Self Drive
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana are just some of Africa’s best self-drive destinations.
As your on-the-ground Self Drive Safari expert, our focus is to provide support, guidance and ensure confidence through designing self-drive journeys in safe destinations with incredible wildlife and scenery viewing.
We give you the tips, arrange the vehicles, provide the 24-hour assistance and you get to do the rest, in your own time.
For The Independent Traveler
- Hwange National Park -- Excellent Accessibility -
- Old World Hospitality -
khulu bush camp
zimbabwe
- Up Close Game Viewing -- Chimwenya Game Park -
- Private Lake Bvumbwe -
game haven lodge
malawi
- Heart of Gonarezhou -- Stunning Chilojo Cliffs -
- Chivilia Falls Trekking -
chilo gorge lodge
zimbabwe
- Wellness Spa + Gym -- Photographic Hide -
- South Luangwa National Park -
Kafunta River Lodge
zambia
- Edge of Xakanaxa Lagoon -- Boat Safaris -
- Moremi Game Reserve Wetlands -
camp moremi
botswana
- 5* Luxury Self-Catering Home -- Breathtaking Seaviews -
- Garden Route National Park -
livingstone villa
south africa
Escape Plans
The self drive safari escapes we have created below are samples, providing you with a little taste of what we can put together. The most important component is to make sure that you get what you want for your perfect getaway.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your preferences for accommodation, desired activities, length of stay and other requirements.
The possibilities for a magical and memorable self drive safari getaway are endless.
Itineraries For The Intrepid Trail Blazers
ESCAPE PLAN 1
Wild Wheels of Leisure
Explore the brilliance of South Africa on an 11 night Self Drive Safari itinerary that explores The Mother City (Cape Town), the Winelands, beach town Hermanus, standout stops along the Garden Route and finally some classic African Safari time at the Shamwari Game Reserve.
Days 1 to 3
On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, guests will be met by a specialized Safari Escapes team member. You will be accompanied to collect your Hire Car – from here you will drive approximately 40 minutes to get to your first destination – The Last Word Constantia. You will be spending the first 2 nights of your journey here on a Bed & Breakfast basis. You are free to spend the days exploring the wondrous beauty of Cape Town, from nearby vineyards to further afar viewpoints, hikes and culinary delights, located in any area you may find yourself. Cape Town is a treat in every way. Make the most of your time here before heading to Winelands further afar, in Franschhoek.
Days 3 to 5
After packing your bags and checking out of The Last Word, you will drive to Franschhoek, which will take about one hour. Nestled between mountains and river within the picturesque Franschhoek valley, Leeu Estates is situated on 68 hectares of vineyards, landscaped gardens and fynbos. The luxury estate boasts a spa and outdoor pool, and this is where you will be spending the next 2 nights on a Bed & Breakfast basis, free to spend your free time relaxing and unwinding, or exploring the exquisite vineyards or historical little town.
Days 5 to 6
Next in the adventure comes a chic and intimate beach house in the seaside town of Hermanus. Allow approximately an hour of driving time, sparing some time for the quaint farm stalls along the way. Birkenhead House sets the standard for luxury hotels in Hermanus, with its exhilarating cliff-top position overlooking the whale watching paradise of Walker Bay, Birkenhead House provides luxury accommodation for those seeking an extraordinary coastal experience. Watch surfers carving through the waves and, for several months each year, witness Southern Right and Humpback Whales breaching just metres from the shore.
Days 6 to 7
The next leg of your journey will take you 4 hours down the Garden Route from Hermanus, to Rosenhof Country House. The carefully renovated homestead (Circa 1852), with its yellowwood beams and ceilings and a tasteful collection of antique furniture, exudes an aura of authenticity. Pack water and snacks for the ride, but there are also many small stops along the way if you are feeling peckish or need to top up the fuel tank. The nights stopover will be spent here on a Fully Inclusive basis, so no need to worry about meals and drinks after arrival.
Days 7 to 9
After packing and checking out of Rosenhof Country Estate, you will be headed 2 hours drive down the Garden Route to the small town, Knysna. Embracing an exquisitely beautiful lagoon and surrounded by ancient forests, Knysna (pronounced ny-znah) is probably the most famous town on the Garden Route. Formerly the centre of the timber industry, supplying yellowwood and stinkwood for railway lines, shipping and house-building, it still has several shops specialising in woodwork and traditional furniture. Here you will be staying at The Turbine for 2 nights on a Bed & Breakfast basis, within walking distance to all the little shops and restaurants at the Quayside.
Days 9 to 12
The final leg of your African Self Drive adventure will take you further along the coast to Shamwari Game Reserve, which is located 75 km outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape (Approximately a 4 hour journey). It has been voted the World’s Leading Safari, Game Reserve and Conservation Company for many consecutive years. You will be spending your last 3 nights here in luxury on a Fully Inclusive basis, with all meals and drinks and two game drive activities per day. After this magical wildlife experience, you will drive to the nearest airport (Port Elizabeth) where you will leave the vehicle for its return back to us, while you head on your way.
Cost
from $8790 per person for 11 nights and 12 days
ESCAPE PLAN 2
Ultimate Safari Road Trip
Spend two weeks on the most incredible and awe-inspiring road trip, exploring all that Zimbabwe and Botswana have to offer.
Days 1 to 3
Beginning from Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met by a specialised Safari Escapes team member. You will then be accompanied to collect your Hire Car – and from there head to your first destination – Ilala Lodge (an approximately 15-20 minute drive). You will be spending 2 nights at Ilala on a Bed & Breakfast basis. An easy first day journey as you adjust to the African way of life.
Days 3 to 5
Today you will pack your things, fill up the fuel tank, and make your way across the border into Botswana. Chobe Bakwena Lodge is located 1.5 km from the place where four countries meet – the Kazungula border. You will spend the next 2 nights here on a Fully Inclusive basis. Chobe Bakwena Lodge is on the banks of the Chobe River and can be described as an eco-luxury retreat leaving a minimal footprint. The journey here from Victoria Falls will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Days 5 to 7
The really adventurous part of your journey is a 4 hour trip across Botswana from Chobe National Park into the Savute. Your next destination is Savute Safari Lodge. Stretching from the Linyanti River all the way to Savute Marsh, the winding waterways of the Savute Channel have pumped life into the western section of Chobe. This fickle and unpredictable channel has a fascinating history of flooding and drying up. This happens independently of good rainy seasons and flood levels elsewhere and as such has mystified local inhabitants, geologists and others for many years. Your stay here will be for 2 nights on a Fully Inclusive basis.
Days 7 to 9
Today will entail a longer leg of your journey, as you head from the Savute to Nxai Pan. You will be spending 2 nights here in a luxury tent on a Fully Inclusive basis. The biggest draw to the park are the zebras that migrate by the thousands to the area to drop their young – the second largest land animal migration in Southern Africa, during the summer after the rains have fallen. The pan is also known for its huge springbok population, wildebeest, elephants and large groups of giraffe.
Days 9 to 11
Today will entail another long leg as you make your way from Nxai Pan to Mashatu Game Reserve in the remote Eastern corner of Botswana. This area is known historically as the Tuli Enclave and it is here where the three countries; Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe converge. In addition to this large conservation area, Mashatu Game Reserve offers refuge to the largest elephant population on a private reserve on the African continent. You will be spending 2 nights here on a Fully Inclusive basis.
Days 11 to 13
From Mashatu Game Reserve, you will hop on the road again for approximately 6 hours to get to Amalinda Camp in Matobo Hills National Park, where you will be spending 2 nights on a Fully Inclusive basis. This exclusive, privately owned safari lodge is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Matobo Hills, the oldest National Park in Zimbabwe, tucked away into an ancient Bushman’s shelter. Famous for its healthy population of endangered rhino, the area is one of the most sought after destinations within Zimbabwe.
Days 13 to 15
From Amalinda, you will drive approximately 4.5 hours to Hwange National Park for the last 2 nights of your safari experience. The final 2 nights of your journey will be spent at Khulu Ivory Lodge on a Fully Inclusive basis, located in the forestry area on the outskirts of Hwange National Park. Khulu Ivory offers family-friendly safari experiences and is famous for its exhilarating up-close sightings of the Presidential Elephant Herd. The rooms themselves are elegantly built on stilted wooden platforms offering elevated views of the open floodplain and watering hole in front of camp.
Cost
from $9020 per person for 14 nights and 15 days
