In the case of road trips, the saying about the journey being just as important as the destination certainly rings true, especially if you’re someone who likes to travel at your own pace and have plenty of flexibility.
South Africa - BATTLEFIELDS AND BIG FIVE
This South African road trip itinerary will appeal to history buffs and nature-lovers alike, focusing on the battlefields and game reserves of KwaZulu Natal. Starting out from Jo’burg we suggest you kick things off at Fugitive’s Drift where expert guides will bring the Anglo Zulu war back to life on tours to Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. From here you head on to Three Trees at Spioenkop, an owner-run lodge that offers great activities from nature walks with great birding opportunities, rhino tracking on foot, mountain biking as well as visiting Spioenkop itself to hear the stories of the battle that took place there. Onwards to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse a nature and food lovers haven nestled in a valley, surrounded by rolling hills and deep gullies and bordering the Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve in the Drakensberg where activities range from trout fishing, hiking and birding to horse riding and swimming. Continue to the coast and the Oyster Box where you can enjoy some downtime on the beautiful beaches of Durban before heading on to Makakatana Bay Lodge in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands park which is a world heritage site and the largest natural estuary within Africa where there are over 330 bird species. To finish on a safari high, it’s a two-hour drive on to Phinda Mountain Lodge in the Phinda Game Reserve, one of Africa’s most diverse wilderness areas, boasting seven ecosystems and an extraordinary range of wildlife.
CANADA - WEST COAST EXPLORER
Arriving in to Vancouver you’ll drive the scenic two-hour Sea to Sky highway to Whistler, where you’ll have unobstructed views of mountain peaks, alpine meadows and Whistler Village below from your hotel Fairmont Château Whistler. Spend your days alpine hiking or venture deep into old-growth forests on a guided bear-watching tour. From here it’s a full day’s drive and ferry from Whistler to Tofino, located on Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast. From your base at the Wickaninnish Inn you can explore the Pacific Rim National Park, hike along surf-swept beaches, centuries-old rainforest, or the new Wild Pacific Trail, or sout on a full-day zodiac excursion in and around the Clayoquot Sound. A designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this temperate rain forest is home to a number of land and marine mammals, including but not limited to: wolves, black bears, cougars, gray whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, otters, bald eagles, and Roosevelt elk. Continue along the scenic Pacific Rim Highway to Victoria, one of the oldest cities in Canada’s Pacific Northwest. From here you can hop in an open-air zodiac and explore the nearby Juan de Fuca strait, home to three killer whale pods, humpback whales, sea otters and porpoises. Finally turn back to Vancouver for a stay at the Shangri-La Vancouver, exploring the city from its bustling business district to the laid-back warehouse conversions of Yaletown.
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Our road trip itineraries can focus on wildlife, culture or stunning scenery, and can include the most luxurious of accommodations or rustic wilderness lodges. Whether you’re an active traveller who wants to get out of the car to hike or see the sights several times a day, or someone who enjoys an open road flanked by idyllic scenery for hours at a time, we can create the perfect trip for you.