South African Eco Journey
South African Eco Journey
$2347
South African Eco Journey
7 Days Starting in Makoko and ending in Cape Town
Visiting: Makoko, Cape Town
Tour operator:
Tour code:
36040
Guide Type:
Partially Guided
Group size:
2 - 30
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Explore South African in an eco-friendly way. Maintain a low carbon footprint during the entirety of the trip by arriving to the country on ‘green’ airlines, such as South African Airways and Lufthansa, two of a number of airlines that offer carbon offsets. Discover one of the best national parks on earth – Kruger – and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life, getting in contact with nature. Observe incredible wild animals, including the Big Five. The wildlife of the Kruger Park, the land of the proud Zulu warriors and unforgettable Cape Town, with its historic coastline and its famous vineyards, make South Africa an indispensable destination. The ideal itinerary to get the best possible picture of the contrasts offered by South Africa with Kruger’s nature and wildlife as a counterpoint to the beautiful and scenic Cape Town, all with ‘green’ alternatives to keep your mind at rest for the eco-conscious traveller. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Kruger National Park: Considered one of the best national parks on earth, Kruger offers incredible possibilities to spot both common and uncommon African wildlife, with an amazing offer of mammals and birdlife Cape Town: This extraordinary city is juxtaposed between sea and mountains and offers a vibrant culinary offering, great nightlife and a lively cultural scene
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival Johannesburg – Kruger National Park Hazyview (380Km –5 Hrs)
Location: Makoko
Accommodation Name: Buffalo Rock Camp
Arrive at OR Tambo International airport and proceed to the counter of Ashton Tours & Safaris for your shuttle service to Hazyview departing at 06h45 & 11h00. We recommend you to arrive 30 minutes before as after 11h00 there won´t be any other transportation to Hazyview. Considering that transportation is a major contributor to the build-up of harmful ozone-depleting emissions in the atmosphere, making careful, eco-conscious decisions about how to get around while holidaying in South Africa goes a long way to ‘greening’ your vacation. One sure way to reduce your carbon footprint, and thus reduce your contribution to global warming, is to make use of public transport alternatives, rather than hiring a car, as every extra vehicle on the road simply adds to the pollutants in the air. What follows is a selection of sensible travel alternatives for visitors eager to step lightly on our precious earth. Upon arrival in Hazyview lookout for the Echo Safari Rangers, who will collect and transfer you to your safari camp. Arrive at the camp set in a high-density game area that is rich in unspoiled natural beauty within Kruger National Park. Forget about electricity and Wi-Fi – experience the bush with us in true traditional African style!
Overnight in Kruger National Park on a full-board basis.
Day 2 : Kruger National Park
Location: Makoko
Accommodation Name: Buffalo Rock Camp
Wake up early to the warm safari morning and meet your Echo Safari Ranger, then jump in the open safari vehicle and enjoy an incredible safari experience. Let your self be driven through this magic mixture of colorful surrounding to Kruger National Park. You will be back to the lodge for breakfast to pick up some energy for the second round of safari game. Kruger National Park was founded in 1898 by Paul Kruger to protect the area’s unique flora and fauna. It encompasses an area of almost two million hectares and shares borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The ideal season to observe the game is during the South African winter (May to September), since the climate is moderate and the landscape is dry. With the first rains in November, nature revitalizes. Simultaneously, summer is the time where most of the young animals are born. Kruger National Park is widely renowned for its astonishing variety in wildlife. Besides the Big 5 of elephants, rhinoceros, lions, leopards, and buffalo, visitors may also encounter giraffes, zebras, antelopes, warthogs and multiple bird species. Back in the lodge for lunch and the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Kruger National Park on a full-board basis.
Day 3 : Kruger National Park
Location: Makoko
Accommodation Name: Buffalo Rock Camp
Wake up early and proceed to your Open Safari game in Park with your echo safari ranger. Today you could recall again the magical atmosphere of awaking safari wilderness, observing the big five and all other safari creatures and take delight in this unique atmosphere. Back to the lodge for breakfast. You could decide to join the bushwalks instead of the open safari vehicle game drives to keep your carbon footprint in check! Inform your safari ranger and get closer to this jungle by stepping and following the prints of the wild animals. Lunch at the lodge and the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Kruger National Park on a full-board basis.
Day 4 : Kruger National Park – Cape Town (2 Hrs By Flight, Not Included)
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation Name: Hollow on the Square
After breakfast, bid farewell to Kruger with a shuttle transfer from the camp to Nelspruit Airport and take a direct flight (not included) from Nelspruit airport to Cape Town. Direct flights emit less carbon than connecting flights. Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and take the MyCiTi Bus (ticket not included) just outside the terminal to the Civic City Centre bus stop. From here it will take you nine minutes on foot or use the public taxis to get to your hotel. The city’s prime attractions are only a short walk away from the hotel. Stay at the hotel for dinner or walk to be a champion of sustainability in the food realm. Enjoy gourmet dishes (delicious vegetarian options too) from fresh, seasonal produce bought from carefully picked local suppliers… An eatery can be considered a wise option if it aspires to use only locally sourced ingredients – and thus supports surrounding farms and minimizes its carbon footprint – and if it focuses on organic, seasonal produce, thereby endorsing honest, natural farming and production methods that don’t poison the earth with noxious chemicals. Interestingly, vegetarian food is also a more planet-friendly choice as it requires less energy to make than meat-based dishes. Check out tasty restaurants such as Dear Me, Addis in Cape or Plant. Nightlife can be enjoyed in Long Street, only a short stroll away from the hotel.
Overnight in Cape Town on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 5 : Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation Name: Hollow on the Square
Today, after beautiful fresh breakfast at your hotel, learn about Cape Town’s rich heritage while riding a bike from the vibrant Waterfront to the bustling inner city, getting up close and personal with the city and its inhabitants on a bicycle tour with Bike & Saddle (included). From the historic City Centre, cycle into the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood and then make your way towards Green Point before heading back to the Waterfront along the Atlantic Seaboard. Historic and modern landmarks of the tour include Adderley Street, Bo-Kaap, Company’s Garden, St. George’s Mall, Green Point Stadium and Eco-Park. Led by experienced guides, these bicycle tours are relaxed, interactive and offer an authentic approach to Cape Town’s cultural legacy and modern day life. Professionally guided tours by Bike & Saddle depart at 9am from outside the Radisson Blu Hotel, Beach Road (100 Beach Rd, Granger Bay, Cape Town, 8001 South Africa) on a daily basis and last for 3 hours (tours may be shortened or extended on request). Use public transport to get to the meeting point at the waterfront.
Overnight in Cape Town on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 6 : Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation Name: Hollow on the Square
This morning after an energizing breakfast, get ready for the sightseeing tour of Cape Town. The closest City sightseeing Cape Town Tour Office Bus stop is at 81 Long Street and the tour departs at 09h40 in the morning (bus ticket included). Renowned for its bright red, double-decker hop-on-hop-off buses that take visitors on sightseeing trips around Cape Town and the peninsula, this tour operator is also South Africa’s first carbon-neutral bus company and is committed to offsetting emissions by buying carbon credits from a local composting business. These guided tours are therefore a doubly responsible way to see the city and surround. Enjoy a full-day excursion to Cape Point, driving through picturesque Muizenberg and Fish Hoek, visiting the penguin colony in Boulders. You then continue to the Cape of Good Hope with an optional hike to the Cape of Good Hope headland. Return to the city via Scarborough and Kommetjie and the scenic Ou Kaapse mountain pass with its spectacular vistas towards False Bay.
Overnight in Cape Town on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 7 : Depart Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
All good things come to an end and you will have to take the MyCiTi Bus or Green Cab back to the airport.
Breakfast included.
What's Included
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Non-guided tour with local guides on excursions
This tour is primarily non-guided, with local guides available only on guided excursions.
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6 nights’ accommodation
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6 breakfasts
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3 lunches on day 1, 2, 3
Lunch is included on the first three days of the tour.
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3 dinners on day 1, 2, 3
Dinner is included on the first three days of the tour.
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Arrival shuttle service to Hazyview
Shuttle service from O.R. International Airport to Hazyview is included, departing at 06h45 and 11h00.
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Shuttle transfer to Nelspruit Airport on day 4
A shuttle transfer from the hotel to Nelspruit Airport is included on day 4.
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All entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
Entrance fees for activities such as game drives in Kruger National Park, a guided Cape Town Bicycle Tour, and a hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket are included.
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Please note that this is basically a non-guided tour. Local guides are only present on guided excursions:
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3 lunches on day 1 2 3
What's Not Included
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Personal expenses, drinks, and meals not stated
Expenses of a personal nature, drinks, and meals not explicitly stated in the program are not included.
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Drinks during included meals
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Gratuity for driver and guide
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Personal travel, baggage, and medical insurance
Insurance for travel, baggage, and medical needs is not included.
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Telephone bill, laundry, and personal items
Telephone bills, laundry, and any items of a personal nature are not included.
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Optional tours
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Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket on day 6
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International or domestic flight tickets and airport taxes or visa fees
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Nelspruit to Cape Town flight on day 4
The flight from Nelspruit to Cape Town on day 4 is not included.
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Departure transfer on day 7 to Cape Town airport
The transfer to Cape Town airport on day 7 is not included.
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Expenses of a personal nature drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
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Personal travel baggage and medical insurance
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Telephone bill laundry and any items of a personal nature
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Nelspruit to Cape Town flight on day 4 not included.
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Departure transfer on day 7 to Cape Town airport
Mode of Transport
The tour includes shuttle services from O.R. International Airport to Hazyview and from the hotel to Nelspruit Airport. In Cape Town, use the MyCiTi Bus or public taxis for local transport. Note that the flight from Nelspruit to Cape Town is not included.
Accommodation
Experience the wilderness at Buffalo Rock Camp in Kruger National Park, where you'll stay in a traditional African-style camp without electricity or Wi-Fi, and enjoy the natural beauty of the high-density game area. In Cape Town, relax at Hollow on the Square, conveniently located near the city's prime attractions.
Check out our Q&As
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Is the tour guided or self-guided?
The South African Eco Journey is primarily a non-guided tour. Local guides are only present on guided excursions.
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 6 nights of accommodation. In Kruger National Park, you will stay at Buffalo Rock Camp, and in Cape Town, you will stay at Hollow on the Square.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners on the first three days.
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What transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes an arrival shuttle service to Hazyview from O.R. International Airport and a shuttle transfer from the hotel to Nelspruit Airport on day 4. However, the flight from Nelspruit to Cape Town is not included.
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What activities are included in the tour itinerary?
The tour includes game drives in Kruger National Park, a guided Cape Town bicycle tour, and a hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket.
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What is the environmental focus of the tour?
The tour emphasizes eco-conscious travel, encouraging the use of public transport to reduce carbon footprint and offering activities like bushwalks to minimize environmental impact.
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How does Today Voyages work?
We are an Online Travel Agency, specialized in Group Vacations and Private Vacations. We have been in business for over 30 years through our sister company Go West Tours and, throughout the years, have developed an extensive network of trusted professionals around the world and a structured methodology to screen our suppliers. Today Voyages offers a selection of tours that are designed, managed and operated by our network of trusted Tour Operators and DMCs. Our database is connected with our partners so that when you make a booking with us this will immediately be received and processed by the Tour Operator.
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Where should I buy the flights to reach my destination?
Today Voyages does not sell flights directly. None of our tours come with flights included. Why? Because we prefer to give full flexibility to our valued customers to select the airlines and the booking platform they prefer. As soon as your flight is booked and confirmed, we invite you to update your flight plan within your Today Voyages booking confirmation page by entering your flight number, departure and arrival times, as well as your Passport information (if needed). None of these fields are mandatory but we highly encourage you to provide as much information as possible. This will allow us to provide you with the excellent service you are looking for.
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What is an additional excursion or tour optional?
Certain tours might show a selection of additional excursions/optional activities that you may want to add to our standard itinerary. These services are priced separately and can be added to the cart before completing the booking. We believe these optional services to contribute to making your vacation unforgettable; however, you are in no way obliged to purchase them. All our tours are awesome with our without optional services!
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What is the difference between Group Vacations and Private Vacations?
If you purchase one of our Group vacation packages, you will be escorted by a professional tour guide and will be traveling with other like-minded travelers you may not know. The group size depends on the tour you select. If you purchase one of our Private vacation packages, you will be traveling only within your group of friends. You may or may not be escorted by a professional tour guide; this depends on the type of private tour you are interested in.
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When and how will I receive the travel documents (vouchers)?
If you book one of our Group or Private tours, you will receive your travel documents via email approximately 20 days prior to travel date. If you reserve one of our Vacation Rentals, you will hear back from the property manager via email a few days prior to checking-in. We recommend checking your emails on a regular basis as this is our most reliable method of communication. If you have questions or need additional support, you can always chat with us or email us directly.
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What happens if a Group tour does not get confirmed?
It is very simple... you will be offered an alternative departure date or be refunded the full amount you pre-paid. No questions asked!
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What happens after I book?
The majority of our tours are confirmed at the time of booking. This means that, after submitting the payment online, you will receive an order confirmation email; make sure to save this email and to note down your confirmation number for any future communication with us. Some tours may be sold on a 'on request' basis. This means that for these tours we reserve the right to check the availability of your spot(s) with the Tour Operator before confirming the tour to you. As soon as you submit the payment online for a 'on request' tour you will receive an email notification that confirms your order request. Within 72 hours, you will receive either a confirmation email or a denial email. Do not worry... we will do everything we can to confirm your tour!
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Free Date Changes
Today Voyages allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 65 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Today Voyages requires a minimum deposit of 30% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of today voyages charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.