Depart from New York (JFK) for your South African Airways flight to South Africa.
On arrival in Johannesburg you will connect onwards for your two-hour flight on South African Airways to Cape Town. On arrival you will be met for your transfer to your hotel.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel
After breakfast you will be met by your local English-speaking driver/guide for your full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula. Depart the hotel and flank the Atlantic Ocean en route to Hout Bay. Once a fishing community, it is now one of the most popular residential areas. The harbor still has a charm of days gone by. You’ll have a chance to join a half-hour cruise to Seal Island (optional trip for own account +/- R70) or, for the not so adventurous, the fish market Mariners Wharf is a must.
The tour continues over the famous Chapman’s Peak drive, weather permitting. With a 200-meter drop on one side and a 200-meter rise on the other, you will make your way south following the Atlantic Ocean until you reach Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Said to be the romantic meeting place of the two mighty oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, Sir Francis Drake the Explorer once called it "the fairest cape that we saw in the whole circumference of the globe." And rightly so, it must be the highlight of any visit to the Mother City, if not South Africa. Your optional lunch stop is at the Fish Hoek Galley.
You’ll pass the naval base of Simonstown as you continue along the coast en route to see the Jackass penguin colony, which has become well established at Boulders Beach near Simonstown. Your last stop of the day is at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (optional +/- R65), home of some 3,500 species of Southern African fauna and flora. You’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon, having seen some of the best the Cape has to offer.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel
After breakfast your local English-speaking driver/guide will meet you at the hotel for a tour of the Cape wine region. You will depart from the hotel and head north to Paarl. Your first stop is for a morning wine tasting at Nelsons Creek Estate. After a tour through their cellars, there is a chance to sample some of their local wines as well as a cheese tasting. A brief city tour of Paarl follows, before you make your way to Franschhoek with a photo stop at the Groot Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela was released in 1990. This little village nestled amongst the mountains can easily be mistaken for a little Switzerland.
After a short tour of the town, a second wine tasting will be enjoyed in Franschhoek followed by a lunch stop and perhaps a chance to savor some of the fresh trout for which Franschhoek is renowned.
After lunch, the tour continues to the university town of Stellenbosch. It is easy to understand why Simon van der Stel decided to settle a village here amongst the mountains. The backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads and the oak-lined streets and lanes all combine to give this place a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. Time permitting, you will also enjoy a third and final wine tasting. Then you will set off for your return to the Mother City.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the beautiful city of Cape Town. Maybe take a trip in the cable car up Table Mountain or a boat ride for a poignant visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. Perhaps take time to explore the vibrant V&A Waterfront with its many shops, restaurants and activities available as well as the fascinating Two Oceans Aquarium. In the summer months, maybe head for the white sand beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay for people watching and soaking up the African sun. Whatever you decide, you will not be at a loss for things to do!
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel
After breakfast you will be met and transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Johannesburg and onwards connection to Hoedspruit Airport.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your lodge in the Thornybush Game Reserve, which lies adjacent to the Greater Kruger National Park. Here you will enjoy the next few days experiencing exclusive safari adventures in both open Land Rovers and on foot.
The private reserve is home to an abundance of species including the "Big Five." Being predominantly open savannah and with a near perfect year-round climate, it is the ideal African safari destination.
Overnight on a fully inclusive basis at Serondella Lodge.
Enjoy morning and late afternoon game safaris in the African bush with experienced game rangers and Shangaan trackers. Safari game drives are undertaken at the best times of the day to avoid the harsh African sun while the rest of your day may be enjoyed at leisure at the lodge. From hearty breakfasts to gourmet dinners and enthralling game safaris, you are sure to be tantalized during your stay.
Overnight on a fully inclusive basis at Serondella Lodge.
Partcipate in the game viewing activities at the lodge or simply relax in the peaceful surrounds of the African bush.
Overnight on a fully inclusive basis at Serondella Lodge.
After an early morning safari game drive and breakfast, transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight to Johannesburg and onwards connection to the United States.
Arrival in the United States at New York JFK or Washington Dulles IAD airport.
