Tswalu Private Safari, Cape Town and Whale Coast

Day notes

Arrival in to Johannesburg OR Tambo International ( flight details to be advised) you are met airside from exit off skywalk in to the terminal. Assistance fast track through customs and immigration.

Continue to the exclusive Tswalu Fireblade Lounge to await your onward scheduled flight at 1300 arriving at Tswalu's airstrip 1430 ( private charters are also possible and on request)

You will have full access to this private lounge when travelling to Tswalu, including an a la carte restaurant; luxurious relaxation lounge; private terrace; a gym and spa with shower facilities; meeting venues; a boutique; exclusive VIP relaxation venues; complimentary Wi-Fi; and transfers to and from the main terminal.

Arrival at Tswalu Airstrip at 1430. Met by private 4x4 open sided vehicle with your assigned ranger for the duration you are at Tswalu.

Continue with transfer to the private Tarkuni Villa for lunch and checkin.

During your 3 nights / 4 days at Tswalu the emphasis is on conservation tourism, Tswalu Kalahari is able to offer superlative game and sightings of some of South Africa’s rarest and most extraordinary wildlife, including the desert black rhino, black-maned Kalahari lions, meerkats, cheetah, rare antelope, and the elusive aardvark, aardwolf, pangolin and porcupine.
Design your own itinerary with game drives, bush walks, horseback safaris and animal encounters. Spend a night on our Malori sleep-out deck (optional experience) with nothing between you and the brilliant stars of the Kalahari night sky.

Treat yourself to an indulgent spa treatment in our award-wining safari spa.Dine in the bush, the boma, or in the privacy of your suite.

Enjoy sundowners in the dunes or order a gourmet picnic breakfast for your early morning game drive.

Catering for just 30 guests in two luxury lodges, the emphasis is on privacy, flexibility and exclusivity, and we tailor your experience to suit you.

Children love Tswalu, because the staff at Tswalu love children. Here they can be part of our conservation vision, learning about the land and the wildlife in a malaria-free environment.

They’ll love the Junior Ranger Programme and the ranger packs, thoughtfully put together to surprise and delight them.

The Junior Ranger programme encourages children to identify animals and their spoor, collect samples, create art, and so much more. On completion of the programme all children receive a Tswalu Junior Ranger badge. The ideal age to participate is between 3 and 10 years.

Day notes

On arrival met at hanger assigned by your private guide and Mercedes Viano for transfer to Ellerman Villa #1.

Get aquainted with your villa and facilities. Meet your private butler and staff, along with the private chef.

You have the option to have meals at the villa and discuss with the chef your preferences, and will buy in what you would like.

Alternatively apart from the arrival lunch suggestion, the rest of the time you are likely to be out exploring.

Dinners you can also decide if you plan to have these at the villa or take some of the suggestions we will propose for restaurant suggestions.

Suggested touring with your private guide in the Mercedes Viano.

Highlights:
-A tour of the Malay Quarter
-Cape Town city centre
-Company Gardens
-Greenmarket Square
-Visit to Table Mountain also suggested ( weather depending).The state-of-the-art cable car rotates 360° on its way to the top, offering a panoramic view. At the summit are short walks to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Full day touring of Cape Peninsular.
Your private guide will discuss with you where appropriate as per your preferences.

Depart with Mercedes Viano for touring or if preferred we can suggest an optional scenic helicopter trip along the coast to Cape Point landing at La Colombe for Lunch or Catarina's Restaurant at Steenberg.

Children focused activities will include amongst others a visit to Jackass penguin colony at Boulders Beach located just outside Simons Town, as well as a boat trip to visit the colony of Cape Fur Seas at Duiker island, close to Hout Bay.

Full day touring with the Mercedes Viano to Cape of Good Hope in Viano or can be a combination of helicopter and touring with the Viano. ( Helicopter could be optional to enhance the day and offer a differing WoW experience)

Highlights:
- Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
- Boulders Beach
– Penguin Colony
- Hout Bay
– Boat trip to Seal Colony
- Simonstown historical naval base
- Fynbos vegetation
- The chance of seeing baboons, bontebok, ostriches, bird life
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
-Includes a private guide, entrance fees to Cape Point, Boulders Beach.

Full day touring of the Cape Winelands region
We will arrange to visit most exquisite wine farms and organize meetings with the winemakers at Muratie, Waterford Estate and Della Cia.

Suggestion to have lunch at Delair Graff Estate.
For children we can organize following entertainment in Winelands; visits to Butterfly World, Lion's Sanctuary, Crocodile Farm and birds of prey sanctuary.

Other interesting inclusions for the day to visit the old town of Stellenbosch, art galleries in Franschhoek, Hugenot Museum

Highlights:
- Stellenbosch, tree lined streets, historical architecture, alfresco cafés and good shopping
- Franschhoek Valley with its endless mountain vistas
- Paarl – “the pearl of the Cape” – home to the Afrikaans language
- Cape Dutch architecture
- Wine tasting on some of the finest Cape Wine Estates or other activities also with children in focus as featured.
- Cellar tours privately arranged at estates mentioned or similar.

Optional enhancements:
Charter the Princess Emma private yacht including full crew and stewardess, 25 nautical miles, selection of canapés, local wines, beers and soft drinks, it does not include fuel. Includes all meals. Power cruise the Cape Town waters from fabulous Clifton Beach At 85 foot (25m) and 88 tons, the luxury Princess Emma is designed for cruising, delivering exhilarating performance from twin 2000HP engines with a comfortable cruising speed of seventeen knots and a top speed of thirty knots.

Built by Princess Yachts in the United Kingdom, she is equipped with state of the art navigational aids and safety equipment and is manned by a highly qualified skipper and crew.

Princess Yachts has been acquired recently by LVMH, a French holding company which has in its stable a number of other exclusive brands including Louis Vuitton, Moet et Chandon and Hennessy.

Four luxurious en-suite cabins, all independently air-conditioned, can accommodate eight guests. The rosewood and cherry finishes throughout combine with the luxurious soft furnishings to create an atmosphere of timeless elegance and unrivalled comfort. The wide aft deck offers alfresco dining for eight and the swimming platform provides easy access to the water. Sun beds adorn the spacious fly bridge and foredeck.

Day notes

Depart Cape Town for scenic road transfer ( or helicopter transfer if preferred) for the two hour drive to Grootbos Nature Reserve provides for a spectacular scenic route along the Cape Whale Coast and gives you the opportunity to stop in Betty's Bay to view one of the last breeding colonies of the African Penguin.

On arrival check in to latest addition to the Grootbos portfolio, this luxury villa is hidden in the natural wonderland of the reserve with 6 elegant suites, a private butler, chef and guide. It has incredible views of the whale-watching haven of Walker Bay.

The villa is for exclusive use only, and is truly one of the most luxury villas in South Africa. Embedded in the natural wonderland of Grootbos the Villa comprises 6 elegant suites with mesmerizing 180°views of the whale-watching haven of Walker Bay.

Relax in 1000 square meters of utter luxury providing two lounge areas, private dining room, media room with big screen and projector, wine cellar, outside BBQ area, private pool as well as a fully equipped kitchen. For the duration of your stay, a private guide, chef and butler will be available to fulfill your needs and allow you to be part of the Grootbos experience!

Facilities
-2 Master-Suites with en-suite bathroom (bath, shower and outside shower)
-3 Luxury Bedrooms with en-suite bathroom (bath and shower)
-1 Luxury Bedroom with en-suite bathroom (shower only)
-2 Lounges with satellite TV
-1 fully equipped kitchen with storeroom and scullery
-Dining Room
-Breakfast area
-2 outside BBQ area, 1 inside BBQ area
-Outside pool
-1 Media Room with big screen and projector-
-1 fully equipped office with internet access and telephone
-Wine Cellar
-Fully equipped gym
-Large outside decks
-Own landing strip suitable for helicopters and small planes

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is situated half an hour outside of Hermanus, on the Fynbos and forest clad hills, overlooking the whale watching haven of Walker bay and Gansbaai.

With its 5-star luxury accommodation, scenic beauty, unique flowers and abundant marine life, Grootbos truly provides everything the Garden Route and Western Cape have to offer.

The exclusive Villa offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, breaching whales and ancient forests, with activities to satisfy even the most ardent nature lover. Whether ones interests are briding, wild fynbos flowers, diving with the Great White Sharks or relaxing on unspoilt beaches - Grootbos has it all.

Specialised guides, with a passion for our unique nature, accompany you on your quest of exploring our natural wonderland. Come to Grootbos and feel momentarily humbled by what has been described as one of the most idyllic locations on Earth, a pristine piece of wilderness hidden away at the Southern Tip of Africa.

Activities that can be arranged at Grootbos offers a wide variety of experiences to enjoy during the stay.

Specialist guides lead 4x4 drives and walks through the fynbos and forests of the reserve, trips to the nearby coast to view the Southern Right Whales from land, walks along deserted beaches, visits to archaeological and cultural sites, boat-based whale watching trips, as well as boat tours to a nearby seal island to view penguins, seals, dolphins and great white sharks.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve offers its guests some of the best whale watching tours in the world. Guests can view the Southern Right Whales by land, off the rocks in De Kelders, by boat, or by plane flying over the spectacular Walker Bay! The whale watching tours are all part of the Grootbos experience, so no prior arrangements or bookings need to be made.

Land-based Whale Watching Tours Of the 350 whales that visit the southern coast, up to 160 make Walker Bay their home from June to December. The Walker Bay is the best place in the world to view these 40-60 tons creatures from land. Most commonly seen are the Southern Right Whales, which migrate to warmer waters every year to mate, calf and raise their young. Breaching, tail-slapping and lob-tailing, the whales make the bay a constant hub of activity. Grootbos specialized guides will take you down to the De Kelders rocks and give you the whale watching tours of a lifetime! You will watch spellbound as mothers, calves and energetic bulls come to within a stone’s throw of the rocky shoreline.

Boat-based Whale Watching Tours Grootbos Nature Reserve has an exclusive boat trip, through Dyer Island Cruises, leaving every morning from Kleinbaai harbour. Besides seeing the amazing whales, this trip offers a complete experience of the Marine Big5, which includes the whales, dolphins, African Penguins, Cape Fur Seals and surface viewing of the Great White Shark. The boat comfortably accommodates 20 guests, has a toilet, upper decks, shelter from the sun as well as snacks and drinks provided onboard. The boat also has specialized guides, who can provide all the facts about the whales as well as other interesting information about the magnificent marine life. As these gentle giants are very curious, they often swim right up to the boat to get a better view of the boat and the guests. This trip takes about 2 hours and is a marine experience not to be missed! Note: Will be getting private boat and costs for private experience to enjoy this activity and will advise as extra supplement to consider

Whale Watching Tours By Plane During season up to 160 whales and calves can be spotted in the Walker Bay. Only from the sky is it possible to comprehend the size of the Southern Right communities that visit our waters. The confluence of the warm Indian and the cold Atlantic Ocean create a vibrant and colourful seascape. Teaming full of wildlife these abundant oceans often provide great ‘game viewing’ opportunities. The majestic Cape Mountains frame these perfect white beaches and rocky shorelines. When a picture speaks a thousand words…the actual flight will render you speechless. Whether you wish to explore your environment or simply see what’s around you
- African Wings, together with Grootbos, offer you the freedom of the skies, and the ultimate whale watching tours of a life time.

Shark Cage Diving
Gansbaai has the reputation for being the shark capital of the world. Divers and adventurers travel from all over the globe to get up close with these magnificent creatures in the waters around Dyer Island. One of the most exciting experiences at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is the Great White Shark cage diving in Gansbaai. Gansbaai has the reputation for being the shark capital of the world. Divers and adventurers travel from all over the world to watch this magnificent creature in the waters around Dyer Island. Every day a number of boats leave Kleinbaai harbour to spend a few hours on the water to view the Great White Sharks from the boat or to go diving in a cage with these elegant and large predators. This is a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed! Grootbos is in partnership with Marine Dynamics, one of the great white shark diving companies in Gansbaai, and it is therefore not necessary to make any prior booking arrangements.

Grootbos also offers its guests amazing whale watching tours with specialized guides.

Cage Diving in Gansbaai (No diving experience required!) This is truly one of the most adventurous activities on our planet, coming face to face with the Great White Shark. No diving experience is required, and all equipment is provided on board. When the sharks are around the boat, the divers get into the cage and the shark is lured to within meters from the cage. As the shark approaches, divers duck under water and marvel in amazement as this awe inspiring creature swims past the cage.

CHILDREN at Grootbos
Grootbos welcomes children and families

Children visiting Grootbos are very important individuals, with their own ideas and desires. They understand this and therefore take great care to keep our little guests happy!

At Grootbos Nature Reserve the children's activities are not just activities they are a combination of education and fun in our wonderful nature setting. Our tailor-made children's program is about inspiring, educating, enthusing and exhilarating the children to make them curious of what is coming next and to ensure that they spend an exciting, interesting and enjoyable time with us.

Kids Kitchen
- cater for their physical well-being with special children's menus as well as refreshments and snacks during the activities.

Our special children's turndown ends an exciting and fun filled day. Now it's time for a good night's sleep so that the children are ready for the following day's adventures.

The Playground The Play Ground at Grootbos is a kiddie's paradise and some parents only see their children during meal times. Located next to our horse stables, children can explore their natural surroundings while playing with fluffy bunnies, our domestic pig "Emma" or our ducks.
Our little guests love collecting their own breakfast eggs laid by our free-range chickens after they have fed our horses with fresh produce from our own vegetable garden.There is always one of our specialized guides to supervise the children at the playground.

Treasure Hunts Specialized guides accompany the children during exciting treasure hunts through the Milkwood Forest, where they will also learn about the amazing web of life linking the Milkwood trees to so many other organisms within the forest.The dense canopy is home to many bird species, including the Barthroated Apalis, the Cape Batis and Rameron Pigeon, whilst the forest floor is crossed by trails of the bushbuck, porcupine, golden mole and other forest creatures. The treasure hunt covers easy terrain and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.The treasure hunt is suitable for all age groups.

Day notes

Departure scenic tramsfer back to Cape Town by road or helicopter transfer can be arranged.

Arrival at Cape Town airport for onward flight arrangements

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