Arrival in Johannesburg
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg you will be met and transferred privately to your hotel.
Check-in at the hotel and spend the evening at leisure.
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge Safari
This morning after breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight to the Kruger area (Sabi Sabi Airstrip). You will be met here and transferred through the game reserve to your lodge.
Your stay at Sabi Bush Lodge includes:
Luxurious Accommodation, All meals and beverages (including premium wines, spirits, and liqueurs, but excluding French Champagne) Twice-daily game drives in open game-viewing vehicles, walking safaris (accompanied by experienced guides and trackers).
Sabi Sabi to Johannesburg, transfer to Pretoria for overnight
After your last morning game drive, breakfast and check out, you will be transferred to the Sabi Sabi Airstrip for your flight back to Johannesburg. Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, you will be met in the arrival hall and will be transferred to Pretoria for overnight before your Rovos Rail journey.
Rovos Rail Day 1 Pretoria
Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit our museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure.
10.00 Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Travel across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge and observation cars.
13.00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16.30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19.30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Klerksdorp. Overnight on board. Dress: Formal
Rovos Rail Day 2: Kimberley
07.00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00 en route to Kimberley.
13.00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
Enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871.
19.30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. Dress: Formal
Rovos Rail Day 3: Matjiesfontein
07.00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The train travels through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system.
13.00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. After lunch, there is a chance for guests to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the 5km into Matjiesfontein. A member of staff will accompany the group.
Disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.
16.30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
About an hour after Matjiesfontein, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The first tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful when walking through the train and may wish to turn on necessary lights.
19.30 Dinner is served as the train climbs ±750m down the escarpment towards Worcester. Dress: Formal
Rovos Rail Day 4: Cape Town
07.00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30. The train travels through the Hex River Valley.
10.00 Arrive at journey’s end at Cape Town Station.
Private Cape Town City Tour with Table Mountain
You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Half Day Cape Town City Orientation Tour to learn about Cape Town’s rich history and vibrant cultures. The day starts with a cableway trip to the top of one of the World’s Natural Wonders – Table Mountain, also the city’s most iconic and recognisable landmark. Explore the walking trails at the top and take in the many different views point across the City Bowl, Table Bay, Atlantic Seaboard and Peninsula.
From Table Mountain your guide will take you back down into the city to visit the colourful Bo Kaap (Cape Malay Quarter), enjoy a walk through the Company Gardens and Greenmarket Square and an orientation drive taking in some of the important historical buildings (for example the Castle of Good Hope – South Africa’s oldest building), streets and features.
Highlights:
- Table Mountain and the aerial cableway (weather depending)
- Bo-Kaap – one of the city’s most Instagrammable spots thanks to its picturesque colourful houses and cobblestone streets
- The Company Gardens – a large public park lined with oak trees and surrounded by iconic historical buildings, museums and art galleries
- Vibrant Greenmarket Square market offering a wide range of African arts and crafts
- Orientation drive to see The Castle of Good Hope, City Hall, Grand Parade and Adderley Street with its many statues and historical buildings
The rest of the day will be at your own leisure, you can choose from a wide range of optional activities and excursions that Cape Town has to offer.
Optional Activities (at an additional cost):
- Visit to the lively V&A Waterfront where there are a variety of shops, markets, restaurants activities and attractions to enjoy
- City Tour by Bicycle or E-Bike
- Paragliding from Signal Hill or Lions Head
- Scenic helicopter flight
- Lions head guided hike (morning or sunset)
- Robben Island Excursion - with option of a private guided tour with Christo Brand as the guide (Nelson Mandela's prison guard who became his friend)
- A visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for a walk, including the Boomslang Treetop Canopy Walkway
- Cape Malay Cooking experience in the Bo Kaap
- If this day falls on a Saturday or Sunday a visit to a local Food Market (e.g. Oranjezicht City Farm or Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill)
- Constantia Winelands Zip and Sip Trip (half day Ziplining and Wine Tasting in the Constantia Valley) or half day wine tour in the Constantia Valley
Private Cape Peninsula Tour
You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour. Cape Town is frequently acknowledged and awarded as being one of the world’s most beautiful places – this tour will show you why! Experience the spectacular natural splendour and abundance of life of the Cape Peninsula. With scenic views to take your breath away and photo opportunities galore this trip also takes you through a World Heritage Site – the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard to Hout Bay, passing magnificent beaches and the coastal suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno. From the busy fishing harbour at Hout Bay you have the option of a boat trip to see the thousands of Cape Fur Seals living on a rocky outcrop. Browse for souvenirs at the Hout Bay Craft Market or take a walk on the beach and paddle your feet in the sea.
The tour continues over Chapman’s Peak, known as one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world, all the way along the Peninsula to the southern tip at Cape Point. An invigorating walk takes you to the two lighthouses at the top and bottom of the headland, from where you will enjoy extraordinary views of the cliffs and the ocean below. Alternatively, you could take an optional short funicular ride to the top. Take a photo down at the most south-western point of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope beach.
Lunch will be enjoyed at a seaside restaurant (excluded and for your own account) before we make our way along the False Bay coastline to the Naval village of Simon’s Town. We will visit the delightful African Penguins of Boulders Beach and then the drive takes us back via Cape Town’s coastal and southern suburbs.
Highlights:
- Drive along the Atlantic Sea Board passing the beautiful beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay
- Photo stop at Maidens Cove to take in the views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Camps Bay Beach and Lions Head
- Stop at Hout Bay Harbour – a busy fishing harbour
- Optional boat ride to Duiker Island to see the Cape Fur Seals
- Chapman’s Peak Drive – known as one of the World’s most beautiful drives
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point – most South-Western point of Africa and the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, spectacular scenery
- False Bay Coastal Road – look out for whales between June and November
- Visit the comical African Penguins at Boulders Beach
- Simon’s Town – home to South Africa’s Naval Base
- Picturesque drive past Kalk Bay and Muizenberg – see the famous colourful beach huts
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens – optional and time dependent
There are also a number of other exciting ways to explore the Cape Peninsula and fun activities which can be included as an alternative to the standard routing above:
Optional Activities (at additional cost):
- Snorkelling with Seals from Hout Bay
- Kayaking with Penguins from Simon's Town
- Waterbike Ocean Adventure from Simon's Town
- Surfing lesson in Muizenberg
- Explore the Peninsula or a section thereof via Side-car
- Self-drive the Peninsula in a classic convertible Cobra
Private Full Day Cape Winelands Tour
You will be met by your guide in your hotel reception area and taken on a Full Day Cape Winelands Tour. Situated only 45 minutes away from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands are surrounded by majestic mountains, beautiful vineyards and typical Cape Dutch style architecture. The Cape Winelands include the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl and are home to more than 150 wine estates and wine farms producing top-quality world-class wines. This region is also highly acclaimed for its many award-winning restaurants.
Head off to the heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historical buildings. With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our first wine tasting of the day.
Travel over the spectacular Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschhoek, historically dating back to the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. Billed as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, this charming town, in a most picturesque valley, retains a French Huguenot style. Enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of the many restaurants (excluded and for your own account).
Onward to Paarl, one of the Cape’s first farming districts, for a final wine tasting. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. Return to the bustle of city life after an enthralling day in the countryside.
Highlights:
- Stellenbosch historical walking tour
- Visit Oom Samie se Winkel an interesting and old fashioned general dealer
- 3 Wine Tastings, with a chocolate OR cheese and wine pairing included, at various wine estates
- Franschhoek town walk
- The Huguenot Monument commemorating the Huguenot settlers of the 1680s who had a big impact on wine production in the region
- The Paarl wine area – overlooked by Paarl Rock (otherwise called Pearl Mountain), an enormous granite rock
Cape Town, transfer to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
After breakfast and check out, you will be transferred to the Sabi Sabi Airstrip for your flight either via Johannesburg or Kruger Mpumalanga Airport to Cape Town.
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and will be transferred to Grootbos Forest or Garden Lodge.
Upon check-in at the lodge, a representative will discuss the daily program meals and activities.
Your stay at Grootbos Forest Lodge includes:
Luxury accommodation in freestanding suites
Welcome drink served upon arrival
Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee, minibar
Fresh fruit daily in-suite
Breakfast with a full English breakfast menu, Light lunch and 5-course dinner
Horse riding for non- and experienced riders through the reserve (please note that the weight limit is 90kg/198lbs per person/ children under the age of 12 are only allowed on guided pony rides)
Botanical Fynbos Hike on the Reserve
Milkwood Forest Walk
4x4 Flower Safari
Coastal drive with seasonal land-based whale watching (whale watching especially during July – December)
Beach Picnics
Ancient Klipgat Cave and Walker Bay Nature Reserve beach excursion
Progressive Tourism Tour
Mountain Biking on the Reserve
Bird-watching; Experience a great variety of bird species on the reserve
Various maps of the reserve and the area for self-guided walks
Transfers to/from all activities for included activities
Optional Activities (at an additional cost):
- Boat trip to Dyer Island combined with seasonal whale watching (July – December).
- Shark Cage Diving
- Scenic Flights
- Beach Horse Riding
- Fat Biking on the dunes
- Lady Stanford River Cruise
- Day trip to Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa
- Wine tasting at a wine estate
Transfer from Grootbos to Cape Town International Airport
After your final morning activity (time permitting) and a hearty breakfast, you will be met by your local guide who will transfer you on private basis to Cape Town International Airport for your departure.
