Project Gateway Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve

Kruger, Coast and Cape

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17 days (Johannesburg)

Destinations visited: South Africa, Johannesburg, World

Grading:

Adventure touring level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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A quality accommodated tour through South Africa, from Johannesburg to Cape Town, visiting Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand, Drakensberg Mountains and the Garden Route.

This diverse tour takes us on an inspiring journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town, where we stay in quality accommodation, selected for their unique location and character, whilst we traverse the great parks and landscapes of this magnificent corner of Africa. We observe the teeming animal life of Kruger National Park, where we search for Africa's 'Big Five', before heading to the Kingdom of Swaziland, and the Milwane, one of the Royal Wildlife Reserves. We visit Zululand, the Zulu dominated area of northern Kwa Zulu-Natal Province, and the World Heritage Site, the Drakensberg Mountains. We make our way to the Free State province and take in spectacular views of the Gariep Dam and visit the historic town of Cradock. We enjoy a game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, home of large herds of elephant, lion and numerous antelope species. Continuing through the Garden Route, our journey is complete with a visit to the historic Groot Constantia wine estate in Cape Town. Arriving in Cape Town, we explore this vibrant city, visiting Cape Point Nature Reserve with an ascent of Table Mountain.

Highlights

Pilgrims Rest, Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window & Bourkes Potholes
“BIG FIVE” of Kruger National Park & Hluhluwe
Colourful tribal heritage of Swaziland & Zululand.
Scenic beauty of the Drakensberg Mountains (World Heritage site)
Elephants in Addo and the spectacular scenery of the Garden Route
Historic area of Cradock
Wine tasting & cellar tour at Groot Constantia in the Western Cape
Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope

Itinerary

Day 1 Johannesburg – Mpumalanga (Blyde River)

Trip commences from Protea Hotel Waterfront, Centurion, in Johannesburg at 07:00hrs. We strongly recommend arriving the night before. We drive this morning towards the historic mining town of Pilgrims Rest where the afternoon is spent exploring. This town was declared a National Monument in 1986 as a living memory to the early Gold Rush days in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today's journey is approx. 5 hours and 380 kms. Overnight at Graskop Hotel or similar.

Days 2-3 Kruger National Park

The morning is spent viewing the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and Bourkes Potholes. The canyon has impressive views over sheer edges dropping 800m into the riverbed, while the Bourke’s Luck Potholes have taken thousands of years to form strange cylindrical sculptures carved by the swirling waters of 2 rivers. We continue onto the famous Kruger National Park. The largest game reserve in South Africa stretches north to south over approximately 500km and is home to the Big Five, as well as numerous other species of fauna and flora. Early morning and late afternoon game drives are undertaken in search of the numerous animals inhabiting the Park. Overnight Hippo Hollow or similar

Day 4 Swaziland

Today we journey approx. 7 hours (350 kms) from Kruger to Swaziland. Mlilwane Game Reserve is one of the Royal Reserves, part of the kingdom’s commitment to wildlife preservation. Optional excursions (own expense) include a guided walk, mountain biking and horse trails in the Reserve. Overnight in traditional Swazi Beehive huts or similar.

Days 5-6 Zululand

Our travels take us from Mlilwane to Zululand (approx. 350 kms, approx. 6 hours). From our base in Zululand, rich in both cultural history and wildlife, we undertake a game drive in Hluhluwe/ Imfolozi Game Reserve, famous for its contributions to saving the endangered rhino. Overnight at Umkhumbi Lodge or similar.

Days 7-8 Drakensberg Mountains (World Heritage Site)

Departing after breakfast we follow the Indian Ocean coastline through KwaZulu-Natal before heading inland to the Drakensberg Mountains (approx. 580 kms, 8 hours). Our lodge is situated in the Northern Berg at the foot of the Amphitheatre. Enjoy guided walks in the mountains or relax in the spectacular surroundings. Overnight The Cavern or similar.

Day 9 Gariep Dam

Continuing along the foot of the mountains we enter the Free State Province (approx. 570 kms, 7 hours). Our lodge is located overlooking the Gariep Dam. Enjoy spectacular views from the deck. Overnight De Stijl Hotel or similar.

Day 10 Cradock

The historical town of Cradock is our next stop (from Gariep Dam approx. 252 kms, 4 hours). Die Tuishuise in Cradock is an elegant collection of beautifully restored Victorian era craftsmen’s houses in this frontier town, at the eastern edge of the Great Karoo. More than two dozen Tuishuise line Market Street up to the Victoria Manor, a grand old colonial hotel from the days of Cecil John Rhodes, Olive Schreiner and the droves of adventurers who passed here en route to the hinterland. Overnight Die Tuishuise or similar.

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Days 11-12 Addo Elephant National Park

Our travels to Addo Elephant Park are approx. 3 hours (230 kms). Found in the Sundays River Valley near the Zuurberg Range, the park is home to large herds of elephant, lion and numerous antelope species. We enjoy a game drive and the have the opportunity for an optional Elephant-back safari (own expense). Overnight Zuurberg Mountain Village or similar.

Days 13-14 The Garden Route

Following the coastline we explore the famous Garden Route, situated between the forests of the Tsitsikamma and the winelands of the Western Cape (approx. 334 kms, 4.5 hours). A full day is available to explore the charming towns of the area or a variety of optional activities (own expense) including sunset cruise to the famous Heads, whale watching (in season) & scenic walks. Overnight Knysna Hollow or similar.

Day 15 Cape Town

Our journey takes us via Sir Lowry’s pass through a picturesque fruit and wine growing valley. We visit Groot Constantia wine farm for a cellar tour and wine tasting. This farm was established in 1685 making it one of the oldest and most famous in the Cape. Our journey continues to the beautiful city of Cape Town (approx. 500 kms, 8 hours from Knysna to Cape Town). Set against the majestic Table Mountain, Cape Town offers scenic, historic and cultural attractions.

Day 16 Cape Town

We depart at 8:00am for a full day peninsular tour. Driving along the Atlantic seaboard via the fishing harbour town of Hout Bay and the spectacular coastal road of Chapmans Peak, we visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve returning to our hotel via the Indian Ocean coastline. A morning or afternoon cable car ascent up Table Mountain is included (weather dependant). Dinner can be enjoyed at the bustling Waterfront (own expense). Overnight Breakwater Lodge or similar.

Day 17 Trip concludes

The tour arrangements end after breakfast.

Additional Information

Inclusions

16 breakfasts and 2 dinners
3 star accommodation throughout
English speaking local guide
first aid box
game drives and activities as per itinerary
private transport in custom built expedition vehicles
pre-departure information guide

Summary

16 nights chalets, hotels and restcamps

Trip Main Activities

Adventure touring

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, film and camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

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Why we recommend World Expeditions

Pioneers in responsible travel.
No local payments.
True adventures in every sense.
Expert guides and support.
Quality facilities and transport.

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World Expeditions is a global company with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, all staffed with experienced adventure travellers.

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