enjoyable. The trip itself featured a lot of long driving days and expensive optionals, but plenty of great opportunities to see everything you could want in Africa!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/21/2024
Morgan - Traveled, August 2024
The trip was very easy to book. I was able to do it online with no help. This was a combined trip of two smaller trips and a lot of people did not know that when they booked. A few of the group would’ve done the extended trip if they had known, so make sure you are booking the trip and double check to see if it’s part of another trip. Our group was told we would be stopping for a coffee and muffin break. It wasn’t on the itinerary provided by Contiki, but it was just one of the stops to make sure that we were fed on our extremely long bus ride. we stopped at a very tiny town, where we went to offee shop who happens to do wildlife rehabilitation as well. her place had two owls, two foxes, two cats, a dog. it was so much fun to stop here and play with her animals and learn about her and what she does. I really stood out to me because it was a very unexpected part of the trip and was so warm. Her walls are decorated and signatures people that came before it visited and for a tiny town it sure gets a lot of visitors.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/17/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
Trip booking was fine I loved having so many game drives! In Scotia was the best driver for sure! Also want to note our trip leader was THE BEST! The trip would not have been as amazing as it was without her!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
The trip was fantastic! We saw a lot of animals, got to know different cultures and always felt safe due to our amazing tour guide. The group had a great dynamic right from the start.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2024
Samantha - Traveled, July 2024
Booking was really easy. I do wish the packing list was a little more detailed and specific to the tour. Every aspect of this trip was amazing. The highlights were the safaris (where we managed to see the Big 5 and more), extra activities such as the wine tour and kayaking at Tsitsikama National Park. What made the trip exceed my expectations was our trip leader. He really brought the whole group together and made even the slower days more enjoyable. His knowledge of the country and the animals was so extensive that it really enhanced the game drives. Additionally, our bus drivers were so kind and efficient. This trip has made me want to do more Contikis in Africa!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/25/2024
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