13 days south africa

DAY 1, Arrive in Cape Town

Arrive in Cape Town and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure

Overnight: Cape Town

DAY 2, Cape Peninsula Tour

Today, depart on a full day Cape Peninsula Tour with lunch along the way. Drive to Cape Point at the southwestern tip of the Cape Peninsula, passing steep mountains, secluded coves, and sweeping beaches en route. After a stop at the fishing village of Hout Bay, one of Cape Town's best-kept secrets, continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, comprising over 17,300 acres of indigenous flora and fauna, where you may see baboons by the road-side, rheboks, Cape Mountain zebras, bonteboks and the elusive eland. The native plant life, known as fynbos, forms one of only six floral kingdoms in the world. Following the coastline along False Bay, return to Cape Town after lunch by way of Simon's Town. Here, visit the penguin colonies at Boulders Beach, and continue with a scenic drive over Muizenberg Mountain. Lastly, visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, resting at the foot of Table Mountain, for a short walking tour of the beautiful gardens before finally returning to Cape Town. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel

Overnight: Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3, Cape Town City Tour*

After a leisurely breakfast depart on a half day Cape Town city and Table Mountain tour. Driving to the city center, pass famous landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope built in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company and City Hall, a splendid baroque building, and of course the Grand Parade. See St. George's Cathedral, the Anglican Diocese of Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Pass the Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter. The route then leads to Kloof Nek and the magnificent Table Mountain. Ascend to the top (weather permitting) by means of a cable car. At the summit, see wild flowers and the famous silver tree, and marvel at a birds-eye view of the city and its beaches. On a clear day it is even possible to see Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, on one side, and Cape Point on the other. Descend from the Upper Cableway Station and proceed to the Milnerton Lighthouse before returning to your hotel

Optional: Half Day Cape Town Cultural Diversity Tour (PM)

Overnight: Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Full Day in Cape Town

Enjoy the day at leisure in Cape Town

Optional: Full Day Private Winelands Tour

Optional: Home Hosted Dinner in Cape Town

Overnight: Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Flight to Durban, Game Viewing Cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Durban. Transfer from King Shaka Airport to St Lucia and enjoy a cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary. This tidal estuary is home to Nile crocodiles, hippopotami, sea turtles, and even sharks, making it a fascinating and uniquely diverse ecosystem. Later, transfer to your hotel

Overnight: Hluhluwe

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Game Drive in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Travel to Swaziland

After breakfast travel to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, situated in northern KwaZulu Natal, which contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhinos. Home to Africa's "Big Five," you may have a chance to see elephant, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, in addition to rhino during your morning game drive through the reserve. The park also boasts warthog, crocodile, and antelope. Following the safari, continue to the border post of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Swaziland, an independent Kingdom within the borders of South Africa, known for its lovely scenery, fine handicrafts and vibrant indigenous culture. Visitors may opt for an excursion to a Swazi candle factory, where Swazi wax artists make beautiful candles. Continue to your hotel

Overnight: Swaziland

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7, Swaziland Sightseeing

After breakfast visit the Ngwenya glass factory, where visitors can watch talented glass blowers create a range of enchanting African animals, birds and fish, as well as tableware, made from recycled glass that is collected by the children of Swaziland. Transfer to the South African border and continue to the hotel

Overnight: Hazyview

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8, Morning Game Drive in Kruger National Park Game Reserve

The day begins at dawn with coffee, tea, and rusks, a South African dry biscuit. Then, depart for Kruger National Park to join a thrilling open-vehicle game drive. Larger than the state of Connecticut, the park offers some of the best game and wildlife viewing opportunities in the world, and early morning is an optimal time of day. You may have a chance to see lion, elephant, giraffe, or zebra in their natural habitat. After stopping at a rest camp for pre-packed breakfast, the game safari continues. With any luck, you may even see cheetah and leopard. Return to the hotel to relax. After the day's excitement, enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening

Optional: Afternoon Game Drive in Kruger Park

Overnight: Hazyview

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9, Panorama Route to Johannesburg

Depart after breakfast and travel to Mpumalanga Province, known as "Paradise Country," driving the spectacular "Panorama Route." Stop to admire the views of amazing scenery along the 16-mile-long Blyde River Canyon, cut deep into red sandstone, and God's Window (weather and fog permitting), a breathtaking, Edenic vista at the edge of the escarpment overlooking Kruger National Park. Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, a series of waterfalls and distinctive rock formations created by countless millennia of water erosion before proceeding to Johannesburg

Overnight: Johannesburg

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10, Sunday - Soweto Tour

After an early breakfast depart on a half day Soweto Tour. Experience a fascinating glimpse of the bustling neighborhood life of Soweto, the most metropolitan township in the country, setting trends in politics, fashion, music, dance and language. Drive by the former residence of Bishop Desmond Tutu and visit Nelson Mandela's former home, before proceeding to the Hector Peterson memorial, dedicated to one of the first casualties of the Soweto uprising of 1976. Return to the hotel for lunch on your own before departing for the Apartheid Museum. On your guided tour of the museum you will journey through the racial segregation experienced by millions of South Africans just over a decade ago. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant

Overnight: Johannesburg

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11, Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls, a World Heritage site with breathtaking views and thunderous sounds. The Falls are a little over a mile wide and 351 feet high, making them one-and-a half times as wide and twice as high as the Niagara Falls. This is a destination where you can still encounter herds of buffalo and elephant on their way to the Zambezi for their own sundowners. Balance of the day at leisure

Optional: Elephant Back Safari

Overnight: Victoria Falls

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12, Guided Tour of Victoria Falls & Sundowner Cruise

Today, enjoy a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This walking safari takes you through the magnificent rain forest to view the Cataracts, Livingston's statue and a wide variety of birds and plants. Later, enjoy a sublime sundowner cruise on the broad sweep of the mighty Zambezi River

Overnight: Victoria Falls

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 13, Depart back home.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight

Meals: Breakfast

Package Includes

12 nights Deluxe & First Class accommodations

• • • 4 nights Protea Hotel Victoria Junction, Cape Town

    • 1 night Protea Hotel Umfolozi River, Hluhluwe

    • 1 night Mantenga Lodge or Lugogo Sun, Swaziland

    • 2 nights Protea Hotel Hazyview, Hazyview

    • 2 nights Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Melrose Arch, Johannesburg

    • 2 nights Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls

• • All transfers

  • 17 meals: 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

  • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Services of English-speaking tour manager (Days 2-11)

  • Services of English-speaking local guide (Days 12-14)

  • Entrance fees per itinerary