DAY BY DAY JOURNEY

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town

Upon arrival to Cape Town airport, you will be met and privately transferred to the 4* Victoria and Alfred Hotel for a four-night stay in a piazza facing room on a bed and breakfast basis. In a converted waterfront warehouse dating from 1904, this ultra-chic hotel has views over the Alfred Basin and the city center to Table Mountain. It’s within a 10-minute walk of the V&A Waterfront’s shops and restaurants, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Nelson Mandela Gateway museum.

Swanky rooms with contemporary interiors feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen smart TVs and minibars, as well as tea and coffee-making facilities. Guests can dine in a pair of sophisticated restaurants, 1 of which offers a cocktail bar and a seaside terrace. There’s also a modern day spa and gym. Balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 2: Cape Town-Private Full Day City, Table Mountain & Robben Is. Tour

Explore South Africa’s exciting ‘Mother City’ on this guided tour of the historical and cultural sights of Cape Town. You will step into the rich history of the city passing by key historical monuments and places of interest, such as the impressive Castle of Good Hope and Cape Town City Hall. The tour stops at the beautiful St. George’s Cathedral, passes the through the lush Company Gardens, and explores a cultural hub of Cape Town, the Bo-Kaap, also known as the Cape Malay quarter. A tour of this vibrant city, home to street markets of every kind, cosmopolitan and rustic eateries and a host of cultures is an unforgettable experience.

Also, weather permitting, you will take a trip to the top of the world, high above the clouds on the famous Table Mountain. Table Mountain is an icon in Cape Town and is most likely the most photographed landmark in the country. Table Mountain has been named as on the seven wonders of nature and attracts millions over visitors from all across the globe, in fact, since the opening of the aerial cableway in 1929, more than 22 million people have taken the trip to the top. At the upper cable station, guests will find a restaurant and a curio shop as well as some footpaths for exploration.

Also weather permitting, 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 prisoner 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.

Day 3: Cape Town-Full Day Private Cape Peninsula Tour

This full-day tour explores Cape Town’s stunning peninsula moving through the vibrant coastal suburb of Sea Point with its famous promenade and onto the upmarket, pristine beaches of Clifton and Camp’s Bay. The scenic road winds its way to Hout Bay where a boat trip to Duiker Island, home to thousands of seals, is possible before heading onto the famous Cape Point Nature Reserve at the very tip of the peninsula.

The famous Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, a World Heritage site, is set at the end of Cape Town’s south peninsula. Take a trip via funicular to the lighthouse at 286 metres above sea level (built to which warns ships they are approaching the feared “Cape of Storms”), stroll along the cliff paths or venture down the steep slopes to the stunning white-sand beaches below. The reserve is home to a variety of small wildlife and is a favored picnicking, fishing (with a permit) and hiking destination with its rich plant biodiversity and inspiring landscapes.

The sheltered Simon’s Town beach of Boulders Beach is the home of an endangered land-based colony of African penguins (over 2000 of them), as well as a favorite swimming and beach destination for locals and international travelers, particularly children. One can walk between the three pristine and sheltered beaches on boardwalks, which also link to the penguin-viewing area offering fantastic sightings of these unique and endearing animals in their natural habitat.

Finally, explore the diverse beauty of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, which is set up against Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain looking onto the city. There are plenty of spaces to picnic among the rich and varied displays of southern Africa’s plant life (more than 7 000 species are planted out) and a restaurant on site. It is the first botanical garden to be included within a natural World Heritage site. Paths are set out throughout the garden allowing visitors to easily wander past the natural displays. (B)

Day 4: Cape Town

Explore the city independently today! (B)

Day 5: Full Day Private Winelands Tour

There could be no better way to spend a day than indulging in a Cape Winelands experience packed with historic and modern architecture, fabulous cuisine, and, of course, world-class wines. The tour heads to the country’s principal wine routes of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek – all of them with fascinating histories and their unique offerings. Traversing stunning landscapes, this full-day experience stops along the way for wine tasting at prestigious estates. South Africa is known for its quality white, reds, blends and bubblies! After the tour, you will be dropped at Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa.

At the conclusion of your Winelands tour, check into Le Franschoek Hotel for a two-night stay in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis. Set amid the Cape Winelands countryside, this upscale hotel in a Cape Dutch-style building is 4.7 km from the town centre. The sophisticated rooms feature heated floors, TVs, Wi-Fi (fee), and tea and coffee-making equipment. There’s a high-end restaurant and stylish bar/lounge areas with terraces. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts and a tranquil wellness spa. (B)

Day 6: Franschhoek

Relax, drink wine and enjoy yourself!

Lounge at the pool and sip some delicious wine today. Maybe even visit the spa. Surrounded by mountains, the hotel is close to the town of Franschhoek, with its art galleries, coffee shops and unsurpassed cuisine options. The hotel itself has a restaurant, the Orchard Restaurant, which is essentially an exquisitely crafted glass house that showcases the beauty of the surrounds while serving summer salmon or beef fillet amongst other delicious menu items. The spa of Le Franschhoek is set in the garden in the midst of ancient oak trees and is the perfect way to rejuvenate mind, body and soul. (B)

Day 7: Franschhoek-Idube

After breakfast, transfer from Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Skukuza. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred from Skukuza Airport to the Idube Game Reserve. Check into the Idube Game Reserve in a Safari Chalet on a Full Board plus 2 Activities basis for a three-night stay.

Set in Greater Kruger National Park in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, this laid-back all-inclusive lodge offers rustic-chic chalets with exposed-wood beams that feature mosquito nets, sitting areas, and tea and coffee-makers, plus furnished terraces offering park views. Room service is available.

 All meals, served in a fireside dining area, are included, as are game drives and guided bush walks. There’s also a woodsy bar and a cozy TV lounge, as well as a gym and an outdoor pool. (B,L,D)

Days 8 and 9: Idube Game Reserve

The 4-Star Idube Game Reserve promises an exciting safari experience in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Reserve, a private concession within the Big 5 greater Kruger National Park. The beautiful lodge is set within lush indigenous gardens and the décor echoes the rustic nature of the surrounds with natural-colored brick and plastered walls. Guests will sleep in suites or safari chalets. The swimming pool at the main lodge is a popular destination for swimming, birding and game-viewing. As is the thatched bar and entertainment area before and after dinner. But guests can also indulge in game viewing from the privacy of their own decks. Game drives are offered twice daily looking out for the Big 5, along with more than 300 species of bird and a host of other mammals. Leopards are frequently sighted here. Those wanting to get even closer to the wildlife action can sign up for bush walks or spend some time in the underground hide. Meals are served on the open-air dining deck or traditional boma. There is an on-site gym for those wanting to work up an appetite or work off an indulgence. A well-stocked curio shop provides mementos of the stay. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Idube-Ilala

After breakfast, transfer from Idube Game Reserve to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Depart on flight to Livingstone Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred from Livingstone Airport to Ilala Lodge where you will check in for a three-night stay in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis.

Ilala Lodge Hotel is in the heart of the town Victoria Falls, where the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ inspires all that stand in its regal glory. The lodge is idyllically situated on the Zimbabwean side of the mighty Zambezi River boasting impressive views of the natural wonder of the world. The hotel features the award-winning Palm Restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of traditional cuisine. There is also a large azure swimming pool and trendy sociable cocktail bar where you can while away leisure hours. This area is renowned for its activities that include white-river rafting, canoeing, helicopter charters, bungee jumping and fishing. Other local attractions include golf, guided game safaris and luxury sunset cruises down the Zambezi. (B)

Day 11: Victoria Falls

A guided tour of the majestic Victoria Falls and encompassing nature reserves is an awe-inspiring experience. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), tons of water plunge over a chasm that is nearly 2km wide falling just more than 100m to the Zambezi River below. The shower of spray and the thunderous sound of the water can be heard from miles around. The tour takes you to the best viewpoints of this iconic waterfall, one of the seven wonders of the world, allowing you to soak up the powerful and enigmatic atmosphere of Victoria Falls.

Later, the sunset cruise is geared to showcase a magnificent sunset while you sip a sundowner and enjoy some light snacks. It’s an ideal way to watch the African landscape transform in beautiful hues. Cruising along the Zambezi River is an experience that creates lasting memories and includes sightings of hippo and crocodile and any other species that congregates on the banks to quench their thirst. Where there is water there is life and seeing a wild and untamed landscape from the comfort of a boat is a must do experience in this magical part of the world. (B)

Day 12: Chobe Day Trip

This exciting day trip heads over the border into Botswana to afford you the chance to explore one of Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations, the Chobe National Park. The day is spent cruising down the life-giving Chobe River on the look-out for the diverse range of animals that make their way down to the river to drink as well as passing by river inhabitants – the crocodiles and hippo. A fantastic destination for all wildlife lovers, photographers and birders, this experience continues with a fabulous lunch at a lodge on the river’s edge before heading back into the national park in safari vehicles for even more game viewing and finally the transfer back to your lodge.

Visitors to Victoria Falls can indulge in both a cultural as well as culinary experience when choosing to enjoy a boma dinner. The menu comprises a range of traditional Zimbabwean dishes complemented by a delicious barbecue buffet. The ambiance is created by local Shangaan dancers and singers that provide entertainment during the meal – face painting is an optional extra! A traditional storyteller adds that extra element of intrigue and drama to the evening. The sound of the drums reverberates through the stillness of the African night. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Departure

Transfer today from Ilala Lodge to Victoria Falls airport for your included flight back to Johannesburg. (B)

PROPERTIES

PRICES PER PERSON 

From $5,999 per person based on double occupancy.