Luxury Self Drive Tour - 18 Days (Code SD11)

Detailed Self Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Kruger National Park
Clients are met upon arrival at Johannesburg International( O. R. Tambo) Airport by a representative of African Sky Safaris and Tours who presents them with their self drive tour itinerary, a map book of South Africa as well as a GPS on which a suggested route has been pre programmed. The locations of the suggested activities and places of interest we suggest in this itinerary are also logged in the GPS. At this time clients are also presented with accommodation and other relevant vouchers which they will require on their self drive tour.

The Representative spends an hour with guests going over the route and offering suggestions and advice. All members of the African Sky Team have years of experience in conducting tours and safaris in South and Southern Africa. He or she should be able to answer any questions clients might have regarding their self drive holiday. The representative then assists them with collecting their rental car after which clients embark on their self drive holiday of South Africa.

Guest will now venture into the beautiful and varied South African territory and travel through the Mpumalanga Province. Your journey will take you over the Long Tom Pass the highest road in South Africa. The Long Tom Pass gets its name from the Long Tom cannons used during the Anglo-Boer war. This area is also rich in vegetation, eucalyptus and pine trees are planted here and the scene is dominated by the peaks of Mount Anderson and Mauchsberg. Through the picturesque Sabi area. Visit to Pilgrims Rest is worth your while. The uniqueness of this historic village is vividly evident in its museums and historic sites. It offers the visitor a fascinating window into the past and captures the spirit of a bygone era and its people in their quest for gold. Guest will then make their way to Lion Sands an award-winning private game reserve, which is situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and is the only private reserve to have access to the perennial Sabie River, which it shares with the Kruger National Park.

Day 2-4: Kruger National Park
The next few days will be spent exploring and experiencing the incredible delights of the African Bush. Activities at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve include game drives, game walks, bush breakfasts/dinners, full moon walks, river tours, safari lunches and wildlife lectures. Guests interested in astronomy, can enjoy stargazing on evening game drives. The game drives at Lion Sands are included and are conducted by an experienced ranger and tracker from open 4X4 vehicles

Day 5: Mpumalanga Highlands
Guest will leave the Reserve and travel through the magnificent Lowveld countryside. En route to Walkersons guest can visit the Blyde River Gorge and Bourke's Luck where the Unique Geological features of the potholes are admired. Gods Window and beautiful walks to delightful falls like the Mac Mac and Bridal Veil are to be found in this area. Guest will overnight at Walkersons in Dullstroom. Walkersons offers warm hospitality and fine dining. The vistas are breathtaking surrounding the Lodge and guests can relax and enjoy a bottle of wine from their vintage collection. Dullstroom is a quaint little town of unique and unusual shops and restaurants. Well known too for the amazing fly fishing experiences.

Day 6: Maputoland
Leaving the Mpumalanga area and entering the lush Kwa Zulu Natal guest will experience the splendid scenery ranging from Savannah Grassland to forested hills and Banana Plantations bringing the diversity of South Africa to life as the road meanders south to the rolling hills of Zululand. Guest make their way to Phinda Forest Lodge lying within the 15 000 hectares/3 800 acres of Phinda Private Game Reserve, in the Maputaland region of KwaZulu-Natal.

Day 9-10: Shamwari
Breakfast is followed by a drive to Durban, from where guests will fly to Port Elizabeth where they will collect another vehicle and drive to Shamwari Game reserve. The reserve is home to Africa’s Big 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). The 25 000 hectare reserve boasts five eco-systems, thus enabling the support of many forms of plant, animal and bird life. Guests can indulge in the many activities available at the Lodge. Between game drives guests can fill their time with relaxing, reading, spa treatments, swimming, enjoying delicious cuisine, a game walk, or a visit to one of the two Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary. Two game drives on open 4X4 vehicles are included daily at Shamwari

Day 11: Garden Route
Guests can enjoy a last morning game drive followed by breakfast after which they will travel South to Knysna, the jewel of the garden route.The drive will take guests through the Tsitsikamma National Park and a quick stop at Storms River Mouth, to take a short walk to the famous Big Tree. A Yellowwood giant standing 36.6 meters high and is estimated to be +/- 800 years old. The scenic route then makes its way south en route to Natures Valley, which is reached after descending the Grootrivier Pass into the valley below where the town is located adjacent to the Grootrivier Lagoon. This river also marks the Western Boundary of the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve. Guests will continue to their accommodation at St James in Knysna. St James is nestled on the shores of the famous Knysna Lagoon where guests can enjoy dramatic views.