Day 1 – January 28, 2018
Evening departure from Toronto to Cape Town in Republic of South Africa.
Day 2 – January 29, 2018
Cape Town. Welcome to the “Mother City”!! Arrive in the evening. Meet and greet on arrival by our local representative. Transfer to your hotel, located along the spectacular Sea Point Promenade, in the suburb of Sea Point, where you will spend the next four nights. Your hotel is nestled at the base of Signal Hill and Table Mountain and is the perfect base to explore major attractions. Overnight: Premier Cape Manor Hotel.
Day 3 – January 30, 2018
Full Day Cape Town Peninsula Tour. Travel along Millionaire’s Paradise from Clifton to Camps Bay and on to Llandudno before an up-close-and-personal Seal Island cruise at Hout Bay. Wind along Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park and take the funicular up to the old lighthouse to enjoy panoramic views. Meander back along the coast – visit Simon’s Town where you will have lunch at Bertha’s Restaurant, and then stop at the penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach. Return to Cape Town and stop at the Table Mountain aerial cableway. Take the five-minute cable car trip to the top of Table Mountain, 1 089 metres above Cape Town, and explore the summit. Dinner at a Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Restaurant. Overnight: Premier Cape Manor Hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B/L/D)
Day 4 – January 31, 2018
Full Day Winelands Tour. A superb day dedicated to celebrating the glorious grape, the exceptional winelands region, and the heavenly scenery! The area’s rich with history, where you’ll learn all about the process of winemaking, from grape to goblet. We visit the exquisite little town of Franschhoek, pass by the impressive Huguenot Monument. Wind our way to the heady heights of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass to meet the charming university town of Stellenbosch on the other side. Stroll through this little town, absorbing its quaintness. Enjoy a wine tasting at two different wine estates where you’ll be able to purchase your favourite wine to take back home! Lunch will be enjoyed at one of the estates. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Premier Cape Manor Hotel. B/L/D
Day 5 – February 1, 2018
Morning Township Tour. Visit District Six Museum for a sharp reminder of the past before a tour of Langa Township, the oldest apartheid housing scheme in the Cape, visiting a local market, Arts & Crafts centre, as well as a traditional healer. Visit a local B&B as well as a crèche providing local children with a safe haven and fun, before enjoying lunch at Lelapa Restaurant or similar. Enjoy a hands-on experience of life in a township with a visit to Khayelistsha and Gugulethu. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Restaurant. Overnight: Premier Cape Manor Hotel. B/L/D
Day 6 – February 2, 2018
Cape Town to Oudtshoorn along Route 62. Cape Route 62 is the tourist route in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa, that meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Langkloof and Port Elizabeth. It’s an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora – all contribute to make Paarl, Wellington, the Breede River Valley, Klein Karoo and Langkloof some of South Africa’s most diverse regions. Cape Route 62 will take you along the longest wine route in the Western Cape and most likely the whole world. Innovation and pride, combined with a terrain and mild climate that are harmoniously balanced, results in the prominence of the outstanding wines on Cape Route 62. Lunch in Barrydale. Continue on to Oudtshoorn. Check in to your hotel, an oasis of colonial elegance, with modern convenience, in the heart of Oudtshoorn, the capital of the semi arid Klein Karoo. This Queens Hotel has recently been restored to her full original beauty and continues to offer sumptuous accommodation, service and dining that is reminiscent of a bygone era, but driven by dynamic modern hotel management. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight: Queens Hotel. B/L/D
Day 7 – February 3, 2018
Oudtshoorn to Knysna. Safari Ostrich Farm is a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, Garden Route, South Africa. Established in 1956 as a tourist activity. It remains a must-see attraction when visiting Oudtshoorn on your Garden Route holiday. Safari Ostrich Farm is situated in the heart of “Ostrich Country” and is only 6km outside of the centre of Oudtshoorn. On our guided tour you will learn & see all aspects of ostrich farming & ostriches! Safari Ostrich Farm also is home to the beautiful & rare White Ostrich. On your 1 hour tour you will also see the second biggest bird in the world after the ostrich, the Emu. Lunch at a local restaurant in Plettenberg Bay. Overland to Knysna via Plettenberg Bay. Check in to your hotel on the banks of the Knysna lagoon with views of thousands of hectares of beautiful indigenous forest. Situated in a serene Knysna Heads setting and the perfect base to explore the Garden Route. Dinner at a Knysna waterfront restaurant. Overnight: Premier Knysna The Moorings. B/L/D
Day 8 – February 4, 2018
Knysna. Visit The Featherbed Nature Reserve in the morning, situated on the Western Head in Knysna. This is the premier eco-experience on the Garden Route. Enjoy a return ferry trip on the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head, then take a 4×4 vehicle & trailer drive up the headland onto the Reserve, stopping at spectacular viewpoints. A specialist guide will provide information on history, fauna & flora. Take an optional guided 2.2km walk through coastal forest and fynbos into ancient sea caves. Enjoy a world renowned buffet lunch at an outdoor restaurant setting under a canopy of Milkwood trees. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a Knynsa Waterfront Restaurant. Overnight: Premier Knysna The Moorings. B/L/D
Day 9 – February 5, 2018
Knysna to Port Elizabeth. The Tsitsikamma National Park forms part of the greater Garden Route National Park. The area is covered by large areas of forest as well as commercial plantations and fynbos. There are also many rivers in the area that have carved deep gorges into the mountains as they wind their way from the plateau to the sea. With a pleasant climate all year round, this is the perfect place to get your adventure on. With an abundance of bird and marine life (not to mention the cheeky Cape Otter), you can really get in touch with nature. The Tsitsikamma region of the Western Cape stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to Eerste Rivier in the east, and from the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south. It’s also the largest marine reserve in South Africa and is home to an ancient indigenous rain forest with 116 types of massive trees, including the giant Outeniqua yellowwood tree. There is a great walk that leads to a very special yellowwood called “The Big Tree”. This wooden giant is estimated to be over 800-years old, stands 36.6 m high and has a circumference of almost nine metres, it’s not called “The Big Tree” for nothing. Lunch at a local restaurant. Check in to your beachfront hotel, offering homely comfort with quality accommodation. Situated directly opposite Hobie Beach and next to the Boardwalk and Casino complex. Dinner at a local Boardwalk restaurant. Overnight: Beach Hotel. B/L/D
Day 10 – February 6, 2018
Port Elizabeth to Private Game Lodge. Transfer to the airport in time for your early morning flight to Johannesburg. Travel overland in your luxury coach to Karongwe Game Reserve, home to the Big Five (Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Rhino), overlooking the Makhusti River, and 45 minutes from the Kruger National Park. Chisomo means “blessings” and combines the warmth and vibrancy of a safari exuding a true feeling of being in a bygone era. Enjoy your luxury tented accommodation, built on stilts, with a deck area. Arrive in time for an exhilarating late afternoon game drive in an open 4 x 4 safari vehicle with your highly experienced game ranger and Shangaan tracker. Stop for a sundowner while the sun sets over the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains. Return to the lodge for your “Pan African Cuisine” dinner. Overnight: Chisomo Safari Camp. B/L/D.
Day 11 – February 7, 2018
On Safari. The day starts with an early morning wake-up call. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and rusks are enjoyed together before heading out at first light. Get ready for your up close and personal game viewing experience!! Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast in the African bush. Exciting late afternoon game drive with your highly skilled ranger and tracker. Another opportunity to spot the Big Five and more! Return to the lodge for a well deserved dinner. B/L/D
Day 12 – February 8, 2018
Chisomo to Johannesburg via Panorama Route. ‘Guarded’ by the small town of Graskop, this famous route is home to mountains, forests and canyons, most notably, the Blyde River Canyon which is also world’s largest ‘green canyon’. The awe-inspiring Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls and Mac Mac Falls are just a short drive away. As are scenic landmarks such as Wonder View, the Pinnacle, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and God’s Widndow, where you can walk in the thick, indigenous mist forest that stands amongst the clouds some 800m above Blyde River Canyon. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are an unusual geological formation and well worth the visit. On top of the scenic beauty and historical learnings found on the Panorama Route, you will also experience a
wealth of plant and animal life in the region, including Klipspringers, Dassies, Grey Rhebuck, Oribi, Kudu, bushbuck, bushpigs, monkeys, bushbabies, Chacma baboons, Black-Backed jackals and many species of birdlife, including resident pairs of nesting eagles that might well look you in the eye. Continue on to Johannesburg to arrive in the late afternoon. Check in to your hotel, elegant accommodation amid beautiful landscaped gardens, conveniently located next to Atholl Square, a popular upmarket neighbourhood shopping mall. Complimentary shuttle to Nelson Mandela Square, a couple of minutes away. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight: Southern Sun Katherine Street. B/L/D
Day 13 – February 9, 2018
Morning Soweto Tour. You know the name. It’s a legend. SOWETO, acronym for South Western Township, is home to over 2 million people, who, despite living in crowded and chaotic conditions, have a tangible sense of community, one which ironically, the ordered, walled, elitist northern suburbs lack. Inside Soweto, we visit the Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House. Our journey continues to Regina Mundi Church, site of many secret underground meetings of the then banned political parties. Enjoy lunch at Sakhumzi’s Restaurant or similar, then travel past the largest stadium in Africa, Soccer City, host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Soweto is unlike a suburb you’ve ever seen or been to, yet the history of struggle encapsulated here is a cornerstone of the South African Story. Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight home. Those who stay for the Victoria Falls Extension are transferred to the hotel. B/L/D
Day 14 – February 10, 2018
Afternoon arrival in Toronto
OPTIONAL VICTORIA FALLS EXTENSION – $1690.00
Day 14 – February 10, 2018
Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. Transfer to OR Tambo Airport in time for your onward flight to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival you will be transferred by road to your boutique hotel , where you will spend the next three nights, in gracious and secluded surroundings. Ideally situated on the Zimbabwe side of the Zambian River and is the closest hotel to the magnificent Victoria Falls. Sunset cruise on the Zambezi Explorer. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the tranquil waters above the Falls, where canapés and sundowners are served, whilst you enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River and marvel at the beauty of an African sunset. You’ll have the finest vantage point from which to watch hippo, crocodiles and other animals which come down to the river’s edge in the early evening, to slake their thirst. You’re in the first-class seats, that’s for sure, and while you’re sipping your cocktail and enjoying snacks – no further movement required on your part – you’ll be captivated by the sun’s dying rays as they cast a burnt-orange glow which shimmers on the river. Take another sip in this golden setting – cheers! Overnight: Ilala Lodge. B/D
Day 15 – February 11, 2018
Victoria Falls. Guided Tour of Victoria Falls in the morning. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a truly spectacular sight. On your guided tour of the Zimbabwe side of the Falls you will have the opportunity to experience its awesome unspoilt grandeur as your guide explains how this 150-million year old phenomenon was created. Start at Livingstone’s statue and Devil’s Cataract and proceed through the rain forest to Danger Point. The walk is 3 km and there are many view points along the way. Bring your water shoes!! Afternoon at leisure. Boma Dinner in the evening. It’s a “Must Do” experience, with exuberant cultural songs, dances and an extraordinary traditional meal! Shangaan and Ndebele dancers and singers will inspire you with their pulsating energy, and we’ll soon have to hold you back from the dance floor! You’ll also be tucking into traditional Zimbabwean delicacies for dinner… and for the brave hearts among us, we’ve a few lightly grilled Mopani worms. Yes, it’s a night you won’t forget. Overnight: Ilala Lodge. B/L/D
Day 16 – February 12, 2018
Full Day Chobe Day with Game Activities. Early morning pick up from your hotel. Transfer by road to Chobe Game Reserve. Transfer time is approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes and immigration and customs must be cleared at both the Zimbabwe and Botswana border posts. A river cruise on the Chobe River is a delight – large herds of elephant, kicking up dust as they wait their turn at the water’s edge to drink. Frighteningly large crocodile’s sunning themselves on the banks of the river mouth. Experience the outstanding bird life. The Chobe River flows through the Chobe National Park and provides a haven for herds of grazing animals and bird life. Enjoy game viewing on both a boat and open safari vehicle, allowing for the ultimate wildlife and birding experience. Lunch at a lodge overlooking the Chobe River. Overnight: Ilala Lodge. B/L
Day 17 – February 13, 2018
Victoria Falls to Home. After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight home.
Day 18 – February 14, 2018
Afternoon arrival in Toronto
** THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY VARY IN THE ORDER YOU VISIT**
***HOTELS AS LISTED OR SIMILAR***