Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Land & Marine Big Five

Eastern Cape,Madikwe & The Waterberg

Starting from between £7,885 to £12,595 per person for 12 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Spot whales swimming off the coast of Grootbos Nature Reserve
  • Try and tick off seeing all of the Big Five on game drives in Madikwe Game Reserve
  • Look out for unusual species such as pangolins on a riding safari in Tswalu Game Reserve
Your 12-day wildlife spotting adventure begins in Cape Town, the beating heart of South Africa, before you transfer to Grootbos Nature Reserve where you may be able to spot all of the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes) as well as the magical Marine Five (whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins).


From here, head to Madikwe where you can enjoy sundowners each evening while soaking up your termite-mound-scattered surroundings. Take in the so called ‘sofa safari’ as animals wander past camp while you relax in the pool or on your private terrace. Finally, enjoy bush walks and traditional game drives in Tswalu, where you can spot meerkats, black-maned lions and, if you’re really lucky, an elusive pangolin deep in the savannah. Make the most of the riding safari opportunities and blend in with a journey of giraffes or dazzle of zebras before heading to Johannesburg for your flight home.
Madikwe Reserve - South Africa © Getty Images / iStockphoto
Madikwe Reserve - South Africa © Getty Images / iStockphoto
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve - Kuruman - South Africa © Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve - Kuruman - South Africa © Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Safari in Ladysmith - KwaZulu-Natal - Afrique du Sud © Olivier Romano
Safari in Ladysmith - KwaZulu-Natal - Afrique du Sud © Olivier Romano
Morukuru River House - South Africa © Droits reservés
Morukuru River House - South Africa © Droits reservés
Hermanus - South Africa © Droits reservés
Hermanus - South Africa © Droits reservés

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

You'll land into Cape Town this morning to be met by one of our friendly ground team and whisked to your waiting transfer. The journey to your first holiday stop - Grootbos Nature Reserve, home to one of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World - is about two hours, so you'll arrive in time for lunch. Enjoy your first South African lunch and then head out to start exploring with your expert guide. The reserve is in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of only six (and by far the smallest) floristic kingdoms on Earth, and exemplified by the many endemic species of plants that make up the so-called fynbos landscape here.

You may be in South Africa to spot the Big 5 animals and marine species, but with a qualified botanist as your guide learning about the 'Floral 5000' (we may have just made that up, but there are about that number of different endemic plant species here) is just as interesting. This evening, a five-course dinner can be enjoyed overlooking the beautiful reserve and coast beyond, or you can take an evening river cruise on the Lady Stanford boat.

Today you can begin properly exploring Tswalu with your guide on a morning game drive. As well as some of the more traditional game, expect to see some unusual and rare species here including black-maned lions, sable, tsessebe, meerkats and (if you're really lucky) pangolins, aardvarks and wild dogs. At 270,000-acres, Tswalu is South Africa's largest game reserve and yet there are only ever a maximum of ten vehicles, so there's a good chance you won't see anyone else at all.

When back at the lodge, enjoy a champagne lunch and unwind with a book before enjoying another drive or walk. Treat yourself to a massage at Tswalu Spa with its outdoor treatment area and indigenous spa garden before dinner is served at the lodge. Then spend some time sitting around the boma (encampment) fire enjoying the night sky views and chatting to the staff and dedicated researchers who are real experts in their field.

Why visit South Africa with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to South Africa

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £7,885 to £12,595 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £10,075 per person.

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