SOUTH AFRICA

Southern Africa is a region diverse in landscape, wildlife, and culture. From Cape Town and the Winelands to Victoria Falls and world-class game viewing in private reserves, this is the perfect introduction to a fascinating, multicultural, and diverse region. Towering mountains, the convergence of two oceans, sand dunes, delta swamplands, expansive bush land and magnificent waterfalls provide the setting for an amazing adventure. In cosmopolitan Cape Town, sample excellent shopping and restaurants. Explore the Dutch-influenced winelands' miles of fertile vines and valleys, and spot game in private reserves for a wildlife experience like no other.

Early this morning our trip begins at DFW airport where we will meet our group. We board our Delta Airlines flight for Cape Town, South Africa via New York JFK and Dakar. Bon Voyage!

We arrive at Cape Town airport at 4:30 p.m. and meet with our tour manager who will assist with all the formalities. We then transfer to The Portswood Hotel, where we will stay for three nights. Accommodations are in a bed-and-breakfast style.

The Mother City of Africa and the Western Cape, Cape Town is an area regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. It is a city of culture, built on a history that reflects in the architecture, cuisine, music, and dance. The city is a rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers, the local Bushman and Hottentots tribes, and the Bantu tribes from the north.

After breakfast at our hotel, our coach will pick us up at 8:00 a.m. to transfer us to Cape Point, Boulders Beach and the Penguins, and Hout Bay.

It is off Cape Point that the Flying Dutchman—the phantom ship with its broken mast and tattered sails—is destined to sail the seas until the end of time. The legend originated in the 17th century, when the Dutch captain Hendrik van der Decken, his storm-tossed ship floundering, swore to round the Cape of Good Hope even if it took him until Doomsday to do so.

Boulders Beach is a rocky stretch of coastline south of Simon’s Town and home to the unique endangered South African (Jackass) Penguin.

Nestled in the shadows of the Karbonkelberg with the Sentinel standing guard, is the village of Hout Bay. Originally known as Chapman’s Chance, it was Jan van Riebeeck who, in the 17th century, wrote about the finest forests in the world and named it Hout Bay (Wood Bay). Today Hout Bay is a popular tourist destination with beautiful safe beaches, walking trails, horseriding, arts and crafts and wonderful heritage sights.

After our enjoyable tour, we return back to our hotel at 6:00 p.m.

After breakfast at the hotel, our coach will pick us up at 8:00 a.m. and travel to the Clock Tower at the V & A Waterfront to board the ferry to Robben Island.

Robben Island was made known to the world for having been the isolated prison of former South African President Nelson Mandela and many other black political dissidents. Today, former political prisoners are guides.

The island is a World Heritage Site and home to African Penguins and a rich variety of marine bird life, some of which are found only on this island.

After we return from our trip to Robben Island, we will have free time for lunch at the V & A Waterfront.

At 1:30 p.m. we meet our coach and transfer to Table Mountain, where we will enjoy a trip by cable car to the top of the mountain. The revolving cable car is the easy way up to the top and provides a stunning 360°-view over Cape Town and its surroundings. At the top of the mountain, viewing decks that extend over the edge of the mountain offer wonderful photographic opportunities. The summit of the mountain is marked by Maclear’s Beacon at 1067 meters. Even in clear weather, a sweater or windbreaker is suggested for the cooler temperature in this altitude.

We will return back to our hotel by 6:00 p.m.

After breakfast we check-out of our rooms. Our coach will pick us up at 9:00 a.m. and transfer us to Cape Town International Airport for our flight to Durban. On arrival in Durban airport at 2:00 p.m., our coach will meet us.

Situated on the Bay of Natal, Durban is South Africa’s biggest harbor. This cosmopolitan city is a year-round holiday destination for sun seekers and beach lovers. The stretch of beachfront is referred to as 'The Golden Mile' for its many hotels and restaurants that line the promenade.

We will enjoy a tour of Durban City before being transferred to our lovely hotel in Umhlanga, The City Lodge. Accommodation for one night is on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Situated on the east coast of South Africa just north of the vibrant Port City of Durban, on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Umhlanga has the best South African accommodation. The golden sandy beaches stretch northward for more than 200 kilometers. Inland from Umhlanga, endless fields of sugarcane give way to the tumbling area of the 1000 Hills, the massive Inanda Dam, and mystical hidden valleys of Zululand.

After breakfast we check out of the hotel and depart at 7:30 a.m. to transfer to the Dumazulu Traditional Village. At 11:00 a.m., enjoy the most authentic Zulu cultural experience in Southern Africa with cultural activities including Zulu Dancing. The one-hour show will include the history behind the traditional dance. The Dumazulu Traditional Village is home to over 50 Zulu residents forming part of a 'living museum.' Dumazulu, which means 'Thundering Zulu.' is the largest Zulu village of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the only tourist Zulu village to be opened by King Goodwill Zwelithini—placing the royal Zulu stamp of approval on the objectives and authenticity of Dumazulu. After the show, we will enjoy lunch at the Dumazulu Traditional Village.

At 2:00 p.m. we transfer to the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve, where our one-night accommodation is at the award winning Hilltop Camp. Our stay includes dinner and breakfast.

The Hluhluwe Game Reserve was established on April 30, 1895 and is the oldest game reserve in Africa. Hluhluwe is Umfolozi’s near neighbor, and is similar in many ways. The two game reserves are linked by a corridor of land along which the animals move at will. Hluhluwe is 23,067 hectares, and is stunningly beautiful with grass-covered slopes and the enchanting Hluhluwe River, which takes its name from the monkey ropes that festoon the riverine forest. Hluhluwe is a difficult word to pronounce but something that sounds like 'Shoushlooee' is close enough.

Before dinner we will enjoy a sunset game drive which starts at 5:00 p.m., so be sure to be at the camp reception by 4:50 p.m. During this exciting three-hour drive we will be on the look out for nocturnal animals such as genet and hyena, and may even see an owl or two.

We suggest that you take a jacket or sweater on all the evening and morning game drives to keep warm in the cold temperatures.

After our game drive, we will enjoy dinner at the Hilltop Camp. This is a large and incredibly scenic park with rippling hills covered in low acacia bush, and lofty viewpoints giving us a bird’s-eye view. The north of the park is more rugged and mountainous with forests and grasslands, while the south and west is more undulating with open savannah.

The park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhinos. The park is home to hundreds of endangered black rhino and has the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Before breakfast, we enjoy an early morning game drive beginning at 5:00 a.m. and ending at 8:00 a.m. Be sure that you are at the camp reception by 4:50 a.m. to join us for another exciting drive.

After breakfast, we check out of the camp and meet our coach at 10:00 a.m. for our transfer to Mbabane, Swaziland where our accommodation is at the Lugogo Sun Hotel. We will arrive at 3:00 p.m. for our one-night stay. Accommodations are bed-and-breakfast basis.

As you travel through the country you will discover, as others have, that Swaziland has a quaint offering of diverse vegetation at every turn. Present-day Swaziland is borne out of an ancient dynasty of royal leadership, reflected in the status accorded to the King and Queen Mother, in a unique dual monarchy. Mbabane is at the northern end of the lush Ezulwini Valley – a small, unpretentious town that caters well for tourists. Swaziland is also known for its exquisite arts and crafts and its breathtaking scenery, especially in the western highlands with abundant rivers, waterfalls, and forested gorges. Although the smallest country in Africa, Swaziland is one of the most easy going and laid-back. Swazis are more likely to celebrate for fun than demonstrate for reform. A progressive and hands-on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed it with a striking bunch of national parks.

Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and meet our coach at 9:00 a.m. for the transfer to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Our accommodations are at the Berg-En-Dal Rest Camp (www.krugerparkreservations.com/Bergendalrestcamp.asp) for two nights, on a dinner, bed and breakfast style.

Berg-en-Dal Camp is situated on the bank of the Matjulu Spruit with a view of softly undulating hills to the east. On the northern and southern sides dry riverbeds and a dam border the camp. There are large trees along the streams and dry riverbeds. Special care has been taken to preserve the natural vegetation in the camp. Berg-en-Dal is also the only camp set in a rugged mountain environment and is built on the site of prehistoric settlements.

Before dinner we enjoy a sunset game drive which starts at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. Please be sure to arrive at the camp reception by 4:45 p.m.

Kruger National Park is one of the world’s major nature reserves and ranks among the best as a conservation model and natural laboratory. It contains an unequalled diversity of wild animals, bird and plant life. Kruger is home to the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) and a wide variety of other animals and birds that roam freely in their natural habitat. The reserve, over 380km long and on average 60km wide, covers 19 485 km2 (7 523 sq miles) in a long slice of land lying north-south. There are more than 2,000 different forms of vegetation to sustain an unmatched richness of wildlife, many of which are found nowhere else. The park is home to 146 species of mammals, more than 490 types of birds, 114 species of reptile, 49 kinds of freshwater fish, 33 species of amphibians and innumerable insects, and other forms of life. The camp restaurant serves dinner from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Before breakfast, we will enjoy an early morning game drive for approximately three hours beginning at 5:00 a.m. You will no doubt see an elephant, and many other animals and birds. Please ensure you are at the camp reception by 4:45 a.m. Breakfast is served at the camp restaurant from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.

The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy further game viewing activities. Enquire at the reception about the various options available.

This evening we will enjoy a sunset game drive which starts at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. Please ensure you are at the camp reception by 4:45 p.m. We will stop along the way to experience an African Bush Braai for dinner.

The African Bush Braai: This unforgettable experience is not to be missed. A game drive leads us to an open area filled with burning lanterns and fires. There the food is grilled as we enjoy nature's sounds of the bushveld and the distant animals calling. After dinner, we return to Berg-En-Dal Rest Camp.

We check out of our rooms at 6:00 a.m. and transfer to Skukuza Restcamp for breakfast. Our coach will take us on one last informal game drive before departing Kruger National Park.

We then transfer to the quaint town of Pilgrims Rest and arrive by 11:00 a.m. for some free time to take a stroll in this historical village.

Had it not been for its picturesque setting, Pilgrim’s Rest would probably be a ghost town. It is, however, a popular tourist destination, existing today for little other purpose than to entertain and inform visitors about its colorful heyday. It all began in 1873 when a Scots miner, Alex ‘Wheelbarrow’ Patterson, shouted “Eureka!” having discovered gold at Pilgrim’s Creek. Before long, fortune seekers had clogged the little valley and the town of Pilgrim’s Rest was born. Mining continued for decades but started to dry up in the 1940s. The final mine closed in 1972. The town has now been declared a national monument and many of its corrugated iron buildings have been restored. These now exist as living museums and some as souvenir shops. There is an Information Centre on the Main Road where visitors can learn the history of the town before exploring it. Pilgrim’s Rest is part of the scenic ‘Panorama Route.’

We meet our coach at 4:00 p.m. and transfer to Hazyview, Mpumalanga, where our accommodation is at the Rissington Inn for one night on a dinner, bed and breakfast style.

Mpumalanga, formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal, is one of South Africa's top tourist destinations. People are drawn by the magnificent scenery, by the fauna and flora and by the saga of the 1870s gold rush era and a wealth of fascinating tribal legends. Aptly know as 'Paradise Country,' few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the Lowveld and escarpment. Mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, and forests characterize the landscape. This is also Big Game Country, the setting for dozens of sanctuaries teeming with wildlife and birds. Among them, the world renowned Kruger National Park, and several luxurious private reserves on its western boundary. The entire area offers exceptional opportunities for bird-watching, hiking, horseriding and fishing. Streams once panned for gold have become the haunts of eager anglers and lazy trout.

After breakfast we check out of our hotel. We meet our coach at 8:00 a.m. and make our way along the beautiful Panorama Route to visit God’s Window, the Blyde River Canyon, Bourkes Luck Potholes, and Three Rondavals.

The Panorama Route is one of the most beautiful and popular travel destinations in South Africa. It leads through the rugged mountain range of the northern Drakensberg in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The Panorama Route passes the north-eastern part of the Great Escarpment, where the inland plateau declines abruptly and steeply and opens up fantastic views of the plains of the Lowveld a thousand meters below.

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 33km long gorge which starts at Bourke's Luck Potholes and ends at the Three Rondavels. The Potholes are impressive rock formations that were shaped millions of years ago by erosion. The bizarre swirl holes developed when the once rapid river carried masses of sand and debris.

We then continue to Johannesburg and overnight at the Garden Court Hotel for one night on a bed- and-breakfast basis. Our estimated time of arrival is about 6:00 p.m.

Johannesburg, the gold-mining shanty town that just kept on growing, is now the third largest city on the African continent (after Cairo and Alexandria) and is home to an impressive number of mining houses, and many millionaires. It is the industrial, commercial, and financial capital of South Africa; its stock exchange is one of the world’s most active. The city is said to pulsate with entrepreneurial energy while at the same time retaining the spirit of a frontier town.

Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel at 8:00 a.m. and transfer to OR Tambo International Airport for our flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We check in for the British Airways (Comair) flight BA 6285, which departs for Victoria Falls at 11:25 a.m., and bid farewell to our guide, Andy.

We will arrive at Victoria Falls airport at 1:10 p.m. where we will be met by our representative who will assist us with all the formalities. Our coach will then transfer us to Victoria Falls where our accommodation is at the award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (www.vfsl.com) for two nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

The quaint Victoria Falls town is just ten minutes from the Falls, and on the outskirts of the game-rich Zambezi National Park. It bustles live of activity, and offers all the amenities necessary as a base for exploring the region.

This evening we will enjoy a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa. As you drift leisurely along the Zambezi River, keep an eye out for animals making their way to the riverbank to quench their thirst, or bathing hippos. Nothing can prepare you for the tranquillity that this immense river offers you only a few kilometres from the falls. The Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls is abundant in birdlife, hippo, and crocodile.

The morning will be one of the most memorable experiences in our South Africa travel as we enjoy the tour of Victoria Falls. After breakfast, we head out with our guide, who will take us on a tour of the falls. Then we will visit the craft market where we will learn 'how to bargain' from our guide.

Victoria Falls, 'The Smoke that Thunders,' is one of the great natural wonders of the world. View the thundering, crashing waters and the surrounding rainforest, teeming with birdlife, bushbuck and baboon. Victoria Falls has also become a center for adventure sports enthusiasts who come from around the world to enjoy whitewater rafting in the gorges, bungee jumping from the bridge, game fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, and flights over the falls.

When Dr. David Livingstone first saw the falls in November 1865, he was in the company of two local tribesmen who showed him this 'Mighty Wonder of the World.' Today, this site is a world heritage site with the largest curtain of falling water on the planet. The entire width of the fall is 1,700m, so some walking is expected on this trip.

We will then visit the biggest Baobab tree in Zimbabwe that is more than 1,000 years old, known as The Big Tree. It is neither old nor big by Baobab standards. With its height at 20 meters and 16- meter trunk, it is only one third of the way to its full life expectation. This tree is a short drive from the mighty Victoria Falls. Our tour goes as far as the Victoria Falls Bridge that was built in 1902 by a British company.

The afternoon is free to relax, with options to enjoy a helicopter flight over the falls or go on an Elephant Back Safari.

Enjoy the final early morning at Victoria Falls before our flight to Johannesburg at the conclusion of our South Africa travel. Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel at 9:30 a.m. and meet at the reception for our transfer to the Victoria Falls Airport. We check-in for our British Airways (Comair) flight BA 6282 departing for Johannesburg at 1:45 p.m.

We arrive at Johannesburg International airport at 3:25 p.m., and board our Delta Airlines flight departing at 6:40 p.m. for DFW via Dakar and Atlanta.

In the morning we arrive at Atlanta airport, where we will clear customs and immigration. Then we connect to our flight to DFW. We arrive DFW airport early this afternoon from our memorable tour of South Africa.

WELCOME HOME!

Contact our Tour Connoisseurs Name : * Email : * Address : People Travelling :* Adults 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15+ Children 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15+ Your Country : * Tentative Date of Travel : * MM Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec YYYY 2010 2011 Phone : * Tour Duration : * Days 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31+ Please give details of your requirements : * Please Enter Image code: