On arrival at OR Tambo International airport please collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall where you are met by your private guide and transferred to City Lodge Fourways where you will spend 03 nights on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Standard Rooms).
This morning you will be collected for a half day Cradle of humankind tour followed by a Lesedi Cultural Village dinner.
ENTRANCE FEES: Included – guided tour at Sterkfontein, self-guided tour at Maropeng
Your tour will start at the newly opened 260m² exhibition. This scientific exhibition consists of four large show cases which include life like models of hominids, a sabre tooth cat, a reconstruction of a mined cave vs. a pristine cave, cave formations and geologies, early life forms, fossils in general (mammals and homo), specific finds (like Mrs. Ples, Taung Child, Little Foot), details of fossilization, paleo botany and landscapes...
From there you will make your way up to the limekilns, past the sundial and then underground into the depths of the caves. Beneath the dust of millions of years you'll see for yourself the resting place of some of the most important fossils ever found and you'll hear the magnitude of their significance to the world! After proceeding over the walkways to view the excavation which was Mrs. Ples's final resting place, the trip will continue past the fossil prep where scientists continue to investigate the clues to our past.
About 10 km away from the Sterkfontein Caves lies the world class visitor facility of MAROPENG, which opened to the public in December 2005. The focal point is the Tumulus building, designed to look like an ancient burial mound from the front. The architecture is symbolic of the journey through the evolution of life that is presented in the visitor attraction and upon exiting after the tour, one looks back on a very modern structure. Maropeng also offers restaurants and a market place.
The Tumulus contains a vast underground visitor attraction which tells the story of the Cradle of Humankind and brings to life the history of humankind in entertaining, educative and interactive ways. Within the visitor attraction lies an exciting 4-billion-year journey on an underground lake, through the elemental forces - water, air, fire and earth - dipping through waterfalls and real icebergs, into the eye of a storm, past erupting volcanoes and through the depths of the earth and emerging at the beginning of the world. From here, the journey continues through an experience highlighting the history of our world and humankind as a species, brought to life via audiovisual techniques, evocative sound effects, theme-park technology and theatrical displays. There are also real fossils on display at the visitor centre. Children will delight in the interactive elements of the exhibits, which encourage them to experience rather than just observe our development as a species and the underlying message of the unity of humankind.
Your visit to the Cradle of Humankind will include a guided tour of Sterkfontein. Maropeng is a self-guided tour.
Lesedi African Lodge is a multi cultural village set amongst the pristine bushveld and rocky hills less than an hour's drive north of Johannesburg. Live the experience - experience the vibrant and colourful traditions of the Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu people on a short tour, be part of traditional Africa for just a short while. You will never forget it!
The late afternoon program at 16:30 is known as the Boma experience.
* Arrive in the car park to a vibrant traditional African welcome and a refreshing welcome drink;
* Browse in the Ndebele village and African craft market where Ndebele murals decorate the walls and courtyard;
* Attend a multi-visual theatre presentation on the history and origin of our peoples;
* Guests are divided into smaller groups and taken on a guided tour of four homesteads - Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho and Pedi;
* After a few drinks in the bar, guests and the families meet back in the Boma for traditional song and dance of all the villages. The dance culminates in communal dancing with the guests around the fire.
* A Pan African Feast is served in the Nyama Choma restaurant with delicacies from North, East and Southern Africa.
This morning you will be collected for your full day elephant sanctuary tour and ` Harties Cable Car (Please note: weather permitting - In severe weather conditions the Cableway will close)
ENTRANCE FEES: Elephant Sanctuary Standard Tour ONLY and entrance fees for return trip at cable car ONLY)
In the early 1900's, the Magaliesberg were rich in wildlife and home to abundant elephants. As a result of pressure by man, this sensitive animal disappeared from the landscape. One hundred years later the elephants have returned to this area, to a special place in the heart of the beautiful African bushveld. Nestled in the Magaliesberg Mountains only one hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Elephant Sanctuary lies in a malaria-free area - the greater part within the Magaliesberg Nature Reserve. It is surrounded by natural indigenous bush and is home to impala, klipspringer, baboons, porcupine, caracal, leopard, a host of other small mammals, 350 bird species and of course, six magnificent African Elephants. Your visit will bring you close to these magnificent animals, an experience to cherish and remember forever!
Guests are guided on foot through The Elephant Sanctuary with guides providing in-depth information and insight into African elephants. You will be introduced to the Sanctuary's elephants in the forest area, and here you will be able to touch and interact with the elephants, including touching, feeding, interacting and walking trunk-in-hand with the elephants. You will see the special relationship that the elephant handlers share with their elephants and become a part of it!
Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and sun hat are recommended!
After breakfast you will be transferred to Morokolo Game Lodge where you will spend 02 nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis including high tea and twice daily game drives (02 x Rooms).
Two professionally-guided Big 5 vehicle safaris (included in the room rates) each day will keep you in awe of the splendid natural beauty of the Black Rhino Reserve and the Pilanesberg National Park. Elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalo, wild dogs, kudus, wildebeest, warthogs and spring hares are but a few of the more commonly seen animals.
Walking safaris are available. The walk focuses on locating and observing the inhabitants of the Black Rhino Game Reserve from a different angle - on foot. Guests are accompanied by a qualified guide who will share his/her extensive knowledge and experience on both fauna and flora. Excursions depart in the early morning, or early afternoon.
After breakfast and your last game drive you will be transferred to OR Tambo International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. On arrival please collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall where you are met by your guide and transferred to Hippo Hollow Country Estate where you will spend 03 nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (02 x Garden Cottages).
Elephant Whispers is walking distance from your accommodation and is for your own account.
This morning you will be collected for a full day Panorama tour and cultural dance experience
Including entrance and excluding lunch
The Northern Drakensberg – Mountain of the Dragon’s – rises above the sweeping Lowveld like a sentinel charged with lookout duty and keeping a constant vigilance on the savannahs below. With names like God’s Window, Devil’s Knuckles and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, one can only imagine the original impact and visions these mountains, cliff faces and sweeping slopes conjured up for the original pioneers travelling into these landscapes.The vista’s along the upper ridge of the Drakensberg rival some of the most scenic around the world, and granted one is blessed with a day of good weather and sunny skies, is most definitely a trip worth undertaking.
These sweeping vista’s and scenic locations have given rise to the route name – the Panorama Route.
Not only does the Panorama Route offer the most remarkable vista’s over the Lowveld, however, it is also home to a number of phenomenal geographical features, such as waterfalls, canyons, gorges, potholes and much, much more. All of these natural aspects are interspersed by 3 small but very characteristic towns – ie Graskop, Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest. Coming from each direction, the Panorama Route converges the 3rd largest canyon in the world – the Blyde River Canyon.
After breakfast you will be transferred to Kapama Private Game Reserve where you will spend 02 nights at Kapama River Lodge on a full board basis including twice daily game drives (02 x Standard Suites).
Two game drives a day are offered to all our guests. Accompanied by a skilled ranger and tracker, you can expect to encounter a diverse range of animal and bird species. Since this is a Big Five reserve, encountering lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo is possible over a two-day safari.
While seeing big game is always exhilarating, there are many other smaller species that are also captivating, and birding enthusiasts will be delighted at the approximately 350 species of bird recorded on the reserve. Throughout the day, it’s likely you will see wildlife such as nyala antelope, Vervet monkeys or even a few of the Big Five.
typical morning schedule:
05:00 wake-up call
05:30 tea, coffee and rusks in dining room
06:00 depart
07:30 stop for hot drinks and snacks
09:00 return to lodge for a full breakfast
typical evening schedule:
15:30 gather for a decadent high tea
16:00 depart
17:30 sundowners as you watch the sun set over the distant Drakensberg mountains
18:00 as darkness falls, your tracker will scan the landscape using a spotlight, illuminating the eyes of a variety of nocturnal species
19:00 arrive back at lodge with time to freshen up before dinner
After your last breakfast and game drive you will be transferred to Hoedspruit Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival please collect your luggage use the shuttle servie to the City Lodge Airport Hotel where you will spend 01 night on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Standard Rooms).
This morning after breakfast use the shuttle service to the airport where you will board your scheduled flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival please collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall where you are met by your private guide and transferred to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge where you will spend 02 nights on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Waterhole Facing Rooms).
This morning you will be collected for a guided tour of the fals
First stop is the Big Tree – a massive baobab many hundreds of years old with a girth of some 22 metres. The tour continues on to the Falls themselves, starting at Livingstone’s statue and Devil’s Cataract and proceeding through the rainforest to Danger Point. The total walk is 3kms with many spectacular view points along the way. Raincoats are available for hire at additional cost.
This afernoon you will be collected for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi including light snacks and local drinks.
Transfer to the jetty for a cruise along the Upper Zambezi in the late afternoon. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River in relaxation, with local wines, beers, soft drinks and snacks served during the trip. This trip often offers a magnificent chance to witness a spectacular African sunset. Cruise back to the jetty for transfer back to the hotel after sunset.
After breakfast you will be transferred to Victoria Falls International Airport for your scheduled flight to Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg.
On arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport please collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall where you are met by your private guide and transferred to Singa Town Lodge where you will spend 01 night on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Luxury Suite).
Today you will be transferred to Tsitsikamma Lodge where you will spend 01 night on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Garden Cabbin).
Today you will be transferred to Parkes Manor where you will spend 01 night on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Standard Room).
Today you will be transferred to City Lodge V&A Waterfront where you will spend 03 nights on a bed and breakfast basis (02 x Standard Room).
After breakfast you will be collected for private half day City and Table Mountain Tour and afternoon Cape Peninsula Tour. Inclusive of lunch.
Enjoy breath-taking views from the cable car and the summit of one of the seven natural wonders of the world: Table Mountain. Be moved by Cape Town’s colourful past when you visit historic landmarks such as the Malay Quarter and the Castle of Good Hope.
Itinerary Includes:
- Table Mountain by cable car
- Malay Quarter
- Cape Town city centre
- Greenmarket Square
- The flower sellers
- The Castle of Good Hope
Times:
- 09:00 – 13:00
Please Note:
- This tour is subject to change due to weather, traffic and time constraints.
- Include hotel pickup and drop off, an English-speaking driver/guide and specified entrance fees.
- Lunch and Table Mountain tickets are not included.
Table Mountain tickets are not included.
After breakfast you will be collecte for a private full day Wine Countryside Tour including standard lunch.
Drink in both the stunning views and world-renowned wines in the breathtakingly beautiful Winelands region. Explore the picturesque, historic towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, each with something unique to offer.
Itinerary Includes:
- The quaint, university town of Stellenbosch with its unique historical architecture
- Franschhoek with its majestic mountain vistas
- Paarl, home to the Afrikaans language
- Drive past natural and historic heritage sights such as the Afrikaans Taal Monument
- Wine tastings at three different wine estates
- Cellar tour
Times:
- 09:00 – 18:00
Please Note:
- This tour is subject to change in direction and Estates visited due to traffic and time constraints.
- All our tours include hotel pickup and drop off, an English-speaking driver/guide, specified entrance fees and lunch
After breakfast you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your flight home (Flight home on own arrangements).
