Cultural Encounter Tour
Day 1 – Port Elizabeth to Lalibela Game Reserve
You are met at Port Elizabeth airport and transferred to the Big Five game reserve, Lalibela. Upon check-in at 13h00, you are served lunch at reception. At 14h30 you are transferred by landrover to your Lodge. At each of Lalibela's 4-star lodges, secluded thatched chalets are placed where magnificent indigenous gardens merge into the surrounding bush. After high tea, you are taken on your first game drive at Lalibela. This late afternoon/evening game drive is an opportunity to search for nocturnal animals, such as the elusive bat-eared fox, aardvark, black-backed jackal, aardwolf and the curious spring hare. You return to the lodge in time for a sumptuous safari cuisine dinner.
Accommodation:
Lalibela Game Reserve -
more info
Lalibela Game Reserve
Lalibela Game Reserve, a Big Five game reserve near Port Elizabeth, is not only malaria-free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve. They currently have Three lodges to offer their clients - Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp and Tree Tops.
The décor at all the lodges are infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm and friendly service and unforgettable game viewing. At each lodge, thatched chalets are placed where indigenous gardens merge with the surrounding bush. Each lodge has an outdoor dining area with views over a waterhole. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.
Mark’s Camp is Lalibela’s child-friendly lodge and offers family suites, a children’s programme with special children’s game drives, child minders and children’s meals.
All the lodges at Lalibela are graded 4-star..
Basis:
Fully Inclusive
Day 2 – Lalibela Game Reserve
This morning after a light breakfast you are taken on another game drive. Game drives at Lalibela bring you face to face with a multitude of game species, ranging from the mighty Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard) to tiny blue duiker and rock Hyrax. Lalibela is also home to African wild dog, cheetah, hyena, hippo, giraffe, zebra, warthog and numerous species of antelope. You return to the lodge for a grand brunch. There is time to relax around the pool, do some bird-watching from the observation deck, or read a book in the privacy of your room's private deck. After tea you set off on another night drive, returning again in time for dinner. One of the highlights at Lalibela is the interactive entertainment provided by the Lalibela Cultural Group. This group of previously unemployed young people keep guests enthralled with their programme of traditional music, dancing, tales and legends, and drumming workshops. Lalibela places great emphasis on the upliftment of its staff – for example, one of its lodge managers used to milk cows on a dairy farm.
Accommodation:
Lalibela Game Reserve -
more info
Lalibela Game Reserve
Lalibela Game Reserve, a Big Five game reserve near Port Elizabeth, is not only malaria-free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. All of the animals, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire reserve. They currently have Three lodges to offer their clients - Lentaba Lodge, Mark's Camp and Tree Tops.
The décor at all the lodges are infused with the essence of Africa, as well as warm and friendly service and unforgettable game viewing. At each lodge, thatched chalets are placed where indigenous gardens merge with the surrounding bush. Each lodge has an outdoor dining area with views over a waterhole. At Lalibela, food is true safari cuisine with an emphasis on local specialities, ranging from centuries-old recipes to exciting contemporary African dishes.
Mark’s Camp is Lalibela’s child-friendly lodge and offers family suites, a children’s programme with special children’s game drives, child minders and children’s meals.
All the lodges at Lalibela are graded 4-star..
Basis:
Fully Inclusive
Day 3 – Lalibela Game Reserve to Grahamstown
This morning you are taken on your last game drive at Lalibela. After brunch you bid farewell to this African wonderland and are transferred by landrover to reception. You are transferred to the nearby town of Grahamstown the principal town of Frontier country, the area where Khoi, Xhosa, English and Boer first met. You check in at 7 Worcester Street, a gracious 5-star stone mansion. This afternoon you join Alan Weyer, a well-known local raconteur and historian, for a tour of the hills surrounding Grahamstown. Alan's knowledge of the past brings to life the events and legendary characters, the villains and heroes that made this region a melting pot of cultures and shaped the future of South Africa. The valuable insight you gain will enrich your experience of South Africa as a whole.
Accommodation:
7 Worcester Street -
more info
7 Worcester Street
7 Worcester Street is a gracious stone mansion set against the historical city of Grahamstown and offers understated personal attention to the discerning traveller. An eclectic collection of artwork is found throughout the house ranging from the Ming Dynasty through to indigenous African and European contemporary art. All their delicious meals, prepared by their cordon bleu chef and two local chefs, are influenced by an African thread.
Each of the 10 luxury guest rooms offer under floor heating, ceiling fans, satellite television and mini bars. Resident historian Alan Weyer’s captivating “Spirits of the Past” tours regale the region’s proud history of frontier wars, pioneering spirits and spectacular battles, which add a new dimension to a visit to the Eastern Cape.
7 Worcester Street is graded 5 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 – Grahamstown to Mthatha
Today a tour guide collects you from 7 Worcester Street . We drive through the heart of the Ciskei, a former black homeland under Apartheid, and stop in King Williams Town to visit the grave of Steve Biko, the 1970s Black Consciousness leader who died at the hands of the Apartheid authorities. We enjoy a scenic drive past a succession of river mouths and pretty bays before turning inland and descending the steep valley carved out by the Kei River. We are now in the Transkei, another former black homeland and the heart of Xhosa country, and the hillsides are dotted with traditional thatched huts and villages. We reach Mthatha, a typical African city with its street traders and markets. We check in at the 4-star Country Lodge, a comfortable B&B just outside Mthatha on the banks of the Mthatha River.
Accommodation:
Country Lodge -
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Country Lodge
Country Lodge is a convenient stop-over point between Durban and East London, just outside Mthatha, and is an ideal base from which to explore the Transkei Hinterland, the rugged Wild Coast and local attractions such as the Nelson Mandela Museum and Qunu – Mandela’s birthplace.
Country Lodge offers a country setting where guests can relax in one of the 12 en-suite bedrooms and enjoy home-cooked breakfasts and 3 course dinners. Country Lodge offers good old-fashioned hospitality at competitive rates. The Lodge is family friendly, with beautiful gardens and a friendly pub where log fires burn on cold winter nights.
Country Lodge is graded 3 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 – Footsteps of Mandela
The morning is spent at the Nelson Mandela Museum for an insight into this "man of the Century". The historic Bhunga building in the centre of Mthatha is the administrative centre of the museum and displays the countless gifts given to Nelson Mandela, ranging from the official to the deeply personal, such as the boxing glove signed by Mohammed Ali and George Forman. From here we drive to Mandela's birthplace, the village of Qunu, site of both the remains of the homestead where he was born and the house where he lives now that he has retired. After the tour of Qunu we check in at Jonopo Traditional Village, where we enjoy a traditional Xhosa dinner and overnight in thatched African huts.
Accommodation:
Jonopo Cultural Village -
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Jonopo Cultural Village
The Jonopo cultural village offers a craft centre which sells items of beadwork and clothing made by locals, as well as local cuisine. The village also offers visitors a chance to see and experience how brides get ready for their weddings.
With advance notice the village will be able to arrange a sangoma who will demonstrate how they ply their trade. This village of brightly painted huts offers overnight accommodation to travellers, as well as an opportunity to see and experience Xhosa traditional life one on one.
Jonopo Cultural Village is graded 2 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 6 - Umngazi
We depart Jonopo and head for the Wild Coast, the stretch of coast between East London and Port Edward famed for its dramatic beauty and rugged shoreline. You are dropped off at the 4-star Umngazi River Bungalows for two days relaxing on the beach. At this idyllic retreat, thatched bungalows have sweeping views of the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation:
Umngazi River Bungalows -
more info
Umngazi River Bungalows
During the Frontier Wars in the 1840s, British soldiers camped on the present hotel site, raising the Union Jack at Port St. Johns in 1871. The owners then started with a few small bungalows for visitors from the gold mines and it is now an attractive and comfortable resort with a laid-back atmosphere, unique scenery that ensures a memorable family holiday.
All 65 thatch-roofed bungalows have en suite bathrooms and private open-air showers. The bungalows nestle among lush gardens where many different plant species grow in tropical profusion, complementing the extensively indigenous landscape. The more active may be tempted by beach walks and outdoor excursions, while other guests can relax in comfortable and private surroundings. There is a swimming pool at the resort.
Umngazi River Bungalows is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 - Umngazi
Today is yours to relax and unwind at Umngazi. Walk through mangrove swamps and discover beautiful indigenous forests with some 240 species of birds. If you prefer to, hire a boat or try out an aquavan or canoe for a jaunt up the river. If fishing is your sport, Umngazi offers both river and surf options, while fly-fishing is very popular. Take along one of the trained gillies to ensure you choose the best spots. There are also tennis courts and a swimming pool. For the less adventurous, there are plenty of opportunities to wander about and explore the local scene. You could also enjoy a treatment at the Spa and Wellness Centre. Umngazi has won numerous awards for its achievements in job creation in a rural area.
Accommodation:
Umngazi River Bungalows -
more info
Umngazi River Bungalows
During the Frontier Wars in the 1840s, British soldiers camped on the present hotel site, raising the Union Jack at Port St. Johns in 1871. The owners then started with a few small bungalows for visitors from the gold mines and it is now an attractive and comfortable resort with a laid-back atmosphere, unique scenery that ensures a memorable family holiday.
All 65 thatch-roofed bungalows have en suite bathrooms and private open-air showers. The bungalows nestle among lush gardens where many different plant species grow in tropical profusion, complementing the extensively indigenous landscape. The more active may be tempted by beach walks and outdoor excursions, while other guests can relax in comfortable and private surroundings. There is a swimming pool at the resort.
Umngazi River Bungalows is graded 4 star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 8 – Umngazi and departure
This morning is at leisure at Umngazi until you are collected and transferred to Umtata Airport to catch your flight back to Johannesburg.
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