Departing Cape Town in the morning, you follow the rugged coastline through the numerous fishing villages to the quaint seaside town of Hermanus - well-known for offering the finest land-based whale watching (May - December). Your next stop is the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas, where the warm Indian and cold Atlantic Oceans meet. In the afternoon you spend time game watching in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, acclaimed for its unique fauna, flora and spectacular scenery. You overnight in comfortable bungalows.

An early start as you leave the coast and cross the mighty Outeniqua Mountains to enter the dry Karoo Interior. You follow the famed Route 62 toward Oudtshoorn where you visit the Cango Caves; one of the world's great wonders with its magnificent stalactites and numerous underground caverns. You also visit a commercial ostrich farm to learn more about these huge flightless birds. Late this afternoon you traverse the Outeniqua Pass and then travel through the Lake District en route to your home for the next 2 nights - log cabins hidden in the heart of the Knysna forest.

Today is devoted to exploring this renowned region and its many attractions. Take a walk through the largest indigenous forest in South Africa in search of the elusive Knysna Lourie. You also relax on sun-kissed beaches, and enjoy a boat trip around the Knysna Lagoon and through the sandstone "Heads" in search of dolphins and whales (weather permitting). Tonight you dine at a restaurant in the vibrant town of Knysna. (Lunch and dinner are own expense).

You start you day by travelling the "Old Passes Road" to the Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park where you walk part of the acclaimed "Otter Trail". This is the most popular of South Africa's trails and follows the rugged coastline through indigenous fynbos and forest. Continuing along the coast, you pass through Port Elizabeth en route to your camp near the Addo Elephant Reserve, where you stay in comfortable cabins.

You spend your day exploring Addo Elephant Park. Renowned for its large herds of African elephant, the park is also a sanctuary for black rhino, Cape buffalo, dung beetles, and other interesting species. Addo is one of Africa's conservation success stories. Proclaimed a reserve in 1931 when only 11 elephants remained in the area, the park now houses over 450 of these wonderful animals. You return to your cabins for the night.

Back to the coast today, you wind through the frontier area first settled by the 1820 settlers. You pass through numerous towns that were once the epitome of colonial Africa, before making for East London. In the afternoon you enjoy a guided township tour before heading to a local shebeen where you try the local dishes whilst listening to traditional Jazz music. Dinner is at your own expense tonight.

Today you travel into an area once designated as a Tribal Homeland during the apartheid era (Transkei). Nelson Mandela was born here, and your route takes you past both his birthplace and the holiday house that was built to replicate his prison house.

In the afternoon you arrive at your remote, secluded resort where you spend the next 2 nights. A full day is spent with time on the beach to enjoy the surf. You also stretch your legs on a hike along the Wild Coast, a beautiful stretch of coastline with deserted beaches, warm sea and green hills. Accommodation on these nights is part of a rural community project and is rustic.

A reasonably long drive today, but well rested, you travel through the scenic hills of the Eastern Cape, dotted with rural villages where women work in the fields and men tend their cows as they have done for centuries. Your journey then takes you past the many resorts of the Kwazulu-Natal South coast before you enter Durban, South Africa's holiday city and home to Africa's busiest harbour.

Your stop tonight is just north of Durban, an inn situated literally on the beach. This is the perfect place to unwind after the many days of travelling. Tonight you enjoy a 'braai' on the patio before falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves.

The tour comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Should you wish to spend a few more days in Durban, contact one of our Go2Africa vacation consultants for options on where to stay.