African Tribal Heritage Tours

TH4: The Grand South African Cultural Heritage Tour (27 days)

Introducing Southern Africa's astounding cultural heritage, against the backdrop of its unsurpassed natural wonders and wildlife splendour. Track the origins of mankind. Admire Stone Age, rock art of the Bushmen. Shiver in rhythm with Zulu battle drum dances. Discover the Shangaan adventures. Admire the colours of Ndebele decorations. Follow Mandela's tracks to freedom. Explore Kruger's Pretoria and the Kruger National Park. Trace European Cape Dutch architecture. Taste the French Huguenot wine route. Give thanks to the amazing South African multi-cultural peace blend.

Day 1: Pretoria and an Introduction

Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport in the morning. You are met in person by your hosts and transferred to your guesthouse in the Capital of Pretoria - capital city of the old Dutch and Afrikaans cultures. After some refreshments and a short information session, we enjoy lunch and some leisure time. Late afternoon we are treated to a visual introductory lecture of the indigenous peoples of South Africa by one of the country's leading ethnological experts, Dr Hanneke du Preez. This presentation will provide us with the background required to begin to understand this multi-cultured, Rainbow nation.

Day 2: The Capital, Pretoria

Today we experience the Afrikaner and indigenous heritage in and around this charming capital city. We visit Paul Kruger House Museum, view the old Dutch-Afrikaner architecture around Church Square and see the majestic Union Buildings Parliamentary building overlooking the city. In the afternoon we view the impressive architecture and sculptured panels of the Voortrekker Monument, portraying stories around the Great Trek of the Afrikaners to the north in the early 1800's. Before returning to our guesthouse we visit a shopping mall - providing our first opportunity for a Safari Kit-out!

Day 3: The Unique Culture of Soweto

A visit to South Africa is not complete without experiencing the vibrant township life. We visit Soweto, the expansive and contrasting black city-within-a-city and learn about day-to-day black city life. We first visit important monuments of the Apartheid struggle period, such as the Apartheid Museum and the fascinating Hector Peterson museum, depicting scenes from the student uprising of 1976 and the eventual transition to democracy in South Africa. We also pass Nelson Mandela's and Winnie Mandela's (separate) houses and later visit some of the local residents, to see and hear how many thousands of South Africans live and make ends meet. We enjoy a leisurely lunch and local beers in the friendly and social atmosphere of a "shebeen" before returning to Pretoria.

Day 4: Cradle of Humankind

Today we discover the origin of our species when we explore the caves and diggings of this World Heritage Site, famous for the 4 million year old early hominid fossils found here. One of the most famous sites in the world, Swartkrans, will be visited under guidance of an expert paleo-anthropologist. We descend into the impressive Sterkfontein caves where some of these fossils were found before proceeding to our guesthouse in Pretoria.

Day 5: The colourful Ndebele

After breakfast we depart for an Ndebele village east of the city and experience the day-to-day living of this colourful indigenous African people, their fascinating dress and artistically painted huts. The Ndebele was one of the original black tribes living in the area which is now Pretoria. At the village we are granted the opportunity to meet with the local chief, converse with some of the local inhabitants and learn about their daily life. Later we are treated to a traditional Ndebele lunch before returning to Pretoria.

Day 6: The Mpumalanga Panoramic Route and Arts & Crafts

Early departure. We follow rolling hills and grassland along the N4 east to Dullstroom. The Panoramic Route takes us through the Drakensberg mountain range through Sabie and Graskop. We admire the natural wonders of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, God's Window, The Potholes, Blyde River Nature Reserve and the Mac-Mac Falls. We return to Graskop, where we visit an African silk weaving cottage industry and one of the best places in South Africa to view and buy arts & crafts. Here we spend the night in one of the more elegant country hotels in South Africa.

Day 7: Shangaan Tribal Village and the Kruger National Park

After a scrumptious country breakfast and a short drive through the plantations of Mpumalanga, we enjoy a true African adventure in a Shangaan village. Here we experience their every-day life, some dancing and singing and a traditional Shangaan meal. Later we travel on through the scenic and tropical Mpumalanga lowveld and enter the Kruger Park at the new Phabeni gate on our way to Skukuza.

Day 8: The Kruger National Park

After a leisurely breakfast on the banks of the Sabie River, the day is spent viewing a wide variety of game in their natural African bush environment. This evening we go on an exciting night drive in open vehicles to view some of the more elusive of the Big Five and other shy, nocturnal animals.

Day 9: Swaziland, Maguga and first Rural Contact

This morning we follow the road southwards through Swaziland , descending from the Nkhangala ("treeless country") towards Hlanzeni ("place of trees"). Here we have ample time to make close contact with a typical Swazi rural community at Maguga dam (off the beaten track, yet accessible by tarred road.). We have a home-cooked lunch with a Swazi family, then leave for Mbabane. That evening we book into Mlilwani Wildlife Sanctuary for two evenings.

Day 10: Mbabane and Urban Acquaintance

Today we visit selected stalls of Swazi artefacts, pottery, carvings, mats and beadwork in Mbabane and environs. We visit the Royal kraal of Lobamba, and join privileged spectators of the Incwala and reed dance ceremonies (in season). In the evening we enjoy a local dinner with Abraham Dlamini, learn firsthand about Sobhuza (the nation builder), Swazi History, about the Nguni and Mswazi heritages and about Swazi battles of survival against the Zulu. After a filliing country breakfast the next morning we leave the sanctuary for KwaZulu Natal.

Day 11: Hluhluwe / Umfolozi Game Reserve

After a leisurely breakfast, we continue our journey into the heart of Zulu country. We enter this malaria-free Big Five reserve and enjoy a game drive against the backdrop its unique topography. The Reserve is especially famous for its large populations of the impressive black and white rhinos. This evening we go on an exciting night drive in open vehicles to view some of the more elusive of the Big Five and other shy, nocturnal animals.

Day 12: The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park World Heritage Site

After breakfast we venture southward into the Zulu territory of KwaZulu Natal. We visit a Zulu cultural village and view their characteristic and masterfully-constructed beehive huts. Thereafter we continue on to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. 60 Million years ago, the seabed receded, creating a combined estuary and lagoon system so exquisite that it gained World Heritage Site status. We discover its matchless legacy of bird, crocodile and hippopotamus life when we go for a boat cruise on the lake. The night is spent in the town of St Lucia.

Day 13: The KwaZulu Natal Battlefields

After breakfast we undertake a country excursion to the famous battlefield sites of Ulundi, Talana, Blood River and, time permitting, Rorke's Drift and Isandhlwana . Listen to his narrative of the spine-chilling history of Natal. Learn about Voortrekker (Dutch Pioneers) clashing with the "impi" (warriors) of the Zulu King, Dingane, British intervention in Natal and their bloody battles against the Zulu empire and Boer Republics. We also visit the Kraal of the Zulu King, Dingane, the Bulawayo Site of Shaka's Kraal, and, time permitting, also Fort Kwa-Mondi and Fort Nongqai. The night is spent at a typical South African Country Lodge in the Battlefields area.

Day 14: Shaka's Way / Durban and Pietermaritzburg

After a sumptuous breakfast, we journey onwards through the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills to the capital city of KwaZulu Natal. We undertake a city tour of the multi-culture seaside resort city, enjoy a rickshaw ride and visit the Indian market. Spend the night in a luxury hotel and experience the nightlife of Durban.

Day 15: Pietermaritzburg and Zulu Country

After breakfast we drive to Pietermaritzburg, the charming Kwa-Zulu capital. We visit the Voortekker Museum and a Zulu Cultural Village nearby, where we are treated to traditional dances and lunch. Learn about the colourful Bhaca, then venture on into the Valley of a Thousand Hills, former territory of the fearful Debe cannibals, and ascend onto the summit of Natal Table Mountain, to where some of their victims escaped. Explore the Umgeni Valley and visit the kwaNogqaza falls ("place of the tall one". Today known as the Howick falls). We proceed on to the uKhahlambu Drakensberg Park, booking into one of the famous mountain lodges for two nights.

Day 16 & 17: The KwaZulu uKhahlambu Drakensberg Park

Some 150-180 million years ago basaltic lava surged through immense fissures in the mantle of the earth, disposing a colossal coagulum from which other tools of nature sculptured the massif, that the Zulu call the "uKhahlamba" (great barrier) and Europeans, the "Drakensberg" (dragon mountain). We explore the berg, its valleys, cliffs and pinnacles during our two-day sojourn in the Drakensberg. We learn about San paintings in the vicinity.

Day 18: Free State: Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Today we travel to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the scene of vividly coloured sandstone cliffs, where we spend the night. We visit unique San rock paintings and experience the life and traditions of the colourful Basotho nation in a Basotho village in the Qwa-Qwa National Park.

Day 19: Bloemfontein

We travel to Bloemfontein and visit the fountain previously known to the Basotho as Manguang ("place of leopards") and to Europeans as, "flower spring", from which present day Bloemfontein derived its name. We browse around the fountain where pioneer traders, missionaries, hunters, explorers and Voortrekkers camped in earlier years and join a guided tour of the "Vrouemonument" (Women's Monument) and museum, which commemorate the role of women in the Boer War concentration camps, as well as other national monuments and places of interest in today's judicial capital of South Africa. We now move on to the next exciting leg of our journey and board the plane for Port Elizabeth, where we book into our beach hotel.

Day 20:Eastern Cape: Port Elizabeth & Storms River Nature Reserve

After a tour of general sites of the "Friendly City", we depart on a true cultural experience of local urban township life. This tour offers the rare chance to hang out in a black Xhosa township. The evening includes a traditional meal in a local home, good stories on history and everyday township life and all-around fun during a visit to a shebeen (local pub). At the end of this evening of fun, we retire to our hotel.

Day 21: Storms River and the Garden Route

Today we travel the Garden Route of the Eastern Cape. We stop along the way to admire the extraordinary engineering achievement of the Storms River bridge (the highest bungee-jumping site in South Africa) and enjoy lunch at the beautiful and stormy Storms River Mouth. We continue through Outiniqua country (Khoikhoi Bushmen for, "man laden with honey") on our way to the oyster and arts town of Knysna, where we spend the night in the Victorian Cottages of the historic Belvedere House. This evening we enjoy fresh seafood and the locally cultured oysters. Cango caves near Oudtshoorn

Day 22: Knysna to Oudtshoorn

This morning we depart for ostrich country via the Sedgefield lake district, George and the Outeniqua Pass. After a short tour of the town, we visit the world famous Cango Caves and admire its cavernous underground chambers with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. From there we visit one of the large ostrich farms near Oudtshoorn and admire their antics and products. A ride on an ostrich is optional for the well-insured! That night is spent at the ostrich farm, enjoying ostrich "potjiekos" with selected Klein Karoo red wines for dinner.

Day 23: Oudtshoorn via Montagu into the Western Cape Winelands

We enjoy a good farm breakfast and then take on the Great Karoo semi-desert on our way to the fruit-growing area and town of Montagu. From there we travel via Robertson and Villiersdorp over the impressive Hottentots-Holland mountains into the spectacular Franschhoek ("French Corner") valley of the French Huguenots. This evening we enjoy excellent French cuisine with local wine and spend the night at a wine Guest Farm in the Franschhoek valley.

Day 24: French and Dutch Heritage with superior Wines

After discovering the rich French Huguenot heritage in Franschhoek, we spend a relaxing day in the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch Winelands, visiting an opulent blend of historical Wine Estates, testing their wines at each visit and enjoying the traditional "plowman's lunch" with estate wines at one of these vineyards. We tour the town of Stellenbosch to discover the Dutch heritage vested in the town. We visit three houses of various periods in history and experience the old Dutch South African traditions and proud Cape Dutch architecture.

Day 25: The Cape of Good Hope Peninsula

Time to experience Mother Nature's art when we follow one of the most scenic routes in the country to Cape Point through the Cape Point Nature Reserve. On the way we visit one of the most northern penguin colonies in the Southern Hemisphere. From the heights of Cape Point you will see where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet from these impressive cliffs - with the Cape baboons watching close-by. This evening is spent at leisure - maybe to enjoy some traditional Cape Malay food and the Cape Town nightlife (for own account).

Day 26: The Coloured and Malay Heritage, Robben Island and the Victoria & Alfred Water Front

We start the day by enjoying the interesting cultural experience of the District Six Museum of "Coloured" heritage. This museum presents a lively portrayal of the role that the people of mixed blood played and their forced removal under the Apartheid regime. This is followed by a guided visit to the traditional Malay area of the Bo-Kaap, where we learn more about the colourful Malay heritage brought to the Cape in the middle 1600's. Then we depart for the infamous Robben Island, to see how Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners spent their days during the previous Apartheid era. This evening we see some of the indigenous arts & crafts at the famous Cape Town Water Front and enjoy dinner there with good South African wine (included).

Day 27: Gugulethu Township Life and Vibes

The programme for the day is designed to conclude your tour in a leisurely and fun fashion, allowing time to ponder about the rich cultural heritage of the Cape and Southern Africa. Today we experience Gugulethu, one of the Cape Flats Townships. Gugulethu (meaning "our pride") was established in 1958 and is one of the oldest and fastest developing black townships in South Africa. The township boasts many shebeens, jazz clubs and up-and-coming business people. We visit an arts and crafts centre of the community, a shebeen to enjoy the local brew and savour the sounds of township jazz and enjoy a traditional lunch at one of the good community restaurants. After this satisfying cultural experience, you are transferred to the Cape Town Airport for your flight home, or connection flight to Johannesburg.

Included in the tour:
  • Transport in air-conditioned vehicles
  • Services of an accredited guide
  • All breakfasts
  • Accommodation in good Guest Houses, Guest Lodges and Country Hotels (The Guest Houses/Lodges are all quality establishments, offering private rooms with private bathrooms and full breakfasts)
  • All entrance fees and conservation fee in the Kruger National Park
  • The following excursions:
    • A visual, expert introductory lecture of the indigenous peoples of South Africa
    • Paul Kruger House and museum, Pretoria
    • Church Square Boer architecture
    • Voortrekker Monument and Afrikaner heritage
    • Soweto: Apartheid Museum, Hector Peterson Museum, city and shebeen tour
    • Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein caves
    • Ndebele village and daily life
    • Shangaan village and daily life
    • The Panorama Route
    • African silk weaving cottage industry
    • Delagoa Arts & Crafts
    • The Kruger National Park
    • Sabi-Sand Private Game Reserve and night drive
    • Contact with a rural Swazi family
    • The Royal Kraal of Lobamba
    • The St Lucia Wetland World Heritage Site
    • The Hluhluwe Game Reserve and game drives
    • Ulundi and Talana British/Zulu battlefields
    • Blood River Boer/Zulu battlefield
    • Kraal of Zulu King Dingane
    • Kwa-Mondi, Nongqai and Pearson forts
    • Durban cultural city tour
    • Zulu Cultural Village
    • Howick (Kwa-Nogqaza) Falls
    • Royal National Park
    • Meeting with Ngwane people
    • Basotho Village and daily life
    • A Voortrekker Boer Culture tour of Bloemfontein
    • Tour of urban Township life, Port Elizabeth
    • Storms River Bridge and Storms River Mouth
    • The Cango Caves
    • An Ostrich farm
    • French Huguenot Museum and monument
    • Two wine tasting tours and viewing of historical Cape Dutch homesteads
    • Four homesteads in Stellenbosch from various periods in history
    • Cape Point tour
    • Penguin colony
    • District Six Museum of Cape Coloureds heritage
    • Bo-Kaap Malay heritage tour
    • Robben Island and Nelson Mandela's jail
    • Cape Town Water Front & crafts
    • Gugulethu Cape Township tour
Not included:
  • Meals not mentioned above
  • All alcoholic beverages
  • All items of a personal nature
  • Tips, e.g., the tips for your local guides and the customary 10% tip in restaurants
  • Porterage
  • Optional excursions
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