Essence of South Africa
Essence of South Africa
$4475
Essence of South Africa
10 Days Starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg
Visiting: Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Franschhoek, Hoedspruit, Karongwe Private Game Reserve, Karongwe Private Reserve, Johannesburg
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AFESM20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Bush, beach and two vibrant cities – capture the essence of South Africa on this culmination of a Cape Town to Kruger experience, including Johannesburg, the 'City of Gold'.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Dinner
South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ and her iconic Table Mountain extend a warm welcome as you embark on a small group journey that will reveal the highlights of South Africa. Spend the day delving into Cape Town’s cosmopolitan surrounds before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Table Mountain And Tour Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we encounter Table Mountain first-hand, ascending via aerial cableway to its vast flat top – a rocky wonderland of rich Cape fynbos and curious dassies (hyraxes). Peer over the bustling City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard keeping a keen eye out for the landmarks your Travel Director will show you during this morning's city tour, including Company Gardens, Bo-Kaap and the Castle of Good Hope. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cape Town at leisure. Ramble up Bree Street to sample the city’s vibrant coffee culture or take a stroll along the Sea Point promenade with the fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Consider joining our Optional Experience to explore infamous Robben Island, with your guide revealing its turbulent past and the cell where Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his prison term.
Day 3: Circumnavigate The Cape Peninsula
Location: Cape Peninsula
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
Circumnavigate the Cape Peninsula, from trendy Camps Bay to Cape Point and back. The crashing waves of the Atlantic to your right, the rocky 12 Apostles to your left, wind your way along one of the world’s most magnificent coastal roads towards the outcrop that is Africa’s most extreme south-western tip. Say a quiet hello to the shy penguins of Boulders Beach, see the Cape of Good Hope and travel through charming coastal towns along the way.
Day 4: Cape Winelands And Hermanus Excursion Connect With Locals
Location: Franschhoek
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
Venture to the town of Franschhoek and see during your orientation why it is proclaimed as one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world. Take the scenic Franschhoek Pass to the coastal town of Hermanus for your Be My Guest experience. Connect With Locals when you meet local business owner Stefan, who will treat you to a delicious traditional braai (barbecue) featuring deliciacies such as boerewors, pap and melktert. Over a glass of his homemade wine he’ll share stories of his life in South Africa’s whale watching capital. Return to Cape Town via a scenic driving route, arriving in the late afternoon. Enjoy your evening at leisure.
Day 5: From City To Safari
Location: Hoedspruit
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you’ll bid farewell to the 'Mother City' and fly to Hoedspruit where a private game reserve near South Africa's great Kruger National Park beckons. Start your time in the South African bushveld with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visit to a local Shangaan village. Learn about the traditions and customs of the Shangaan people and how the Eco Academy there provides eco and wildlife education. The visit includes a simple meal of grilled chicken, pap, Shangaan style cabbage, and for the brave, the opportunity to try mopani worms! Settle in to one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories, Becks Safari Lodge, your home in the bush for the next three nights.
Day 6: Safari In Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Location: Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The action begins as we embark on an early morning game drive through Karongwe Private Reserve with a Local Specialist game ranger and Shangaan tracker-guide. The rising sun awakens the birds and insects that share your journey into the bush, as you scour the dense brush for signs of the Big 5. After lunch, and time for a siesta and a swim, return to the bush for an afternoon safari drive.
Day 7: Seek Out The 'Big 5' Safari Animals In Karongwe
Location: Karongwe Private Reserve
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today enjoy another full day of game drives through Karongwe Private Reserve. Continue to scour the dense brush with your Local Specialist for incredible encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife. End the day with a traditional sundowner drink overlooking the Game Reserve, keeping your eyes peeled for signs of wildlife that emerge from their cover of darkness.
Day 8: Journey To Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: The Maslow
Accommodation Name: The Maslow
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning have your camera's ready for the last of your game drives before your flight to Johannesburg. Check into your hotel in the heart of Sandton that's well located for exploring the nearby restaurants and shopping during your free evening.
Day 9: Discover Historical Soweto Dive Into Culture
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: The Maslow
Accommodation Name: The Maslow
Meals Included: Dinner
Unlock the secrets of the 'city of gold' on a full-day tour. Dive Into Culture during a visit to the Constitutional Hill, Mandela House Museum and the Regina Mundi Church, which chronicles South Africa's tumultuous Apartheid years.
Day 10: Farewell Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our epic encounter with South Africa’s iconic sites comes to an end today. Transfer to Johannesburg International Airport for your onward flight. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
-
All transport and transfers shown
-
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
-
Cherry-picked hotels and safari lodges, all tried and trusted
-
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
-
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
-
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
-
Air-conditioned coach or Quantum bus
-
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
-
Optional Experiences and free time
-
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
What's Not Included
-
Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
-
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
-
Optional excursions
Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
-
International flights
International flights to and from South Africa are not included in the tour package.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
- 3 Lunch (L)
Dive Into Culture
- Johannesburg: Learn about South Africa's turbulent past on an interactive Johannesburg and Soweto Freedom tour.
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes all transport and transfers, featuring air-conditioned coaches or Quantum buses for a comfortable journey between destinations. Flights from Cape Town to Hoedspruit and Hoedspruit to Johannesburg are also included.
-
What type of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
You will experience comfort and luxury at Southern Sun The Cullinan in Cape Town and The Maslow in Johannesburg. Additionally, there is a unique stay at Shiduli Private Game Lodge in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, offering a blend of modern amenities and authentic safari experiences.
-
Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals. Additionally, there is a traditional braai (barbecue) experience in Hermanus and a simple meal during the visit to a local Shangaan village.
-
What unique experiences are part of this tour?
The tour includes a 'Be My Guest' experience in Hermanus with a local business owner, a visit to a local Shangaan village as part of the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, and game drives in Karongwe Private Game Reserve to seek out the 'Big 5'.
-
What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour offers a cultural dive into Johannesburg's history with visits to the Constitutional Hill, Mandela House Museum, and Regina Mundi Church, which highlight South Africa's tumultuous Apartheid years.
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Tuesday
May 04, 2025 - May 13, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 17, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 01, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Jul 06, 2025 - Jul 15, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 12, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Aug 17, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 09, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 07, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 21, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 11, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 25, 2025Sunday - Tuesday
Dec 07, 2025 - Dec 16, 2025What are travellers saying about Tourhub
Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is held in a dedicated client account until you travel.




100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."