Johannesburg to Cape Town self drive tours
| country: | South Africa | ||||
| location: | Kruger National Park, Western Cape, Limpopo Province | ||||
| departures: | Tour departs from Johannesburg every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday with a minimum of two people | ||||
| price: | From R 8,826 (16 days) excluding flights. Price per person based on 2 sharing and includes 7 days car rental & collection fee, train ticket, meals (13 breakfasts, 1 lunch), accommodation, tours and excursions as per itinerary. Subject to availability
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| more info: | Prices and accommodation subject to availability. World Cup 2010, 15 May - 31 July, accommodation and rates only on request | ||||
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Get close up with South Africa, its rich culture and people in an original way. Stay in traditional villages, hop on a bicycle in Soweto and see wildlife in the Kruger National Park. Experience Shosholoza Meyl; the local train, taking you from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Featured activities
Wildlife Viewing Project Visits Train Shosholoza Meyl Exploring South African culture
Featured activities
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | After your arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, you meet our local representative who will explain you the details of your trip. The representative will provide you with your personalized route description, project information and the necessary contact details. From the airport you will be transferred to your hotel or guesthouse in Melville, a popular area in Johannesburg. Overnight: In a guesthouse vibey Mellville |
| Day 2: | After breakfast will you be picked up for a Fairtrade in Tourism (FTTSA) accredited Soweto Tour. This tour will give you the opportunity to experience the Soweto Township in its purest. Thereafter we will head off to the bicycles to explore the hidden corners of the township. Learn Tsotsi Taal (a language spoken by the locals), visit a day care centre and a hostel to experience the effects of Apartheid. Visit a local home and experience the vibe in Meadowlands. After the cycle through Soweto you get to unwind with a typical township lunch. (Lunch is included). After lunch you will be dropped off at the International Airport where your car is ready for pick-up. Optional: You can spend the night in a comfortable accommodation in Soweto. May you want to book the overnight in Soweto then you will be dropped off at the International Airport to pick up your car the next morning. Overnight: In a guesthouse in vibey Mellville. |
| Day 3: | Today you leave the province of Gauteng and drive to Makhado, situated in the Limpopo province, formerly known as Transvaal. You overnight 2 nights in FTTSA accredited Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge, in thatched chalets, all incorporating elements from local artists and crafters. On site there is a curio shop promoting crafts from area, promoting sustainable tourism. Included is a guided sunset cruise on the Levubu River where you meet up with hippos and crocodiles. Overnight: FFTSA accredited Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge |
| Day 4: | Today you have the option of going on a guided local artist tour; you visit the small little villages in the surrounding of Makhado. Get to know the Venda and Shangaan culture, famous for their multi culture arts and crafts. Meet local wood carvers, potters and textile weavers in their own villages. Picnic is included. This optional excursion be booked at the accommodation. Overnight: FFTSA accredited Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge |
| Day 5: | Today you will drive one of South Africa’s most beautiful mountain passes; the Magoebaskloof. En route you can choose to visit Madi a Thavha Mountain farm. Madi a Thava is a farm situated in the South Western Soutpansberg mountains in Limpopo province. Their business activities are focusing on developing tourism, farming and community activities in such a way that they contribute to the improvement of daily life of the people in the local communities. At Madi a Thava you can meet the people and discover what the farm is doing to help towards the upliftment of the local community. The destination you are heading for today is Tzaneen, known as a cosy little town, surrounded by beautiful fruit and tea farms. Here you will overnight 2 nights. Overnight: In a hotel in Tzaneen |
| Day 6: | Today you have time to explore the scenic area. You can visit the quaint Tzaneen museum and the Modjadji Cycad Nature Reserve; a unique natural forest in its prehistoric state, named after the dynasty of Rain Queens, Modjadji. Have a drink in a 6000 year old Baobab tree. You can also choose to go on an optional guided excursion to the nearby Shangaan or Pedi Village where you can meet the chief and the Sangoma; the medicine man. Overnight: In a hotel in Tzaneen |
| Day 7: | You will drive on to the famous Kruger National Park where you overnight 2 nights in unique tented lodge. This accommodation conforms to the highest standards of low impact eco-friendly criteria, committed to the preservation of pristine wilderness areas. The suites re designed and constructed to guarantee minimum impact on the natural habitat. For that reason the suites have been built on wooden stilts. Several activities can be booked at the accommodation: tribal dancing, community tours and guided nature experiences. The tented Lodge is a partnership between the Mhaule Rural Community and Private Capital. You can accompany the volunteers on a day tour of the Local Community and witness your contribution to Africa on a one to one basis. The Community Tour will take you to the George Mhaule School where you can witness our feeding schemes and our nutrient drink production plant. After a brief tour of the Community you may wish to take the opportunity of getting down and dirty by assisting in our Community Organic Farming Project. This project is a world first in concept and design and enjoys the direct support and participation of the South African Government. Overnight: In the Kruger National Park |
| Day 8: | Today you can have a wildlife experience, self drive, in the Big Five territory; spot the Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and the Buffalo. For those who prefer a guided game drive in an open vehicle, or want to join one of the other activities these can be booked at the accommodation. Overnight: In the Kruger National Park |
| Day 9: | After breakfast you will leave the park and drive onto the magnificent Panorama route, with highlights as Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window. You can visit historical gold mining city Pilgrim’s Rest. Continue to Graskop where you will overnight. Overnight: In a hotel in Graskop |
| Day 10: | You will leave the Panorama route area and head for Johannesburg. This is about a five hours drive along partly scenic route. In Johannesburg you will drop your car at the International Airport after which you will be picked up by a local representative. From here you will be dropped at your comfortable cottage in Johannesburg, from where your car will be collected by the car rental company. Overnight: In a guesthouse or hotel in Johannesburg |
| Day 11: | Goodbye to Gauteng and welcome to the Cape. Transfer will be arranged to collect you at your accommodation and to drop you off at the train station. From here you will take the Shosholoza Meyl Train to Cape Town, (Train departs from Johannesburg every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday). Experience local travelling while enjoying the beautiful and different landscapes. Overnight: In the train from JHB to CPT |
| Day 12: | Today you will arrive in Cape Town. On walking distance from the train station you will find your accommodation. This accommodation follows the Natural Step guidelines. The Natural Step is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to education, advisory work and research in sustainable development. The afternoon will you have at leisure. On walking distance you can visit many different shops, restaurants and tourist attractions like museums and the V&A Waterfront. This accommodation follows the Natural Step guidelines. Overnight: In a hotel in the City Centre of Cape Town |
| Day 13: | In the morning will you be picked up for a Cultural Township Tour. This tour starts at the District Six Museum to improve your knowledge about South African cultural history / Apartheid. From there you will meet several people at their homes. From District Six, to the ‘Black’ Townships – nothing will be missed. Meet the different cultures on a personal level, communicate with each other, share stories and share dreams. During this tour you will also visit a local initiative that we support. This can for example be an orphanage, a local crafter or entrepreneur. In the afternoon you will get back at your accommodation. Overnight: In a hotel in Cape Town City Centre |
| Day 14: | Discover Cape Town! Visit Robben Island, climb Table Mountain, visit one of Cape Town most beautiful beaches, picknick at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, book a Cape Peninsula Tour, go shopping or just relax. This day is at leisure. Overnight: In a hotel in Cape Town City Centre |
| Day 15: | Today you will be picked up by your arranged transfer to the Cape winelands area of Stellenbosch. Overnight: In a guesthouse in Stellenbosch |
| Day 16: | Today you will go on a wine tour in the famous Cape winelands. Several farms will be visited. These farms will all have something special besides their splendid wines. They are either Fairtrade, run by a social responsible community programme, blend organic wines or are carbon neutral certified. After this tour you will be transferred back to Cape Town Airport, 3 hours before your return or connecting flight. |
travellers' tales
There were many moments, but if i had to choose it was whilst driving through Kruger Park a group of five elephants crossed the road, we stopped the car and waited for them to pass. The last elephant before crossing altogether raised its trunk at us as a sign of thank you for letting them cross. It was fantastic. (more)
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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Environment
We use accommodations that are dedicated to staff and local community as well as the conservation of the areas in which they develop. We stay in these accommodations to assist in the growth of sustainable tourism. In this tour we make, where possible, use of FTTSA accredited accommodations, accommodations that are in the process of becoming accredited or following a responsible programme like The Natural Step. On your excursion to the Cape Winelands you will have the opportunity to visit a carbon neutral winefarm. This is a good example of what you can do to become carbon neutral yourself and invest in the environment. On this tour you add positively to the environment by paying conservation fees at the National Parks, travelling partly by train instead of by car or plane, overnight at the same accommodation more nights to reduce your footprint. To help you reduce your carbon offset even more we calculate the total kilometres you have been driving. In return we would like to encourage our clients to plant trees through Food & Trees For Africa. As a sign of commitment in saving the environment we received a Carbon Neutral Certificate from Planet Green Ocean Blue. Besides this is BEE-accredited and do we follow responsible tourism guidelines. Community This tour offer tourists the opportunity to uplift the communities by visiting projects. In this 16 day tour the following projects will / can be visited; in the Fairtrade Soweto Tour will you visit a local project, Madi a Thava, one of the community projects supported by the Kruger accommodation and the Cultural Tour in Cape Town. These projects offer tourists an opportunity to visit and uplift directly. One of the Trust's missions is to utilise all aspects of responsible tourism as a sustainable development tool for the people of Southern Africa. Our Trust works by creating awareness and sharing of knowledge, culture and passion. Visitors, exchange skills and knowledge with the locals, help support the set up of vibrant tourist stops and community development projects. The assistance and participation, visits and feedback of visitors and volunteers, creates sustenance and boosts the local economy. On its turn generating direct income and employment opportunities. Together with local NGO’s and organisations, cooperation is sought for further development of the Trust, providing a network for volunteers and visitors to South Africa eventually hoping to start a helpdesk for sustainable and responsible holidays. |
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. |