South Africa Panorama Route (Aug 2021)

Our agent will be there to meet you on arrival in Johannesburg and provide your vouchers for your itinerary. They will also be able to answer any questions you might have, before introducing you to your private guide who will accompany you on a tour of Soweto Township.

Soweto is home to over a million people. It was formed by the apartheid government in the 1930s to separate blacks from whites, and was famously the site of the Soweto Uprising in June 1976, when children took to the street to protest the imposition of the Africaans language in their schools. Many argue that this uprising marked the beginning of the end of apartheid.

Today, Soweto is a vibrant, lively place with a welcoming atmosphere. Your tour will include the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital – the largest in Africa - as well as Freedom Square, Eldorado Park, and a selection of local shops. At the end of the tour, there will be the option to have lunch at a local Shebeen (please note that this is payable direct).

Following your tour of Soweto, your driver will transfer you to the Peermont Mondior Hotel. The Peermont is superbly located for Johannesburg airport.

Pre-itinerary arrangements
This itinerary takes place between the 2nd and 3rd Tests of the 2021 Official Lions Rugby Tour, and assumes you’ll be starting from Cape Town this morning following the 2nd Test at Cape Town Stadium on 31 July.  A domestic flight from Cape to Johannesburg is included in the itinerary cost. If starting instead in Johannesburg, the cost of the internal flight can be deducted from the itinerary cost and a pick-up from your hotel in Johannesburg arranged instead. This itinerary can also be booked as an extension to our Lions Safari, scheduled to take place between the 1st and 2nd Tests.

Here you have 3 nights at the Sabi River Sun Resort in a standard room with dinner and breakfast.

Located on the banks of the Sabi River, Sabi River Sun Resort offers a wealth of facilities, including tennis courts, swimming pools, squash court, bowling green, and extensive grounds incorporating an 18-hole golf course and easy walking trails – ideal for travellers wanting a mix of leisure and activity!

The most famous geographic sights along the Panorama route include:

Bourke’s Luck Potholes – In spites of its unassuming name, this collection of cylindrical rock formations and plunge pools, formed by the rushing waters of the Blyde and Treru rivers, presents a remarkable spectacle.

The Three Rondavels – also known as the Three Sisters, these portly peaks resemble rondavels, or to some, beehives! The view of the gigantic peaks and the forested ravine below is considered one of the finest in South Africa.

God’s Window – The appropriate named God’s Window is a high vantage point set above sheer cliffs, with fabulous views down the escarpment and towards the Drakensberg Mountains. On a clear day, the view from here extends beyond Kruger National Park and into Mozambique!

Blyde River Canyon’s primary appeal is its geography, but you’ll also encounter interesting wildlife along the Panorama Route, with opportunities to see monkey, hippo and crocodile. Equally notable is the region’s birdlife. Buzzards and vulture are omnipresent in the skies above the canyon, while many come to the canyon in the hope of spotting several varieties of eagle, including the black, crowned and African fish eagles. Doves, sunbirds, cuckoos, woodpeckers and owls – to name but a few! – are also seen in Blyde River Canyon.

The Peech is one of Johannesburg’s newest boutique hotels, set in landscaped gardens of two acres. Meals are served in the bistro restaurant (with indoor and outdoor dining), while amenities include a swimming pool and complimentary wi-fi. You stay tonight in a Heritage room with garden views.

Your hired car will be collected from the Peech Hotel this evening.

Please note that rugby tickets are not included with this itinerary. Our programme assumes that you will have secured your own tickets, and that you make your own way to the game at Emirates Airline Park.