Tour 36: 18 Day Kalahari – Port Elizabeth – Cape Town Wildlife & Coastal Parks Tour

This tour covers 1 Transfrontier Park, 5 National Parks & 1 Reserve/conservation area

DAY 01 Upington – Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to Upington. Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)

Depart from Upington on a 03-hour drive through the Kalahari duneveld (“veld” means natural vegetation), passing various pans (dry lakes), to the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park,

The word Kalahari derives from the word Makgadigadi, meaning salt pans (salt lakes) in the language spoken by the Kgalagadi people living in the Kgalagadi Region in south-western Botswana. The word Kgalagadi means salt pans too in their language. More than 1 000 pans are scattered throughout the park. The Kalahari is the largest area of sand in the world, covering 2.5 million square kilometres from the Orange River in South Africa in the south to slightly north of the equator. The area referred to as the arid Kalahari covers some 900 000 square kilometres in the south and covers parts of South Africa and Namibia and most of Botswana. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is situated in the southern part of the arid Kalahari in South Africa and Botswana and is jointly managed by South Africa National Parks (Sanparks) and Botswana Wildlife.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park covers 37 000 square km, which is one of the largest conservation areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoilt ecosystems.

Endemic game such as gemsbok, springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive.

The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted – and brown hyena are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and insects, smaller predators thrive in the park. The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat).

Kgalagadi is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 300 species recorded including at least 20 larger raptor species. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori bustard and the stately secretary bird patrol the riverbeds while the noisy northern black korhaan rule in the dunes.

Check in at accommodation at Twee Rivieren. Depart on an afternoon game drive. The Twee Rivieren area is known for lion, leopard, cheetah and meerkat sightings.
Optional 3 hr sunset drive and 3 hr morning guided walk with Sanparks guide at own cost
Overnight: Twee Rivieren
Meals: B, L & D (Full Board on all days)

DAY 02 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. The route will be determined by reported sightings, rainfall, game migration and pre-booked overnight accommodation.
Optional 3 hr sunset drive and 3 hr morning guided walk with Sanparks guide at own cost
Overnight One of the camps in the Park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 03 Kgalagadi – Molopo Kalahari Lodge
Game drive until late afternoon. Exit the Park at Twee Rivieren Gate and depart to Molopo Kalahari Lodge 60 Km south of Twee Rivieren. The Molopo Lodge is situated on the banks of the dry Molopo River and is a real oasis in the desert.

En route stop at the last indigenous San tribe in South Africa, the Khomani. Today these earliest residents of the Kalahari, living here for 40 000 years, consist of only 400 people and are resident in an area between 40 and 70 km south of Twee Rivieren. Clients will have the opportunity to view and purchase their handcraft at one of the roadside stalls. (The presence of the San at the roadside stalls can’t be guaranteed.)
Overnight: Molopo Lodge
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 04 Molopo – Augrabies Falls National Park
Depart to Upington. Wine tasting at the tasting room of the Orange River Wine Cellar in Upington, the second largest cooperative wine cellar in the world. Except for wine and grape juice production, the lower Orange River Valley is the major raisin production area – and one of the major table grape production areas in South Africa.

Depart to the largest inhabited inland island in South Africa, Kanoneiland, where virtually every inch of soil is under irrigation. Continue to Tierberg Nature Reserve in Keimoes, from where one has a beautiful view of the lush green Orange River Valley.

Proceed to Kakamas on the Rockery Route, a scenic gravel road south of the Orange River, passing through a large quiver tree forest. The route passes the Persian Water Wheels at Kakamas.
Stop at Die Pienk Padstal (The Pink Road Stall) in Kakamas, which stocks a variety of dried fruit products and local delicacies.

Continue to Augrabies Falls National Park, which covers 60 000 ha. Visit the Augrabies Falls, which is the sixth largest waterfall in the world when South Africa’s largest river, the Orange is in flood. The word Augrabies derives from the Khoi meaning “Place of great noise”. Although Augrabies is essentially a scenic park, game such as giraffe, springbok, gemsbok, eland, kudu red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra and klipspringer survive in this unique riverine ecosystem. Fish eagles and black eagles are common residents and the Rest Camp is home to a variety of bird species.

The fall is illuminated until 10:00 p.m. Clients can re-visit the fall at their own time and pace.
Optional 2 hr sunset drive with Sanparks guide
Overnight: Augrabies
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 05 Augrabies Falls National Park
Do a relaxed 2km morning walk to a beautiful viewpoint on the Augrabies gorge, Arrow Point.

Do a scenic game drive in this moon landscape-like land to awesome viewpoints such as Ararat, Oranjekom on the Orange River Gorge and the “Swartrante” (Black Hills) from where one has a great view of this arid rocky desert landscape.

Continue on a circular drive to the Western Section, where the chances are good to see Hartmann’s mountain zebra and eland. There are many quiver trees along this route.

Afternoon at leisure. Augrabies Falls can be explored in full along the stilted walkways and viewpoints.
Overnight: Augrabies
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 06 Augrabies – Karoo National Park
Depart at 06:00 a.m. to Beaufort-West in the Great Karoo via dirt roads and the small towns, Kenhardt, Van Wyksvlei, Carnavon & Loxton.

If the condition of the dirt roads are not good, according to road reports, an alternative asphalt route via the N10, N12 & N1 national roads will be used instead.

Beaufort West dates back to 1818 and is the birthplace and hometown of the late Professor Chris Barnard, the famous heart surgeon who performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant.

Continue to the nearby Karoo National Park.The Great Karoo is a vast and unforgiving landscape of which the Karoo National Park is but a small portion. Being the largest ecosystem in South Africa, the Karoo is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. Karoo National Park is dominated by the lofty Nuweveld Mountains and rolling plains, where many species that originally occurred here now occupy their former ranges.

Expected time of arrival at Karoo National Park is mid-afternoon. Check in at chalets. Time at leisure.

Depart on a short afternoon game drive on the Lammertliesleegte Loop. The Karoo National Park has a wide variety of endemic wildlife. Many species have been relocated to their former ranges – such as black rhino and Cape buffalo, as well as Cape mountain zebra. Large herbivores such as red hartebeest, black wildebeest, eland, Burchell’s and Hartmann’s Mountain zebra, kudu, springbok and klipspringer are regularly seen.

Carnivore species include lion, brown hyena, caracal, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, aardwolf, African wildcat & meerkat. The Park is also home to the endangered riverine rabbit. Over 20 breeding pairs of Verraux’s eagle find sanctuary within the park. There is also a wide diversity of succulent plants and small reptiles.

Optional day – night drives at own cost in open vehicle with a Sanparks guide. Enquiries and bookings at reception.
Overnight: Karoo National Park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 07 Karoo National Park
Depart on a scenic morning game drive. The return route goes via the scenic Klipspringer Pass.

Time at leisure until mid-afternoon. Do a short informative walk on the 300 m long Fossil Trail. This impressive collection of whole skeletons, skulls and bones are the remains of extinct Karoo wildlife from some 255 million years ago during the Permian Period. The displayed fossils belong to a group of mammal-like reptiles called Therapsids, which gave rise to modern mammals.

Depart on an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Karoo National Park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 Karoo National Park – Mountain Zebra National Park
Depart to Graaff-Reinet on the banks of the Sundays River. Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest town in South Africa dating back to 1786 and is home to more national monuments than any other town or city in South Africa, numbering more than 220. Places of interest are the Dutch Reformed Church in the center of the town built in 1887 – the building is influenced by the architecture of Salisbury Cathedral in England, Reinet House Museum, a typical Cape Dutch building, formerly the Dutch Reformed Church parsonage and the Karoo architecture of Stretch’s Court, a picturesque restored street of Karoo cottages with brightly painted shutters and doors.

Continue to Cambedoo National Park near Graaff-Reinet. Formed hundreds of millions of years ago, the Karoo of South Africa is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Camdeboo National Park covers 19 405 ha and surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape and provides the visitor with insights into the unique landscape and ecosystem of the Karoo, not to mention awesome scenic beauty in the Valley of Desolation where dolerite pillars rise to heights of 90 – 120 metres.
Camdeboo National Park supports a diverse spectrum of wildlife including Cape buffalo, Cape mountain zebra, kudu, red hartebeest, gemsbok, steenbok, springbok, blesbok, black wildebeest grey duiker, klipspringer and 13 smaller carnivore species. At least 225 bird species have been recorded in the park, with species typical of both the Great Karoo and Eastern region.
Do a short scenic game drive through the park including a short hike to the view point of the Valley of Desolation. Continue on a game drive trail through the Nqweba Dam section of the park.

Continue to Mountain Zebra National Park. The Mountain Zebra National Park lies near Cradock in the Eastern Cape. The proclamation of the park in 1937 saved the Cape mountain zebra from extinction, starting with a small founder herd of only 06 zebra and currently their population stands at 300 where they roam 28 412 hectares of land. Other mammals found here include the Cape buffalo, black rhino, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, gemsbok, blesbok, springbok, duiker and steenbok while mountain reedbuck, grey rhebok and klipspringer frequent the higher areas and kudu the wooded valleys. Lion, which were recently re-introduced, cheetah, caracal, brown hyena and aardwolf are the larger carnivores in the Park. Meerkat are common residents in the Park.

Ostrich, secretary bird, blue crane and Ludwig’s bustard are the larger more visible bird species and Verreaux’s (black) and martial eagle and jackal buzzard are the most common larger raptor species. The park is home to various smaller species in different habitats including mountain plateau, wooded kloofs, acacia stands and grassland.

Do a game drive to the Rest Camp. Check in at accommodation. Depart on a short game drive.

Optional activities at own cost include day and night drives in open vehicles, cheetah tracking and San cave paintings. Enquiries and bookings at reception.
Overnight: Mountain Zebra National Park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 09 Mountain Zebra National Park
Depart on a morning game drive until noon. The chances are good to have sightings of less common species such as black wildebeest, Cape mountain zebra and Cape buffalo. Cheetahs are seen regularly and the park is home to many meerkat families with good sightings possible in certain areas, especially on the Ubejane Loop. This park is one of the best places to see, with luck, caracal and aardwolf.

Short hikes can be done on demarcated paths in the Rest Camp area.

Depart on an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Mountain Zebra National Park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 10 Mountain Zebra Park – Addo Elephant National Park
Depart on a morning game drive to the exit gate. Continue via Cradock to Daggaboer Road Stall. Stop for a cup of coffee/tea or alcohol free homemade ginger beer. The shop has a variety of homemade condiments and jams and souvenirs to choose from.

Continue to Addo Elephant Park. Addo Elephant National Park covers 164 000 ha and lies within the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape. Addo National Elephant Park is in the process of expanding into a 360 000 ha mega-park, including a 120 000 ha marine reserve. The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only 11 elephants remained in the area.

Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, 400 Cape buffalo, 50 black rhino, lions, spotted hyenas, leopard, a variety of antelope species including eland, kudu, red hartebeest, bushbuck as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. Addo is also home to Meerkat and there were very good sightings on previous tours. Due to a variety of habitats Addo offers excellent birding opportunities.

Check in at accommodation. Time at leisure. Depart on an afternoon game drive.

Optional day – sunset – & night drives at own cost in open vehicle with a Sanparks guide. Enquiries and bookings at Information Centre
Overnight: Addo Main Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 11 Addo Elephant National Park
Depart on an early morning game drive. Return to Main Camp for breakfast

Continue on a game drive until noon. Most of the game drive routes will be covered on the morning game drives.

Time at leisure. Depart on an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Addo Main Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 12 Addo Elephant National Park – Tsitsikamma National Park
Depart on a morning game drive to Mathyolweni Gate in the south. Exit the park. Continue from via Port Elizabeth to Jeffrey’s Bay.

Proceed along the Garden Route to Tsitsikamma National Park, which now forms part of the newly established Garden Route National Park, together with Knysna – & Wilderness National Parks. Tsitsikamma National Park “the place of much water,” is situated near Plettenberg Bay in the Eastern Cape. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed.

Although Tsitsikamma boasts a magical world of intertidal life and reefs in its marine part, there is also the famous terrestrial part of the park with its lush forest, delicate fynbos and sheer cliffs. One of the most known trees is the Outeniqua yellow-wood, Podocarpus falcata.

Birding in Tsitsikamma offers a variety in choice of habitat. There is the open shoreline as typified by the environment at Storms River Rest Camp. There is the more sheltered water ways of the Nature’s Valley Lagoon and the Groot River. There is also the forest experience of the Tsitsikamma Forest. The mountain fynbos can explored in the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Soetkraal section.

Stop en route at the Paul Sauer Bridge, a 120 m high concrete arch bridge over the Storms River, from where one has a beautiful view of the Storms River Gorge. Enter the Park. Continue on a scenic drive to Storms River Rest Camp. Check-in to accommodation. Time at leisure in the afternoon. Enjoy the view from theaccommdation.

Clients can do a relaxed afternoon walk at their own pace along the coastline or to the suspension bridge over the Storms River.

Optional boat trip departing from the restaurant at own cost; weather permitting. The 30 min trip up the Storms River gives visitors the opportunity to view the gorge first hand and to marvel at one of nature’s many wonders. Huge caverns are interspersed on either side of the river, some which extend upwards for 20 meters providing a habitat for rare bat species. Awesome cliff faces extend above the boat and block out the sunlight as one proceeds silently through the “black water”. Enquire and book at reception.
Overnight: Storms River Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 13 Tsitsikamma Park – Wilderness National Park
Depart to the highest bridge in Africa and the third highest in the world, Bloukrans Bridge, an arch bridge at a height of 216m above the Bloukrans River. Its central span is 272m and the bridge is 451m in length in total. Bloukrans Bridge is the site of the world’s highest commercial bungee jump.

Continue to the Garden of Eden in the Knysna Section of the Garden Route National Park. Garden of Eden is a superb example of wet high-forest, an unusual forest-type with many examples of tall tree species of the moister forest types. Do a short circular walk.

Depart to Knysna, the oyster capital of South Africa. Continue along the Garden Route to Wilderness National Park. In the heart of South Africa’s famous Garden Route, a captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains – all elements that characterise the Wilderness National Park.

Nature trails wind through densely wooded forest and along tranquil rivers, affording you the opportunity to encounter the brilliantly coloured Knysna lourie, or one of the five kingfisher species occurring here. During spring, a carpet of flowers, further enhance the verdant beauty of this national park. Whales & dolphins are seen often from Dolphin Point.

The series of lakes connected by the Touw River (Eilandvlei, Langvlei and Rondevlei) host a variety of aquatic species and is an internationally proclaimed Ramsar site. The forested hillsides that surround the area are home to several raptors, including cuckoo hawk, crowned eagle, forest buzzard, black and rufous-chested sparrow-hawk and African goshawk. The park has several walking trails, several of which are named after kingfisher species and not without reason, as brown-hooded, malachite, giant, pied and half-collared can be all easily spotted.

Check-in at accommodation. Time at leisure. Clients can do relaxed afternoon walks at their own pace in the beautiful surrounds. Good birding opportunities in the Rest Camp.
Overnight: Ebb & Flow Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 14 Wilderness National Park – Bontebok National Park
Continue to Mossel Bay. Visit the Maritime Museum. View a life-sized replica of the caravel that brought master mariner and explorer Bartolomeu Dias to the shores of Mossel Bay from Portugal. Diaz is reputed to be the first European explorer to set foot on South African soil in Mossel Bay on 3 February 1488. The caravel replica sailed into Mossel Bay in 1987 with much festivity, a gift from the Government of Portugal. Another treasure is a 1595 map of Mossel Bay by the early Dutch sailor, Cornelius de Houtman. Also on view are interesting artefacts and displays of maritime history during the time of the early Portuguese, Dutch and English navigators.

Depart to Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa. Visit the Drostdy, which was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1747 to serve as residence and official headquarters for the landdrost (judge). Soon after a gaol, a house for the secretary, a mill and various outbuildings were erected.

Depart to the nearby Bontebok National Park. Bontebok National Park lies within the Cape Floral Kingdom, now heralded as a world heritage site, with the majestic Langeberg Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop and the Breede River providing an idyllic western border. The Park is proud to promote its achievements in biodiversity conservation, from the endangered fynbos veld type, coastal renosterveld to the namesake bontebok! Once these colourful antelope numbered a mere 17 and through effective management the present world population amounts to around 3 000.
The Park is home to 200 bontebok, the endangered Cape mountain zebra, red hartebeest, grey reebok, steenbok, grysbok and smaller predators such as caracal, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, aardwolf, various mongoose species and the Cape clawless otter. The park is home to 200 bird species and larger species such as Denham’s (Stanley’s) bustard, blue crane, spur-winged goose, secretary bird and southern black korhaan are common.
Enter the Park. Do a game drive to the accommodation on the banks of the Breede Rivier. Check-in at accommodation. Time at leisure. Do a circular afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Lang Elsies Kraal Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 15 Bontebok National Park – De Hoop Reserve – Agulhas
Depart on a game drive to the exit gate. Exit the park and continue to De Hoop Nature Reserve. Many blue cranes, South Africa’s national bird are seen on the wheat fields in this area.

De Hoop Nature Reserve falls in the Cape Floral Kingdom and is approximately 34 000 ha in size and situated in the Overberg region, near the southern tip of Africa. The adjacent De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which extends three nautical miles (5 km) out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for a vast and fascinating array of marine life and it is a favourite destination for whale watchers during the winter and early summer months, Marine mammals such as dolphins and seals occur in the waters off the coast and southern right whales calve and mate in the sheltered bays of De Hoop each year between May and December.

Land mammals include the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well as eland, grey reebok, baboon, yellow mongoose, caracal and the occasional leopard. De Hoop is famous for its variety of resident and migratory bird species and more than 260 species have been recorded on the reserve. The De Hoop Vlei attracts large numbers of water birds. The only remaining breeding colony of the rare Cape vulture in the Western Cape occurs at Potberg.

Do a scenic drive to the view point at Koppie-Alleen, which is one of the best, if not the best whale watching spots on the South African coastline. Continue on a game drive to De Hoop Accommodation.

Depart via Bredasdorp and Struisbaai to Cape Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, which falls within Agulhas National Park. Amongst the mysteries associated with this region, is the legendary ‘Cape of Storms’ which wrecked many ships en route to the East. The second oldest working lighthouse in Southern Africa guards over the coastline and houses a unique lighthouse museum. This park hosts a variety of habitat types and great biodiversity as far as birds are concerned. Southern right whales come to the bays to breed from May to December. Visit the lighthouse.

Check-inn at accommodation. The accommodation overlooks the coastline. Time at leisure for a coastline walk at own pace.
Overnight: Chalet at Agulhas / Camping at Agulhas Caravan park
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 16 Agulhas – Cape Town area
Visit the Southern-most tip of Africa. Continue to Bredasdorp. Continue via the wheat fields of Caledon, fruit orchards of Villiersdorp and the scenic Franschhoek Pass to Franschhoek.

Continue to Butterfly World. Visitors soon realise that this is not only a butterfly park, but indeed a sanctuary for exotic animals, a bird sanctuary, a place where reptiles gets the highly specialised care they should and a whole lot more. All the creatures, bar the butterflies, have been donated by owners or environmental and conservation authorities. Not being able to return to their natural habitat where they belong, the animals will live out their days here in the tropical garden providing the best possible environment for them.

Visit the Road Kill Skeleton Park in the entrance hall at Butterfly World, which is the largest display of privately owned animal skeletons in the country. It is the work of a boy and his father using animal carcasses mainly from animals that died on our roads. Francois Malherbe was 3 years old when he was fascinated by animal bones and this grew into a unique, highly specialised hobby over the years. At the time Butterfly World opened this new Skeleton Park in 2016, Francois was 12 years old. He filled the space with over 50 skeletons perfectly preserved and meticulously poised. A fascinating experience for all ages.

Depart to accommodation at Diemersfontein Wine Estate in the Winelands near Wellington. Arrive at 04:30 p.m. Check in at accommodation in the historical Manor House at Diemersfontein. Wine tasting at Diemersfontein Wine Estate for those interested. Time at leisure.
Overnight: Diemersfontein Wine Estate / Camping at Berg River Holiday Resort
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 17 Cape Town & Surrounds
Depart on a tour of the Cape Peninsula. Visit the Penguins at Boulders. This colony of African (Jackass) penguins is one of only three colonies on the mainland. All other colonies are on islands. The first pair at Boulders was spotted in 1983 and since then the numbers have grown to about 3 000. Walkways ensure good close-up sightings of the penguins. Time for shopping at the souvenir shops and African Craft Market.

Continue to Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point which are all part of the Table Mountain National Park. The Table Mountain National Park is rich in floral biodiversity and is part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. The most common vegetation type is fynbos and eland, bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, klipspringer and grysbok can be seen in the Cape of Good Hope section.

At Cape Point, visitors are treated to excellent viewing opportunities from both lighthouses that adorn the most south western point in Africa, one still fully functional. The lighthouse is accessible by foot or one can catch the Flying Dutchman funicular (at own cost) to the top. Time for shopping at the souvenir shop.

Depart to the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive. Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast on the south-western tip of South Africa. Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world.

The 9km route, with its 114 curves, skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak (593m). Chapman’s Peak Drive is affectionately known as “Chappies” and is a must for anyone who is passionate about the majestic Cape Town scenery, with sheer drops to the sea below and towering mountains rising above you. The twists and curves in the road seem endless and it is a photographers dream. The drive offers stunning 180° views with many areas along the route where you can stop and take in the exquisite scenery.

Arrive at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Do a relaxed informative walk. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Few gardens can match the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch, against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa, and was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country’s indigenous flora. Kirstenbosch displays a wide variety of the unique plant life of the Cape Flora, also known as fynbos, as well as plants from all the diverse regions of southern Africa. Those that cannot survive outdoors, such as plants from the arid regions, are grown in the Botanical Society Conservatory. There are over 7 000 species in cultivation at Kirstenbosch, including many rare and threatened species.

More than just a garden, Kirstenbosch is part of a nature reserve. The 36 hectare garden is part of a 528 hectare estate that contains protected mountainside supporting natural forest and fynbos along with a variety of animals and birds. The Kirstenbosch Estate borders the Table Mountain National Park.

Kirstenbosch lies in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. In 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site – another first for Kirstenbosch, it is the first botanic garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site.

The most special flower every visitor wants to see is the King Protea, South Africa’s National flower.

Shopping break at the Kirstenbosch Shop. Depart to accommodation at the Cape Town Waterfront.
Overnight: City Lodge Waterfront Cape Town / Camping at Berg River Holiday Resort
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 18 Cape Town – Departure
Clients have the day at leisure to enjoy Cape Town at their own time. Optional visits to Table Mountain and/or Robben Island (weather permitting) can be done. Robben Island Ferry bookings have to be made well in advance. Transfer to Cape Town International Airport for departing flight. (At own cost)

It is expected from clients on camping tours to assist with pitching and packing up camp and with general camping duties on request.

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.