15 classic 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 in 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, 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, Sunset Game Viewing Cruise in Chobe, Botswana
After breakfast you will be transferred from Victoria Falls Safari Lodge over the border into Botswana. Upon arrival at the hotel, lunch will be served. Chobe's wildlife roams in abundance and diversity. It is home to the largest concentration of elephant in Africa and during the dry season these herds, as well as large herds of buffalo, congregate along the fertile flood plains of the Chobe River. Spend time at leisure before departing on a sunset cruise where you will be introduced to a totally different game viewing experience. What better way to view wildlife, including numerous bird species, than drifting slowly down a side channel, the silence broken only by bird calls. From the boat, it is possible to see herds of mighty elephant, giraffe, hippo and other wild animals returning to the Chobe River to quench their thirst
Overnight: Chobe
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14, Morning Game Drive in Chobe National Park
After breakfast depart on a morning game drive in the Chobe National Park. Magnificent sightings of lion, wild dog, giraffe, sable and roan antelope are also frequent in the area. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Depart on a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Dinner to be enjoyed at the lodge
Overnight: Chobe
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 15, Depart back home
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
Package Includes-
14 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
2 nights Chobe Marina Lodge, Botswana
All transfers
23 meals: 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 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 12-16)
Entrance fees per itinerary