#10 South Africa

• Arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
• Private transfer in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle to the hotel, approximately 15 minutes
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: Peermont D’oreale Grande Hotel at Emperors Palace

Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. There is plenty to do in Johannesburg and nearby Pretoria. The old city is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. The nearby township of Soweto is Johannesburg’s most popular tourist attraction.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Meet and greet and transfer to the airport
• Scheduled flight: Johannesburg – Nelspruit, flying time approximately 45 minutes (not included, quoted separately)
• Arrive at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Nelspruit
• Meet and transfer to the lodge, approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
• Afternoon tea & coffee
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner at the lodge
• Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge

The Sabi Sands is South Africa’s premier private game viewing destination. This famous reserve covers 65,000 hectares and shares a common 50km unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park to the east. Two perennial rivers, the Sabi and the Sand flow through this Game Park, sustaining the diverse fauna and flora of the area, which enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa.

The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve offers exceptional game viewing of all the general game species, as well as the Big 5 (Leopard, Lion, Rhino, Elephant & Buffalo). The success of viewing leopard within this area is legendary. Elephants, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a vast variety of antelope and other species can be closely observed within their own ranges. This greater area is home to 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 114 reptile, 507 bird and 147 mammal species.

Rangers awaken the lodge at 5.00am to greet the new dawn. Enjoy coffee and rusks on the veranda before departing on a game drive, in search of the ‘Big Five’. This is just one of the many sightings you may be able to enjoy on a game drive in the African bush.

After the morning game drive, return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, join a guided bush walk with the expert rangers where they will teach basic bushcraft and point out many of the fascinating aspects of the habits of wildlife.

Upon the return to the lodge a mouth-watering lunch will be served. This will be followed by some time at leisure to enjoy a refreshing swim or relax on the patio before joining the fellow travellers for afternoon tea and coffee after which they will depart on an exciting evening game drive in open safari vehicles with professional rangers and trackers. The vehicles will stop individually in the bush to watch the sunset and to enjoy a sundowner. The game drive continues in the open vehicles with powerful spotlights, to seek out the nocturnal species.

• Return to the camp for dinner.
• Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge

• Early morning tea & coffee
• Morning game drive
• Breakfast at the lodge
• Private transfer to Tinga Legends Lodge, approximately 40 minutes
• Lunch at the lodge
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner at the lodge
• Overnight: Tinga Lodge

At more than 2 million hectares, the Kruger National Park, is one of the world’s largest game reserves and a truly remarkable destination. Because of its exceptional size you can experience amazing diversity – from the scenery and ecosystems to the correspondingly amazing array of animals, trees and birds. A trip to the Kruger National Park is an unforgettable and potentially life changing experience.

• Early morning tea & coffee
• Morning game drive
• Breakfast at the lodge
• Transfer to the airport
• Scheduled flight: Nelspruit – Cape Town, flying time approximately 2 hours 35 minutes (not included, quoted separately)
• Arrive at Cape Town International Airport
• Meet and greet and transfer to the hotel, approximately 20 minutes
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Enjoy this unique city with it’s fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle. Whether you are a serious tourist or just want to lie on the beach and enjoy life, Cape Town will satisfy your needs.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private Full Day Tour including lunch:

– Table Mountain: Rising up over 1000 m. above sea level, it is the icon that makes Cape Town instantly recognizable. It is a symbol, a playground, a spiritual retreat and a big draw card for tourists. A visit to the city isn’t complete without having walked or taken the cable car to the top.

– Cape Town City Tour: After descending the mountain, you will depart on a tour of the “Mother City” taking in Signal Hill – where the Noon Day Gun is fired at midday, every day except Sunday – through the colourful Bo-Kaap or Cape Malay Quarter, past the Grand Parade, City Hall and the Castle of Good Hope and South African Cultural History Museum.

– Robben Island: It is world renowned as the prison in which Nelson Mandela spent much of his 27 years of incarceration. The island had a 400 year-long and unhappy history as a dumping ground for any unwanted persons – from those who went against the political, social or religious grain of the day, to criminals, lepers and lunatics. The Island, surrounded by the cold, restless and shark-infested waters of Table Bay, is situated ten kilometres off- shore and is 575 hectares in size. It is home to a rich and varied marine life, particularly seabirds, some of which are rare migrants.

• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private Full Day Winelands Tour including lunch:

The Winelands is an area surrounded by vineyards, fruit orchards and mountains renowned for a gracious blend of 18th Century Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. The tour includes a visit to Stellenbosch (university town), Franschhoek (town famous for the French cultural and agricultural influence) and lunch at a wine estate.

• Return late afternoon to the hotel
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour including lunch:

This is a full-day tour with time spent in the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Travel along magnificent Marine Drive beyond Lion’s Head, past the Twelve Apostles, which stretches to Hout Bay, a quaint fishing village on the Atlantic seaboard. Continue over the magnificent Chapmans Peak drive offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and on to Cape Point. Continue the drive to the attractive False Bay resort of Simon’s Town, where lunch can be enjoyed (not included). After lunch enjoy a stroll down to the beach to photograph the Jackass Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach. Continue the journey through Fish Hoek, along Boyes Drive, which offers glorious views of Muizenberg beach, for a last stop at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.

• Return late afternoon at to hotel
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private transfer to Cape Town Station
• Depart on The Blue Train for Pretoria at 08.30am
• Lunch onboard The Blue Train
• High Tea onboard The Blue Train
• Pre dinner drinks
• Dinner onboard The Blue Train (remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear)
• Overnight: The Blue Train

The Blue Train has an aura of mystique about it. Kings and Presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. Its very name has become synonymous with the ultimate in luxury travel and personal service. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows, guests can savour exquisite meals freshly prepared on board by Executive Chefs and complemented by the best wines of South Africa, if not the world, has to offer. The suites on The Blue Train live up to its reputation for magnificence and splendour; featuring the finest bed linen, marble tiles and gold fittings in the bathrooms – sheer opulence that will ensure that guests will have a memorable experience.

The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest and least densely populated province, characterised by wide open spaces and mostly dry terrain, through the Orange River meandering along the northern border creates a compelling contrast to the arid landscape. It is home to several prominent national attractions, including the majestic Augrabies Falls, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and, in spring, the Namaqualand wildflowers.

• Breakfast onboard The Blue Train
• Arrive at Pretoria Station at 12.50pm
• Meet and greet and transfer to the hotel, approximately 45 minutes
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: DAVINCI Hotel & Suites, Nelson Mandela Square

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private transfer in a luxury air – conditioned vehicle the airport, approximately 30 minutes
• Scheduled flight: Johannesburg – Livingstone, flying time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (not included, quoted separately)
• Arrive at Livingstone Airport 
• Meet and transfer to the hotel, approximately 20 minutes
• Afternoon Sunset Cruise
• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: The Royal Livingstone

One of the original natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is breathtaking and not surprisingly a World Heritage Site. Known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ this spectacle is accessible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Unlike other waterfalls, Victoria Falls has a natural catwalk across from the falls which provides for spectacular viewing.

Zambezi River Safari: Aluminium hulled, jet propelled boats have been carefully designed so they can cross the ‘rough terrain’ of the river giving them access to places where other normal boats cannot go. This is a unique wildlife safari through the channels and rapids between the islands littering the wide part of the river just before the Falls. Elephant, hippo and wonderful birds are the main wildlife attractions and the views and sunsets are highlights.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Guided Walking Tour of Victoria Falls

The Guide will meet guests at the Day Activity Center where they will be guided to the Park Entrance of the Falls, and the tour begins. The Falls are described as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and Zambia boasts some spectacular views. Guests will find out how the Falls were formed and what local customs and traditions surround them. This tour is very informative and ends time permitting with a visit to the art and crafts centre.  

• Visit Maramba Market & Tujatane School

Maramba market is the largest market in Livingstone – colourful, vibrant and bustling with activity. Here the local people sell everything; “chitengies” (brightly coloured fabric), fruit and vegetables, grains and rice, curios, pots and pans made out of old motorcars, farm tools, chickens, beads and clothes. This is where the people of Livingstone come to shop! A guide will accompany you and with the help of some bargaining skills some very interesting and authentic artefacts can be bought. This tour is a most unusual and rewarding experience for the clever shopper. 

Tujatane, Tongabezi Trust School is a primary school, which was set up to help educate some of the local children in the area who come from underprivileged backgrounds and would otherwise not have the chance of a good education. It began in 1996 with 15 Tongabezi staff children and now has over 220 students who all walk to school – some from as far as 1 ½ hours walk away. Vanessa Parker runs the school and donates her time on a purely voluntary basis. The aims of the school are to give as many underprivileged children within walking distance a privileged education by offering small class sizes, quality teachers plus an assistant in each class. 

• Lunch and afternoon at leisure:

Optional Activities:
Helicopter Flight
Canoeing
Elephant Back Safari
Livingstone Island

• Dinner at leisure
• Overnight: The Royal Livingstone

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Scheduled transfer to Kasane airport, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by road and private boat crossing into Botswana
• Scheduled light aircraft flight: Kasane – Xaranna Okavano Delta Camp
• Arrive at the airstrip – Meet and greet by a ranger and transfer to the lodge
• Lunch at the lodge
• Afternoon tea & coffee
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner at the lodge
• Overnight: Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp

Lying in the middle of the largest expanse of sand on earth, the Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most amazing, sensitive, and complex environments supporting a spectacle of wilderness and wildlife. Unique as one of the world’s few inland deltas, the placid waters and lush indigenous forests of the Delta offer a safe haven for innumerable bird and wildlife species. The elusive Sitatunga antelope has found refuge in this pristine wetland ecosystem, while birds such as the African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl and many others are magnificent in their spectacular display. Okavango offers a number of activities for the visitor where fishing and bird-watching are obvious attractions, but game viewing, especially for rare species, is also possible. One can also take to the waters of this magical world of islands and lagoons by canoe, mokoro or powerboat.

• Early morning tea & coffee
• Morning game drive
• Breakfast at the lodge
• Mid morning at leisure
• Lunch at the lodge
• Afternoon tea & coffee
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner at the lodge
• Overnight: Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp

• Early morning tea & coffee
• Morning game drive
• Breakfast at the lodge
• Transfer to the airport
• Scheduled light aircraft flight: Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp – Maun
• Scheduled flight: Maun – Johannesburg (not included, quoted separately)
• Arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
• Depart on the onward flight