Cape Town & Kruger - beaches to Big 5 - luxury

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be met by an Africa Geographic representative, who will transfer you to you to The Dockhouse at the V&A Waterfront – the drive will take about 45 minutes, depending on traffic flow. Look for your name on a welcome board.

After settling in you may want to rest and relax at the Dockhouse's pool, or explore the Mother City, or simply stroll through the bustling and vibrant V&A Waterfront where you will find a wide variety of dining choices before you return to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Overnight at the Dock House Boutique Hotel 

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and head out of Cape Town to do a Cape Peninsula Tour. During this full-day drive you will be able to enjoy the magnificent sight of the 12 Apostles, breath-taking views of Chapman's Peak, charming vistas over Noordhoek, Kommetjie, Scarborough, and eventually Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the iconic Cape Point. You will also enjoy a circular drive in the reserve to admire the diversity and beauty of Fynbos and hopefully enjoy an encounter (or two) with some of its iconic residents, namely  Bontebok, Eland, Zebra, Chacma Baboon, Ostrich and perchance Caracal.

Lunch can be enjoyed in Simonstown or Kalk Bay depending on time, and a visit to Africa's largest, mainland, African Penguin colony is sure to spellbind you.

A stop in Kalk Bay's quaint and photogenic harbour is always blessed with a chance encounter with some of the largest cape fur seal bulls on the peninsula. Your last stop for the day is Muizenberg where you can photograph and enjoy the yesteryear sight of its colourful beach changing-houses.

With a full day of sights and experiences under your belt, you slowly drive back to CT and enjoy dinner at your leisure at a nearby restaurant of your choice.

We will be more than happy to recommend and assist you with the booking of such venues.

Overnight at The Dock House 

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by an Africa Geographic representative for a private full-day tour of the Cape Winelands, with its historic vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture. Your slow safari will meander through Stellenbosch, where your first stop will be a cellar tour and wine & chocolate pairing. The chocolate is artisanal and Fair Trade accredited. After more beautiful scenery of rolling vineyards and historic homesteads, your second stop will be a boutique Stellenbosch wine estate for an intimate cheese & wine pairing with the winemaker.  Through the course of the day, you will visit 5 of the Capes' finest wineries and will be introduced to their best wines and how to best appreciate them as you indulge in “wine in the making” straight from the barrel/tanks.

A  guided driven tour through the historical town of Stellenbosch will ensue and eventually head over the pass to Franschhoek where you will learn about the influence of the French Huguenots on the local wine industry. In this, the cuisine capital of South Africa, you will enjoy lunch on an award-winning wine estate and stroll down the main road of this quaint town with its restaurants and gift shops. Your last stop on this gastronomic celebration is a wine estate at the foot of the craggy Franschhoek Mountains, for another session of world-class wine tasting.

With a spoiled palate, a belly full and spoiled by spectacular views you will slowly make your way back into Cape Town and your accommodation. Please note that the above itinerary is subject to the wine estates’ availability on the day. 

Your evening plan is for you to choose, and once again we will be happy to suggest options for an unforgettable night out.

Overnight at the Dock House 

After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, you will have the entire day to explore the vibrant, cosmopolitan Mother City. A short walk from the hotel will allow you to visit and immerse yourself among the shops, views, vibe and eateries of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

All other destinations mentioned below are easily accessed via taxi / Uber, and convenient online bookings will secure your place (where applicable).

Nestled between a rugged mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s also one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Africa. This multicultural city enjoys a superb natural setting, pristine beaches, sophisticated infrastructure and a mild, Mediterranean climate. And there is no shortage of world-class trendy restaurants and a vibrant nightlife for all tastes. It’s no wonder that Cape Town is the crown jewel of the country.

A few city and peninsula headline acts include Table Mountain (cable car to the top is weather permitting) and Lion’s Head; the most iconic landmark in South Africa, the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Castle of Good Hope, Bo-Kaap, the Noon-day Gun, Greenmarket Square and the famous Robben Island (ferry is weather-permitting); where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were imprisoned during the apartheid years. For those with an interest in history and culture, we offer tours to visit the District Six Museum and Slave Lodge to explore how the Dutch and British colonised Cape Town and a walking tour of Langa township.

For the active traveller, the Cape Town peninsula is a treasure trove for hiking and mountain biking trails, kayaking from Moellie Point, Zip-lining in the Hottentots Holland Mountains, Para-gliding from Lion's Head, helicopter flips over Table Mountain and the Peninsula, kite-surfing in Blouberg, Shark watching in False Bay, Whale watching in Hermanus, or strolling the magnificent botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch – in fact just about every physical outdoor pursuit is catered for within a relatively short radius of the city.

After a full day exploring Cape Town you will be returned to your hotel to rest and relax before you are transferred to your dining venue of choice. After dinner and loads of fun, you return to your hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Overnight at The Dock House 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport to check-in for your flight to Chitwa Chitwa. On arrival at Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport you will be met by one of our transfer representatives holding a board with your name, and once we have you and your bags safely bundled into our transfer vehicle you will continue your adventure into the Sabi Sands and your lodging for the next THREE nights - Chitwa Chitwa.  

On arrival at Chitwa Chitwa, you will be welcomed, debriefed on the do's and don'ts and routine at camp, and shown to your rooms, before a yummy light lunch.

As the heat dies down, you will be asked to gather in the mess area for some tea and pastries, before setting off on an afternoon game drive. Over the next few days, expect to see not only the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes) but also plenty more – from plum-coloured starlings flashing iridescence to massive regal martial eagles and busy banded mongooses.

On this first game drive, you will be pounded with new sights, experiences, smells and feelings. As soon as the sun starts setting your guide will seek the best spot in the area to stop. Switch the engine off and alight from the vehicle to absorb more of this magical place and moments as your guide pours you a drink of your choice. Enjoy the sunset, the exhilaration of being in the bushveld and the waning of a transfer day.

However, the day is not yet over, for it is during this magic hour that many species become active as some seek a place to rest, roost or sleep...and others alight to take on the "night shift" or take advantage of the dimming light conditions that makes them infallible predators. With spotlight in hand, your guide will drive you back to camp, whilst scanning the road, trees and bushes with his spotlight in search of quarries such as Bush babies, Porcupine, Genet, Mongoose, Owls, Nightjars and perchance rarer crepuscular species like Pangolin, Civet or Wild Cat.

On arrival at camp, you will have time to shower, change clothes and gather by the campfire to wind down before a delicious buffet affair and great company.

After supper, you may want to watch the flames die down by the fire and listen for some bush sounds, or admire the awe-inspiring southern skies before you go to bed for a well-deserved rest.

Overnight at Chitwa Chitwa 

No two days are the same while on safari at Chitwa Chitwa and your experience is tailored to suit individual preferences and expectations.

Still, there is a certain rhythm and pace to the experience that stirs a sense of homecoming on repeat visits and a pleasing sense of order for first time bushveld visitors.

Life at Chitwa Chitwa is dictated by the seasons; the vegetation and the animal behaviour shift with the rains of summer and the chill of winter.

What is unchanging is the opportunity to experience a deep and authentic connection with the natural world.

Below is a rough guideline of what to expect, however, each safari experience is tailor-made and may differ from day to day, so speak to us if you have any preferences or experiences you are passionately after.

• 05h00 Wake up, meet at lodge for coffee
• 05h30 Depart for a safari (game drive)
• 08h45 Head back to camp for breakfast
• 10h00 Bush walk with your ranger or alternative activities and relaxation
• 13h00 Lunch
• 16h00 Afternoon tea at lodge
• 16h30 Evening safari and sundowners
• 19h30 Head back to camp
• 20h00 Aperitifs
• 20h30 Dinner
• Night Cap

Getting into step with the rhythm of nature is the first order of business. Witnessing the start of the day in the African bush is like being invited to partake in a daily miracle. The day begins with a dawn chorus of birdsong, the haunting calls of fish eagles with air rich with the night flowers’ perfume and a delightfully cool temperature.

By 7:30am the magic hours have passed, and soon the animals will sink into the torpor brought on by the midday heat.

On returning from the game drive and fortifying yourself with breakfast you can either retire to the cool sanctuary of your chalet or indulge in a myriad of bushveld activities which include the following: bush walks,  a Dixie Shangaan Village Tour, a wellness treatment, or safari boutique shopping.

Chitwa Chitwa's highly qualified guides and Shangaan trackers ensure an unforgettable African safari by enriching the experience with their profound knowledge regarding this animal kingdom and its complex habitat.. Trackers sit up at the front of the game viewer looking for fresh animal tracks, while rangers drive with astonishing skill into ravines and through thickets in pursuit of rare animal sightings, simultaneously astonishing guests with their outstanding knowledge and unforgettable stories.

Many of Chitwa Chitwa’s rangers and trackers grew up in this region, living close to the land. This gives them an unmatched knowledge of the terrain, flora and wildlife on the reserve. 

After your game drive you will arrive back at the lodge and will have ample time to drop your things in your room and return to the dining room, after a change of clothes and maybe a quick shower. Enjoy a sumptuous feast and the sounds of the African night whilst sharing your experiences and sightings of the day with your fellow travellers. 

Later, a well-deserved rest beckons in your room.

Lala gahle (sleep tight!!)

Overnight at Chitwa Chitwa

Today's plan will follow the same format as in previous days, a game drive in the AM and a game drive in the PM.

Where you go and what you look for will depend entirely upon what you have already seen thus far, are still looking for, or would like to see again.  

It is also time to rest and relax, find a good spot in the shade, drink in hand,  a good book or favourite company and while away the hotter hours of the day observing game and birds drift by in search of water, graze or seeds.

Overnight at Chitwa Chitwa 

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy one last game activity before packing up and doing your official check out. You will then be transferred back to the Hoedspruit airport to catch your flight to Cape Town or Joburg International airport and connect with your homebound or ongoing travel arrangements.

As you bid farewell to your Big Five adventure, we hope that the very endearing bush & wildlife romance experienced on your trip at Chitwa Chitwa has left an imprint on your heart and in your memories and hope that you will return to make more African inspired memories with us !

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