The other South Africa

Karolina Guilcapi
Jun 16
9 min read

Imagine a privately guided road trip through South Africa that included not only game drives and safaris, but stunning hikes, coastlines, beaches, and... penguins!

Skip the crowds of Kruger National Park and let us build your unique trip through the cape. No internal flights, no visas needed. The perfect trip for a family or group of friends. 17 days of absolute adventure!

Did you know that the garden route is a malaria free zone, but home to the Big Five and lots of attractions? Explore Cape Town and all the gems of the region, taste wine down the coast, kayak with penguins and hike Lion's Head, game drive through Sanbona and Shamwari parks, discover the magical wildlife of South Africa including the albino lion, go whale watching, get chased by an ostrich, and so much more. All at your pace, with a private driver.

Did we mention gorgeous accommodations included?

Check out the private itinerary below, and make this road trip your own! As always:

CHOOSE ANY DATES

MAKE ANY CHANGES

THIS IS A PRIVATE TOUR, PRICED BASED ON 4 - is your group bigger? Ask me for new pricing: info@satedventures.com

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - June 12, 2026 <~~ choose any date, this is a sample only

International flight to South Africa

Take your international flight to Cape Town.

Day 2 - June 13, 2026

Arrival to Cape Town

Upon arrival at the international airport and going through the formalities, reception by your private guide, and a warm welcome to South Africa! Assistance to your private car and transfer to your hotel on the waterfront of the city. Rest of the day free to enjoy your hotel and refresh after your flight.

Premier Hotel Cape Town - 2 double rooms

Day 3 - June 14, 2026

Cape Town

Day free to acclimate and enjoy the city on your own.

Day 4 - June 15, 2026

Cape Town

Private Full Day City Tour - After breakfast, meet your private guide and enjoy exploring the highlights. Join us as we explore the natural wonders of Table Mountain and Lion’s head, with the option to stretch your legs on the mountain hiking trails. One of the new seven natural wonders of the world, Table Mountain forms the iconic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and offers spectacular views from the top. BO KAAP / CAPE MALAY QUARTER - This colorful city neighborhood has a rich cultural, religious and architectural heritage, with strong links to Muslim traditions and culture. COMPANY’S GARDEN - This gorgeous green lung of the city is the oldest garden in the country, established in 1652 by Dutch settlers. CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE - Built as a maritime replenishment station between in the late 1600s by the Dutch East India Company, this is the oldest surviving building in Cape Town.

Day 5 - June 16, 2026

Cape Town

After breakfast, meet your guide again to explore a Full Day on Cape Point including kayaking with penguins.

Day 6 - June 17, 2026

Cape Town

Full day at leisure to explore Cape Town on your own

Day 7 - June 18, 2026

Cape Town

Winelands Wine Tasting Experience

Day 8 - June 19, 2026

Cape Town - Sanbona (3 hours)

B, L, D

Breakfast and check out, then enjoy a 3 hour private transfer down the cape to the heart of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Once you have had breakfast you will embark on a scenic drive, and make your way to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, where you will stay for two nights. Enjoy a light lunch before relaxing and soaking in the tranquil surroundings of the reserve. In the afternoon, get ready for a nature drive, followed by dinner at the reserve.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - Tilney Manor - 2 double rooms

Seated at the foot of the Warmwaterberg Mountain Range in the heart of South Africa’s Little Karoo, Sanbona pays tribute to the San people who made this arid environment their home for centuries. Sanbona has an alluring atmosphere of stillness, an air of isolation amid the raw beauty and boundless plains. Tilney Manor at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve consists of 3 separate units including 6 large open plan suites, each opening onto private verandas overlooking breathtaking views of undulating mountains and plains. This lush oasis setting of Tilney Manor is surrounded by carefully laid out indigenous gardens. Breath-taking views of the undulating mountains and landscape embrace the historical Tilney Manor in a refuge of peace and tranquillity. The Manor offers six spacious open-plan suites leading on to private verandas. Guest experiences include authentic Karoo cuisine, luxurious lounges and a rim flow pool. Indulge your senses at the Relaxation Retreat that boasts a steam room and sauna while witnessing a pure African spectacle – a Karoo sunset.

Tilney Manor Includes:

Two daily nature drives

Guided wilderness walks

All meals and a limited selection of house beers, wines and soft drinks

On-drive snacks and drinks

Internal reserve transfers between the lodges and welcome lounge

Tourism levy and 15% VAT

Day 9 - June 20, 2026

Sanbona

B, L, D

Exploring Sanbona’s Wildlife and Tranquil Surroundings

Begin your day with an early morning nature drive, experiencing the reserve’s wildlife in the cool, serene hours of the morning. After the game drive, enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge, whereafter you will spend the rest of the morning at leisure, relaxing and soaking in the tranquil surroundings before enjoying a light lunch at the reserve. In the afternoon, you will embark on a nature drive, immersing yourself in the stunning landscapes and wildlife, before returning to the lodge for a delicious dinner.

Stargazing - With minimal light pollution, the star gazing possibilities at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve are incomparable.

Rock Art - There are seven recorded rock art sites throughout Sanbona that date back more than 3,500 years.

Nature Walks - Whilst on foot, discover everything the Little Karoo has to offer in terms of fauna, flora and majestic landscapes.

Day 10 - June 21, 2026

Sanbona - Knysna (4 hours)

B, D

A Scenic Journey Along the Garden Route

After your early morning game drive, and once you have had breakfast at the reserve, you will proceed to The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa in Knysna for check-in, where you will stay for one night. Dinner included.

Explore the Seaside Town of Knysna

Thesen Island, situated on the edge of the Knysna lagoon, presents an ideal launchpad for a diverse array of activities, ensuring that every visitor finds an experience perfectly suited to their desires and interests. For those yearning for relaxation and romance, embark on leisurely lagoon cruises, where you can bask in the soothing embrace of the pristine waters. As the sun dips below the horizon, opt for a romantic sunset cruise as you take in the stunning hues of orange and pink. For those with a thirst for adventure, whale-watching excursions promise thrilling encounters with these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. If you’re inclined to chart your own course, consider renting a kayak to explore the canals that crisscross the island. Paddle at your own pace, allowing the tranquil atmosphere to wash over you as you navigate this intricate network of waterways.

Premier Resort The Moorings (Knysna) - 2 Suites

Day 11 - June 22, 2026

Knysna - Plettenberg Bay (1 hour)

B, L

Featherbed Nature Reserve Adventure

After breakfast, you will set off for an unforgettable experience in the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Enjoy a scenic 4x4 drive through the reserve, followed by a short guided hike offering breathtaking views of the Knysna Lagoon. Afterwards, sit down to a delicious buffet lunch in this beautiful natural setting. Thereafter you will proceed to your hotel for check-in, where you can unwind and enjoy the serene coastal atmosphere. Thereafter you will proceed for check-in, where you can unwind and enjoy the serene coastal atmosphere.

The Bungalow by Raw Africa Boutique Collection (Plettenberg Bay), The Beach - 2 rooms

Day 12 - June 23, 2026

Plettenberg Bay - Shamwari (3 hours)

B, D

A Day of Wonders: Whale Watching and Safari Adventure at Shamwari

Today, excitement awaits! After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on a thrilling whale watching cruise (or dolphin watching Dec - May), taking in the breathtaking coastal views. Following the cruise, you will travel to Long Lee Manor at Shamwari Game Reserve in Patterson for check-in, where you will stay for the next two nights. After settling in and relaxing, get ready for an afternoon game drive to explore the reserve’s rich wildlife., followed by a delicious dinner at the reserve, soaking in the serene atmosphere.

Long Lee Manor at Shamwari Private Game Reserve - 2 rooms

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is a premier safari and holiday destination in South Africa’s ecologically and culturally significant Eastern Cape Province.

Shamwari, meaning “my friend” in Shona, is the pinnacle of private game reserves and home to the coveted Big 5. Stretching over a vast, malaria free landscape, it offers an award-winning nature experience and is one of the largest private conservation initiatives in Southern Africa. Shamwari is a place where guests can exist in harmony with nature, however fleeting the moment, where wildlife roam the landscape under the relentless African sun. Shamwari incorporates seven lodges and one explorer camp; each one unique in its own essence. Lodges are designed in harmony with their surroundings where guests can experience nature in sublime comfort.

Gracious Living Inspired by Nature

Whether you’re looking to plan your annual holiday or to accommodate business delegates, look no further than Long Lee Manor at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. This Edwardian style manor boasts manicured gardens, a large rim-flow pool, and verandas, all overlooking the magnificent plains teeming with wildlife.

- 18 rooms including 1x Family Suite

- wheelchair friendly

- Large rim-flow swimming pool

- Relaxation Retreat with three treatment rooms

- Fitness Centre

- In and outdoor dining facilities

- Boma overlooking the waterhole

Day 13 - June 24, 2026

Shamwari

Morning Safari and Exploration of Shamwari Game Reserve

Start your day with an exciting morning safari, where you'll immerse yourself in the beauty of Shamwari’s wildlife. Afterward, enjoy a delicious breakfast before setting off on a series of site inspections to explore the various exclusive lodges within the reserve, each offering its own unique charm and experience.

Later, once you have relaxed and freshened up, enjoy an exciting afternoon game drive, whereafter you will return to the lodge for a delicious dinner at the reserve, perfectly capping off your day of exploration.

Luxury Inspired by Nature - A stay at Shamwari Private Game Reserve is one that will remain with you forever. Due to its location in the heart of the Eastern Cape, the reserve offers abundant wildlife, fauna and flora exclusive to the area and unforgettable encounters with nature.

Day 14 - June 25, 2026

Shamwari - Oudtshoorn (5 hours)

B, D

Farewell Safari

After one last morning game drive and breakfast at the reserve, we begin our road trip back towards Cape Town, and stop at the coastal town of Oudtshoorn. Dinner included.

Oudtshoorn - La Plume Boutique Guest House - 2 double rooms

La Plume is a Boutique Guest House with Spa on a working ostrich, alfalfa, and cattle farm offering spectacular views of the Swartberg Mountains and the Olifants River Valley. A warm welcome awaits you at this charming 1902 Victorian homestead with its tranquil surroundings where old-world charm is combined with modern comforts to ensure extraordinary service and personal attention. La Plume offers stylish luxury with a diverse range of accommodation from a Cottage, Private Farm Villa, Luxury Rooms to Luxury Junior Suite, Honeymoon and Superior Suites. With private entrances, sunny verandas and elegant, comfortable antiques, each of the 20 individually furnished air-conditioned units offer satellite television, free WiFi, minibar and abundant comforts. The restaurant serves a full English Breakfast Buffet, lunch menu, picnic baskets, cheese platters and for dinner enjoy a Four Course Buffet with exceptional local wine in the candlelit dining room of the 1902 Victorian homestead. Join the owner for an informative tour of this working ostrich, alfalfa and cattle farm. Learn about the day to day activities in the life of a full-time farmer and one of the few experts on the ostrich industry. “Our philosophy is exclusivity and exceptional comfort with warm, personal attention in an environment conducive to the art of gracious living. La Plume welcomes you.”

Day 15 - June 26, 2026

Oudtshoorn - Camps Bay (5 hours)

After breakfast and checking out, we continue to the beach town of Camps Bay and check into your beach hotel.

The Bay Hotel - 2 double rooms

Camps Bay’s Luxury Beachfront Escape

The Bay Hotel boasts an unrivalled beachfront location in Camps Bay. With the majestic Twelve Apostle Mountain range as a backdrop and the Atlantic Ocean on the hotel’s doorstep, The Bay Hotel is surrounded by natural beauty. In-house breakfast restaurant Tides offers a South African breakfast buffet with stunning views of Camps Bay’s beachfront strip, while Bistro at The Bay is the perfect spot for a glass of wine and leisurely lunch. Relax at our private beach club, Sandy B, or at the welcoming Caamil’s Bar, as you watch the sun disappear over the ocean. The hotel offers 4 swimming pools, a gym, indoor and outdoor Padel courts, and a spa. Whether you’re traveling for business, a romantic getaway or a family holiday, The Bay Hotel is ready to welcome you to a perfect Camps Bay beach stay.