Category Archives: Animals and Nature

Nature and animals around grahamstown

Port Elizabeth – Volunteering big 5 – Garden Route – Cape town 14 days

Come join Smiley Face Tours for a hassle free, unique and unforgettable two week journey and volunteering opportunity in South Africa. Beginning in the bush volunteering with big 5, we travel down the world renowned Garden Route, famous for it’s beautiful beaches and thrilling adrenaline sports. When we arrive in the Cape Town we will visit the famous Table mountain, Cape point and the Simon’s Town with there Jack Ass Penguins

Cape point And Penguins

This is a really fun way to see the Cape Peninsula! Vitalise your body and feed your mind with guided commentary, fabulous scenic cycling and easy hiking.

After picking you up from your accommodation, we continue along the Atlantic Seaboard to Hout Bay harbour checking out the Twelve Apostles Mountains in the background. Our enthusiastic guide will let you in on the “who’s who” of the Cape Peninsula while you travel the scenic route to Cape Point.

Once in Hout Bay, an optional boat cruise to visit the Cape Fur Seal colony on Duiker Island comes highly recommended (Approximately R60.00). Otherwise browse around the harbour and check out the local crafts. Enjoy some cookies and juice and take in the breathtaking views along Chapman’s Peak drive (subject to road conditions).

Put the flap back into your flippers with a visit to the endangered (and very entertaining) penguins at Boulders Beach in Simons Town. The locals protected them and the colony grew. Now the site is a state park. The locals sometimes wonder if it has been a blessing or not. Penguins rule the beach and tend to be late night party animals!!

The exhilarating downhill cycle through the free roaming wildlife of the Cape Point Nature Reserve helps you to work up a healthy appetite. A healthy, energy boosting picnic lunch will be served at a lunch stop in the reserve. After a delicious picnic enjoy a leisurely stroll to the South-Western most point of Africa.

The spectacular Cape Point Nature Reserve will put you on a natural high for the rest of the week

Amakhala ‘Hands on’ Volunteers

This project provides an insight into the environmental issues and management of a game reserve through the Award Winning Amakhala Conservation Center and contributes to the community through an AIDS Orphanage and vulnerable children center whilst also providing an element of fun for the volunteers.

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Kariega

With diverse and interesting oppurtunities, you’ll be able to get a real feel for South Africa’s incredible wildlife. By doing varied tasks like, for example, tracking, data collection, and animal transport, you get to experience all Big 5 animals from up close while aiding in the important work of conservation.

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Capetown – Garden Route – Big 5 Volunteering 14 days

Come join Smiley Face Tours for a hassle free, unique and unforgettable two week journey and volunteering opportunity in South Africa. Beginning in the eclectic metropolitan city of Cape Town, we travel down the world renowned Garden Route, famous for it’s beautiful beaches and thrilling adrenaline sports. When we arrive in the Eastern Cape you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with South Africa’s indigenous wild life as a volunteer at Kariega Big 5 game reserve.
This all-inclusive package can be supplemented by a two week trip through Swaziland, Mozambique, Krugerpark and Johannesburg, an additional week at Kariega, or a week of community engagement work in the nearby University town Grahamstown.
This Smiley Face Tours experience includes: on tour accommodation in dorms (upgrade available), breakfast and dinner, entry fees to Cape Point, the Penguins, Table Mountain cable cart, Cango Caves, Ostrich ranch.
At Kariega: twin rooms with shared bathrooms and 3 meals per day.

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Game and mountains

Swim in the Great Fish River, marvel at its history and keep your eyes open for wildlife! (including the temperamental Black Rhino)  Accommodated in a cozy lodge by the river, enjoy the evening braai while listening to the sounds of the myriad wildlife in the reserve.

The following morning, after a game drive, we mission to Hogsback. There you sleep in a comfortable dorm at Away with the Fairies Backpackers after exploring the forest and hiking to the waterfalls. For those wanting a little more adventure, there are also mountain biking and abseiling on order. Be careful of the bar though, but if you do get stuck we don’t mind you sleeping on the way back home!

Breakfast in the bush with Rhinos

Join us for a full continental breakfast in the Great Fish River Reserve. Eat and drink while you watch the many birds and animals at the  waterhole. Look out for Hartebeest, Otters and Spoonbills – who are also enjoying breakfast.

Once fed it’s time for a game drive through the reserve. We have a good chance of spotting Rhino, Black-Backed Jackal and maybe even Buffalo.

Winterberg hike

This trip is for the true adventurer.  In the shadows of the Katberg and Winterberg mountains lies a small but stunning reserve named Mpofu (Xhosa for Eland).

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Durban, St. Lucia, Swaziland, Kruger Park, Johannesburg

This tour takes you from Grahamstown to Kruger via Durban, Swaziland and St. Lucia and returns via Johannesburg. 

This tour is filled with animals, culture, adventure, camping

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Grahamstown – Cape Town (11 days – 10 nights)

This multi-day getaway is a there and back again trip from Grahamstown to Cape Town, stopping off at some stunning sights along the way, including the Garden Route, Oudtshoorn, and Stellenbosch. We return via the Karoo, offering a view of some of South Africa’s most breathtaking sceneries.

There is an insane amount to see and do including the Cango caves, a visit to the infamous Robbin Island, a tour to the Cape of Good Hope, hiking up Table Mountain, and the best nightlife the Mother City has to offer. Accommodation, breakfast, and dinner are all included.

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