Cape and Kruger Safari
 This Itinerary starts in the Cape and ends in the Kruger.  
Bearded Heron Safaris' Classic Kruger is a very special experience of the world famous Kruger in South Africa. Now the adventure of a six-day safari is combined with the awe-inspiring biodiversity of the Eco-ist's six-day Cape biodiversity Tour.
This safari combines the smells of the African bush with the fragrances of Cape Floral Kingdom, the roar of the lion with the crashing of the waves and the taste of big 5 adventure with the delicacies of South African wine. Safari Includes:
Your tour experience will be optimised by rain, germination and flowering incidence. Day 1: West Coast National Park and Rondeberg Private Nature Reserve Today we visit the West Coast National Park and the Postberg Flower/Game Reserve, which opens only for flowering season and offers spectacular floral displays and also game sightings. Other stop includes Rondeberg Private Nature Reserve where a knowledgeable local guide joins us on a walk through the wildflowers. Also enjoy a coffee at the conservation centre on the premises, which houses a herbarium and botanical artist's gallery. Or go sea-kayaking/diving (own account) in the rich waters of the West Coast. Guided sea-kayak trails and expeditions are offered for all skill levels in the calm waters of the West Coast. Here you can gaze at dolphins, seals, whales (in season) and the awesome bird life, as well as breathtaking scenery. All sea-kayak trips are guided and are dependant on weather and sea conditions. Depending on the time we will stop on the way back to Cape Town at Bloubergstrand, a wide beach with classic views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, Devil's Peak and Signal Hill - the perfect photo opportunity at the end of a unforgettable experience! Evening departure. Day 2: Tulbagh or enjoy a fynbos horse trail Combine adventure in nature with culinary delights in this picturesque country valley nestling at the foot of a mountain range. An unsurpassed area to enjoy the natural beauty of the Western Cape.  The horse trails can be combined with wine and olive tasting or a stop at a buchu (one of our medicinally used indigenous plants) farm. The guiding will be done by an experienced local guide and your guide will also be present at all times for further information on the indigenous flora and fauna in the area. The horses are easy to handle and well trained. If booked beforehand, a full traditional lunch consisting of various local delicacies can also be included. After a one-hour ride guest can then relax in the shade were they would be served exquisite cuisine and wines from the area. Overnight and dinner included. Day 3: Karoo National Botanical Garden, Tulbagh, fynbos hike, agriculture tour, rock pool swimming or fynbos horse trail Changing scenery from semi-desert areas to lush farmland make this a day of surprises. At Worcester we visit the Karoo National Botanical Garden - Africa's only true succulent garden. Then we enter the Breede River Valley, the Western Cape's largest fruit and wine producing area. Here one can enjoy breathtaking mountain views, orchards, vineyards and indigenous flora. Tulbagh, set in tranquil rural surroundings, is a lovely historical town with the greatest concentration of national monuments in the country. Here we join a local resident on a walking tour, telling us the stories and showing the magnificent historical houses and museums and also visit one of the well-known wine farms in the area. Other activities include hiking in the beautiful indigenous vegetation and swimming in a rock pool on a farm close to Ceres. Awe inspiring and breathtaking views surround the entire farm. This progressive farm also produces a variety of pears, world class citrus as well as an assortment of other interesting crops. Other optional activities on the farm include abseiling day trips, river tubing (seasonal), 4 X 4 drives, seasonal snow skiing, fresh water fishing, mountain biking trails and visits to San Rock Art Sites. Lunch is included -- a traditional South African Braai (Barbeque) prepared on the farm. Overnight and dinner is included. Day 4: Forest Nature Reserve trail We depart for Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve situated in the Langeberg, about 22kms northwest of Heidelberg, which comprises 250 ha of forest. The Bushbuck and Grysbok Trails offer day walks varying from 2 to 15kms and takes you to a wondrous waterfall. Overnight and dinner is included. Day 5: Botanical splendour, whale watching (seasonal) About 60 minutes east of Cape Town, the road takes you over the mountain ('Over de berg') and out of the blue into an area blessed with beautiful beaches, amazing fynbos (our indigenous vegetation), a wealth of birds, sharks and of course whales. Along the beautiful False Bay Coast line we stop at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. Pollination, seed dispersal and germination -- there is always something happening and a story to be told. Before moving on we drive up the contour path at Hermanus for a panoramic view of this beautiful area. Depending on the time of year this bay, known as one of the best land-based whale watching spots in the world, may be teeming with southern right whales. We visit a Fynbos exporting farm to see how our beautiful indigenous vegetation is planted and processed for export. After a light picnic lunch under an umbrella of milkwood trees we join a well-known local author on a medicinal plant hike in the indigenous vegetation on the farm. Included is overnight at a guest house and dinner.  Day 6: Cape Point, African penguins and meeting baboons A tour to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Cape Peninsula National Park within the South African National Parks. The nature reserve is recognised globally for its extraordinary land formation, rich and diverse fauna and unique flora. Fauna includes, to name a few, mountain zebras, antelope, about 160 species of birds and several troops of baboons. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and rich biodiversity exist almost within a metropolitan area within the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Lunch is included at Simon's Town/Cape Point. A visit to Boulders Beach penguin colony for unsurpassed opportunities for photography and observation of the rare African Penguin.  From mating to moulting, breeding to bathing, their daily lives are played out within a few meters of fascinated visitors.
Depending on availability we could end of the day with a spectacular guided walk to meet two troops of baboons (about 75 baboons) that live outside the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This is a unique opportunity walk through nature and observe baboons in the wild, watch them grooming, feeding and their social interaction. Enthusiasts must bring their cameras. Informed field guides will enlighten you about the habits of these endangered animals as you sit among them, the history of baboon monitoring and the fascinating fynbos through which you will walk. Overnight at the guest house and dinner is included. Day 7: Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Over the centuries Table Mountain has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. 
The rocky outcrops and steep cliffs of the mountain play home to a number of plants and animals.
Table Mountain alone is home to approximately 1 470 species of plants more than the entire British Isles. Many of these are endemic meaning they occur nowhere else. An exhilarating trip in a rotating cable car to the top of Table Mountain where the Dassie (Rock Hyrax), the closest living relative to the elephant, roam wild. You are guided through the natural wonders on the flat quartzite top whilst enjoying an awe-inspiring view of the Cape of Storms. This is a weather-dependent excursion. Lunch is at Kirstenbosch from a choice of three restaurants from your own account Breathtaking Kirstenbosch is one of the world's most famous botanical gardens and is renowned for the splendour and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Be enriched by the incredible beauty of the Cape Floral Kingdom at its best. The estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden is 36 hectares and displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country. An exquisite trip no visitor to Cape Town can go without. Dinner is at a unique African restaurant and you overnight in a luxurious Cape Town guest house. Day 8: Arrival at Cape Town International Airport Your guide from Eco-ist Tours meets you at Cape Town International Airport. Your free overnight at a beautiful Cape guest house in a quiet setting but still in close proximity to the buzz of Cape Town city centre is an introduction to the style, high level of personal service and professional guiding you will receive for the duration of your holiday to South Africa. Dinner is included. Day 9 to 12 An early morning wake up and out into the bush for either a walk or game drive in an open vehicle. These activities are thrilling and last for about three hours. Breakfast is taken after the morning drive or walk. The rest of the morning and part of the afternoon is spent resting and soaking in the sun's spring rays surrounded by the bird life that abounds in this great place. A sundowner game drive in the late afternoon and then back to camp for a sociable dinner and drinks. A three-hour night drive on an open vehicle provides an excellent chance to view nocturnal animals and birds. Then back to the lodge to enjoy a well-deserved bush meal cooked on an open fire. Relax and enjoy the memories of your day while your guide takes you through the planned adventure for the next morning.  We spend two nights at our first lodge - time to move on - the Kruger is a big place (about the size of Wales) and in order to truly experience the great diversity and wealth of animals we move to another lodge in a different eco-zone where we can spend the next three nights exploring the savannah of the Kruger. Game drives, meals and attention to detail are what makes this safari a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your guide, personal chef and vehicles provide you with the best possible safari, wildlife memories and learning experiences in South Africa. More than anything else a Bearded Heron safari is an easy, private and relaxing experience of African wildlife. The adventure, the sights and sounds, the ecology and of course, chasing down the big 5, are combined with luxurious accommodation and view-filled nights in stunning locations. Cape Biodiversity Tour guided by The Eco-ist This unique botanical experience will take you through different eco-regions in the Western Cape Province of South Africa like Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Forests areas. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest and the richest floral kingdom, with the highest known concentration of plant species: 1 300 per 10 000 km2! The closest rival, the South American rain forest has a concentration of only 400 per 10 000 km2. The Succulent Karoo is special, because it is the only biodiversity hotspot, which is completely dry. As a rule such dry landscapes have few species, but the Succulent Karoo is a unique exception. There are about 6000 species, of which 40% are endemic. More than 1 000 of the endemic species are succulents. It makes the Succulent Karoo the area, which is richest in succulent flora in the world! The Forest eco-region is the smallest biome in South Africa. Here one can expect to see luscious vegetation with splendid trees such as yellowwood, stinkwood, red alder and the dominant ironwood. Though the focus will be the ecology of the flora, several other delights, such as a visit to Cape Point, Table Mountain, a wine farm, beautiful beaches, a penguin colony and possibly spotting whales are included to ensure a full biodiversity experience. Day 13: arrival and FREE overnight From the moment you fly into Johannesburg International Airport and are met by Bearded Heron Safaris, you realise you're in for a safari experience unrivelled in South Africa. Your free overnight at 5th Avenue Guest House in close proximity to the airport is an introduction to the style, extremely high level of personal service and professional guiding you will receive for the duration of your holiday to South Africa. Dinner at 5th Avenue Guest House is a three course affair (included in your safari package deal) and provides time for you to relax, enjoy the sublime ambiance of the guest house and enjoy an early evening preparing for the safari adventure that starts early the next morning. Day 2: Johannesburg to Kruger An early start- you are collected at the guest house by a fully trained and accredited guide who will guide you through  the start of your journey (a five-hour drive) through some of the finest, panoramic and historical areas in South Africa.
Vehicles are luxurious, fully licensed and insured, and are of the highest standard complete with on-board library, a snack box and fridge. The journey takes you over the escarpment (Drakensburg mountains) and down towards the Kruger where we will introduce you a wonderful world of exciting adventure, close up wildlife encounters. Luxurious and in the true spirit of the African bush Breakfast and lunch are served en-route (a special trout or venison pie is a culinary highlight of the trip down) and there is always plenty of bottled water, fresh juice and snacks. We arrive at the Kruger early in the afternoon and straight into game drive mode as we head for our first overnight, always set deep in the bush, on the banks of a river or dam, or some other beautiful scenery. The lodges we use depend on seasonal and climatic conditions to enhance big 5 and other game viewing opportunities. We arrive at our first lodge at about 3pm and settle in to the peace and quite of this great bushveld home.  Dinner is cooked and prepared for you under the stars. As thoughts of your day's exploration, relaxation or game chasing and twitching activities dim with the setting sun, night in the Kruger brings on a whole new set of matters for you to attend to. The stars are overwhelming especially since there are so many of them. Knowing a bit about the stars transforms your safari into a tangible experience. The sounds of Kruger nights combine in melodious song and your sense of the myriad of life around you can be a fantastic experience. Just understanding some of the noises and why they are there is the beginning of a story that will solicit your participation, and keep you riveted. Fireside conversation: Kruger yesterday, Kruger today and Kruger tomorrow always highlights thought-provoking sentiment, and only silenced by the roar of a nearby lion, or the cough of a prowling leopard.
NB: The above safari is fully inclusive of all accommodation, transfers, meals, guiding, conservation fees and refreshments. |
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