21 Days South Africa & Vic Falls Adventure

Welcome in South Africa!

Your South African adventure starts when arriving at the ORT International Airport in Johannesburg.  Upon arrival you will be met by your driver who will hand over your Travel File and transfer you to your lovely hotel where you will be staying for 3 nights.  

Enjoy a Lesedi Cultural Experience - Pick up at 11:00

The morning is at leisure

Later this afternoon you will embark on a cultural tour at Lesedi Village. 

On arrival, you will be welcomed at the Ndebele Village by representatives of the tribes that dwell at Lesedi.

On entering the Lesedi Cultural Village, you are presented with a visual feast of African-designed crafts and curios.

All artefacts are hand-made, artisanal wonders offering visitors a delightful browsing and shopping experience.

The tour begins with a multi-sensory presentation of the origins of South Africa’s indigenous inhabitants, followed by a guided walk through the myriad tribal homesteads located in the Lesedi Cultural Village.

The Lesedi Cultural Tour culminates in a not-to-be-missed dance extravaganza.

Held in the Boma, ancestral folklore and rituals are brought to life in spectacular fashion. This “Ingoma”, told through choreographed movement, beating drums and song is thrilling history story-telling at its best.

Nyama Choma restaurant offers tantalising buffet-style dishes ranging from Kalahari lamb, Mozambican fish to exotic delicacies such as crocodile.

The restaurant is divided into three-sections designed to reflect the diversity of Africa’s culinary and cultural heritage:

East Africa: reflecting the distinctive artwork of the Maasai;

South Africa: representing depictions of the nine tribes of South Africa; and

The Nile Room: a private dining area where diners experience North African cuisine sitting on floor cushions at low tables. Ideal for private functions and celebrations able to host 40 diners.

Explore Soweto - Pick up at 09:30

Embark on a captivating journey through the vibrant streets of Soweto, a township that holds a significant place in South Africa's history. This tour offers an immersive experience, allowing you to delve into the rich cultural heritage and pivotal moments that shaped the nation. The tour typically begins with a visit to the iconic Apartheid Museum, where you can delve deep into the apartheid era and learn about the struggles faced by black South Africans during that time. The museum provides a comprehensive overview of this dark period in history, allowing visitors to understand the impact it had on Soweto and its residents. Next, you will be taken to Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world that has been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners - Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Here, you can explore Mandela House Museum, which was once Nelson Mandela's residence. Lastly we visit the Hector Pietersen Museum, named after a young student who tragically lost his life during the 1976 Soweto Uprising

Fly to spectacular Vic Falls! Pick up at 07:15

After breakfast and check out you will be transferred to the ORT International Airport to board your flight to Victoria Falls, the activity capital of the world. (Flight depart Johannesburg at 09:45 and arrive in Vic Falls at 11:35) Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will be staying for 2 nights. Visa Fees of USD55 per person is payable at the airport.

This afternoon at around 16:45, after you have freshen up, you will be collected from the hotel for your sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth longest, where you will enjoy snacks and drinks, as well as the opportunity to spot wildlife such as elephant, hippo, crocodile and magnificent birds. This is a great way to soak up the serenity of your surroundings as the sun sets over the water and day turns to night. (3 Course Dinner and All Drinks included)

Explore the Mighty Falls! Pick up at 08:15

We have a full day to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of Victoria Falls, it is the adventure capital of Africa and there are activities on offer to cater for everyone’s needs. Enjoy a guided tour of the mighty Falls, partake in the many activities on offer or wander around the streets to do a bit of curio shopping, then finish off at a café for refreshments and a bite to eat (own account).

This evening enjoy a Boma Dinner @ 19:00. 

The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show, located on the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate, is a legendary dining and entertainment experience that offers an unforgettable fusion of mouth-watering local cuisine, energetic dance performances, interactive drumming and traditional storytelling.

Fly to Nelspruit - Pick up at 11:10

After breakfast and check out you will be transferred to the Victoria Falls International Airport to board your flight to Nelspruit. (Flight depart Vic Falls at 14:00 and arrive in Nelspruit at 15:40).

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by your driver and transferred to your lodge that will be your home for the next 4 nights. 

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax and enjoy all this lodge has to offer

Kambaku River Lodge, built close to Malelane, on the banks of the Crocodile River, offers guests a luxurious retreat with a variety of accommodation options to choose from. Our close proximity to the world’s most famous wildlife reserve makes us one of the best options when you are looking for Kruger National Park accommodation. Your safari starts the moment you arrive at Kambaku River Lodge, as various animals can be seen coming to quench their thirst in the river below. Kambaku is also a bird lovers paradise - we have up to 220 species recorded at Kambaku River Lodge so far as well as a wonderful, fully equipped, photographic bird hide.

In search for the Big 5!

Our safari starts very early, before sunrise, to the Kruger National Park in specially fitted open vehicles. We enter through the Kruger Gate into one of the best wildlife areas of the KNP; here you will spend the day on a safari with your ranger and we will visit various water holes, look out points & rivers.

We have our breakfast, which was pre-packed by the lodge, at a local rest camp and then continue our safari looking for the mighty Big 5, not missing out on over 100 mammal & 500 bird species – your ranger will ensure the very best experience. 

Arrive back at the lodge in time for lunch (own account)

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax & swim 

Enjoy a Full Day Safari

You will have to get up before the sun has risen to depart on another safari with your same ranger as the previous day, but then you get to experience the gorgeous sunrise again. We will visit a different area of the KNP than the day before and the guide will focus on finding different wildlife that might have alluded you the day before.

Visit the breath-taking Panorama Route - Pick up at 08:00

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, we make our way in an air-conditioned closed vehicle towards the Picturesque Mpumalanga Highveld.

We will visit the world’s third largest canyon – the Blyde River Canyon – as well as the Three Rondavels, God's Window and a small town called Graskop, where we will have lunch and do some souvenir shopping. We also visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes, found in the Blade River and surrounding water falls like Lisbon and Mac Mac falls. It is meant to be a relaxed day.

We return in the afternoon for some leisure time, a swim, and time to rest after the past few exciting days. We have dinner and get to bed before the next day’s transfer to the airport.

Fly to Cape Town! Pick up at 09:30

After breakfast and check out you will be transferred to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to board your flight to Cape Town via Johannesburg.  (Flight depart Nelspruit at 12:40 and arrive in Johannesburg at 13:35) (Flight from Johannesburg depart at 15:05 and arrive in Cape Town at 17:20)

Upon arrival you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel where you will be staying for 4 nights)

Explore Robben Island & Cape Town City : Pick up at 08:15

The ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront at 09:00. The tour takes 3.5 hours including the ferry trip to and from the Island (Depending on the boat used as they have different travel times).

You will disembark at Murray’s Bay Harbour situated on the east coast of the Island and take a short walk to buses that will transport you to all the historical sites around the Island. On the way to the buses, you will pass buildings and a high wall built by prisoners during the 1960s. The buildings were used for family and lawyer visits to prisoners.

You will meet your Tour Guide when you have boarded the busses. The prison tour will be conducted by a Robben Island Tour Guide. This is part of our integrated tour model. They are fully conversant and knowledgeable about the Island’s multi-layered 500-year-old history. The tour route includes the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers and the Maximum Security Prison where thousands of South Africa’s freedom fighters were incarcerated for years. The tour culminates with a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell.

Afterwards it's time to enjoy a Walking Tour of the City. On our tour we climb under the skin of the city so that by the end of the day you understand and feel the pulse of our city. We explore the city from all sides – the history, the people, their cultures, their cuisines, as well as contemporary Cape Town and its artisanal trends.  

Afterwards we head to Table Mountain and the historic part of Cape Town for your City Tour.  Drive around the city and besides seeing historic buildings, use your imagination to think how the ocean used to reach the edge of the Castle of Good Hope before the land was reclaimed in 1938.  You also take a trip through the colorful and picturesque Malay Quarter known as Bo-Kaap and the arty flea market at Greenmarket Square. 

Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve! Pick up at 09:00

Today, we head to the fishing village of Hout Bay. On the way, we will pass by Sea Point, Bantry Bay, and Clifton. You will also see Bakoven and Llandudno, with their ghostly shipwrecks. Take in these fantastic views even before you have reached your destination! Once you arrive in Hout Bay, you will board a boat to enjoy the view of the Cape fur seal colony on Duiker Island. From there, navigate the 114 curves of 600m-high Chapman's Peak Drive.

Afterward, explore the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park, home to fabulous birds and very special fauna. Then, climb to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay.

Before going back to your hotel, stop by to visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins.

Enjoy a Winelands Tour! Pick up at 09:00

Spend a day in the gorgeous wine country of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, enjoying some of the Cape Winelands’ famous wines along with historic towns and scenic drives. It’s an ideal day trip for wine lovers as well as anyone who can appreciate the area’s history and dramatic beauty.

Franschhoek is surrounded by beautiful mountains which offer magnificent views throughout the year.  It is here in Franschhoek where you will find world-class cuisine, mouth-watering wines, friendly people and impeccable service – everything you need to make your Franschhoek memories last forever.  The centre of the village is where almost everything happens.
The main street of Franschhoek is lined with restaurants, coffee shops, curio shops, art galleries, antique shops and so much more.

Continue to the Garden Route - Pick up at 09:00

Today we say goodbye to Cape Town as we make our way to Knysna, the gem of the Garden Route.

We stop for lunch (own account) in Swellendam.  This is approximately a 5 hour drive 

Knysna is the unofficial capital of the Garden Route, surrounded by forests, lakes, mountains and sea; this ever-popular tourist destination is a charming town of legend, history, arts and crafts catering to visitors every need or fancy. Knysna is situated on South Africa's only National Lake, which is also the country's largest permanent estuary. Knysna is a nature lovers dream.

Check into your lovely hotel in the late afternoon

Today you have the day at leisure to relax and enjoy all this hotel has to offer

The Waterfront is a popular hotspot for tourists and locals alike, known and loved for its leisure activities, dining and spectacular views. It is also a shopaholic’s delight, as there a number of fabulously unique shops. These range from designer clothing boutiques and jewellery designers to touristy goods and curio shops. There are art galleries, décor shops, and specialty stores to cater to the needs and preferences of just about everyone who visits.

Explore the Featherbed Nature Reserve! Ferries depart at 10:00 (check in at 09:30)

After breakfast it is time to embark on your trip to Featherbed Nature Reserve.

Featherbed Nature Reserve is a privately-owned reserve and South African Heritage Site that captures the essence of Knysna’s beauty. Located on a protected portion of Knysna’s Western Head, an iconic landmark on the Western Cape’s gorgeous Garden Route, the reserve is only accessible by ferry. To protect its natural splendour, only a limited number of people are able to visit each day and must be accompanied by a specialist guide.

Featherbed offers a 4-hour Eco-experience that includes: • Return ferry ride on the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head. • 4x4 drive to the top of the headland to enjoy sensational views over the Indian Ocean, lagoon, Knysna, and forested mountains • Specialist guide giving information on history, fauna, and flora. • Optional guided 2,2km walk (suitable for all ages and fitness levels) through the coastal forest and fynbos into ancient Khoi San sea caves • Buffet lunch at the Forest Restaurant, a rustic wooden deck under a canopy of Milkwood trees.

Featherbed is home to a breeding program for the Knysna Loerie, the endangered Knysna Sea Horse, and the rare Blue Duiker - one of the smallest antelope species in the world, standing roughly 30cm tall. Visitors to the reserve also have a chance of spotting the Black African Oyster Catcher, one of South Africa’s rarest coastal birds.

Featherbed is an exceptional reserve where people of all ages can learn to appreciate nature at its finest. Don’t leave without purchasing a memento from the Blue Duiker curio shop!

The rest of the day is at leisure

Continue to Plettenberg Bay - Pick up at 11:00

After a leisurely breakfast and check out you will be transferred to Plettenberg Bay where you will be staying for 2 nights

The rest of the day is at leisure to relax, take a swim or enjoy the beach

The Plettenberg, situated on a rocky headland in Plettenberg Bay, along the famous Garden Route – is the ultimate South African seaside escape. The five-star Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, with its 35 beautifully appointed rooms and two family-style villas, showcases the most breathtaking vistas in Southern Africa, with views of the ocean, mountains and endless stretches of golden sand. Guests may enjoy world-class cuisine courtesy of The Restaurant at The Plettenberg, where fresh seafood is the order of the day.

Explore the breath-taking Tsitsikamma National Park! Pick up at 10:00

After breakfast we visit Tsitsikamma National Park. 

Tsitsikamma National Park is a multi-dimensional destination with dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers, lush forest and delicate Fynbos. A hiking and water sports paradise, this region forms the top section of the magnificent Garden Route National Park.

In Tsitsikamma National Park, you will see booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, temperate high forest and Fynbos (indigenous plants) rolling down to the sea in an unspoilt verdant carpet. Age old rivers carve their way to the sea and wonderful marine creatures swim along the shore.

The boundary of the Tsitsikamma National Park, stretches some 5km (3 miles) out to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish. Beautiful Dolphins play and surf in the breakers.

The word "Tsitsikamma" hails from the Khoi language meaning place of much water. Probably referring to the clear water of the Tsitsikamma River.

Tsitsikamma National Park is home to a large variety of birds, and birders can enjoy the pristine natural habitat via the various hiking trails. You will constantly be aware of their presence, as they call to each other to acknowledge and alert others to your own presence. They aren’t as easy to spot in the forest canopy, but keep a look out for the Knysna Loerie and the Grey Cuckoo Shrike.

The suspension bridge that hangs over the red-brown waters of the Storms River Mouth spans 77 metres and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions of the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape. Situated within the Tsitsikamma National Park, it was originally built in 1969, but has since been rebuilt by San-Parks to ensure its stability and safety. It hangs just seven metres above the churning waters of the river as it enters the foamy Indian Ocean.

The pathway leading to the suspension bridge covers 900 metres of the Tsitsikamma forest. There are plenty of steps to negotiate, but it remains a fairly easy route, particularly if covered slowly. The walk is well worth the magnificent views. Birds accompany walkers along the way and there are a number of lookout point and places to have a seat and rest, while enjoying the vistas of the turquoise ocean.

Continue to Bukela Lodge - Pick up at 09:00

Embark on a journey from the picturesque town of Plettenberg Bay to the enchanting Amakhala Bukela Game Reserve. Explore the vast landscapes and diverse wildlife that Amakhala Game Reserve has to offer, and immerse yourself in the exhilarating game drive experience.

Enjoy morning and evening game drives

Home to the Big 5 as well as the lesser known "Little 5", the reserve offers a vast variety of flora and fauna of which you can expect to learn all about, as our experienced guides take you on a game drive to remember.

Enjoy the various extra activities that Bukela Game Lodge has to offer, from Night Drives to Star Gazing, Birding, Bush Walks, Archery, Spa Therapy and Fishing. There's something for everyone.

Farewell South Africa!

After a final morning game drive, breakfast and check out,  you will be transferred to the to the Port Elizabeth Airport for your flight to Johannesburg in time for your flight home. (Flight depart Port Elizabeth at 13:35 and arrive in Johannesburg at 15:20).    

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you make your way to the International departure hall to check in for your flight back home

We wish you a safe trip back home with lovely memories of Africa.