Embark on a Journey of Awe and Wonder with Protea 4x4 Safari Tours

In the hustle of everyday life, it can be challenging to find a moment to pause and immerse oneself in nature's grandeur. But here at Protea 4x4, we invite you to experience the mesmerizing beauty of the African wilderness – a place where the majesty of the outdoors beckons you to explore, dream, and discover.

Set forth as an intrepid explorer on our bespoke safari expeditions, where we guide you through landscapes where time seems to stand still, awakening your spirit and kindling a fire of inspiration within. With us, each safari is not just a tour; it's an odyssey into the heart of Africa's untamed splendor.

With us, each safari is not just a tour; it's an odyssey into the heart of Africa's untamed splendor...

Imagine the thrill of navigating your 4x4 through Southern Africa's vast, uncharted wilderness – home to some of the planet's last true wilderness areas. Each destination we journey to is a tapestry of breathtaking sights and sounds, offering an escape that’s as exhilarating as it is serene.
As the sun dips below the horizon, partake in the quintessential African experience – toasting to the awe-inspiring sunsets with sundowners in hand, surrounded by landscapes that have captivated hearts for centuries.

The romance and allure of Africa's wildlife are undeniable, turning every moment under the star-studded sky into a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Our array of safari experiences caters to all adventurers – whether you prefer the simplicity of self-catering and self-camping or the comfort of fully catered trips. Rest assured, every detail is taken care of, including camping, accommodation, park fees, and a selection of activities designed to enhance your experience.

Nature enthusiasts, photographers, or those seeking solace in the unspoiled African wilderness will find our tours an ideal retreat. Our commitment to responsible driving ensures minimal environmental impact, allowing the beauty of nature to thrive undisturbed. And with over three decades of expertise in 4x4 training, Jannie Rykaart (owner and personal tour guide) ensures that even the most novice drivers feel confident and secure as they navigate this remarkable terrain.

Join us at Protea 4x4 for an adventure that transcends the ordinary – a journey where the wild heart of Africa beats in harmony with your own.

Route Sani Pass, Lesotho

25 - 29 July 2025 (ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT)

Fully Catered Safari plus Activities. BOOK NOW FOR 2025 SEASON.

• Sani Pass is the mother of all Southern African mountain passes. Statistically and in every sense, it out distance, out climbs, and out-performs all its competitors with consummate ease to have become the most iconic gravel pass in Southern Africa. It remains a challenging drive with all the drama, scenery, bad weather and treacherous conditions expected of a pass with a summit altitude of 2 876 m above sea-level. It is now used, for the most part, by 4x4 vehicles and has become a highlight for tourists from all over the world visiting the Southern Drakensberg.

  Day 1 (Friday, 25 July 2025)
  The group will meet at 17h30 at the Lounge of the Sani Pass Hotel, Himeville, KZN for evening drinks before enjoying a buffet dinner at the Hotel. This also serves to meet your fellow travellers for the weekend.

  Day 3 (Sunday, 27 July 2025)
  After a late breakfast it’s time to explore the Midlands. The historical Himeville Museum, the Olde Duck farmstall/coffee shop, and visit the numerous arts and craft shops in the area. After a long day exploring the Midlands, we will meet again at the Sani Pass Hotel to enjoy a buffet dinner, time to share your new discoveries.

  Day 4 (Monday, 28 July 2025)
  After a late breakfast you can relax at the hotel. Go hiking, fishing, tennis, golf, Spa treatment or just relax. Let’s meet again at the Sani Pass Hotel to enjoy a farewell buffet dinner, time to share your days discoveries.

Contact Jannie for a detailed itinerary: info@protea4x4.co.za or 083 268 0566

Namaqualand 4x4 Flower Safari, Northern Cape Province

25 Agust - 6 Sept 2025 (ONLY 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE)

Fully Catered Safari plus Activities. BOOK NOW FOR 2025 SEASON.

• Superbly splendiferous is the only way to describe the flowering season in Namaqualand. The amazing floral display has earned itself a place as a global botanical wonder. Visitors on this flower safari tour will experience the greatest flower show on earth with close to 3000 plant species of which more than 50% are indigenous to the region we plan to visit. On this flower power safari, we intend to introduce you to areas that you thought never existed in South Africa.

  Get ready for a lifetime changing experience of discoveries as we travel the back roads of this arid region. The Flower safari is a fully catered tour, pack your bags and head west with us for a mind-boggling discovery of this arid and desolated “outback” part of our country. Keep in mind that this Flower Safari offers a lot more than just flowers, you will be discovering so much more off the beaten path. Therefore, you will need a 4x4 vehicle.

  Namaqualand had excellent rains during July 2020 and that normally predicts an excellent flower season. We experienced one of the best flower sightings we had in many years during our visits in 2021 & 2022. Our 2023 Flower tour were just awesome with the best flower show in years.

  Day 1 ( (Monday 25 August 2025)
  We will meet at Lake Grappa, Kakamas (dinner/bed & breakfast) just before the Augrabies Waterfalls for a three-night stay. It is time to meet your fellow flower companions whilst enjoying dinner on the farm styled stoep of Lake Grappa.

  Day 3 (Wedesday 27 August 2025)
  Enjoy a warm breakfast after a good night’s rest, before we start to explore the area. A visit to this area is not completed if you did not visit the rugged territory of Riemvasmaak and the Rocky Mountains surrounding this area. Dinner will be served at Lake Grappa.

Contact Jannie for a detailed itinerary: info@protea4x4.co.za or 083 268 0566

Trans Caprivi, Botswana & Namibia

25 Oct - 8 Nov 2025 (LIMITED SPACE.)

Camping Experience. BOOK NOW FOR 2025 SEASON.

• Botswana is widely regarded as having some of the best wilderness and wildlife areas on the African continent. It is a rarity in our over-populated, over-developed world. Untamed and untameable, it is one of the last great refuges for Nature’s magnificent pageantry of life.

  You will be taken on a safari to experience the greatest wildlife regions in Africa. To capture some of the most astounding photographs of wildlife and habitat you will ever experience. The Chobe National Park is also famous for its huge herds of Buffalo and Elephant watching them from the water, especially when the Elephants Walk/Swim across the Chobe River.

  This is an excellent photographic safari, one can get so close to the Elephants, Buffalo, and Hippos at times during our private boat cruises on the Chobe River, that you can nearly touch them! The Kavango & Zambezi region is the lure of the area with its wild and untamed quality. Perennial rivers and expansive floodplains, lush tropical vegetation, an abundance of game and birds makes this a complete change of scenery from the rest of the Namibian landscape.

  The Okavango River and its broad floodplains make the Caprivi (Zambezi) region a must visit destination. Namibia is a place to experience, not merely observe. Experience African sunsets and sunrises in one of the most scarcely populated countries on the continent, the sounds of silence touch the stars in the oldest desert of the world.

  Day 4 (28 October)
  To really enjoy the wildlife and the amazing sunsets over the Chobe River you must do a private sundowner cruise on the 20-seater Blue Crane boat, from 15h00 to 18h30. Our skipper knows the river and wildlife of the area as we glide silently right up for that perfect Kodak moment you have been dreaming about. The afternoon light is excellent for photography, but it also can get chilly on the water. A trip to the Chobe is not complete without a sunset cruise on the Chobe River – it is just magic! Braai at our campsite overlooking the Chobe River.

  Day 5 (29 October)
  The morning starts at 08h00. The private boat cruise will astonish you with all the bird and animal life as we float along the banks of the river for 4 hours. This time of the morning, it is still cold on the water, bring something warm and a picnic bag. The 20-seater Blue Crane boat is ours for a full 4 hours to cruise the Chobe River, glide along the riverbanks and observe the animals as they come down to the river to drink and play in the water. Enjoy a patio lunch back at the lodge (own account) Before you’ll see the day has flown past and it’s time for our braai or one of the local eateries. Tomorrow, we start with a completely different experience as we travel into Namibia.

  Day 6 & 7 (30, 31 October’25)
  Today we leave Botswana to explore the Caprivi region (also known as the Kavango & Zambezi region) of Namibia. Entering Namibia at Ngoma Bridge to experience the area along the famous Kwando River. The Red Lechwe and 430 bird species call the Mudumu National Park, one of Namibia’s least visited parks there home. Kwando Bush Camp will be our base for two nights.

Contact Jannie for a detailed itinerary: info@protea4x4.co.za or 083 268 0566

Leatherback Sea Turtle Tour, Kosi Bay - Egg-laying & hatching of Loggerhead Sea turtles.

23-28 February 2026 : BOOK NOW!!

Kosi Bay Lodge - Fully Catered

• Come and experience Mother Nature, displaying just how complex the Creation is. You will find it hard to refrain from crying/cheering when the hatchlings finally get into the foam line and paddles out into the warm Indian Ocean. With around one out of a thousand hatchlings surviving and making its way back to the same hatching beach after 17-33 years to lay their cluster of eggs (around 450 eggs in batches of 100- 120 per session), in doing so, securing the existence of the sea turtle specie!

  Pack your bags, load your 4x4 and head out with us to witness the oldest hatching ritual on the planet taking place right in front of your eyes, and discover the endangered Palmnut Vulture.

  One of the greatest SECRET ESCAPES that awaits you in Zululand, South Africa.
  • The 4-Star Kosi Bay Lodge, and the surroundings areas of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is just something you must experience.
  • Discovering all the natural jewels this coastal forest and lakes system has to offer.
  • If you are looking to truly indulge in the beauty of South Africa, it is worth exploring the unique activities that we offer on this tour, pack your bags, and load your 4x4 for a drive of a lifetime.
  • Snorkel in crystal clear water, the lagoon’s coral reef is situated at Kosi Bay Mouth and the beauty is that you need no experience, just a spirit for adventure. The reef offers plenty fish life.
  • A day on a private boat cruise, the crystal-clear lake system of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, offering a variety of birdlife, snorkelling, and beautiful vistas.
  • Snorkel amongst the 700-year-old Tsonga fish kraals along the edge of the Mangrove Forest.
  • Visit the Thembe Elephant Park, home to the largest Elephants in Africa.
  • The rare Raffia Palm Forest Walk, in search of the endangered Palmnut Vulture, African Pygmy Goose, Trumped Hornbill, and all the other small creatures that is endemic to this area!
  • Witness how the endangered loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles lay their eggs and experience the astonishing thrill as hundreds of hatchlings dash of to the ocean only to return 17 years later to the same beach to lay their eggs!
  • A 6-days, 5-nights fully catered Lodge tour (dinner, bed, and breakfast) all units offer aircon’s.
  

Contact Jannie for a detailed itinerary: info@protea4x4.co.za or 083 268 0566

Frontier 4x4 Mountain Passes, Eastern Cape

21-31 March 2026

Fully Catered Lodge and 5-Star Hotel Accommodation
BOOK NOW.LIMITED SPACE!

• The Eastern Cape boasts a rich cultural heritage and a deep historical significance, being the home of the first Frontier explorers and ancient civilizations. This region offers a perfect retreat to marvel at its natural beauty and the sky above. Nestled in the Drakensberg mountains, it is surrounded by stunning rock formations and captivating fossil beds. Visitors can explore rock art and engravings dating back 10,000 years, telling the stories of the San/Bushmen, the land's first inhabitants. Guided walks and tours provide a full experience of the region's historical wonders.

  This area has become a prime destination for off-the-beaten-track adventures, featuring some of South Africa's highest and most challenging gravel passes. The goal is to conquer these spectacular high-altitude passes, guided over 12 of the most beautiful ones while enjoying the breathtaking Eastern Cape highlands scenery. This gravel pass tour is essential for outdoor enthusiasts, fly-fishers, trout anglers, bird watchers, photographers, and nature lovers, offering an unforgettable experience and lasting memories to share with friends and family.

  Traveling in this region brings immense joy and creates cherished memories. The tour along the stunning gravel roads and awe-inspiring landscapes of the Eastern Cape is not meant to be a challenge but a fun-filled celebration of outdoor exploration in South Africa's beautiful countryside. This journey promises to leave you with unforgettable moments and a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the area.

Contact Jannie for a detailed itinerary: info@protea4x4.co.za or 083 268 0566