Africa

South Africa Rainbow Route Safari

17 Days. From AUD $4,470pp.
Details

Overview

South Africa isn't called the Rainbow Nation for nothing, as you'll discover on this stunning journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town. There's game viewing in Kruger, the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains plus the Garden Route with a Cape Town finale.

Limited participation:

On our accommodated adventures we will require a limited amount of participation from you. The guides will, when required, do the meal preparation and will ask for you for a bit of help cleaning up afterwards (on rotation). Where restaurant meals are included in the itinerary, obviously these will be served by the lodge and do not require your assistance. When everyone gets involved in the safari it makes the entire tour more successful.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Kruger National Park – game drives
  • eSwatini (Swaziland) – mountain walk
  • Zululand – game drives & cultural village
  • Drakensberg mountains – walk
  • Wild Coast – beach walks & Xhosa villages
  • Addo - game drives
  • Tsitsikamma – forest walks
  • Hermanus – beaches and whales
  • Cape Town – Cape Point & Table Mountain

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Johannesburg
  • Day 2: Greater Kruger
  • Day 3: Kruger National Park
  • Day 4: Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland)
  • Day 5 - 6: Zululand
  • Day 7 - 8: Drakensberg Mountains
  • Day 9 - 10: Wild Coast
  • Day 11: Addo Elephant National Park
  • Day 12 - 13: Knysna / Tsitsikamma
  • Day 14: Hermanus
  • Day 15 - 16: Cape Town
  • Day 17: Tour Ends - Transfers

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Johannesburg

Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterise the landscape. We enjoy the views from God’s Window before descending off the escarpment and heading to our game lodge on the border of the Greater Kruger NP.

Day 2: Greater Kruger

The following morning, we are up early for a full day of game viewing in Kruger National Park. We will return to our lodge in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset over the Drakensberg mountains, a swim in the pool and a hearty meal before falling asleep to the sounds of Africa.

Day 3: Kruger National Park

We stretch our legs on a short morning walk exploring the surrounding bush before we re-enter Kruger NP and head south. Kruger NP is the largest game reserve in South Africa, boasts the world’s greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness.

Day 4: Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland)

Malolotja Nature Reserve in the mountainous Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) is our next attraction. Renowned for a great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist forest, we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the fantastic mountain views. Relax around a campfire dinner and stay in mountain cabins for the night.

Day 5 - 6: Zululand

We visit a craft market near Mbabane which has a range of handmade crafts and a local witchdoctor stall! We re-enter South Africa and head to our lodge on a private game reserve situated on the Msinene Nature Reserve, where our local guide will lead us on a walk through the bushveld and riverine vegetation of the Msinene River, bird watching and game tracking. Nyala, hippo and the elusive leopard are all found on the reserve. The next day we take a game drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the embattled rhino, followed by a visit to a modern local Zulu community. Relax in the late afternoon with a cold drink while enjoying the views over the reserve from the lodge.

Day 7 - 8: Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” - the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Zululand we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in quaint cottages. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, or just enjoying the spectacular views. En-route to the Drakensberg we visit the Nelson Mandela capture site museum and pay our respects to this great man.

Day 9 - 10: Wild Coast

The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise with unspoilt stretches of dramatically beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight in Kei Mouth and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or go down to the beach.

Day 11: Addo Elephant National Park

The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 600 elephants roam through the area. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area.

Day 12 - 13: Knysna / Tsitsikamma

For two nights we will stay in a lodge resort in Knysna, which is nestled on a tranquil lagoon. We will take a day trip to the Storms River mouth where there are walks up the gorge and along the rocky coast. The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80km of spectacular sea and landscapes; a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys, coastal forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. There is also an option of the world’s highest bungi jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna's great restaurants (own expense).

Day 14: Hermanus

Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From June to November Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to calve and mate in the shallow waters around the Cape. In whale season we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline. In the summer months we will explore the flowering fynbos in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Enjoy the evening meal out at a local restaurant (own expense).

Day 15 - 16: Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. On our way into Cape Town, we visit Stellenbosch, South Africa’s renowned wine region, for wine tasting (own expense) and a cellar tour. The “mother city” has many attractions; we will visit the harbour at Hout Bay, visit Cape Point, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). We sample the local fare at a variety of local restaurants (own expense).

Day 17: Tour Ends - Transfers

In the morning we climb Table Mountain, offering panoramic views over Cape Town reaching out into the bay and Robben Island. Having explored the highlights of the Rainbow Nation we take a last look at Cape Town and catch up on last minute curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 18:00 at the hotel.

DatesFromSpecial Offer
18 Jan 2025 - 03 Feb 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
01 Feb 2025 - 17 Feb 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
22 Feb 2025 - 10 Mar 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
08 Mar 2025 - 24 Mar 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
22 Mar 2025 - 07 Apr 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
05 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
26 Apr 2025 - 12 May 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
10 May 2025 - 26 May 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
24 May 2025 - 09 Jun 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
21 Jun 2025 - 07 Jul 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
05 Jul 2025 - 21 Jul 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
12 Jul 2025 - 28 Jul 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
19 Jul 2025 - 04 Aug 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
26 Jul 2025 - 11 Aug 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
09 Aug 2025 - 25 Aug 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
16 Aug 2025 - 01 Sep 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
23 Aug 2025 - 08 Sep 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
13 Sep 2025 - 29 Sep 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
04 Oct 2025 - 20 Oct 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
11 Oct 2025 - 27 Oct 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
01 Nov 2025 - 17 Nov 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
15 Nov 2025 - 01 Dec 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
22 Nov 2025 - 08 Dec 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
29 Nov 2025 - 15 Dec 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
13 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025AUD$4470ppContact us
20 Dec 2025 - 05 Jan 2026AUD$4470ppContact us

** Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.

** Single supplements may apply

Suggested Accommodation
CityAccommodation
Kruger Makuwa Safari Lodge or similar
Kruger Kruger National Park Chalets or Tents or similar
Swaziland Hawane Lodge or similar
Zululand Zululand Lodge or similar
Drakensberg Mountains Lotheni chalets or similar
Wild Coast Areena Resort or similar
Addo National Park Addo National Park or similar
Knysna Lagoona Inn or similar
Hermanus Chesham House or similar
Cape Town City Lodge V&A Waterfront or similar

Whats included?

  • Accommodation with private facilities
  • Hotel taxes
  • Entrance fees
  • Tours with English speaking guides
  • Transfers
  • Meals as specified

What’s not included?

  • International Airfares
  • Internal airfares
  • Airport entrance/departure taxes
  • Passport, visa, and immigration fees
  • Additional hotel nights
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Travel Protection Plan
  • Gratuities
  • Any items not mentioned as included

Notes

  • Limited participation:
    On our accommodated adventures we will require a limited amount of participation from you. The guides will, when required, do the meal preparation and will ask for you for a bit of help cleaning up afterwards (on rotation). Where restaurant meals are included in the itinerary, obviously these will be served by the lodge and do not require your assistance. When everyone gets involved in the safari it makes the entire tour more successful.

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Africa

From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.

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South Africa Rainbow Route Safari

17 Days. From AUD $4,470pp.