(No availability) 10 Days Safari and Cycling Tour in North Eastern South Africa

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival at Johannesburg

Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrival you will notice that you are in a country filled with smiles. A guide will meet you at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and accompany you to your overnight accommodation at Bandelierkop, near Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo Province. The transfer will depart at 11:00 am from the airport. Travel time from the airport to the overnight accommodation is approximately four hours.

The first three nights will be spent at a private game lodge. After settling in, you will end the first day in South Africa with a game drive and a cozy dinner in an African boma.

• Activities: Game drive
• Meals: Dinner

Day 2 (Monday): Safari cycling (20 - 40 kilometers)

After breakfast, your first bike ride is an exploratory ride through the bushveld. The aim with this safari cycle is to have personal encounters with some of the animals of the African bush. The lodge has a wide variety of non-dangerous animals including giraffe, impala, zebra, kudu, and many bird species. Learn more about the lifestyle and habits of the different species as well as the tracking of animals.

An optional afternoon activity includes a bushwalk or alternatively enjoy a relaxed afternoon next to the swimming pool. Dinner will be a unique South African experience served in the boma.

• Activities: Bike ride and bush walk
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3 (Tuesday): Mapungubwe National Park

This day has an early morning start, but is well worth the effort. It consists of a visit to Mapungubwe National Park and is without a doubt one of the highlights of the tour. The ancient land of Baobabs is one of the most significant historical landmarks in Southern Africa. What was once known as the center of the largest kingdom in the subcontinent, where a highly sophisticated people traded gold and ivory with China, India, and Egypt, rests a magical place open for discovery.

Partake in a walk up the Mapungubwe Hill and learn more about the fascinating history of the ancient kingdom of Mapungubwe. Apart from the incredible history, Mapungubwe is also home to some of the iconic wildlife of Southern Africa and it is a member of SANParks (South African National Parks Association), like the Kruger National Park.

A special moment in this tour is taking in the breathtaking view of the confluence of the Limpopo and Sashe rivers, separating South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

• Activities: Tour to Mapungubwe National Park
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 4 (Wednesday): Wolkberg Mountains (15 - 30 kilometers)

After breakfast, you will depart to your next location which is the majestic Wolkberg Mountain range of Limpopo. The Wolkberg mountains separate the highveld from the lowveld of Limpopo. It also contains some of the most intensive and well established Avocado and Macadamia Nut farms in South Africa.

The bike route for the day is a circular one that passes through Pine and Eucalyptus plantations with splendid views of the surrounding mountains and farms. Lunch will take place at a local restaurant with picturesque views of the Letsitele valley, your next location.

A relaxing afternoon awaits guests at the Coach House Hotel. The hotel has a spa that offers optional massage and spa treatments. Drinks can be enjoyed in the historical bar and lounge and guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Wolkberg Mountains from the comfort of their balconies or next to the pool.

• Activities: Bike ride
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 5 (Thursday): Letsitele and Kaross Workshop (20 kilometers)

The next location is the Letsitele Valley and the small subtropical farming town of Letsitele. Letsitele is well-known for the vast amounts of citrus fruits produced and exported.

The morning’s ride will take you through orange tree groves with a stop along along the way to visit a citrus packhouse to learn about the workings of a citrus farm, from the planting and farming phase, ending with the packing and export of the fruit. Depending on the time of year, you may visit a citrus packhouse. Alternatively, you may visit an avocado / macadamia nut packhouse.

From the packhouse, you will continue along the canal to the Kaross embroidery. Kaross was started by Irma van Rooyen to create opportunities for rural women to make a living through their embroidery skills. Indulge yourself in the beauty of the embroidery followed by a typical South African lunch. The evening will be spent in the African bushveld.

• Activities: Bike ride and Kaross tour
• *Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 6 (Friday): Blyde Dam and the Kruger National Park (27 kilometers)

The bike ride follows the Blyde River through the canyon to a spectacular viewpoint of the Blyde Dam. The Blyde River rises on the western slopes of the Drakensberg near Sabie in Mpumalanga and flows northwards past the town of Pilgrim's Rest for more than 100 kilometers, through a region of extraordinary beauty along the eastern escarpment and into the Blyde Dam which was completed in 1974.

Along the way, be on the lookout for kudus and baboons. Lunch will take place on the banks of the Blyde River after which we will depart for the Kruger National Park. In the late afternoon, explore Kruger on a drive. Enjoy your first evening in Kruger with a “braai”.

• Activities: Bike ride
• *Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 7 (Saturday): Full day at Kruger National Park

Today is your big Kruger safari day. Although Kruger is renowned for the Big Five, it has so much more to offer. Get your cameras ready to capture the special moments in one of Africa’s largest national parks covering an area of 19,485 square kilometers. This wildlife sanctuary is like no other, its atmosphere so unique which will allow you to experience the true heartbeat of Africa.

After your day in the Kruger National Park, you will be treated with a delicious dinner. Take time to share stories and photos of your special day in the African bush.

• Activities: Full day at Kruger National Park
• *Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8 (Sunday): Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve (16 - 40 kilometers)

Welcome to the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest and greenest canyon in the world. Your bike ride starts at the Pinnacle Rock where you will ready the bikes whilst you savor the magnificent view. The route follows the escarpment to Wonder View, which is said, on a clear day it is possible to see all the way to Mozambique.

The next stop for the day is the Lisbon Falls which is the highest waterfall in Mpumalanga. Extend your bike ride by cycling to your lunch spot or hop into the bus for a relaxed drive to lunch, after which you will visit the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. The potholes were formed over centuries of water flowing from the Treur and Blyde River. From here, it is a short drive to the famous Three Rondavels lookout point and onto your overnight accommodation overlooking this escarpment.

• Activities: Bike ride
• *Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 9 (Monday): Echo Caves and Bush experience (27 kilometers)

Take in a last look at the striking panorama of the Three Rondavels before you get onto your bicycle. The route, which is mostly downhill, is surrounded by citrus farms. The Echo Caves marks the end of cycling. This underground wonderland was stumbled upon by a local farmer in 1923, whilst looking for his lost cow.

You will visit the cave before driving along the Abel Erasmus Pass and entering the Lowveld for your last evening. The adventure begins with a late afternoon game drive in an open game viewer with an experienced guide. Dinner will be served in a boma around a fire with sounds of the African night in the background.

• Activities: Bike ride and game drive
• *Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 10 (Tuesday): Departure

Your final day starts with a bush walk accompanied by an experienced game ranger through Big Five territory. Experience the bush as never before with the chance of a cheetah encounter on foot. After the bush walk, enjoy a leisurely breakfast whilst saying farewell to your cycling companions. This will be the end of your time together. Return to your home country via the Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit or a transfer to Johannesburg.

Advice on your return journey or an extended stay is available on request.

• Activities: Bush walk
• Meals: Breakfast

Activities

Bush walk

An early morning bush walk is the perfect way to take in all the fascinating small things, wonderful variety of birdlife and to spot some animals. The bush walk is led by a professional, experienced safari guide who is armed.

Mapungubwe Hill tour

Walk up 147 steps to the top of Mapungubwe Hill where you see the graveyard of kings and learn more about the history and culture of the people who lived here from 1220-1290 AD, when they traded with Egypt, India, and China through Islamic traders on the east coast.

Game drive

Enjoy a game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, with a knowledgeable ranger and expert tracker. The best time to view game on you African safari are the early hours of the morning and during the late afternoon. This is when most game is active.

Kaross workshop

Panorama Pedals has a personal relationship to the owner of Kaross. Irma van Rooyen was Lizelle’s art teacher growing up. This inspirational lady decided to later concentrate all her energy on establishing the Kaross Foundation with the intention and focus of creating education opportunities for the next generation of embroiderers.

One of her aim is to identify artistic talent and give individuals the opportunity to develop their talents in terms of formal education. You have the chance to witness the ladies creating their beautiful embroidery work.

Visit a citrus packhouse

Letsitele is one of the biggest citrus areas in South Africa. During the months of May until October, you have the opportunity to visit a pack house where you will learn how long it takes for an orange tree to grow until it is ready to be picked and then taken through the packing process to how it ends up in your supermarkets.

In March, April, September, and October, you will alternatively be able to visit a macadamia and avocado packhouse where you will also be taken through the complete process from growing the trees until packaging time.

The bikes

Mountain bike (Silverback Spectra Comp 2017)

• 29" wheel size
• 27-Gear Hardtail
• Sizes available: S, M, L
• A bottle holder is attached to the bicycles if you prefer not to cycle with a backpack. Refills are available in the support vehicle. Small handle bags are also available.

E-bike

Panorma Pedals' e-bikes are Silverback Spectra Comp 2017 (29" wheel size) with a mid-motor conversion. The mid-motor drives the crank, instead of the wheel itself, multiplying its power, and allowing it to take advantage of the bike’s existing gears.

• 27-Gear Hardtail
• Sizes available: S, M

Skill level

Beginner:

• Can cycle for 2-3 hours
• Assistance required
• Comfortable with curves and leans
• Basic experience with unsurfaced roads
• Short distance ascents and descents

This cycling and safari tour will take you through Johannesburg, Mapungubwe National Park, Wolkberg Mountains, Letsitele Valley, Blyde River Canyon, Kruger National Park, Three Rondavels, and Lowveld in South Africa.

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This tour offers full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and you will make sure to offer local dishes. If you are a vegetarian or vegan or if you have any special requests regarding your diet, for example a food intolerance, let Panorama Pedals know in advance so that can best cater for you.

Spa treatments

At some of your accommodations, you are able to book a spa treatment in advance. This will definitely be a well-deserved spa treatment after a day of cycling. Please contact for more details about this extra activity.

• 6 days of cycling
• 3 exciting game drives
• 2 bush walks through Big Five territory
• Guided hike up Mapungubwe Hill
• High quality bicycle rental
• Support vehicle
• 9 nights accommodation
• 9 breakfasts
• 8 lunch
• 9 dinners
• Drinking water for the cycling stages
• Entrance fee to Mapungubwe National Park, Kruger National Park
• Transfer from O.R. Tambo International (JNB) to first night's accommodation
• Transfer from last night's accommodation to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS)

• Travel to South Africa
• Departure from Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit (HDS)
• Drinks and gratuities
• Spa treatments (when available)
• Private departure transfer from Hoedspruit area to Johannesburg
• Extension programs in Johannesburg

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.