Africa in 50 days

Check out from the hotel at about 8am and make your way across to the airport for check in to your flight to Cape Town.

Transfer has been booked at 12:15pm from Cape Town Airport to City Lodge V&A Waterfront.

Nothing has been organised for today in Cape Town. If, on arrival, the weather is good, it is highly recommended that you organise a trip up Table Mountain. If it is not good, consider organising it for your last morning in Cape Town, prior to flying to Port Elizabeth.

FULL DAY CAPE PENINSULA TOUR

You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 8:30am - start your tour by heading towards Cape Point: the scenic drive will take you to the south western tip of the Cape Peninsula. Meander along the Atlantic coast, passing Sea Point, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles mountain outcrops.

Once at Hout Bay you can take an optional boat trip to Duiker Island (for own account & time permitting) to see the Cape Fur Seals.

Next we travel to the Cape Point Nature Reserve with its abundant fauna and flora and you have the opportunity to ride in the Funicular  (optional and for your own account).

We continue along False Bay with a stop at historic Simons Town to visit the Penguin colony at Boulders Beach (for own account) passing the village Fish Hoek and seaside Muizenberg. 

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is next before returning to Cape Town.

ROBBEN ISLAND IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON WINELANDS TOUR

The Robben Island Tour includes:
- A return boat trip across Table Bay
- A Tour of the infamous Maximum Security Prison (by an ex-political prisoner)
- A 45 minute bus ride with commentary
Boats depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront and head to one of the most famous prisons in the world. This is where South Africa’s father of the nation spent 18 years, the legend of a man, Nelson Mandela. Guests will disembark at Murray’s Harbour on the east coast of the island and take a short walk to buses that will transport them to all of the historically significant sites. The tour guides inside the prison today, are former political prisoners and their knowledge of this island is unparalleled and adds a unique cultural layer to this experience. This tour culminates with a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell.
Make your own way to Nelson Mandela Gateway (approximately 15minute walk from your hotel) and check in 30 mins prior to departure. Departure is at 9am and boarding gates close 10min before departure.

AFTERNOON WINELANDS TOUR:
You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 2:00pm. This enchanting excursion begins with a tour through historic Stellenbosch, an architectural jewel that serves as the historic heart of the country’s wine region. A gracious blend of 18-century Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian buildings is evident as we drive down Dorp Street, where massive Oaks still shade original water furrows, then enjoy a wine tasting in the Stellenbosch area. A second wine tasting will be included (time permitting), before returning to Cape Town.

CAPE TOWN TO PORT ELIZABETH

Morning free - if you haven't been able to get up Table Mountain yet, highly recommend you get up today.

You will be picked up at 2pm from your hotel to be transferred to the airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth. SA132 ETD 4:35pm

6pm transfer from Port Elizabeth airport to your hotel - Protea Hotel by Marriot, Port Elizabeth Marine. Standard sea-facing room.

The 4-Star Protea Hotel Marine offers comfortable accommodation for travellers to South Africa’s ‘friendly’ city of Port Elizabeth. The hotel is ideally located overlooking the popular, white-sand Pollock Beach and affords fantastic views of Algoa Bay as well as easy access to the city’s other attractions. The hotel is known for its friendly service and upmarket amenities. Meals are offered at the on-site restaurant and the hotel offers its guests use of a gym, swimming pool and elegant lounge and bar. A popular choice of destination due to its location and offerings, the Protea Hotel Marine is a convenient choice of accommodation when visiting Port Elizabeth. Nearby activities and attractions include watersports, nature reserves, botanical gardens and cultural destinations.

PORT ELIZABETH - KNYSNA

You will be collected from your hotel at approximately 8am to start your scheduled Guided Garden Route Glory Cut Above Tour.

Start your tour leaving Port Elizabeth and head westwards along the Garden Route, which follows the Indian Ocean coastline and is bordered inland by soaring mountain ranges and indigenous forests. Visit the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River Mouth (weather permitting). You’ll arrive at your hotel in Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. The afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore the town. Overnight in Knysna. [Dinner]

KNYSNA

After a leisurely breakfast you’ll enjoy a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you can take a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views of the town and lagoon, returning for lunch under the milkwood trees. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore this charming town set around a natural harbour lagoon. Overnight in Knysna. [Breakfast & Lunch]

KNYSNA - OUDTSHOORN

Travel through the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, known as the “ostrich capital” and the centre of the world’s ostrich farming industry. You’ll visit an Ostrich Farm for a guided tour, before taking a tour of the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. Travel to your hotel in the late afternoon, in time to check in and relax before dinner (for own account). Overnight in Oudtshoorn. [Breakfast & Lunch]

OUDTSHOORN - FRANSCHHOEK

Enjoy an early morning Meerkat Safari (for own account). Witness these incredible wild habituated creatures emerging out of their burrows, in time to soak up the sun before they head about their daily activities (weather permitting). After this thrilling experience, head back for a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, the journey continues through the “Little Karoo” to Barrydale, where you will have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, interact with the children and teachers, spending time with them in the classroom learning more about the local farming community, before travelling to Montagu, a picturesque and historic spa town. (The school visit is subject to the school being open.) Continue to Stellenbosch (Franschhoek for 2018 season), the second oldest city in South Africa, surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountains with vineyards as a backdrop. Overnight in Franschhoek. [Breakfast].

BARRYDALE COMMUNITY FARM SCHOOLS

The Barrydale Community Farm Schools were built during the 1960s by the farmers in the area for the labourers’ children. The multi-grade community farm schools offer education to children from Grades 1-6, with four classrooms, two teachers (one of whom is the principal) and an administrative clerk.

STELLENBOSCH – CAPE TOWN

After a leisurely breakfast, your story telling guide will take you on a tour through Franschhoek village, sharing with you the fascinating history of the French Huguenots and the Huguenot Memorial Museum.
Enjoy a wine tasting before continuing to Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain where the tour ends on arrival.[Breakfast]
Drop off at City Lodge V&A Waterfront Hotel.

5:45 am check out and 6am you will be picked up to transfer from your hotel to the airport. Depart on SA8690 ETD 8:30am to Victoria Falls.

On arrival and after checking through customs and immigration, you will be met and transferred to the Kingdom Hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel at 4-4:15pm and transferred to the boat launch site for your evening sunset cruise. After the cruise you will be returned to the hotel.

You will be picked up at 08:25 from the hotel for a tour of the Falls. National Parks fees have been pre-paid.

At 11:15 you will be picked up from the hotel and driven to the helipad for your 'Flight of Angels' trip in the helicopter.

After the flight, you will be dropped off at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge where you will be able to watch the 'vulture culture' experience. This can be followed by lunch at the Makuwa-Kuwa restaurant, should you choose to do so - at your own expense.
After lunch connect with the free shuttle back into town to your hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 08:20 and driven out to the Elephant Encounter.

For the Boma Dinner you will be picked up at approximately 19:00 (7pm) from the hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Kasane Airport. Normal pick-up time is at 10am, but they will telephone the hotel the day before to confirm the pick up time and they will let you know. This journey will take about an hour, not counting your stop at Customs and Immigration, and traverses through National Park, so there are possibilities of seeing animals along the way.

The flight from Kasane to Pom Pom airstrip takes about an hour and a half, followed by a short 5-10 minute transfer to the camp.

Pom Pom camp offers a variety of safari activities including 4WD game drives (day and night), walking safaris accompanied by an armed guide, mokoro (dug out canoe) trips and fishing.

Pom Pom to Victoria Falls

Timing of your return transfer still to be advised, but they are aware that you will be connecting to the Shongololo train and will drop you off at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

4pm Meet in the foyer at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Shongololo staff will welcome and tag your luggage. This is followed by a reception in the Pullman Room where you will enjoy a welcome drink and the train manager will give a welcome speech.

5pm The train departs for Dete

7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

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The little station of Victoria Falls was first reached by railway in June 1904. Old colonial buildings, bougainvillea and palm trees against the backdrop of the Victoria Falls Hotel form a charming oasis of soft sweetness after the rugged dryness of the landscape.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

5am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
6:30am Full -day game drive in Hwange National Park with a packed lunch (provided).
4pm Return to the train.
4:30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
6pm Depart for Bulawayo.
7:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Situated in the north west corner of Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park is the nation’s  largest wildlife area and contains a variety of animals and bird species, but is well-known for its prolific lion population. Covering 1 462 000 hectares, Hwange is roughly the same size as Belgium.

MATOPOS NATIONAL PARK

7am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
9am Full-day tour of Matopos National Park with lunch at Matopos Hills Lodge. Visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, as well as bushmen caves.
4pm Return to the train.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
6pm Depart for Dabuka.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Matopos, meaning ‘bald heads’, was the name chosen for the area by the Ndebele King, Mzilikazi. He is buried in the Matopos hills just a short distance from the park. It is an apt description of the dramatic hills and granite rocks of this area. The park is also the site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave at the summit of Malindidzimu– ‘hill of benevolent spirits’. He referred to this hill as having a view of the world. His grave is carved out of solid granite and surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of boulders. A visit can be made to one of the more accessible bushman caves, of which there are many hidden amongst the hills.

ANTELOPE PARK

6am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
8am Depart for a full day at Antelope Park.
Optional extras include canoeing, game drives, horseback game viewing, elephant interaction, bird-watching cruises and so on (see price list).
3pm Return to the train. Depart for Bannockburn.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Set in over 3000 acres of open savannah grassland, Antelope Park is a unique game reserve and a haven of tranquillity welcoming guests and volunteer eco-tourists alike. It is home to the world-famous African Lion and Environmental ResearchTrust (ALERT) lion rehabilitation programme, which is a multiphase lion conservation initiative. It is Africa’s first genuine programme working to ethically re-introduce the offspring of captive-bred African lions back into the wild.

GREAT ZIMBABWE

6:30am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
8am Transfer to the Great Zimbabwe Monument for a tour with lunch.
5pm Return to the train. Travel towards Beitbridge for border formalities. Cross the bridge to Messina for South African border formalities.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Travel through attractive granite hill country to the Great Zimbabwe Monument, a hugely impressive monument situated on-the southeastern edge of the central plateau and the largest precolonial monument south of the Egyptian pyramids. A celebrated achievement of the African people and a place where magical fables such as the story of
King Solomon’s Mines find their origins amongst the ruins of an ancient city built by the Rozwi people. Discover how these ancient people lived and mined gold and silver, which were ultimately taken out of Africa by Arabic and Portuguese traders.

LIMPOPO PROVINCE

7am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Day on board as the train traverses Limpopo.
1pm Lunch is served in the dining cars.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.Travel towards Hoedspruit.

Limpopo Province is located in the far north of South Africa and shares borders with three neighbouring countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. For this reason, the province is also known as the gateway to other African countries and also shares provincial borders with Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Northwest. The Limpopo landscape varies from one area to the other from tropical forests, bush and shrubs to semi-desert areas with small trees and bushes and mountains to flat land.

Limpopo is divided into five regions, strategically located according to the cultural inhabitants. Capricorn is the central region predominantly occupied by the Bapedi people. Waterberg is the largest region with a majority of Tswana people. Vhembe in the far north is dominated by Vhavenda and Vatsonga. The Mopani region near the Kruger Park is Vatsonga whereas the Sekhukhuni region is dominated by Bapedi and Ndebele. Limpopo is the only province in South Africa with more than two cultural groups staying together in their original habitat in harmony. Other ethnic groups include English and Afrikaans people.

KAPAMA RESERVE & HOEDSPRUIT ENDANGERED SPECIES CENTRE

5am Continental breakfast is served in the dining cars until 05:30.
5:30am Game drive in Kapama Game Reserve followed by visit to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
12pm Return to the train for lunch. Depart for Mpaka.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Situated in South Africa’s northernmost province of Limpopo, renowned for its prolific and diverse wildlife, Kapama Private Game Reserve is home to over 40 different mammal species including the Big Five, approximately 350 bird species and a myriad smaller species. The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is a unique African wildlife facility focusing on conservation and the sustainability of rare, vulnerable and threatened species. Founded on passion, the centre has adopted a holistic approach to its conservation activities such as the educating of surrounding communities, tourism, breeding, rehabilitation and anti-poaching, to name a few.

eSWATINI

7am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
8:30am Disembark at Mpaka. Transfer (90 minutes) to Swazi Candles, Mantenga Cultural Village and Mantenga Lodge.
2:15pm Return to the train (75 minutes). Depart for Maputo.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

The tiny kingdom of Swaziland covers only 17 000m2 making it the second smallest country in Africa. Experience the vibrant Swazi Candles’ creative handmade product range. Continue through the Ezulwini Valley to Mantenga Cultural Village, a living museum of old traditions representing a classical Swazi lifestyle during the 1800s. With the traditional artifacts on display, the village illustrates many facets of the ancient Swazi way of life: social, economic and religious.

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

7:00am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
9am City tour of Maputo, Mozambique.
3:30pm Return to the train. Travel to Komatipoort in South Africa for border formalities.
4:30pm Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malelane for the overnight stop.

Capital of Mozambique, Maputo is a city of contrasts offering an exciting mix of cultures. Its architecture is a blend of African, Portuguese and early Colonial traditions with old Catholic churches side-by-side with mosques, fortresses, Victorian mansions and other buildings from a bygone era.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

5:30am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
7am Full-day game viewing in the Kruger Park.
6pm Return to the train. Depart for Nelspruit.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

The famous Kruger Park has 2-million hectares of an unrivalled diversity of life forms. It is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and home to an impressive number of species, e.g. 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals including the Big Five.

PANORAMA ROUTE

7am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
9:15am Full-day tour of historical areas Pilgrim’s Rest, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Wonderview.
5pm Return to the train. Depart for Witbank.
7:30pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.

Pilgrim’s Rest is a living museum and declared a National Monument. Gold was discovered in this area in 1873 attracting 1500 prospectors. Today many of the restored miner’s houses serve as shops and restaurants. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are strange deep cylindrical cavities formed by river erosion and floodwater. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve has the most spectacular viewpoints overlooking South Africa’s Lowveld, so-named because it is much lower than the high escarpment along which the Panorama Route runs.

PRETORIA & SOWETO

8:30-10am The train arrives at Rovos Rail Station. Check out of train. Luggage will be stored at the station.
Enjoy a tour of Pretoria and Soweto.
4-5pm Return to Rovos Rail Station. A transfer company will collect you here and transfer you to your hotel.

Soweto comprises one-million people and was made famous by the Apartheid laws. Pass the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere) and the only street in Africa that once housed two Nobel Peace laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after one of the first students to be killed in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government. Spend the afternoon in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, visiting the Union Buildings. Designed by the famous colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker, and completed in 1913, the Union Buildings house the offices of the President and Ministers. Before leaving the capital behind visit the Voortrekker  Monument that commemorates the ‘Great Trek’ of the 1830s.

HODI HODI - Zanzibar

Check out of your hotel at 7am and make your way across to the airport to check in for your international flight to Dar es Salaam.

On arrival in Dar es Salaam and after clearing customs and immigration, exit the arrivals and turn immediately left. You will find the Coastal Kiosk located in the left-hand wall, 20 meters from the Arrivals door. One of their staff will be there to coordinate your complimentary transfer to the domestic terminal. From Dar es Salaam it is a  20minute flight to Zanzibar, which departs at 4:30pm.

On arrival at Stone Town, you will be met and transferred to Hodi Hodi. Your driver, whose name is Spiderman, will be holding a board with your name on it.

Hodi Hodi employ from and get their supplies via the local village, supporting the community.
The beach is safe and almost always quiet. There is a barrier reef so the sea is a calm lagoon, varying in depth with the tides, but always fine for swimming.
There is an ‘honesty’ bar, and complimentary WIFI, tea, coffee and water all day.
Meals are prepared with available fresh local ingredients. The set menu changes daily depending on availability, and they cater for individual needs as well as they can.
A little Massage Spa offers body scrubs, deep tissue massages, mani/pedicures..
This is a safe area, but you can leave any valuables in the office for secure keeping.
Activities here include: Snorkelling, Diving, Fishing, Boat trip with beach barbeque, Kite Surfing, Town Tour, Spice Tour. Book on arrival, or preferably in advance.

BREEZES BEACH CLUB

You will be picked up from Hodi Hodi and transferred to Breezes Beach Club. Arrange with Hodi Hodi management as to what time you would like to depart.

STONE TOWN - Emmersons on Hurumzi

You will be picked up from Breezes Beach Club and transferred to Emmersons on Hurumzi in Stone Town.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport.

Your flight with Coastal will depart at 9am and you need to check in at least 30 minutes prior. This flight is with the most reliable airline, but it does go via a number of other airports. Expected time of arrival is 12 noon in Arusha.

In Arusha you will be collected by a guide and will make your way to Plantation Lodge.

This morning you will depart early from the lodge and make your way up to the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day trip.
You will take a packed breakfast and lunch with you.
In the vehicle you will also have a cooler with cold water.

After breakfast you will be driven from Plantation Lodge to Namanga - the border post between Tanzania and Kenya - to arrive at approximately midday. Here you will be met by a Kenyan guide and driven to Amboseli.
The company picking you up on the Kenyan side will be in touch with the Tanzanian company and will have the mobile number of your guide, to ensure that timings are agreed on and there are no problems.

You will be transferred to the airstrip this morning to depart on Safarilink flight 012,  expected to depart at 09:00am. You will most likely have to change planes in Nairobi, departing Nairobi 10:00am, arriving Maasai Mara at app 11:00am

Please note all charter flights in Kenya only allow 15kgs luggage, in soft bags, inclusive of hand luggage.

The flights can also operate into up to four other stops, so arrival & departure times can vary.

You are expected to depart from Maasai Mara airstrip at app 11:00am, on Safarilink flight 002, arriving Nairobi app12:20pm
You will then depart Nairobi at approximately 1pm, arriving Nanyuki airstrip at app 14:35pm. You will be collected from here and transferred to Solio Lodge.

Afternoon Game drive.

You will depart from Nanyuki airstrip on flight 024 at app11:30am, expecting to arrive Nairobi at app 1:15pm.

You will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Travelling south we stop for morning tea (own expense) at the iconic Busselton Jetty, the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere. Indulge in a lunch of local Margaret River product with complimentary beer and cider tastings at one of Margaret River’s oldest breweries. We continue south and visit a local winery, taste some of the very best wines of the region whilst gaining some insight into the industry.
Next we head out to explore Mammoth Cave on a guided tour. Pass through the stunning Boranup Forest and be awestruck at the size of these massive Karri Trees. Afterwards, visit Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse the dividing point between the Southern and Indian Oceans.
Heading back towards Margaret River make a brief stop in the township where you have free time to stroll the main street. We break at a restaurant for a light dinner (own expense) before returning home to Perth, arriving back at approximately 9.30pm.

Swan Valley Gourmet Wine Cruise

Enjoy a delicious morning tea shortly after you board, followed by premium wine tasting with cheese and biscuits.
An informative Captain’s commentary about the river’s history will enhance your morning’s experience.
Disembark at Sandalford Estate for an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ winery tour and film presentation. This is followed by a unique ‘Wine Flight’ tasting of 6 premium Sandalford wines. A 2-course lunch is served throughout the tasting allowing you to decide on your favourite wine to accompany your main course.
Upon re-bearding complete your day with a tempting afternoon tea, complimentary wines and entertainment provided by the crew.

Rottnest Island – Discover Rottnest Tour, full day

This 90 minute circumnavigation of the island takes you out to some of Rottnest’s most spectacular locations and provides you with a complete interpretation of the island through passionate and knowledgeable crew. This coach based tour gives you a great introduction to the island, a sit down buffet lunch and then some free time.

This tour will provide you with an insight into Rottnest’s cultural and historical heritage, diverse wildlife, fauna and social heritage. You will also have a chance to step outside and have a stroll along the boardwalk at the majestic look-out point at West End.