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South Africa Safaris

A typical day on safari

Expect a wake up call just before sunrise and gather for tea/coffee and rusks before heading out at first light. If you are lucky, the big cats will still be around after their night of hunting. This is Big 5 country (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) all of which are possible to see during your time at the Game Reserve.

There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Stop halfway through the morning game drive for hot drinks and rusks from the Landrover snack box and return at around 9am for breakfast. After breakfast take a guided bush walk or relax around the pool.

At about 3.30pm everybody convenes for high tea, before departing with the same ranger/tracker team for the day’s second African bush safari.

Enjoy a sundowner drink along the way and get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun go down over Africa. As darkness descends it’s time to return to the safety of the Landrover and let the tracker scan the landscape with a spotlight picking out the glinting eyes of nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge at around 7pm, where there is time to freshen up before dinner.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY

South Africa - Cape, Winelands & Garden Route

DAY 1

Take an overnight, direct flight to Cape Town.

DAY 2

Transfer from the airport Four Rosmead for overnight B/B accommodation – luxury room.

The Four Rosmead is an exclusive boutique guesthouse located at the foot of the enchanting Table Mountain. and an exceptional menu for those who are vegetarians.

Off street parking, a spa Pick up from Four Rosmead and go on a guided, full day Cape Peninsula tour. Overnight B/B accommodation at Four Rosmead – luxury room on a bed and breakfast basis.

DAY 3

Cape Point Tour. Entrance included: Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Boulders Penguin Colony. Tour commences at 9:30. We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. Optional: Seal Island boat trip (seasonal) (not incl. in cost). On through Chapman’s Peak , one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not incl. in cost), visit the historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach.

DAY 4

A hire car will be delivered to your hotel and proceed to The Hideaway in Swellendam where you will spend one night in a luxury suite on a bed and breakfast basis. A national monument and one of the oldest houses in Swellendam, this beautiful Victorian bed & breakfast – right on the Garden Route – radiates an old-world charm and rustic elegance that has made it famous the world over.

DAY 5

After breakfast make you way (via the scenic route) to Oudtshoorn and spend the next 2 nights at The Thorntree on a B/B basis. The Country House is situated on the route to the Cango Caves, the Swartberg Pass and the circle route to Prince Albert via Meiringspoort. It is also within easy reach of the Cango Ostrich Farm and Cango Wildlife Ranch. The homestead and outbuildings date back to the 1800’s and reflect the typical Klein Karoo architectural style.

DAY 6

Thorntree Country House – B/B

Day spent exploring this region – we will provide you with a list of things to see/do in this area.

DAY 7

Weather permitting do the circular drive through Price Albert and Klaarkstroomand then make your way down the Outeniqua Pass, through Knysna to Lairds Lodge.

This exclusive Country House set on a 24 acre estate with distant mountain views – is perfectly positioned between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route. An ideal getaway for those wanting to enjoy gracious country living, Laird’s Lodge offers easy access to unspoiled beaches, world class golf courses, scenic nature reserves and hiking trails.

DAY 8

Have an early breakfast and make your way towards Port Elizabeth and continue on to Amakhala Private Game Reserve and spend 3 nights on safari at Woodbury Lodge, a full board basis. Make sure you are there by 230 PM so you can relax a little before the safari begins at approx. 330 PM.

Woodbury Lodge, situated on the beautiful Amakhala Game Reserve only some 75km from Port Elizabeth, is spectacularly set against a cliff above the Bushman’s River valley Meals with a South African flavour are served in a relaxed and stylish atmosphere in the central dining room, and guests can gather around the outdoor fire or in the attractive bar lounge for a drink and snacks before dinner.

Breakfasts on occasion are served outdoors on the deck of the dining room. A range of game viewing and other activities such as the river cruise and canoeing are on offer, or you could just recline around the pool and enjoy some sun while the birds keep you company.

DAY 9

Woodbury Lodge – F/B and 2 scheduled game activities per day

DAY 10

Woodbury Lodge – F/B and 2 scheduled game activities per day

DAY 11

Early morning game drive and breakfast at the lodge and then start making your way back to the Plettenberg/Knysna area. first of two nights at Emily Moon River Lodge in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis.

Spend the Emily Moon River Lodge is owned by Mark and Christine Valentine. Mark, a leading dealer in African artefacts, has filled the restaurant, sun deck and eight luxurious lodges with treasures he has collected from across the continent of Africa, as well as beautiful objects from India.

DAY 12

Emily Moon River Lodge – B/B

Day spent looking around Knysna if you didn’t do it on the way up or Plettenberg and the Tsitsikamma Forest/Storms River regions.

DAY 13

Mont Rochelle Hotel – B/B

DAY 14

Late PM make your way to Cape Town airport and take the overnight, direct flight back to London.

New regulations for children travelling to and from South Africa
Important announcement
New regulations relating to children who travel to and from South Africa will come into effect 01 October 2014. These new regulations were promulgated in terms of the South African Immigration Amendment Act of 2010 and define children as persons under the age of 18.

  • In terms of the new regulations, when parents are travelling with a child they need to produce an unabridged birth certificate that shows the names of both parents. In cases where the certificate is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country concerned.
  • When a child travels with only one parent, additional documents should include an affidavit in which the absent parent gives consent for the child to travel, a court order granting full parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child, or the death certificate of the absent parent. The affidavit should be no more than three months old, from date of travel.
  • In the case of a child travelling with a person other than a parent, the unabridged birth certificate must be supplemented by affidavits from the parents or legal guardians confirming that the child may travel with that person, copies of identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian, and the contract details of the parents or legal guardian.
  • Similarly, a child travelling as an unaccompanied minor would have to produce not only the unabridged birth certificate, but also proof of consent from both parents, or legal guardian and contact details, plus documentation should include a letter stating the person’s contact details and residential address and contact details where the child will be residing plus a copy of his or her identity document, passport or residence permit.
  • All documents must either be original or certified as true copies of the original by a competent authority. Documents not in English must be accompanied by a sworn translation.

For more information also visit the Department of Home Affairs South Africa website: www.dha.gov.za/

For customers resident in the UK you can also request further information by contacting the South African High Commission.

Tel: +44 20 7839 5198

Email: nkanyanab@dirco.gov.za

 

Or in person at South Africa House.

 

Details for the South African Consulator information can be found at the following website URL: www.southafricahouseuk.com/
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