South Africa - Featured Trips

Discover the Marine Big 5 (whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins), as well as the classic safari Big 5 (buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard) on this magical whale watching tour. The best time to travel is during South Africa's winter season from July to November, but don't be put of by this. Winters in South Africa are nothing like the European and North American winters. It is also a lovely quiet time of year and with low season rates great value for money.

At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off South Africa, including Southern Right and Humpback whales. During the winter period Southern Right whales migrate into the coastal waters of the Western Cape to calve and nurse their young and therefore can often been seen up close along the coast.

This itinerary is suitable for both couples and families and offers a wide range of different activities to keep everybody interested and entertained. The accommodation used for both couple and families has been specifically chosen to suit their different requirements (couples=first named accommodation and families=second named accommodation).

Arrival at Cape Town international airport, where you will pick up your rental car. Make your way to your accommodation set on the coast in Simon's Town only minutes from The Boulders penguin colony. The remainder of day is left to relax, enjoy the spectacular views across False Bay or maybe venture into the historical Simon's Town. Overnight at Boulders Beach Lodge - Upper Deck room / Family unit on BB basis.

Explore the city and Cape Peninsula with a wide selection of sightseeing and guided optional tours. Select e.g. one or more of the following options:

Half Day Table Mountain and City Tour
Half Day Township Tour
Walking with Baboons (2hrs)

Overnight at Boulders Beach Lodge - Upper Deck room / Family unit on BB basis.

Embark on a guided Grand Cape Peninsula tour which includes Simon's Town, Boulders penguin colony, Cape Point National Park and a scenic drive across the Peninsula. Overnight at Boulders Beach Lodge - Upper Deck room / Family unit on BB basis.

Drive the dramatic coastal route to Hermanus, the self-proclaimed whale capital of South Africa. The drive along the rugged and beautiful coastline is great for land-based whale watching. Stop off at the Betty's Bay to visit the second land-based penguin colony. Overnight at Abalone Lodge - standard room on BB basis.

A two to three hour boat cruise with Dyer Island Cruises offers some of the best whale watching opportunities in the area. Dyer Island Cruises have a licence that allows them to approach the whales as close as 50 m. However often these intelligent and inquisitive animals often approach the boat real close up, in which case they are allowed to stay put.

Dyer Island Cruises are actively involved in coastal conservation and a percentage of their income is donated to the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board. They are also commited to community upliftment by training local guides, distributing handcrafted cards to clients after boat trips, and making an annual donation to the Silwejare Old Age Home. Overnight at Abalone Lodge - standard room on BB basis.

Travel inland along the R62 to Oudtshoorn situated in the Klein Karoo. The town is home to the world's largest Ostrich population with a number of specialized ostrich breeding farms. Most farms offer tours to day visitors. The Cango Caves is another one of Oudtshoorns must-see attractions. Continue to De Zeekoe Guest Farm located just south of the town and in close proximity to the Meerkat Magic project. Overnight at De Zeekoe Guest Farm - Luxury room / Log Cabin on BB basis.

Travel via the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to George, and along the Garden Route through Knysna and onwards to Plettenberg Bay. Both lodges are situated close to the beach (great for some more whale spotting) and overlooking Robberg Beach, Robberg Peninsula and the Outeniqua mountain range. They are also close to Plet's shops, quirky art galleries and restaurants. Overnight at Periwinkle Lodge - Superior room / Starfish Guest Lodge on BB basis.

Included in the tour price is a Ocean Blue Adventures Close Encounter Whale boat tour (July-September). Their boat traverses into the middle of the bay, where groups of migrating Southern Right & Humpback whales may be observed close up together with dolphins and Cape fur seals. Ocean Blue also has a special licence to approach whales up to 50 m. Close Encounters is FTTSA accredited and was awarded the WWF Green trust Award in 2001 for their work on eco-tourism and sustainable tourism in Plettenberg Bay.

There is also plenty of time to explore the beaches and arts & crafts shops. For something more adventurous you can bungee jump off Gouritz bridge or discover the treetops with the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour. Overnight at Periwinkle Lodge - Superior room / Starfish Guest Lodge on BB basis.

Travel to Port Elizabeth and in the afternoon and experience a guided Calabash township tour with a traditional dinner at a local 'shebeen'. Calabash Township Tours has a strong social agenda that is founded on developing the communities that they visit. They work closely with the Calabash Trust to ensure that the local and often disadvantaged communities benefit from their visits. Overnight at Fifth Avenue Beach House on BB basis

Continue to Addo National Park and Amakhala Game Reserve - a successful conservation project which has seen the reintroduction of elephant, white rhino, giraffe, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest and 16 antelope species. Your stay will be made special by personalized attention and arrangements tailor-made to suit your requirements. There is a full range of catering options, excursions and activities. These include game drives (both day and night), bird watching, canoeing, guided walks, picnic lunches and a river cruise. Overnight at Amakhala Bush Lodge / HillsNek Safaris on FB basis plus all safari activities.

Return to Port Elizabeth after breakfast for your internal flight to Cape Town and onward travel arrangements.

As with all our itineraries, this trip can be fully tailored to suit your own unique requirements and interests. We can add and/or change destinations and activities to include for example a couple of days in the picturesque & well known wine-producing areas of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

However if you would like to get to know the real South Africa and enjoy some more off-the-beaten track experiences, please check out our Stay Another Day suggestions below. All of our Stay Another Day options create jobs & social upliftment and are as environmentally friendly as possible. They are also carefully chosen for their sustainability and many are FTTSA accredited.

Stay Another Day - Cape Town
Stay Another Day - Western Cape
Stay Another Day - Garden Route

£1,885 per person sharing, based on 2 people travelling in Low Season (generally May-Aug)
£2,235 per person sharing, based on 2 people travelling in High Season (generally Sep-Nov)

Prices for children available on requests, and depends on child's age.

* This itinerary is available with an International Flight. Prices vary according to date of departure so please contact us for an exact quote. BAOBAB Travel is an ATOL bonded tour operator (ATOL 9168)

Terms and Conditions apply. Price is subject to availability and subject to change due to currency fluctuation.

12 Nights accommodation on mostly BB basis
13 Days car hire Group B (Toyota Yaris 1.4 Sedan or similar) for couples OR Group I (Toyota Avanza 1.5 or similar) for families both with Super Cover (nil excess)
FD Grand Cape Peninsula tour
2x boat whale watching trips (Jul-Sep)
Shebeen township tour
2 Days safari activities
Internal flight Port Elizabeth - Cape Town

Meals and activities not stated in itinerary
Items of a personal nature
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Visa cost
*International British Airways flight incl. airport taxes and fuel surcharges