Driving north from Hermanus we pass through the Heme-en-Aarde valley.  Hemel-en-Aarde (meaning “Heaven and Earth” in Afrikaans) is an area of 15 wineries that rises from behind the coastal village of Hermanus. The 20km-long meandering route through the valley is rich with vineyards, wine estates, restaurants and is undoubtably one of the most scenic areas in Hermanus.  The village of Greyton follows and a walk down the main street offers several morning tea options.    

Our destination today is the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, but we will stop for lunch at Montagu before heading into the park.   Known as the ‘mountain mecca’ of the Cape, Montagu lies surrounded by the Langeberg Mountain range nestled between the Keisie (Kogmanskloof River) and Kingna Rivers in the western corner of Kannaland, and is famous for orchards, vineyards, local herbs, rock formations and healing hot mineral springs.

Once we have been escorted to our lodge in Sanbona there’s time for afternoon refreshments before the first of our game drives.  The drives are led by a qualified ranger in a comfortable open Land Cruiser and during the drives, either in the early morning or at sunset we will have the chance to see the birds, animals and big game that roam freely throughout the park.   A hot beverage of your choice is offered during the sunrise game drive and Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as the sun sets over the Little Karoo.  Don’t forget your binoculars, camera, warm clothing, a hat and sunscreen.   Dinner tonight will be a Braai in the Boma at the lodge.

Lunch Venue Suggestion in Montague

BluVines | Montagu Café-Restaurant, Wine Tasting & Coffee

An early rise this morning for another game drive before returning to the lodge for breakfast.  Leaving the park, we head east to Calitzdorp, a quaint little town on Route 62, nestled in the heart of the klein karoo and known as the port wine capital of South Africa. Our destination today is Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world where we have a guided tour of the private Cango Ostrich Farm and lunch in the farm restaurant with spectacular views of the lush Schoemanshoek valley.    There will be time to visit the Cango Caves after lunch or it’s just 5 minutes’ drive to Rosenhof Country House, our home for tonight.

Hotel https://rosenhof.co.za/

Our destination today is the fabulous Plettenberg Hotel where we will spend the next two nights for some R&R.  En-route is the 13-kilometre Outeniqua Pass at 580 meters with several excellent viewing sites before we reach the beachfront at Wilderness and continue eastwards to Sedgefield where we turn inland to drive the spectacular scenery of the Phantom Road and lunch at a Farm Restaurant.  After lunch its less than an hour’s drive to the Plettenberg Hotel situated on a rocky headland in Plettenberg Bay, regarded as the ultimate South African seaside escape.   With only 35 beautifully appointed rooms with views of the ocean, mountains, and endless stretches of golden sand we will enjoy world-class cuisine where fresh seafood is the order of the day.  Dinner tonight is included.

Hotel https://www.theplettenberghotel.com/

Be prepared for a fabulous experience today as we visit the Knysna Elephant Park, just 15 minutes from the hotel. The park was founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife team Ian and Lisette Withers. Ian’s family had lived and worked in the Knysna area for several generations and Ian himself grew up surrounded by the legends of the forest and the famous Knysna forest elephants.  Sadly, by the time Ian and Lisette settled on their farm just outside Knysna, the elusive forest elephants were all but extinct, with a mere five animals thought to still survive.   Then, in 1994, Ian and Lisette heard of two young elephant calves, rescued from a cull in the Kruger National Park, that were in need of a safe home.    And so the foundations of the Knysna Elephant Park were built on the struggles of the elephants in the Knysna Forest. Harry and Sally (named after a famous movie of the 1990’s) arrived at the Park in October 1994 and twenty years later, more than forty elephants have passed through the gates of the park.  There are no fences to spoil the close encounter and you can lunch at the park restaurant after the tour if you wish.    Dinner tonight is your choice.

Suggestions for lunch or dinner in Plettenberg

https://www.emilymoon.co.za/simons-bar/ then

https://www.emilymoon.co.za/dining-at-emilys/

SAMARA – group stays here before Drostdy

We head east this morning through Storms River then turn north onto the last section of the famous R62 route which will take us through the Langkloof fruit growing area to Uniondale and then Willowmore, a small town littered with antique furniture stores, delis, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.  It’s colourful, to say the least.   There is a donkey cart ride around town, known as the Willow Limo, but don’t try taking a sneak photo of the donkeys without asking permission first, as the oom who drives the cart is more likely to remonstrate with you about the R5 fee he charges to have his face and cart grace your camera, than comply.    The town is filled with historical architecture (even the old jail is now a unique overnight venue) and includes a wonderful old Boer graveyard, and a well-cared for Jewish cemetery.  Look out for the little yellow vintage car on the south side of town, the red pedestrian bridge (rooi bruggie) used during floods and the antiques at Sophie’s Choice where will have lunch.    After lunch is a 90-minute easy drive to our overnight stop at Graaf-Reinet.

The Drostdy Hotel, our home tonight, was initially built in the early 1800s and has its own fascinating story, having been refined over the years into one of South Africa’s top 10 hotels.   Although it bears modern touches and a contemporary atmosphere, it remains true to its roots with furnishings and antiques that point to the past.  After checking into the hotel, late afternoon we take a drive to the Camdeboo National Park to visit the Valley of Desolation (beautiful views and a great spot to watch the sunset).   Dinner tonight is included in Camdeboo Restaurant in the hotel.

Hotel https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/drostdy-hotel

Leaving our hotel this morning it’s just a 30 KM drive to the entrance to the Samara Private Game Reserve.  Spanning 70,000 acres of malaria-free wilderness in the Great Karoo, the award-winning Samara offers a Big Five safari with a difference   The landscape itself is unique – an unexpected and diverse semi-arid paradise of mountains and grasslands, where thousands of wild animals, from cheetah to elephant to springbok roam.   Perched high on a mountain plateau with 360-degree views, this ‘Serengeti of the South’ unfurls over mile upon mile of golden grasslands, framed by purple mountains and teeming with game – Elephant, Giraffe, Black wildebeest, endangered Cape Mountain zebra, eland and gemsbok.

We’ll have an evening game drive tonight before dinner then retire to the luxury of the Karoo Lodge and The Manor House. https://www.samara.co.za/lodges/the-manor/

FUGITIVES DRIFT LODGE
Just 20 minutes from Clarens we enter the Golden Gate National Park that derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock. The park is also home to a variety of mammals that include Burchell’s Zebra, Black Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbok, Springbok and the threatened Oribi so keep the camera handy.  Some great scenery as we skirt the Drakensberg Mountains and the Sterkfontein Dam with its deep blue waters on the way to Dundee and finally to Rorke’s Drift and the Fugitive’s Drift Lodge.   Lunch will be served on arrival and at sunset we’ll drive to the nearby battlefields to hear the story of Rorke’s Drift, one of the most famous battlefields in the country, and also perhaps in British history.   It was here that, in a furious two-hour battle, Zulu forces armed primarily with traditional spears and shields thrashed the mighty British Colonial Empire forces, one of the few times they were ever routed by an indigenous army.   Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to those who defended Rorke’s Drift where 139 British soldiers were attacked by 4,000 Zulu warriors, winning more Victoria Crosses than in any other battle in history.  We’ll return to the Lodge in time for a drink around the fireplace and dinner.

Hotel https://www.fugitivesdrift.com/

After breakfast we continue our tour of the Boer War battlefields at Isandlwana. A talk and description of the events surrounding the Anglo-Zulu Wars will give us the context to the remarkable events in 1897 when the British invaded Zululand.

Group will be spending two nights at Fugitives Drift Lodge

 Fugitives Lodge – Malelane Gate – Jocks Safari Lodge

The longest drive of the rally from Fugitives Drift to Jocks Safari Lodge

It’s the Lodge’s location within Kruger that makes the experience completely unique and untamed as in the heart of the original Kruger the wildlife has never been displaced or had to be reintroduced to the area.     It also sits next to the Napi Wilderness Area (an untouched area of Kruger) so as bigger animals and predators search out new territories, they often filter into the Jock private concession.   The lodge itself is perfectly positioned on the confluence of two rivers, inviting all animals directly in front of the lodge to drink and is widely known for its intense Big 5 game viewing. The lodge also received a complete multi-million-rand face life in 2018, completely elevating the property to a new height and we stay in individually screened and private suites with outdoor bath and shower and beautiful double indoor showers.

We will arrive in time for high tea and latter in the afternoon board the covered 4×4 Land Cruisers for the first of our four game drives in the park conducted by highly experienced rangers. The wildlife here his sometimes staggering with elephants, prides of lions and buffalo.   At dusk, a vantage point is chosen to overlook one of the many breath-taking views of the park for Sundowners and tales of what this unique wilderness has to offer.   On the way back to the lodge there’s the opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as leopard, hyena and lion.   Dinner tonight in the boma is included.

Two nights in  Jocks Safari Lodge  https://jocksafarilodge.com/

A Day to relax and enjoy the lodge.   We have scheduled morning and evening game drives again today, but the rest of the day is yours to relax.  Enjoy your private pool, lunch on the veranda overlooking the river or join one of the Wilderness Walks.   Jock’s qualified walking guides provide the opportunity for us to experience the excitement of approaching species on foot rather than in a Land Cruiser.   Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Our tour ends after breakfast when it’s time to bid farewell to new and old friends, return our cars to the Johannesburg Airport to head home or continue touring