World In One Country

South Africa has long been described as a ‘World in One Country’ because of its incredible mix of cultures and environments. This fully guided, small group tour encompasses the best of South Africa at a relaxed pace.

Highlights include viewing the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, Tsitsikamma National Park and a thrilling ‘big 5′ safari in the Kruger National Park. Discover the magnificent Cape Coast including the vibrant city of Cape Town, and enjoy wine tasting at some of the Cape’s most famous wine estates.

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

Standard Small Group Tour

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

DAY 2 SUNDAY JOHANNESBURG
Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel (40 km – approximately 45 minutes). Spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening a tour briefing will be held with the chance to meet your fellow travellers. Overnight: Protea Hotel Wanderers.

DAY 3 MONDAY PRETORIA-MPUMALANGA
Enjoy an orientation tour of Pretoria on the way to Mpumalanga in the lush subtropical region of the Lowveld. Travel through historic towns before reaching Pilgrim’s Rest, where gold was first discovered (500 km – approximately 9 hours). Overnight: Misty Mountain. (b,d)

DAY 4 TUESDAY KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Explore Pilgrim’s Rest and glorious God’s Window. After lunch enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the banks of Blyde River Canyon. View Tufa Falls and the famous Three Rondavels before arriving at your accommodation (320 km – approximately 7 hours). Overnight: Perry’s Bridge Hollow. (b,d)

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a morning game drive in an open vehicle in search of elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions and leopards. Return to your accommodation in Hazyview for the afternoon at leisure. Overnight: Perry’s Bridge Hollow. (b)

DAY 6 THURSDAY THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
Head south to the tiny kingdom of Swaziland. Witness a Swazi cultural experience before continuing through the capital Mbabane with its colourful markets filled with souvenirs and crafts (260 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Overnight: Lugogo Sun. (b,l,d)

DAY 7 FRIDAY THE KINGDOM OF THE ZULU
This morning visit the Ezulwini Craft Market, then on to Zululand. Travel past traditional round mud huts to the Umfolozi area (300 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). You have the option to purchase a thrilling game drive into the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. Overnight: Protea Hotel Umfolozi River. (b)

DAY 8 SATURDAY DURBAN
Enjoy a cruise on Lake St Lucia before travelling along the lush coastline to Durban (270 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Check into your hotel after lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight: Protea Hotel Edward. (b)

DAY 9 SUNDAY PORT ELIZABETH-KNYSNA
You will be transferred for your mid morning flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth. On arrival your new guide will take you to the impressive indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest and then to Knysna, a beautiful town at the heart of the Garden Route (280 km – approximately 3 hours 30 minutes). Overnight: Knysna Hollow Country Estate. (b,d)

DAY 10 MONDAY KNYSNA
Take a cruise on the Knysna Lagoon and visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Afternoon free to relax and enjoy the shops and restaurants in the town. Overnight: Knysna Hollow Country Estate. (b,l)

DAY 11 TUESDAY OUDTSHOORN
Travel via the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, centre of the country’s ostrich farming industry. After lunch visit an ostrich farm before heading underground to visit the Cango Caves (130 km – approximately 2 hours). Overnight Queen’s Hotel. (b,l)

DAY 12 WEDNESDAY CAPE TOWN
Depart Oudtshoorn and journey to Cape Town. From July to November your journey will be via Hermanus in the hope of catching a glimpse of the whales; out of season you will take ‘Route 62′ the inland scenic route (450 km – approximately 5 hours 30 minutes). Overnight: Protea Hotel President. (b)

DAY 13 THURSDAY CAPE PENINSULA
Tour the rugged Cape Peninsula, visiting Hout Bay, where you may take an optional cruise to Seal Island. Admire the penguins on Boulders Beach and drive through the naval village of Simon’s Town on the way to Cape Town. (200 km – approximately 3 hours). Overnight: Protea Hotel President. (b)

DAY 14 FRIDAY CAPE WINELANDS
Today visit the beautiful wine regions of Paarl and Stellenbosch, and stop for wine tasting. Enjoy a trip to a museum and the Afrikaans Language Monument. (200 km – approximately 3 hours). Overnight: Protea Hotel President. (b)

DAY 15 SATURDAY 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 – Garden Court Sandton City
Day 3 Mpumalanga – The Royal Hotel Pilgrim’s Rest
Days 4-5 Kruger National Park – Protea Hotel Hazyview
Day 6 Swaziland – Lugogo Sun
Day 7 The Kingdom of the Zulu – Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 8 Durban – Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge
Days 9-10 Knyzna – Protea Hotel Knysna Quays
Day 11 Oudtshoorn – La Plume Guest House
Days 12-14 Cape Town – Protea Hotel President

5* Deluxe Privately Guided Tour – departs daily
Day 2 Johannesburg – Melrose Arch Hotel
Day 3 Mpumalanga – Walkersons Hotel & Spa
Days 4-5 Kruger National Park – Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa
Day 6 Swaziland – Royal Swazi Spa
Day 7 The Kingdom of the Zulu – Hluhluwe River Lodge
Day 8 Durban – Oyster Box Hotel
Days 9-10 Knysna – St James of Knysna
Day 11 Oudtshoorn – Rosenhof Country House
Days 12-14 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.”