Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town
Welcome to South Africa!
Upon arrival in the fascinating city of Cape Town, visitors are greeted and transferred to their hotel, where they will stay for the next three nights. Some standard hotels used in the quotes include The Commodore, the Portswood, and the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. African safari vacations in South Africa often begin with a stay in this vibrant city.
Regardless of the chosen accommodation, visitors are encouraged to take time to explore the lively Victoria & Alfred waterfront (most of the luxury hotels booked are conveniently located there, making access as simple as stepping out the door). The popular seaside walkways are lined with refurbished historical buildings, museums, boutiques, craft markets, hotels, bars, and cinemas. Visitors can dine at world-class restaurants with superb views of the bustling harbor and Table Mountain. The Two Oceans Aquarium is also located here, and tours of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, depart from the Waterfront daily. Safari holidays in South Africa provide a perfect balance of urban exploration and wildlife encounters.
If time allows, a fourth night in Cape Town is recommended, allowing for 3 full days to explore at leisure.
Meals included: n/a Luxury Accommodations: Portswood or similar
Day 2: Full Day Tour to the Wine Country
Visitors spend a full day celebrating the grape, visiting the exceptional winelands region, and appreciating its heavenly scenery. The area is rich with history, and travelers can't help but feel it as they move through the region to experience a wine cellar tour and tasting, where they'll learn all about the process of winemaking, from grape to goblet. They visit the exquisite little town of Franschhoek, pass by the impressive Huguenot Monument, and in a town renowned for gourmet fare, choose to enjoy lunch (lunch cost is not included, allowing visitors to decide from an open menu). The journey winds its way to the heady heights of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass to meet the charming university town of Stellenbosch on the other side. Visitors stroll through this little town, absorbing the quaintness and sneaking into the odd shop or two (on Sundays, not all galleries and shops are open). They enjoy wine tastings at two different wine estates where they can purchase their favorite wine to take back home. African safari adventures in South Africa often include cultural experiences and culinary delights.
Note: The standard tours are shared and generally open for up to around 8 travelers. Alternatively, private tours can be quoted on request.
Meals included: Breakfast Luxury Accommodations: Portswood or similar
Day 3: Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour
South Africa's southern peninsula boasts some of the most magnificent Atlantic coastlines in the world. Visitors experience the stunning beauty of the region with a full day of activities, including a scenic coastal drive in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a visit to the charming fishing village of Hout Bay, and sighting the rare African Penguins at Boulders Beach. If time allows, they then travel to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for a short walking tour of these beautiful gardens. Safari tours in South Africa offer a diverse range of natural wonders and wildlife encounters.
Meals included: Breakfast Luxury Accommodations: Portswood or similar
Day 4: Fly to Kruger area, safari in Sabi Sands
Today, visitors are met at their hotel and transferred to the airport in time for their flight to Johannesburg. Here, they connect with the flight to Kruger's Mpumalanga International Airport, where they are met and transferred to their Sabi Sands safari lodge. There are a nice variety of mid-range to elite luxury lodges in the game reserve, and the recommendation for any given traveler is fine-tuned to their budget range, comfort needs, and availability. African safari vacations in the Kruger area offer the chance to witness incredible wildlife up close.
Visitors are driven to their safari lodge, where they are greeted, eat lunch, and enjoy a brief orientation and tour of the lodge. After a brief rest and then high tea, they embark on their first game drive in this revered home of the Big 5. Safari holidays in Sabi Sands provide a true wilderness experience with exceptional wildlife sightings.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Mid-Range Accommodations: Inyati Game Lodge or similar
Day 5: Safari activities at your Sabi Sands Lodge
Visitors enjoy the full palette of activities and stunning variety of big game in the area today. They typically embark on an early morning game drive, then have a long, relaxed siesta around the lodge in the heat of mid-day, followed by another game drive in the afternoon into evening, which routinely turns into a night game drive. At night, following dinner, a fire is lit, and guests of the camp often linger around the campfire, enjoying a glass of wine and conversation beneath the star-studded skies. African safari adventures in Sabi Sands offer an immersive and unforgettable wildlife experience.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Mid-Range Accommodations: Inyati Game Lodge or similar
Day 6: Safari activities at your Sabi Sands Lodge
Visitors experience another day in this wildlife paradise, with big cat viewing rivaling anywhere in Africa. Safari tours in Sabi Sands provide ample opportunities to witness the majestic predators in their natural habitat.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Mid-Range Accommodations: Inyati Game Lodge or similar
Day 7: Fly to Johannesburg and overnight
After the morning game viewing activity, visitors return to the lodge for breakfast before being transferred to the airport for their flight to Johannesburg. African safari vacations in the Kruger area come to an end as visitors prepare for the next leg of their journey.
Visitors overnight at the Peermont Mondior at O.R. Tambo Airport on a bed & breakfast basis (hotel upgrades including centrally-located city hotels like the Fire and Ice or the Saxon are available on request). Safari holidays in South Africa often include a brief stay in Johannesburg to facilitate travel arrangements.
* Alternatively, there is a direct flight once a day from Sabi Sands to Livingstone, Zambia. So it is possible to cut this trip back one day and eliminate the overnight stay in Johannesburg. From Livingstone, a transfer over the river to Victoria Falls can be easily arranged, or visitors can enjoy the Victoria Falls element of the trip in Livingstone itself.
Meals included: Breakfast Luxury Accommodations: Peermont Mondior or similar
Day 8: Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Livingstone, Zambia - Sunset Zambezi Cruise
Visitors take an easy airport shuttle to O.R. Tambo and connect with their flight to Victoria Falls or Livingstone. Upon arrival, they are met, greeted, and transferred to their hotel, where they will stay for two nights on a B&B basis. African safari adventures in southern Africa often include a visit to this iconic natural wonder.
Victoria Falls is an original natural wonder of the world and arguably the most impressive waterfall in the world. No trip to southern Africa is complete without a stay here; it's simply a world-class sight to see. Safari tours in Zimbabwe or Zambia provide the opportunity to witness the majesty of Victoria Falls.
Depending on the arrival time, visitors may have time to explore the local town, visit the National Park to view the falls, or enjoy the Zambezi sunset cruise tonight (the default inclusion, but this can be changed around). If visitors visit the National Park this afternoon, that frees up Day 9 for other excursions, such as rafting the Zambezi (Class V, water levels permitting), canoeing on the upper Zambezi, a visit to the Devil's Pool, or relaxation. Safari holidays in Victoria Falls offer a range of exciting activities and breathtaking views.
Meals included: Breakfast Mid-Range Accommodations: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or similar
Day 9: Tour of Victoria Falls
This morning, visitors enjoy a guided daytime tour of Victoria Falls. The afternoon is free to relax or book an optional tour. African safari vacations in Victoria Falls provide ample opportunities to explore this natural wonder.
Easily one of the world's most stunning waterfalls, Victoria Falls – also known as "the smoke that thunders" – unleashes huge columns of spray as the mighty Zambezi's water (as much as 1 ½ billion cubic feet of water per second in the rainy season) spills over across a Basaltic chasm that is ½ mile wide and over 350 feet high. The views of it from either Victoria Falls or Livingstone, Zambia are comparable, though some travelers take the time to view it from both sides. Safari tours in Victoria Falls offer a truly awe-inspiring experience.
Meals included: Breakfast Mid-Range Accommodations: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or similar
Day 10: Depart Victoria Falls or extend your trip
Today, visitors transfer to the airport in time for their flight home or extend their stay. There are many options to extend the trip. For example, visitors can extend for a day of class 5 rafting on the Zambezi River or extend with a safari experience to northern Zimbabwe (such as Hwange National Park) or over to Chobe in Botswana. African safari adventures in southern Africa offer endless possibilities for unforgettable experiences.
Meals included: Breakfast
