Big 5 & Cape Coastal Explorer

This 9-day self-drive holiday is perfect for the first time visitor to South Africa or for those restricted by time. Combine a few days on safari with a leisurely drive along the coast visiting pretty towns, magical forests with the chance to see plenty of wildlife and marine life.

Standard Self-Drive Tour

DAY 1 DAILY HEATHROW-PORT ELIZABETH
Overnight flight from Heathrow to Johannesburg, then fly to Port Elizabeth (plane change).

DAY 2 EASTERN CAPE
Arrive at Port Elizabeth airport where a representative will meet and assist you with collecting your hired car. Drive to one of the Eastern Cape’s private game reserves for the next 2 nights (140 km – approximately 2 hours). This afternoon enjoy an open vehicle safari through the game park, before returning after sunset to a wonderful dinner served under the African stars. Overnight: Kariega Game Reserve, Main Lodge. (l,d)

DAY 3 EASTERN CAPE
Enjoy an early morning and afternoon ‘big 5′ safari as the animals are most active during these times. The second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, the diverse Eastern Cape landscape, ranges from the dry desolate Great Karoo to the steamy forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley. Overnight: Kariega Game Reserve, Main Lodge. (b,l,d)

DAY 4 TSITSIKAMMA FOREST
After your morning safari, continue to Tsitsikamma National Park, the gateway to the renowned Garden Route (300 km approximately 4 hours). This beautiful indigenous forest is home to centuries old trees, spectacular waterfalls and deep gorges. Overnight: Tsitsikamma Village Inn. (b)

DAY 5 PLETTENBERG BAY
Drive south to the seaside playground of Plettenberg Bay (100 km – approximately 1 hour). Plettenberg Bay offers the visitor miles of sweeping, unspoilt golden beaches, a dramatic rocky peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers and sea. Overnight: Hog Hollow Country Lodge. (b)

DAY 6 PLETTENBERG BAY
You are spoilt for options today. There is an array of marine activities on offer, from whale-watching cruises and sea kayaking, to horse riding and hiking, to visiting attractions like Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland and Birds of Eden. Overnight: Hog Hollow Country Lodge. (b)

DAY 7 KNYSNA
A short drive away is Knysna (40 km – approximately 30 minutes). Knysna offers its visitors many activities and attractions. The most well-known natural attraction is the ‘Heads’, two great sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon which connects the estuary with the sea. Take a ferry boat cruise across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve for a stroll through the forests and a view of the ‘Heads’. Overnight: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays. (b)

DAY 8 CAPE TOWN-HEATHROW
Spend the day driving down the stunning coast to Cape Town before heading to the airport to return your car (500 km – approximately 6 hours). Check in for your overnight flight to Heathrow, or proceed with your chosen extension.

Where Next
Add to your experience by extending your holiday to one of these easy to combine destinations: Victoria Falls, Malawi, Seychelles, Mauritius or Dubai.

This itinerary is also available as:

5* Deluxe Self-Drive Tour
Day 2 Eastern Cape – Pumba Game Reserve, Water Lodge
Day 3 Eastern Cape – Pumba Game Reserve, Water Lodge
Day 4 Tsitsikamma Forest – Tsitsikamma Village Inn
Day 5 Plettenberg Bay – The Plettenberg
Day 6 Plettenberg Bay – The Plettenberg
Day 7 Knysna – St James of Knysna

Established in 1968, Somak Holidays is an independant Tour Operator specialising in holidays to East Africa.

Somak Holidays aim to offer inspiring holidays to the most superb locations in Africa. Above all they pride themselves on being a family-owned and run company. That means they are solely focused on the holidays they arrange, and not on appeasing shareholders. Somak Holidays continually inspect hotels and airlines, and test itineraries in order to improve some aspect or another.

Somak Holidays is a multi-award winning operator, winning such accolades as “Best Independant Tour Operator to Africa” in the Travel Weekly Awards 2010.

Our Opinion
“Somak Holidays has been arranging safaris to Kenya for over 40 years and have built an excellent reputation as the number one independant tour operator to East Africa.”