Page 19 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

DISC OVERING SOUTH AFRIC A  17

21-Day Grand Tour

In three weeks, self-drivers
with sufficient time can
meander from Johannes-
burg to Cape Town via some
of the country’s finest game
reserves and beaches.
• Arriving Fly into OR Tambo
International Airport near
Johannesburg and out of
Cape Town International
Airport, 20 km (12 miles)
from Cape Town and 30 km
(19 miles) from Stellenbosch. Pachyderms on parade at Addo Elephant National Park
• Transport This itinerary is
Game Reserve (see p298), Day 12: Grahamstown
aimed mainly at self-drivers, whose rolling green hills support Another long day behind the
who can pick up a rental the world’s densest rhino wheel leads from Durban to
vehicle at one airport and population. Grahamstown (see p256–7),
drop it at another. Many a charming 200-year-old
organized tours offer Days 10–11: Shakaland university town. Allow an
variations on the same route, and Durban hour or two to explore the
sometimes flying between A 3-hour drive from St Lucia excellent Albany Museum
Durban or Port Elizabeth and leads south to Durban, with the Complex (see p256).
George or Cape Town to option of diverting a short way
save time. Intercity public inland for a daytime or over- Days 13–14: Addo Elephant
transport, where it is night cultural programme at National Park
available, would not offer Shakaland (see p297), the Allow two nights and a full
access to most small stops original and best of several day to explore the short but
on the way. lodges dedicated to bringing very rewarding road network
traditional Zulu culture to life. through Addo Elephant
Your itinerary in Durban (see National Park (see p254),
Days 1–2: Johannesburg pp286–9) will depend on which now hosts all of the Big
Follow the itinerary for 2 Days in whether you spend one or two Five – lion, elephant, leopard,
Johannesburg (see facing page). nights there, but try to fit in a rhino and buffalo – but is
visit to the Indian-dominated famed for offering close-up
Days 3–6: Mpumalanga Victoria Street Market (see encounters with some very
Escarpment and the Kruger p288) and world-class uShaka relaxed elephants.
National Park Marine World (see p286), and
As for Days 1–4 of the itinerary enjoy fresh seafood or tangy Days 15–16: Garden Route
on page 15. curry (a local speciality) at one Choose one or two of the stops
of the restaurants on the beach- on the Garden Route itinerary
Days 7–9: iSimangaliso front Golden Mile (see p286). on page 14. The Tsitsikamma
Wetland Park and Hluhluwe- sector of the Garden Route
Imfolozi National Park is noted for
Leave the Kruger early for the scenery and walking, Knysna
long (9–10 hour) drive south to for urban attractions in a
northern KwaZulu-Natal and the lovely lagoonside setting, and
coastal village of St Lucia in the Oudtshoorn for the quirkier
iSimangaliso Wetland Park combination of ostrich farms
(see p300–301). Using this lovely and limestone caverns.
jungle-enclosed village as a base
for three nights, spend your first Days 17–21: Cape Town and
morning on a boat cruising the Stellenbosch
St Lucia Estuary (see p300), with Drive or fly from George to Cape
its plentiful hippos and birds, Town. With three to four full
then head north to the stunning days, follow the 2-day itinerary
beach and forested dunes at on page 12, then days 5 and 6
Cape Vidal (see p300) for the of the itinerary on page 13, with
afternoon. Spend the next day the option of spending your last
exploring the game-viewing The soaring cathedral of St Michael and night in Stellenbosch or in one
roads of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi St George, Grahamstown of the other Winelands towns.

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