18 DAY CAPE TOWN AND THREE COUNTRIES

A whirlwind of untainted extravagance, prized wilderness encounter and multicultural city glamour in three countries

Day 1: Greater Kruger National Park

Group is met on arrival at O R Tambo International Airport. From there they will be shuttled transferred to their flight destined for the most prominent private game serves of all, Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Game viewing opportunities are simply incomparable, including the much-sought after ‘Big 5’. The afternoon is devoted to interpretive game drives in the wilderness bush specially adapted open 4×4 safari vehicles, with the purpose of finding wildlife in a natural habitat. Besides the Big 5, other game species occur in great numbers, among which are more than 300 bird species.

Overnight:  Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Meals:  Dinner

Day 2: Greater Kruger National Park

The day is dedicated to early morning and late afternoon open 4×4 safari vehicle to seek out of Africa’s legendary Big Five. Voluntary environmental awareness walking safaris are undertaken after your morning safari experience. Bush walks allow guests to feel the pulse of untamed Africa through the soles of their feet. Your safaris in the Greater Kruger are headed by a skilful ranger whose in-depth knowledge of the routines and manners of the different mammals is guaranteed to enrich your experience.

Overnight:  Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Meals:  Full Board

Day 3: Greater Kruger National Park

The day is once again devoted to two 4×4 safaris in this region, where the possibility to view the Big Five is very great. Sightings of these mammals commonly arise on eight out of ten days. The possibility to come across the Big Five – elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard – is the experience of a lifetime and will prove the high point of your African safari.

Overnight:  Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Meals:  Full Board

Day 4: Mpumalanga Highlands

Following a last game drive in the wilderness of the Sabi Sand, your safari traces the scenic spoils of Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route. The tour will include the awe-inspiring expanse of the Blyde River Gorge, prominently featuring the triplet peaks of the Three Rondavels and Bourke’s Luck , where the distinctive geographical marks of the potholes can be seen. The tour proceeds to God’s Window. It is a fissure in the edge of the cliff from where glorious views of the Lowveld can be adored. God’s Window is located in a territory of indigenous jungle where many blossoming flowers and scented plants flourish. A stopover may also be undertaken to the historic mining village of Pilgrims Rest. It is an illustrious case in point of a mining town which was created by the gold rush and prospered in the 1870’s. Gold was detected here in 1873 and the town was confirmed a national monument in 1986. Fine dining in a truly beautiful setting is on the menu for the evening.

Overnight:  Walkersons
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: Victoria Falls

Breakfast is followed by a transfer to O R Tambo International in Johannesburg, from where guests fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Visitors will be met on arrival at Victoria Falls Airport and then transferred to their hotel located on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. nestling on the banks of the mighty Zambezi river within the periphery of the Zambezi National Park. The imaginative architecture with its sweeping curve of grass thatch blends well with the lash green lawns. The hotel is the perfect retreat to relax and unwind in the quiet ambience of the African wild life. The late afternoon is spent at leisure.

Overnight:  A’Zambezi River Lodge
Meals:  Breakfast

Day 6: Victoria Falls

The morning is devoted the visit of the majestic Victoria Falls, a journey that not only affords a view of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World but provides a great deal of interesting facts about the geology, wildlife and history of Africa’s most famous landmark. Listen to magical tales of local legend while you enjoy the constant spray from the “The Smoke that Thunders”. Your tourAfrika guide will also help ensure the best photographic opportunities of this breath-taking World Heritage Site. The late afternoon is spent at leisure.

Guests will take-off sometime in the afternoon to relax at the lodge before heading for 13-minute helicopter tour of Victoria Falls. Visitors are transferred from their hotel and head off to a local helipad where you’ll receive a safety briefing before taking off in a glass-sided, 10-seater helicopter for this incredible African experience. Guest will get a bird’s eye view of the notorious Zambezi River, vast gorges that divide Zambia from Zimbabwe, and of course, the stunning Victoria Falls—one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Overnight:  A’Zambezi River Lodge
Meals:  Breakfast

Day 7: Victoria Falls

Breakfast is followed by the Historic Bridge Tour is a journey through 100 years of Victorian engineering to the heart of Cecil John Rhodes’ vision of a “Cape to Cairo” railway. The tour includes a light hearted but informative talk on the history of the bridge, magnificent views of the rapids, rainbows and majesty of the Victoria Falls and Batoka Gorges on the walkways underneath the bridge and an opportunity to see a bungee jump up close.

The afternoon is spent relaxing and refuelling in the tranquil surroundings of the hotel. Late in the afternoon your guide will usher you to enjoy an African sunset cruise. Watching game come down to the water’s edge for a late afternoon drink is sure to be an experience to be remembered for a lifetime. Hippo sightings are particularly common on the cruise and sometimes elephant will swim across the Zambezi as they move between Zimbabwe and Zambia and their favourite feeding areas. After the sunset cruise, guests are transferred back to their hotel.

Overnight:  A’Zambezi River Lodge
Meals:  Breakfast

Day 8: Chobe

Breakfast is followed by a drive of around an hour to Kazungula, the border post where the countries of Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe meet. After crossing the Zambezi into Botswana, a brief drive leads us to the village of Kasane, situated on the edge of the Chobe National Park.

Botswana’s second largest national park, Chobe National Park covers a area of 10 566 square kilometres. It is regarded as one of the highest concentrations of game found on the African continent. After checking-in at the lodge, some time is spent in relaxation before enjoying a first afternoon game drive performed by your experienced ranger and tracker.

Overnight:  Chobe Chilwero
Meals:  Full Board

Day 9: Chobe

A morning safari in open 4×4 safari vehicle will bring guests into contact with the greatest concentration of elephant on the African continent, as well as puku, buffalo, hippo, various antelope species, lions and other animals that congregate along the banks of the Chobe River.

A sundown game viewing cruise is performed on the Chobe River in the late afternoon. This safari activity offers one an exceptional vantage point from which to adore the wildlife approach to the water’s edge. Elephant are frequently seen cooling down along the river bank and, at times, they will swim across the river to access to desired vegetation on the several islands in this river system.

Overnight:  Chobe Chilwero
Meals:  Full Board

Day 10: Okavango Delta

A morning game drive in Chobe is followed by a transfer to Kasane and a light charter flight to the Okavango Delta, where an afternoon safari is conducted in an open 4×4 safari vehicle by a local ranger and tracker. The area was once part of the ancient Lake Makgadikgadi, which dried up some 10 000 years ago. The Okavango River has no outlet to the sea. Instead, it empties into the sands of the Kalahari Desert, thereby irrigating some 15 000 km² of otherwise arid landscape. The Okavango Delta is subject to seasonal flooding, which begins around mid-summer in the north and about six months later in the south.

Overnight:  Eagle Island
Meals:  Full Board

Day 11: Okavango Delta

Two game activities in one of Africa’s most natural wilderness areas are the spotlight of the day. The game activities include open 4×4 safaris, as well as mokoro (a traditional wooden canoe) trips along the reed-lined waterways of the delta. The delta natural world has great numbers of thrilling animal species, such as the rare wild dog, crocodile, elephant, red lechwe wattled crane, sitatunga, buffalo, crane and many more familiar animals and amazing bird life. The finest time for game viewing in the delta is during the May – October period, as mammal life is concentrated in these flooded areas when the remainder of the bush is very arid and harsh.

Overnight:  Eagle Island
Meals:  Full Board

Day 12: Okavango Delta

The 6 000-square-mile maze of lagoons, canals, and islands gives the Okavango the narrative ‘the river that never finds the sea’ and gives the backdrop to another day of game activities performed by knowledgeable rangers. Their knowledge both into the behaviour of the different species and their insight of the ecology of the area are certain to augment your safari.

Overnight:  Eagle Island
Meals:  Full Board

Day 13: Cape Town

A final morning game drive in the Okavango is followed by a late breakfast. Guests then fly to Maun on a light charter, from where a connection is made to Johannesburg. Visitors will be met at O R Tambo International and assisted in checking-in to a flight bound for Cape Town. Visitors will be met on arrival at Cape Town and shuttle transferred to their hotel at the V&A Waterfront. The late afternoon is spent at leisure enjoying magnificent views of the Atlantic and the jaggeded Cape mountains.

Overnight:  Cape Grace
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 14: Cape Town

Your Cape Town morning tour is dedicated to a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain . The central attribute of the mountain is a level plateau of 3km, adjoined to the east by Devil’s Peak and to the west by Lion’s Head. Table Mountain is a great flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. The cable car ride, which takes about 5 minutes, presents extraordinary viewpoints of Cape Town. On making it to the summit, you may dedicate some time to pay a visit the various vantage points, from which amazing views of the Cape Peninsula may be enjoyed.

The tour then heads off to the Kirstenbosch. The gardens presents a green heaven with hundreds of indigenous plant species. From proteas to pines, fynbos to ferns, this colorful Eden is ideal for hiking and picnicking. Each season tantalizes new hues from the palette, making certain that the gardens are a year-round destination. After the visit, we return back to the overnight destination at the waterfront.

Overnight:  Cape Grace
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 15: Cape Town

The remarkable Chapman’s Peak Drive, cut into the 650m high Chapman’s Peak, the tour traverses across the Noordhoek town to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. A botanic and picturesque delight, the reserve is home to numerous antelope species, as well as an abundant variety of blossoming plants and birds. The icing on the cake is bound to be the stride to the apex of Cape Point, it is said the turbulent sea waters of the Atlantic collide with the unruffle Indian Ocean.

The tour traces back to Cape Town via False Bay. Guests will make a stoppage at Boulders Beach, an appealing sheltered harbour which contains a tumble of mammoth circular rocks on a sandy shore. The rocks are perfect points for viewing the antics of the cluster of mainland-based African penguins. Some time spent being appreciative admiring these endangered flightless birds is followed by a return trip to Cape Town.

Overnight:  Cape Grace
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 16: Winelands

The tour heads-off to Stellenbosch. Established by Dutch Cape Colony Governor Simon van der Stel in 1697, Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second oldest town. Home to one of the country’s top universities and bordered by award-winning wine farms on all sides, the captivating City of Oaks offers rich history, fine-looking architecture and a fortune of flavours to pleasure every palate. Some of the finest vineyards in the region are explored before backing back o the town of Somerset West, where a visit is made to Vergelegen.

Throughout its history, internationally well-known celebrities have often visited Vergelegen, one of the most amazing places in the Western Cape. Over the last decade Vergelegen has been privilege to host visits from the executive committee of the ANC, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and in March 1998 by Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and their First Ladies. On completion of the visit to Vergelegen, your safari heads-off to the overnight destination.

Overnight:  Lanzerac
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 17: Winelands

The morning is dedicated to visiting two of the supreme wineries in the Franschhoek Valley , where a variety of different cultivars are formed. The Cape winelands town of Franschhoek is potrayed by its characteristically French flavour, a vestige of the French Huguenot refugees that established this epicurean corner of South Africa. With its superb range of award-winning restaurants, historic wine farms and the almighty natural beauty of the area, Franschhoek is a prime South African travel destination. The Franschhoek Pass is then crossed with some of the most majestic mountain scenery in the Western Cape on display, as the tour makes its way to Grabouw. Grabouw and Elgin form the heart of the apple-producing region. Here a stop is made at a working apple farm. A tour of the farm is included and describes the complete process of apple cultivation.

Overnight:  Lanzerac
Meals:  Breakfast & Dinner

Day 18: Departure

After breakfast, visitors are transferred back to Cape Town International Airport, where their memorable 18 Day Cape Town and Three Countries Safari concludes.

Overnight:  None
Meals:  Breakfast