On arrival into Cape Town International Airport you will be met by a representative and transferred to The Belmond Mount Nelson by private vehicle. The rest of the day is yours to unpack, unwind and explore at your leisure.
You will spend the next 4 days exploring the region.
Enjoy the beautiful grounds of the hotel, relax at the pool or indulge in the best High Tea the city has to offer, while appreciating the grand piano playing in the background.
The Mount Nelson is conveniently located on Kloof Street - a buzzing street and hub of quirky shops, small art galleries and cafés.
Some of our favourite resaurants on Kloof Street are:
Manna Epicure - breakfast & lunch
Kloof Street House - great for dinner
Black Sheep - dinner
Bacini's - best pizza in town
No holiday to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain. You will ride a rotating cable car to 1067m above sea level where you will get to enjoy spectacular views of the city, it's mountains and beaches. There are several pathways which lead to lookout points. Enjoy an incredible sunset before you descend back down to the city and enjoy a night out in the town. Tickets can be arranged in advance to beat the queue.
OR
Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, world renowned for its spectacular setting below the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and its magnificent display of the Fynbos Floral Kingdom. Enjoy a picnic and walk along the "boomslang"
OR
Visit The Company Gardens which date back to the 1600's and enjoy lunch at the Company Gardens Restaurant.
The Belmond Mount Nelson is ideally located for all excursions in and around Cape Town.
Enjoy the flexibility the Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour offers whether it be a mini Cape Peninsula Tour, downtown city tour or combing either with a Constantia winelands tour.
Alternatively...enjoy a full day private tour.
Suggested Full Day Private Tour: Cape Point, Peninsula Tour & Tasting.
Embark on an incredible journey around the Cape Peninsula. Stroll along the boardwalk to overlook the Penguins at Boulders Beach. Visit the most south-western tip of Africa. Dine in the seaside village of Simon’s Town. Taste wine in historic Constantia.
Pickup 8 am ~ 5pm drop-off.
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Discover the breathtakingly beautiful Cape Peninsula with great spots to take photos
- Enjoy a scenic drive along the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive
- Visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve & Cape Point
- Visit the most south-western tip of Africa and take an iconic photo
- Stroll through Boulders Beach, home to the delightfully cheerful African penguin
- Visit the seaside towns of Simons Town and Kalk Bay
- Taste award winning wine at the highest tasting room in the Constantia valley
Your last day in Cape Town!
For a different view of the Cape Peninsula you may like to treat the family to a scenic helicopter flight.
These trips vary from 15 mins to 45 minutes and leave from the V&A Waterfront.
OR
Hire bikes and cycle along the Seapoint Promenade.
Camps Bay or Llandudno are both very popular beaches for families to enjoy some beach time.
Equally if you are looking for a secluded beach, often sheltered when the wind is blowing, head on down to Clifton.
OR
We could plan a day for you in the winelands which includes the Franschhoek Wine Tram or a lovely picnic on one of the beautiful wine estates.
Today you will be collected by your private guide.
Arrive at Grootbos Nature Reserve and enjoy a delicious lunch using seasonal ingredients we’ve sourced from our own organic farm. Check-in to your suite and then head off on a land-based whale watching excursion as you spot Southern Right Whales not more than 30 metres from the coast. Sip on a sundowner from the balcony of our Whale House and then later, sample a delectable 6-course dinner back at the lodge.
After a cup of coffee and a pastry, you’ll leave for Kleinbaai Harbour where you’ll board our luxury boat and experience the Marine Big 5 in all their glory: whales, sharks, penguins, dolphins and seals. Return to the lodge mid-morning for a delicious brunch before you enjoy some relaxation time in your suite or at the beauty salon. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the pristine beaches of Walker Bay where you’ll learn all about ancient caves and the intriguing history of the area if you are interested.
The Marine Big 5 Experience is an additional cost per person. R1900.00
At Grootbos you are surrounded by nature. If Quad biking, horse riding or a family hike sounds appealing, this can easily be arranged.
Eat a hearty breakfast and prepare for your private guide to collect you for yor 5 hour drive to Plettenberg Bay. On arrival unpack and perhaps take a walk along the beach before heading to a suggested restaurant for dinner. You private guide will be at your request for the full duration in Plettenberg Bay.
Suggested restaurant : The Lookout Deck
A really fun day is to experience the following conservation projects. Elephant Sanctuary , Birds of Eden and Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay. The tour guide will plan a detailed yet relaxed day around what the family would like to do.
Suggested dinner restaurant: Emily Moon Restaurant
Suggested day activities:
The Woodville Big Tree is an impressive 800 years old and 33 m tall. This massive yellowwood stands proud and silent in the Hoekwil Forest. There are also several streams which the younger children can splash in and a 2km circular trail which leads you to the Big Tree and back.
The Bunjee jumping at Bloukrans bridge - fascinating views.
Relax on the Beach at the hotel and take a walk through Plettenberg Bay's quaint town.
Suggested restaurant for dinner: Seafood at The Plettenberg
The indoor dining section offers beautiful views of the pool and ocean, while the outdoor terrace is perfect for alfresco dinners, with mesmerising ocean vistas – especially at sunset.
After a late breakfast and some relaxed time doing some shopping at Thesen Island you will be dropped by your private guide at George Airport for your afternoon flight to Johannesburg.
On arrival you will be met by our representaive and transferred to the Four Season Westcliff Hotel.
Suggested dinner location: Marble restaurant in Rosebank. Marble is a celebration of quintessential South African fare and cooking on fire Marble embodies South Africans’ love of cooking with fire, a quality that makes our food culture different from the rest of the world. Situated in Keyes Art Mile, the growing art and food hub of Rosebank, Marble Restaurant will boast a grand wood-fired grill imported from Grill Works situated in Michigan as the focal point of the restaurant. The concept combines the open-fire trend seen internationally with an added dose of good South African flair.
Today you will be transferred by the hotel to OR Tambo Airport for your regional flight from Johannesburg to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport on arrival you will be met by a Livinstone Adventures guide and transported to the Avani Victoria Falls Hotel
Helicopter flips and Microlighting are other ways of seeing the Falls ( POA ) approx 90 USD per person
LIVINGSTONE ISLAND TOUR or better know as DEVIL’S POOL - From US$ 100
Livingstone Island is a 5-8 minute boat ride from the Royal Livingstone Hotel and is located in the middle of the Zambezi River right on the edge of the Victoria Falls just before the water thunders down a 103 metre drop. To protect the sensitive environment, only 16 guests may visit at any one time during five daily departures. Access is restricted to a maximum of 80 visitors per day so it is highly recommended to book a Livingstone Island Tour in advance.
ITINERARY
Morning Tea: US$ 100 per person
Departure times: 07h30, 09h00 & 10h30
Duration 1 ½ hours each
Includes tea & coffee, soft drinks and light snacks
or
Livingstone Island Lunch: US$ 165 per person
Departure 12h30 / Return 15h15
Duration 2 ¾ hours
Includes buffet lunch, soft drinks, beer and wine
or
High Tea: US$ 140 per person
Departure 15h30 / Return 17h30
Duration 2 hours
Includes tea & coffee, light snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine
The Theatre of Food
Located alongside the swimming pool, The Theatre of Food is a great spot to tuck into delicious breakfasts ( included )and international dinners. Tantalise your taste-buds with different cuisines on offer each night of the week whilst live music every evening adds some festive food fun for the entire family.
Cuisine: African and International
Some activities to consider:
Swimming Under the Victoria Falls
The most awesome perspective to see the Victoria Falls from the bottom of the gorge. Swimming in the rock pools below the Falls, surrounded by the massive black basaltic rock towering up above you and the water cascading down, seemingly out of the sky, is certainly one of the most breathtaking experiences you will ever have. This activity is a perfect combination with white water rafting: swim under the Victoria Falls before you hop in the raft and experience the thrill of ‘rafting at its best’.
Zambezi Rafting
The Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls is widely considered to be the very best rafting river in the world. A deep channelled, high volume river, the Zambezi has class 3-5 rapids interspersed with tranquil pools. This enables you to marvel at the magnificent beauty of the Batoka Gorge between some of the most exciting and challenging rapids rafted anywhere on the planet. Highly
professional guides ensure your safety and enjoyment of this amazing adventure.
River Cruises
The African Queen and the African Princess are berthed just upstream of The Victoria Falls. Fully inclusive morning, lunch and sunset cruises are offered daily, treating passengers to sophisticated
views of the Zambezi River and the surrounding game reserves.
Dinner can either be at the hotel or a Sunset dinner cruise.
Early morning breakfast is suggested .
You will be transferred to Kasane Airport for your flight to Eagle Island.
- Sip on delicious sundowners at The Fish Eagle Bar located directly on the edge of the water channels.
- Ask your hosts to organise a private dining experience on the deck of your tent in clear view of the sun disappearing into the wide horizon of the Okavango.
- Ask the lodge about their private helicopter excursion to Fallen Fig Island —Belmond Eagle Island is the only lodge in the Okavango Delta that boasts a permanantely based helicopter USD 310.00 per person for a scenic 35 minute flight.
AUGUST
There is plenty of action around – with patienceand perseverance, the rewards are great.
The weather is warming, even at night, with daytime peaks averaging near 86°F (30°C) and night time averages rising to 50°F (10°C).
• Animal herds are getting larger
• Limited space near the water leads to tension between breeding herds of elephant
• The nights are filled with elephant sounds
• The bush is bare and dust pervades throughout the region
• Birds such as herons and storks start to concentrate at the Godikwe heronry and begin nest-building
• The floods have passed through the Delta and reach as far south as Maun
Suggested activities:
Walking Safari
On a walking safari through the Delta you are totally enveloped in nature
Mokoro Canoe Safari
This traditional dugout canoe takes you gliding over shallow, clear waters past brilliant water lilies and papyrus grasses to areas inaccessible by boat.
Village Life
Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is positioned close to Xaxaba village. On request you may visit the village and you may be invited into a private home to experience aspects of their way of life. This is no tourist attraction, but a community of people who have adapted ancient traditions to modern times.
Barge Cruise
Take a slow gently cruise down the Delta for sundowners, you might just see a Fish Eagle taking flight or pods of hippos in the distance through an African sunset
Today, after your morning activity and late breakfast you will be taken to the airstrip for your flight to Savute Elephant Lodge.
Some of the activities you can look forward to:
o Morning and afternoon game drives
o Bird watching
o Visit the ancient San Bushmen rock paintings and baobab trees
o The traditional boma
o Stargazing over the vast African skies
o Wildlife sightings
The Boma
Gather around the campfire in this circular log hut and exchange your day’s adventures, much as local villagers do in similar buildings throughout Botswana. Flames flicker and lamps glow as drinks are served; a choir sings traditional songs and invites you to a buffet of African specialities.
Then take a comfortable seat and listen as camp guides recount tales of the bush. Musicians strike up traditional songs and the evening often ends with everyone on their feet, dancing to rhythms handed down through generations.
Bushmen Paintings and Baobab Trees
Out in the bush, where rocks rear up among stony hills you will find a collection of paintings that take your breath away. These works by Bushmen are thought to be more than 1,500 years old—beautiful images of elephant, giraffe, sable and eland antelope. Normally these types of painting might be found hidden in caves, but here, unusually, they are out in the wide, open landscape. No-one knows what materials the bushmen used, but the paint is thought to be a mixture of snake venom, blood and plant juices.
After viewing these paintings, continue to the amazing baobab grove—a cathedral-like cluster of 13 giant trees that rival the Bushmen’s paintings in age. Stand among these towering columns at sunset, as the evening light bathes them in a russet glow and wonder at this ancient land.
Star Gazing
The open skies around Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge make it the perfect place to experience the vast, dark dome of the African night sky. “A jewel box” is how one of our guides describes it, and certainly it is a wealth of riches from the Milky Way to Orion and Venus. Discover how Bushmen used the stars to locate the true south. And, using a powerful telescope, gaze on constellations that visitors from the northern hemisphere may never have seen before, including the Southern Cross.
Suggested activities
Early morning and late afternoon game drives take you out and among Africa’s largest populations of elephants. Big cats are on the prowl, from leopards to lions. Depending on the season you will also experience the great migrations such as zebra and antelope. Rare sightings might include the endangered wild dog, rock-climbing klipspringers and the elegant roan antelope.
Today you will enjoy your last game activities and breakfast before packing for your 50 minute light aircraft flight from the landing strip to Maun Airport.
Your flight from Maun to Johannesburg is at 14h00, check in will be at least 90 mins prior, so you will be departing the lodge roughly 10h00 / 10h30
On arrival in Johnnesburg you will be in transit for your flight back to London.
