On arrival in East London, South Africa, guests will be met by their guide, Rob Prentis. They depart the airport and visit the world famous East London Museum for a perspective of the region. Afterward transfer to the Wild Coast, to Prana Lodge.
Meet & Greet / Museum Visit / Dinner at Prana Lodge
Today you will travel through the Transkei (the region where Mandela was born) to the small village of Qunu (where he grew up). Spend the rest of the day with your local guide "Zim" visiting the Mandela Museum, the famous sliding rocks that he played on as a boy, the village where he was born, the church he was baptized in, and his family grave yard. Enjoy a traditional Xhosa meal at Qunu before returning to Prana Lodge for sundowners (own account).
Visit to Qunu / Local Tour Guide / Traditional Xhosa Lunch
Today you will depart early for Morgan Bay on the Wild Coast, located at the mouth of the River Kei. Crossing the river, the tour travels along the Transkei absorbing the surrounding landscape, where not much has changed over the years. Next, guests will set off up the Kologha River with your Xhosa guide, before walking through the forest, where you will have a chance to learn about Xhosa traditions and medicines, all of which would have been common knowledge to Mandela. After a delicious sea food lunch at Trennery's Hotel, spend time with a traditional Sangoma healer and learn about Xhosa beliefs, which would have influenced Mandela during his life. Return to Morgan Bay Hotel for sundowners on the cliffs.
Kei Mouth
Guided nature walk / Visit to a sangoma / Pond Crossing / Sundowners
This morning you will be depart for the Eastern Cape battlefields via Sutterheim, a Germanic colonial village, surrounded by mountains and indigenous forest. You will stop for breakfast at Eagles Ridge Hotel. Visit St Matthews Mission (learn about the role of the missionaries in Mandela's life and in the history of the Xhosa people. You will be driven down the valley in your vehicle before enjoying a delightful picnic at Hogsback, which is 2,000 metres high. The afternoon will be spent on a guided tour of the Thumie Valley battlefields before continuing to Fort Beaufort (Fort Hare was Mandela's alma mater). In the evening you will be driven to Cavers Country guest house, a colonial farm renowned for its spectacular gardens and delicious food.
Battlefields of the Eastern Cape
This morning you will be driven to Graaff Reinet via Bedford and Sommerset East, where you will learn about the life works of Sir Andries Stockenstrom, an influential military and political figure at the time. You will also stop for tea at Somerset House in Somerset East before continuing to Samara. Few private game reserves boast the same extensive list of wildlife as Samara does whilst advocating an equally outstanding conservation scheme. Samara is privately owned by the Tompkins family who are dedicated to maintaining the fragile eco-system of the area and have also put together an ambitious programme of game reintroduction. Herds of springbok, black wildebeest, zebra, oryx, eland and blesbok, amongst others, “pronk” and run again on the Plains of Camdeboo. The staff are simply charming
and you certainly won’t go hungry here. To be able to walk on foot up to cheetah is an unforgettable experience.
Museum visit / Camdeboo National Park entrance Fee / Tea in Somerset East
Today you will spend time exploring Samara, renowned for its breath-taking
landscapes and spectacular scenery. Enjoy two daily game drives with the
opportunity to walk & stalk with Cheetah.
Early morning game drive from Samara Private Game Reserve, return for
brunch. Transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport, where you will depart on your
onward flight to Cape Town/Johannesburg or other destination.
