LGBTQ vacation to exquisite and picturesque places in South Africa -"Group special"

Cape Town, the “Mother City”, or the world’s most fabulous city, is the oldest city in South Africa and has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years. It was also called 'The Tavern of the Seas' as the sailors in the 17th century quickly spent all their savings on the brothels.

Meet us at your centrally located hotel to start this tour for Cape Town's most famous icon: Table Mountain by the Aerial Cableway to take in the natural beauty and stunning views. The first botanical garden in the world to be established (in 1913) to protect local flora, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in the UNESCO-listed Cape Floral Kingdom follows. Lunch is at an African cuisine restaurant. Visiting Groot Constantia, we taste their export quality wines. From here we go to Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, home to one of the few land-based penguin colonies in the world. We drive along the scenic Chapman’s Peak drive and overnight at the Gay Friendly Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Victoria Junction (or similar).

First visit is Cape Point, part of the Table Mountain National Park and home to an abundance of flora and fauna, and ascend the viewpoint with the Flying Dutchman Funicular. Driving in the direction of Stellenbosch, we visit the Spier Wine Farm for chocolate and wine tasting on the banks of the Spier dam. We overnight at Caledon Hotel and Spa. 

The Caledon Hotel and Spa which has an impressive view of the Klein Swartberg Mountains and the continuing wheat fields. The hotel offers guests mineral-rich hot springs and spa. The wellness centre is equipped with comfortable seating, natural hot springs, lap pool, steam room, sauna, frigidarium (The distinctive brown colour of the water is due to the rich mineral content known as chalybeate.), Swiss shower, elegant Victorian Bath House (erected 1897) and outdoor Jacuzzi. Gay Friendly

Starting our journey to the Garden Route, we go to the town of Oudtshoorn with Route 62. This route delivers an unforgettable South African travelling experience, the making of life-long memories. After visiting the Cango Caves for a Heritage Tour, we head down the scenic Outeniqua Pass and onto the green forests and beaches of the Garden Route. Overnight is at the Gay Friendly Villa Castollini in Knysna, a five star Tuscan-styled villa that overlooks the beautiful Knysna estuarine bay. (or similar) 

After breakfast, a drive through Knysna take you to the town of Plettenberg Bay where you can choose to do one of the following optional activities: 

- a boat ride for a “Dolphin Encounters” excursion of 1,5 to 2 hours at Ocean Blue Adventures, 

- jump from the ‘highest recognized bungee from a bridge’ in the world, the Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump, 

- or do a Tsitsikama Canopy Tour at Stormsriver Adventures.

You can also choose to walk through the "Garden of Eden" and the "Big Tree". You overnight at On The Beach Guest House Jeffrey’s Bay (or similar). 

The picturesque surfing mecca of Jeffreys Bay boasts a considerable reputation that stretches far and wide. Most noted for producing the best right hand surf break in the world, with the main surfing spot in J.Bay named Supertubes. The constant swell and wave formation found at many of Jeffreys Bay's beaches produce the ideal 'tubes' that have resulted in Supertubes becoming the location for the annual Billabong Pro surfing contest.

The Wild Coast is a stunning section of Eastern Cape coastline stretching from East London in the south to the border of KwaZulu-Natal in the north. It is the home of the Xhosa people and incorporates estuaries, sandy beaches, natural heritage sites, craggy cliffs, waterfalls, and rolling hills, providing spectacular scenery and real authentic traditional experiences.

You have an early morning start for a day trip to Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in South Africa. Home to elephants, lions, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species. You’ll enjoy a safari tour with your knowledgeable Guide and get the opportunity to see buffalo and other big animals. Have dinner at their restaurant, and an optional night game drive. Overnight here in a cottage. Gay Friendly.

Breakfast follows a drive to the spectacular Wild Coast town of Kei Mouth, where you can have an optional cruise on the Great Kei, watch Fish Eagles feed and see cycads growing in the wild. It is a bird watchers paradise! You can have an optional Wild Coast Horseback Adventure or you can just relax on the spectacular Kei Mouth's sandy beaches. Overnight at Neptunes Cove, Kei Mouth (or similar). https://www.keimouth.co.za/ 

Leaving Kei Mouth, we head North to the spectacular Wild Coast along the roads of the Transkei, and see how the Xhosa people still live in their traditional rondawel huts, with farm animals grazing by the side of the road against the backdrop of the Drakensberg in the distance! We veer off the N2 to “The Hole in the Wall”, one of South Africa's most famous tourist attractions. (Lunch en-route not included) The locals call this "izi Khaleni" which means place of thunder. During certain seasons and water conditions, the waves clap in such a way that the concussion can be heard throughout the valley. If you want to have a real authentic traditional experience, sleep in a rural rondawel (hut) of a traditional Xhosa village if available at the time. You also have the choice to stay at the 3 star Hole-in-the-Wall Hotel. Gay Friendly

After visiting some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the world, we drive to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, which lies snugly at the head of a spectacular river gorge lined with dense coastal bush and forests. You can do an optional activity at the Wild 5 Adventures, like the wild Gorge Swing to experience the Ultimate Rush! Situated at the top of Lehr’s Waterfall in Oribi Gorge, this is the highest swing of its kind in the world, abseil down a 110m Cliff face, alongside Lehr’s waterfall, walk the suspension bridge (84 Meters) – (A spectacular opportunity to be suspended between heaven and terra firma, as you hover 100m above the Gorge floor enjoying views never before seen of Lehr’s Waterfall and Baboon’s Castle, or just relax on the overhanging rock. Wildlife in the Oribi Gorge consists of many antelope, although the graceful oribi (after which the gorge is named) is rarely seen. We stay at Port Shepstone or Marina Beach in Gay Friendly accommodation.

The Hibiscus coast with its inviting stretch of Indian Ocean which sometimes presents the year-round delights of frolicking dolphins and majestic, cruising whales, provide the spectacular scenery for the drive to Durban. Your tour group now has the opportunity to do optional scuba diving at Aliwal Shoal from Umkomaas, a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 kilometres off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The reef is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Visit uShaka Marine World in Durban, and then explore some of the best LGBTQ night clubs in Durban. Overnight at Durban View Gay Guest House. Gay Friendly

Kwazulu-Natal Drakensberg, Battlefields Route & Midlands Meander.

A barrier of upward-pointing spears for the Zulu name “Quathlamba”, describes the craggy pinnacles that form the most spectacular part of the Great Escarpment of Southern Africa’s major watershed. The mountains and hills hold many secrets and stories of the Anglo Boer war. 

Leaving Durban, we head to Howick to visit the Mandela Monument. From here we take the road North on the Midlands Meander and visit Tsonga shoes and bags, the Wine Cellar and Chocolate Heaven and more. We head out to do the Drakensberg Canopy Tour and savour lunch at one of the delightful restaurants on the way. You get the option to do a helicopter flight over the main Drakensberg escarpment. (own cost) Spend the night at the Monks Cowl Golf Resort (or similar). Gay Friendly.

Breakfast follows the drive to Johannesburg, the "City of Gold" Visit the Apartheid Museum on arrival to learn more about South Africa's past. We spend the night at the luxuriously styled Gold Reef City Theme Park Hotel where you have the opportunity to learn about the history of gold in Johannesburg, or at the gay friendly Gold Reef Place. You also have the opportunity to visit some of the best LGBTQ night clubs in the area.    

Panorama Route/Kruger Park is an excellent choice for people who want to enjoy spectacular scenery, combined with game drives to see the renowned big five (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and buffalo).

We will begin the journey and drive through some of the most scenic areas of the Eastern part of South Africa. We visit the intriguing museums and shops in Pilgrim’s Rest and then drive to view Pinnacle Rock and then to experience the amazing view from God’s Window (Wonder View). We then visit the Berlin Falls, where numerous local arts and crafts are for sale. (Lunch en-route, restaurants available) From here we visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and then head the Blyde River Canyon, where we overnight in a chalet at the resort: Forever Blyde Canyon (or similar). Gay Friendly

We leave after breakfast to take a boat trip on the Blyde Dam. An interpretation tour will take us to the Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the Three Rondawels. An abundance of wildlife will keep you distracted while learning more about the natural history of the Blyde Canyon. The Kadishi Tufa waterfall, at 200 meters (around 660 feet) in height, is the second tallest tufa waterfall on earth. The waterfall’s formation strikingly resembles a face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as ‘the weeping face of nature’. Completing this we head to the heart of the Kruger National Park through the Orpen gate, watching game as we head to the Satara Rest Camp (or similar, like Letaba or Olifants), which is situated in an excellent game viewing areas, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. Satara is well wooded and the bird-life is prolific. At night the clink of fruit bats is fused with the chirping of cicadas and crickets. The calls of owls and nightjars add to the symphony that is punctuated intermittently by the whoop of hyena, the screech of jackal and the roars of lion. Once at your camp, you will have a popular 3 hour sunset game drive in an open safari vehicle where the amazing African sunsets can be seen, and return at night while viewing some nocturnal species, then dinner at the restaurant. Overnight in a bungalow. Gay Friendly

Starting the game drive in our own vehicle early after coffee, you explore every possible opportunity to view the spectacular wildlife scenery.We take the best scenic routes and drive to the south of Kruger Park to get more opportunities to see the Big 5. Chances are excellent to spot a variety of some of the animals: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild dog, Spotted hyena, Elephant, Burchell's zebra, Hippopotamus, Warthog, Giraffe, Buffalo, Eland, Roan antelope, Sable antelope, Greater kudu, etc. You overnight at the Lower Sabie camp (or similar, like Skukuza). Lower Sabie graces the banks of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to flow through the Kruger National Park. Visitors cannot but feel soothed by the view towards the river and the Lebombo Mountains beyond. Watching the endless procession of animals coming to drink at the Sabie River establishes a sense of one's own place in the eternal cycle. You have to choice to do an optional activity like a sunset game drive, game drive to a bush braai or a night game drive. Gay Friendly

You have the opportunity to do an optional early morning guided walk, depending on the time to be back at the airport. After having breakfast at the restaurant, we do a game drive as we travel out of the park and then start the 4-5 hour journey back to Johannesburg with another scenic route. (Lunch en-route) You will be dropped-off at OR Tambo Airport/Hotel from 6pm.