Cities and Safari Adventure 10D/9N - South Africa

South Africa is well known for its spectacular and varied scenic beauty, rich wildlife, as well as its vibrant city life. Marvel at Cape Town’s unique Table Mountain, the dramatic scenery at Cape Point and the beautiful Winelands. Feel the energy, history and culture of Johannesburg. Experience the renowned Kruger National Park, its wealth of wildlife and the surrounding natural splendor of the Panorama Route. This is a 9-night guaranteed seat-in-coach departure tour. 

Includsions:

• 4 Nights in Cape Town at the Pepper Club Hotel or similar (5*)
• 2 Night in Johannesburg at the PH Balalaika or similar (4*)
• 1 Nights in Hazyview at the Perry’s Bridge  or similar (4*)
• 2 Nights in Greater Kruger/Manyeleti Reserveat Honeyguide tented Safari Campor similar (4*)
• Breakfast daily
• Lunch on Day 6, 8 & 9
• Dinner on Day 7, 8 & 9
• Entrances as specified in the itinerary
• 24-hour manned emergency assistance
• Cape Town: Scheduled Cape Peninsula Tour
• Cape Town: Scheduled City tour (excl. cable car fee)
• Cape Town: Scheduled Cape Winelands tour
• Johannesburg: Scheduled Johannesburg City tour
• Johannesburg: Scheduled Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour
• Panorama Route
• Entrances mentioned along the Garden Route as per the inclusions stated in the itinerary
• Game drives at Honeyguide

Exclusions:

• All flights, International & Domestic, reservations, taxes, fees etc.
• Additional Lunches  and Dinners
• Porterage
• All other transport
• All expenses of personal nature like tips, mineral water, laundry charges, telephone charges, food
• Any increase in services that may come into force prior to the commencement and any increase  in the cost of land arrangements or airfare due to increase in fuel prices, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates etc
• Gratuities.
• Excess baggage charges.
• Any items not specifically mentioned in “included in price”

Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be met by a representative and assisted with your transfer to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Afternoon collection from the hotel by your guide for a scheduled City Tour – a geographical and cultural extravaganza showing you Cape Town from its historical beginnings to modern buildings and malls.  The tour commences with a tour of Table Mountain (weather permitting; cable car fee not included).  In the city itself, we visit the Company Gardens, the S.A. Museum, the Castle of Good Hope and the vibrant flea market, Greenmarket Square. Return to the hotel by 17h30.  Dinner for own arrangements.

Today you embark on a scheduled full day CapeWinelands Tour. This is a delightful drive, which winds its way to the heart of the CapeWinelands through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and CapeDutch homesteads. Head off to the wine country via the N2 to the heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our first wine tasting of the day. Travel over the Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschhoek.  Billed as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, this charming town, in a most picturesque valley, retains a French Huguenot style. We enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of the many award winning restaurants (lunch to own account). Time permitting, a visit to a Paarl region estate would be included to round off the day’s wine-tasting experiences before heading back to Cape Town.  Dinner to own arrangements.

This morning you will be collected for your scheduled full day Cape Point &Peninsula Tour.  We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach (optional boat trip to Seal Island – for own account). Continue via 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 (not included in price), we go on to historic Simon’s Town – a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders Penguin Colony is home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguins. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information centre.  End the day with a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The tour ends upon return to your hotel during the late afternoon. Dinner for own arrangements.

Breakfast and check-out of the hotel.  Transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Johannesburg (flight not included in cost and to depart Cape Town by 08:00). On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  

Afternoon collection from your hotel for a scheduled afternoon Johannesburg City Tour.  Johannesburg is a booming, happening city and the area close to City Hall, Newtown Cultural Precinct and Maboneng Precinct, which has completely transformed the Market Theatre and surrounds, now forms the heart of urban revival.  Visit the Ghandi Memorial, see how art is being used to revitalize and uplift the inner city of Johannesburg and get a bird’s eye view of Johannesburg from the top of Carlton Centre. Return to your hotel for remainder of the evening at leisure.

This morning you will be collected for your scheduled morning Half Day Soweto Tour. Soweto is a cluster of townships located at the South Western flank of Johannesburg.  It is from here that most of the struggle was fought against the injustices of the apartheid regime and is home to sites of historical importance. The tour ends with lunch at a local township tavern before proceeding to spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the exhibit at The Apartheid Museum.
The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th Century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story. The exhibits include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga. For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental. 
 

Depart Johannesburg and travel to the ‘Land of the Rising Sun – Mpumalanga – via the magnificent Panorama Route.   The most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon. From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33 km long gorge, which starts at "Bourke's Luck Potholes" and ends at the "Three Rondavels". Time and weather permitting, stop at God’s Window. Late afternoon arrival at your hotel. Check in and freshen up before dinner. 

After breakfast and check-out formalities, you will be transferred to the Manyeleti Reserve, sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, for an authentic African bush stay.  The camp offers a breathtaking wildlife experience whilst still pampering the senses with meticulous service and superb cuisine.

Morning and evening game tracking drives in open 4 x 4 vehicles bring you into close contact with the Big Five as well as the other aspects of our wildlife.  Highly experienced guides will take you on foot to bring into clear focus the magic of the bush with its myriad of busy insects and resplendent birdlife during your stay.’

Enjoy a full day of being treated like African Royalty whilst creating a memorable safari experience on the scheduled game viewing activities on offer.

Time permitting, embark on your final early morning game viewing activity before returning to camp for breakfast followed by check-out formalities. You will be collected for your transfer to Hoedspruit Airport where the tour ends.