DAY 1 ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - Motherly Love

Welcome to Cape Town, commonly referred to as the “Mother City” by locals, as it was home to the first European settlement in South Africa. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.

 

DAY 2 CAPE TOWN - City Sights & Soaring Heights

Start at the Grand Parade to see the Castle of Good Hope and City Hall. Walk to see more of Cape Town’s landmarks including St. George’s Cathedral, Parliament, and The Company’s Garden. Then, explore the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, also known as the Malay Quarter, including a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum. After a traditional Malay lunch, enjoy a scenic cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain for stunning 360-degree views over the city.
 

URBAN RAINBOW Founded by former slaves in the 1750s, Bo-Kaap is a melting pot of cultures within its National Heritage sites. Stroll past vibrantly hued houses ranging from lime-green and pink to orange, reflective of Dutch and British architecture. Your Local Guide shares fascinating stories of this lively neighborhood where the aromas of fragrant spices waft from local restaurants and spice shops.  B, L, D

  

DAY 3 CAPE TOWN–CAPE PENINSULA EXCURSION - Rocky Coast & Beach Life
Take a scenic drive along stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope before arriving at Cape Point. Ride a funicular to the steps of the old lighthouse with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African penguins. Free time this evening.

TUXEDO JUNCTION Jackets aren’t required on Boulders Beach, even though the residents look dressed to the hilt. The only penguins found on the continent, African penguins are known for the unique sound they make. Colonies can be found from southern Namibia all the way around the South African coast, and Boulders Beach is the premiere viewing spot.

B, L

 

DAY 4 CAPE TOWN - Time to Wander
Full day at leisure for your own discoveries in this beautiful city. Today, consider exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, take an excursion to the stunning Cape Winelands for wine tasting, participate in a class or workshop on African Music, Cooking or just wander around exquisite Cape Town. Optional excursions are available for purchase with Champlain Tours.

B

 

DAY 5 CAPE TOWN–HOEDSPRUIT–MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) - Operation Safari
Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Makalali Private Game Reserve. Arrive in the home to an abundance of wildlife including the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger. Sip sundowner drinks before returning to your lodge for dinner.

ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Staying in a private game reserve is the ultimate safari experience in South Africa. Go off-road to get close to the wildlife at Makalali Main Lodge, a stylish lodge featuring regional African cuisine, bar/lounge, pool, and spa facilities. Each spacious room features views from a private balcony, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, safe, and a large ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers!  B, D

 

DAY 6 MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) - Makalali Magic
Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. Keep an eye out for big cats after their night of hunting. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more. Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax at your lodge. Afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks.

SUNDOWNER DRINKS As the sun sets over the majestic Drakensburg Mountains, enjoy a memorable happy hour in the bush in the nostalgic tradition of early safari explorers. B, L, D

 

DAY 7 MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) - Spotting Skills

Sharpen your game-spotting skills on your morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for African buffalo, reintroduced to the area after an absence of more than 50 years, reuniting the “Big Five” to roam freely in the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve.
EXPLORE MORE When not on a game drive, do as the lions do with a rest in the heat of the day. Enjoy your lodge amenities, swim in the pool, pamper yourself with a wellness treatment, kick back on a viewing deck or your private balcony to watch nearby wildlife.  B, L, D

 

DAY 8 MAKALALI–HOEDSPRUIT–JOHANNESBURG -A Jaunt to Joburg

Enjoy a final game drive this morning before boarding your flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. Free time late afternoon and evening. B

 

DAY 9 JOHANNESBURG - From the Dark Enters Light

Guided sightseeing includes a visit to  Soweto (Southwestern Township) and the Apartheid Museum to learn about the dark years to the historic 1994 elections that ended the apartheid era.

A BEACON OF LIGHT Soweto, the largest township in the country, is a part of South Africa’s turbulent past, but this multicultural area is also a reflection of today and hope for tomorrow. Your Local Guide shares insightful stories as you see the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the former neighborhoods of Nobel Peace Prize winners, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela, featuring the Mandela House—former home of the legendary human rights leader. B, L

 

DAY 10 JOHANNESBURG–VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE -Zoom to Zimbabwe & Sunset Sensations

Fly to Zimbabwe and transfer to your hotel. Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.

THE RIVER WILD Transfer to the Zambezi River’s edge and board the cruise boat. You’ll be treated like royalty as you take in the scenery and watch for wildlife while sipping and sampling from a selection of included drinks and canapés. Your cruise culminates in a spectacular African sunset! B, Drinks/Canapes​

 

DAY 11 VICTORIA FALLS - Smoke on the Water

Take a guided walk at Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), as the locals call it, due to the clouds of mist produced by the cascading cataracts. Learn about the history of the falls and fascinating facts about the local flora and fauna with plentiful photo opportunities. Time in the late morning and early afternoon for relaxation. Your Tour Director hosts a riverside farewell dinner this evening. B, D

 

DAY 12 VICTORIA FALLS–CHOBE NATIONAL PARK AREA, BOTSWANA - Brilliant Botswana

Transfer by road to the Chobe National Park area. Board an afternoon river cruise on the Chobe River for game viewing.
B, L, D

 

DAY 13 CHOBE - Where the Wild Things Are

Morning and afternoon game activities: choice of game drive in Chobe National Park or boat excursion on the Chobe River. Enjoy time at your lodge during the heat of the day.

LAND OF THE GIANTS Chobe National Park offers safari-goers the experience of a lifetime! Considered the best place in Africa to see the largest elephants in the world, Chobe’s pachyderm population is estimated to be 120,000—the largest elephant concentration in Africa. B, L, D

​

DAY 14 CHOBE – JOHANNESBURG - Home ward Bound

Fly to Johannesburg. Schedule departing flights after 7 pm. B

 

DON’T FORGET TO ASK US ABOUT EXTENSIONS!