20 nt South Africa + Tanzania

Private Winelands Tour

You will be met this morning by your guide and will set off for the Winelands, a delightful drive which winds its way through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. The first stop is Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, with canal-lined avenues, and magnificent examples of Cape Dutch architecture where you can do wine tasting, coupled with a chocolate and dessert tasting. Onward over the scenic Helshoogte Pass, to Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots over 350 years ago, and widely regarded as the culinary capital of South Africa. Its beautiful setting and café lined streets will charm you and a further wine tasting is included at one of the renowned estates here. Your final stop is at the town of Paarl, at the foot of a cluster of remarkable granite domes where you enjoy your final wine tasting before heading to your Franschhoek accommodation.

Downgrade option: Two nights at Ilala Lodge in a deluxe room inclusive of breakfast would reduce the overall cost by AUD2,400.

PRIVATE SAFARI - TANZANIA is the ultimate adventure for any couple, family or small group seeking a personal and unique safari experience in Northern Tanzania. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted with a warm smile by your very own private guide and travel in a custom built 4x4 for comfort and ultimate game viewing. Our hand picked safari guides ensure you experience what you came here for, be that landscapes, wildlife, culture or a combination of all three! It's the very best way to ensure quality time and an authentic experience together without worrying about other guests and set schedules. By day explore the wilderness in search of wildlife at your own pace. In the evenings, you arrive or return to camp where you have the opportunity to socialise with fellow guests, join them for dinner and share stories around the campfire. Your private Tanzania safari includes: Meet and greet on arrival at the airport, exclusive use of a custom built 4x4 vehicle complete with cooler box and cold water, the service of an experienced English speaking driver/guide during the safari sector, transfers as specified, game drives and crater tour as specified, all accommodation and meals as specified, park fees and government taxes.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park derived its name from a plant called Euphorbia tirucalli, known as Emanyara in Maasai Language. The Maasai used this plant to cover their bomas (hedge). The Park was gazetted as a National Park in 1960 and was declared as a Biosphere in 1981.

The entrance gate lies 11⁄2 hours (126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu.

The park is perhaps most reknowned for its famous tree-climbing lions. You can see a variety of habitats and diverse animals and birds. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania's birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is situated 180 km west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania. The conservation area is 8,300 sq km and is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro Division of Ngorongoro District.

The conservation area boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeology. The volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance of animals and to the Maasai.

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles; its magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral visitors. It borders the Serengeti National Park to the north and west.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, is a pioneering experiment in multiple land use. Here pastoralism, conservation and tourism co-exist in a carefully managed harmony. The centrepiece of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater which is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. The Crater floor is a natural sanctuary for thousands of animals and many species of insects and birds. Lush highlands surround the Crater, falling away to the tawny plains and alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley.

The four main archaelogical sites are: Oldupai Gorge (2 million to 17 000 years ago), Laetoli (3.6 to 2.8 million years ago), Ngorongoro Crater (various proto-historic sites) and Nasera Rock (30 000 BC and more recent).

The main route through Karatu town to Loduare Gate is a tarmac road. The roads and tracks throughout the NCA are not sealed, however most are all-weather roads except for a very few secondary tracks.

Optional Downgrade: A two night stay at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge inclusive of meals (no drinks or laundry) would reduce the overall cost by AUD3,000.

Olduvai Gorge

Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge in Tanzania is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering the understanding of early human evolution. This site was occupied by Homo habilis approximately 1.9 million years ago, Paranthropus boisei 1.8 million years ago, and Homo erectus 1.2 million years ago. Homo sapiens is dated to have occupied the site 17,000 years ago. Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley that stretches through eastern Africa. It is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in Arusha Region, Tanzania and is about 48 km (30 mi) long. It is located 45 km (28 mi) from the Laetoli archaeological site.

This site is significant in showing increased developmental and social complexities in hominins. Evidence of this is shown in the production and use of stone tools, which indicates the increase in cognitive capacities. Evidence also indicates the practices of both scavenging and hunting, which are highlighted by the evidence of gnaw marks predating cut marks, and comparisons on percentages of meat versus plant in the early hominid diet. Furthermore, the collection of tools and animal remains in a central area is evidence of increases in social interaction and communal activity.

Serengeti

The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word Siringet referring to an endless plain. It was first inhabited by ancient hunter gatherers and pastoralists. The central Serengeti was declared a Game Reserve in 1929. In 1951, the Reserve became Tanganyika's first National Park which included the Ngorongoro Crater. Further alterations took place in 1959 in the Park, part of the Serengeti plains and the highlands were removed and added to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, while extensions to the north and south were included to provide more protection to the wildebeest migration. Covering 14,763 square kilometres, the Park is roughly the size of Northern Ireland making it Tanzania's largest national park.

The Seronera Valley is a transition zone between the southern plains and the northern woodlands. The most prominent is the Seronera River from which the area takes its name. With year - round water, this is the most reliable area to view wildlife. It is possible to see many of the Serengeti's resident wildlife including giraffe, buffalo, topi, hartebeest, waterbuck, impala, reedbuck, bushbuck, dikdik, hippopotamus, crocodile, warthog and diverse birdlife. Large prides of lion reside here, as well as clans of spotted hyena.

The Serengeti would not be the same without the beautiful rock outcrops known as kopjes. Also known as inselbergs, the intriguing rounded shapes of these ancient granite rocks are the result of cracking and erosion from exposure to sun, wind and rain. They provide shelter and capture water for a wealth of wildlife and plants. The main groups of kopjes are: Barafu, Gol, Maasai, Loliondo, Simba and Moru.

Historical Stone Town Tour

This begins with a visit to Zanzibar's colorful market. Alive with the buzz of locals bartering fresh vegetables and baskets of tropical fruit, amongst the heady smell of Jack fruit (amongst many other exotic fruits) we continue on to the site of a cathedral built in 1874. The cathedral signifies a potent time in Zanzibar's history and stands on the sight of a past slave market.Abolished in 1873 by decree of the Sultan of Zanzibar, the cathedral's high altar stands on the exact site of the whipping post that was in the market. From here we visit the residence of the late Sultan of Zanzibar, Tip Tip House', the Old Fort, Peoples Palace' and the House of Wonders', full of intrigue from days of long ago. The tour ends with a stroll down the narrow streets of the old stone town, the heart of Zanzibar's vivacious history.

Spice Tour

This is guaranteed to waken your senses. We visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & savour fruits & spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangosteen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you.