South Africa is a country that has undergone a miraculous transformation. From the days of apartheid has emerged a nation with its focus on building a future for all.
An essential component for this growth is the sensible, disciplined and sustainable use of the natural resources of the country to provide jobs, housing and education for everybody.
South Africa really is a world in one country!
On your South African safari, you will experience wild places and the myriad of cultures here, an amazing variety of wildlife and a range of habitats. There is so much to see! From Cape Agulhas, the southern tip of the continent, to the tropic of Capricorn, there are mountains and marshlands, coastal plains and bush veld savannahs, arid deserts and dense forests. These habitats sustain an astonishing variety of insects, reptiles, birds and mammal life. Immerse yourself in the African culture, stunning scenery and wonderful hiking. If you need some quiet time to relax there are miles of empty beaches and golden sands, or if you need to exercise your credit card there are modern cities with world class restaurants and shopping.
We provide a wide range of accommodation and activity choices – from simple tented safari camps to ultra luxurious hotels, from wine tasting to shark-diving.
15 DAY – SPLENDOURS OF SOUTH AFRICA
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DAY 1-3 CAPE GRACE HOTEL – CAPE TOWN
Arrive Cape Town International Airport in the morning where you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Ideally situated on its own private quay in the iconic centre of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, the Cape Grace Hotel was recently newly refashioned and provides an experience of gracious elegance, warm hospitality and memorable experiences and melds modern luxury with traditional Cape culture. Each of the individually custom-decorated guest rooms and suites brings the charm of Cape Town to life. French windows open to views of the yacht marina or the working harbour.
Explore Cape Town and surrounds by choosing combinations of the following tours.
Mother City (Half Day)
This tour is designed to orientate you geographically and culturally, showing you Cape Town from its historical beginnings to the dazzling modern shopping malls of the Waterfront. Visit the Castle of Good Hope, Company Gardens, Bo-Kaap and Malay Quarters, City Centre, District Six Museum, Camps Bay and Twelve Apostles.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way can easily be included in this tour – see below).Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way
Enjoy some of the best views of the Mother City (weather permitting), starting with a rotating cable car floor ensuring 360 degree aerial view on the way up. The views from the top are unparalleled, looking out over Table Bay.Township Tour: Khayalitsha (Half Day)
Guided tour through the second largest informal settlement in South Africa (Soweto being the largest). The tour includes a visit to the Malay Quarters, District Six Museum, bed & breakfast venue in a shack, a shebeen, a walking tour of the township, the Women’s Empowerment Centre as well as viewing arts and crafts.
For a full day cultural tour, a visit to Robben Island can be included.Robben Island Museum (Half Day)
Take a ferry across Table Bay to Robben Island. This prison was once home to former President Nelson Mandela and many other black political freedom fighters and is now a World Heritage Site. Visit the maximum security prison, interact with an ex-political prisoner and take a bus tour around the island.Cape Point & Cape Peninsula (Full Day or Half Day)
Cape Point is situated within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. The Table Mountain National Park encompasses the incredibly scenic Table Mountain Chain stretching from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south and the seas and coastline of the peninsula. The narrow finger of land is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the warmer waters of False Bay. It has within its boundaries two world-renowned landmarks – majestic Table Mountain and the legendary Cape of Good Hope.The first African penguins were spotted on Foxy Beach at Boulders in 1983 and the colony has grown rapidly, increasing initially at about 60% a year. Take a walk between these beautiful birds along the boardwalks.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Half Day, or as a stop on the Peninsula Tour)
The beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens cover an area of 528 hectares with 36 hectares of cultivated garden. The gardens are a celebration of South African flora – showcasing only indigenous South African plants. Fynbos, proteas, cycads and rolling lawns are intermingled with streams and ponds and well-laid out pathways for easy walking. A great variety of birds inhabit the gardens and the sweeping views from the upper slopes are spectacular.Great White Shark Diving (Full Day )
Great White Shark diving in South Africa is a combination of goosebump thrills, education and relaxation on a luxury boat in the company of experienced experts and researchers. Here we will learn to distinguish between a male and female shark and how to identify a specific shark by its unique dorsal fin and scars. The 20 – 25 minute boat trip to where the activity is to take place, is by itself an exhilarating adventure. On any given day, we also usually see at least two or more members of the Marine Big Five – sharks, dolphins, whales, seals and penguins, as well as several bird species. -
Days 4-5 – DIE OUDE WERF STELLENBOSCH
For the next two days we will explore the Cape’s world famous Winelands, with wine tasting and cellar tours en-route.
This region is well known for its outstanding wines, breathtaking vistas and majestic mountain backdrops while being steeped in rich culture and history. Options include the signature Stellenbosch area including a tour through this beautiful town, with its venerable old buildings, where modern life sits comfortably side by side with the town’s rich history and architectural heritage; the wine estates in Paarl including a stop at the Paarl Language Monument overlooking the scenic valley; Franschhoek, a quaint village with French influence in the heart of the famous Cape Winelands. Here we will also have the opportunity to stop at the Huguenot Memorial and Museum, constructed in 1938 to commemorate the 250th year of the Huguenots’ arrival in the valley. Winetasting cost is included.The Oude Werf Hotel is considered to be the oldest existing hotel in the South Africa with a history that dates back to 1802. Located on vibrant Church Street, the hotel retains the graceful ambience of Georgian style throughout. Soft hues and antique furniture have been tastefully aligned with the comforts of modern living to create a calm haven.
A myriad shops, museums, art galleries and beautiful examples of Cape Dutch architecture are within easy walking distance of the hotel.
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Days 6-8 – TSITSIKAMMA
From Cape Town we will take a scheduled flight to George , where we will be met and transferred to our Garden Route lodge.
The Fernery at Forest Ferns, set on 250 acres bordering Tsitsikamma National Park, is an environmentally friendly fern-harvesting farm that employs 250 local people. The farm harvests fern leaves from its property for shipment to flower shops across Europe. The Fernery’s eight secluded chalets, nestled atop the gorge of the Storms River and surrounded by tranquil forests, offer beautifully appointed living areas with fireplaces and wraparound decks.
There are plenty of activities to enjoy on the estate, including a swimming pool, jacuzzis, saunas, walking and jogging, mountain biking with a number of cycling routes through the plantations, fishing and rowing boats on the dam.
There are also numerous activities available in the surrounding area, including spectacular trails in Tsitsikamma National Park that features pristine indigenous forest and magnificent coastal scenery rich with tidepool life.
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Days 9-11 KAMBAKU – TIMBAVATI NATURE RESERVE
Take an early morning flight from George to Hoedspruit and drive approx. 20 minutes to our Timbavati safari camp.
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park, with over 10 000 hectares. The reserve shares a common border without fences with the Kruger National Park, allowing the animals free range and the opportunity to view the greatest diversity of wildlife that Africa has to offer.
This lodge offers an authentic wildlife experience in Big Five territory in an area also home to over 40 mammal species and 350 bird species. Experience the thrill of game drives in open Land Rovers, guided bush walks, and tracking game on foot with highly experienced rangers and trackers. We are guaranteed an adventure of a lifetime in one of Africa’s world-renowned unspoilt game reserves.Kambaku River Sands is situated in the heart of the Reserve, located on the banks of a perennial river with continuous free flowing movement of game both big and small through the camp. This unfenced camp boasts 10 thatched suites, each with air conditioning, complimentary mini bar, en-suite bathroom overlooking the wild surrounds containing spa bath, double shower, private toilet and outdoor shower, as well as private viewing decks overlooking either the dry river bed or the surrounding bush. The main lodge with high thatched roof houses the lounge with two fireplaces , bar and swimming pool, all with exquisite views over the camp waterhole, and for those who want to stay in touch with the outside world, uncapped WiFi is available in the lounge. Kambaku River Sands offers an exclusive African dinner experience with dinner under the stars in the Boma or in the bush.
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DAY 12-14 MALA MALA – SABI SAND PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
Enjoy one last morning game activity in the Timbavati before breakfast and check-out, after which we will be driven south to the famed Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
The Sabi Sand Reserve is part of the largest conservation area in South Africa and it is the oldest of all the private reserves, covering an area of 65 000 hectare/ 153 000 acre of savannah thornveld. It is now part of the Greater Kruger National Park and there are no fences between them, so the game moves freely through this enormous natural reserve.
The 16 000 hectares of the MalaMala Game Reserve stretches across the largest part of this conservancy and is the first of the bands of privately owned game land to make the transition from hunting to photographic safaris. Here nature moves to its innate rhythm and guests experience today what the forefathers of the African Safari would have experienced at the turn of the century.
MalaMala shares 20 miles of open boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing game to move freely across the large land mass, producing some of the most exciting wildlife encounters in Africa. The vast array of habitat types within MalaMala attracts the wildlife from the Kruger National Park; from open savannahs, dense riparian zones and granite koppies to the perennial Sand River, which winds its way through the reserve. This diversity is the secret behind the fantastic complexity of fauna and flora for which MalaMala has become so famous, and the reason for virtually guaranteed sightings of the “Big 5” on game viewing activities. Top qualified rangers and exceptional Shangaan trackers accompany all game viewing activities, revealing the secrets of the bush from the big and dangerous to the small and less-often seen aspects of this environmental paradise.
MalaMala Main Camp is ideally located on the banks of the Sand River. Thatched ochre buildings are dotted across manicured lawns under large shady trees with magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding bush. Each spacious bungalow is individually decorated in African theme, en-suite bathrooms, and private verandahs. Guest areas include the Buffalo lounge, with expansive wooden deck providing an elevated view of animals watering in the Sand River, a sparkling pool and air-conditioned dining room for breakfast and lunch.
This private game reserve is the quintessence of an authentic safari experience, offering fantastic game activities in the heart of vast sweeping plains – the bush in all its splendour and sundowners under the fiery African sky.
A TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI IN THESE PRIVATE RESERVES
Morning Game Drive – As dawn breaks over the African bush, a gentle tap on the door will wake us to the delights of a new day. Our ranger will discuss what we hope to see that day over fragrant tea or coffee and morning biscuits or rusks. Set out in an open 4×4 safari vehicle in the company of a ranger and tracker team, who will attempt to track our favourite animals. We will stop for refreshments at a scenic spot during your drive.
Breakfast – Return to camp for a delicious breakfast, with platters of fruit and cheese followed by a selection of hot breakfast dishes. Choose from eggs, oats, waffles or a number of other options.
Lunch – We can walk off your breakfast on a short walk near the camp, accompanied by our ranger, who will share his insight into the smaller animals and vegetation in the area. Lunch is served on open air decks within sight of the river.
Afternoon Tea – Cool off with a refreshing dip in the pool or indulge in an afternoon siesta. Over a late afternoon tea, our ranger will discuss what we hope to see during the afternoon game drive.
Evening Game Drive – This game drive begins in the late afternoon and lasts until after dark, when spotlights are used for a glimpse into the nocturnal bush life. Track spotted hyena as they call to each other on an evening hunt or spot the beautifully patterned civet cat. Enjoy sundowners in a scenic location as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon.
Dinner – Return to camp for a mouth-watering dinner around a blazing fire. Linger over coffee and dessert, sharing memories of the day gone by.
Cost Per Person
15 -Day Safari
From US$8546 pp sharing
Single Supplement $385
4-Night Safari
From $1926 pp sharing
Single Supplement $266
• Group Sizes
Any size you want!
• Length
4 or 6 Night
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