South Africa Safari & Tour

November 14 - 29, 2010

16 Day Fully Escorted tour

Day 1: Sunday, February 21 – Depart
Our flight departs from Dulles, WA to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the adventure of a lifetime. (In-flight meal service)

Day 2: Monday, February 22 - Arrive in South Africa / Pretoria
Our South African national guide welcomes you at the airport in Johannesburg. Enjoy your first glimpse of South Africa as you travel via motor coach to Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa.   Our hotel, the beautiful Sheraton, will be a welcome sight after your long journey. Tonight, the hotel restaurant serves a wonderful welcome dinner. Overnight Sheraton Hotel Pretoria (D)

Day 3: Tuesday, February 23 – Pretoria / Delmas / Pretoria
Travel through the countryside to the small town of Delmas to visit the prestigious estate of the Rossouw family. The family is involved in large-scale agriculture that includes crop farming, sod farming, and poultry production. After the farm visit you travel to Cullinan for a visit to the Cullinan Diamond Mine, established in 1902. The world's largest rough diamond was discovered there in 1905, weighing over 3000 carats, uncut. This diamond mine, which is the world's only significant producer of rare blue diamonds, was recently sold by De Beers for $167,000,000. Later in the afternoon enjoy a visit to the Lesedi Cultural Village. "Lesedi" meaning "light" is set in the pristine bushveld and the rocky hills close to the Johannesburg. At this multi cultural center you experience the vibrant and colorful traditions of South Africa's various tribes. Tour their traditional villages and see real South African culture unfolding while listening to their rhythmic drums and whistles. The program includes traditional singing and dancing followed by a traditional dinner in the "Boma" - certainly a must to understand South Africa'scultural diversity. Overnight: Sheraton Hotel Pretoria (B, D)

Day 4: Wednesday, February 24 – Pretoria / Johannesburg / Kroonstad
Visit the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, which was established in 2001 and is recognized as the preeminent museum of South Africa's 20th century history.  After lunch, depart for Kroonstad, and a visit to Riaan Crous’ farm, Gedultfontein.  This 7,500 acre farm mainly produces Bonsmara studs.  Riaan also raises buffalo and sable antelope. The Crous family invites you to join them for a BBQ dinner tonight and you'll absolutely love your overnight stay at the Arcadia Guest House.  Overnight: Arcadia Guest House.  (B, L, D)

Day 5: Thursday, February 25 – Kroonstad / Cradock
En route to Cradock you travel through two provinces and the towns of Bloemfontein, Trompsburg, Steynsburg, and Hofmeyer.  Enjoy your journey through the heart of South Africa!   Arrive late in the afternoon in Cradock for your overnight stay in Victoria Manor hotel, built in the 1800's. Every room of this vintage property is furnished with lovely antiques and oriental rugs.  Dinner tonight will be served in Victorian elegance, but not before singing with the piano player – she knows all the old American tunes. After dinner enjoy great entertainment by some of the locals.  Overnight: Victoria Manor Hotel. (B, D)

Day 6: Friday, February 26 – Cradock / Plettenbergbay
Today's journey includes one of the most picturesque parts of South Africa. Travel to Port Elizabeth, known as the “Friendly City,” and then along the scenic Garden Route to Tsitsikama National Park, where booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound the rocky shores.  The region’s major vegetation, temperate high forests and fynbos, covers the hillsides and rolls down to the sea in an unspoiled verdant carpet.  Tsitsikama means “water begins,” the Native’s explanation for high rainfall and the presence of many rivers and streams. Stop at the camp compound in Tsitsikama National Park and continue to Plettenbergbay this afternoon. Plettenbergbay was originally named Bahia Formosa (Beautiful Bay) by the Portuguese navigator Manuel de Mesquita Peterestrelo and was renamed after Dutch Governor Joachim van Plettenberg in 1779.   Overnight: NH Plettenbergbay Hotel. (B, D)

Day 7: Saturday, February 27 – Plettenbergbay / Oudsthoorn
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before traveling west to George, via Knysna.  In Knysna (Pronounced Niesna) is one of the quaintest little towns you'll ever experience and one of the great attractions on South Africa's beautiful Garden Route. Enjoy a cruise on the bay with splendid views of the sea on the side, and town of Knysna on the other side with the forests and mountains beyond. After the cruise, stroll along the sunny wharf boardwalk and choose one out of a number of great available lunch spots. Continue your journey through the Wilderness National Park Lake District to George and enjoy breathtaking views along the Garden Route. Traveling via the Outeniqua moutain pass, an engineering materpiece, you'll reach the final destination, Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of South Afria. Dinner is in the hotel tonight. Overnight: Queens Hotel Oudsthoorn (B, D)

Day 8: Sunday, February 28 – Oudsthoorn / Cape Town
Rise a little earlier today for a tour of the spectacular Cango Caves where you see some of the world's largest stalagmite formations situated in a Precambrain limestone ridge dating about 4500 million years ago. Following the tour of the caves you visit Hooper High Gate Ostrich Farm.  At this commercial and show farm, you learn how valuable the feathers, eggs and hide of the ostrich are and how they are used.  For the adventurous, there will be an opportunity to ride an ostrich!  After lunch at Hooper High Gate, journey on through the Klein Karoo region and Calitzdorp, known for its extensive apricot orchards, and through Caledon, the highest crop producting region in South Africa. Early evening you arrive in Cape Town, the pride of the southern African subcontinent and Africa's most visited destination. Overnight: Portswood Hotel. (B, L)

Day 9: Monday, March 1 – Cape Town
Weather permitting you'll ascend Table Moutnain for the most spectacula veiw on earth. Visit the Castle of Good Hope, which was completed in 1679, and the Company Gardens with its emerald lawns, graceful fountian, and exotic shrubs and plants. Then travel to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and to Cape Point for a memorable vista of the spot where the Altantic and Indian Oceans meet. On the way back to Cape Town stop in Simonstown - famous for its beaches, particulary Boluders Beach, to visit a large pegguin colony. Overnight: Portswood Hotel. (B, L)

Day 10: Tuesday, March 2 – Cape Town
Depart for the beautiful historic town, Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa. The town's cultural heritage is depicted in local art galleries, antique shops, and fine architecture  There are more than 106 wine cellars within a 16-mile radius of Stellenbosch.  The heart of South Africa's wine industry is renowned for its unrivaled natural beauty, flourishing wine, fruit industry, and fine Cape Dutch architecture.  During the afternoon, visit one of the regions’ most prestigious wine estates.  There will be an opportunity to sample their vintage and draw your ownconclusions!  Overnight: Portswood Hotel. (B, L)

Day 11: Wednesday, March 3 – Cape Town / Kruger National Park
Early this morning you fly to Mpumalanga, the most easterly province in South Africa, and journey on to the famous Kruger National Park, one of the oldest and largest wildlife reserves in Africa.   Check into a cabin at Skukuza Rest Camp.  The ambiance of the camp recalls the mood of colonial Africa with red-roofed public buildings, thatched rondawels and neatly raked paths.  The accommodations, called huts, are arranged in circles, facing inwards in a protective “laager” fashion.  Late in the afternoon we enjoy the beginning of our game drives – a great opportunity to discover the wonder of the African bush and to view wild animals in their natural environment.  Conclude the day with a BBQ dinner.  Overnight: Kruger National Park, Skukuza Rest Camp. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Thursday, March 4 – Kruger National Park
Start the day with an early morning game drive in an open vehicle, returning in time for breakfast. This national park of nearly 5,000,000 acres was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of South Africa Lowveld. Kruger Park is unrivaled in the diverstiy of its life forms and world leaders in advanced environmetal management techinques and policies. It is almost unbelievable the large number of wild animals available to view in Kruger Park. The entire day will be devoted to tracking as many of these animals as possible for you to see. After a leisurely lunch, join our ranger again for a beautiful sunset game drive in an open vehicle. Return to the camp for dinner at the restaurant. Overnight: Kruger National Park, Skukuza Rest Camp. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Friday, March 5 – Kruger National Park / Kapama Game Reserve and Lodge
Enjoy another early morning game drive in Kruger National Park followed by breakfast. Then leave the park and travel to the Kapama River Lodge via the northern Drakensberg mountain range, which provides a majestic backdrop to the largest private game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park region.  The balance of the day is yours to enjoy.  Relax at the pool or enjoy the luxurious amenities of this five star lodge. Elephant rides are available but are not included in the price of the tour. In the late afternoon, accompanied by highly skilled game rangers, you go on another game drive in search of the BIG FIVE (Lion, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Elephant.) This is a great opportunity to take photos of Africa's incredible wildlife in their natural environment.  Overnight: Kapama River Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 14: Saturday, March 6 – Kapama Game Reserve / Panoramic Route
This morning is your last chance to encounter Africa's majestic inhabitants in the wilderness.  The early morning game drive, followed by breakfast concludes your once-in-a-lifetime African adventure.  Bid farewell as you journey through the countryside admiring some of South Africa's most spectacular scenery along the eastern escarpment of the Drakensburg Mountains. Visit God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes – all scenes that can be found in every coffee table book that has ever been published about South Africa.   Late afternoon, check into the hotel to relax and get ready for the farewell dinner. Overnight: Sabie River Sun Hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 15: Sunday, March 7 – Pilgrims Rest / Johannesburg
An incredible journey draws to an end as you depart for Johannesburg and our international flight back to the USA.   (B, In-flight meal service)

Day 16: Monday, March 8 – Johannesburg / Arrive in Dulles, WA
Early morning arrival in Dulles, WA (6:00 a.m.) allows ample time to connect with your domestic flight home.

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