Upon arrival at Hoedpsruit Airport (HDS) in the Lowveld, you’ll be met and transferred to your exclusive private and fully accessible lodge in the Klaserie Private Game Reserve.
After a warm welcome and a delicious lunch, settle into your luxurious accommodation and perhaps enjoy a brief rest before heading out on your first evening game drive. Your eagerly awaited introduction to the magic of the African bushveld is about to begin!
The Ximuwu Experience:
At Ximuwu Safari Lodge, accessibility is just the beginning. We believe true luxury means everyone takes part – fully and equally. That’s why we designed every detail of our lodge with inclusion and participation in mind. Whether you’re joining game drives, drink stops in the bush, a bush dinner under the stars, or a helicopter ride over the reserve, you’re never left behind.
Ximuwu’s barrier-free safari accommodations prioritise accessibility, featuring rooms with adjustable beds and navigation lights for easy movement. First and foremost, our en-suites are equipped with easily accessible showers, hand-held showers, and grab rails, ensuring safety and comfort.
Large sliding doors lead to a spacious deck, where all guests can savour coffee while enjoying wildlife views or unwind with a nightcap under the stars. Each stay at Ximuwu is designed to offer comfort and create memorable moments amidst the African wilderness.
Comfortable and Accessible Exploration - Explore the beauty of the reserve and lodge with absolute comfort. Moreover, our accessible pathways ensure you can enjoy every corner of our stunning lodge.
Inclusive Bush Experiences - Enjoy accessible bush dinners, peaceful morning drinks in the wild, and firelit nights in the boma, all with easy ramp access. These experiences are designed to be inclusive, allowing everyone to savour the magic of the bush.
Your Guides love to share their extensive knowledge, and work closely with their Shangaan trackers to get the best sightings. There is great communication between the two and the Trackers are encouraged to share their knowledge of local uses of herbs and trees, animals and birds.
We go out in the early morning and late afternoons in open Landrovers and can follow the Big 5 off road in careful, controlled circumstances, this is an experience few guests would like to miss. Guests are able to get really close to the animals and experience truly fantastic photographic opportunities. Early mornings start off a little cold, but a stop is made later for warming drinks, or cold ones, if preferred.
A highlight of late afternoon drives is the time spent at sundowner time. This is the moment to appreciate the magnificence of an African sunset, whilst sipping sundowner drinks.
The general daily program at all game lodges offers time to really unwind and relax in luxury and comfort while still offering the excitement of being deep in the bush surrounded by game.
The general activities run along the following lines:
An early morning wake-up call before dawn, a quick cup of coffee and some fruit or a biscuit followed by a 3-hour game drive where you have the chance to spot not only the Big 5, but also a wide variety of other game species.
You will then return to the lodge for an awesome breakfast, and then have time to relax. Enjoy the sun at the pool's edge, sleep in the comfort of your luxury room, or on a hammock overlooking the bushveld.
You also have the option of a bush walk with a qualified game ranger, a highly recommended activity. The times of these walks will differ depending on the time of the year and the heat of the day. Will be arranged locally in consultation with your ranger(s)
The order of the day is usually:
Early morning game drive followed by a leisurely breakfast.
Thereafter, guests can enjoy the luxury of the camp until lunch.
Afternoon game drives include sundowners and culminate in a night drive.
Dinner is served under the African sky or in the dining areas.
Normal Day:
Wake up 05:30am
Tea/Coffee 06:00am
Morning Safari 06:30am
Breakfast 09:30am
Lunch 1:00pm
Tea/Coffee 3:30pm
Sundowner Safari 4:00pm
Dinner 7:30pm
Activities:
4x4 landrover safaris with private vehicles, guides and expert trackers
Safari Walks:
A great location to enjoy wonderful walks, because it is so large and unspoiled. It is quite a different experience to see animals on foot and always very exciting. The walks offer the opportunity to look at and learn about the smaller things and just to appreciate the special smell of the African bush, listening to the calls of the many species of birds. Walks are generally taken after breakfast and guests are always accompanied by an armed Ranger, there is a minimum age requirement of 16 years as per South African law.
After your final morning game drive and a hearty bush breakfast, we bid farewell to the Klaserie and transfer you to Hoedpsruit Airport (HDS) for your flight to Cape Town (CPT).
On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by our African Blue representative and escorted by private transfer to your hotel in the vibrant V&A Waterfront precinct. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure, perfect for unwinding or taking a relaxed stroll through the lively shops, cafés, and harbourfront atmosphere of the V&A Waterfront.
Enjoy a leisurely first day in Cape Town, where you can spend time exploring the V&A Waterfront and the many attractions, such as:
Shopping at the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre - With over 450 retail outlets (Open 9am-9pm). Selling everything from fashion, homeware and curios, to jewellery, leather goods and audio visual equipment, the V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s most popular shopping destination.
Shopping in the Watershed building (next to the Aquarium and open 10 am - 6 pm), showcasing over 150 shops for locally designed goods, including crafts, art, clothing and more in a cool, industrial space.
Two Oceans Aquarium for a world-class experience of our diverse coast and the life that it supports.
Spa Treatments where you have many Spa options directly on your doorstep within the waterfront precinct.
Afternoon Tea at one of the many V&A Hotels or the old favourite, The Mount Nelson Hotel.
Afternoon Cocktail Cruise on the Alba (3.30-5.30 pm). An afternoon cocktail cruise in the V&A Waterfront harbour. A glass of bubbly on arrival. A four-course canapé menu with cocktails, wine & attentive tableside service. Expect breath-taking views of the Cape Town skyline from the fully glass-enclosed & air-conditioned restaurant boat, including sights like Table Mountain on this spellbinding tour through the fishing industry & yacht marina in the V&A Waterfront.
Evening Dinner Cruise on the Alba (7-9 pm). A dinner cruise in the V&A Waterfront harbour. A glass of bubbly on arrival. A three-course menu with wine pairing & attentive tableside service. Selective beverages including coffee & tea. Expect breath-taking views of the Cape Town skyline from the fully glass-enclosed & air-conditioned restaurant boat, including sights like Table Mountain and the sparkling lights of the V&A Harbour at night on this spellbinding tour through the fishing industry & yacht marina.
* Above timings and rates are approximate and to be used as an indication only.
City, Kirstenbosch & Constantia (Classic)
Experience Cape Town at a gentle pace, savouring its scenery, stories and celebrated landmarks. The iconic slopes of Table Mountain, the tranquil beauty of Kirstenbosch and the historic Constantia Winelands combine to create an elegant introduction to the Mother City. Think of this itinerary as a beautifully drawn outline – we’ll refine the details around your interests, timing and energy on the day.
Begin with a visit to Table Mountain, or to Signal Hill should the weather be less forgiving, and take in sweeping views over the city, harbour and Atlantic coastline.
Continue into the historic heart of Cape Town as your guide shares the city’s layered story, with the option to visit a museum for a more in-depth look at its past.
Enjoy a leisurely walk through the Company’s Garden, the city’s original vegetable garden, now a leafy oasis where pigeons, geese and squirrels go about their day.
Visit the vibrant Bo-Kaap, the Cape Malay Quarter, with its cobbled streets, brightly painted houses and enduring cultural heritage.
Stroll through the magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, pausing at highlights such as the Boomslang Tree Canopy Walk and the Conservatory. Enjoy a light lunch (own account) at the popular tea room showcasing local flavours, or save your appetite for a relaxed meal among the vines in Constantia.
Discover the Constantia Winelands, visiting one or two handpicked estates in this historic valley. You may wish to explore the cellars and heritage of Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate, or sample fine wines and views at one of the more contemporary properties, such as Steenberg or Beau Constantia.
As the day winds down, we may return via the scenic coastal road along Victoria Road through Camps Bay. With luck and good timing, you will be treated to a classic Cape Town sunset – a fitting finale to a refined and memorable day in the Mother City.
You are also welcome to enquire about our alternate City tours, each crafted to offer a different perspective on Cape Town’s vibrant cultural and natural landscape:
City, Langa & Kirstenbosch – A full day exploring the city, Langa Township and the tranquil Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
City, Langa & Table Mountain – A full day discovering the city, visiting Langa Township and ascending Table Mountain for iconic views over Cape Town.
Langa & Robben Island – A Tale of Two Cities – Gain insight into the history of apartheid with a two-hour immersive walk through vibrant Langa Township, followed by a visit to the iconic Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Private Guide & Premium Tour Vehicle
Range of drinks, snacks, treats (coffees, etc), onboard WiFi
Return Fast Track cableway ticket
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens entrance
Bo Kaap foodie tasting
Museum entrance
1 x wine tasting
Lunch
Items of a personal nature.
Optional activities not listed - can be arranged on request
Cape Peninsula (Classic)
Savour a full day on the Cape Peninsula, taking in its dramatic coastline, sweeping ocean views and remarkable biodiversity at a relaxed, unhurried pace. This is a timeless exploration of one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.
We also include a leisurely lunch stop tailored to your preferences, with several carefully chosen venues offering fabulous ocean views (lunch for own account) – the ideal moment to pause, soak it all in and enjoy fresh local flavours.
> Follow the Atlantic Seaboard on a leisurely scenic drive past Clifton and Camps Bay, where pristine beaches meet the deep blue Atlantic and the Twelve Apostles mountain range rises steeply behind.
> Continue along the iconic Chapman’s Peak Drive, with plenty of stops for memorable photographs, before entering the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Keep watch for small antelope, eland, Cape mountain zebra, abundant birdlife and the ever-mischievous Chacma baboons.
> At Cape Point, either ride the funicular (included) or take the gently graded footpath – around 12 minutes – up to the historic lighthouse, where expansive views unfold over False Bay, the Cape of Good Hope and the Atlantic Ocean.
> Visit Boulders Beach, home to the indigenous and critically endangered African penguin, and enjoy time to observe these charming birds in their natural habitat.
> Return to Cape Town via the naval town of Simon’s Town, then either cross the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass or follow the coastal road through Kalk Bay, with time for a stroll through this characterful, bohemian fishing village.
We have a selection of hand-picked lunch venues to choose from for your midday stop. If you have a specific restaurant in mind, you’re welcome to let us know in advance so we can plan the routing accordingly and time lunch perfectly along the way.
Enhance your day further by enjoying a wine tasting (own account) at either Cape Point Vineyards with its stunning views over the Atlantic, or in the Constantia valley in the late afternoon.
Private Guide & Premium Tour Vehicle
Range of drinks, snacks, treats (coffees, etc)
Onboard WiFi
Cape Point and Boulders Penguin Colony entrance fees
Cape Point Funicular
Chapman’s Peak toll
Lunch
Optional activities
Items of a personal nature.
Enjoy a day at leisure or possible explore suggested activities below (excluded from your pricing).
• Table Mountain: Walk, hike (and abseil), or take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain.
• Signal Hill: Watch the historic firing of the Noon Day Gun or tandem paragliding from the slopes of Signal Hill.
• Company Gardens: Feed the squirrels and enjoy tea in the Company Gardens - finding peace within a buzzing urban metropolis.
• Township Cultural Tours: An excellent opportunity to be guided around the townships, interact with the locals and even have a drink or meal at a shebeen (tavern) or restaurant. Please do not do self-guided township tours; ask us for assistance!
• Robben Island: Visit this World Heritage Site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
• Beaches: Relax at one of Cape Town’s famous beaches, Clifton, Camps Bay or Llandudno.
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens & the Boomslang Walkway: This world-renowned garden is home to 6500 different species of South African flora. The Botanical Gardens are well respected for the research they conduct to protect some of the most endangered plant species found in the Cape Floral Kingdom. Pack a picnic and blanket to enjoy under a tree, or a leisurely lunch in the ever-popular Kirstenbosch Gardens Tea Room.
• Explore Cape Town on a City Walking Tour: St Georges Cathedral (hear about Desmond Tutu), The Parliament and Presidents house (the land of many capitals), The Old Strand and Old Mutual Buildings (African style architecture and where the beach used to be), City Hall (where Mandela gave his world-famous speech on the day of his release), Green Market Square (“Africa made in China”), The Grand Parade and the Castle of Good Hope (an early pentagon), District Six, The Flower Market (meet South Africa’s National flower “in person”), The Slave Lodge (where thousands of slaves were kept), and Company Gardens (with probably the world’s oldest pear tree and the begging squirrels)
• Experience Bo Kaap on a Walking Tour & Cape Malay Cooking Experience: Long Street (hear about the party street of Cape Town), Auwal Masjeed (the oldest mosque in Cape Town founded by “Tuan Guru” himself), The old tailors' house, The Doctors house (where it all started with the different coloured houses), Biesmiellah Malay Restaurant and also Cape Malay food, The Atlas Spice Trading Centre (where you can smell the spices of the east and maybe do some shopping), Chiappini Street (arguably the most beautiful street in town – where the cameras start clicking), and Bree Street (trendy cafes, restaurants and bars)
• Enjoy high tea: Spend an afternoon of bliss enjoying high tea at the likes of The One & Only, Table Bay, 12 Apostles Hotel and the original & best ... The Mount Nelson Hotel.
• Constantia Wine Estates: The mixture of mountain drives and valleys covered in vines makes this a stunning part of Cape Town. The main estates are Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig, Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, and the fancier Beau Constantia and Steenberg options.
• Winelands Tour: Visit Stellenbosch with its tree-lined streets and historical architecture; Franschhoek, arguably the most beautiful part of the Winelands and; Paarl, the ‘pearl of the Cape’. Enjoy wine tastings and cellar tours.
Get a bird’s eye view of Cape Town and take in the sights from a different perspective. We can organise an array of options for helicopter flips from the V&A Waterfront. Discuss with your African Blue consultant or guide to plan and arrange the option that best suits your wishes.
1. The Hopper: +-12 mins duration that will allow you to see our beautiful city from the air.
2. Atlantico: +-20 mins duration along our breathtaking beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard and the majestic 12 Apostles.
3. Two Oceans: +-25 mins duration halfway down the Peninsula covering both coastlines and around Table Mountain.
4. Full Peninsula: +-40 mins duration down to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, within the Table Mountain National Park.
5. Robben Island: +-20 mins duration out to Robben Island to experience an important piece of South African History.
6. Twelve Apostles: +-16 mins duration along the Atlantic Coast, taking in the sights of the City, Clifton and Camps Bay.
7. Various wine estate transfers for that extra special lunch experience!
This is a weather-dependent activity, and we may need to reschedule. We will keep you updated on the expected weather for your time and date booked.
Hermanus Wine & Whales (Classic)
Whilst the town of Hermanus is rated as having the best land-based whale watching in the world, the area also produces world-class wines and offers unique active experiences from the mountains to the sea!
> Spend time walking along the cliff paths overlooking Walker Bay, viewing the Southern Right Whales that frequent our waters each year (June - November).
> Optional boat-based whale watching (own account), which departs from the new harbour at 09:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm daily (subject to availability and weather).
> Savour the "cool climate" wines of the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley (Heaven and Earth)
> Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay
> Slow cruise along Clarens Drive, following the False Bay coastline, where on a clear day you can see all the way across to Cape Point.
There are magnificent wine estates with fantastic lunch options in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. Ask us to arrange a leisurely lunch at one of these world-class venues.
As the Southern Right Whales only frequent our waters from June to November each year, you may wish to enjoy a different experience, some options of which include:
Specialised Wine tour - enjoy a day crafted especially to your tastes and wishes. We delve deeper into the viticulture and viniculture of our Cape Winelands, with specialist tastings & experiences for a completely bespoke itinerary.
West Coast Flowers - another seasonal tour in August & September each year to view the wild flowers in our wonderful West Coast region.
Elgin Wine Route - a fantastic cool-climate wine region offering the complete opposite to the busier Stellenbosch & Franschhoek regions. Think of completely relaxed, owner-managed, intimate wine tastings in a beautiful valley.
Cape Agulhas - experience a scenic drive from Cape Town through the rolling wheat and bright yellow canola fields of the Overberg to the southernmost point of the African continent and geographical meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans at Cape Agulhas. We return via Hermanus and along Clarens drive, which hugs the coastline of False Bay, offering fantastic views.
Private Guide & Premium Tour Vehicle
Range of drinks, snacks, treats (coffees, etc), onboard WiFi
Harold Porter & Stony Point Penguin entrances
1 x Food & Wine pairing
Lunch
Items of a personal nature
Optional Boat-based whale watching (R1500 pp)
Cape Winelands (Classic)
One of our most popular and customisable tours, allowing visitors to see our stunning countryside, enjoy our yummy wines, visit historic estates, quaint villages and take in the grandeur of one of the photogenic regions South Africa has to offer. We generally cover the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch Wine Routes, but can also extend to other areas if you wish to book more than a single day of exploring with us.
> Introduction to our wines, which our passionate winemakers have been perfecting for over 350 years.
> Your guide will tailor the day to suit your preferences. The full spectrum of wine is available, from your easy-drinking whites to full-bodied reds, sweet wines to Cap Classique (local version of Champagne) and with your guide’s local knowledge, you can sit back and relax on a fun day out.
> Stroll through some of the most romantic little towns, market streets, art galleries, vintage car collections, magnificent gardens and grand gables of Cape Dutch architecture that really give the Cape Winelands their iconic character.
> Hear the history of these centuries-old locations and possibly visit the prison gates where Nelson Mandela took his first steps to freedom. For the more adventurous, you can also sample some of our fine brandy, craft beer, grappa, olive oils, artisan fine chocolates and even biltong!
Taste the Cape's very own Pinotage wine. Our unique red grape varietal, cross-pollinated by a Stellenbosch University professor in 1925, has enjoyed great success and is enjoyed now not just in South Africa, but in other far reaches of the globe.
Kannonkop, Moreson and Simonsig are to name a few that have mastered this delicious South African Wine
Private Guide & Premium Tour Vehicle
Range of drinks, snacks, treats (coffees, etc), onboard WiFi
3 x wine tastings
1 x food pairing experience
Lunch, optional activities and items of a personal nature.
Savour a leisurely morning in Stellenbosch’s Art-and-Wine Quarter, browsing galleries, heritage buildings, and curated boutiques.
Should time permit, enjoy a spa treatment before your private transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your onward flight.
We can also extend your journey with an additional day devoted to the Stellenbosch Winelands, immersing you in its exceptional estates, art, and culinary scene before your private transfer to the airport later that afternoon or evening.
