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Best of South Africa
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Length
15 Days
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Quality
This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities. -
Starts in
Johannesburg (South Africa)
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Ends in
Cape Town (South Africa)
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Available Tour Start Dates
JAN 2, 2027 to DEC 18, 2027
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Activity Level
No Rating Provided
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Language
English
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Guaranteed Date(s)
Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).Yes
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Special Interest(s)
Small Group
There is at least one season during which this tour is offered as a Small Group. Such seasons are noted as being Small Group within the related date range.
From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price for at least one departure date of this tour. Price is for the tour only. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare (unless noted otherwise), travel insurance, and more, are additional.
$4,894.88
Overview
Travel South Africa on a Small Group tour that brings together the country’s big-name icons and local connections. Search for wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park, visit a Swazi Chief’s village and continue through the Eastern Cape towards the Garden Route. Explore Knysna, follow the coastline and end in Cape Town, where Table Mountain, ocean views and the city’s cosmopolitan energy show you another side of South Africa.
Visited During Tour
Cape Town (South Africa) | Chintsa (South Africa) | Drakensberg (Lesotho) | Eswatini | Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth (South Africa) | Hazyview (South Africa) | Himeville (South Africa) | Hluhluwe (South Africa) | Johannesburg (South Africa) | Knysna (South Africa) | Kruger National Park (South Africa) | Mbabane (Swaziland) | Tsitsikamma National Park (South Africa) | Umhlanga (South Africa)
Dates, Offers & Prices
Tour Itinerary
More Details
Dates, Offers & Prices
The following are Best of South Africa tour dates available from Trafalgar. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
Tour Itinerary
Trafalgar Tour Code 375-1039
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Day
1Welcome to Johannesburg
Your South Africa small group journey begins in Johannesburg, the country’s largest city and a place shaped by gold rush history, creative neighborhoods and South Africa’s modern spirit. Known as Jo’burg or Jozi, its mining past, art spaces and evolving urban culture give you an immediate sense of the country’s contrasts. Settle into your hotel and take time to unwind after your travels. Later, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers over dinner in a local restaurant to get a feel for the adventure ahead.
- Meals Included:
- Dinner
Accommodations: The Maslow -
Day
2Journey to the Kruger National Park Area
The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa's Lowveld. Admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga's Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, you'll venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, your home for two nights.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Sabi River Sun Resort -
Day
3Safari in Kruger National Park
Set out on a Small Group safari through Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s great wildlife sanctuaries and South Africa’s oldest national park. With your Local Specialist guiding the way, follow the tracks, calls and movement of the bushveld as you search for the Big Five, the Little Five and everything in between. Scan the golden grass for lions, watch for elephants moving between the trees and look closer for the smaller wonders, from animal spoor in the dust to a golden orb spider waiting on her web. Spend your afternoon at leisure, with the sounds of Kruger all around you.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Sabi River Sun Resort -
Day
4Onwards to Eswatini
Travel to landlocked Eswatini and get a real feel for the local culture. You’ll visit a Swazi Chief’s village, meet the community and learn about their way of life before sampling some of the local pap and stew. Admire their striking crimson traditional dress up close and feel the beat of this vibrant culture during a spirited drumming class. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to the villagers and their traditions.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane -
Day
5Head to Hluhluwe
Venture to the 'garden of province' of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness. Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, you'll arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4x4 game drive. This evening, enjoy a delicious South African braai (weather dependent) – a perfect way to end the day.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Anew -
Day
6Venture to Durban (Umhlanga Rocks)
Explore St. Lucia, a relaxed coastal town surrounded by wetlands, wildlife and the warm Indian Ocean. Take in its easy pace before choosing to join an Optional Experience cruise on Lake St. Lucia, gliding past reed beds and mangroves as you look for hippos, crocodiles and rich birdlife along the water’s edge. Continue to Durban for an orientation of South Africa’s vibrant Indian Ocean city, where colonial buildings, beachfront energy and Indian heritage meet. End the day at the Oyster Box Hotel with a curry buffet, a local favorite that celebrates Durban’s famous spice-filled food culture.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga -
Day
7Make Tracks for the Drakensberg Mountains
Journey through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills, traveling towards the escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga. Stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where a sculpture and visitor center mark the place where Mandela was arrested in 1962 before his 27 years of imprisonment. Continue through the Underberg, known for its arts and crafts scene and mountain setting, before arriving in the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and take in the valley’s views.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Premier Resort Sani Pass -
Day
8A Day in the Drakensberg
Enjoy the freedom to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site your way. You might choose to join an Optional Experience and head off-road on a 4x4 Sani Pass adventure, climbing to 2,874 m (9,429 ft) and crossing into Lesotho. Stop to take in the incredible mountain views from Africa’s highest pub, before enjoying lunch at another local spot en route. Prefer to keep things low-key? Stay grounded and soak up the Drakensberg’s dramatic beauty at your own pace.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Premier Resort Sani Pass -
Day
9On the Road to the Eastern Cape Beaches
Travel from mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, crossing the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads. Discover Nelson Mandela’s legacy in Qunu, where stories of his early life connect you to the rural landscapes that shaped him. Continue to Chintsa on the Wild Coast, where unspoiled beaches and rolling dunes set the scene for your Stays with Stories experience at Crawfords Beach Lodge. Settle in by the ocean and take in this remote stretch of coast.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Crawfords Beach Lodge -
Day
10Travel to Gqeberha
Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surroundings before your journey to Gqeberha. Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, a quality you'll experience first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Boardwalk -
Day
11On to Tsitsikamma National Park and Knysna
Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma's giant and ancient Yellowwoods, then arrive at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge. Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella's work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. It is famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads, which stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon, shielding the town from the Indian Ocean.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
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Be My Guest
Being a guest in a local home for a meal prepared with love - enjoying an exchange of conversation and a first-hand look into the local life - was a revolutionary concept for group travel just a decade ago. Enter Be My Guest, Trafalgar’s original local travel experience, born from the idea of enhancing human connections between host (the local) and guest (the traveller).
Accommodations: Knysna Hollow Country Estate -
Day
12Knysna Your Way
You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route. Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Knysna Hollow Country Estate -
Day
13Continue to Cape Town
Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City. You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Southern Sun The Cullinan -
Day
14Cape Town Your Way
Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City. Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit the infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at dinner with your traveling companions, indulging in delicious Cape Malay specialty dishes.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Southern Sun The Cullinan -
Day
15Farewell Cape Town
Bid a fond farewell to Cape Town after breakfast. Explore the city on your terms before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
More Details
Trafalgar is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Best of South Africa tour:
Travelers Notes
* TRANSFERS:- Complimentary transfers from O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) are available on the arrival day of the itinerary or in conjunction with a pre-trip accommodation booked through Trafalgar.- Complimentary transfers to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) are available on the departure day of the itinerary or in conjunction with a post-trip accommodation booked through Trafalgar.* SOUTH AFRICA:- USA passport holders traveling to South Africa do not require a visa for tourism stays up to 90 days. However, please ensure that guests passport has at least 2 blank visa pages. Guests must be in possession of a return air ticket or onward ticket.* ESWATINI:- USA passport holders traveling to Eswatini do not require a visa for tourism stays up to 30 days. However, please ensure that guests passport has at least 2 blank visa pages.* IMPORTANT: Please see important visa details sent with your invoice.* GROUND HANDLER: This trip is Operated by Thompsons Africa.* TABLE MOUNTAIN: The Cape Town Table Mountain cableway closes annually for maintenance between July and August. During this time, all cable car operations at the Table Mountain Cableway Company will be suspended. Hikers will still be able to make their own way to the top of the mountain and back down by foot, but please note that the facilities will be closed at the top during this time. Departures affected by the closure will have their guest documents updated with an adjusted itinerary / alternative inclusion.* LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE: Each guest is permitted one bag with maximum dimensions of 58 linear inches (147 cm), the total of length, width, and height - and a weight not exceeding 44 lbs (20 kg). Guests may also bring one personal item, such as a purse, backpack, or similarly sized item that fits comfortably under the seat in front of them or the overhead compartment weighing no more than 15 lbs (7kg).* IMPORTANT: Smaller vehicles without toilet facilities are used.* SMALL GROUP SERIES: This trip is now featuring exclusively small-group departures, operating with a maximum of 24 guests for the entire series.* NOTE: This Trip falls under Tour Deposit Level 2. Please refer to the Deposit, Payment and Cancellations policies on our website.
Pricing listed above for tours is per person, in US Dollars, and is based on double occupancy. Pricing may change for other occupancy types. Pricing is based on the last time the vendor electronically sent us pricing data, which varies by vendor (usually occurs overnight or multiple times throughout each day).
Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Trafalgar. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Trafalgar (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.