Private Tour
Within the continent of Africa, South Africa offers an unparalleled combination of cosmopolitan cities, spectacular game viewing, rich cultures, and unsurpassed scenery.
General Info on travel to South Africa
Detailed Itinerary
Days 1-2 - Sat-Sun - USA/Cape Town Fly from the U.S. to Cape Town, arriving around noon of day 2. Transfer to your hotel, where you may relax after your international flight. Later, stroll through the vibrant waterfront area, noted for its fashionable shops, restaurants, music venues, bars, produce markets, restored warehouses and dock buildings. In the evening, dine at a recommended restaurant or at your hotel restaurant. Victoria & Alfred Hotel.
Day 3 - Mon - Cape Town Morning cable car excursion up Table Mountain. Along with Victoria Falls, Table Mountain is one of southern Africa's most beautiful and impressive natural wonders. Weather-permitting, your Table Mountain excursion should provide you with wonderful views of the entire Cape. After lunch, you have a choice of two activities. First, you may visit beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and then drive through the idyllic Constantia district. Your second option is take a fascinating tour of Robben Island, the notorious 17th century prison that later held apartheid South Africa's most famous opponents, including Nelson Mandela. Victoria & Alfred Hotel. (B, L)
Day 4 - Tue - Cape of Good Hope Full day excursion to the Cape of Good Hope. Highlights include Chapman's Peak drive, 1800 feet above the ocean and considered to be one of the finest scenic coastal drives in the world; Noordhoek Valley, where Southern Right whales are frequently seen; and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. YouÕll have a choice between taking an easy and extremely scenic hike in the beautiful Hout Bay area; or enjoying a lovely cruise to Seal Island, home to a large population of seals, sea birds, and the great white shark. Afterwards, continue around the Cape, stopping at fishing villages and other areas of historical and cultural interest. Victoria & Alfred Hotel. (B, L)
Day 5 - Wed The Winelands Morning departure to Franschhoek, a lovely village situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Here you'll embark on an easy bicycling excursion along picturesque backroads, passing by whitewashed Cape Dutch homes, the Berg River, assorted vineyards, and stopping periodically for winetasting. Then take a short drive to Stellenbosch, a delightful university town that many consider to be the most beautiful in all of South Africa. You'll enjoy a walking tour of the historical downtown area, followed by winetasting or shopping. Your hotel is situated on a 300-year old country estate and is one of the region's most distinguished examples of Cape Dutch architecture. Lanzerac Hotel. (B, L) Note: In Franschhoek, you may substitute a walking tour for the bicycling excursion.
Day 6 - Thu - Knysna Morning flight to George and transfer along the Garden Route to Knysna, a quaint, charming, lagoon-side town. Stroll through the town center, perusing the various arts-and-crafts shops, galleries, restaurants, and coffee-houses. This afternoon, you'll visit the Heads, towering sandstone cliffs that guard the entrance of the lagoon, funneling the ocean through a small channel. Kynsna's beautiful lagoon is surrounded by forested hills. Exploring the summit of the Heads, you'll be rewarded with extraordinary panoramic views of the sea and lagoon. Belvidere Manor. (B, L) Note: Canoeing enthusiasts may elect to canoe across Knysna lagoon instead of visiting the town center.
Day 7 - Fri - Plettenberg Bay Short transfer to Plettenberg Bay. "Plet" is a spectacularly beautiful setting with a rare combination of mountains, white sand, and crystal blue water. Its coastline has inspired rave reviews since the Portuguese first discovered it in 1497, naming it Bahia Formosa (Beautiful Bay). Whales and dolphins are frequent visitors to the bay, and they are often visible from Plet's many lookout points. Today, you'll explore Nature's Valley for wonderful hiking (easy) through a luxuriant forest situated in a deep valley, with magnificent views of rocky cliffs, beautiful sandy beaches, and an idyllic lagoon. The Plettenberg Hotel. (B, L)
Day 8 - Sat - Plettenberg Bay/Tsitsikamma Today, choose between two wonderful soft adventures. Your first option is to visit Tsitsikamma National Park, which encompasses some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in South Africa, including deep gorges, evergreen forests, tidal pools, and long, empty beaches. Here, you'll have a choice between very scenic tubing down the Storm's River (easy; 6 hours with lunch); or hiking (easy) for 2-3 hours along a sensational trail near Storm's River. Your second option is to go either sea kayaking (3 hours; easy to moderate) or hiking (2 hours; easy) in the picturesque Robberg Nature & Marine Reserve outside Plettenberg Bay. The Plettenberg Hotel. (B, L)
Days 9-11 - Sun-Tue - Londolozi/Mala Mala Fly to Skukuza via Johannesburg and transfer to your deluxe lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjoining Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand offersperhaps the highest game density of any private reserve in southern Africa. You will enjoy twice daily game drives during which you are likely to see elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, rhino, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, gazelle, and a host of other animals and birds. You may also walk to a nearby village to observe traditional African life up-close. Accommodations, service and cuisine at your lodge are topnotch. This is an experience you will never forget. Londolozi/Mala Mala. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Wed - Johannesburg Fly to Johannesburg. Transfer to the Grace Hotel, situated in the exclusive residential neighborhood of Rosebank. Afternoon free to relax. The Grace. (B) Note: We can also arrange a 3 hour optional tour of Soweto (Southwest Township).
Day 13 --Thu - Victoria Falls Morning flight to Victoria Falls. This afternoon on your private tour of the falls, you'll marvel at one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Indeed, as Eleanor Roosevelt observed about Iguacu, Victoria Falls also "make Niagara look like a dripping faucet." Surrounded by a thick jungle of spray-generated rainforest, these mile-wide falls drop between 300 and 350 feet into the Zambezi Gorge. Air, mist, and light conditions combine to provide breathtaking views of the falls. Tonight, you have a choice between a traditional Zimbabwean Boma dinner or taking a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls Hotel. (B, D)
Day 14 - Fri - Victoria Falls This morning, after an educational talk on African elephants, you'll embark on a thrilling, low-intensity elephant back safari through the bush, escorted by an armed guide on foot. You may well see buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, impala, elephants, waterbuck, as well as a wide variety of birds. At this evening's African cultural show, you'll be entertained by performers who will showcase the rhythms, costumes, dances, and instruments of the Shangaan, Ndebele, Mkishi, and Nyau tribes. Victoria Falls Hotel. (B, D)
Note: Between January and June, experienced whitewater rafting enthusiasts may consider adding a day in Victoria Falls in order to raft the Zambezi River, which offers perhaps the world's best one-day rafting trip. However, this trip is rigorous, not low-intensity. Rapids are class 4-5, depending on the season.
Day 15 - Sat - Homeward Bound Transfer to airport for your flights to Johannesburg and the USA. (B; meals en route)
Includes: Accommodations for 13 nights in first class hotels and deluxe safari lodges, All elective soft adventures, Most meals as indicated, All local guiding services, All entrance fees, All vehicle transportation and airport transfers, Porterage
Does Not Include: Airfares (quoted separately); meals not included in itinerary; tips to guides ; excess baggage charges; alcoholic beverages; laundry, passports, personal insurance, other personal items; airport departure taxes; hotel nights en route or return.