The South Africa Experience

WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?

Welcome to the "Rainbow Nation", a diverse country, rich with culture and abundant with activities that offer magical scenery.

South Africa
Sep - Jun
14 nights

From $3,358.38pp $3,952.20pp

BOOK TODAY $1,175.43 DEPOSIT PER PERSON

Based on two people sharing, not including international flights (just domestic) learn more

AVAILABILITY

December 2024
January 2025
Jan 11 - 25 2025
From $3,952.20pp
February 2025
Feb 1 - 15 2025
From $3,952.20pp
March 2025
Mar 15 - 29 2025
From $3,952.20pp
April 2025
Apr 5 - 19 2025
From $3,952.20pp
May 2025
May 17 - 31 2025
From $3,952.20pp
June 2025
Jun 7 - 21 2025
Early Bird Save $593.82
From $3,358.38pp $3,952.20pp

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Cape Town

Cape Town

Since the official opening in 1929 over 25 million visitors have enjoyed views from one of the Seven Natural Wonders. Take a 5 minute cable car to the top, which is 1089 meters above Cape Town.


Safari

Safari

A trip to South Africa is not complete without a Safari Experience. Morning and evening drives make the most of the times to view the animals, and if you are lucky, you can tick off all of the "Big Five".


Wine Farms

Wine Farms

Surrounded by lush valleys, with award winning wine farms at every corner, it's every wine lover's dream destination. Be sure to try the Pinotage, which is unique to South Africa.


Food

Food

South African cuisine is as diverse as the cultures that form the heritage. The most loved form of cooking is refereed to as "a braai" and is similar to a barbecue, but on an open, wood fire. Meat and veggies are cooked this way.


Penguins at Boulders Beach

Penguins at Boulders Beach

Currently classified as endangered, the African penguins are only found along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African penguins, is the only place where you can see them up close.


Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant Sanctuary

These facilities are home to orphaned elephants. An unforgettable experience to see these gentle giants up close. Touch, walk with or feed them, a rare opportunity to "walk on the wild side".


Battlefields

Battlefields

Two of the most famous battles between the British Armies and native Zulus were fought here. This eerie tour will take you through the memories of the famous battles amongst beautiful scenery.


Drakensberg

Drakensberg

Translated to Dragons Mountains in Afrikaans, this area boasts the highest mountains in Southern Africa ranging up to 3 482 meters and stretching over 300km. It's a heritage site, boasting the most spectacular sceneries.


"This was such an incredible trip and it really gives one a little taste of all that South Africa has to offer. The sights and flavours, especially the wine tastings, are all top notch and the safari experience at the end was just the cherry on top"


J. Murcia

TRIP OVERVIEW

YOUR EXPERIENCE

Let us transport you deep into the vibrant heart of "The Rainbow Nation" A country ripe with history, offering ample activities from beaches to hiking to mountains to wine farms, this country offers it all. We begin our experience in "The Mother City", Cape Town, which is nestled in the belly of Table Mountain. We will awaken your tastebuds with a wine farm tour in Franschhoek Valley. Explore the beautiful coastal towns of Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, where you can indulge in optional activities of visiting the Elephant Sanctuary, bungee jumping, etc. From here, prepare to be in awe, as you will next be transported to the majestic mountain range in the Drakensberg. From here we will visit Rorkes Drift and be enthralled by tales from the battle fields when the Zulus and British Army clashes. And last but not least, as no trip to South Africa is complete without a safari, we will be enjoying morning and evening safaris at Hluhluwe.


YOUR EXPERTS

CLAIRE

CLAIRE

The Happy Helper - Meet Claire


James

James

The Brains Behind the Operation - Meet James

NEED TO KNOW

DESTINATION South Africa
DURATION 14 Nights
GROUP SIZE 12 people
ASSISTANCE Hands on
AIRPORT(S) Johannesburg
FLIGHTS For more information on flights from the UK please refer to how it works section.
VISA UK, EU & US not required
VACCINATIONS No

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive in Cape Town

INCLUDED

  • Airport Transfer
Day 2 Explore Cape Town

Morning transfer to Table Mountain, where you will take the cable car to the top, from where you can enjoy magical views of the City and Ocean. There is a restaurant at the top, and a cute souvenir shop. Walk around the top of One of the Seven Natural Wonders. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the City of Cape Town at your leisure.

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Visit to Table Mountain

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Visit Robben Island
  • Kayak Tour along the Atlantic Coast
  • Relax on Camps Bay or Clifton Beaches
Day 3 Explore Cape Town

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Trip to Robben Island
  • Visit to the V&A Waterfront

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Lions head sunset hike
  • Helicopter Tour
  • Kayaking
  • Swimming with seals
  • Paragliding
  • Kirstenbosch Visit
  • Mount Nelson High tea
Day 4 Wine Tasting & Lunch in Franschhoek

You’ll take a morning transfer to the heart of the Western Cape Winelands to the most picturesque region, Franschhoek. There you will visit 3 wine farms and have lunch before being taken back to Cape Town.

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Wine Tasting
Day 5 Chapman’s Peak drive, Penguins & Hermanus

Early morning start for your scenic drive along South Africa’s most iconic route past Chapmans Peak to Cape Point National Park. After exploring Cape Point, you will enjoy a long lunch, followed by a visit to the penguins at Boulders Beach. Finally, you will drive on to the seaside town of Hermanus.

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Chapmans Peak
  • Cape Point National Park
  • Penguin Visit at Boulders Beach

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Sunset Whale Watch Excursion
Day 6 The Garden Route & the Elephant Sanctuary

It’s an early start for your drive along the beautiful garden route. You’ll stop for lunch in the town of Winderness before continuing onto Plettenberg bay where you will visit the Elephant Sanctuary, There you will have the once in a lifetime experience of meeting, walking and feeding these magnificent creatures.

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Elephant Sanctuary
Day 7 Explore Plettenberg Bay at your leisure

Plettenberg Bay has some stunning white beaches for lying or wandering along but it also has some of the most respected animal sanctuaries in the world which you can visit should you wish. So you can do as little or as much as you wish!

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Monkeyland Sanctuary
  • Birds of Eden Sanctuary
  • Tenikwa Cat Sanctuary
  • Swimming with Seals
  • Bungie Jumping
  • Ski Diving
Day 8 Explore Plettenberg Bay at your leisure

Plettenberg Bay has some stunning white beaches for lying or wandering along but it also has some of the most respected animal sanctuaries in the world which you can visit should you wish. So you can do as little or as much as you wish!

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Monkeyland Sanctuary
  • Birds of Eden Sanctuary
  • Tenikwa Cat Sanctuary
  • Swimming with Seals
  • Bungie Jumping
  • Ski Diving
Day 9 Travel to Drakensberg

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture site
  • Visit to Howick falls
  • Dinner
Day 10 Drakensberg

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Hiking in Monks Cowl
  • Dinner

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Canopy tour
  • Birds of Prey tour
Day 11 Travel to Battlefields

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Isandlwana Battlefield Tour
Day 12 Battlefields

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Rourke’s Drift Battlefield Tour

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Zulu Homestead visit
Day 13 Travel to Safari

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Afternoon Game drive
  • Dinner
Day 14 Safari

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Morning Game Drive
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon Game drive
  • Dinner

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Bush walk
Day 15 Final day and transfer back to the airport

INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Morning Game Drive
  • Lunch

TRIP ACCOMMODATION

A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.

Cape Town

Cape Town
South Africa

You will be staying right in the heart of the Mother City, with many interesting sites close by, and minutes from the trendy bars and eateries.
Typical Accommodation:Cape Town Lodge or similar 

Hermanus

Hermanus
South Africa

An old fishing village that is now a popular holiday town on the south coast of South Africa. Famously known as the Whale Watching Capital.
Typical Accommodation: Baleila Guest Lodge or similar 

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay
South Africa

Plettenberg Bay is a very popular seaside town, and top class holiday destination. It offers a variety of scenic views, golden beaches.Typical Accommodation: Buffelsdam Country House or similar


Drakensberg

Drakensberg
South Africa

Set in dramatic beauty created by awe-inspiring mountains, this is the perfect place to rest your soul after a day of exploring the mountains.
Typical Accommodation: Champagne Castle Hotel or similar 

Battlefields

Battlefields
South Africa

A quaint, historic town, that is rich in history from monuments to memorials.
Typical Accommodation: Rorkes Drift Hotel or similar 

Wildlife Safari

Wildlife Safari
South Africa

Private game reserve nestled in the heart of Zululand with some fantastic game viewing including the big five and cheetahs. Unforgettable.
Typical Accommodation: Bayala Lodge, Duiker Lodge or similar

TRIP LOCATION

WHERE YOU'RE GOING

South Africa is part of Africa, but not nearly as wild as one would expect. No, there are no lions roaming around the streets, only in Game parks. South Africa is loving referred to as "The Rainbow Nation", and it's a very colourful nation. Home to many indigenous tribes, it's not surprising that the country has 11 official languages. South Africa has a little bit of everything for every traveller. Bustling cities with great 5-star restaurants, quaint towns surrounded by beauty, and a beautiful coastline offering all kinds of amazing beaches.


DID YOU KNOW
  • South Africa is home to the world's second-largest waterfall. Tugela Falls in the Drakensberg measures at 850 meters. 
  • South Africa has 11 official languages. Zulu and Xhosa are most commonly spoken, followed by Afrikaans and English.
  • Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains and home to 2 200 species of plants.
  • South Africa has hosted the rugby (1995) cricket (2003) and soccer (2010) world cups, the only other country besides England to boast this. 

FAST FACTS

CAPITAL Pretoria,Bloemfontein,Cape Town
POPULATION 59.31 million
CURRENCY South African rand
TIME DIFFERENCE UTC+02:00

"There is so much to see, do, taste, explore and experience in this wonderful country, but some of the experiences are weather dependant, like a ferry to Robben Island, or taking the table car up Table Mountain, so we will be sure to monitor the weather and adjust the itinerary accord lying"


Claire - Untravelled Paths

TRIP TIPS

tips image

Sunscreen and Hat

The sun in South Africa is very harsh, even for the sun lovers. It's best to use sunscreen to ensure you don't look like one of many red skinned tourists walking around that clearly forgot.


tips image

Try some Biltong

Biltong is a salted, cured meat that loved by all South Africans. Roughly translated into "strip of beef" although it can be made from all meats from Springbok to Ostrich and even fish.


tips image

Visa Application

As a UK / EU passport holder you can get an e-visa or obtain one on arrival. However as rules tend to change fairly regularly it's always prudent to double check as one of our team can testify!


tips image

Use Uber

Uber is a great way to get around, as it is not recommended to hail a taxi off the street. It gives you the freedom to do your own thing during leisure time and it's much cheaper than in the UK.


TRIP DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • ALL TRANSFERS
    • Airport transfers
    • In-country transfers
    • Domestic Flights
  • ALL ACCOMMODATION
    • 4 nights in Cape Town
    • 1 night in Winelands
    • 1 night in Hermanus
    • 2 nights in Plettenberg Bay
    • 2 nights in Drakensberg
    • 2 nights in Battlefields
    • 2 nights on Safari
  • MEALS
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner at Champagne Valley
    • Lunch and Dinner on Safari
  • ACTIVITIES
    • Visit and entry to Table Mountain
    • Visit and entry to Robben Island
    • Visit and entry to Cape Point
    • Entry to Chapmans Peak
    • Visit and entry to Penguins at Boulders Beach.
    • Hiking Monks Crowl
    • Visit and entry to Battlefields Tour
    • 4x Game Drives
GETTING THERE

As a tour operator, we are not able to offer inclusive flights as part of our experiences however we are more than happy to help you find the most appropriate incoming and outgoing flights for you. All the listed airports fly directly in and out of Cape Town. There are a number of airlines that connect to Cape Town, which can be better valued. We highly recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights.

LONDON TO CAPE TOWN
  • British Airways (Heathrow)
INTERNAL FLIGHTS
  • Port Elizabeth to Durban
  • Durban to Cape Town / Johannesburg

Typically internal flights cost about £100 per person. In some instances for those flying via Johannesburg, it might make more sense to buy a domestic flight to Cape Town from Johannesburg and then at the end of your trip fly from Durban to Johannesburg, not Cape Town. For further information assistance on flights please don't hesitate to get in touch.

FURTHER INFORMATION

INSURANCE

In order to be fully covered on your trip should anything happen, we suggest getting an insurance before you travel. We recommend True Traveller, designed especially for adventure travel, who will be able to tailor an insurance package based on your needs. You can find out more here.

SOLO TRAVELLERS

Our prices are based on people sharing, for solo travellers who would prefer a private room the price per person will include a solo occupancy fee.

EXTRA NIGHTS

If you wish we can also organise extra nights at either end of your trip for you.

HOW IT WORKS

Book your trip in a few easy steps.

1

ENQUIRE ONLINE

Once you’ve chosen the dates you’d like to travel on using our availability calendar all you need to do is head over to the booking page and fill in the enquiry form. 

2

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS

We will get back to you answering any questions you might have and confirming availability. If all is good, we can hold the places for you for 48 hours while you book your flights. Please note that this stage does not represent a guarantee of the booking. 

3

BOOKING FORM

Once you have made your necessary arrangements, we will send you a booking form you will need to fill in with your details and any other relevant information.

4

PAY FOR YOUR TRIP

As you fill in the booking form, you will also be asked to make the payment through a secure link; if you are travelling in less than 8 weeks, the payment will be paid in full, otherwise only a 35% deposit will be taken.

5

FINAL CONFIRMATION

Shortly after you pay, you will receive a confirmation invoice, followed by a personalised itinerary and digital booklet. All you need to do now is write the dates in your diary, prepare your packing list and look forward to your next adventure!

6

NOTES

Please note deposit is non-refundable. The balance will only be refundable if you cancel with more than 8 weeks in advance. More information about the cancellation policy can be found in our Terms & Conditions. We highly suggest getting insurance before you travel to avoid any problems. Our personal recommendation is using True Traveller.

FAQs

What currency do I need?

The rand is the official currency of South Africa. R is the symbol used and ZAR is the code. One Rand subdivides into 100 cents, using the symbol c. Bank note denominations are 10 Rand, 20 Rand, 50 Rand, 100 Rand and R200 Rand. Coins come in 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 Rand, 2 Rand and 5 Rand. The currency gets its name from the place where the first gold deposits were found, Witwatersrand (translated to white waters ridge)


Where should I exchange currency?

Rand can be difficult to get hold of outside South Africa but fear not there are a few options available. 

  1. Get it locally: the easiest option is to head to a cash machine once you've checked into your hotel in Cape Town to withdraw funds. It should be quick and convenient to get hold of your holiday cash just take note of the advice below. 
  2. Get it at home: If you're set on getting your money organised before you travel, the Bureau de Change in M&S is, strangely, one of the only places that dispense the local currency.
  3. Get it online: You can also purchase currency online and collect it from your local post office or even have it delivered straight to your door. Ordering currency online with the Post Office is commission free and available for next day delivery. Obviously the more you buy the better rate you'll receive.
Do they accept Credit/Debit cards?

Most major credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted throughout South Africa's main towns and cities. While you should have no problem using your card to pay for drinks or dinner in major towns and cities using your PIN number, some establishments accept cash only so it's worth checking before you get settled in. It is also a good idea to carry some cash with you for smaller purchases and activities. It is always advisable to inform your bank that you're travelling abroad in order to avoid the frustration of having your card blocked.


Do I need to tip?

Tipping is not obligatory in South Africa, but standard practice as most waitrons receive minimum wage and rely on tips. 10-15% is an acceptable amount, but often restaurants will add gratuity to tables of 6 or more, so just double check the total when the bill arrives. If the service has been poor please don't feel obligated to leave a tip. 


How much spending money do I need?

In order to give you some direction on how much spending money to budget for your trip to South Africa, we thought it would be a good idea to offer some guidelines in terms of costs. As a general rule, you'll be able to have a good lunch for around £5 a head and will pay around £20 a head for a nice evening meal. Naturally, the type of establishment you choose to eat in and what you order will dictate the cost of your meals. Be aware that ordering imported wines can cause your bill to sky-rocket so drinking local wines id advisable. We reckon around £70 for lunch, dinner and drinks for two people is plenty per day. Please note that these are rough estimates and you can always choose to spend more or less depending on your budget and preferences. Please note that dinner at ????????? and your village accommodation ?????????are included.


What is the climate?

The climate in South Africa is as diverse as its cultures.  Most of the country enjoys cold but dry winters and in summer the hot afternoons are often ended off with rains, whilst the Western Coast had hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. June, July and August are the coldest months of the year sometimes dropping to below 0 degrees. Average summer temperatures, however, range from a very pleasant 24 degrees, but can hit up to 40 degrees, so, don't forget the sun cream. That said, it's not unusual for the weather to change quite drastically, particularly in the mountains so it's a good idea to pack layers just in case.


What is the cuisine like?

South African cuisine is as diverse as the cultures that form our heritage. Whilst the indigenous way of cooking is still implemented by majority of the country, (mostly meat based with a maize porridge called "pap") we still find a huge influence from colonial times, namely, British, Dutch, German and French. There is also a huge Cape Malay cooking style used today, that was brought over with slaves, such as Bobotie (Mince meat with an egg topping). The most loved form of cooking is refereed to as "a braai" and is similar to a barbecue, but on an open, wood fire. It's so popular that our Heritage Day holiday is also called National Braai Day. Generally men will do the braai, and women will attend to the side dishes of salads and breads that accompany the meal. Fear not if you do not eat meat, we have a huge range of lovely vegetables available with butternut being one of the most loved. We love our deserts too, and some unusual sweet treats to try out are Koeksisters (deep fried dough that is smothered in syrup) and Melktert (translated to "milk tart") 


Who should I contact in an emergency?

In the unlikely event you experience any problems whilst travelling in South Africa with Untravelled Paths please contact Claire Cowley on +27  72 443 1599 She is an absolute super-woman so don't hesitate to contact her should there be a problem no matter how big or small. On arrival, you will be provided with a business card containing all the relevant contact details for both Claire and your bi-lingual guide, should you need them. Alternatively, you can call Untravelled Paths office on +44207 101 4061.


Can I drink the tap water?

Tap water is safe to drink practically everywhere, but most people stick to bottled water to be on the safe side. We would highly recommend drinking bottled or filtered water during your stay in South Africa.