Small-Group South Africa Tour: National Parks & Mountains & Coasts

South Africa - Rainbow Route

Tour code:
SAA17/2022

Small-group safari:
maximum 12 people

countries visited:
South Africa & eSwatini

Travel time:
17 days

Synopsis

• A hands-on tour with fixed accommodation at a reasonable price with accommodation in hotels, chalets and log cabins — A South Africa hands-on safari, a comfortable bed every night.
• A comprehensive introduction to the so-called Rainbow Nation — The whole world in one country!
• An interesting trip with culture, wilderness, adventure, hikes, mountains and beaches.
• Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zulu Land, Drakensberg, Garden Route and Cape Town.

Why travel with Sunway Safaris?

We understand that you have certain ideas when it comes to choosing your African trip. We also know that you want to make the best decision for a safari. You are probably asking yourself: “What am I going to watch, what am I going to experience? ”

When choosing your tour operator, it is therefore of great importance what is offered on a safari tour and which inclusive services are self-evident.

Here are some Sunway qualities and facts:

• small groups — Small travel groups of a maximum of 12 participants make it possible to experience Africa and have experiences with this wonderful continent and its people. This is the key to our success. Our trips appeal to all age groups. The average age is 37 — most are between 25 and 60. The diversity of participants each contributes to a special safari experience.
  
  
• 2 Sunway expedition leaders —Group tour guides are the key to any safari. On a Sunway Safari, you will be traveling with 2 qualified and registered Field Guides (FGASA) (nature guides) who make up the crew. This means maximum knowledge, informative and interesting travel. Our expedition leaders are passionate about Africa, its people and wildlife, and they love sharing their knowledge with our guests.
   
• Guaranteed departures — Departures marked “in bold” are guaranteed departures. All other departures are guaranteed for groups of 4 or more people.
  
  
• package price — When we plan the Sunway routes, we ensure that each route includes the best highlights. On a trip to Botswana, for example, you should definitely have visited the national parks in an open four-wheel drive vehicle, which is the essence of the Botswana wilderness. When traveling to Zambia, be sure to visit South Luangwa National Park and take a walk through the wilderness with a local scout. When booking a Sunway Safari, all entrance fees, a variety of activities and food are included. We have incorporated all highlights into our tours so that you can see and experience the highlights without having to pay on site. There are therefore no hidden costs. So this should be an important aspect of your decision to book Sunway Safari.
  
• Surety — Our vehicles are all custom-built. We ensure comfortable and safe travel. Each vehicle was designed by an approved passenger vehicle manufacturer in accordance with the latest safety requirements, it has a safety housing and each seat is fitted with a belt. This gives you peace of mind when you travel on the often demanding roads with Sunway Safaris.
  
  
• Good2Go - Our commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism is reflected in our environmentally friendly travel style, in which we only take photos and leave only footprints. As an African company, we have the right contacts to significantly change the lives of the people whose area we visit. In every itinerary in the brochure, you'll find this symbol, which highlights just one of the many sustainable travel initiatives we support.
  
  
• Solo travelers — Traveling alone won't put any further strain on your wallet, as reservation staff will place you of the same sex in a room to make the trip more affordable. Nevertheless, you have the option to book a single room or tent for a small additional charge.
  
  
• experience — For 27 years now, Sunway Safari has been planning trips through southern Africa. The routes were therefore perfected over many years. The smooth running of a tour is guaranteed here. We visit many highlights of southern Africa, but assure you that we are not following the busy tourist track. Our guides have plenty of experience in Africa and all over the world.
  
  
• Based in Africa — Sunway Safari is an African travel agency, which means we live in Africa, we travel in Africa and our passion belongs to this wonderful continent. That makes Sunway Safari the best travel option
   
• age limit - On all planned tours, we accept children aged 12 to 17 years accompanied by an adult. We have no upper age limit. Guests who are over 65 years of age at the time of travel need a medical certificate showing that the guest is fit and healthy to join an adventure group trip. We have lots of travelers over 65 who are perfectly able to enjoy every aspect of a Sunway tour, both when it comes to accommodation and camping. Please feel free to contact us for further details.

Please note:

The accommodations listed in the program are non-binding, indicative and subject to availability. However, alternative facilities always have a similar standard to those described.

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Local Payment

No local payment is required for this safari.

Reading recommendations:

Before you travel, you might want to read the following books. These books are not specific to Sunways' tours, but give a good background and understanding of the countries you'll be traveling to.

• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (the autobiography of one of the greatest political leaders of our time.)
• Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (the deeply moving story of Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom. A classic about love and hope, courage and perseverance and the dignity of a man).)
• The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (The story of a young man in search of love that binds friends, and passion binds lovers together to discover that it only takes one thing to change the world.)
• The Covenant by James A. Mitchener (How the best and the worst of two continents from a wilderness shape the country that South Africa was to become.)
• My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malan (Malan, former South African crime reporter, searches for the truth about apartheid.)
• When The Lion Feeds by Smith Wilbur (novel set in Natal, South Africa in the 1870s)
• Jock of the Bushveld by J Percy FitzPatrick (the story of a merchant and his dog, around 1880 around Pilgrim's Rest and Kruger Park area)
• The Steps of the Sun by Joanna Trollope (Love story during the Boer War)
• Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
• Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, and W.R. Tarboton
• The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates by RichardD. Estes and Daniel Otte
• Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Field Guides) by Braam Van Wyk, Keith Coates Palgrav and Piet Van Wyk

Shopping

The range of souvenirs such as carvings, candles, batik fabrics, wickerwork, paintings and clothing in Zulu Land, Knysna and Swaziland is among the best South Africa has to offer.

Meals

• We are proud to offer our travelers high-quality, delicious and healthy meals three times a day. Exceptions are mentioned in the itinerary, then we will try out local restaurants.
• The tour guide takes care of all shopping and menu planning. He/she will buy fresh groceries for the group whenever and wherever possible.
• What you can expect:
  Breakfast cereal with milk or bread/toast, jam with coffee and tea or occasionally English, i.e. hot breakfast.
  Lunch cheese, cold cuts, bread or rolls or salads, fruit
  Dinner stews, braais (grill), stir-fry, fried meat or curries etc. prepared over wood fire or with gas stoves.
  We have all cooking utensils as well as plates, cups and cutlery with us.
• Of course, we cater to the special needs of vegetarians and people with allergies. Please register in advance.
• Sunway Safaris offers the following drinks: fruit juice for breakfast and tea or coffee for breakfast and dinner. All other drinks must be purchased by yourself. Sunway Safaris does not provide you with bottled drinking water.

Difficulty level

• Anyone with a good general health condition and a moderate level of fitness will be able to enjoy the tour without any problems. Our accommodation is simple yet tidy and full of character.
• Some transit days, when we will be traveling by car for longer, will alternate with days full of outdoor activities. For most intermediate stages, we stay for two nights so that we can properly explore the surrounding area.

What you should know

• All entrance fees and fees for parks, game drives, and the Okavango excursion are included in the tour price.
• You need a valid passport and visa to enter South Africa. Please also have a look at the website of the Federal Foreign Office for detailed information on the current entry requirements.
• When packing, please keep in mind a weight limit of twelve kilos, brought along in a lightweight bag (not a hard-shell suitcase). Also consider a small lightweight bag for our day trips.
• We recommend that you bring South African rand with you for your personal expenses on this trip. Traveler's cheques can be exchanged in most major cities. Credit cards can also be used to pay for additional activities and restaurant bills. In the detailed travel guidelines, you will find the approximate prices for drinks, food, etc.
• If you want

Frequently asked questions about this tour

• Can I buy memory cards for my camera?
  Memory cards and other photo accessories are available from time to time on the tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto lens, 35-200mm, is recommended for landscape and animal photography. Each vehicle is equipped with a 12/24 V cigarette lighter — but you can't rely on being able to charge your batteries there, so we recommend that you bring a second battery. Don't forget that you can also (almost) always charge your camera when accommodation is being used (SA 220 V).
  
  
• Safety?
  South Africa — like many other countries — has many problems. However, your tour guide will make every effort to show you the most beautiful sides of the country and, by the way, to ensure your safety. Be alert but not paranoid, and nothing stands in the way of a great and memorable safari.
  
  
• Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
  There is a limited risk of malaria in Mpumalanga, Swaziland and Zulu Land (i.e. the first week of this tour). Please talk to your doctor whether he/she recommends prophylaxis. We're not taking any antimalarial drugs on this trip.
  
  
• What should I bring with me?
  All details are listed in our general tour information (available at www.sunway-safaris.com). But the basic things are: comfortable clothing for warm days and cold nights, hiking boots, rain jacket, hat and sunglasses, swimming clothes, small binoculars are also very handy and essential — a dash of adventurous spirit.