South African Explorer

This colourful 13-night tour combines the scenic diversity of Cape Town and the Garden Route, the crafts and cultural traditions of Zululand and Swaziland with the wildlife of the Kruger National Park and ends in Johannesburg.

With the tour finishing in Johannesburg and the flight connections available, it opens up endless opportunities to extend your holiday. From Victoria Falls in Zambia to a true game experience in Botswana or from the unspoilt beaches of Mozambique to South Africa’s number one resort, Sun City.

The tour is operated by Springbok Atlas South Africa and is conducted with English as the only language (except on selected dates when German is also spoken). Expert guides are used to ensure you get the most from your visit, with many optional tours available. You can also upgrade your Kruger game viewing experience on days 11 and 12.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
- A shared tour with a maximum 44 people
- Driver and guide throughout
- Air-conditioned minibus or coach
- 13 breakfasts (b), 2 lunches (l) and 2 dinners (d)

DAY 1 MONDAY HEATHROW-CAPE TOWN
Overnight flight from Heathrow to Cape Town.

DAY 2 TUESDAY CAPE TOWN
On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel (25 km). Overnight: The Cullinan, or similar.

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY OUDTSHOORN
Drive along Route 62 to Oudtshoorn (400 km). Overnight: Queens Hotel, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 4 THURSDAY KNYSNA
After breakfast tour Cango Caves and enjoy a guided tour of an ostrich farm before heading for Knysna (120 km). Overnight: Knysna Quays, or similar. (b)

DAY 5 FRIDAY KNYSNA
Enjoy a cruise to Featherbed Nature Reserve, a trailer ride to Western Head, and walk back through milkwood trees for lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight: Knysna Quays, or similar. (b,l)

DAY 6 SATURDAY PORT ELIZABETH
Travel via Tsitsikamma Forest to Port Elizabeth (260 km). Overnight: Garden Court Kings Beach, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 7 SUNDAY DURBAN
Fly from Port Elizabeth to Durban. Overnight: Southern Sun North Beach, or similar. (b)

DAY 8 MONDAY DURBAN
Day at leisure in Durban. Overnight: Southern Sun North Beach, or similar. (b)

DAY 9 TUESDAY ZULULAND
After breakfast travel to Zululand and visit a cultural village for lunch and a show (315 km). Overnight: Protea Umfolozi River, or similar. (b,l)

DAY 10 WEDNESDAY SWAZILAND
A morning game drive before travelling to Swaziland (330 km). Overnight: Ezulweni Sun, or similar. (b)

DAY 11 THURSDAY MPUMALANGA
Visit a glass factory en route to your hotel situated outside the Kruger Park (230 km). Overnight: Pestana Kruger Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 12 FRIDAY MPUMALANGA
Open vehicle game drive through Kruger Park. Afternoon at leisure or an optional game drive. Overnight: Pestana Kruger Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 13 SATURDAY MPUMALANGA
Drive via the scenic Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window (250 km). Overnight: Emnotweni Sun, or similar. (b)

DAY 14 SUNDAY JOHANNESBURG
Drive to Johannesburg arriving late afternoon (460 km). Overnight: Garden Court Sandton City, or similar. (b)

DAY 15 MONDAY HEATHROW
Relax at the hotel or take an optional excursion before a late afternoon transfer to the airport for your return flight to Heathrow. (b)

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.”