An amazing follow-up tour to consider is the:

AROUND-the-CAPE -tour

The area around the Cape on the south-western tip of Africa is not often explored on regular tours of the country, yet holds many magnificent secrets, ready to be explored on our Around-the-Cape tour.

We venture into the countryside and bring you the exhilaration of unexplored areas -- 'Around the Cape'. Come and enjoy with us the Open and Green, the endless Karoo and the blue seas, really wild open skies, and really deep valleys...

Day 1

We arrive in Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, by plane at the International Airport, and make our way to the town of Tulbach, where we explore this old town which was partly destroyed by an earthquake, which is a rare natural disaster in South Africa, years ago.

Many interesting small shops in town are eager to welcome you, especially in the street which was reconstructed after the earthquake.

A selection of restaurants stands ready to serve a meal of your choice in the tranquil setting of the Boland.

This tour is based on a bed and breakfast basis. Lunch, Dinner and drinks are for your own account.

We overnight at our Lodge on Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day 2 - Around the Cape tour

We depart Tulbach, heading out to Sutherland.

This is the far-off Karoo dorp with the exceptional privilege of housing SALT, the largest telescope in South Africa, and soon will be hosting the largest on the planet, shared with Australia -- the SKA, square kilometre array telescope.

Here we visit the telescope installation outside of town, later to return for our stargazing into the evening sky, with stories and exploration on our minds, told by one of the astrologically knowledgeable local residents.

Overnight at our Lodge. B B included.

Day 3

We depart Sutherland for Matjiesfontein, where we explore the wonderful old buildings of yesteryear, with lunch in the Lord Nelson Hotel, or similar.

Matjiesfontein is that beautifully preserved, old-charm train station town on the way between Cape Town and Johannesburg, nestled in the Karoo along the main N1 motorway.

We continue our journey to Prince Albert, which is spread out at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountain range, another of those towns you want to spend a few days in, neat Karoo town with old world charm, now also famous for the TV cook series, Kokkedoor.

Overnight at our Lodge. B B included.

Day 4

Today you have the opportunity to go to Hell and back -- no not literally to the Hell of your conviction, but literally to the far-off settlement of The Hell, in the Gamkaskloof.

It is a 4x4 route, and you will enjoy the scenery and comfortable ride. Down in The Hell is another tale of confined space, but with fertile soil and many stories of the people who settled there and made a living under very difficult circumstances.

Another option is to explore the town of Prince Albert and its surroundings of fruit farming, dairy farming, and many shops, art collections, art to buy, exquisite cuisine, vistas and stories.

Overnight at our Lodge. B B included.

Day 5

We travel either over the Swartberg Pass, or through Meiringspoort, visiting the ostrich industry and the Cango Caves of Oudtshoorn.

There is a magnificent restaurant under the Swartberg mountains (on the other side) waiting to entertain your taste buds with delicious food from the area.

We overnight in the vicinity of Oudtshoorn or the R62 route. B B included.

Day 6

We continue through the Little Karoo to the southern tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. We spend the day in the vicinity of Cape Agulhas, exploring the surrounding farms and enjoying the ocean - you might see some whales! You have the rare opportunity to be at the point where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet.

Visit also the Cape Agulhas lighthouse.

Overnight at our Lodge. B B included.

Day 7

We depart Cape Agulhas for Cape Town, travelling through the Overberg, enjoying the many mountains and towns on our way to the Mother City.

We overnight in the vicinity of Stellenbosch. B B included.

Day 8

We depart Cape Town on the Premier Classe train to Johannesburg, a luxury experience, where you relax and enjoy the scenery, and have three meals, luxuriously set in the Dining car on board the train.

Overnight on the Premier Classe train. All three meals included. Only two guests per compartment, or for single guests: only one per coupe.

Day 9

We arrive at Johannesburg Park station at approximately 11:00, relaxed and excited for our next tour with Touring South Africa!

Peter and Riana Maas

TOER SUID AFRIKA Reisklub // TOURING SOUTH AFRICA Travel Club.

CELL +27(0)71 330 3174

www.toersuidafrika.com //

email: toersuidafrika@gmail.com

www.touringsouthafrica.co.za //

email: touringsouthafrica@gmail.com

Note:
• Should you prefer a cheaper tour, or to travel return (both ways) by train, or by flight, please feel free to discuss this with us. We will try to adapt your itinerary to suit you. It may incur extra costs should you want to travel return by flight.
• You may join the tour at Cape Town if you are not travelling from Johannesburg.
• Price per person sharing, minimum 2 persons: Price on request
• The visiting order of the itinerary may change, due to weather conditions, or areas where facilities are better available, as well as the availability of specific accommodation.
  

Includes:
• Bed and breakfast accommodation.
• All Entrances as per itinerary.
• Luxury Tour Transport, Train ticket back to Johannesburg, with all meals on train.
• Guided tours according to the itinerary, with registered English/Afrikaans speaking guides.
• Overnight in Guest House, Country Inn and/or Hotel
• The tours are based on a SEAT-ON-COACH basis

Excludes:
• International and Domestic Flights and airport tax.
• Travel Insurance (Recommended)
• Single room supplement (Price on request)
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Gratuity (for local hotel/lodge staff, porters)
• Any kind of personal expenses.

Another Gem in Namaqualand, is the:

WEST COAST Donkey Hike safari (5 days)    -tour (8 days)

This hiking tour is an easy, catered-for, hiking tour, with a base camp. The hiking is along the West Coast of South Africa, through the Namaqua National Park's coastal region on the Atlantic Ocean.

Bring along your camera and make sure you can take lots of photos - extra batteries are recommended. Cell phone reception might not be possible.

You take your tent and necessary personal gear for the camp, and your day back pack hiking gear, which you will need during your daily excursion along the coast, and return each day late afternoon to base camp.

If you get too tired, you may get onto the donkey cart to take a rest. The donkey cart takes your day gear, so you are not carrying a heavy pack on your back while hiking!

What a way to hike! Isn't it just convenient fun!?

At night time, we spend the evening under the stars, around the camp fire ...Wow!

Day 1

We depart early by flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. We meet our bus, as well as our guests joining us in Cape Town, at the airport, and proceed to Darling, where we visit the Wild flower show for the rest of the day.

We overnight in Velddrif, on bed and breakfast basis. Drinks for your own account.

Day 2

After a good night's rest and a hearty breakfast, we depart in our persuit of the beautiful places with wild flowers, on the West coast area.

In the afternoon, we proceed to Lambert's Bay where we overnight. Dinner, bed and breakfast. Drinks for your own account.

Day 1 Hike (Day 3 Tour)

Arrival at Garies at 12:00 - 13:00

Depart Garies at 14:00 with safari vehicles (included), travelling on dirt roads for about 80km to our camp, where we will return to every night, for the duration of the hiking tour.

We set up our tent(s) and enjoy the wonderful open night skies, around the camp fire.

Day 2 Hike (Day 4 Tour)

After breakfast, we transfer by vehicle(s) to Strandfonteinpunt, where donkey carts join us. We hike to Spoegrivier Caves, where 2000 years old sheep remains were found, on the coast. Hiking 17km.

We return to camp by (safari) vehicle for our second night under the star

Day 3 Hike (Day 5 Tour)

After breakfast, we depart again to Strandfonteinpunt by safari vehicle. We hike from there to Koringkorrel, with the donkey carts joining us. We spend tea time at Bitterriviermond (Bitter river mouth) and keep a lookout for any seal colonies.

Day 4 Hike (Day 6 Tour)
After breakfast, we transfer by vehicle to Groenriviermond. From there we hike to Kwass se Baai. Donkey carts wait at Kwass to take hikers further to Koringkorrelbaai.

Day 5 Hike (Day 7 Tour)

Our last hiking day: After breakfast, we pack up our tents, leave it there, and then we have a choice of hiking: either

1) From Koringkorrel to Kwass se Baai - 6km, or

2) From Koringkorrel to Kwass and return to Koringkorrel

When we return to camp, the remaining part of the camp will be round up.

We then depart back to Garies, by vehicle.

For the tour version of 8 days:

We continue to Vredendal, where we overnight at Tharrakamma, on dinner, bed, and breakfast basis. Drinks for your own account.

Day 8

We depart to Cape Town, where we visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. There we enjoy the many different flowers in this Cape Floral Kingdom, the most varied of all the different floral kingdoms of the world.

We bid our guests from Cape Town Goodbye.

We proceed to Cape Town International Airport for our flight back to Gauteng.

INCLUDES

• Organization of the base camp, provided with chairs, tables, wash-up basin, other necessary camping equipment etc. at camp.
• Drinking water and washing water (5 liter only /person/day)
• Breakfasts (4) and dinners (4) at the camp, on open fires, and boiling water.
• Donkey carts with donkeys and a driver per cart, during the day on the hiking trail.
• Feed and water for the donkeys (they drink about 20 liters per day each)
• Transport of luggage on the hiking trail (tent, clothing, food, etc)
• Transport by (safari) vehicle(s) to and from hiking start and end points, daily.
• Transport by donkey cart on the hiking trail, if you are getting too tired.
• Overnights (in your own tent) in the hiking base camp.
• Entrance Fees as per Itinerary.
• Accompanied by a guide.

EXCLUDED

• International and Domestic Flights and airport tax.
• Travel Insurance (Recommended especially for international guests)
• Tent, personal camping needs, hiking gear. -- You need to take your own tent and all necessary day pack hiking gear, not necessary for a large back pack during the daily hiking trips.
• To and from Garies: Transport, Accommodation and Meals, BUT we will discuss it, and then add it according to the amount of interested guests.
• Meals and refreshments not mentioned in the itinerary, like your tea, coffee, drinks, snacks, lunch, and (extra) water on the hike.
• Gratuity (for local staff, porters)
• Any kind of personal expenses.

Recommended gear / restrictions:

• Each hiker may take only 20kg of gear (food and tent including)
• Warm jacket, and rain coat.
• Own day pack for day excursions. Each hiker take only the day bag when hiking, with food (lunch) and water.
• Water bottles.
• Hot Water flask.
• Hot water bottle (to warm you at night - if needed)
• Own lunch provision daily, and own eating utensils.
• Own tent, mattress, and bedding (sleeping bad and extra thermal blanket)
• Comfortable hiking shoes, with comfortable hiking socks (normal cotton socks, thin double layers, recommended)
• Swimming gear.
• Toiletries, toilet paper, and towel.
• Sun screen lotion, sun screen hat.
• Necessary personal medications.
• Camera and extra batteries.

General information:

• The full Hiking trip takes place in the Namaqua National Park, and is thus subject to the Park's rules.
• Any allergies or dietary requirements must be reported in advance.
  
• Groups are usually 16 to 20 people. If the group is less, the cost per person will be accordingly higher.
• Price on request (take extra Entrance fee if no WILDCARD) for the Hiking tour only.
• The quoted price is for WILDCARD entrance. Anyone with a valid WILDCARD (from Sanparks) should thus bring it with, to save on own cost. Otherwise it will be an extra (estimated) R160,00 (as at 2017) per SA citizen (more per International guest).
• Children under 12 years qualify for Park Entrance discount.
• 4 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners (on the Hiking tour) are included. Lunches, and drinks, are not included.
• 50% deposit is required 4 months in advance; remainder two months in advance.