Michele Chapuis - Heart Beat of Africa Tour

Day notes

Check in and get settled in at your Guest House

Expect a comfortable, well-located guesthouse with a relaxed vibe, excellent breakfast, friendly hosts, and easy access to restaurants and local attractions.

Dinner (included in cost) - an enjoyable evening guaranteed!
 

Day notes

After a scrumptious breakfast at your guesthouse, start your day with a guided ascent of Table Mountain, either via the cable car or a scenic hike, enjoying panoramic views of the city, Table Bay, and the Atlantic Seaboard while learning about the local flora and geology.

Next, explore the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood with your guide, discovering its rich Cape Malay history, vibrant architecture, and local markets.  Stop for a traditional lunch at a local café or bistro before heading to the V&A Waterfront, where your guide leads you through the harbor, artisan shops, sharing insights into the city’s maritime and cultural heritage.

End the day by setting sail on a luxury catamaran and cruise into Table Bay for epic views of Table Mountain while sipping sparkling wine or grape juice.

Day notes

Another wonderful day planned in Cape Town!

Enjoy your breakfast and then onto a Cape Peninsula day tour with a specialised guide offering a relaxed scenic journey along Cape Town’s coastline, including Chapman’s Peak Drive, a visit to the African penguins at Boulders Beach, and exploration of the dramatic cliffs and viewpoints of Cape Point. Along the way, your guide shares local insights and highlights hidden viewpoints, creating a smooth, informative, and visually spectacular day.

You will enjoy a laid-back picnic lunch and a Sunset dinner. 

Day notes

After a hearty breakfast prepare for your half-day visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with a specialist botany guide offering a relaxed yet enriching exploration of one of the world’s great botanical gardens.
Expect guided walks through indigenous plant collections and themed gardens, with expert insight into South Africa’s unique fynbos, medicinal plants, and seasonal highlights.
Your guide brings the landscape to life by explaining plant adaptations, conservation efforts, and the link between flora, climate, and wildlife, with time to enjoy the tree canopy walkway, mountain views, and peaceful garden spaces at an unhurried pace.

Enjoy an Alfresco lunch and then head back to your Guesthouse for some relaxation and free time.

Tonight you will enjoy a wonderful Seafood dinner.  (Should you not eat seafood, there will be an alternative meal on offer)

Day notes

Your last full day in Cape Town!

After breakfast at your Guesthouse, a visit to the Cape Winelands with a specialist guide offers a full sensory experience of South Africa’s premier wine region. Expect a cellar tour where you learn about winemaking techniques and grape varieties, followed by a guided wine tasting of signature reds and whites. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a scenic vineyard, paired with local wines, before exploring historic Franschhoek, discovering its charming streets, art galleries, and French Huguenot heritage. Your specialist guide provides insider knowledge, shares stories behind each estate, and highlights the region’s history, culture, and gastronomy for a well-rounded and immersive day.

End the day and your last evening with a very special 'posh farewell dinner' in Cape Town.

Day notes

Check out of your Guesthouse after a good breakfast for your flight to Victoria Falls.
You will be met at Vic Falls airport and transferred to Vic Falls Safari Lodge.

Get settled in at your Safari Lodge and enjoy the afternoon and evening in this very special part of Africa.

Enjoy a swim at the lodge pool or sit and enjoy the view from the Buffalo Bar Deck overlooking the watering hole where birdlife, warthogs, antelopes and elephants frequent .

Order a Malawi Shandy for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink or try your first ZAMBEZI Beer which is a fantastic Zimbabwean beer!  For those more ambitious, try one of their safari cocktails from their menu. (Drinks not included) 

Enjoy the atmosphere at MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant for dinner where you will choose dinner from an à la carte menu. (Extra cost - but very reasonable)

ACTIVITY PLANNED:  SUNSET CRUISE - (Late afternoon)
Enjoy a lively sunset cruise on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. Guests should expect a large barge-style boat comfortably set up as a relaxed dining area, with canapés and drinks included. It’s less of a small intimate boat ride and more of a sociable river experience, with a great vibe on the water, beautiful sunset views, and the chance to spot wildlife along the riverbanks.

Day notes

Wake-up with the sunrise: Enjoy tea or coffee on your balcony while taking in views of the lodge’s wilderness area.

Head down to the main restaurant area for breakfast.  Come hungry!

PLANNED ACTIVITY:  
Victoria Falls tour: Depart for a guided tour of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side)
Walk along the paths to iconic viewpoints like Main Falls, Devil’s Cataract, and Knife-Edge Bridge.
Learn about the history, geology, and local culture from your guide.T
Take plenty of photos—prepare for spray from the falls! (Poncho's are provided, but bring a light rain jacket just in case!)

Lunch Excursion - Dusty Road Township Experience
Today, you will step beyond the usual tourist experience and discover the real heart of Victoria Falls on this insightful township tour.  Travel through local communities, visit neighborhoods and markets, meet local residents, and gain a fascinating glimpse into everyday life, culture and traditions. This meaningful and authentic experience offers you a wonderful opportunity to see a different side of Zimbabwe and connect with the people who call this remarkable place home.

Afternoon
Catch a shuttle from your lodge into Victoria Falls for some curio shopping and sightseeing.
Book an additional activity at reception OR a High-Tea at the original Victoria Falls Hotel OR
Rest by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment (extra cost), or just soak in the views. 

Evening
Enjoy drinks while watching the sunset over the bush—perfect photo opportunities!

PLANNED ACTIVITY:
Dinner: African Boma & Drum Show - prepare to have a blast - in a true African way!

Day notes

PLANNED ACTIVITY: 
Full-Day Chobe Safari

You will experience a full-day safari adventure in Chobe National Park, Botswana, one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife destinations. The day combines wildlife viewing by both boat and safari vehicle, giving you the opportunity to experience the Chobe River and National Park from two different perspectives.

Your experience includes return road transfers from Victoria Falls to the Botswana border, assistance with border formalities, a Chobe River boat cruise, lunch included in the rate, a game drive in Chobe National Park, and Chobe National Park fees.

During the river cruise, you may see hippo, crocodile, elephants and abundant birdlife along the water’s edge. The game drive offers the chance to search for Chobe’s famous elephant herds, buffalo, antelope, giraffe, and predators such as lion or leopard.

Please note that this is a long but rewarding full-day excursion, and you will need to carry your passport for the border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana. Visa fees, if required, are for your own account.

Day notes

Get settled in at beautiful Chundu Island Lodge!

Being located on the Zambezi River, you feel completely connected to nature, with riverfront views and uninterrupted bush scenery.

After a delicious lunch on the deck overlooking the water channels of the river, prepare for an activity of a sunset game drive in the Zambezi National Park or sunset river cruise.

Freshen up back at your room and get ready for Chundu's delicious dinner by candle-light and under the African stars.

Enjoy a hot beverage around the campfire after dinner!

Day notes

Wake up early to the sounds of birds all around you.

Make yourself a hot tea or coffee, then settle onto your private deck to appreciate the peaceful surroundings and breathe it all in.

Enjoy a hot shower in your private outdoor shower area, looking up at the beautiful trees above you.

After a full breakfast on the main deck, depart on your morning game drive into Zambezi National Park, with a bush tea or coffee stop along the way.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax.

During your stay, request a guided Chundu River Island walk, which is both interesting and informative.

After afternoon tea or coffee, head out either on a sunset river cruise on the lodge’s boat, or opt for another game drive.

Make sure you experience both while staying at Chundu — each is very special in its own way.

Day notes

Last morning waking up at beautiful Chundu Island.  After a hearty breakfast and quick boat crossing over the river, enjoy a game drive transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Kruger International Airport.

On arrival at Kruger International Airport, a representative will meet you. 
 
Sit back in your air-conditioned vehicle and relax during your road transfer to the Paul Kruger Gate of the Kruger National Park.  (2 hours)

From the main Kruger Gate - It's just a short game drive to Rhino Post Safari Lodge.  This is a lovely opportunity to enjoy the landscape of the region. 
Check in at Rhino Post Safari Lodge and get settled after you've received a lodge welcome and orientation.  Enjoy a late afternoon sundowner at the lodge.

Dinner & Evening – A candle-lit meal at the lodge and your first night sleeping in your beautiful accommodation overlooking a dry riverbed.  Shower under the stars in your private outdoor shower and enjoy a good sleep listening to the sounds of the bush.

Day notes

After a leisurely breakfast, prepare for check-out and your road transfer to Blyde River Canyon Lodge.  (Approximately 4 hours)

On arrival at Blyde River get settled in at your Lodge and enjoy a leisurely traditional lunch.

Scenic lodge walk & gardens
Take a gentle walk around the lodge grounds to stretch your legs after the drive. The indigenous gardens, river frontage and canyon views are ideal for settling into the Lowveld atmosphere.

Riverside relaxation
Spend time by the Blyde River — enjoy a refreshment, or simply take in the birdlife and surrounds.   

Swimming or poolside downtime
Cool off in the lodge pool and relax on the deck, especially welcome after a warm drive through the Lowveld.

Sunset viewing
The canyon setting makes for beautiful late-afternoon light. 

Birdwatching
The area is rich in birdlife, including kingfishers, hornbills and fish eagles. A short, informal birding session around the lodge is very rewarding.

Early evening drinks & dinner
Ease into the stay with pre-dinner drinks followed by a relaxed dinner at the lodge, often enjoyed under the stars or in the open-air dining area.

Day notes

After a hearty breakfast - Start your day with a scenic drive through the awakening Lowveld, and prepare to be wowed by the dramatic beauty of Blyde River Canyon and the iconic Three Rondavels.

Some of the highlights include the rock formations at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, take in sweeping vistas from God’s Window and the escarpment lookouts, and a boat cruise in the canyon.

Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch, then return to your lodge with your camera full and your spirit refreshed. A full day of breathtaking landscapes, memorable photo stops, and fascinating local stories!

Enjoy your 3 course dinner at the lodge and final evening of your Heartbeat of Africa Journey!

Day notes

Check -out and prepare for your road transfer to Hoedspruit Airport. (Approximately 50 mins drive)

Flight back to Cape Town...

“Hamba kahle — go well, and may the spirit of Africa stay with you until we meet again.”