Extensive South African Self Drive Tour - 21 Days (Code SD12)

Detailed Self Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Kruger National Park
Clients are met upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg 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 guests with collecting their rental car after which clients embark on their self drive holiday of South Africa.

Suggested Itinerary:
Guests can travel via Nelspruit and Hazyview to the World Renowned Kruger National Park where guests will arrive during the mid afternoon. Guests will have the opportunity to view wildlife by means of Safari's, walking trails, night drives or a boat safari down the Olifant's River.

Day 2-4: Kruger National Park
Suggested Itinerary:
Guests can get an early morning start and make their way to the northern part of the central Kruger National Park. The vegetation of this area is characterized by Mopani shrub. This plant is a favorite food source for the many Elephant in this part of Kruger and seeing these graceful beasts in large numbers is a near certainty in this part of the Park. Guests can drive to Letaba where they can relax before visiting the local Elephant Museum. The museum offers guests a unique insight into the behavior and habits of these largest of Africa's mammals. It is also home to the tusks of the "Magnificent Seven" (Largest Tuskers to have died in the Kruger National Park). Over the next few days guests can drive into different areas of the Kruger Park to experience the varied wildlife to be found in the Park. The legendary Big Five, regarded to be the most majestic and awe inspiring mammals to be found anywhere in the world, are sure to be amongst the day’s highlights. In addition to the lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard, the reserve is blessed with a rich diversity of antelope and other mammal species.

Day 5: Mpumalanga Highlands
Suggested Itinerary:
Guests will leave the bush experience and make their way through the Mpumalanga Panoramic Route. Guests can visits the Blyde River Gorge dominated by the triplet peaks of the Three Rondavels and Bourke's Luck where the Unique Geological features of the potholes are admired. Gods Window is another possible attraction to visit on your drive to your next destination. God's Window is situated in a patch of indigenous forest where many flowering and aromatic plants flourish. A visit to the historical mining village of Pilgrims Rest affords guests the opportunity to experience the most perfect example in the world, of a mining town born during the excitement of an alluvial gold rush. Gold was discovered here in 1873 and the town was declared a national monument in 1986.Guests can enjoy a gold digging and panning demonstration before traveling to the overnight destination of Mount Sheba.

Day 6: Maputoland
Suggested Itinerary:
After breakfast guests will pass through the towns of Nelspruit, Barberton, Carolina, Ermelo, Piet Retief and Pongola en route to the overnight destination. Barberton was a boom town during the gold rush of the late 19th century. It was also home to the famous writer Percy Fitzpatrick whose epic tale " Jock of the Bushveld" has received international acclaim. A statue was erected in honor of this farmhouse dog in front of the town hall. Splendid scenery ranging from Savannah Grassland to forested hills and Banana Plantations brings the diversity of South Africa to life as the road meanders south to the rolling hills of Zululand. At the foot of the legendary Ghost Mountain in Klutzes, northern KwaZulu Natal lies your hotel Ghost Mountain Inn. Guests will overnight here.

Day 9-10: Addo
Suggested Itinerary:
Guests will take a drive to Durban, drop off their rental vehicle and fly to Port Elizabeth where the vehicle for the next leg of their journey is collected.. From Port Elizabeth they can travel to the Addo National Park.Addo Elephant National Park is situated 72km by road from Port Elizabeth. Established in 1931 to save 11 Elephants on the brink of extinction, and now home to more than 350 of them, 280 Cape Buffalo, black Rhino, a range of Antelope species, as well as the rare flightless dung Beetle, Addo Elephant Elephant Park is a perfect destination for the adventurous outdoor and nature lover. You will reach the park during the late afternoon to enjoy a sunset over the Zuurberg Bushveld. Guests will enjoy the graceful elephant , who embody Africa in some mysterious way to the rare black rhino, much smaller than the white but reputed for it's temperament which could flare, sometimes seemingly unprovoked. The Big cats and a large number of different plains game species that once again roam free in this their ancestral grazing grounds afford a glimpse of Africa in all her glory.

Day 11-12: Garden Route
Suggested Itinerary:
From the grace of the wild beasts to the breathtaking beauty of the vegetation guests will now travel South to Knysna, the jewel of the garden route. Guests will drive through the Tsitsikamma National Park and make 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. Knysna will be reached during the mid afternoon. Guests will book into their accommodation at Villa Castollini. Villa Castollini is a magnificent Tuscan-style luxury retreat set at the top of Brenton-on-Hill, with incredible views of the Knysna Lagoon by day and an enchanted wonderland of lights by night. Knysna is primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary, fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between “The Heads”, and has become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their treacherous and unpredictable waters. Guests can board a ferry crossing the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Featherbed Nature Reserve is a prime example of eco-tourism and in order to protect the splendor of the natural beauty, visitor numbers are limited. Another attraction is The Knysna Elephant Sanctuary which offers guests a closer look at the African Elephant by touching and feeding these gentle giants.