Rainbow Nation – Coach Tour

‘Rainbow Nation’ is a phrase favoured by Nelson Mandela to describe the diversity of cultures in South Africa. This 15-day coach tour reveals the cultural diversity and showcases some of the very best that South Africa has to offer.

You will travel by coach, walk on beaches, stroll through the ancient trees in the Tsitsikamma National Park, and you could even choose to ride an ostrich… and yes, you’ll relax and drink in the beauty of it all. South Africa is an incredible country, and in 15 glorious days, it will get under your skin.

This itinerary is effective from January 2014 – please contact us for the 2013 itinerary.

Standard Coach Tour

DAY 1 SATURDAY HEATHROW-JOHANNESBURG
Overnight flight from Heathrow to Johannesburg.

DAY 2 SUNDAY JOHANNESBURG
On arrival you will be met and transfer to your hotel. Spend the day at leisure. In the evening there will be a tour briefing and a chance to meet up with your fellow travellers. Overnight: Protea Hotel OR Tambo, or similar.

DAY 3 MONDAY KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
This morning leave for Mpumalanga. Travel along the Panorama Route, visiting Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window. Then a visit to Bourke’s Luck Potholes before heading to Hazyview (500 km – approximately 6 hours). Overnight: Hippo Hollow Country Estate, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 4 TUESDAY KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
An early start to the day in order to enjoy the wonders of the Kruger National Park in a closed vehicle. Spend the day in search of game before returning to your hotel. Overnight: Hippo Hollow Country Estate, or similar. (b)

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY HAZYVIEW-SWAZILAND
After breakfast, depart on your journey to Swaziland (260 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Proceed south to Malalane and then onto Swaziland. Enjoy a cultural experience before arriving at your hotel. Overnight: Mantenga Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 6 THURSDAY KWAZULU-NATAL-UMFOLOZI
This morning journey through Swaziland into Zululand stopping en route to bargain for curios and souvenirs at the roadside markets. Your journey continues into the Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal. Arrive mid afternoon in the Umfolozi area, optional game drive available. (300 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Overnight: Protea Hotel Umfolozi, or similar. (b)

DAY 7 FRIDAY ST LUCIA-DURBAN
In the morning travel along the coast towards Durban. Visit Moses Mabida including Sky Car and continue with a city centre tour before arriving at your hotel late in the afternoon (300 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Overnight: Garden Court South Beach, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 8 SATURDAY DURBAN-DRAKENSBERG
Today head into the majestic Southern Drakensberg Mountains (220 km – approximately 3 hours). Visit the 300 feet Howick Falls before arriving at your hotel in mid afternoon. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy your surroundings. Overnight: Drakensberg Gardens Hotel, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 9 SUNDAY DRAKENSBERG
Full day at leisure to enjoy the magnificent Southern Drakensberg Mountains. Overnight: Drakensberg Gardens Hotel, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 10 MONDAY DRAKENSBERG-EAST LONDON
This morning continue south to the Eastern Cape (520 km – approximately 6 hours 30 minutes). En route drive past Nelson Mandela’s birthplace and former house. Arrive late afternoon in the beautiful, unspoilt coast of Chinsta East. Overnight: Crawfords Beach Lodge. (b)

DAY 11 TUESDAY PORT ELIZABETH
Morning at leisure to enjoy the magnificent beaches. After lunch travel to Port Elizabeth (300 km – approximately 4 hours). Overnight: The Paxton Hotel, or similar. (b)

DAY 12 WEDNESDAY PORT ELIZABETH-KNYSNA
Your journey continues towards the Cape along the Garden Route. Enjoy a visit to the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storms River Mouth. Arrive in Knysna late afternoon for check in at the hotel, your base for the next 2 nights (280 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minute). Overnight: Knysna Hollow Country Estate, or similar. (b)

DAY 13 THURSDAY OUDTSHOORN-KNYSNA
After breakfast, travel inland over the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn. Visit the famous Cango Caves and an Ostrich Farm where you have the opportunity to ride one of these giant birds. Return to Knysna for overnight. Overnight: Knysna Hollow Country Estate, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 14 FRIDAY KNYSNA-CAPE TOWN
Today’s journey ends in Cape Town. Stop off in Mossel Bay then drive via Swellendam, Worcester and through the Huguenot Tunnel before arriving in Cape Town in the late afternoon (500 km – approximately 6 hours). Overnight: Protea Hotel Sea Point, or similar. (b)

DAY 15 SATURDAY CAPE TOWN
Enjoy a day of leisure in the ‘mother city’ where a visit to the V&A Waterfront is recommended. Overnight: Protea Hotel Sea Point. (b)

DAY 16 SUNDAY CAPE TOWN-HEATHROW
Day at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to Heathrow, or your chosen extension. (b)

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

This itinerary is also available as:

3*+ Standard Self-Drive Tour – departs daily
Day 2 Johannesburg – Protea Hotel OR Tambo
Days 3-4 Kruger National Park – Protea Hotel Hazyview
Day 5 Swaziland – Lugogo Sun
Day 6 St Lucia – Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 7 Durban – Southern Sun Elangeni
Days 8-9 Drakensberg – Drakensberg Gardens Hotel
Day 10 East London – Crawfords Beach Lodge
Day 11 Port Elizabeth – The Beach Hotel
Days 12-13 Knysna – Protea Hotel Knysna Quays
Days 14-15 Cape Town – Protea Hotel President

5* Deluxe Privately Guided Tour – departs daily
Day 2 Johannesburg – Intercontinental OR Tambo
Days 3-4 Kruger National Park – Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa
Day 5 Swaziland – Royal Swazi Spa
Day 6 St Lucia – Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 7 Durban – Southern Sun Elangeni
Days 8-9 Drakensberg – Moorcroft Manor
Day 10 East London – Hemingways Hotel
Day 11 Port Elizabeth – Hacklewood Hill Country House
Days 12-13 Knysna – St James of Knysna
Days 14-15 Cape Town – Table Bay Hotel

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.”