Southern Africa Tour Extravaganza | Talana Tours Extravaganza

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Southern African Extravaganza Tour
15 Day, 14 Nights

DAY 1: Johannesburg - Pilanesberg
Overnight: Pilanesberg National Park
Meals: D
Johannesburg South Africa Met on arrival at Johannesburg airport by Talana Tours. After clearing customs etc we board our coach for an orientation tour of Johannesburg the "Powerhouse of Southern Africa" the objective is orientation in terms of the incredible mixture of history, cultural and economic diversity that exists in Johannesburg. We visit Gold Reef City, which recaptures much of the spirit of old Johannesburg with its Victorian style buildings, horse-drawn cars and steam train. One can enjoy quality local craft and other speciality shopping opportunities, as well as an excellent underground tour of the original mining tunnels built by the Chinese labourers on the Witwatersrand in 1904. There is also the possibility of seeing how molten gold is poured and visit an early mint in perfect working order.

A visit to the Apartheid Museum will give a back ground to the oppression that the black people experienced during the dark days and their struggle for freedom.

In the afternoon we make our way to Pilanesberg National Park in time for a short game safari before checking into our accommodation.

DAY 2: Pilanesberg
Overnight: Pilanesberg National Park
Meals: B & D
Today we have a full day to explore Pilanesberg National Park. An ancient volcano that is now Pilanesberg National Park is situated a short 2-hour drive north west of Johannesburg. The concentric rings of the caldera (collapsed volcano) are now home to one of the largest diversities of antelope as well as all the big game you would expect to find in a premier national park. Pilanesberg National Park is 50 000 hectares in size and prior to its proclamation in 1979, the landscape was degraded and depleted of indigenous game populations due to intense settlement by commercial farmers. At considerable expense, the land has been restocked with game, the scars of human settlement were removed and tourism infrastructure was developed during the first 15 years (1979 and 1993). This constituted the largest and most expensive game stocking and land rehabilitation project ever undertaken in any African game park at the time. More than 6 000 head of game were introduced during the Operation Genesis game translocation programme.

While wildlife resources are rapidly declining in most developing countries in Africa, Pilanesberg National Park is one of the few areas where this trend has been dramatically reversed. For this far-sighted action the North West Province and its people have received worldwide acclaim and recognition.

An optional night safari with a park ranger is possible on this night, this is for account and should be booked in advance.

DAY 3: Lesedi
Overnight: Lesedi Cultural Village
Meals: B & D
St Lucia Boat Trip Kwazulu Natal After early morning game drive and breakfast we pack up and drive to the nearby Sun City complex where we spend a couple of hours at leisure relaxing or enjoying any one of the amazing entertainment opportunities available at this internationally acclaimed resort.

After lunch, we head to our overnight accommodation at Lesedi Cultural Village where we will have the opportunity of experiencing a variety of South African tribal cultures. Although not in their natural surrounds this village is a skilful recreation of traditional cultural life of a bygone era.

DAY 4: Golden Gate
Overnight: Golden Gate
Meals: B & D
After the morning program and breakfast we depart for the magnificent Drakensberg mountains and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The drive takes us through the agriculturally significant Free State Province. The route becomes increasingly more attractive the closer we get to the impressive mountain range.

DAY 5: Golden Gate
Overnight: Golden Gate
Meals: B & D
A full day to explore this mountain landscape at your leisure. There are excellent opportunities for hiking, fishing, bird watching, horse riding or just simply relaxing and enjoying the fresh mountain air and awesome surroundings.

DAY 6:Kimberley
Overnight: Milner House
Meals: B + D
An early start is required today. After a brief stop in the small town of Clarens, which has developed as a haven for artists seeking the tranquility and inspiration of this mountain landscape an offers the tourist excellent opportunity to browse or invest in top quality art and craft. We press on taking the route to Kimberly arriving in the afternoon for a visit to the Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum. The Big Hole is the largest hand-dug mine in the world, excavated during the biggest diamond rush the world has ever seen. Alongside the Big Hole is a reconstruction of the town that mushroomed during the rush. On display is ‘the Eureka’, the first recorded diamond discovery. The town shows the earlier frontier days.

DAY 7:Witsand Nature Reserve
Overnight: Air-conditioned chalet at Witsand
Meals: B + D
We visit Kamfersdam off the Transvaal Road. The water pan and reed beds are frequented by about 25,000 flamingo’s and many species of waterfowl. Depart for Witsand Nature Reserve. Few eco-destinations in the Northern Cape are as scenic as Witsand Nature Reserve. Only Witsand can offer you sensual, flowing white dunes – twenty to sixty metres high – surrounded by copper-red Kalahari sand, Acacia woodland and the Langberg Mountain range. Home of the famous "Brulsand" or Roaring Sands of the Kalahari. Under the right conditions, these dunes utter an eerie rumble when disturbed. Witsand Nature Reserve is a scenic park, teeming with bird life, including the Namaqua sandgrouse, sociable weaver and Africa’s smallest raptor the pygmy falcon. Afternoon sight seeing drive and hike.

DAY 8: Witsand - Molopo
Overnight: Chalet at Molopo Lodge
Meals: B + D
Early morning walk in the dunes. Proceed to Upington via Groblershoop following the lush green Orange River Valley. Wine tasting at the 2^nd largest co-operative wine cellar in the world, the Orange River Wine Cellar. Continue to Molopo 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. Star gazing from Koopan-Noord Pan, 5 km from the lodge.

DAY 9:Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Overnight: Luxury tents at Kalahari Tented Camp or similar
Meals: B + D
We depart from Molopo Lodge to the largest camp in Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park, Twee Rivieren. From where we go on our first game drive in this 37 000 square km park. Game such as, gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest, and red hartebeest are seen very often. The Park is well known for good sightings of lion and cheetah and is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 20 larger raptor species.

DAY 10:Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Overnight: Chalet at Molopo Lodge
Meals: B + D
We enjoy a full day of game drive in the Park before we depart for the Molopo Lodge in the late afternoon. En route we visit the last remaining San tribe in South Africa, the Khomani.

Day 11: Augrabies Falls National Park
Overnight: Air conditioned chalets at Augrabies
Meals: B + D
We depart to Augrabies Falls National Park via Upington. We visit Tierberg Nature Reserve in Keimoes, the Quiver Tree Forest on the Kakamas gravel road and The Persian Water Wheels. After arriving at Augrabies we visit the falls, which become the six largest waterfalls in the world when the Orange River is in flood. Late afternoon game- and sightseeing drive to awesome viewpoints such as Ararat and Oranjekom. Giraffe, springbok, gemsbok, eland, and klipspringer can be seen. Fish eagles and black eagles are common residents.

DAY 12: Augrabies – Hantam Karoo
Overnight: Vredendal/ Melkboomsdrift
Meals: B + D
Today we drive through vast plains of Bushmanland and the Hantam Karoo, passing through the small towns of Kakamas, Kenhardt and Brandvlei to reach the main town of this sheep farming area, Calvinia. Proceed to Vredendal in the Olifants River Valley via the scenic Van Rhyns Pass.

Day 13: West Coast Splendour
Overnight: Paternoster
Meals: B & D
We travel further south, stopping in Citrusdal for lunch before moving on to the town of Veldrif. This fishing village on the Berg River is well known for its ‘Bokkom’ (dried fish), and we have the chance to sample this West Coast delicacy.

We continue to the Rocherpan Marine and Nature Reserve, a wetland reserve adjacent the Atlantic Ocean, which provides a sanctuary for many coastal birds. We have the opportunity to visit one of the bird hides and enjoy time on the uninhabited beach, which provides a great site to view whales during the season.

After our sojourn on the beach we continue to make our way down the West Coast to Paternoster, our accommodation is on the beach with fantastic views.

Day 14:Lagoon, Lighthouse and Fossils!
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals: B & D
After a breakfast, we move on to the Cape Columbine Nature reserve where we have a guided tour of the local lighthouse with the resident lighthouse keeper. This tour is interesting and informative, with fantastic views from the top of the lighthouse.

Our next stop is the West Coast Fossil Park, which offers a fascinating glimpse into our distant past. The fossils date back to between 2 and 10 million years ago and visitors can learn how life has changed in the area through time. The fossils on view are varied and plentiful due to mining activity in the area that has uncovered many of the fossils and thereby created an opportunity that would have otherwise been impossible.

Just around the corner are the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay and the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. Thousands of seabird’s roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere.

The park surrounds the Langebaan Lagoon, which is a world Ramsar site (site’s deemed to be of global significance to wetland bird species). We have lunch in the park at the Geelbek educational centre with a chance to swim in the lagoon. Then it’s on to Cape Town, with one more stop at Bloubergstrand for a photo opportunity of the city of Cape Town from across the bay.

Day 15:Cape of Good Hope
Overnight: Cape Town.
Meals: B
Today we embark on a tour of Cape Peninsula along one of South Africa's most scenic and popular roots, passing Hout Bay and enjoying dramatic views from Chapmans Peak drive as we will make our way to Cape Point, the highlight of the tour. Weather permitting and depending on your preference, a 30-min walk can be included from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope.

During the day we will drive through to the naval base of Simons Town. In addition to historical places of interest, this town is also home to a African Jackass Penguin colony and visitors can get really close to these fascinating creatures.

Time for a stroll through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is included. Please note ample time will be allowed to enjoy a relaxing lunch (optional and not included in tour price and guests can choose where they would like to have lunch).

There is an optional hour boat trip from Hout Bay to view seals at Duiker Island (weather permitting)

Day 16: Winelands – End of Tour
Meals: B & L
A day in the Winelands - this classic tour takes us through spectacular vineyard-picturesque valleys and along scenic country roads. Included in this tour are the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. Two wine tastings, a cellar tour and the opportunity, to buy local wine compliment magnificent scenery. Lunch is in Franschhoek, itself a memorable experience. After lunch we go to the airport for your flight home.

PRICES
per person 2004 (in South African Rand)