Described as the world in one country,
South Africa is a grand adventure of spectacular
scenery, native traditions and colonial
influences. Images of the animal life include
elephants lumbering through acacia trees,
the graceful gallop of giraffe, majestic
lions surveying their domain and restless
rhino rumbling across the bushveldt. Virtually
the size of Europe and with more than 3000
kilometers of coastline, the country has
climatic differences ranging from searing
hot desert to snow-capped peaks and varied
cultures from Bushmen to the most western
ways.
ITINERARY IN DETAIL
19 Jan 2008 Depart North America
Depart on your fascinating journey to South Africa.
20 Jan 2008 Arrive Cape Town
We'll arrive at Cape Town International Airport and transfer to the Cape Grace Hotel. With a classically inspired exterior and graceful elegance within, the Cape Grace offers the ultimate experience for discerning travellers. Set on its own private quay on Cape Town's vibrant Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the hotel is a destination in itself. Cape Grace's charm lies in its intimate atmosphere, stylish décor and personalized hospitality. All 122 rooms have harbour or mountain views.
Dinner can be enjoyed in the hotel Restaurant called "One Waterfront.• Perfectly positioned with views of the yacht marina and Table Mountain, One Waterfront is an elegant space with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This award-winning restaurant is guaranteed to make a lasting impression. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax and recover from the long flight.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Dinner
21 Jan 2008 Cape Town
We will take a city tour of Cape Town, affectionately known as the Mother City. It is the oldest city in the country and has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years. It also has the top five national attractions in South Africa that should appear on every visitor's itinerary all year round.
Included is a visit to Table Mountain. The best views of Cape Town are seen from the top of Table Mountain. The cableway takes us to the summit in under 10 minutes and the cable car's rotating floor ensures that all passengers get a 360-degree aerial view of the city. (Note: weather permitting - if not possible today, the cable car ride will be moved to another day).
The tour also includes visits to the South Africa Museum and the Castle of Good Hope. A unique combination of cultural and military history, exhibitions and military ceremonies await the visitor at the Castle of Good Hope, which was built between 1666 and 1679. The visitor can also experience the dungeons, dolphin pool, blacksmith and the tranquil atmosphere. The Castle lends itself to many present day activities such as open air concerts with Cape Town as backdrop, fashion shows, film and fashion shoots. The South Africa Museum is the oldest museum in South Africa. Here, natural and cultural diversity is highlighted.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to stroll around the waterfront, do some shopping or relax at the hotel pool.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
22 Jan 2008 Cape Town-Cape Point
Today a full day trip to Cape Point is planned. A trip to Cape Point is a must for any Cape Town visitor. The southern end of the Cape Peninsula boasts two points of interest: the Cape of Good Hope and the more southerly and higher situated Cape Point. However, the most southern point of Africa is to be found 150 kilometres towards the southeast. There, at Cape Agulhas, the two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic, meet. For the early seafarers the Cape of Good Hope marked the turning point in their luck because once the Cape of Storms, as Bartholomeus Diaz called it in 1488, had been passed, the battle against the sea was basically won.
We will also make a stop at Boulders Beach. Nestled in historic Simon's Town in South Africa, Boulders Penguin Colony is part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. Almost 3000 African (jackass) penguins, so called because their call resembles the bray of a donkey, reign supreme amidst rounded rocks and fish-filled False Bay. These endangered, flightless birds are free to roam the seas and return to their private haven at Boulders.
Lunch will be enjoyed en route, and we will return to the hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
23 Jan 2008 Cape Town-Robben Island
Today we will take a half-day tour to Robben Island. For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, 12 kilometres from Cape Town, was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here that rulers sent those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society.
During the apartheid years, Robben Island became internationally known for its institutional brutality. The duty of those who ran the Island and its prison was to isolate opponents of apartheid and to crush their morale. Some freedom fighters spent more than a quarter of a century in prison for their beliefs. Those imprisoned on the Island succeeded on a psychological and political level in turning a prison "hell-hole• into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation. Robben Island came to symbolize, not only for South Africa and the African continent, but also for the entire world, the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. After we return to the mainland for lunch and then have the balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
24 Jan 2008 Cape Town-Township Tour
We will depart this morning for a full day Township Tour. Today we will experience a brilliant way to learn about the cultures and traditions of South Africa. Despite difficult circumstances and poor living conditions, we will observe the vibrancy and spirit of the South African people.
We will visit the fascinating area of Bo-Kaap and the Malay Quarter. A traditional residential area of Cape Town's Muslim community, the suburb consists of cobbled streets, brightly coloured houses from the nineteenth century, Muslim shrines and mosques. We'll make a stop at 43 Rose Street and visit Monkeybiz Bead Project. This project was established to provide employment and to empower disadvantaged women in Cape Town's townships. The revival of traditional South African beadwork has enabled the project to achieve its goals by marketing beaded items such as dolls, bags, animals and beaded strips.
We will visit the District Six Museum, which depicts the memories of the time when people were forcibly removed from their homes under the Group Areas Act. We will explore the Cape Flats and visit areas such as Langa, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Crossroads. A stop at a local shebeen for a taste of sorghum beer is an absolute highlight. Other stops include the meat market, the men's hostels and an herbalist. We will enjoy lunch en route.
This tour is interactive and we will have the opportunity to speak to the local residents and possibly even be invited into their homes. We will return to our hotel in the early afternoon.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
25 Jan 2008 Cape Town-Winelands-Franschhoek
After breakfast, we will depart for the Winelands area. Stellenbosch is the heart of South Africa's wine industry, a place of great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African tradition. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the country's most famous, and the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin area includes 106 cellars, most of which are open to the public. We will njoy a day of wine tasting, and wine buying, tasting the South African way of life.
Before heading off to Franschhoek, we will make a short visit to Paarl. The scenic town of Paarl is situated at the foot of the second-largest granite outcrop in the world, where we will find an unexpected jewel! Paarl proudly bears the title of the third-oldest town in South Africa. Standing tall on Paarl Mountain and celebrating the birth of Afrikaans is the Afrikaans Language Monument and just outside Paarl is Drakenstein Prison (en route to Franschhoek), where Nelson Mandela spent his last years of captivity.
Franschhoek Wine Valley lies deep in the Cape Winelands. Here, amidst luscious vineyards and gracious Cape Dutch farmsteads, a picturesque village emits proud, ever-present memories of a 17th century Huguenot culture. This is the place towards which an emancipated Nelson Mandela turned as he began his long walk to freedom.
After a fun-filled day in the winelands, we will head for some peace and quiet at Le Quartier Français. Le Quartier Français (the French Quarter) is a small, privately owned auberge situated in the French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek. A quote from the owner:
"We like to keep things simple, but exceptional, and we pride ourselves on our reputation for warm, world class service … and the little touches that make the difference.• Emphasis is on ultimate luxury and romantic charm, combined with the priceless gift of privacy, tucked away in the centre of the village.
We will relax at the hotel for a short while and freshen up for dinner, which will be enjoyed at the hotel restaurant. Le Quartier Francais is legendary for its innovative cuisine. With an endless list of awards and renowned executive chef Margot Janse at the helm, it is a superbly rated restaurant. The cuisine is contemporary and creative, using seasonal local ingredients.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner
26 Jan 2008 Franschhoek-Hermanus
After breakfast, we will have a short time at leisure to take a stroll down the main road of Franschhoek and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We will then depart for Hermanus.
Hermanus is built along the shores of Walker Bay near the southernmost tip of Africa.
Lunch will be enjoyed at Beintangs Cave. Located in a Marine Reserve on the Western Cape coastline, Bientang's Cave is also known for delicious seafood and some of the best wines that the Cape has to offer. We will have spectacular views of the ocean, a mere 100 metres away.
After lunch, we will drive a little further to Birkenhead House, perched high on the cliffs of Hermanus and overlooking the whale watcher's paradise of Walker Bay. Birkenhead House accommodates guests in the utmost luxury and is the perfect destination for those seeking the pinnacle of seaside living, with rich fabrics, choice antiques, the very finest in international cuisine and hospitality of the highest standard.
Freshen up and relax before dinner in your beautifully appointed suites. Spacious, finely appointed bathrooms complete the feeling of utter luxury.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
27 Jan 2008 Hermanus-Plettenberg Bay
Today we will continue along the Garden Route, through Mossel Bay to Knysna. The town nestles between the impressive Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, with the world-renowned forests encircling it like a protective mantle. At the heart of Knysna is the 21-hectare lagoon protected from the sea by the monolithic sandstone "heads,• silent sentinels of the rich history of this unique "paradise on earth.•
We will arrive in Plettenberg Bay in the early afternoon. Apart from offering the visitor an exciting holiday and lots of sunbathing, this bustling town is a breathing monument of history. Hidden away in Piesang Valley stands a chapel built by a William Henry Newdigate. He was the son of an old and distinguished family. Plettenberg Bay is also the top destination for boat-based whale and dolphin watching. Due to the large number of whale and dolphin species found in the bay (five whale and three dolphin species), the Center for Dolphin Studies is located in Plettenberg Bay. Three species of whale can be seen throughout the year.
We will check into our hotel, Tsala Treetop Lodge, where elevated walkways meander through the trees to the exclusive and very private suites. A symphony of stone, wood, glass and water, high above the floor of the magnificent indigenous forest of the Tsitsikamma, the structures rise over six metres and each one is a harmonious combination of craftsmanship and the luxury of modern convenience.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
28 Jan 2008 Plettenberg Bay
In the morning we will be taken on an Ocean Ecological Adventure, which starts with an exciting beach launch and heads east past a bird sanctuary and beautiful Keurbooms Beach to the famous Arch Rock. Here one usually encounters large groups of Bottlenose and small pods of the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins as well as some shark species. From Arch Rock the boat heads out into the middle of the bay where pelagic seabirds are normally to be found some seven kilometres from the shore. The resident Bryde's whales may be seen, as well as Common Dolphins.
In the afternoon we will visit the Elephant Sanctuary. Walk and experience the elephants as never before. Experienced guides will impart fascinating information that will deepen our understanding of elephants and change you forever - so they say!
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
29 Jan 2008 Drive to George & fly to Durban
After breakfast, we will depart from Plettenberg Bay and head to George to the airport for our flight to Durban. On arrival in Durban we will be taken via a short tour of the City.
Durban's historical town centre is not very large, and is centred around the imposing City Hall. The hall was built in the Renaissance style and served from 1910 as the Town Hall. Nowadays, it houses the Concert Hall and the Natural Science Museum.
The small Francis Farewell Square in front of the City Hall, surrounded by palm trees, is dedicated to the founding fathers of the city, merchants from the Cape, who camped here first in the year 1824.
Victoria Embankment, also called Esplanade, is one of the oldest and most famous streets in the city. Aside from the Supreme Court building, which is in the Victorian style, the street is seamed by modern skyscrapers and runs all along the Bay of Natal, from Maydon Wharf with the Sugar Terminal in the west, past the yacht habour to the quais in the east.
The Sugar Terminal is one of the largest in the world. More than half a million tons of sugar are being stored here for shipment.
Right next to it is Fish Wharf, home of Durban's high-seas fleet. Further towards the northeast one gets to Wilson's Wharf, Durban's new Waterfront with numerous shops, restaurants and a theatre.
Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Victoria Embankment, features the yacht harbour with the renowned Royal Natal Yacht Club, the Vasco da Gama Clock, the Port Natal Maritime Museum and the BAT Centre with many art studios, bars and restaurants.
In South Africa today live approximately one million Indians, with Durban having the highest number of Indian inhabitants. Their ancestors were contracted around the year 1860 as workers for the sugarcane fields of Natal. After their contracts had expired, the majority of them opted to stay in the country. Many Indians established themselves as merchants and artisans in Durban.
The Indian population consists of 70% Hindus, 25% Muslims and 5% Buddhists. They have largely kept their cultural identity and contribute to the special multicultural atmosphere of the city. Particularly the Hindus hold spectacular, colourful celebrations of their most important annual holidays like the Divali festival in November or the Kavadi festival - in honour of the god of health and happiness - in January. In Grey Street and its by-streets, situated northwest of the city centre, are the oldest shops and stores of the Indians. Here one can find very good bargains: fabrics and clothes, shoes and leather goods, jewellery and curios. The place for Indian spices is the Victoria Street Market. Here you can buy cumin, saffron, tandoori and any curry mixture in any variation and quantity.
The dominant building in Grey Street is the Juma Mosque with its two golden minarettes. The biggest mosque in the southern hemisphere, built in 1927, has space for some 4500 worshippers.
We will then travel to Zimbali Lodge, one of Southern Africa's most exclusive hideaways, set within the serene confines of a coastal forest reserve on the north coast of Kwa Zulu Natal.
This is a natural sub-tropical paradise overlooking the incredible Indian Ocean and surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful indigenous gardens. The lodge is a 5-star boutique hotel and all the guest rooms offer five-star luxury accommodation, designed to complement the natural surrounding forest and to reinforce the charm of African classical architecture
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
30 Jan 2008 Drakensberg
We make an early start, meandering through the rolling green hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and on to the little town of Himeville. Here we board a 4x4 vehicle, the only means by which to tackle the steep Sani Pass.
At the top lies a remote border post (passports are essential) and beyond that, the Kingdom of Lesotho. We visit a traditional Sotho village and then enjoy lunch at the Sani Top Chalet, which has incredible views of the pass, before making our way back down the mountain.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
31 Jan 2008 Kruger via Hoedspruit
Today we will be transferred to Durban Airport in time for our flight to KMIA Airport (Kruger Mpumalanga Airport) close to Nelspruit. On arrival at KMIA Airport we will be met and transferred to the transferring flight from KMIA directly into the lodge.
The joys of a bygone era await us at Royal Malewane, situated on a private reserve within the greater Kruger Area in South Africa. Accommodating a maximum of 20 guests in the utmost colonial splendour, Royal Malewane is an exclusive getaway for those who value privacy, personalized service and the best game viewing Africa has to offer. Each of the eight freestanding and private suites rests in harmony with its magnificent surroundings with a rich deck wood terrace, thatched gazebo and spillway pool finding easy residence in nature. The colonial style of the lodge is especially visible inside the suites, which feature a palatial air-conditioned bedroom/sitting room with a fireplace, antique furniture and canopied king-size bed, as well as an extravagant bathroom with a window-side Victorian bath and indoor and outdoor showers. The suites' luxurious interior appointments draw inspiration from the grand colonial ethos: neo-classical refuge in the raw uncompromising bush. Elevated walkways link the suites to the main camp, with the African sky our ceiling. There will be time to freshen up, enjoy a light lunch and unpack before heading off on the afternoon game drive.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
01 Feb 2008 Kruger National Park
Spend today at your leisure, enjoying the activities the lodge has to offer.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
02 Feb 2008 Kruger National Park
Today will once again be at your leisure to enjoy the lodge and the game activities offered.
Overnight - Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
03 Feb 2008 Fly Kruger-Johannesburg-Departure
After our early morning game drive and breakfast, we will be transferred to the airstrip for our flight back to O.R. Tambo International Airport to connect with our international flights home.
04 Feb 2008 Arrive North America
YOUR TOUR COST INCLUDES:
• Twin share accommodations in hotels
as specified
• Meals as specified
• Sightseeing with qualified English-speaking
guides
• All internal transportation by deluxe
air-conditioned car/coach
• Game drives in 4WD vehicles with naturalist
guides
• All internal fees to monuments and
parks
• Baggage handling (one standard piece
of baggage per person)
• Hotels and local taxes
• Water on the coach
YOUR TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• International flights to/from South
Africa
• Internal flights as listed above
• Excursions not listed in the itinerary
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Excess baggage
• Items of a personal nature
• Departure taxes if applicable
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click map for larger image |
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| Tour
Itinerary |
| Day 1 |
Depart North America |
| Day 2 |
Arrive Capetown |
| Day 3 |
Cape Town |
| Day 4 |
Cape Town - Cape Point |
| Day 5 |
Cape Town-Robben Island |
| Day 6 |
Cape Town-Township Tour |
| Day 7 |
Cape Town-Winelands-Franschhoek |
| Day 8 |
Franschhoek-Hermanus |
| Day 9 |
Hermanus-Plettenberg Bay
|
| Day 10 |
Plettenberg Bay |
| Day 11 |
Drive to George & fly
to Durban |
| Day 12 |
Drakensberg |
| Day 13 |
Kruger via Hoedspruit |
| Day 14-15 |
Kruger National Park |
| Day 16 |
Fly Kruger-Johannesburg-Departure
|
| Tour Information |
| Cost: |
US$ 9875 |
| Length: |
15 days |
| Limit: |
30 Participants |
| Leader: |
Elaine Newton |
| Departing: |
Various |
| Deposit: |
US $ 500
|
| Note: |
For air fare Please
contact our office
|
| Departure Dates |
| Please contact our office
for departure dates and
cost. This itinerary can be
modified to suit your travel
schedule, interest and
budget. |
| |
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Talk
to an Expert call:
