DEFINITIVE SOUTH AFRICA ITINERARY:
Days 1 & 2, Thursday & Friday - Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Depart your home city on Thursday. Upon arrival in Cape Town on Friday, you will be
met and transferred directly to your luxury hotel, the Cape Grace. Located at the
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, you can easily explore this lively Waterfront complex
at your leisure. The impressive variety of entertainment options includes a boat cruise,
IMAX Theater, boutiques, arts and crafts and a number of great restaurants.
Built on its own promontory (Quay West), the Cape Grace Hotel is surrounded
by water on three sides. Known as one of the world’s finest hotels, it presents
the elegance of a luxurious small hotel with Table Mountain as the majestic backdrop.
The breezy and relaxed ambiance of the
hotel’s waterfront restaurant provides the
setting for a menu that presents a fusion of
Mediterranean, Eastern and local dishes.
Your luxury room exudes distinction with its fresh
cut flowers, lounge area, French
windows and balcony opening out to a delightful view. It also features a separate
dressing room and bathroom, with double vanities, fluffy bathrobes, Charlotte Rhys
bath products and a separate bath and shower.
Largely due to its inspiring location, Cape Town is steeped in a rich history and is a
cultural melting pot with its diverse and vibrant character being derived from
Khoisan
and other African tribes from the North, and Indonesian, French, Dutch, British
and German settlers. The present
day cosmopolitan nature of Cape Town offers a
multitude of experiences in a bustling and beautiful waterfront
setting.
Cape Grace Hotel
Day 3, Saturday - Cape Town, & Robben Island
Today explore modern Cape Town, with its extended seafront, underground malls
and soaring skyscrapers holds itself dear to its origins. Explore the many fascinating
museums and historical buildings reflecting the cultures shaping the city and the
province it seres. The city boasts a vast range of shopping styles and opportunities,
from the haggling between stallholders and shoppers at the Grand Parades and
Greenmarket Squares flea markets, to smooth, hassle-free self-service at the
countless sophisticated and stylish malls.
You are taken directly to the lower cableway station on the slopes of Table Mountain.
Weather permitting; ascend the mountain by aerial cable car. From a height of 1067
meters view the city and Table Bay below; also Robben Island, the Atlantic Seaboard
and most of the spectacular Cape Peninsula. Other highlights include the Castle of
Good Hope (oldest building structure in the country
the District Six Museum,
The Grande Parade and Parliament Buildings.
An early light lunch will be enjoyed at a restaurant in The Waterfront at the Nelson
Mandela Gateway, from where we will depart at 1400 for a 40 minute ferry ride
across Table Bay to Robben Island, a world heritagesight. The small island is well
known of its prison, where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were
kept for years during the apartheid regime. After an hour-long tour of the prison and
the island, conducted by a former prisoner, we will head back for Table Bay harbor
and our hotel.
This evening, you are collected from your hotel and taken to a private home for dinner,
where South Africans will also be present. Enjoy this welcome cocktail and dinner
party, and learn more about the exciting events ahead.
Cape Grace Hotel
Day 4, Sunday - The Cape Peninsula
Spend the whole day exploring the remarkable Cape Peninsula. First visit the exclusive
suburbs of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay. Then continue along the scenic Atlantic
coastline to Llandudno and the fishing village of Hout Bay.
Explore Hout, one of the most beautiful and popular places on the Cape Peninsula and
a highlight of any visit to Cape Town. The town sits picturesquely in a wind-protected bay, surrounded in the west by the Karbonkel Mountain—the famous Mount
Sentinel as the outpost in the sea—and in the east by the Constantia Mountains and
Chapman's Peak. Jan van Riebeeck gave Hout Bay (Wood Bay) its name in 1652 when
he landed in Table Bay and found dense forests providing the timber needed for
the construction of shipsand of the Castle.
Enjoy a dramatic drive over spectacular Chapman’s Peak Pass, a narrow pass etched
into the mountainside between 1915 and 1922. It is one of South Africa’s most
spectacular roads.
In the Cape Point Nature Reserve, indigenous flora and fauna are conserved in a
priceless wilderness area. See the most powerful lighthouse in the world beaming an
electric light of 19
million candlepower across the ocean waters. A monument to Vasco
da Gama commemorates his historic voyage around the Cape in 1497. At Cape Point,
take the funicular to the top of the mountain for a panoramic view of the point where
the Indian and Atlantic Oceans “meet.”
After lunch at a restaurant overlooking False Bay, proceed to the incredible Jackass
Penguin Colony, home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African penguins.
Wooden walkways enable you to view the penguins in their natural habitat.
On to the naval hamlet of Simon’s Town, and then via Fishhoek and Kalk Bay to
Muizenberg. In the early afternoon, visit the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanic
Gardens, home to over 5000 indigenous plants, at the base of Skeleton Gorge.
Discover an explosion of color, along with the unique Fynbos floral biome, the
world’s smallest and richest floral kingdom. There are more plant species found
in the Table Mountain range than in the entire continent of North America.
Return to the city via Rhodes Drive that bisects the plush suburbs of Bishopscourt,
Claremont and Newlands. Cape Grace Hotel
Day 5, Monday - Wine Country
We travel to Stellenbosch – the capital of South Africa’s wine industry and also a
university town. We start our excursion with a visit to the private art collection
of the Rupert Family. The artwork by world re-known artists was collected over 40
years and is the biggest private collection in South Africa.
From there it is a short drive to the Bouwland Wine Estate – a farm where the
employees
owned 74% of the land and share in the profits of the exceptional
wines they produce. This is one of the few estates that are black empowered
at this stage. Some of the shareholders will conduct the tour and the
winemaker
will introduce his wine to the group. Lanzerac Hotel, Stellenbosch
Day 6, Tuesday - Hermanus
February & March departures:
Depart Stellenbosch in the am for the quaint little town of Franschhoek – established
nearly 300 years ago by the French Huguenots who fled their country during religious
unrest. We will visit the French Huguenot monument and museum, and enjoy
a wine tasting at the La Motte Estate. From Franschhoek(passing the Victor Verster
Prison, where Nelson Mandela was released in 1991) we travel to the Afrikaans
Language Monument near Paarl, where a light lunch will be enjoyed, overlooking the
beautiful Paarl Valley, nested between the Du Toits Koof Mountains and Paarl Rock.
En Route back to Stellenbosch, we visit a community project, where previously
unemployed
black females are trained to do craftwork with their hands in order to be
self-employed.
October & November departures:
Depart Stellenbosch in the am and travel towards the panoramic east coast route to
Hermanus. Visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens en-route to explore the many
indigenous Fynbos species. July to November is usually the best time to see the
southern Right Whales in these waters. Hermanus’ Walker Bay is an ideal place
for whale watching. These mammals, which often come as close as 50 meters
from the
shore, are given to displays
of breaching, lob-tailing, spy hopping and courtship
rituals. Join a boat-based whale watching expedition at noon.
Return to the mainland with a light lunch at a restaurant overlooking Walker Bay. We
will arrive back at our Stellenbosch hotel during the late afternoon.
Lanzerac Hotel,
Stellenbosch
Day 7, Wednesday - The Blue Train
In Cape Town, we board the world-renown Blue Train for an unforgettable journey to
view spectacular scenery not visible by any other means of transportation. The Blue
Train combines the luxury of the world's leading hotels with the charm of train travel.
This all-inclusive luxury rail cruise
provides the opportunity to view South Africa's
spectacular landscapes while visiting exciting places of interest along the way.
Follow on the northbound tracks of Cecil John Rhodes, who dreamed of a railroad from
Cape to Cairo. Pass through the wine lands of the fertile Hex River Valley, in the
shadow of imposing mountains, up and inland to the endless sweeping landscapes
of the Karoo. Here, between high road and railroad, is the tiny hamlet of
Matjiesfontein. You areinvited for a short ride back in time on an historical London
double-decker bus. Savor the vastness and the silence of the surrounding plains. The
Victorian buildings and original 19th century London lamp posts give you a sense of
entering the colonial era, an oasis suspended in a different age.
Stretch your legs, breathe in the dry clear air and walk in the footsteps of those who
have been enchanted by this amazing place among them, Lord Randolph Churchill,
Cecil Rhodes, Olive Schriener and the Sultan of Zanzibar. Sip a drink at the renowned
Lord Milner Hotel, which was completely refurbished in the 1970s by the visionary
hotelier and designer David Rawdon, who loved the area so much that he purchased
the entire village.
The Blue Train journey continues northward into the interior. Before
you drift to sleep,
glance through the window at a sky filled with millions of stars. In the twilight hours,
the train approaches the mining centers on the Gold Reef, and comes to a
stop in Pretoria. The Blue Train
Day 8, Thursday - Pretoria
Disembark The Blue Train in Pretoria in the early afternoon, certainly one of the most
beautiful cities in South Africa and its’ administrative capital, and be taken to the
Sheraton hotel via a short city drive through tour. This hotel is directly opposite
the famous Union Buildings, where the historic presidential inauguration of South
Africa’s best loved national hero, Nelson Mandela took place in 1994.
Pretoria’s city centre is a compact grid of wide, busy streets.
Its central hub is Church
Square, where you can see some fascinating architecture, and there are other
historic buildings and museums close by around the Museum Mall. To the north lie
the vast Zoological Gardens, while the Arcadia district is the site of the city’s
famous Union Buildings. On the southern fringes of the city is the
remarkable
Voortrekker
Monument, as close as the Afrikaner race has to a sacred site.
This evening we are privileged to enjoy a private home dinner with South Africans in
Pretoria. Sheraton Hotel
Day 9, Friday - Pretoria
We will embark on a Pretoria City tour, stopping at the Union Buildings, Paul Kruger
House and the Voortrekker Monument.
We will then drive to the De Wildt Cheetah Centre, where a light lunch will be enjoyed
before we visit the centre, where Cheetahs, Wild Dogs and other endangered species
are being bred in captivity before releasing them again in the wild.
Sheraton Hotel
Day 10, Saturday - Pretoria & Londolozi Game Reserve
This morning drive from Pretoria to Johannesburg, where you will take a one-hour flight
to Londolozi’s own private airstrip.
The history of the Varty and Taylor families –
the conservation dynasties who
have dedicated their lives to saving a small part of Africa’s Eden –
is the history of
Londolozi. The first stirrings of Londolozi were felt over eighty years ago when two
friends and the great grandfathers of the Varty and aylor clans, Charles Varty and
Frank Unger, stood for the first time on the banks of the Sand River. The vision they
saw in the virgin bush turned out to be as solid and enduring as the granite rocks
anchored in the river.
On the banks of the Sand River, where the water runs clear and cool over the granite
rocks and the bushveld stretches to the horizon, is where they made camp. It was
from here, where that first campfire was built amidst the roar of lions that Londolozi
evolved into one of the most sought after ecotourim destinations in the world.
Londolozi offers a powerful new dimension of wilderness exploration. A collection of
wondrous excursions – defined by imagination and verve – provide the means for
exploring the endless horizons of the African bushveld. The range of activities
includes, discovery hikes, bush baths, leopard tracking and many more incredible
adventures. Ultimately Londolozi is not just about adventure but also about
discovering personal unmapped territory and reconnecting with he earth in a
way that is only possible in the wilderness. Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Days 11 & 12, Sunday & Monday - Londolozi Game Reserve
At Londolozi each day is a new adventure. A chance for wildlife viewing, learning
about and experiencing the African environment and of course relaxation of mind
and body in this ideal natural settin.
There are games drives each day at dawn and dusk – at the best times to view game
on the move. The drives are conducted in open 4-wheel drive vehicles, which allows
for total freedom of movement and the ability to leave the road and track down
Africa's Big Five, the most sought after and dangerous of the world's big game.
In previous centurie, it was these five species that gripped the imagination of
hunters, drawing them to Africa to hunt. Today the hunting is done by rangers
and trackers, and the shooting is done with cameras.
Apart from the Big Five, cheetah and wild dog may also be seen. General game
including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, a variety of antelope and the nocturnal species
such as civet cat, genet cat, honey badger and mongoose are present throughout
the reserve.
Night drives, with the aid of powerful spotlights, bring the bush to life and provide
the opportunity to view nocturnal creatures and carnivores on the hunt. Walking
safaris with an experienced ranger can be arranged on request, and are encouraged
as a means of truly engaging in the natural environment.
Over the past thirty years the leopards of Londolozi have developed legendary status,
owing to the truly remarkable partnership between the leopards and rangers
and
trackers. These naturally elusive creatures have become Londolozi’s icon species
and guests regularly witness remarkable leopard sightins.
In addition to the game viewing, just a short walk from your camp is the staff
village
and model Shangaan Cultural Village. The village is a thriving community with many
families having lived here for over thirty years. Activities
in the staff village include
visiting the crèche, adult learning centre, clinic, and design and craft centre. At
the Shangaan Cultural Village, which honors a past history and rich culture, you are
invited to contemplate the sustainability of our modern civilization against the wisdom
and sustainability of ancient cultures.
Furthering to the Londolozi philosophy of exploration, is the John Varty
Cinematography Centre, situated in one of the original rondavels. Films related to the
environment and emerging global trends are screened on a daily basis at the center.
These films and the supporting literature are the small contribution that Londolozi
makes to raising individual consciousness nd stoking the debate on some of the
world’s thorniest issues.
Throughout your stay, you can enjoy Londolozi’s excellent cuisine in the camp dining
room, around the boma campfire or in the bushveld under a starlit sky. On Monday
evening enjoy a special farewell cocktail and dinner party with your fellow travelers.
Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Day 13, Tuesday - Londolozi Game Reserve & Depart Johannesburg
After one last morning game drive, spend time at Londolozi enjoying passive game
viewing from the verandah or relaxing next to the sparkling pool.
After lunch fly to Johannesburg, where you will have a day room at the airport hotel
to freshen up or relax prior to your return flight home or on to your next
destination this evening.
Dayroom Airport Sun Inter-Continental Hotel
Day 14, Wednesday - Arrive Home
Flights bound for the United States arrive home today.
NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local
conditions and/or operational changes or improvements. The specific times and
order of inclusions within each destination may also be altered to best
accommodate unscheduled closure, special events, weather, traffic,
etc.
Please contact your Vacation Planner before scheduling any coinciding
appointments. You will receive an up-dated, itinerary approximately 30 days prior to
your journey’s scheduled departure date.
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