Arrival in Johannesburg
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Full day Joburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum Tour
This tour will begin by discovering Johannesburg's beauty and wealth by discovering its urban environment. You will then visit the inspiring Apartheid Museum dedicated to recounting the history of the rise and fall of Apartheid in 20th century South Africa. The exhibits are from film footage, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human stories of Apartheid. Thereafter you will get the opportunity to discover the former South-African president's house, in which you will hear about the Mandela family's history and times spent in Soweto.
- Johannesburg City Orientation
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa, by population and is also known as Jozi or Joburg. There are plenty of historic and attractive sites in Joburg like the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill or the Hector Pieterson Memorial. - Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001. The Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience. - Mandela House Museum
Mandela House is the house where Nelson Mandela lived until he was forced underground in 1961. It is located on the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane Street. He moved there in 1946. In 1999 it was declared a National Heritage Site. - Hector Pieterson Memorial
The Hector Pieterson Memorial, situated in Soweto, commemorates the role of the country’s students in the struggle against apartheid. The commemorative site is just a few blocks from where 12-year-old Hector Pieterson was shot in 1976. - Freedom Square
On 26 June 1955 the Congress of the people, consisting of people of all races, met on the Freedom Square to draw up the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter calls for democracy and human rights, equality of race and language, land reform, labour rights, and nationalisation.
Johannesburg to Hoedspruit
This morning you will transfer back to OR Tambo International Airport for your flight to Hoedspruit, where you will be met and transferred to the SAfari Hotel. On arrival you will have time to check-in and have lunch (own account).
In the afternoon enjoy an afternoon game drive in a Big Five game reserve, home to Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and so much more. Game drives are conducted in a 4x4 open sided safari vehicle, with a qualified game ranger, at one of three reserves - Pridelands / Rietspruit / Olifants / Blue Canyon. Afternoon game drives includes a sundowner and snacks.
Even though wildlife tends to rest in the midday heat, the advantage of an afternoon safari is that the guides will have information about earlier sightings and where they took place, so they can try to find the most exciting wildlife for you to experience first-hand. Watering holes are also a popular spot during this time as many animals will be looking to cool down and nothing is more pleasing than watching elephants play around in a river. Your guide will ensure an exciting safari, filled with facts about the animals and birds in the Park, as well as the plant life for those who share an interest in the lush vegetation and age-old trees. The later the day gets and the closer it gets for closing time in the Park, the better the chances of sightings become, as the animals become more active as the heat dissipates. Please bring with sun cream, a hat, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, warm clothing in the winter months and a rain jacket in the summer months.
Dinner will be back at the hotel.
Full day Kruger National Park Game Drive
Full day game drive in Kruger National Park on custom built open safari vehicles which affords all guests comfort and optimal views of animals! You will be collected at your hotel between 05:00 – 5:30 am, please collect breakfast packs from the lodge, and you will return at about 04:00 pm after the safari.
We enter the Kruger National Park once the gates are opened then go on to explore the Park on the lookout for a pride of lions, majestic herds of elephants or lone roaming elephant bulls, a solitary leopard lying in a shady tree, the rare rhino, and herds of buffalo, as well as a multitude of other wild animals and birds, like hornbills, eagles, secretary birds, hippo, zebra, giraffe, not forgetting the abundance of buck, like impala & kudus. Our guides are all qualified and have years’ worth of experience in the park. They love nothing more than to share their well of knowledge with our guests and to make sure that you have the best safari experience possible. They will stop at picnic spots and rest camps throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and restroom breaks.
On return, take the time to relax and freshen up before dinner.
Day at leisure / Optional activites:
Morning Kruger game drive
Full day Panorama Route Tour
Optional Full day Panorama Route Tour
After a delicious breakfast you will be met by your guide and embark on a full day touring the beautiful Panorama Route which is a scenic road connection with several cultural and natural points of interest; such as God's Window, Bourke's Luck Pothotels and the Three Rondawels. Returning to your hotel in the late afternoon to spend the afternoon at leisure before dinner.
Optional Half Day Morning Kruger Game Drive
A morning safari starts bright and early. During the winter months, the sun has barely risen before the safari begins. The mornings are some of the most magical times in the Kruger National Park. The cooler weather has the wildlife a lot more active and it is not unusual to see all sorts of predators including Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Hyena and Wild Dogs.
We enter the Kruger, just as the gates open for the day. For the next few hours, we tour some of the most popular areas in the Southern Kruger, stopping at lookout points and watering holes, in search of wildlife. In a single morning, guests can see plenty of animals including lion, elephant, impala, and giraffe, as well as some nocturnal animals.
Enjoy your pre-packed breakfasts at a local picnic area. Guides will make regular stops for leg stretches. The tour will continue until approximately 12.00, when you will be returned to the lodge, leaving the park with incredible memories.
Hoedspruit to Cape Town
This morning there is an optional morning game drive on one of the nearby private game reserves before returning to the hotel for breakfast before check out and transfer back to Hoedpsuit Airport for your flight to Cape Town.
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will spend the rest of the evening at your own leisure.
Half Day Cape Town City Tour & Table Mountain
You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Half Day Cape Town City Orientation Tour to learn about Cape Town’s rich history and vibrant cultures. The day starts with a cableway trip (for your own account) to the top of one of the World’s Natural Wonders – Table Mountain, also the city’s most iconic and recognisable landmark. Explore the walking trails at the top and take in the many different views point across the City Bowl, Table Bay, Atlantic Seaboard and Peninsula.
From Table Mountain your guide will take you back down into the city to visit the colourful Bo Kaap (Cape Malay Quarter), enjoy a walk through the Company Gardens and Greenmarket Square and an orientation drive taking in some of the important historical buildings (for example the Castle of Good Hope – South Africa’s oldest building), streets and features.
Highlights:
- Table Mountain and the aerial cableway (weather depending)
- Bo-Kaap – one of the city’s most Instagrammable spots thanks to its picturesque colourful houses and cobblestone streets
- The Company Gardens – a large public park lined with oak trees and surrounded by iconic historical buildings, museums and art galleries
- Vibrant Greenmarket Square market offering a wide range of African arts and crafts
- Orientation drive to see The Castle of Good Hope, City Hall, Grand Parade and Adderley Street with its many statues and historical buildings
The rest of the day will be at your own leisure, you can choose from a wide range of optional activities and excursions that Cape Town has to offer or spend the afternoon exploring the V&A Waterfront.
Optional Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour
You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour. Cape Town is frequently acknowledged and awarded as being one of the world’s most beautiful places – this tour will show you why! Experience the spectacular natural splendour and abundance of life of the Cape Peninsula. With scenic views to take your breath away and photo opportunities galore this trip also takes you through a World Heritage Site – the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard to Hout Bay, passing magnificent beaches and the coastal suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno. From the busy fishing harbour at Hout Bay you have the option of a boat trip to see the thousands of Cape Fur Seals living on a rocky outcrop. Browse for souvenirs at the Hout Bay Craft Market or take a walk on the beach and paddle your feet in the sea.
The tour continues over Chapman’s Peak, known as one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world, all the way along the Peninsula to the southern tip at Cape Point. An invigorating walk takes you to the two lighthouses at the top and bottom of the headland, from where you will enjoy extraordinary views of the cliffs and the ocean below. Alternatively, you could take an optional short funicular ride to the top. Take a photo down at the most south-western point of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope beach.
Lunch will be enjoyed at a seaside restaurant (excluded and for your own account) before we make our way along the False Bay coastline to the Naval village of Simon’s Town. We will visit the delightful African Penguins of Boulders Beach and then the drive takes us back via Cape Town’s coastal and southern suburbs.
Highlights:
- Drive along the Atlantic Sea Board passing the beautiful beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay
- Photo stop at Maidens Cove to take in the views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Camps Bay Beach and Lions Head
- Stop at Hout Bay Harbour – a busy fishing harbour
- Optional boat ride to Duiker Island to see the Cape Fur Seals
- Chapman’s Peak Drive – known as one of the World’s most beautiful drives
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point – most South-Western point of Africa and the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, spectacular scenery
- False Bay Coastal Road – look out for whales between June and November
- Visit the comical African Penguins at Boulders Beach
- Simon’s Town – home to South Africa’s Naval Base
- Picturesque drive past Kalk Bay and Muizenberg – see the famous colourful beach huts
Optional Full Day Cape Winelands Tour
09.00 You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Full Day Cape Winelands Tour. Situated only 45 minutes away from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands are surrounded by majestic mountains, beautiful vineyards and typical Cape Dutch style architecture. The Cape Winelands include the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl and are home to more than 150 wine estates and wine farms producing top-quality world-class wines. This region is also highly acclaimed for its many award-winning restaurants.
Head off to the heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historical buildings. With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our first wine tasting of the day.
Travel over the spectacular Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschhoek, historically dating back to the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. Billed as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, this charming town, in a most picturesque valley, retains a French Huguenot style. Enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of the many restaurants (excluded and for your own account).
Onward to Paarl, one of the Cape’s first farming districts, for a final wine tasting. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. Return to the bustle of city life after an enthralling day in the countryside.
Highlights:
- Stellenbosch
- 3 Wine Tastings, with a chocolate OR cheese and wine pairing included, at various wine estates
- Franschhoek town walk
- The Huguenot Monument commemorating the Huguenot settlers of the 1680s who had a big impact on wine production in the region
- The Paarl wine area – overlooked by Paarl Rock (otherwise called Pearl Mountain), an enormous granite rock
Transfer to Cape Town International Airport for departure
Your tour comes to an end today. The morning will be at your own leisure and you will enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight.
