* Part 1 – Victoria Falls Ecxursion *
Day 1 – Victoria Falls - Zambia
Depart from the Johannesburg International Airport on a 2-hour flight to Livingstone, on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. At the Livingstone Airport are met and transferred to your hotel. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the Victoria Falls, to which you have unlimited access.
Accommodation: Zambezi Sun Hotel
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 2 – Victoria Falls - Zambia
A full day to spend at the Victoria Falls, where you can witness the greatest mass of falling water on earth as it plunges down a sheer rock face, spraying its mystical mist hundreds of meters in the air. A final highlight today is a romantic sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.
Accommodation: Zambezi Sun Hotel
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 3 – Gauteng Province - Johannesburg
The morning is at leisure, after which you are transferred to the Livingstone Airport for your flight back to Johannesburg. On arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport you take the complimentary airport shuttle to your nearby hotel, where the night is spent.
Accommodation: The Peermont Mondior Hotel at Emperor’s Palace
Bed & breakfast basis
* Part 2 - Fully Escorted Tour *
Day 4 – Mpumalanga Province - Kruger National Park Border
An early departure from Johannesburg as we travel east towards the Mpumalanga Province and visit the many attractions along the “Panorama Route”, including God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon at the Three Rondavels. In the afternoon we descend the eastern escarpment and travel through the warm “lowveld” to a beautiful country lodge, located just a short distance from the nearest entrance gate to the Kruger National Park.
Accommodation: Country Lodge
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 5 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Kruger National Park
We depart before dawn and travel the short distance to the entrance gate to the Kruger National Park. Once inside the Park, excitement will mount as we start seeing some of the numerous animals that inhabit this magnificent wildlife sanctuary. Breakfast packs will be provided, which we will enjoy at a picnic spot inside the Kruger Park. We spend virtually the entire day travelling inside the Kruger Park, arriving at our “restcamp” in the late afternoon. Accommodation tonight is in comfortable en-suite bungalows or cottages, and dinner is enjoyed in the camp restaurant.
Accommodation: Satara, Olifants, Letaba or Skukuza Restcamp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
What is a restcamp? The word "restcamp" is a bit deceiving as it has nothing to do with "camping". The accommodation used in the Kruger National Park are brick or stone cottages or bungalows, usually with a thatched roof. These bungalows or cottages all have private en-suite facilities (WC, shower and wash basin) and air-conditioning.
Day 6 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province – Private Game Reserve
After breakfast we depart from our restcamp, and spend most of the morning inside the Kruger Park, game-viewing as we go. Around mid-day we exit the Park, and travel to an exclusive lodge in a nearby private game reserve, where later this afternoon your first exhilarating game drive in specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles is undertaken. At dusk sundowners are enjoyed deep in the bush, after which the drive continues, making use of spotlights to search for nocturnal animals. A final highlight today is a specially prepared dinner at the lodge.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
We make use of a number of smaller and more intimate game lodges in one of the private game reserves that lie directly west of the Kruger National Park. The specific game lodge used will depend on availability, but should be one of the following: Serondella Game Lodge, Monwana Game Lodge, Waterbuck Game Lodge, Jackalberry Game Lodge, Chapungu Luxury Tented Lodge, Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp or Gomo Gomo Game Lodge
Day 7 – Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province - Private Game Reserve
An early wake up call signals the start of yet another exciting day in Big Five territory. You depart on an early morning safari in open 4x4 vehicles after which you return to the lodge for a late breakfast.
After breakfast you can embark on a guided bush walk with an armed ranger, who will identify spoor and droppings and share with you some of the fascinating secrets of the bush. If you are lucky you may come across big game on foot - a truly exhilarating experience. This evening another safari in open 4x4 vehicles is undertaken, followed by a scrumptious South African dinner.
Accommodation: Private Game Lodge
Fully inclusive of all meals & game-viewing activities
Day 8 - Swaziland
After a final open vehicle game drive and a late breakfast we travel around the southern part of the Kruger National Park to enter one of the worlds last remaining (and also one of the worlds smallest) constitutional monarchies, the Kingdom of Swaziland - ruled over by the young King, his Royal Highness King Mswati III. Here, in this country of friendly Swazi people, it is almost as if time has stood still. Despite modern cities and an extensive infrastructure of roads electricity and communications, the Swazi culture has over centuries been jealously protected. The night is spent at a charming country hotel, ideally situated for exploring all the attractions Swaziland.
Accommodation: Forester’s Arms Country Hotel
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 9 - Kwazulu Natal Province – Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve
Our first stop today is a visit to a traditional arts and crafts market, and the route then continues to the fascinating Swazi Candles factory in the Malkerns Valley. Here each candle is hand-moulded and hand-finished by Swazi craftspeople, so each candle is unique in shape and character. We then travel south via the Lebombo Mountain range and the Golela border post into KwaZulu Natal, from where the route continues to the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve. Set in the heart of Zululand, this is the oldest game reserve in Africa, where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws. Today the "big five" of African legend stalk the verdant savannah, and as the home of “Operation Rhino” in the 1950s and 60s, the park became world renowned for it’s White Rhino conservation. Accommodation tonight is at the beautifully located Hilltop Camp, and dinner is enjoyed in the camp restaurant.
Accommodation: Hilltop Camp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 10 - Kwazulu Natal Province - St. Lucia
We spend virtually the entire day exploring the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve. In the late afternoon we exit the reserve at the southern gate and travel the short distance to the town of St Lucia, located inside the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park.
Accommodation: St. Lucia Wetlands Guest House
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 11 - Kwazulu Natal Province - St. Lucia
Our first destination today is Cape Vidal, a magnificent coastal resort set in a sheltered bay overlooking the warm Indian Ocean. The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park is one of the jewels of the South African coastline, the first park in South Africa to be declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). St Lucia's wide variety of ecosystems and natural habitats provides for an astounding diversity of species in the area. With its lakes, lagoons, freshwater swamps and grasslands, St Lucia supports a wide variety of species - from the country’s largest population of hippos and crocodiles to giant leatherback turtles, black rhino, leopards, and a vast array of bird and marine life. Later this afternoon we travel back to St. Lucia to go on board the St. Lucia ferry for a fascinating guided cruise on St Lucia estuary. On this cruise you will hear about the origins of this unique wetland and be able to observe its hippo and crocodile inhabitants at close quarters. The large number and variety of birds, which are an important feature of St. Lucia, will add to the interest and excitement of this cruise.
Accommodation: St. Lucia Wetlands Guest House
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 12 - Kwazulu Natal Province - Shakaland
After a leisurely breakfast and some time to explore the coastal town of St Lucia, another highlight awaits us today as we visit an authentically re-created Zulu village at Shakaland. Feel the pulsating rhythm of mysterious and magical Africa as you re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulus. Shakaland is more than just a tourist attraction - it is an enriching experience affording a better understanding of the Zulu nation, its people and their intriguing customs. Shortly after our arrival you join the “Shaka Experience”, a guided tour of the village culminating in a pulsating traditional dance show and dinner. Accommodation tonight is in typical beehive huts, where one can experience real Zulu culture without having to sacrifice comfortable modern conveniences.
Accommodation: Shakaland
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 13 – Kwazulu Natal Province – Drakensberg Mountains
The route continues down the Indian Ocean coastline to Durban, and from there inland to the magnificent Drakensberg Mountain Range. Our destination is a beautiful mountain resort in the Cathedral Peak area of the northern Drakensberg. Winding up the narrow road approaching the resort, the Drakensberg mountain splendour beckons, with sweeping panoramas of jagged mountain peaks rising from massive sandstone cliffs, and dramatic cloudscapes against an impossibly blue sky. The luxurious Didima Camp has been themed around the art of the San (Bushman) people.
Accommodation: Didima Mountain Camp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 14 – Kwazulu Natal Province – Drakensberg Mountains
A full day to relax and to enjoy this fascinating landscape of mountains, cliffs and ravines. Didima boasts a recently opened San Rock-Art Interpretive Centre providing fascinating insights into the art and culture of the San, and includes static displays and audio-visual presentations within a reconstructed rock shelter.
Optional activities on offer at Didima:
- Walking and hiking trails into the surrounding mountains
- Guided trails up Mike’s Pass
- Guided walking trails to Rainbow Gorge, Baboon Rock and a variety of other scenic destinations
- Mountain streams & rock pools within walking distance of the Camp
Accommodation: Didima Mountain Camp
Dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Day 15 - Western Cape Province – Cape Town
After and early breakfast we depart from Didima and travel back to Johannesburg, where you are dropped off in time for a domestic flight to Cape Town.
* Part 3 - Self Drive tour of Cape Town *
Please note that all self-drive tours may be customized to suit your specific requirements
At the Cape Town International Airport you collect your rental vehicle and travel to your hotel, ideally located at the entrance to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Please note: The City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an excellent 3-star hotel, well located at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront. However, there are numerous other hotels in Cape Town, any of which could be used as an alternative to the City Lodge. Should you wish to be accommodated at any other hotel of your choice please let us know and we will send you an amended quote.
Days 16 & 17 – Western Cape Province – Cape Town
You have two full days in which to explore the beautiful city of Cape Town and it’s surrounding areas on your own.
Suggested highlights:
- Cable Car ride to the top of Table Mountain
- Signal Hill with spectacular views of Cape Town
- Cape Town City with the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall & the Castle of Good Hope
- Blouberg Beach
- The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
- Clifton & Camps Bay beach views
- Picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive
- Cape Point & nature reserve
- The Cape of Good Hope
- Fish Hoek & Simon’s Town
- The penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach
- The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- A Boat trip to Seal Island from Houtbay
- The Cape Winelands including the towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch
- Robben Island
- Whale watching in Hermanus (July to November)
Accommodation: City Lodge Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Bed & breakfast basis
Day 18 – End of tour
The morning is at leisure until you travel back to the Cape Town International Airport, where your rental vehicle is handed back for the end of the tour.
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