SPLENDORS OF SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS

11 days from Cape Town to Johannesburg

Day 1 Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa

Welcome to South Africa! Arrive late this evening, check in to your hotel, and rest as you prepare for a great adventure.

Day 2 Cape Town. Cape Peninsula Excursion

Today, enjoy a full day of sightseeing. Start with a visit to Table Mountain that includes a CABLE-CAR RIDE to the top (weather permitting). Here you will enjoy stunning views of the city and surrounding area. Then, start your scenic drive south through the fishing village of Hout Bay before ascending Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular drives in the world and which skirts the rocky coastline. Continue on to CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, the southwesternmost point of the African continent, for incredible panoramic views. Continue on to Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach, where you will visit a COLONY OF ENDANGERED AFRICAN PENGUINS, known for the unique sound they make. Return to Cape Town and enjoy the evening at your leisure. This evening, join your traveling companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 Cape Town

This morning, visit infamous ROBBEN ISLAND, which has a history of housing prisoners of one type or another for over 400 years. During apartheid it was used to isolate and demoralize dissenters. On your guided tour, visit the prison and see the cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. The rest of the day and evening are at your leisure. Perhaps take an excursion to the winelands for wine tasting or simply explore the waterfront. Your Tour Director will have suggestions. (Breakfast)

Day 4 Cape Town–Kapama Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park

Today, leave beautiful Cape Town behind and fly to KAPAMA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, part of Greater Kruger National Park, to begin your safari adventure! Kruger is famous for its abundance of wildlife and you will have a great chance of seeing the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Enjoy your first GAME DRIVE this afternoon in an open-air 4-wheel-drive Land Rover. Your skilled tracker and professional ranger work together as a team so you can learn more about the ecosystem as you view wildlife up close. Return to your lodge for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Days 5-6 Kapama Private Game Reserve

Rise between 5 am and 5:30 am for coffee and tea before your EARLY MORNING GAME DRIVE. If the timing is right, you might spot some of the big cats after a night of hunting. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more. Great bird watching is also possible—some 350 species having been recorded in the area. Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax and enjoy the lodge and its surroundings. Perhaps take a swim in the pool, visit the wellness center for one of the many spa treatments on offer, or simply sit back and watch the animals pass by. You may even choose to join your ranger for an OPTIONAL BUSH WALK to learn more about the native flora and how to identify animals by their footprints, while observing them from a safe distance. Optional excursions include the nearby Hoedspruit Center for Endangered Species, where you can see a number of rehabilitated animals or get up close to a herd of elephants so you can touch and feed them. On one of the days you may even choose to skip a game drive for a memorable hour-long elephant-back safari through the bush! In the mid-afternoon, tea will be served prior to your AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. As the sun sets, step out of your safari vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun set over the Drakensberg Mountains. As darkness descend, your tracker will bring out a spotlight to help you spot nocturnal animals and, if you are lucky, maybe even a leopard! Return to your lodge in time to freshen up before dinner. (B,L,D daily)

Day 7 Kapama Private Game Reserve–Johannesburg

Enjoy one last GAME DRIVE this morning before transferring to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 8 Johannesburg

Today’s sightseeing starts with an enriching visit to SOWETO (South Western Township), the largest township in the country. Soweto is a part of South Africa’s turbulent past, but this multicultural area is also a reflection of today and hope for tomorrow. Along the way, see the homes of two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. You will also see the Hector Pieterson Memorial, dedicated to the 12-year-old boy killed by police during a demonstration in 1976. This led to the Soweto Uprising, an important event in the long struggle to end apartheid some 14 years later. Next, visit the unforgettable APARTHEID MUSEUM. Here you will learn about the founding of South Africa before delving into the apartheid years. Using photos, video, and print, the museum takes you on an extraordinary journey through the apartheid years to the 1994 democratic elections that named Nelson Mandela president. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 9 Johannesburg–Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Today, leave South Africa and head north to Zimbabwe. This evening, enjoy a CRUISE on the Zambezi River, which affords you a great opportunity to photograph wildlife and a spectacular African sunset. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 10 Victoria Falls

Today, visit mighty VICTORIA FALLS for an awe-inspiring experience. You will enjoy a GUIDED WALK, where you will learn the history of the falls and hear fascinating details about the surrounding flora and fauna. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner) 

Note:

During the dry season (September-December) and during particularly dry years, water flow to Victoria Falls may be low.

Day 11 Victoria Falls–Johannesburg–Homebound Flight

Your vacation ends with a flight back to Johannesburg to connect with your homebound flight. Do not book homebound flights prior to 5:30 pm. (Breakfast)

Included Features

Cape Town 

Guided sightseeing, including a cable-car ride up Table Mountain; visit Cape Point Nature Reserve and a colony of African penguins; cruise to Robben Island with tour

Kapama Private Game Reserve 

Six game drives in an open-air 4-wheel-drive Land Rover; optional bush walk

Johannesburg 

Visit Soweto and the Apartheid Museum

Victoria Falls

Cruise on Zambezi River; guided walk of the falls

Notes:

• All game viewing is done at your own risk. We will require a signed liability waiver prior to travel.
• Check with your travel agent or physician regarding the latest health requirements for travel to South Africa and Zimbabwe. This may require inoculations prior to travel and/or taking anti-malaria pills.
• We do not recommend this vacation to people with serious back problems, as it can be quite rough while driving on/off game park trails.

Accommodations

Meals

American breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 6 dinners including a welcome dinner in Cape Town and a farewell dinner in Victoria Falls

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class

CAPE TOWN Southern Sun the Cullinan (SF), KAPAMA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Kapama River Lodge (SF),JOHANNESBURG Sandton Sun (MD), VICTORIA FALLS Ilala Lodge (SF)

Dates & Prices

Dates and Prices do not include air travel.