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Today you will arrive into OR Tambo in the morning from your international flight. You will then catch your included flight transfer to Tswalu, where your truly luxurious safari stay begins.
With a maximum of 10 private vehicles, Tswalu offers extraordinary privacy in which to explore a vast, pristine wilderness. On top of this the guides at this lodge are phenomenal, and true experts in their field, who will add an extra special level of knowledge to your stay. At Tswalu the game drives will be completely tailored to your particular interests. There are no set routes or times as guests determine their own adventure from the outset. It is this flexibility that allows you to focus on trying to find members of the 'Shy 5' and the highly elusive pangolin - the most exciting member of the 'Impossible 5'.
**If your flight arrives late in the day there may be a need to stay overnight in JHB before travelling to Tswalu. Please discuss fight plans with us prior too booking.
Today you will depart Tswalu on a charter flight to Cape Town, hopefully having ticked off at least a couple of members of the Shy 5 or the Impossible 5!
You will be met at the airport and transferred to Franschoek, which is about a 1hr 30 minute drive. Franschoek is a beautiful town in the Western Cape with centuries-old vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture. During your time here you will have the opportunity to visit excellent restaurants, sample wine at amazing vineyards or shop in the quaint town.
You have a driver/guide available throughout your time in Franschoek to use for day tours and activities.
Franschhoek Wine Tram
You will be transferred from Franschoek to Oudtshoorn, which will take around 4.5 hours. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop on route, wherever you want to take pictures, explore local areas or perhaps grab a drink or some lunch.
During your time in Oudtshoorn you have an included 'Meerkat Experience' which gives you the opportunity to see amazing meerkats starting their day, in their natural environment. The guide will be a world leader in meerkat knowledge so you can be sure of a highly informative and enjoyable experience.
There are other great activities to do in Oudtshoorn depending on your personal choices. We can include these into your itinerary if you would like or you can decide what to do when you are there.
The journey from Oudtshoorn to Knysna takes about 2 hours, and again you have plenty of opportunities to stop on route for photos.
Knysna is situated in the heart of the Garden Route and is the perfect town to stay while exploring the surrounding areas. The town is completely surrounded by ancient and mysterious forests, while at the same time is situated next to an exotic lagoon that is popular with both locals and tourists alike. The sunsets over the lagoon can not be missed.
You will have a driver guide with you throughout your stay in Knysna to assist in trips, transport and experiences. We can book specific trips as part of your tour, or you can decide on preferences when you arrive.
You will transfer across from Knysna to Samara for your last few days of the tour. Your driver/guide will be leaving you once you reach the lodge, as you will be fully looked after during your time at this fantastic reserve.
Samara is uniquely situated at the meeting point of four of South Africa’s eight vegetation biomes: Grasslands, Nama Karoo, Savanna and Thicket. This diversity of vegetation creates a multitude of habitats for species that are specially adapated to the Karoo’s arid environment. Explore each of these biomes during your safari at Samara with our experienced guides, who will bring each biome to life during walks and drives.
Keeping in mind the Impossible and Shy 5 theme of the tour, Samara is uniquely renowned for higher (not guaranteed) aardvark sightings. Nocturnal by nature, the aardvark is rarely seen, but Samara is home to a significant number of aardvark, and in the winter months, these animals emerge from their burrows in broad daylight to dig for ants and termites, their preferred meal. It is thought that they do so because their prey is more active during the warmer daylight hours, and therefore easier to find.
The safari experience you will have here will be uniquely informative. Samara is regularly named as one of the main lodges across Africa known for sightings of the 'Shy 5', and this will be the aim of your stay in this spectacular destination.
Today after a final safari activity and breakfast you will be transferred to Port Elizabeth Airport for your onward flight or flight home. Hopefully after ticking off some of the continents more unique and elusive animals.
