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Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

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Casual Inns
  • From $4,998
    To $5,298 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+From $550 To $950
    for sgl. occ.)
  • Internal Flights: $635

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner.

Recommended Kids Ages

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Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Cape Town, South Africa/Johannesburg, South Africa

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Mountain Bike, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Romance &/or Honeymoon, Safari, Spa, Tropical/Winter Sunshine, Whale Watch

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

South Africa Multisport Vacations

South Africa Multisport

Bike, Walk and Safari From Cape Town to Kruger National Park

Join Backroads on this unforgettable adventure to actively experience South Africa's wonders! Stroll along Cape Town’s Table Mountain and gaze upon the coastline Sir Francis Drake heralded as the “fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” Bike to the tip of the Cape Peninsula, past rare mountain zebras and unique flora. Ease into the gracious lifestyle of the Cape Winelands and walk amid brightly colored proteas and rich birdlife. In the Drakensburg Mountains, hike on the Great Escarpment and be awed by breathtaking scenery. Then experience classic Africa on thrilling safaris, on foot and in open-top Land Rovers, in a private portion of Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most magnificent wildlife sanctuaries.

You are viewing the Classic Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View the Family Premiere Inns , Family Casual Inns Itineraries.

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Days 1-2 cape town

Meet in Cape Town Hike along Table Mountain, the city’s cloud-draped landmark Explore the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Walk on the Cape of Good Hope, then bike to Cape Point, with chances to spot ostriches, cape mountain zebras, baboons and rare African penguins.

Days 3-4 franschhoek

Visit a vibrant local township for an intimate introduction to a part of Cape Town that few tourists see While baboons bark in the surrounding hills, hike in Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, famous for its huge variety of proteas Stroll through beautiful Franschhoek (French Glen), renowned for its long tradition of viticulture Get a formal introduction to South African wines while savoring a sultry vintage or two Bike a section of the famous Winelands Route Come face-to-face with a cheetah at a rehabilitation center for the big cats.

Days 5-6 graskop

Fly from the hills, farms, valleys and vineyards into the vast savanna of “classic” Africa Have the chance to feed and touch elephants rescued from the wild Walk to the edge of the Great Escarpment, a tremendous plateau brimming with indigenous forests, pine plantations, streams and waterfalls Hike into the Blyde River Canyon, the largest canyon in southern Africa, whose sheer red walls plunge over half a mile into water  Shop for crafts in the small town of Graskop.

Days 7-9 kruger national park

Travel to Ngala, a private reserve within Kruger National Park, for unforgettable excursions into the bush to view the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos  Join a Shangaan tracker for a nature walk focused on spotting animal tracks and some of the smaller marvels like dung beetles, and on learning about native plants   Delight in a thrilling nighttime game drive Visit a nearby staff village and meet local school children Fly to Johannesburg.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

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Trip praise

Excellent trip that covered a LOT of ground and gave a good overview to South Africa, its people, scenery and animals.
Patricia Julian - Scarsdale, NY

read more trip praise

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the South Africa tour experts. For multisport tours in Africa, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Africa multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Africa walking and hiking tours click here.

South Africa Multisport

INFORMAL OASES : Casual Inns*

Alphen Hotel

Cape Town (2 nights): This casually elegant and historic hotel, a national monument, is located in a beautiful setting of ancient oaks and gardens.

Protea Hotel Franschhoek

Franschhoek (2 nights): Enjoy a swimming pool and comfortable accommodations just a stone’s throw from town.

Graskop Hotel

Graskop (2 nights): Guest rooms are quaint and full of character at this casual bed-and-breakfast, which also offers a swimming pool and gardens.

Ngala Private Game Reserve*

Kruger National Park (2 nights): This lavish safari lodge—the first private lodge and game reserve to be incorporated into Kruger National Park—features authentically decorated chalets, a large swimming pool, open-air dining and a spectacular location overlooking a busy waterhole.

* With 2 Premiere Inn nights at Ngala Lodge  

* With 2 Premiere Inn nights

South Africa Multisport South Africa Multisport

Ngala Private Game Reserve*

You are viewing the Classic Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View the Family Premiere Inns , Family Casual Inns Itineraries.

South Africa Multisport

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2  4 Route Options Available
  • Hike 2, 2.1, 4.2, 5 miles
  • 0 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 4  4 Route Options Available
  • Walking 45 minutes
  • Biking 18, 38, 46 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 10, 16, 19 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 1  4 Route Options Available
  • Biking 9, 14, 19 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 4.7 miles
  • 1500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Travel day  
Day 6
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 3.3, 4.1 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Walking 4.5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Community walk 1.5 hours
  • Afternoon/evening game drive
Day 8
  • Morning drive
  • Game walk 1 hour 
  • Afternoon/evening game drive
Day 9
  • Morning game drive
  • Game walk 1 hour 
South Africa Multisport South Africa Multisport

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles