This is a sample itinerary. Let our Custom Group Department personalize the perfect trip for your group. Pre- and post-stay tailor-made itineraries as well as special coach and business class air fares are available on request.
Day 1: Cape Town - Arrival
Meet upon arrival in Cape Town and on the way to the hotel, enjoy a private guided panoramic tour. Check in to your hotel, relax with the rest of your day at your leisure, then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Cape Town
Today, take a ferry ride to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela famously spent 18 years incarcerated for his opposition to apartheid. Today it serves as a museum of South African history as well as an ecological preserve for species such as penguins. Afterwards, continue to Table Mountain where, weather permitting, we will ride the cable car to the top for spectacular views of the city and bay (as well as encounters with the small, furry rock hyrax that inhabit the area!).
Day 3: Cape Winelands
Explore the Cape Winelands today, beginning with a tour of Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest town. Stroll the oak-lined avenues, take note of the elegant Cape Dutch architecture, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this university town. Continue along the wine route and join a wine tasting at a local winery to sample some fantastic South African wines. Afterwards, explore the charming town of Franschhoek with its unique mix of French and Dutch heritage and surprising status as one of the world’s great gastronomic capitals.
Day 4: Duiker Island and Cape Point
Depart this morning on a spectacularly scenic drive as we head for the lovely seaside town of Hout Bay. See the glitzy beach town of Camps Bay and the pristine sands of Llandundo, then take a boat to Duiker Island to see the famous Cape Fur Seal in its natural habitat. Afterwards, enjoy the magnificent scenery along the Chapman’s Peak Drive, with dramatic sea cliffs and towering mountains on the way to Boulders Beach. Here it’s time for another animal encounter as we meet the colony of native African penguins who make their home on the beach’s soft white sands and imposing boulders. After bidding farewell to the penguins, continue on to Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. Enjoy breathtaking views as the cable car takes us to the highest lighthouse in the world, perched above the Cape of Good Hope.
Day 5: Kruger National Park or Private Game Reserves
Today, it’s off to safari! Fly to Kruger National Park, the oldest and probably the most famous animal park in South Africa. With nearly 150 species of mammals, over 500 species of birds and more than 100 reptiles, it promises an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a light lunch upon arrival, then an afternoon game drive and relaxing evening at your lodge.
Day 6: Kruger National Park or Private Game Reserves
Today is free to explore the Kruger area. Enjoy a morning or evening safari or game park visit with lunch and dinner at the property. Spot the Big Five - lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo – as well as giraffes, zebra, antelope, wildebeest, and much more.
Day 7: Kruger National Park or Private Game Reserves
Another day full of exciting animal encounters! Set out on a morning or evening safari and try to spot even more wildlife as you explore a different part of the park, or perhaps take a walking safari on foot.
Day 8: Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Fly today to Livingstone, Zambia, home of the majestic Victoria Falls. The native Kololo tribe called it “The Smoke That Thunders” and it’s easy to see why: besides the tremendous sound from the massive curtain of falling water, columns of spray from the falls can be seen from miles away. After settling into the hotel, enjoy an evening cruise on the Zambezi River to see hippopotamus, crocodiles, and elephants along the river banks, then the unforgettable moment of the splendid sunset over the river.
Day 9: Victoria Falls
Explore the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls with our guide. A natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the tranquil Zambezi River turns into a dramatic spectacle as millions of cubic feet of water plummet over a wide basalt cliff, transforming it into a fierce torrent cutting through a series of striking gorges. The massive spray created by the falling water creates a lush rainforest-like ecosystem in the surrounding area, giving birth to varied and diverse flora and fauna. Listed among the Seven Wonders of the World, this spectacular site has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1989.
After exploring the Falls, it’s all aboard the Royal Livingstone Express as you travel in classic style from Livingstone to the Victoria Falls Bridge in a lovingly restored vintage steam locomotive of polished leather, teak and brass. Sip fine South African wines and dine on gourmet dishes as you watch giraffes, zebra and antelope amongst the gorgeous scenery.
Day 10: Departure
Say “totsiens” and “hamba kahle” to South Africa as you are transferred to the airport for your return flight.
Find out more about this incredible trip and reserve your spot today.
