Classic Safari 2027 - Concluding Recce Report
* Concluding part of Classic Safari Route Master Kim Bannister’s recce report
Day 15 – Rest Day Sabi Sands
Today was all about the wildlife. The rangers and guides in Sabi Sands are among the very best and the game viewing is just amazing. It was worth the very early (5am) call for the morning game drive and the chance to stretch my legs with a short walking safari back to the lodge before a well-earned breakfast. I can now tell you the difference between black rhino and white rhino poo, if you are interested.
A relaxed day and a chance to catch up on my notes before an evening game drive and a sundowner out in the bush before another excellent dinner at the lodge. The rangers sit with the guests, and it is a great time to find out more about the behaviour of the animals.
One very special memory for me was chasing after some wild hunting dogs that had been seen, unfortunately we didn’t find them this time, maybe when the event returns next year I will have more luck.
Day 16 – Sabi Sands to Mbabane
The choice this morning was another early call and morning drive, or a more relaxed breakfast. As this trip to me is all about Africa’s wildlife it was another early start and a later breakfast.
The camps are all located close to the Paul Kruger Gate of the Kruger National Park so a drive through the park made sense. There is a tarmac road through the main part of the park with many gravel roads off to various waterholes and viewing points. Following the recent rains a number of these were closed but we still saw several Elephants plus Rhino and Giraffe on our steady drive through. There will be plenty of time allowed for crews to explore a little further on the event.
Leaving the park at the southern end we made our way south to the town of Jeppes Reef and the border with Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The border was really straightforward with a visit to immigration first for passports to be stamped and then customs for a check on the vehicle papers. Having completed the process out of South Africa, the entry procedure for Eswatini was as simple and we were soon on our way over the delightfully named Piggs Peak.
As we had time today, I took the chance to include a trip to the Maguga Dam and the lodge of the same name for lunch overlooking the dam.
The final run into Mbabane was very foggy so I cannot tell you what the scenery was like, but the roads were good and progress to our overnight stop was fast. Tonight we stayed where the event will stay in a very new hotel on the outskirts of the city, a much better choice than on my previous visits.
Day 17 – Mbabane to Phinda
Today has been one of those frustrating days when every road you try is weather affected and just too rough to use.
Heading south we found a nice short section of road which will make a fun regularity before heading further into the Eswatini countryside which is very green and lush but also very populated.
My original plan was to take a route heading across country before crossing the border back into South Africa. Unfortunately, the very first dirt road we tried was completely unusable as were the second and third. With no other sensible dirt road options, we decided to stay on the less used tarmac roads and head for a small border which was approached by a dirt road on my last visit. The first good news we had was that the road to the border is now tarmac and the border post at Nsalitje is still in operation, unlike many of the smaller borders in the region.
A very friendly team on the Eswatini side soon had us on our way with passports stamped and vehicle details checked before moving forward a few hundred metres to the South African border at Onverwacht. Here for the first time on our trip, we had our fingerprints and a photo taken before the passports were stamped. Once again everything was very friendly and with only one other vehicle in the border passage was quick.
Determined to try and find a second regularity section for the day, we explored a number of roads close to the border which ran through sugar cane fields and eventually found one which was smooth enough to use, the others having all been very badly damaged by the recent rains.
Having found some competition for the day we continued towards our next highlight and the exclusive Phinda Private Game Reserve for another 2 nights of being pampered and enjoying the wildlife.
Day 18 – Rest Day Phinda
Whichever lodge you stay at in Phinda, the event will use two, the game viewing will once again be worth the early starts and having to suffer a “sundowner” out in the bush on the evening drive.
One very special thing about Phinda is the large Cheetah population and a chance to see this magnificent animal was worth missing a couple of hours in bed.
As with the other lodges we stayed in the food was superb and most of my shirts are now a little tighter than when we started out, but those few extra pounds can come off when I get back home after the recce trip.
Day 19 – Phinda to uMlhangha
Something a bit different this morning with a regularity starting near the exit gate to catch those still asleep or savouring the Phinda breakfast.
We head south today so there is little option but to use the N2 road for some of the day. However, the road is good and although there is some truck traffic there are plenty of opportunities to pass and progress was swift.
Around half way on our journey we pulled off and headed to the town of Mtunzini where there is lovely country club and several excellent coffee shops to have some lunch and break the journey.
Before we re-joined the N2 for the run in towards Durban, we found a superb gravel road section which we will use as an after-lunch regularity. Once again, this road runs through sugar cane fields and was in superb condition as it must be maintained by the owners of several large farms in the area.
I had intended to stay off the N2 until the last minute on the run in, but there were so many speed bumps, villages and slow vehicles that we turned around and decided to use the N2 for the final part of the days run.
Tonight the event is staying in 5* luxury at the wonderful Oyster Box Hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean.
If you like your curries, then this is the place to be. There is a large population with Indian heritage in the area and the food reflects this, just watch for the spices though!
Day 20 – Umlhangha to Clarens
It was Saturday as we left the hotel to head west towards Pietermaritzburg on the N3 road. Traffic was light and progress was good, the event leaves on a Sunday morning so the traffic should not be a problem.
Our first stop was to look at a wonderful kart circuit at Idube, one of the very few kart circuits I know which has elevation and may twists and turns. We are currently talking to the owners to get permission to use it, they are waiting for their new season dates but are keen to host the event if it fits into their calendar.
We used the N3 to get through Pietermaritzburg then turned off at Winterton to drive over the Oliviershoek Pass for our first regularity of the day and then crossed into Free State as we turned west for the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, named after its iconic, glowing red-orange sandstone cliffs, and our second regularity over the Monantsa Pass.
This road skirts the northern border of Lesotho but with few roads to use, and the possibility of another border crossing, we stayed in South Africa to stay in the town of Clarens for the night.
Clarens is a scenic small town situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the Free State province of South Africa and nicknamed the "Jewel of the Eastern Free State". It was established in 1912 and named after the town of Clarens in Switzerland where exiled Paul Kruger spent his last days.
Day 21 – Clarens to Aliwal North
Our route from Clarens saw us continue to skirt the northern border of Lesotho as we headed south past the town of Wepener.
Between Wepener and the town of Rouxville we headed out into the many backroads in the area looking for suitable sections to run as regularities. Despite recent bad weather and unseasonable rain the roads had held up well and we found some excellent sections to fill today’s journey.
Our overnight halt was in the small town of Aliwal North.
Wikipedia has this to say about our overnight halt: Aliwal North, officially known as Maletswai, is a historic town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, nestled on the banks of the Orange River. Renowned for its natural hot springs (Aliwal Spa), it serves as a commercial centre for farming.
Day 22 – Aliwal North to Shamwari
Getting up this morning I had an extra spring in my step as we were heading for our final chance to see African wildlife close up but also to stay at yet another superb lodge on this trip of many highlights.
Heading south we used the N6 road but constantly took the opportunity to explore the dirt roads to the west of the main road looking for suitable sections to use.
Once back on the main road we went over the Penhoek Pass, the road was excellent and the traffic light as we headed to the town of Komani.
At Komani we left the main road as we once again took to the R road network to cross the Nico Malan and Ecca Passes before our final run in along the N2 to the private game reserve at Shamwari. The plan is to get everyone to the reserve to enjoy an evening game drive and a well-earned “Sundowner” before dinner.
Day 23 – Rest Day Shamwari
Shamwari covers about 250 square kilometres (97 mi2) and is part of the Indalo Protected Environment.
The reserve is recognised for restoring degraded farmland into a wildlife conservation area and for pioneering private "Big Five" safaris in the Eastern Cape.
Shamwari was founded in 1992 by conservationist Adrian Gardiner. The project began with the purchase of former farmland and gradually expanded through acquisitions of neighbouring properties.
Shamwari supports species from multiple biomes, including:
- The Big five game (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros)
- Cheetah, hyena, serval, and other predators
- Cape mountain zebra, hippopotamus, South African giraffe, wildebeest, and numerous antelope species
It should be a wonderful final chance to tick off those missing animals from the checklist and hopefully see something new as well.
Day 24 – Shamwari to Plettenberg Bay
After another superb breakfast, I am not looking forward to getting on the scales when I get home, we turned west for our first real taste of the Karoo.
The Karoo is a vast, semi-desert natural region covering nearly 40% of South Africa's land surface, characterized by extreme temperatures, low rainfall, and arid, open plains. Straddling the Western, Northern, Eastern Cape, and Free State provinces, it is a fossil-rich, culturally historic area known for sheep farming, stargazing, and unique, hardy vegetation.
The roads in this area are straight and fast, so progress was good and we stopped for lunch in a wonderful, typical Karoo, town of Steytlerville. There are several options for crews to stop at, and it will make a nice break in the day before we need to turn south for the coast.
Leaving Steytlerville we drove towards the town of Willowmore using a road that is a single lane piece of concrete with dirt each side. The etiquette is that if cars approach you both pull over to the left using half the concrete and some dirt road to pass each other. It seemed to work well but there were very few chances to try it out.
Passing the town of Uniondale, we took the opportunity to try two different routes into our overnight halt. The first was using the gravel road over the Prince Alfred’s Pass. This was a wonderful scenic route which would need to be driven slowly as there are a number of drops, but it was definitely worth the effort as the scenery was amazing.
We also decided to find an alternative for crews who may be less keen on mountain type roads, or who may be having trouble with their car.
The alternative is a lot longer in distance, but as the roads are faster the time difference will probably only be 30-45 minutes. However, there was a great café in the village of Joubertina which may delay anyone who wants to stop, they have a fuel station as well.
Whichever route crews decide to take, both end up in the lovely seaside town of Plettenberg Bay and a superb hotel to enjoy the evening. The hotel is very close to the sea so an early evening walk along the beach will make a little more room for another excellent dinner.
Day 25 – Plettenberg Bay to Hermanus
The route for today had to pass some larger population centres, Knysna, George and Mossel Bay, so the only sensible solution was to use the N2 road to move west as quickly as we could. The views along the coast are great and we were often very close to the ocean particularly around Mossel Bay.
Having got past the larger towns we took another opportunity to head back into the Karoo and one of my favourite little towns, Barrydale.
To get to Barrydale I had planned on using a road through a village called Brandrivier, but recent rains had left the road in a poor condition so we will use the lovely Tradouws Pass in both directions. This is a tarmac road in excellent condition with lovely views, so well worth the change of plan.
There is a restaurant in Barrydale called the “Vintage Car” so that had to be where we had lunch. There are several options in the town for crews to choose from all selling local dishes.
Heading back over the Tradouws Pass the route took us to the town of Swellendam, a good opportunity to fill the car, before a final fun run in over some superb, fast dirt roads to the overnight stop in the beautiful town of Hermanus.
Hermanus is well known as a centre for Whale Watching but in March and April the whales will be further south in colder waters, but the town is a delight with excellent walks along the beach and surrounding dunes to work up an appetite for dinner.
Day 26 – Hermanus to Stellenbosch
A shorter day today, which I am sure some crews with tired bodies and tired cars will appreciate.
Leaving Hermanus behind, we head over Shaws Pass and use some excellent dirt roads before crossing the N2 and driving over the Theewaterskloof Dam before a final drive in to Stellenbosch over the beautiful Franschhoek Pass. This road is currently being worked on so should be in great condition when the event arrives. I can recommend a steady drive over the pass to enjoy the scenery and the plant life before reaching the town of Franschhoek.
Our final stop before the finish in Cape Town will be in Stellenbosch, another lovely town to walk around and explore.
Day 27 – Rest Day Stellenbosch
A chance today to enjoy a wine experience and, with no driving to do, an opportunity to try some different wines to see which ones you prefer.
The wine will be an essential part of the pre-finish party, which always seems to happen, and is driven by the crews as they enjoy a final evening together before the more formal gala dinner in Cape Town.
Day 28 – Stellenbosch to Cape Town
Looking at the map would suggest that there is a simple, main road route into Cape Town, but why finish this amazing adventure with a run down the main road.
Instead, the route into Cape Town follows the peninsula which lies to the south of the city so crews can enjoy some spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean as they make their way to the finish.
The final night is always a special one and a superb gal evening is planned at our hotel which sits on the coast overlooking the ocean and the city.
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