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11 days - Kalahari, Grootbos and Kruger

Desert and ocean, then Kruger’s Big Five

Eleven days from the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve to Grootbos on the Cape coast, where you dive with great white sharks, then on to Kruger National Park.

1 Country
5 Stops
10 Nights
Medium to Luxury Service level
  • The storyThe headline tells the journey in a few lines, one after another.
  • At a glanceThe figures beneath it are the essential facts of the trip.

The journey

When to go

Tswalu and the Kalahari
Whale season
Shark cage diving
Kruger game viewing
Tswalu and the Kalahari Whale season Shark cage diving Kruger game viewing Avoid
May Primary window

Mild days and cold nights, with clear skies over the reserve. Early whale season: the first southern right whales may arrive, with sightings still sporadic. Cooler months bring clearer water and steady sightings.

Early arrivals Clear skies

The route

Johannesburg Tswalu Kalahari Reserve Grootbos and Gansbaai Cape Town Kruger and the Panorama Route
01

South Africa

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Grootbos on the Cape coast with shark cage diving, Cape Town and Kruger National Park.

Transfer from O.R. Tambo to hotel. If time is permitted, we can arrange a city tour or shopping.
Johannesburg to Tswalu - ex Fireblade Aviation Hangar. Check-in time: 12:00; Departure time: 13:00; Arrival time: 14:30. In soft-sided bags, luggage is restricted to a total of 20 kg or 44 pounds (including hand and cargo luggage). Check-in Tswalu. Activities as per lodge schedule. Overnight: The Motse. Accommodation–Fully inclusive of accommodation, meals, local beverages, two daily game drives, walking safaris, horse safaris accompanied by a qualified equestrian, childminding (arranged in advance), and laundry & valet service. Exclusions – Flights to/from Tswalu, Tswalu gift shop purchases, telephone calls, premier wine collection, spa treatments.
Activities as per lodge schedule. Overnight: The Motse.
Morning activities as per lodge schedule. Departure Time for Cape Town: 14:50 / Arrival Time: 16:50. Transfer to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (app 2 hours). Overnight Forest Lodge (One Bedroom Luxury Suite–with an extra bed in the lounge) RATES ARE BASED ON FULL BOARD - Accommodation in freestanding suites; - Welcome drink served upon arrival; - Water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee, minibar; - Fresh fruit daily in-suite; - Breakfast buffet with a full English breakfast menu; - Light lunch; - 5-course dinner; - Horse riding non- and experienced riders through the reserve (please note that the weight limit is 90 kg/198lbs per person/ children under the age of 12 are only allowed on guided pony rides); - Guided Walks, including Fynbos nature tours and Milkwood walks; - Nature, marine & coastal drives, and walks, including the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, De Kelders cliff walk, and Klipgat Cave combined with seasonal land-based whale watching (whale watching especially during July–December); - Birdwatching; experience a great variety of bird species on the reserve; - Various maps of the reserve and the area for self-guided walks; - Transfers to/from all activities; - Whale-watching boat trips; - Shark Cage Diving. RATES EXCLUDE - Alcoholic beverages; - Laundry; - Spa Treatments, beach horse riding, scenic flights, quad biking, kayaking, wine tours; - Items of personal nature (telephone calls, items bought from the Grootbos Gallery). ADDITIONAL TOURS AND SERVICES (for the guest’s account) We can arrange additional services and tours in advance or during the guest’s stay: - Scenic Flights; - Beach Horse Riding; - Quad Biking, Fat Biking, Lady Stanford River Cruise; - Day trip to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa; - Shopping Excursions to Hermanus; - Wine tasting at a wine estate; - Golfing excursions; - Road and air transfers (own landing strip) from Cape Town.
Board the luxury whale-watching boat "Dreamcatcher" of Dyer Island Cruises in Gansbaai and enjoy a trip led by a marine biologist. You may also spot dolphins, penguins, seals and Great White Sharks. Overnight Forest Lodge (One Bedroom Luxury Suite - with an extra bed in the lounge).
Gansbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa offers the best shark cage diving in the world: attracting these amazing predators as they hunt for birds, penguins, and seals. Look these hunters right in the eye and feel your adrenalin surge as you create memories that will last a lifetime. No diving experience is needed, and you’ll never be more than a metre below the surface, completely protected in a metal cage. We work in partnership with Marine Dynamics, conducting the tour on our luxury boat along with the help of a dedicated marine biologist. Overnight: Forest Lodge (One Bedroom Luxury Suite–with an extra bed in the lounge).
Transfer to Cape Town (app 2 hours). Overnight in a previously booked hotel in the city.
Transfer to Airport for flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Transfer to Tanamera Lodge (app 1h00). Overnight: Tanamera Lodge.
Helicopter Flight: Duration–1 hour. In addition to exploring the deep valleys and cascading waterfalls, soar along the escarpment and soak up the magnificent views of the Panorama Gorge and fascinating rock formations of the Blyde River Canyon. Afternoon suggested activities: Skyway trails canopy tour. Overnight: Tanamera Lodge.
Includes, Libon Waterfall, Pinnacle Rock, God Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon Lookout at 3 Rondawels viewpoint, and Bridal Veil Falls. Optional extra Graskop Gorge Lift.  Overnight: Tanamera Lodge.
Check out. Transfer to KMIA for a flight home.

The detail

About this trip

Get a shot of adrenaline on your tour, 11-Day South Africa Adventure. A safari is one of the most exciting experiences in Africa, and that is what your trip will be all about. You will start your safari adventure with a visit to the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. After enjoying the vastness of the Kalahari Desert, you will continue your journey to visit the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the famous Kruger National Park. We decided to add a touch of extreme to your 11-Day South Africa Adventure and invite you to dive with white sharks. Coming face-to-face with some of the world's most dangerous predators will make this one of the most memorable trips of your life.

What is included

  • Tswalu & Grootbos Safaris – Kalahari & private nature reserves
  • Shark Cage Diving – face great white sharks off Gansbaai
  • Whale & Marine Wildlife – dolphins, seals & penguins boat trips
  • Kruger & Panorama Route – game drives, helicopter flights & dramatic scenery
  • Epic Adventure – desert, coast, jungle & wilderness experiences

What is not included

  • International flights (From/home);
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour;
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day);
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.);
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees;
  • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section).

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for this Kalahari, shark diving and Kruger trip?
May to October score well for Tswalu, shark diving and Kruger, with clearer water in the cooler months, and whale watching is strongest from July to October. Swell and wind can cancel a dive day, especially in spring. January and February are hot and humid, and game is harder to see in Kruger.
Do I need diving experience for the shark cage dive?
No. You are never more than about a metre below the surface, protected inside a metal cage, with a marine biologist on board. The dive takes place off Gansbaai, and it depends on sea conditions on the day.
What is covered at Grootbos, and what is extra?
Grootbos is on a full-board basis. It covers the whale-watching boat trips, shark cage diving, guided walks and horse riding in the reserve, with weight limits for riders. Alcoholic drinks, laundry, spa treatments, beach horse riding, scenic flights, quad biking and kayaking are extra.
Can the Kalahari, Cape coast and Kruger route be changed?
It is a starting point that we tailor. Four flights link Johannesburg, Tswalu, Cape Town, Kruger and Johannesburg, and times can shift with the weather, so keep any onward connection flexible. Dates and lodges are confirmed in your proposal.
Can you combine more than one country in a single trip?
Yes. Many of our journeys cross borders, for example Botswana with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or Cape Town with a safari and the Falls. Tell us the places you have in mind through the enquiry form and we will plan the route and transfers as one itinerary.
What meals are included on safari?
Meals depend on the camp or lodge and are set out in your itinerary. On safari they are usually taken at camp, with a picnic or packed meal on some days. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire.
Do I need vaccinations or medication before an African safari?
Health requirements depend on where you are travelling from and where you are going, and they change. Check your country's official travel health advice or TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk), and see a travel clinic well before you depart. Ask about malaria prevention early.
What should I pack for an African safari?
Lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs helps against sun and insects, in neutral colours. Bring comfortable closed shoes (boots if you will walk), a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Your itinerary lists any luggage limits for charter flights.
How do I stay safe on safari?
Your guides brief you on how to behave around wildlife. Follow their instructions, stay in the vehicle or camp area as told, and never approach or disturb animals. Conditions differ by country and change over time, so check your government's current travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
What is a typical day on safari?
A safari day usually has an early game drive, time to rest at camp in the heat of the day, and an afternoon activity before sundowners and dinner. Some camps add walks, boat trips or cultural visits. Your itinerary sets out the plan for each day.

On this trip

Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.

Shark swimming over a sandy seabed in clear blue water

Book it in this order

Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.

Field notes

The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.

Tswalu

Two nights in the Kalahari bring game drives, walking safaris and horse safaris with a qualified guide. Evenings are cold in winter and the sky is very dark for stargazing.

Whales and sharks

The Gansbaai cruise looks for whales from July to December, with dolphins, penguins, seals and great whites possible. The cage dive needs no diving experience, and you are never more than about a metre below the surface.

Fynbos and cliffs

Grootbos offers guided walks through the fynbos, the De Kelders cliff walk and Klipgat Cave, with whale watching from the shore in season.

Panorama Route

The helicopter flight over Blyde River Canyon lasts about an hour. The full day takes in Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, the Three Rondavels and Bridal Veil Falls.

Domestic flights

Four flights link Johannesburg, Tswalu, Cape Town, Kruger and Johannesburg, and times can shift with the weather, so keep any onward connection flexible.

Tipping

Tip rangers, trackers and lodge staff at each stay. Your final documents give a guide to amounts.

Plan this journey

Make this trip your own

Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.

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