South Africa For Solo Travellers
South Africa For Solo Travellers
South Africa For Solo Travellers
16 Days Starting and ending in Johannesburg, South Africa
Visiting: Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Kruger Game Drive, Kruger Park, Eswatini, KwaZulu-Natal, Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, Mossel Bay, George, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn, Hermanus, Winelands Estate, Cape Town, Cape Point, United Kingdom
Tour operator:
Tour code:
1SA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Riviera Travel with specific dietary requests.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
South Africans call their homeland 'a world in one country'. It covers an area equivalent to five times the size of Britain, with a climate ranging from temperate, Mediterranean and sub-tropical to desert; it offers spectacular scenery with arguably the finest wildlife on earth and no less than eleven official languages. South Africa is truly a world-class destination!
Firstly, a more naturally beautiful country would be difficult to find - from the serrated peaks of the Drakensberg mountains, to the contorted and timeless semi-desert landscapes of the Karoo and the forested sea-shores and mirror-like lakes of the Garden Route, the enchanting temperate valleys of the Winelands, the rare proximity to nature found in the national parks and the instantly recognizable symbol of the country, Table Mountain - all under an endless azure-blue sky. Quite remarkable!
Then there is the wildlife, one of the main reasons visitors travel to Africa. One of the finest places in the world to experience this is the Kruger National Park, which is a similar size to Wales. It is exactly how you imagine the African bush to be, as depicted on countless TV documentaries: areas of sweeping savannah, bisected by rivers full of hippos, muddy waterholes lined with animals quenching their thirst, and the bush itself, home to zebra and antelope, studded by immense biscuit-coloured termite hills and towering above it all, instantly recognisable giraffes! The park is home to an incredible 150 mammal and 500 bird species including the 'big five': elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Game-viewing is an intensely moving experience with nothing preparing you for the waves of emotion inspired by an encounter with these wonderful, almost regal creatures thriving in their natural habitat. Just to highlight the variety of flora too, the Cape Peninsula alone has twice as many plant varieties as Britain, which is 5,000 times bigger. But South Africa is not just about scenery and wildlife, fabulous as it is.
The cities are amazing and highlight the country's diversity. Brash Johannesburg, city of gold and South Africa's cultural capital, with skyscrapers of concrete and glass separated by canyon-like streets contrasting with townships on its outskirts. Then there is the 'Mother City', Cape Town, overlooked by the vast bulk of Table Mountain and easily Africa's most beautiful and sophisticated city. It is a real multi-cultural melting pot, with stunning Cape architecture, superb beaches, the best cuisine in the country, fabulous street musicians, mime artists and entertainers adding to its cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Departure
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: Overnight Flight
Meals Included: No Meals
Take your overnight flight to Johannesburg.
Day 2 : Arrival In Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: four-star Indaba Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Morning
Arrive in Johannesburg, where you will be met and transferred to the four-star Indaba Hotel in a prosperous suburb north of the city. On the way to our hotel we take the opportunity to visit the Apartheid Museum, a truly fascinating exhibition charting the apartheid years and the struggle against it, culminating in the first democratic elections. It is a superbly presented walk through contemporary history using original material, riveting eyewitness accounts, photographs and film.
Afternoon
The rest the afternoon is at leisure. This evening we will enjoy a lovely welcome dinner that includes some local specialities, where you have the chance of meeting and getting to know your dedicated tour manager, as well as the like-minded solo travellers of the group.
Day 3 : Kruger National Park
Location: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hippo Hollow Country Estate - Hazyview
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, we follow the wonderfully scenic Panorama Route to Kruger National Park. One of the most stunning drives in the world, we follow the rim of Blyde River Canyon – a gorge over 600 metres deep, where intricate rock formations created by centuries of erosion separate temperate grasslands from dusty savannahs. We continue to our three-star superior hotel, Hippo Hollow Country Estate, set in a lush forest on the edge of the park, where we will stay for the next three nights.
Day 4 : Kruger Game Drive
Location: Kruger Game Drive
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hippo Hollow Country Estate - Hazyview
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our early morning venture into the Kruger National Park will be rewarded with a most spectacular safari experience. Expert rangers will take us around in specially adapted four-wheel-drive vehicles to the best spots for catching a glimpse of the amazing wildlife that call this place home – elephants, cheetahs, leopards, warthogs, zebras, and numerous more species. Make sure you have your camera on hand to seize the very moment when these magnificent creatures make their wonderful appearance.
Day 5 : Kruger Free Day
Location: Kruger Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hippo Hollow Country Estate - Hazyview
Meals Included: Breakfast
This is a day at leisure for anyone who just wants to take it easy by one of the pools at the hotel or do some hippo-spotting from the lovely lawn overlooking the river. Alternatively, you could try some elephant encounters, exciting microlight flights or even river rafting (all subject to weather conditions), as well as sunset safaris or night safaris where you can experience the unique thrill of an open 4x4 vehicle game drive by spotlight.
Day 6 : Eswatini & Kwazulu Natal
Location: Eswatini, KwaZulu-Natal
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: 3* Battlefields Lodge - Dundee
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we leave Kruger on our way to the battlefields of Zululand.
Morning
After breakfast we’ll drive south, entering the small but scenically beautiful country of Eswatini. As the road climbs past the interestingly named Piggs Peak, we descend through lush green fields and rolling hills interspersed with small farms and drive through the country’s small capital, Mbabane, passing the parliament house and royal palace en route.
Afternoon
We cross back into South Africa in the afternoon and enter KwaZulu-Natal province, staying at the simple three-star Battlefields Lodge for two nights on bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 7 : Isandlwana & Rorke’S Drift
Location: Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: 3* Battlefields Lodge - Dundee
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning
After breakfast we visit the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Brilliantly dramatised in the films Zulu Dawn and Zulu, these two battles, just a day apart, became a defining moment for the British Empire. In 1879 at Isandlwana, a depleted force of 1,300 were surprised and outmanoeuvred by a 20,000-strong Zulu army armed with cowhide shields and spears. Only a handful survived. The next day just 9 miles away, about 140 British soldiers, some wounded, held off 4,000 Zulus for over 10 hours at Rorke’s Drift, an action earning 11 Victoria Crosses, the largest number ever awarded in a single engagement. Isandlwana, particularly, remains a haunting and lonely place, with mass graves marked by simple white stones. Our specialist Zulu guide will really make those desperate encounters come alive.
Afternoon
After an included lunch we return to our hotel.
Day 8 : Mossel Bay
Location: Johannesburg, Mossel Bay, George
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Diaz Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Morning
After breakfast we return to Johannesburg airport, flying to George in the Western Cape and at the heart of the gorgeous Garden Route. We take the short drive to the coastal town of Mossel Bay and our hotel, the charming three-star superior Diaz Hotel and Resort with breakfast. The comfortable rooms all boast excellent sea views.
Afternoon
Dinner at a local restaurant is included this evening.
Day 9 : Cango Caves & Oudtshoorn
Location: Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Diaz Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning
Today we head inland through the stunning mountain scenery of the Ruitersbos Nature Reserve to the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Here we’ll visit the spectacular Cango Caves, formed over millions of years in soft limestone and South Africa’s best-known caves.
Afternoon
Next we head to the small town of Oudtshoorn, a centre of ostrich farming since the 19th century, where we enjoy an included lunch. We’ll have the opportunity to see these fascinating creatures close up and learn about their habits. We head back to Mossel Bay in the evening.
Day 10 : Hermanus
Location: Hermanus
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Pearl Valley Hotel - Franschhoek
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we take the long scenic drive to the Cape’s beautiful Winelands. We drive via Hermanus – during July to November is the best time for on-shore whale-watching. These gentle giants move in seemingly permanent slow motion and are a truly amazing sight as they playfully cavort in the water.
We arrive in the Winelands by late afternoon, staying two nights on bed-and-breakfast at the excellent four-star Pearl Valley Hotel, which is a real find.
Day 11 : Winelands
Location: Winelands Estate
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Pearl Valley Hotel - Franschhoek
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we tour the awesomely beautiful Winelands. Set in a valley backed by majestic mountains, rows of manicured vines and orchards stretch into a distance studded by lime-washed, often thatched, 300-year-old wineries built in the unique Cape Dutch style, seemingly mirroring the undulations of the surrounding countryside. Our first stop is elegant Stellenbosch, established 300 years ago and home of South Africa’s most prestigious university. Period buildings and historic streets reinforce the town’s dignified atmosphere. We have time to explore this delightful town before enjoying a fascinating cellar tour and tasting at the Neethlingshof Wine Estate. After that, we visit the small town of Franschoek, set at the head of a valley. Tonight we’ll enjoy an included typical South African BBQ or Cape Malay buffet dinner at our hotel.
Day 12 : Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Southern Sun Waterfront
Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning
This morning we visit the amazing Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, located just outside Cape Town and set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. These incredible gardens are some of the best in South Africa, with numerous and fascinating endemic flora and orchid varieties.
We soon arrive in Cape Town and our hotel, the four-star Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel, staying three nights on bed-and-breakfast. It is located right in the centre of this bustling city within walking distance of the V&A waterfront.
Afternoon
The afternoon is spent at leisure when you can start to explore this beautiful city.
Day 13 : Cape Of Good Hope
Location: Cape Point
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Southern Sun Waterfront
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning
This morning, we visit Cape Point and the legendary Cape of Good Hope, firstly driving past pristine beaches to the picturesque fishing harbour of Hout Bay. We continue along the breathtakingly scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, full of rugged seascapes, to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, then on to Cape Point itself. We see the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean currents and the treacherous promontory of rocks and swells, the scourge of mariners for centuries.
Afternoon
After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Boulders Beach and its penguin colony before returning to the city.
Day 14 : Free Day In Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Southern Sun Waterfront
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cape Town, featuring British, Dutch and Cape Malay influences, is simply one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities with so much to offer the visitor! You could do some bargain shopping at the Waterfront, followed by a sumptuous seafood lunch. Or maybe go people-watching at fashionable Camps Bay? Obviously no visit to Cape Town is complete without taking a revolving cable car ride to the top of iconic Table Mountain which has announced the city to generations of sea-farers. The views are fabulous. You should also visit Robben Island (weather permitting and based on availability), where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27-year incarceration, and whose visitors since its opening have included Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Gates and even Nelson Mandela himself. Perhaps though, simply wander where your feet take you, or relax a little, taking afternoon tea in beautiful colonial splendour at the Mount Nelson hotel – the choice is yours.
Day 15 : Return Flight
Location: Cape Town, United Kingdom
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we transfer to the airport for our return flight home to the UK. We arrive back in the UK after a truly unique tour
Day 16
We arrive back in the UK after a truly unique tour.
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 to 4-star accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Fully Guided
The services of an experienced Riviera Travel tour manager
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International Travel
Return UK flights
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Meals
18 meals: 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 3 dinners
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Programme of daily tours & visits
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Porterage of one item of luggage per person
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuity
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Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
Return UK flights
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No, 18 years and above only
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
No, all our solo tour prices are fully inclusive with no single supplement to be added. Whilst hotels generally charge a little more for single occupancy rooms, we never charge you extra for meals, excursions, flights, rail journeys or transfers.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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