TOURING & SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
- Cape Town guided sightseeing, including a four night stay
- Wonderful culinary highlights during your stay in Cape TownExploring the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
- Robben Island Excursion, Cape Tow
- Winery tour in Cape Town including a wine & chocolate tasting.
- Johannesburg city tour including a visit to Soweto
- Khwai River game drives
- 2 day Okavango Delta experience
- Game drive, Bwabwata National Park
- Eastern Caprivi Strip to Namibia
- Game drives in Chobe National Park and a sunset cruise on the Chobe River
- A two night visit to Victoria Falls
- A highlight group farewell dinner at The Boma Place of Eating
- Small group safari to ensure the best safari experience
PRE TOUR STAY OPTION:
We encourage travellers to arrive the day prior to the tour commencement, to allow time to adjust to the new time zone and recover from your flight. The cost of the additional hotel night of stay applies.
When you book your flight with us, and stay at the group hotel, as part of your package, the airport arrival transfer is also included for a one night pre tour stay.=
DAY 1
Depart Australia. Arrive Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome to Cape Town, South Africa! It’s arrival day and at your leisure. While in Cape Town we discover the highlights of the city and its surrounds, including some of the best dining experiences on offer.
Meals: None included
DAY 2
Cape Town
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning. In the morning around 10am you will be collected for a city orientation tour. There is the opportunity to explore Table Mountain; weather dependent (cable car tickets at your own expense). After this, a lavish affair awaits you. No visit to Cape Town is complete without enjoying a High Tea at the beautiful Mount Nelson Hotel. Your high tea is in lieu of lunch today. This evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, High Tea
DAY 3
Cape Town Touring with Robben Island
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
From here we embark on a half day excursion to Robben Island, the unique symbol of “the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suffering and injustice”. Robben Island is visited every year by thousands of people eager to understand and honour the important aspects of South Africa’s history that it represents.
After our Robben Island tour, we head off to the Constantia Winelands where we stop at Groot Constantia. Groot Constantia is the oldest wine estate in South Africa and a provincial heritage site in the suburb of Constantia in Cape Town, South Africa. "Groot" in Dutch and Afrikaans translates as "great" in English. Here we will do a cellar tour, wine & chocolate tasting.
Dinner tonight is a chic African experience. Dining begins with the drumbeat of the djembe drum. An interactive drum circle offers you the opportunity to join in and learn how to play the djembe. In no time at all you will be drumming with the rest of Africa! The cuisine is authentically Cape Malay and African. As you dine you will be entertained by live performances near your table. Guests are welcomed to Gold by the Mali Puppets who sing and dance in time to the drum beats.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
DAY 4
Cape Town, Cape Peninsula
Today we explore the Cape Peninsula. Travelling along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, we stop at Maiden Cove look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay. We carry on over Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve. After lunch at a nearby restaurant (on your own account), we travel to Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach.
In the afternoon, we head back to your hotel for some time to freshen up for dinner out this evening for a superb dining experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
DAY 5
Cape Town to Johannesburg
We leave Cape Town first thing to transfer to the airport for a flight to Johannesburg, a city in a major urban revival and transformation. You will be collected from Jo’burg airport and transferred to Soweto for a half day exploration of the township, learning more about the history and struggles of this beautiful nation. Visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Orlando West, built in memory of the people who died 16 June 1976. The Mandela House Museum is an interesting stop for a slice of authentic history. You can also have a glimpse of the mansion belonging to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s house and the Sisulu residences which are all in the same neighbourhood. As we are out and about, enjoy a local shebeen lunch in one of the restaurants. If time permits, continue to the Apartheid Museum for a guided tour (entry at traveller’s own expense). After a full day, there’s relaxing time at our hotel this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6
Johannesburg to Maun to Khwai River
After breakfast we head to the airport for your late morning flight to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta (this flight is included with the package). The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”.
From the airport we transfer to our camp, which is situated in a private concession in the Khwai area. It’s a longer day on the road to reach our destination, and covers some rough roads. This large area is renowned for its concentration of mammals and it is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during just one game drive. Depending on the time of our arrival, you may have an opportunity to go on a PM game drive on the private concession.
We will settle in and listen to the sounds of the African bush.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed) Dinner (at lodge)
DAY 7
Khwai River, Botswana
It’s a fabulous day ahead for game drives. In our open 4x4 vehicle we will explore the Khwai area on morning and afternoon game drives hopefully spotting a variety of game that frequent this region. Game viewing is seasonal; depending on the time of the year you may see different species in different areas.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (packed), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 8
Game Drive, Botswana
Today, we will spend the morning and afternoon on game drives. Visiting Khwai area which is home to a great diversity of plant and animal life.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (packed lunch), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 9
Maun, Botswana
This morning we head back to Maun. There is also the option for a scenic flight or helicopter ride (at your own expense).
Meals: Breakfast (at lodge), Lunch (packed), Dinner (at lodge)
DAYS 10 & 11
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Early in the morning we leave Maun and drive to the Western Delta and onto Etsha 13. From here we head into the largest inland delta in the world, another highlight of Botswana, the Okavango Delta. We will spend the next two nights listening to the sounds of the wilderness.
Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique. Enjoy a cruise on the Okavango Delta and see some of the thick vegetation of the Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife.
Meals:
Day 11: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (en route), Dinner (lodge)
Day 12: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (packed lunch), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 12
Divundu, Namibia
Today we leave the lush verdant wetlands of the Delta and enter Namibia. We make our way to our lodge, after taking a guided visit to the Living Museum of the Ju’Hoansi-San, a local Bushmen community who offer us the opportunity to participate in their daily activities. The Living Museum is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn about the traditional culture and the original way of living of the San people. A walk is taken in the vicinity of the village with the hunters to search for bush food, watch them prepare snares and ropes and start a fire the Ju/’Hoansi way
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (en route), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 13
Bwabwata, Namibia
Today, we enjoy a game drive in Bwabwata National Park which lies on the western banks of the Okavango River and is one of Namibia's most captivating and species-rich conservation areas. The main features of the Bwabwata are enormous baobab trees and flood plains with large herds of elephant, buffalo and red lechwe.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (packed lunch), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 14
Namibia to Botswana
Today we continue our journey through the Caprivi Strip, crossing the border to Botswana until we reach our destination at Chobe.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (packed), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 15
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Start your morning early with a game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge where you can relax until our boat cruise on the Chobe River starts mid-afternoon. Here we can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds and more without having to reach for our binoculars – you’ll be close enough for close-up photographs.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (lodge), Dinner (lodge)
DAY 16
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
You will have an opportunity for another and final morning game drive in Chobe National Park (optional and on your own account) before we depart for Victoria Falls. A mid-morning departure takes you from Chobe to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We have lunch in a local café and in the afternoon we explore the Victoria Falls on a guided tour. This evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge), Lunch (local cafe)
FREE TIME EXTRAS :
Optional game driving early in morning.
DAY 17
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The day is free for you to explore the town or partake in a number of optional activities on offer at Victoria Falls. The group will meet tonight for a farewell dinner at the Boma Place of Eating – a truly African experience!
Meals: Breakfast (hotel), Highlight Dinner (restaurant).
DAY 18
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Our safari ends after breakfast and we hope that you take home some everlasting memories.
Meals: Breakfast (lodge)
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS TO ITINERARY
ELEPHANTS EYE, HWANGE, ZIMBABWE
Travellers have the option to extend their African experience with a visit to Elephant’s Eye, Hwange located on a 2500 hectare private concession. It’s a mere 13 km away from the entrance to Hwange National Park. Hwange is a more untouched safari destination and the lodge is easily accessible from Victoria Falls.
The elephant population here is one of the largest in the world and it also has one of the largest surviving groups of wild dog in Africa today. Attention to detail and friendly service in the heart of the African bush will set you at ease as you immerse yourself in this striking environment.
Enjoy the serenity and beautiful views overlooking a busy waterhole frequented by elephants and other resident game, allowing you to feel at one with nature. Spacious, tented ensuite chalets fitted with king/twin beds and decorated in natural hues; provide a comfortable and private abode from the elements.
Personalised service is guaranteed with guides accompanying clients to and from communal areas and chalets ensuring that individual needs are met at all times.
Includes:
• Return road transfers, Victoria Falls to Hwange
• 2 nights’ accommodation at Elephant’s Eye, Hwange
• All meals and drinks during the stay
• Game drives
• Laundry service
DAY 18
Victoria Falls - Hwange
After breakfast, say farewell to your fellow passengers at your Victoria Falls hotel and you will be transferred (by road) to Elephant’s Eye, Hwange Eco-Lodge, which is situated 13 km from the main camp of Hwange National Park.
After arrival, you can either relax on your private veranda or in the pool area, before your first activity. Choose between a game drive in the Hwange National Park or on the Elephant’s Eye, private concession. Alternatively you can join a visit to a local village, where locals will host you and share some information on their lifestyle.
Meals: Breakfast (end of standard tour) Lunch, Dinner
DAY 19
Hwange National Park
Today is spent on a game drive in the Hwange National Park, the largest national park in Zimbabwe, covering an area of approximately 14650 km2. Named after a local chief, Hwange is situated in the northwest corner of the country about one hour south of the Victoria Falls. Because of its close proximity to the Falls, Hwange boasts an incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna, and a plethora of African wildlife.
There are over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded here. Specifically, the elephant population in Hwange is considered world famous, as it is one of the largest in the world. Experience parts of this national park on game drives and you will discover a variety of animals, including some predators among them.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 20
Departure
Enjoy your last breakfast at our lodge before your 2½ hour drive back to Victoria Falls Airport, where you embark on your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION
- Chalets with open-plan bathroom, double basins and outdoor shower
- private veranda
- fireplace
- pool
- restaurant and bar area
- viewing deck
ABOUT THE GAME DRIVES
The Hwange National Park is home to over 100 mammal species, including lion, leopard and rhino, and is known for its large population of elephant. This game park is very accessible and Elephants Eye offers day and night game drives and also offers walking safaris. The highest numbers of animals are spotted in the dry season (August to October) when the wildlife congregates around the shrunken water holes.
Spa treatments (fees apply) are also available at Elephants Eye, Hwange including (service fees apply);
60 Minute Deep Tissue Neck & Shoulder Massage
60 Minute Swedish Neck & Shoulder Massage
60 Minute Relaxing Neck & Shoulder Massage
Itineraries are subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. IF there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
