Guided Journeys 2025 by thompsonsafrica

GUIDED JOURNEYS 2025

MESSAGE from our CEO

Greetings from Thompsons Africa,

We’re excited to introduce you to our 2025 travel experiences, crafted with the discerning traveller in mind. This year, we’ve elevated our offerings to ensure your guests’ journey with us is more personalized, immersive, and unforgettable than ever before and based on your feedback, we’ve fine-tuned our itineraries to make each journey even more enriching and seamless.

With sustainability at the heart of what we do, we’re proud to feature more journeys that support the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and have increased our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences. Discover more about our commitment to responsible travel on page 4.

Thank you for choosing Thompsons Africa. We look forward to making your guests’ next adventure truly remarkable.

ABOUT OUR VEHICLES

VEHICLE Safety

Cullinan Guided Journeys, part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd and The Travel Corporation, has one of the largest and best maintained touring fleets in Southern Africa at their disposal. With world-class centralised depots, offering support and backup, a fleet of quality vehicles, and top qualified guides and drivers, you can rest assured that every part of your journey is well taken care of. Cullinan Guided Journeys certainly goes the mile!

Through our relationship with the TreadRight Foundation, we are committed to the protection and promotion of our rich heritage. This entails, but is not limited to, environmentally friendly wash water re-cycling plants and solar power at our vehicle depots, dedicated staff to sort through waste for re-cycling purposes at all our offices and workshops, and the elimination of single-use plastic on our vehicles.

Jonathan Gadiah

Who we are...

With almost half a century of experience under our belt, Thompsons Africa is your highly trained Southern African destination management expert. Our reservations team is knowledgeable, innovative, and committed to exceptional service delivery. No customer is too big or too small and while we are big enough to buy well, we remain small enough to care. Our dedicated teams of sales, procurement and reservations staff ensure that our customers’ needs are not only met but exceeded.

Thompsons Africa is part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd, whose main shareholder is The Travel Corporation, a family-owned entity with 45 offices worldwide and an envied reputation for delivering quality, service, and value. We also have trusted, long-standing customer and supplier relationships that extend back more than 40 years.

As part of the global The Travel Corporation family, we are known for our reliability and financial solidity. It’s an ethos reflected in the fact that in a sector known for high employee turnover, our average staff tenure is ten years — a further guarantee of experience and professionalism.

Thompsons Africa operates in the three main cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, as well as from 11 reception offices in the Southern African region: Kruger Park, Hluhluwe, Hazyview, Malalane, Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Victoria Falls/Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. All offices offer a team of permanent Tour Guides, Drivers and Guest Service Officers.

Our Guided Journeys offer something unique and memorable and after so many years of perfecting the product, these just cannot be beaten. With set itineraries and departure dates, guests will be fully guided throughout their journey.

Our tour guiding professionals have honed their skills, with many holding university degrees in fields such as marketing, photography, tourism, and education. They are the collective face of Thompsons Africa and proud ambassadors for our beautiful country. Our guides and reservations team guide and consult in all major languages.

The Guest Service Officers (GSOs) at four major airports meet-and-greet, assist with lost luggage, and undertake care visits when required. Our Customer Care Centre is available 24/7 to deal with any of your guests’ concerns and our GSOs are at hand, around the clock, to deal with any hitches or emergencies.

Bespoke Travel — Because we tell it like it is, we are the experts in tailor-made FIT packages. Our handpicked portfolio of products is continually monitored with our own team personally experiencing them. Our commitment is to ensure that customers get an authentic African travel experience, coupled with comfort and safety, to provide the holiday of a lifetime.

Inventive Incentives — We understand the specialist nature of the incentive business and are well versed in the logistics of travel in Africa. Our approach to handling incentives of any size is to understand our clients and their requirements and carefully match these to our products. It’s all about assembling the perfect combination of accommodation and entertainment to suit each group, delivered in an enthusiastic, personalised way.

Free Sell Policy — A unique feature on all tours is a ‘Free Sell’ policy. Most of our Fully Guided Journeys can be free sold up to 30 days prior to departure, while our Day Tours can be free sold up to 48 hours before departure. That’s easy and efficient!

Group Travel — We are specialists in caring for series and ad hoc business. We design individual packages to suit the unique interests of school groups, sales groups, religious groups, and their like. It’s an innovative, seamless programme, implemented professionally.

At Your Fingertips — Our dedicated Customer Zone can be accessed for up- to-the-minute rates, online availability, exclusive allocations and other creative and inspiring information, including a high-resolution image gallery, video library and downloading brochures. We can connect with you on multiple platforms, including our Thompsons Africa Online Booking and Quoting System as well as numerous XML/ API Integrations, allowing for a seamless, fast, and efficient means of communicating and confirming services with us in real-time.

Flexibility – We always offer options which provide flexible booking terms regarding unintended cancellations or changes in bookings.

As part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd, we have a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan comprising of protocols, checklists and action plans ensuring, to the best of our abilities, the health and well-being of our workforce and guests.

Finally, you can take comfort in the knowledge that when dealing with Thompsons Africa, you are dealing with a company with substantial liability cover, well above the minimum requirements, as well as a strong partnership with SATIB24, the continent’s leading incident management unit.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

As you might expect from a family-built company with a big heart, Thompsons Africa is about sustainability and giving back. To help shape the face of the future Africa, our goal is to ensure that the environment and communities we explore remain vibrant for future generations. We do this in two ways: through our TreadRight Foundation, and our sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right.

TreadRight Foundation

We are proud to be part of a joint initiative by The Travel Corporation family of brands, called The TreadRight Foundation — a not-for-profit supporting sustainable tourism projects around the world. To date, TreadRight has helped fund more than 60 projects worldwide. Learn about our project partners at treadright.org.

How We Tread Right (HWTR) is The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) five-year sustainability strategy, which sets the mandate on sustainability at Thompsons Africa and our sister travel companies. Our strategy is based on 11 measurable goals, anchored to the United Nations Global Goals, which were developed to address Thompsons Africa’s impact on Planet, People, and Wildlife. Learn about our goals at ttc.com/hwtr.

Through our foundation and our strategy, our three pillars of support are:

sustainability and conservation: ensuring that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources

People

cultural preservation: ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities

protection of our world’s wildlife: while advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences

Protecting Our Wildlife Our promise

At Thompsons Africa we are mindful of the plight of wildlife across the globe and in Africa in particular. We are especially conscious of the importance of conserving our wildlife heritage. After all, we are blessed to be the caretakers of an abundance of wildlife that brings so many travellers to our shores. Thompsons Africa does not support any wildlife interaction that we deem to be unethical in either its purpose or in any way results in cruelty as a side effect. As a priority we ensure that we are 100% involved with our partnered wildlife organisations, and as a member of The TreadRight Foundation, we practise the promise to make the welfare of our wildlife our number one concern. Our endorsement of the SATSA Animal Interaction Charter further reinforces our commitment to an ethical approach to the long-term conservation of wildlife welfare.

Guided Journeys by Thompsons Africa

In the arranging and operating of variable sized tours in Southern Africa, with set itineraries and frequent departures, Thompsons Africa leads the field. These packaged holidays offer something special, unique, and memorable and after 35 years of perfecting our tours, we proudly claim that our service cannot be beaten. Our signature product, ‘Fully Guided’ means what it says: we do all the work, you relax and enjoy the experience, knowing that you are in capable and experienced hands.

FULLY GUIDED PRIVATE JOURNEYS FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL GROUPS

With us, flexibility is key. From the number of game drives to the timing of meals, every detail is customisable to ensure a seamless journey that caters to your family’s needs. Say goodbye to rigid schedules and hello to unforgettable adventures. Got energetic kids? No problem. Our tours are designed to embrace the vibrant energy of young explorers, making every moment a joy for the whole family.

Choose from our exclusive private tours, ideal for intimate gatherings of four to eight people. Whether it’s a milestone celebration or simply a getaway with loved ones, our private tours offer unparalleled luxury and privacy. Join us and embark on a journey where every moment is crafted for you and your family.

Journeys with our Guides

THE FACE OF THOMPSONS AFRICA

Meet our team of exceptional Tour Guides, equipped with NQF and FGASA qualifications, setting the standard for excellence in the industry. Winners of prestigious awards such as Western Cape Guide and Tourist Guiding Excellence, our guides bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to every journey. With backgrounds in marketing, photography, tourism, and education, our guides have chosen to dedicate themselves to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. Whether you’re joining one of our Guided Journeys or crafting a Tailor-Made package, prepare to be amazed by their expertise and enthusiasm.

Fluent in English, German, and Spanish, our guides cater to a diverse range of guests. Plus, with additional training in areas like botany and wildlife management, our Safari Guides ensure the highest level of safety and enjoyment for all. As one of our guides aptly put it, ‘Guides are the ambassadors of our country, responsible for showcasing its beauty to the world. Guiding is not just a job but a profession, requiring dedication and continuous training to deliver exceptional service.’ Join us and experience the difference our guides make.

Our fleet

At Thompsons Africa, we pride ourselves on offering the latest and most luxurious vehicles available. From sleek Toyota Corollas to spacious Toyota Quantums, Mercedes Sprinters, and Volare Mini Coaches, each vehicle in our fleet is carefully selected to meet the needs and desires of our clients.

Our specially modified open safari vehicles are equipped with all the necessary permits, ensuring a safe and unforgettable wildlife experience. Step inside any of our vehicles and you’ll find exceptional comfort and space. With full air-conditioning and premium sound quality, you can relax and enjoy the journey while our tour director provides insightful commentary. Plus, with ample leg and headroom, every transfer is a cool, comfortable, and professional experience.

10-SEATER OPEN SAFARI VEHICLE

• Bucket seats with lap belts

• Two-way communication radios

• Seatback ‘grab’ bars

• Non slip foot stirrups for easy boarding and disembarking

• Cloth bucket seats

• Double entry door

• Air conditioning/climate control

• Radio/CD/MP3 player

• Hands free public address system

• Individual reading lights

• Seatback storage pouch

• Cloth bucket seats

• Air conditioning/climate control

• Centre aisle for easy boarding and disembarking

• Radio/CD/MP3 player

• Hands free public address system

• Seatback storage net and cup holder

• Cloth bucket seats (reclining)

• Air conditioning/climate control

• Radio/CD/MP3 player

• Multi AV public address system and LED monitor

• Individual reading lights

• Seatback storage net and tray table

• Refrigerator

• Blinds or curtains

What

Sets Us Apart

Vehicles - We own and maintain an impeccable fleet of modern, air-conditioned vehicles.

• Cloth bucket seats (reclining)

• Air conditioning/climate control

• Radio/CD/MP3 player

• Hands free public address system

• Individual reading lights

• Seatback storage pouch

Trust and Experience - With almost half a century of experience under our belt, we proudly claim that our service cannot be beaten. Our signature product, ‘Fully Guided’ means what it says: we do all the work, you relax and enjoy the experience.

Trip Diversity - Our tours range from a leisurely fortnight, enjoying highlights of Southern Africa, to an intriguing half-day into the renowned township of Soweto. Long or short, to any destination, the Thompsons Africa touch is unique.

Regular Departures - Tours for at least two people depart without fail on pre-advertised days, usually daily or weekly. Activities and most meals are included, and hotels are selected for the high service we require.

Guides - Our Tour Guides are amiable, welcoming and passionate about their area of expertise. They speak English, German, and Spanish, and our wider network of guides speak most other languages.

your trip matters...

Planet sustainability and conservation

ensuring that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources

In January 2020 we introduced 100% biodegradable plant-based water bottles to our journeys supporting our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® pillar Planet – sustainability and conservation. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources.

People cultural preservation

ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities

Included in our A World in One Country, Garden Route Splendour and Wildlife, Wine and Garden Route is a visit to a local farm school in the Barrydale area. To date we have purchased a microwave, fridges and covered a playground area in shade net with money collected from guest donations. We have also created a reading corner with bookcases, rugs and scatter cushions and stocked their corner with books donated by guests. Guests have sent us cricket gear and ballet shoes (a volunteer from the community gives the kids dance lessons) after visiting the kids on one of our tours. We’ve bought the kids gloves and scarves for winter and have an annual Christmas party for them, all made possible through the incredible generosity of our guests who have donated to the community after a visit.

This is a truly authentic experience and an opportunity for guests to meet with rural communities away from the typical tourist routes. The kids are aged between 6 and 14 years and are the children of local farm workers. The meal provided by the school is often the only food the children receive.

A visit to this local farm school supports our goal of People – cultural preservation, ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities.

Wildlife protection of our world’s wildlife

While advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences

Our final pillar of support is Wildlife – protection of our world’s wildlife: while advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences.

Rest assured that every experience on our Guided Journeys align to our signing and endorsement of the SATSA Animal Interaction Charter, ensuring an ethical approach to the long-term conservation of wildlife welfare.

View the charter here https://www.satsa.com/animal-interaction-charter/

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences available on itineraries across our family of brands. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are chosen with great care based on the positive social or environmental impact they have on their communities and those who experience them. Using a proprietary assessment tool endorsed by industry experts and developed exclusively for TTC’s family of brands, MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are assessed against a robust set of criteria directly tied to the UN Global Goals. Travelers can identify MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences across our brands by locating the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seal.

What can our guests expect?

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while educating guests across our brands about the Global Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them. As a traveler you can be assured that your experience is having a positive impact by partaking in one of these experiences.

How are MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences chosen?

Using our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® E-Assessment, travel experiences will be rated against a set of rigorous criteria, selected from the Global Indicator Framework for the Global Goals, to identify the ways they advance the UN Global Goals that TTC’s new 5-year sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right (HWTR) prioritizes. These criteria also account for the educational component that is vital in helping travelers become aware of their global citizenship. Through HWTR, we are committed to integrating at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience across 50% of all TTC itineraries by 2025. Included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Kruger National Park Anti-Poaching Dog Unit (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land)

Marine Big Five Safari Experience (aligns with Goal 14 – Life below Water)

Early Morning Meerkat Safari (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land)

Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land)

A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY

Classic Trip

This is an exceptional, long wandering journey through South Africa. From city life to adventure, wildlife to culture, breath-taking scenery to sun-soaked coasts, South Africa is a premier travel destination. Our journey begins in Johannesburg and travels through Mpumalanga, with visits along the Panorama Route as well as the Kruger National Park, a safari extravaganza. Once you have encountered the wildlife of the country, you will then travel to the Kingdom of eSwatini, where a vibrant cultural journey inspires. Zululand is where ancient kings once hunted, where the Big Five now roam, conserved, and protected. The last leg is a Garden Route journey including a trip to Hermanus, a whale-watching mecca (in season) ending with a few days spent in the city of Cape Town.

Traverse the famous Long Tom Pass en route from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga

Experience a sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon

Visit the ‘Dolphin Point’ lookout in Wilderness, with spectacular views of Wilderness beach and beyond

Visit the spectacular scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window

Visit Tsitsikamma National Park and the scenic Storms River Mouth

Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

Experience an open vehicle game safari in the Kruger National Park including a visit to the KNP anti-poaching Dog Unit

Authentic African dinner experience with a 14-dish taste safari paired with entertainment 1. 12. 13. 10.

Three overnights in Cape Town, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain

Enjoy a delicious dinner at a delightful lagoon side restaurant in Knysna

14. Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour including the Cape of Good Hope, ‘the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth’

15.

Meet the friendly people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing

Visit Hermanus, a seaside resort in the heart of the whale route

Explore the small towns along the well-known Route 62 between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town

16.

Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared

Enjoy a variety of carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit. 17.

SOUTH AFRICAN SURPRISE

Classic Trip

Beginning in Johannesburg, highlights include the Kruger National Park, where wildlife never ceases to amaze, and the Panorama Route is a wonder of natural sights. It’s then on to eSwatini and Zululand, two regions steeped in ancient culture and tradition. The Southern Drakensberg Mountains forms a great part of this package, where nature rejuvenates the soul. The last leg includes trips to the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, a world hero and revolutionary, and the famed Garden Route region, ending in the Mother City, Cape Town.

Experience a game safari in the Kruger National Park

Visit to the charming village of Howick and its impressive waterfall

Visit Tsitsikamma National Park and the scenic Storms River Mouth

Explore the small towns long the famous Route 62 between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn

Visit the spectacular scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window

Meet the friendly people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing

Overnight in the magnificent Southern Drakensberg Mountains and experience the unspoilt Eastern Cape Coast

12. 13 10.

Overnight in Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa

Two overnights in Cape Town, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain

Enjoy a variety of carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit. 1.

Orientation tour of Durban including a visit to the Durban Botanic Gardens

Travel past Nelson Mandela’s birthplace and house

Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

GARDEN ROUTE SPLENDOUR

Classic

Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth

Enjoy a delicious dinner at a delightful lagoon side restaurant in Knysna

Visit the ‘Dolphin Point’ lookout in Wilderness, with spectacular views of Wilderness beach and beyond Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

Explore the small towns along the well-known Route 62 between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town

Your journey begins in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and you will travel through Knysna, often called the heart of the Garden Route, and adored for its oysters. It is then on to Oudtshoorn, with a booming Ostrich industry, and a unique insight into these quirky creatures. The Cango Caves are a true highlight, a subterranean world that is a natural display of magnificence. The journey concludes with a trip to Hermanus, a whalewatching mecca (in season). Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the

Afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon

Visit a rural farm school in the Barrydale area with the opportunity to interact with the children. This visit supports our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund that encourages local education of underprivileged children in rural communities. School will be closed 01 – 14 Jan; 29 Mar - 07 April; 28 Jun.– 21 Jul; 04 – 12 Oct; 11 - 31 December 2025

Visit Hermanus, a seaside resort in the heart of the whale route

Enjoy carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit.

AND THE KINGDOMS

Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees

English speaking tour guide

Group size Entrance fees included as specified

Water in eco friendly packaging

It all begins in Johannesburg, where you will begin the first leg, a trip into Mpumalanga to marvel at the scenery along the Panorama Route. It’s then on to the Kruger National Park, where the Big Five roam, wild and free. Sightings are of an extraordinary caliber and an open vehicle game drive with a passionate guide is going to both thrill and excite. You will then travel to eSwatini, an independent kingdom within the borders of South Africa, known for its colorful and vibrant culture. The people of eSwatini are the main attraction, where you will learn all about their traditions and customs. Zululand is where ancient kings once hunted, where the Big Five now roam, conserved, and protected. The journey ends in Durban.

Classic Trip Highlights:

Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared

KRUGER WILDLIFE SAFARI

Water in eco friendly packaging

Your days will be filled with early morning and afternoon game drives, where each venture into the park holds something new to see. No two days in the Kruger National Park are ever the same and it adds an exciting element. After your time in one of the world’s greatest national parks, you will end with a tour of the Panorama Route, a collection of natural sights that will leave you enamored with the beauty of this country.

Two days of game viewing in the Kruger National Park including a thrilling open vehicle game safari with packed breakfast

3. Additional optional open vehicle game safaris available to enhance the game experience

5. Enjoy a variety of carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit

Experience the spectacular scenic Panorama Route with visits to God’s Window, Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 5080km) of where it’s prepared

MAGNIFICENT GARDEN ROUTE

Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees

Group size English speaking tour guide

You will start in Cape Town and go to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa and the true meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. You will then spend time in Oudtshoorn, where ostriches are the main source of tourism as well as the Cango Caves. Knysna is the next stop, which features a gorgeous lagoon and mythical forests. Your adventure comes to an end in the friendly city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Visit a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region Visit to Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)

4.Wine tasting, sampling top quality wines of the Klein Karoo region

3.Travel via the scenic Tradouw Pass

Guided tour of the Cango Caves, a wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

Afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon Enjoy carefully chosen experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit

Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared 8

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees

English speaking tour guide

Group size

This round trip begins in Cape Town and travels through Barrydale, Oudtshoorn and Knysna, where you will experience local life at a farm school, before enjoying the ‘ostrich feather capital’ Oudtshoorn and Knysna, a verdant paradise. Your safari will be reveled in at a private game reserve that is malaria-free and features the Big Five. The journey concludes with a trip to Hermanus, a whale-watching mecca (in season) and ending in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s City of Oaks, where wine and art create the ambience of a distinguished experience.

Explore the small towns along the famous Route 62 between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn

Sample top quality Port style wines in Calitzdorp, a town well known for its fortified wine

Visit Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth

. Visit to Hermanus, famous for shore-based whale watching during the whale season (August – November)

Enjoy tea & scones at the Montagu Country Hotel, the only original Art Deco Hotel in South Africa

Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

Enjoy a leisurely walk or swim at Victoria Bay, one or the smallest and most beautiful bays along the Garden Route

11 Visit Stellenbosch, nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of South Africa’s Winelands

13.

Enjoy carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit

Water in eco friendly packaging

Visit a local farm school in the Barrydale area with the opportunity to interact with the children

Visit the ‘Map of Africa’ viewpoint in Wilderness, a unique sight that is quite literally a Map of Africa

9. Open vehicle game safaris in a malaria-free Big Five private game reserve

12. Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared

SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHLIGHTS

Group size English speaking tour guide Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees

South African Highlights is a combination of the best of the best. It all starts in Cape Town, travelling through the celebrated Garden Route and experiencing its warm hospitality, quirky towns and then on to Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, a historical insight into the country’s apartheid struggle years and its liberation, is a fascinating and heart-wrenching narrative, a story that needs to be told. A trip to South Africa would be incomplete without visiting the Kruger National Park, where wildlife encounters will have the spirit of Africa coursing through your veins.

Visit a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region

4. Guided tour of the Cango Caves and a guided tractor tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

7 Visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary & Birds of Eden Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay

10 Two days of game viewing in the Kruger National Park including a thrilling open vehicle game safari with packed breakfast

2. Visit to Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)

5.Wine tasting, sampling top quality wines of the Klein Karoo region

8. Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth

3. Travel via the scenic Tradouw Pass

6. Afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon

9 Visit to vibrant Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Hector Peterson Memorial and Liliesleaf Heritage Site

Experience the spectacular scenic Panorama Route with visits to God’s Window, Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes

13 Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

GARDEN ROUTE UNCOVERED

Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees

Group size English speaking tour guide

TOWN | OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)

The Garden Route Uncovered package is a collection of all the experiences that make this region celebrated. You will follow the path from Cape Town, through the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, also home to the Cango Caves, and then enjoy the splendour of Knysna and the Tsitsikamma. A world of natural wonder beckons.

Visit a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region

4. Guided tour of the Cango Caves, 1 wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn

2 Visit to Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)

5.Wine tasting, sampling top quality wines of the Klein Karoo region

3. Travel via the scenic Tradouw Pass

Cape Town

Water in eco friendly packaging

Knysna SOUTH AFRICA 1

OCEAN Gqeberha

Cape Agulhas

7. Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth 2

8. Visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary & Birds of Eden Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay

Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared 10

6. Afternoon sunset cruise on the Knysna Lagoon

Enjoy a variety of carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit

INDIAN

(Port Elizabeth)

ATLANTIC OCEAN Oudtshoorn

Tsitsikamma

MAJESTIC VICTORIA FALLS

GUIDED JOURNEYS

MEALS / INCLUSIONS

[ B] Breakfast [BL] Breakfast, Lunch [BD] Breakfast, Dinner [PB] Packed Breakfast [PL] Packed Lunch [BLD] Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner [FB] Full Board [1GA] 1 Game Activity [2GA] 2 Game Activities

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

THOMPSONS AFRICA

Viki Haasbroek

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

THOMPSONS AFRICA

EDITORIAL

CULLINAN GUIDED JOURNEYS

Elana Redelinghuys

William Saunderson-Meyer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY

Getty Images

Heather Fitchett

Ilan Godfrey

Mark Le Grange

South African Tourism

Kapama Private Game Reserve

Thompsons Africa would like to thank our partners and the numerous suppliers that assisted with imagery for our brochure. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Thompsons Africa cannot be held liable for any omissions or errors.

To complement our Guided Journeys, our South and Southern Africa Brochures feature a comprehensive listing of our product partners.

Contact your Thompsons Africa consultant for more information or refer to our website www.thompsonsafrica.com for further details.

THOMPSONS AFRICA – DURBAN

20 The Boulevard, West End Office Park, Spine Road, Westville, Durban

Tel: +27-31 275 3500 • Fax: +27-31 275 3990

E-mail: info@thompsonsafrica.com • Website: www.thompsonsafrica.com

Thompsons Africa Offices also in: Hazyview & Malalane – Mpumalanga, Hluhluwe & St Lucia – KwaZulu-Natal, Port Elizabeth – Eastern Cape, with representation on the Garden Route. Regional Offices in Africa: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe & Zambia, Chobe – Botswana and Mauritius.