South Africa
Day 1: The second, more intensive trip to southern Africa, a mix of safari and sightseeing, starts with a scheduled flight from Frankfurt/Main via Doha to Johannesburg.
Day 2: After our arrival in Johannesburg, we can relax a bit at the hotel before heading towards Pretoria, the capital of South Africa ;-) We'll visit the Voortrekker Monument , a prominent landmark of the Boers, visible from afar. Afterwards, we'll visit the home of Paul Kruger , President of the South African Republic from 1882 to 1902, and then, bathed in beautiful evening light, the Union Buildings , the seat of government, with its enormous Nelson Mandela statue .
Day 3: A long drive from Johannesburg along the breathtaking Panorama Route to Kruger National Park awaits. Stops at various viewpoints overlooking the Blyde River Canyon are a must along the way. The canyon is one of South Africa's natural wonders. The view from the flat rocky outcrop of Mariepskop , overlooking the Three Rondavels opposite and directly at the edge, 800 meters down to the river, is particularly impressive. This view is aptly named "God's Window" ... so fantastic photos are guaranteed. From there, the journey continues to Bourke's Luck Potholes, the source of the Blyde River, formed by erosion.
Day 4: Today we have a full-day game drive in Kruger National Park . We switch to an open vehicle to explore part of the 20,000 km² protected area. Low grasses and bush vegetation dominate the landscape. Among the approximately 140 mammal species that inhabit the park are the "Big Five": elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Of course, there are also huge herds of antelope and some of the more than 400 bird species to see. So there are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities ! And indeed, we see rhinos up close for the first time. A beautiful lion is also quite photogenic, as are elephants, warthogs, giraffes, and buffalo. In other words, there are quite a few animals to see, and it's beautiful, but in our opinion, it's no comparison to the parks in Tanzania. The biggest drawback is the perfectly paved road through the national park. This didn't feel like a safari at all, more like driving along a country road where you might spot some animals. We were genuinely shocked when we then encountered a tour bus! and the tourists were trying to take photos of the animals with their mobile phones through the bus window. Furthermore, you're not allowed to leave the marked trails in Kruger National Park. So a real off-road game drive isn't possible.
Day 5: Early in the morning, we set off on another game drive in an open vehicle within Kruger National Park and experience the sunrise in the bush... some animals are already awake. Afterwards, we continue our journey to the independent Kingdom of Swaziland , known for its stunning mountain scenery, friendly people, and colorful markets.
Day 6: After our stop in Swaziland, we continue on to the province of KwaZulu-Natal and Hluhluwe National Park , one of Africa's oldest game reserves. The park boasts a very attractive, lush green, hilly landscape and is traversed by the deeply carved Hluhluwe River and other rivers. The valleys are therefore densely forested, while park-like savannah predominates elsewhere. Hluhluwe Game Reserve is famous for its white and black rhinos, as well as lions, cheetahs, impalas, wild boar, blue wildebeest, zebras, waterbuck and reedbuck, leopards, jackals, and crocodiles. We do manage to see some of the animals, unfortunately the rhinos from a great distance. We need a long telephoto lens for that. Incidentally, in Hluhluwe itself, there are signs in the town warning of hippos, which apparently graze there quite often.
Day 7: This morning we enjoyed a lovely boat trip on the river and spotted a large group of hippos – wonderful to watch. Back at the dock, our last safari in South Africa came to an end, and from now on it was all about nature and sightseeing. The mix of safaris and sightseeing had been quite successful and entertaining so far. Next, we headed to the Drakensberg Mountains . The Drakensberg region boasts some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the country. The name, by the way, comes from a legend that said dragons once lived in the caves of the mountains. The Bushmen once hunted and foraged for food in the foothills of the Drakensberg. At this point, we'd like to mention a special accommodation in the mountains: the Antbear Lodge is a truly unique retreat with a stunning view of the sunset.
Day 8: We leave the mountains and head towards Durban. On the way, we visit a remote little school and are brought back down to earth with a jolt. The facilities of this school would cause a moderate outcry in Central Europe. The drive afterwards, filled with reflection, takes us past eucalyptus plantations and sugarcane fields to Durban , South Africa's largest port city on the Indian Ocean. The city is a bustling industrial and commercial center, but also a holiday paradise. The high proportion of Indian residents is striking, a legacy of the British colonial era. A special Nelson Mandela memorial is a must-see. Once you're there, you'll understand why it's "special."
Day 9: Today we travel from Durban Airport to Port Elizabeth , the economic center of the Eastern Cape. On the way to Knysna, we stop at the famous Bloukrans Bridge and watch daredevils bungee jump into the 216-meter-deep gorge. Heading west, we travel along the renowned Garden Route , bordered on one side by the Indian Ocean and on the other by fascinating mountain ranges and forests. Unfortunately, some forest fires are raging. We then enter the primeval-like Tsitsikamma Forest National Park . Near the Paul Sauer Bridge , which spans the Storms River, you can admire enormous yellowwood trees, some up to 850 years old . The "Big Tree" is particularly impressive and worth seeing. We continue past the famous Plettenberg Bay to Knysna , beautifully situated on a lagoon. It's located there. The area is really very scenic.
Day 10: We take a leisurely stroll through Knysna in the morning and take some final photos. The signs in the harbor showing the distances to various cities around the world make for a lovely subject. Today we drive towards Mossel Bay and on to Oudtshoorn. The section of the Garden Route between Tsitsikamma and Mossel Bay is characterized by picturesque bays, secluded beaches, high cliffs, rock faces, and, in some places, primeval-like forests. There are plenty of spots where we can stop the car and enjoy the stunning views. Arriving in Oudtshoorn , the center of ostrich farming, we learn all sorts of interesting and curious facts about these animals during a guided tour of the SAFARI Ostrich Farm. Very interesting, and ostriches are rather comical creatures.
Day 11: From Oudtshoorn, we continue to the Cango Caves . The Cango Caves are one of the largest and perhaps most beautiful cave systems in the world. Vast chambers and narrow passages lead past impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations... incredibly impressive. Afterwards, we drive along the scenic Route 62 across the high plateau of the Little Karoo to Montagu , a small historic spa town in the famous wine region near Cape Town. A stop at Ronnie's Sex Shop before Barrydale is definitely worthwhile along this route. Yes, you heard right, that's actually the name of the place.
Day 12: We head towards our final destination, Cape Town. The drive takes us over the Kogmanskloof Pass into the most famous wine-growing regions of the Cape Province, renowned for their wines, charming landscapes, and picturesque towns and villages. Naturally, we visit a regional winery, sample some wine, and take a guided tour of the cellars. Before reaching Cape Town, we visit a penguin colony —and yes, there really are penguins there! In the evening, we arrive in Cape Town and even stop for a beer tasting at Victoria Wharf . What was that saying again? Beer on wine... that tastes fine, or something like that. As we're about to head back to the hotel, feeling rather tipsy, we suddenly become aware of a different facet of South Africa. Although it was only a short walk to the hotel, the agency required us to take a taxi for security reasons. At the hotel, we then had to use four keys to get to our room: a key for the gate to the courtyard, a key for the hotel's front door, a key for access to our floor, and finally the room key. This did put a bit of a damper on our spirits.
Day 13: Today we explore the Cape region and head towards the Cape of Good Hope. On the way, we stop in Camps Bay ( a great photo spot for the Twelve Apostles mountain range ) and in the fishing village of Hout Bay with its many fish stalls. Then we arrive at the Cape of Good Hope , which, by the way, is not the southernmost point of Africa. The southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, while the Cape of Good Hope is the southwesternmost. The lighthouse is definitely worth a visit. Climbing the steps of the lighthouse offers a wonderful view of the spot where, it is said, the two oceans, the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, meet. We return along the eastern side of the Cape, following False Bay and passing through Simon's Town and Fish Hoek to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden with its magnificent gardens. The evening ends back at the Waterfront. This tour has been incredibly impressive in terms of scenery... a fantastic experience.
Day 14: What's a must-see when visiting Cape Town? Table Mountain , of course! So, we headed to the cable car station early and floated up the mountain. The views are phenomenal, so it's an absolute must. Afterward, we strolled through the Company's Garden and along the lively Long Street . Then, a visit to the Bo-Kaap district with its brightly painted houses is essential. In the late afternoon, we said goodbye to our guide and used our last few hours in Cape Town for a walk through Green Point Park . The Waterfront is also very close to the park, where we enjoyed our last evening with a delicious barbecue featuring local game. Tomorrow we head back, and at the end of our trip, we realized that we really missed the game drives over the past few days. In conclusion: the mix of safari and sightseeing was varied and enjoyable, but we could have done with a few more wildlife encounters.
