A Countryside Meander and Kapama Safari (8 Days) GTD7NI

Three hours from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport, deep within a magnificent forest, is a place commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s Only Outpost in Africa’ or ‘the Place of Eternal Mist’. On the map, it’s called Dullstroom. Despite its widespread appeal, Dullstroom still has its own calm, distinctive, and singular atmosphere. You’ll return to Dullstroom in 5 days’ time when you can enjoy all that the Dunkeld Country and Equestrian Estate has to offer. Today, though, explore the original architecture, quaint stores, artisan shops, art galleries and spas which line Dullstroom’s main street. At 6,814 feet above sea level, Dullstroom has the highest railway station in South Africa. Two festivals you may enjoy are the Ducktobeer Beer Fest and the Dullstroom Winter Festival in July.
Overnight: Dunkeld Country & Equestrain Estate or similar

An early morning coffee and then, taking a packed breakfast with, you head out to enjoy the day following the Panorama Route, stopping first at Elephant Whispers in Hazyview where you can enjoy personal and educational interactions with these huge, wild animals. After lunch you will find yourself staring out of God’s Window at the canyons that seemingly stretch forever and the waterfalls, and indigenous forest nearly 3000 feet below. The Lisbon Waterfalls, named after the Portuguese who, in the late 1800s, panned for gold in the area, plunges over 300 feet into the ravine. View the intricate network of large, otherworldly potholes, tunnels and whirling pools at Bourke’s Luck Potholes. These bizarre shapes in the sandstone were formed over millennia at the mouth of the canyon by the raging Blyde and Treur Rivers swirling and crashing together. Visible on the other side of the northern edges of the Drakensberg mountains and shaped like traditional African huts are the iconic Three Rondavels, once known as the Chief and His Wives. From there, the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world and largest green covered canyon in the world opens out before us before we return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight : Dunkeld Country & Equestrain Estate or similar

Welcome to the Kapama Private Game Reserve which will be your home for the next three days. Nestled between the Blyde River Valley and the Kruger National Park with whom Kapama shares an unfenced border, this game reserve is home to some of the most endangered wildlife in Africa - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Other, but equally fascinating wildlife, such as the shy, spiral-horned nyala, and the not-so-shy vervet monkeys are only 2 of the myriad of species that live in the environs of Kapama Private Game Reserve. It’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, not to mention twitchers. Apart from the four-legged creatures, there are 477 species of birds in the Greater Kruger area, from Little Grebes to Goliath Herons, Pink-backed Pelicans to Lappet Faced Vultures, as well sparrow hawks, falcons and quail. After lunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon to yourself. A delicious High Tea before your first sunset game drive is the perfect introduction to life, sophisticated and wild, at Kapama. You will have plenty of time once you return to the Lodge to freshen up before dinner.
Overnight : Kapama River Lodge or similar

Dawn in the African bush is special. There’s something magical even about the air and the scent of the wild places. It holds a promise of something unexpected and memorable just around the corner. If you want to see African animals at their best, then early morning game drives are essential. Wildlife is most active in the cool early mornings when the dew is still on the ground. They also stir, and hunt when the hot sun is setting behind the Jackleberry trees in the late afternoons, another excellent time for a game drive. Here at Kapama, sunset game drives may, on return to the Lodge, continue into the night, under a brilliant star-studded sky. The scent of the wild deepens, overlaid by the hot perfume of dust. The sounds of game and the bush itself are more noticeable. Powerful spotlights on the vehicle are the only way to see the unusual nocturnal creatures. Creatures such as the highly endangered pangolins, arrdwolves, civets and polecats. The noisy, adorable bushbabies, or Galagos, leap long distances from branch to branch, foraging for insects. An evening spent here, where the wild things are, somehow makes an already delicious dinner that much more memorable.
Overnight : Kapama River Lodge or similar

It’s the unexpected encounters with wild animals that make game drives so rewarding. Each one provides a lifetime of memories, plenty of photo opportunities and a deep love and appreciation for the African bush. The day has both a sunrise and a sunset game drive. In between, you are free to spend the day at leisure. Relax on a deck, watching elephants wandering past to the waterhole. Or indulge yourself with a lazy float in rim-flow pool. Take advantage of the Spa and Wellness Centre, go for a guided bushwalk, take a photography workshop, or visit the Centre for Endangered Species. On a cool day, you could curl up in front of the fire in the lounge. Whether you spend the day relaxing or making the most of every opportunity, there’s no doubt you will have lots to reminisce about over dinner. As the evening winds down, you can enjoy a craft gin at the cocktail bar. The Kapama Private Game Reserve is magical, and as you settle in at night, whether in the lodge or on the romantic sleep-out platform, it will be the warmth and melodious night sounds of the African bush which will lull you to sleep.
Overnight : Kapama River Lodge or similar

Dullstroom has so much to offer in its quaint uniqueness that returning here after a final breakfast in the wild will not only be a change of pace, but of scenery as well. If you’d spent your first visit of the tour exploring the delightful town, then take advantage today of the more energetic activities available after lunch. Fly-fishing for example, after all, Dullstroom is the unofficial capital of the piscatorial sport in South Africa. In fact, it’s taken so seriously that bait fishing and spinning is not allowed. Dunkeld has both excellent river and still water fishing with their streams and dams being stocked with rainbow and brown trout. If fishing isn’t your thing, some dams, thankfully, allow float tubes. If you’re looking for a different form of exercise, use Dunkeld as base for hiking through the surrounding areas. The three most popular trails are the Ama Poot-Poot, the Num Num and the Elangeni Hiking Trail. The Verloren Valei is a closed reserve north-east of Dunkeld, the source of 4 rivers it’s a wetland of international importance. As it’s so special it can only be visited by appointment or on one of the Friends of Verloren Valei field trips.
Overnight: Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate or similar

Magaliesberg is where you will head after breakfast. Once at Seasons Sport Leisure & Spa, and after you have settled in, the Harties Cableway will carry you to the top of the Magaliesberg Mountains. While enjoying lunch on the mountain, you can take in the scenery of the Hartbeestport Dam, the valley and the surrounding mountains thanks to the panoramic views. A trip to the Lion and Safari Park will get you up-close and personal, even hand-feeding some of Africa’s best-loved animals. Then it’s a slow meander back to the hotel for dinner, and, if you wish, an evening spent enjoying amenities at Seasons.
Overnight: Seasons Sport Leisure & Spa or similar

After breakfast, depending on your schedule, enjoy some leisure time before being transferred to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport for your onward flight home or the next leg of your vacation.