Thursday 10th May Departure from London Heathrow airport to Johannesburg this evening.
Friday 11th May On arrival this morning in Johannesburg, the group will transfer to Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner the hotel tonight. Overnight: Pretoria (-/-/D)
Saturday 12th May Depart this morning after breakfast for Delmas, where we will visit the prestigious estate of the Rossouw family, who are leading maize and sugar bean farmers. They also have a poultry division. Depart afterwards for the small town of Cullinan for a tour of the Cullinan Diamond mine. Lunch stop on the way back to the hotel to freshen up before departing for the Lesedi Cultural Village, set in pristine bushveld and rocky hills close to Johannesburg. Here, you learn more about the Xhosa tribe, who dress in traditional white blankets and live in thatched ‘rondavels’, the Zulus, with their fighting sticks and cosy beehive huts, the colonial straw hats and thick, colourful blankets of the Sotho, as well as the rhythmic drums and whistles of the Pedi people. The programme includes traditional singing and dancing and a traditional dinner in the ‘boma’. The evening will provide a full picture of South Africa’s cultural diversity. Return to the hotel in Pretoria
Overnight: Pretoria (B/L/D)
Sunday 13th May Depart after breakfast for the Tau Game Lodge, situated in the Madikwe Game Reserve, on the Botswana border, surrounded by 75,000 ha of African sandveld, this luxury lodge is positioned in the Groot Marico river in an area which is free from malaria and foot and mouth disease. Lunch will be included en route. Late afternoon game drive with sun-downers in the bush.
Overnight: Tau Game Lodge (B/L/D)
Monday 14th May Begin today with an early morning game drive, followed by breakfast. Then there will be part of the day at leisure to relax at the pool or go on a game walk. Late in the afternoon, there is the opportunity for another game drive in search of the ‘Big Five’: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Overnight: Tau Game Lodge (B/-/D)
Tuesday 15th May After an early breakfast, travel in an easterly direction via Zeerust and Lichtenburg to Bothaville which is a small town also known as the “maize capital”. The head office of Grain South Africa is situated in Bothaville. The afternoon will be spent with your hosts on their farm to learn more about dry land crop farming.
Overnight : Bothaville / Farm stay (B/-/D)
Wednesday 16th May Most of today is spent at Nampo, the biggest and most important agricultural show in South Africa held at a site in the vicinity of Bothaville. All aspects of South African agriculture are represented here – truly a golden opportunity to meet the South African farming community and very convivial circumstances and share ideas. Naturally, some prize cattle will be on show.
Overnight: Bothaville / Farm stay (B/-/D)
Thursday 17th May After an early breakfast, depart for Kroonstad for a visit to the farm of Riaan Crous, “Gedultfontein”, where he farms with Bonsmara cattle on 3,000 hectares. One of the main activities is to provide stud bulls for commercial farmers; for this reason they have their own Phase C (growth and conversion) feedlot. They have in total 1500 commercial cattle and 400 cattle consisting of mother cows and stud bulls. He also farms with game and has buffalo, rhino and sable antelope. A light lunch will be served on the farm. After lunch travel through to Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State. Arrival in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Bloemfontein (B/L/D)
Friday 18th May Depart south to Cradock, travelling through sheep country. En route you visit the sheep farm of the Pienaar family. Their farm is called Klipplaatsfontein and their Mega Merino Stud is one of the best Merino studs in South Africa. Embryos from the Mega Merino Stud are sent to the main wool-producing countries. These prime quality organically-grown wools find their way to many of the world’s main centres. Lunch will be on the farm with the Pienaar family. Arrive late afternoon in Cradock. This evening you are treated to Victorian elegance at the Victoria Manor, furnished throughout with lovely antiques and oriental rugs. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Craddock (Victoria Manor Hotel) (B/L/D)
Saturday 19th May Depart after breakfast further south to Port Elizabeth and then on to Plettenbergbay. You then travel along the scenic Garden Route to Tsitsikama National Park, where the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, and where temperate high forest and ‘fynbos’ (cape bush) roll down to the sea in an unspoilt carpet of green. A lunch stop will be made in Tsitsikama National Park. ‘Tsitsikama’ means ‘water begins’, a name derived from the area’s high rainfall and the incidence of numerous rivers and streams. Afternoon visit to the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary and Birds of Eden. Monkeyland is an eco-tourism free-roaming, multi-species private sanctuary. It is the world’s first and only current multi-species, free-roaming primate sanctuary. The longest suspension bridge (128 m) in Africa can be found here. Birds of Eden boasts the World’s largest dome, the unique two- hectare dome spans a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. There is also a canopy walk, which, while shorter than the 128m bridge at Monkeyland, hangs above the clouds. The decision to develop Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds and miniature monkeys. Dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: Plettenbergbay (B/L/D)
Sunday 20th May
This morning enjoy a hearty breakfast, before travelling west to George via Knysna and Wilderness. At Knysna, enjoy a cruise on the lagoon, to see various sights such as the Knysna Heads with splendid views of the sea on one side and on the other the town of Knysna, with its spectacular backdrop of forests and mountains. Continue through the Wilderness Lake District, arriving in the early afternoon at your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. The hotel was named after King George IV. Dinner will be included in the hotel tonight.
Overnight: George (Protea King George Hotel) (B/-/D)
Monday 21st May
Depart after breakfast for a visit to the farm of Johan van Greunen, a leading seed potato grower in the district of George. Johan also farms with Jersey dairy cattle and has his own dairy on the farm. A variety of vegetables is also grown. Our next visit will be to the farm of Mark and Janelle Miller, Redberry strawberry farm. Depart after lunch Oudtshoorn, the ostich capital of South Africa, via the Outeniqua mountain pass. Afternoon visit to the Hooper High Gate Ostrich farm which is a commercial and show farm. You learn more about their breeding programme and for the daring there will be an opportunity to ride on an ostrich.Dinner will be at your hotel
Overnight: Oudsthoorn (B/-/D)
Tuesday 22nd May Depart after breakfast for a visit to ‘Uhuru’, the farm of Gerrie Mathee, where he farms with boerbokke and cattle. You then depart for Cape Town travelling though the Klein Karoo, also Calitzdorp known for its extensive apricot orchards, and then via Barrydale, Swellendam and Caledon to Capte Town. Caledon is one of the biggest wheat-producing areas in South Africa. Lunch stop en route. Arrive late afternoon in Cape Town. Dinner at leisure; there are a variety of restaurants to choose from in the Waterfront where your hotel is situated.
Overnight: Cape Town (B/L/-)
Wednesday 23rd May Depart after breakfast for Malmesbury, a major wheat-producing area. Visit the farm of Cedric and Rene Stoch who have Nguni cattle, the traditional African breed. They have the largest registered Nguni stud in South Africa with approximately 900 head of cattle. Malmesbury is situated in the Swartland, one of the major wheat production areas of South Africa. Depart for lunch at De Grendel Estate at the foot of the Tygerberg hills facing Table Mountain. This estate is not only for wine but also has a dairy and mutton merino sheep operation. Return late afternoon to your hotel. Dinner on your own account. Overnight: Cape Town (B/L/-)
Thursday 24th May Depart after breakfast for a full day’s sightseeing. Weather permitting, visit the summit of Table Mountain for a truly spectacular view. Continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point for a majestic view of the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Return to Cape Town via Simonstown, with a stop at Boulders to visit the penguin colony. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Farewell Dinner at a restaurant in the Waterfront area.
Overnight: Cape Town (B/-/D).
Friday 25th May After breakfast, today will be at leisure in Cape Town until it’s time transfer to the airport this evening for the return flight to UK.
Saturday 26th May Arrival back at London Heathrow in the early morning
After the tour there will be the possibility of taking an 4 night optional extension to Victoria Falls and Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana. Dates: 25th - 29th May Details are available on request.
| Main Tour cost | Price per person | | Twin/ Double | £3,720.00 | | Single supplement | £600.00 |
- Return international flights and taxes
- 14 nights' hotel & lodge accommodation (3-4 star)
- Breakfast daily, 12 dinners and 7 lunches as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = dinner, D = dinner)
- Private de-luxe coach transportation with a/c
- All farm and technical visits
- All sightseeing and admissions as indicated on the itinerary
- Services of English-speaking tour guide throughout
- Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person, where available.
Not Included: - Airport departure taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Items of personal expenditure
- Tips to drivers and guides.
How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515 712 or click on our Booking Details. |
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