South Africa wildlife tour
| country: | South Africa | ||||
| location: | Cederberg Mountains | ||||
| departures: | Departures can be arranged at anytime throughout the year, subject to availability | ||||
| price: | From R 84,500 (approx £5,168) (22 days) excluding flights, based on two people sharing.
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| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The main theme will be on experiencing nature:
The marine mammals like whales, dolphins and the great white shark. The migrant, marine birds from the Antarctic like Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Petrels and the endangered Jackass Penguin. Land mammals like the elusive Cape Mountain Leopard, the rare Cape Mountain Zebra and the Meerkats On land, these will be experienced amidst the diverse, botanical environment of indigenous forests, fynbos and succulent karoo vegetation. Flowers occur year round in each of these eco regions. The most spectacular flower experience is normally from July to September.
When one sees South Africa as a huge peninsula, then it becomes more clear that the land is a place of opposites. The Cape of Good Hope and The Cape of Storms is indeed one and the same place. How can it be explained?
From the natural perspective, one must firstly see the three ocean currents. The cold Benguella from the Antarctic flowing north along the west (Atlantic) coast of South Africa and the warm Agulhas current flowing south along the east coast (Indian Ocean) of South Africa.
This fundamental, natural fact will give a reasonable explanation why the rainfall is high in the eastern side of the country and becomes less and less closer to the western side. The high temperature of the Agulhas current is responsible for the hot, humid climate of Durban. The Agulhas current flows parallel to the coast up to Mossel Bay where it turns eastward.
The Benguella current causes the colder, dry climate of the Fairest Cape, west Coast and Namaqualand Coast. The Benguella current, rich in plankton, supports a prolific marine life. The sea water on the West Coast looks a bit dirty but that is because of the abundant nutrients. The southerly and south-easterly winds on the west coast push the surface waters westwards, allowing for a continual upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters coming from the South Pole. The Benguella, rich in nutrients, supplies the marine resources for South Africa’s sea harvesting industry on the west coast.
Sandy beaches abound on the whole of South Africa’s coast line but on the eastern coast they nestled within the natural green habitat of the coastal bush and subtropical forests, the evergreen temperate forests of the Garden Route and the fynbos of the Overberg and the Fairest Cape. On the West Coast they stretch out over the barren landscape of semi desert and desert.
When one sees South Africa as a huge peninsula, then it becomes more clear that the land is a place of opposites. The Cape of Good Hope and The Cape of Storms is indeed one and the same place. How can it be explained?
From the natural perspective, one must firstly see the three ocean currents. The cold Benguella from the Antarctic flowing north along the west (Atlantic) coast of South Africa and the warm Agulhas current flowing south along the east coast (Indian Ocean) of South Africa.
This fundamental, natural fact will give a reasonable explanation why the rainfall is high in the eastern side of the country and becomes less and less closer to the western side. The high temperature of the Agulhas current is responsible for the hot, humid climate of Durban. The Agulhas current flows parallel to the coast up to Mossel Bay where it turns eastward.
The Benguella current causes the colder, dry climate of the Fairest Cape, west Coast and Namaqualand Coast. The Benguella current, rich in plankton, supports a prolific marine life. The sea water on the West Coast looks a bit dirty but that is because of the abundant nutrients. The southerly and south-easterly winds on the west coast push the surface waters westwards, allowing for a continual upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters coming from the South Pole. The Benguella, rich in nutrients, supplies the marine resources for South Africa’s sea harvesting industry on the west coast.
Sandy beaches abound on the whole of South Africa’s coast line but on the eastern coast they nestled within the natural green habitat of the coastal bush and subtropical forests, the evergreen temperate forests of the Garden Route and the fynbos of the Overberg and the Fairest Cape. On the West Coast they stretch out over the barren landscape of semi desert and desert.
best time to go
Year round but for viewing the whales and the Antarctic birds from Cape Town, the best time is from June to September. Summers (December - January) are hot and dry; winters (June - August) are cool and intermittent rain. "Secret season" (May - September) has fewer tourists and is greener and cooler. day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Fairest Cape via Boland to Swartland. Transfer from Cape Town through the Boland to the eastern tip of the Swartland to be hosted on a working sheep and wheat farm. Full board and all activities. Half of the farm is set aside for Cape mountain fynbos conservation with a breeding herd of TB free buffalo. Relax and enjoy warm hospitality and the space of a 16000 hectare property. Daily game drives included. Second day having informal, introducing talks by specialists on the experiences you will be having. Mammals, herpetology, birds, fossils, marine life and fynbos. |
| Day 3-4: | Swartland via Boland to Klein Karoo. Travel to Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo to be hosted on a working ostrich farm and nature reserve. Half board accommodation and included are a guided nature walk introducing the succulent plants of the Klein Karoo, a visit to the Swartberg research station of the Cape Leopard Trust and have your guided Meerkat excursion on the farm. |
| Day 5-6: | Klein Karoo to Garden Route. Travel via the Langkloof to The Tsitsikamma National Park at the Storms River Mouth. This was the first proclaimed Marine National Park in Africa. The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. Accommodation in self equipped cottages. |
| Day 7-8: | Garden Route. Travel to Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, to be hosted in luxury Cottages amongst fynbos carefully restored by the owners, B&B. Visit a Dolphin and Whale Research Center to be enlightened on various dolphin species and the Southern Right, Humpback and Bryde whales. Then combine this with a Marine Safari. |
| Day 9: | Along Garden Route entering the Overberg. It is a 500 km drive to the next destination. Go slow and overnight at Albertinia to have a slow food dinner at a little Hotel famous for its good food. DBB. |
| Day 10-11: | Full Board Overberg. Drive from Albertinia to Gansbaai to be hosted at a Private Nature Reserve. Full board and activities All guided excursions on plants, flowers, birds and coastal are included. We will book a short lecture by Wilfred Chivell from Dyer Island Cruises on his operations and projects on whales, the great White Shark, the Jackass Penquins and the local community. You can have both a whale watching cruise and a shark cage snorkelling experience. We include a half day tour to the Southern Tip of Africa |
| Day 12-13: | Overberg to Fairest Cape. Travel via the coast to Cape Town to reach your destination early afternoon and be accommodated in an impressive twelve bedroom boutique hotel with exceptionally generous proportions, ideal for visitors who want a gently pampered environment near to the main attractions of the ‘Mother City’. The Villa is situated half way between the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and Table Mountain Cableway in a quiet residential quarter with a lovely ‘village’ feel within a short stroll of the centre of Cape Town and a large number of its best restaurants. B&B. During an evening session you will be briefed by Birdlife SA specialists for your full day marine birding experience on South African and Antarctic marine species. |
| Day 14-15: | Fairest Cape to West Coast. A slow drive to Saldanha Bay via a visit to an active archaelogical site on the ancient Berg River mouth. Afternoon at leisure with your hosts in Saldanha Bay. DBB. Dine at a waterfront Restaurant for some fresh seafood. You will be informed about the full day island hopping and marine life boat trip for the next day. |
| Day 16-17: | North along the West Coast: Saldanha Bay to Lamberts Bay. After breakfast you reach Velddrift to do a birdwatching boat cruise on the Berg River and enjoy a picnic lunch. Arrive late afternoon at a west coast farm and nature reserve for local cuisine. DBB. Discuss your programme for the next day with your guide and local hosts. After breakfast, your 2 hour marine game drive will start at 9:30. This will be your best opportunity to see SA’s only indigenous dolphin, the Heaviside dolphins, up close. |
| Day 18-20: | West Coast to Cederberg. From Lamberts Bay we drive in the direction of the Cederberg Conservency via Clanwilliam. Do shopping for your, self catering stay the next three days at a private nature reserve. We switch to the 4x4 game viewing vehicle for the one hour drive to the nature reserve. You will stay in traditional twin bedded shepherd’s huts with high quality amenities. From your privately located hut and with the guidance of local knowledge the 6000 hectares are all yours to explore for the next days |
| Day 21: | From Cederberg to Boland. Make your way slowly from the Cederberg to Zomerlust Gastehuis in Paarl. DBB. We will gladly assist you with final preparations for your flight back home. A farewell 3 course dinner with traditional and seasonal food will be served. Other stakeholders who contributed to your experience will be invited. |
| Day 22: | Fairest Cape Farewell. Transfer to Cape Town to return home. |
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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What you can expect are hosts who think globally about sustainability. What you can experience is what they do locally. About places we support:
At Bartholomeus Klip, conservation co-exists with farming. Explore the unique blend of agriculture and conservation, and learn about the buffalo and quagga breeding projects on the farm. The nature reserve, a Conservation Project, with its characteristic fynbos and rare renosterveld vegetation, forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. It has been declared a National Heritage Site in recognition of its importance as the last major habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world’s rarest reptiles. The guest facilities are managed by the wives of men working on the farm. Stay on a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn where the owner stopped farming in one paddock to make room for Meerkat research and a walking with Meerkats experience. Local people involved in the Meerkat and hospitality section using own farm produce for meats and salads. Stay in Plettenberg Bay where dedicated people restored the original fynbos area from the previously misused forestry business. Support Kira at Ocean Safaris where each sea safari is a data sampling exercise and some of your money goes to local research on dolphins but where results are internationally shared and applied. Much awarded places like Grootbos and Farm215 known for their conservation of coastal and mountain fynbos and partnerships with local communities and gardening courses for local unemployed people. Supporting Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamic where part of your money flows to research on white sharks and jackass penguins and support their Nolwandle community craft project for producing and selling authentic products to tourists in the Gansbaai area. On the arid West Coast with its highly nutritional, cold, sea water you will learn about its gifts of sea food, farming. Stay and support individuals working pro actively for sustainable harvesting of the sea and sustainable farming. Their “Struggle” is not an individual one but really a community effort. Farm Bakkrans is a special area for breeding and studying the Cape Mountain Zebra and is also home to the Cape Leopard Research Center. Funds are made available for students who wish to study the plants, animals and reptiles in the area. The area offers unsurpassed opportunities for recreation. In the primitive wilderness, one finds space and peace. Activities, which are compatible with the wilderness atmosphere, such as hiking and rock climbing, are encouraged. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |