Some ideas of tours in and around Grahamstown.
Private Game Reserves – Big 5 Tours.
Kariega Game Reserve Game Drive
Amakhala Game Reserve Game Drive
Kwantu Game Reserve Game Drive
Pumba Game Reserve Game Drive
Sibuya Game Reserve
Mbuleli Tours.
These tours are unique for each group or person. The general tour of Grahamstown will be City tours where I do all historical places in the city like 1820 Monuments and its surrounding, Rhodes University, both museums go in if the clients want to see, talk about Old Gaol, more of High Street to Cathedral, schools in the city and Bible Monument. Township I visit all location plus Egazini and Umthathi monument. I also do sheeben/tavern where poeple can have drinks interact with local even have braai. A meal is also included for those you want a meal ( that is done at least with a day advance bookings)
Amahlati Excursions
Amahlati Excursions can take you on a tour in or all around the Grahamstown area, ranging from a few hours to up to 10 days.
Day trips include historical and township tours around Grahamstown. Go out on a game drive near Grahamstown in a provincial reserve. Or on a trip to Addo Elephant National Park, where you can encounter the huge African elephant as well as buffalo. If time allows we can go to a private reserve where sightings of free roaming lion are guaranteed.
Ideas of day trip costs as follows – Addo including lunch
Day trip to Hogsback, including light lunch ( picnic ) and short hikes to the forest and waterfalls, R675.00. Day trip to Kenton on Sea, Port Alfred and Bathurst R560.00 – and Grahamstown historical and Rini township tours R560.00 – also both include light lunches.
Overnight trips offer a choice of the following:
One night in Addo Elephant National Park, with a choice of accommodation in either dome tents or forest huts.
Two night stay overs on IIiwa Island, where we stay in two-man dome tents on the banks of the Great Fish River. We abseil (repel) down a 53 meter cliff, water raft 8 km in the Great Fish River (if the are no hippos around).
Three night stay out on the Cape Midlands and Camdeboo Meander. Game viewing in the Cape Mountain Zebra Park, then onto Nieu-Bethesda that features the famous Owl House and sculpted figures. Followed with a stay over in Graaff-Reinett, which is the 4th oldest town in South Africa. We spend time to visit the Museums and National Monuments in Graaff-Reinet.
Three to six night stay (you choose) out on the Klein Karoo Tour which goes from the coastal bushveld through the vast dry Karoo. We stop over in the town of Oudshoorn to experience a visit to the world renowned Cango Caves. Then we move on to Cheetahland. They have the big cats and more, and you can have a close encounter and stroke a cheetah. Moving on, Amahlati Excursions takes you to an ostrich farm where it is possible for you to climb on an ostrich's back and ride it. You will also learn all about these big birds. Our stop in the coastal town of Mossel Bay allows us time for a boat ride to do some whale and dolphin watching, and if you fancy some cage diving, now is the time for it. For the adrenalin junkies we stop over at the Bloukrans bridge for them to bungi jump the highest bungi in the world (216 metres). The last stay over is near Storms River, where there is an adventure center offering tree top canopy tours, a 14 mile (22km) mountain bike route and a lot more.
The Blaauwkrantz Bridge Train Disaster – 1911
A Tragic Episode out of Grahamstown's Past
Visit the bridge site and experience the ambience of the area, marvel at the engineering and construction of this mighty railway bridge. Visualise the enormity of this accident. Gaze down into the breathtaking chasm; experience the loneliness of the gorge. Hear the stories from Ben Bezuidenhout, of bravery and heartbreak, also of great courage and faith. Follow the account of little Maud Smith and her three-year-old-brother Willie. Stand at the edge of this bridge and visualise the rescue attempts.
How did it happen? What were the causes? What were the findings? Hear stories of some of the myths and legends that have arisen since the train disaster. Discuss over refreshments provided as part of the tour, what this disaster must have taken out of the community.
Visit the cemeteries where the train victims are buried and leave the tour with vivid memories and a book on the Disaster, as a memento of your visit to the Blaauwkrantz Railway Bridge.
Walking distance is approximately 500 metres from the bus to the bridge and back; it's an easy walk on flat ground. Don't forget your camera and binoculars if you have them.
Costs are approx. R150.00 per person but can vary depending on the transport to the bridge – about 20km from Grahamstown.
Frontier Country Tours and Trails.
Stretch mind and body on our heritage and wildlife tours in the malaria-free surroundings on one of the Eastern Cape's premier tourist routes.
HERITAGE TOURS
Famous for the contrasts of its Victorian and African vibrancy, Grahamstown is a modern-day melting pot of the varied cultures that shaped this former frontier town. As the name suggests, this is a tour that takes in all the highlights of the City of Saints, including how it got that name. From its beginnings as a 19th century military village to its prominence today as a leading educational and cultural centre, the tour embraces all aspects of Africa's Festival Capital. Duration: Half day