Compare Garden Route Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs 7 Day Safari And Tour by Access 2 Africa Safaris

Day 1 Durban

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, why not get out and explore Durban – teeming with golden, sandy beaches. Check out uMhlanga Lighthouse, a beautiful lighthouse on the lovely uMhlanga coastline. For dinner, perhaps grab your group and head to Florida Road for traditional Bunny Chow or some fresh seafood – your group leader will be able to recommend their favourite spots.

Day 2 Drakensberg

Leave Durban and travel inland towards the majestic Drakensberg mountain range this morning. Stop along the way at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and learn about the history of this great man. Continue the journey to Drakensberg mountain chain. Your accommodation here is in twin rooms with an ensuite at a unique backpacker lodge in Drakensberg. After you’ve settled in, enjoy a drink with your travel group in the thatched-loft lounge room. You’ll also be able to check out the onsite pool, jacuzzi, barbeque and fire pit.

Day 3 Drakensberg

Today you'll enjoy a refreshing hike through an amazing array of flora and fauna. Drakensberg is Southern Africa's highest range – sitting at 3482 metres – and forms part of the border between South Africa and Lesotho. The range is often referred to locally as the Barrier of Spears or the Dragon Mountains. Today there are sure to be some amazing views and excellent photo opportunities.

Day 4 Lesotho Highlands

Leaving Drakensberg behind, head into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Nestled like a small island in the middle of South Africa, Lesotho is commonly known as the 'Kingdom in the Sky' and has beautiful mountain ranges and endless hiking trails. Generally, the border crossing into Lesotho is quite smooth, but you may experience some delays, depending on the time of year. Drive past the Golden Gate Highlands National Park which is famous for its extraordinary sandstone rock formations. The park is also home to elands, zebras, mongooses and hundreds of bird species – keep your eyes peeled along the way.

Day 5 Lesotho Highlands

Today you’ll have a variety of hikes to choose from. The Lesotho Highlands offer excellent hiking for all levels of fitness and skill, so depending on your experience, you should be able to choose one that allows you to get the most out of these stunning landscapes.

Day 6 Wild Coast/Cintsa

Head to the stunning Wild Coast of South Africa and the charming little coastal town of Cintsa. Cintsa and its surrounding region are home to Xhosa communities, whose lifestyle is deeply rooted in tribal traditions and customs. Arriving in the late afternoon, you'll have time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Day 7 Wild Coast/Cintsa

Today you can enjoy some free time to explore the town, relax on the stunning beaches or book one of the many optional activities on offer. You might like to go hiking or mountain biking in the hinterland, hire a canoe to explore the Cintsa River or book in for a surfing lesson! Be sure to check in with your group leader to get their recommendations.

Day 8 Addo Elephant National Park

Today you'll travel on to Addo Elephant National Park which was created in 1931 to protect the region's eleven remaining elephants. A true success story in conservation - today there are over 450 elephants in the park, as well as Cape buffalo, black rhinos, all kinds of antelopes and even the unique flightless dung beetle. On arrival, you'll take an afternoon game drive with your group and try to spot some of these resident creatures, among others, from your truck.

Day 9 Garden Route / Tsitsikamma National Park

Wake early and enjoy another game drive in Addo Elephant National Park in an overland vehicle. Afterwards, begin your journey along the Garden Route, the first stop being Tsitsikamma National Park. Steep ancient forests meet the breakers of the Indian Ocean at this park, protecting both land and sea. It's a spectacular place for walking and viewing wildlife. Your group leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer, some of which you may like to book for your free day tomorrow.

Day 10 Tsitsikamma National Park

With another day in Tsitsikamma, you’ll have more time to explore this magnificent national park. Cape clawless otters, dolphins, tortoises and southern right whales (depending on the season) are all visitors here, along with baboons, monkeys and a heap of birdlife. See how many of them you can spot on a range of hiking trails, including those to the Stormsriver Mouth and waterfalls.

Day 11 Garden Route / Oudtshoorn

Head out across the arid Karoo region bound for Oudtshoorn. You'll stop at Knysna on the way to stretch your legs and explore this hamlet with a gorgeous lagoon. Travel on to the Cango Caves, where you’ll have time to explore the weird and wonderful rock formations – one is ‘Cleopatra's Needle’, standing at 29 feet high and at least 150,000 years old. Your local guide will give you all the ins-and-outs of their formation and history. Continue on to Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world. At the turn of the 20th century, it was full of 'feather barons' that grew rich from the popularity of ostrich feathers.

Day 12 Cape Town

Rise and shine very early this morning to spend some time with wild meerkats, part of the so-called 'Shy 5'. Head to their burrow, pull up a chair and sip coffee while the sun comes up and the meerkats climb out into the sunshine. You’ll have time to watch these habituated wild animals, which are never fed or handled by humans, go about their daily routine of foraging and frolicking. Then it's on to Cape Town, the beachside city you'll call home for the next two nights. Your accommodation is in twin rooms with an ensuite, located cool Kloof street, an area famous for beautiful views of Table Mountain, hip restaurants and bars, and historical buildings.

Day 13 Cape Town

Today, you'll visit Boulder's Beach to watch the resident penguins waddle across this beautiful beach framed by ancient granite boulders. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cape Town however you wish. With sweeping views across the city and the ocean below, you might like to make your way to the top of Table Mountain. Whether you choose to chill out and enjoy the city's famous cable car to reach the top or strap on your walking shoes and get hiking - we'll leave it up to you. Otherwise, take your time simply exploring this beachside city, perhaps sipping local wines and dining by the oceanfront.

Day 14 Cape Town

Your South African adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. There's no accommodation provided for tonight, but this can be arranged – please enquire at the time of booking this trip.

Day 1

A warm welcome awaits you at Durban International airport where you will be met by your friendly hosts. You will be transferred through Durban, Africa’s exciting seaside paradise to the 5 star Makaranga Garden Lodge This lodge is the premier lodge in South Africa catering for people with physical disabilities in the world with 30 acres of private botanical gardens including 18  ponds, waterways and prolific birdlife. Located in the rolling hills of KwaZulu Natal and near the  Valley of a Thousand Hills this is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and be enchanted by the scenery after your exertions of a long flight. The beautiful gardens are an oasis of peace and serenity with indigenous and exotic plants and provide the ideal backdrop to achieve the desired levels of relaxation for all who visit. Soak up the spirit of our special slice of Africa while enjoying refreshments on the Tuscan Terrance which overlooks a pond.

Day 2

After a relaxing morning where you may wish to have a spa treatment or simply explore Makaranga stunning gardens we head for the Valley Of Thousand Hills (a 20 minute drive) for its stunning views and to Phezulu Cultural Village where you will watch the Zulu Dancers and traditional cultural village and learn about the special and unique zulu customs.We visit craft markets,interesting shops and the Heritage Market along this route on our return to Makaranga.Lodge.

Day 3

Today is a day of excitement where you will be taken to Durban Beachfront and Golden Mile to explore the markets, beachfront at North Beach and restaurants before heading out for the great African safari and Umfolozi / Hluhluwe Game Reserve situated in the largest and most spectacular ecotourism region in South Africa.(3 hours drive from Durban) Established in 1895 Hluhluwe/ Umfolozi is the home of The Big Five and Operation Rhino. It became world renowned for saving the white rhino from extinction. Bonamanzi Game Reserve is where you will be staying for the next 3 nights. The wildlife walk freely around the lodge and it is located in rare sand forest park surrounded by sights of the bush and nature.

Day 4 and 5

These are the days where the spirit of Africa touches your soul. We embark on leisurely extended game drives to all areas of the Park. There is much to explore! Your experienced ranger will help you spot and identify many species of bird and animal life. (The Elephant Coast has more than 500 species of birdlife recorded). With a little assistance most people will be able to distinguish the more common families of birds in no time at all Look out for the abundant animal life such as black rhino, nyala, kudu, hippo, crocodile, waterbuck, reedbuck, red duiker, baboons, monkeys, hyena, wildebeest, giraffe and often to be seen elephant and buffalo You may also see lion, cheetah, wild dog and other predators.

Day 6

Today will be a special excursion: Visit the ancient World Heritage Site at False Bay, the largest estuarine system formed in Africa formed 140 million years ago. Other attractions include Ilala Weavers with its restaurant where you will enjoy lunch and curio shops featuring traditional Zulu basket weaving  and beading.

We then set off for St Lucia, a picturesque village situated within a nature reserve and which is surrounded by 5 distinct ecosystems and iSimangaliso Wetland Park. St Lucia offers the day visitor an endless wealth of possibilities with its shops, curio and African-ware flea markets, pubs, restaurants, boatrides, and a lovely interpretation centre explaining the ecology of the World Natural Heritage Site. You will spot crocodiles, hippos and abundant birdlife from the shoreline and on a boat trip which offers great opportunity for special and unique photography. In the afternoon we head for the return back to Durban and to your accommodation near Valley of Thousand Hills.

Day 7

Time to prepare for your trip and flight. We transfer you to Durban International Airport.