The Western Cape Safari Experience
WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?
Welcome to the "Rainbow Nation", a diverse country, rich with culture, breathtaking scenery and all capped off with a magical safari.
From $3,147.48pp
BOOK TODAY $1,101.62 DEPOSIT PER PERSON
Based on two people sharing, not including international flights (just domestic) learn more
AVAILABILITY
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Cape Town
Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa, lies between the ocean and beautiful mountains. Fondly referred to as "The Mother City" by locals. It offers ample activities and overflows with trendy bars and eateries.
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".
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
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".
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
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.
South Africa has so much to offer, and we felt that we could have easily spent another week exploring. The highlight was being surrounded by beautiful landscapes every day, from Table Mountain to the beaches of Plettenberg Bay.
H. De Sousa
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 taste buds 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, Birds of Eden, Wolf Sanctuary and so much more. Finally, you'll be taken to your Safari Lodge, the trip highlight, to have the opportunity to spot the "Big 5" on a once-in-a-lifetime safari.
YOUR EXPERTS
James
The Brains Behind the Operation - Meet James
NEED TO KNOW
| DESTINATION | South Africa |
| DURATION | 9 Nights |
| GROUP SIZE | 8 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 GALLERY
TRIP ITINERARY
We’ll transfer you to your accommodation, where you can relax after your long journey and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
INCLUDED
- Airport Transfer
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Visit Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens
- Visit the V&A Harbour
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
- Table Mountain
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Visit Robben Island
- Kayak Tour along the Atlantic Coast
- Relax on Camps Bay or Clifton Beaches
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
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
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
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
There is time for an early morning excursion should you want to fit in another sanctuary or adventure. Then you’ll be transferred to Port Elizabeth for your flight to Durban. You’ll arrive just in time for sunset.
INCLUDED
- Breakfast
- Flight
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Monkeyland Sanctuary
- Birds of Eden sanctuary
- Tenikwa Cat Sanctuary
- Swimming with seals
- Bungie Jumping
- Ski Diving
Morning transfer to your Private Reserve Safari Lodge where you’ll arrive in time for lunch should you wish to have it. Then you can relax before your evening game drive and the obligatory sundowner in the bush!
INCLUDED
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Evening Game Drive
It’s a sunrise start for your morning game drive, followed by breakfast. Then you have the rest of the morning and afternoon to relax and enjoy the pool before your evening game drive.
INCLUDED
- Morning Game Drive
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Evening Game Drive
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
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
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: Baleia Guest Lodge or similar
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
Durban
South Africa
Situated close to the beach, making for the ideal stopover to relax before your safari. Take a morning stroll along the beach or enjoy the pool.
Typical Accommodation: Sandals Guesthouse or similar
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, its 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 the 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 accordingly"
Claire - Untravelled Paths
TRIP TIPS
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.
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.
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!
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
- 3 nights in Cape Town
- 1 night in Durban/North Coast
- 1 night in Hermanus
- 2 nights in Plettenberg Bay
- 2 nights in a Safari Lodge
- MEALS
- Breakfast
- Dinner at Safari Lodge
- ACTIVITIES
- Visit and entry to Table Mountain
- Visit and entry to Chapmans Peak
- Visit to Boulders Beach
- Visit and entry to Cape Point
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
- Durban to Cape Town / Johannesburg
Typically internal flights cost about £50 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.
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HOW IT WORKS
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FAQs
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)
Rand can be difficult to get hold of outside South Africa but fear not there are a few options available.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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 some dinners are included with accommodation.
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.
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")
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.
