The Eastern Cape and Great Karoo is well known for its fantastic open skies and sunsets during summer. This tour combines these regions with the 1820 Settler frontier towns of Graaff-Reinette and Grahamstown. We also have a lovely coastal experience at Port Alfred, and we end it off with a 3-day visit to Addo Elephant Park. The trip includes a flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg and a transfer to your home.
Day 1: Wednesday 20 May
To get to all these lovely places we need to cover some distance on the first day. It will be the longest day of driving, but fortunately on a lovely highway. We will travel along the N1 route via Kroonstad and Bloemfontein to the Gariep Dam where we will overnight.
Day 2: Thursday 21 May
With the long drive now behind us, we can now start experiencing the lovely scenery of the Great Karoo. We will travel via the towns of Noupoort and Middelburg, and over the Lootsberg Pass towards Graaff-Reinette. Once over the pass, we take a detour towards the charming town of Nieu- Bethesda. Guests will be taken around town on a donkey cart. Jacob will tell you about the history and lovely stories of the town. After lunch, we also visit the world-famous Owl House, as well as some of the arts and craft shops and projects in town. It will be a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon.
We then drive back towards the main road and on to Graaff- Reinette where we will overnight for a 2-night stay.
Day 3: Friday 22 May
The frontier town of Graaff-Reinette is a museum on its own- with many buildings, churches and houses declared as heritage sites. It also has wonderful museums and art galleries. So we will spend today visiting many of these fantastic sites and learning about the history of the town. In the late afternoon, we will travel to the Valley of Desolation, to view the great and openness of the region. We will also view a wonderful Karoo sunset before returning to town.
Day 4: Saturday 23 May
After a last relaxing breakfast overlooking the river, we travel along the coast and then inland towards the Addo Elephant Park. Around midday, we will do our first drive into this wonderful park. Dinner and overnight in the Addo Rest Main Camp.
Day 5: Sunday 24 May
Enjoy a great breakfast and then head off into the park to see if we can find the Lions and the Elephants. Stop at the picnic spot for lunch and return to camp in the afternoon. Sit in the Game Hide in camp and relax until it is time for dinner. Overnight and dinner in the Addo Rest Main
Day 6: Monday 25 May
After the last breakfast in Addo it is time to travel to Port Elizabeth Airport for the return flight to Johannesburg. It will be around 12h30. You will again be met at the airport, and transferred home.
