EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Take in the landmarks of Port Elizabeth from the comfort of your coach, leaving you with a wonderful impression of South Africa’s beloved Friendly City. At the entrance to the harbor, note the soaring Campanile, which was erected in 1923 and holds a carillon of 23 bells in honor of the area’s first British settlers. Continuing along the scenic shore, you’ll pass the lovely suburb of Summerstrand stop at Shark Rock Pier to take in panoramic views of the city. Pausing for photos whenever possible, see the beautiful Victorian Gothic Main Library, the Feather Market, constructed during the ostrich feather boom, and Dias Cross, a tribute to Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who erected a cross nearby after discovering Algoa Bay in 1488. At the Donkin Reserve you’ll observe a stone pyramid dedicated to Elizabeth Donkin, after whom the city was named in the 1820s. Admire well-preserved Fort Frederick and various sporting venues, including St George’s Park Cricket Ground, South Africa’s oldest bowling green, and the more modern Nelson Mandela Stadium, all testament to Port Elizabeth’s dynamic role in South Africa’s history.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get acquainted with the Friendly City, affectionate nickname for Port Elizabeth, on a relaxing panoramic tour.
• Pause for memorable photos at several captivating points along the way, conditions permitting.
• Behold the towering 1923 Campanile, which houses a carillon and commemorates the area’s earliest British settlers.
• View numerous intriguing landmarks including the Victorian Gothic Main Library and the stately Feather Market.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover highlights of beguiling Mossel Bay and explore a museum complex dedicated to the first European to land in South Africa. Enjoy an enlightening drive around Mossel Bay, a beach-blessed city in the shadow of the Outeniqua Mountains that was named by a Dutch explorer in 1601, when he found a huge collection of mussel shells in a nearby cave. As you travel along the town’s charming streets, you’ll learn that South Africa’s first post office was established here centuries ago after sailors began leaving letters in the cleft of a milkwood tree so that other sailors could deliver them on their journeys. See that revered, 500-year-old tree, now a National Monument, standing near the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, which is named for a Portuguese navigator who was the first European to set foot in South Africa in his search for a spice route to the Far East. During your time at the complex, perhaps you’ll visit the absorbing Shell Museum or the Maritime Museum, where a replica of Dias’ ship is on exhibit, along with early maps and navigation instruments. Experience the compelling sites and seafaring history of enchanting Mossel Bay on this captivating excursion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Acquaint yourself with seaside Mossel Bay on a coach tour of its intriguing highlights.
• Gaze at a 500-year-old tree, declared a National Monument for its use by sailors in times past as an ad hoc mailbox.
• Find the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, named after the first European to arrive in South Africa.
• Wander the appealing museum complex, perhaps visiting the Maritime Museum or the Shell Museum.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

OVERVIEW

Drive through the Addo Elephant Park, an unspoiled nature reserve teeming with wildlife. Settle in for an approximately 90-minute journey north across the Swartkops River to Addo Elephant Park, a spectacular nature reserve that stands as living proof of the success of South Africa’s conservation efforts. During your approximately two-hour game drive, you’ll hear that when the park was founded in 1931, it housed a paltry population of 11 elephants, which over time has ballooned to over 450 individuals. From your coach, catch sight of the park’s namesake elephants, a somewhat smaller species of the African elephant. You’ll gather that they are highly intelligent creatures that communicate through vocalization, touching with their trunks and various body postures. Learn that the park’s five biomes, from grassland to montane forest, support an enormous diversity of other animals, including black rhino, lions, antelopes, spotted hyenas, zebras and warthogs as well as a wide variety of birds, including the world’s largest Cape gannet breeding population. On this unforgettable excursion, you’ll applaud the successful protection of the remarkable Addo elephant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the magnificent animal denizens of the Addo Elephant Park during a coach game drive.
• Gaze in awe at the park’s Addo elephants, an intelligent and sociable species.
• Discern signs of communication among the elephants, such as touching trunks or vocalizing.
• Keep an eye out for zebras, warthogs, antelopes and the more rarely seen lions and black rhino.
• Glory in a range of fabulous birds including the African crowned eagle and Cape gannet.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses, binoculars and sunscreen.

OVERVIEW

Follow the breathtaking Garden Route to the town of Knysna, where you are free to explore the waterfront boutiques and galleries at your leisure. You’ll travel eastward along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. Traverse the stunningly gorgeous scenery of the Wilderness Lakes region and arrive at the charming town of Knysna, tucked between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. You’ll realize forest-rimmed Knysna is a natural paradise whose name is thought to mean “place of wood” in Khoisan, the language of the area’s earliest inhabitants. Admire the cosmopolitan town, which has retained much of its original charm, and savor free time at the waterfront, where myriad shops and galleries invite you to browse for high-end crafts and restaurants entice you to try local delicacies. Because of Knysna’s proximity to several estuaries, rivers and the ocean, you’ll discover that seafood is a favorite, especially dishes with oysters. As you meander the inviting waterfront, looking out over the serene tidal lagoon, let the exquisite atmosphere of Knysna seep into your soul.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel the picturesque Garden Route along beaches, ancient forests and rugged peaks.
• Relish time at your leisure to roam the enchanting town of Knysna, which is surrounded by verdant forests.
• Shop for upscale crafts in tempting shops along the appealing waterfront.
• Sate your appetite with a specialty oyster dish at one of the town’s seafood restaurants, if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Venture off-road through the Addo Elephant Park in an open safari vehicle, seeking the bountiful wildlife that roams freely in this vast nature reserve. Settle in for an approximately 90-minute journey north across the Swartkops River to Addo Elephant Park, a spectacular nature reserve that stands as living proof of the success of South Africa’s conservation efforts. Upon arrival, you’ll board your open-air 4x4 safari vehicle, which is designed to provide unobstructed views of the resident animals. During your approximately two-hour game drive, catch sight of the park’s namesake elephants, a somewhat smaller species of the African elephant. You’ll gather that they are highly intelligent creatures that communicate through vocalization, touching with their trunks and various body postures. Learn that the park’s five biomes, from grassland to montane forest, support an enormous diversity of other animals, including black rhino, lions, antelopes, spotted hyenas, zebras and warthogs as well as a wide variety of birds, including the world’s largest Cape gannet breeding population. You’ll feel closer than ever to unspoiled Africa on this exceptional adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Approach the magnificent animal denizens of the Addo Elephant Park during an off-road game drive.
• Access off-the-beaten-path locations with the flexibility of your open-air safari vehicle.
• Gaze in awe at the park’s Addo elephants, an intelligent and sociable species.
• Discern signs of communication among the elephants, such as touching trunks or vocalizing.
• Keep an eye out for zebras, warthogs, antelopes and the more rarely seen lions and black rhino.
• Glory in a range of fabulous birds including the African crowned eagle and Cape gannet.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses, binoculars and sunscreen.
• Guests are not permitted to use cellular phones during the game drives.

Revel in South Africa’s sublime natural beauty and wildlife during this superb game drive at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Settle in for a picturesque drive north to the park’s Memorial Gate, where you’ll enjoy a brief stop to change over into your open-air, off-road safari vehicle.

During your approximately two-hour game drive, marvel at the expansive views and photo opportunities of the pristine scenery surrounding you. Discover the park is well-known for its small population of rare white rhinos and a spectacular variety of bird and animal life, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetahs, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthogs.

As you journey through the park’s rolling landscapes, keep your camera on hand, as you may encounter many of these glorious creatures up close. Prepare to make lifetime memories during this immersion into the natural habitat of some of the world’s most majestic wildlife.

OVERVIEW

Cut through the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, taking in sublimely beautiful semi-desert terrain and fertile valleys, on this vista-filled tour. Settle in for a relaxing drive east along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. Upon reaching the town of George, established in the early 1800s as a timbering outpost, you’ll turn inland into the Outeniqua Mountains and notice the terrain quickly change from rugged coastal to an arid, desert-like landscape known as Karoo. Cross the Outeniqua Pass along a highway that was painstakingly blasted out of nearly impenetrable bedrock and wind along marvelous, sweeping curves that offer panoramic views in all directions. You’ll learn the history of the pass, which was named after the indigenous people that once lived here, then arrive in the town of Oudtshoorn, set in an oasis-like location within a fertile valley. Behold the town’s elaborate architecture, which reflects the opulence engendered by the ostrich-feather boom of 1860-1914, when Oudsthoorn supplied exotic feathers to adorn the clothing of ladies throughout Europe. You’ll enjoy a brief stop for refreshments before making your way back to Mossel Bay through glorious Robinson Pass.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel the picturesque Garden Route along beaches, ancient forests and rugged peaks.
• Observe the changing landscape as you venture inland to a dry, semi-desert terrain known as Karoo.
• Marvel at a highway blasted from solid bedrock to provide access through dramatic Outeniqua Pass.
• Hear the engrossing history of the pass and its earliest inhabitants.
• Appreciate the ornate architecture of Oudtshoorn, once the premier supplier of ostrich feathers for European high fashion.
• Savor a delightful refreshment before returning to Mossel Bay via spectacular Robinson Pass.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the culture and traditions of the Zulu tribe during this enlightening visit to the entrancing DumaZulu Traditional Village. Drive north to the DumaZulu Traditional Village, also known as Thundering Zulu, where more than 50 tribal residents form part of a living museum that offers a genuine Zulu cultural experience. Find that DumaZulu is the largest village of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the only Zulu community to be opened up to tourism by King Goodwill Zwelithini, who placed the royal Zulu stamp of approval on the village’s objectives and authenticity. After enjoying a cooling refreshment, meet your guides and accept an invitation into the chief’s homestead, or kraal, where you can watch and learn about the tribe’s various traditions, including basket-weaving, spear- and shield-making, beadwork, pottery-sculpting, sangoma bone throwing, which is a form of divination, and fabulous dancing. You’ll treasure your arresting immersion into the bewitching Zulu way of life during this remarkable excursion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into an authentic Zulu cultural experience at the DumaZulu Traditional Village.
• Savor a cooling refreshment before meeting your knowledgeable native guides.
• Enter the chief’s homestead, or kraal, to observe Zulu traditions of basket-weaving, beadwork and weapon-crafting, among others.
• See the healer, or sangoma, practicing a type of divination known as bone throwing.
• Soak up the rhythms of the Zulu’s mesmerizing dancing.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

OVERVIEW

Tour some townships where resistance to apartheid was particularly strong in the 1960s and 1970s, and see how they have since flourished artistically and culturally. Receive an insight into the local African culture like no other you have ever experienced, and in doing so, will contribute to the economic upliftment so vital for the people of South Africa. Drive through downtown Port Elizabeth, once a hotbed of political and social resistance to apartheid. As you continue through its neighboring townships, you will notice the vast differences in the residential areas, such as poor, undeveloped Missionvale and middle-class Kwadwesi. Your guide will point out a number of landmarks along the way, including the Native Strangers Location, Livingstone Hospital, and Lithuli Square, which is named for the political activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for his non-violent opposition to apartheid. Stop for photos at a viewpoint in Kwa Magxaki before proceeding on through several other townships. Stopping in Rhamaphosa Village, a squatter camp, you will enjoy a visit to the community’s Arts and Crafts Center. Several styles of artwork are on display and for sale, all of them deeply personal to the local artists. Some of the subject matter may reflect the legacy of apartheid and how the people have struggled in this part of South Africa.

Drive by Emlotheni Memorial Park, which commemorates the death of six men who were executed in 1964 for defiantly resisting apartheid forces. Then, visit a local school or community center, where you’ll be served some refreshments and have the opportunity to interact with local community members and possibly some school children.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover a diverse collection of crocodiles and snakes at an intriguing reptile park. Take a leisurely hour and 45-minute drive past unspoiled wetlands to Zulu Croc, an unusual reptile park that provides a hands-on experience amid an alluring landscape of savanna bushveld. You’ll find that here you can touch some of the world’s most fascinating creatures under the supervision of expert reptile handlers. Hand feed an iguana or pose for photos with a boa constrictor draped over your shoulders, if you wish, but simply observe the more dangerous and venomous creatures. Learn that Nile crocodiles can weigh up to 1,650 pounds and grow up to 20 feet long, a size they achieve by eating any appetizing morsel within their reach. Should you feel adventurous, stroke a baby croc while it’s being held and, if it’s feeding time, perhaps see adults leaping vertically out of the water to chomp chunks of raw meat. Take in myriad facts about snakes such as venomous puff adders, boomslangs and black mambas or the non-venomous carpet pythons and reticulated pythons, the world’s longest snakes. You’ll thrill to your up-close encounters with the fearsome yet magnificent residents of this enthralling park.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the world of crocodiles and reptiles at Zulu Croc, an extraordinary interactive park.
• Feed an iguana or take photos with a boa constrictor wrapped around you, under a handler’s supervision.
• Examine the venomous and dangerous park species from a safe, comfortable distance.
• Watch Nile crocodiles eat voraciously, should you visit during feeding time.
• Admire deadly snakes, including the black mamba, puff adder and the reticulated python, the longest snake in the world.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, lightweight and light-colored, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a scenic mountain drive to an ostrich farm on this entertaining tour. Journey along the magnificent Garden Route, passing ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks covered in a flowering scrub called fynbos. As you turn inland into the Outeniqua Mountains, you’ll notice the terrain quickly changes from rugged coastal to an arid, desert-like landscape known as Karoo. Cross the Outeniqua Pass along a highway that was painstakingly blasted out of nearly impenetrable bedrock and wind along marvelous, sweeping curves that offer panoramic views in all directions. Discover Oudtshoorn, set in an oasis-like location in a fertile valley, and behold the town’s ornate architecture, which reflects the opulence engendered by the ostrich-feather boom of 1860-1914, when Oudsthoorn supplied exotic feathers to adorn the clothing of ladies throughout Europe. Visit a working farm to learn how these giant birds are bred and reared, perhaps even seeing ostriches hatching in the incubator rooms.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel the picturesque Garden Route along beaches, ancient forests and rugged peaks.
• Observe the changing landscape as you venture inland to a dry, semi-desert terrain known as Karoo.
• Marvel at a highway blasted from solid bedrock to provide access through dramatic Outeniqua Pass.
• Appreciate the ornate architecture of Oudtshoorn, once the premier supplier of ostrich feathers for European high fashion.
• Tour an ostrich farm for insight into how the birds are bred and reared.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Drive through a game reserve with vastly different types of terrain that increase your chances of observing a variety of archetypal animals. Sibuya Game Reserve features more navigable riverfront that any other reserve in South Africa and you will cruise through one of its most scenic sections. Still, the highlight will be the three-hour drive through Sibuya in a 4x4 vehicle, during which you will likely travel through various vegetation types like East Cape Valley bushveld, grassland, and coastal forest. You will have an excellent chance of spotting the Big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and Cape buffaloes – which roam freely through the various biomes. Sibuya is also an extraordinary birding destination as more than 400 avian species live there. The guides will point out and identify the birds, which include Goliath Herons, a species known to swallow fish weighing as much as two pounds. You will have much to reflect upon over the buffet lunch that follows.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Sibuya Private Game Reserve in a 4x4 looking for animals such as the Big Five.
• Drive through diverse terrains that are home to lions, elephants and countless birds.
• Cruise along one the reserve’s many navigable rivers while looking for other wildlife.
• Enjoy a hearty buffet lunch at the Sibuya visitor center.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.