From South Africa to Zimbabwe - Cape Town, Knysna, Victoria Falls - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive to Cape Town

Welcome to vibrant Cape Town! A driver will greet you at Cape Town International Airport and transfer you to Cloud Nine Boutique Hotel and Spa. Here you will spend three nights in a deluxe room with balcony views of the beautiful Gardens Neighborhood. This area is popular with locals and known for its foodie scene.

Spend your time strolling along Kloof Street and enjoy high tea at the famous Mount Nelson Hotel. Don't forget to explore some beautiful gardens, especially the Company Gardens which was established in the 1650s by the Dutch East India Company. Other suggested activities include:

• Meander Greenmarket Square
• Dive into history at the Iziko Slave Lodge
• Learn about life under Apartheid at the District Six Museum
• Watch the boats come in while strolling the streets of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Day 2: Tour the Atlantic Seaboard and Cape Peninsula

Today's itinerary includes a full-day excursion of one of the most scenic areas of Cape Town: the Cape Peninsula. The Peninsula includes popular spots such as Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, at its most southernly point. You'll cruise along the scenic Atlantic Seaboard, drinking in the magnificent coastline and fynbos-covered scenery. The UNESCO World Heritage Cape Floral Region includes the area's diverse and unique flora and fauna.

Stop along the Chapman's Peak drive (a 2,000-ft summit) to enjoys spectacular views of the coastline and its neighborhoods. Stop for lunch in Simon's Town, a small fishing village famous for its penguin colony on Boulders Beach. Admire rare plants at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and enjoy stunning coastal vistas at Hout Bay. Make the walk out to the lighthouse at Cape Point and watch the waves crash into the rocky shores.

Day 3: Tour Cape Town, Table Mountain, and Robben Island

At breakfast, fuel-up for a full day of Cape Town exploration. The city is known as "Rainbow Nation" due to its complicated history and significant diversity. Starting in the city's town center, you'll enjoy sites such as the Company Gardens, Greenmarket Square, and the Castle of Good Hope. 

The Company Gardens were established in the 1650s by European settlers and the Dutch East India Company. The infamous slave trade mostly took place at Greenmarket Square, which also housed protests during Apartheid. Today you'll find a flea market selling crafts and souvenirs. The Castle of Good Hope was also owned by the Dutch East India Company, and remains the country's oldest existing building from the trading company.

Explore some of the city's diversity in Bo-Kaap, also known as the Malay Quarter. You'll find rows bright, colorful buildings in this historically diverse neighborhood, which is home to a predominantly Muslim population. Enjoy lunch here or elsewhere in the city center.

After properly exploring the streets of Cape Town, hop on the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. The cable car and the summit give some of the best views of the city and its surrounding region. Next, grab a boat tour across Table Bay to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was infamously imprisoned for 18 years. An ex-political prisoner will guide your tour of the maximum-security prison where you'll see Nelson Mandela's cell.

Return by boat and explore the rest of Cape Town on your own, enjoying a dinner in the foodie Gardens Neighborhood (where you are staying) or at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Day 4: Taste wine in Overberg - drive to Caledon

Enjoy an early breakfast and a stroll through the neighborhood before preparing for your next move. You'll receive a rental car at your hotel to begin your tour of the scenic Overberg Region. Your first stop will be the famous Cape Winelands Region. This area is internationally recognized and home to some of the country's award-winning wineries and estates.

As you pass by rolling green hills and endless vineyards, you'll understand why many come for the scenery alone. Stop along the way at some of the wine estates in the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Elgin Wine Regions. Sample delicious foods and some of the best wines in all of South Africa. Enjoy lunch at an award-winning restaurant and pair it with a wine tasting. Don't forget to include some local food, including cheeses and olives.

Continue to Caledon and your accommodation, the Rouxwil Country House, for dinner. Enjoy an evening by the pool or in the lounge.

Day 5: Go cave spelunking and explore an ostrich farm

Today’s journey takes you via the Route 62 Wine Route to Oudtshoorn, a scenic area known for ostrich farms, biltong (popular dried meat in South Africa), and the famous Cango Caves. Stop and enjoy a final winery before spending the rest of the day beneath the Earth’s surface at one of the most astounding caves in the country.

After cave spelunking, visit one of the country's popular ostrich farms. As the largest bird in the world, you can observe their habitats and see the birds up close. Observe the different looks at different stages of life, learn about the operations of the farm, feel the ostrich leather, and feed the birds. You can also opt to ride an ostrich.

Your road trip ends at the Mooiplaas Guest House, a functioning ostrich farm in the Klein Karoo. Here you will enjoy  a delicious dinner and relax by the pool on the beautiful grounds.

Day 6: Enjoy the tranquility in coastal Knysna

After breakfast at your accommodation, head back to the coast and arrive in the seaside town of Knysna. Spend the next two days relaxing by coast, strolling along the shore, and enjoying some of Knysna’s best cuisine: oysters. For decades, Knysna has retained its title as the oyster capital of South Africa—and rightfully so.

Located at the end of the Garden Route, the town of Knysna is built on the shore of a warm-water lagoon. This scenic town is renowned for its beauty and tranquillity. Knysna is a popular holiday destination for local and international visitors, hosting a number of events throughout the year. Surrounded by forests, water, and rolling hills, Knysna is the ideal destination for hiking, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, running, and relaxing. You can also opt for a luxury boat cruise along the lagoon.

You'll spend two nights at Alfred's Manor Guesthouse in a cozy room with lagoon views.

Day 7: Hike and boat in quiet Knysna

Today continues with beautiful, peaceful Knysna and its surroundings. Enjoy a hike through the Knysna Forest, a true tropical and subtropical ecoregion and one of the most diverse and beautiful areas along the east coast of South Africa.

Enjoy the evening with another coastal stroll, taking in the sounds and smells of this tranquil seaside town. Don't be shy about trying the world-famous oysters for a second night in a row!

Day 8: Enjoy luxury accommodation in Pumba Private Game Reserve

Get ready for a full day of exploration, from the shores of the Atlantic to the bush of the savanna. For the next two nights, you'll relish in a luxurious, 5-star accommodation, the Pumba Private Game Lodge. Enjoy the perfect African safari at the Pumba Private Game Reserve.

The area offers exceptional sightings of wildlife, bird watching, and catch-and-release fishing. The lodge provides a number of activities, as well as eloquently-decorated chalets. Each cabin is fitted with a plunge pool and outdoor shower.  Enjoy the scenery and views across the landscape from your own private game-viewing deck.

Your room will be the Impala Chalet, will includes full-board and two safaris per day.

Day 9: Find wildlife on sunrise & sunset safaris

Awaken to the sounds of the wild and enjoy a full day of game viewing and safari activities. You'll partake in two safaris today, one at sunrise and the other at sunset. These optimal times give you the best chance of viewing wildlife in one of the most popular safari destinations in the world. 

When back at the lodge, enjoy your own private plunge pool, nosh on exceptional local cuisine, watch birds on the savanna, try your luck with bass fishing, ride horse through the grasslands, and/or stargaze in the endless, uninterrupted skies.

Day 10: Enjoy a final safari before flying from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town

Wake early for your final safari at Pumba Private Game Reserve and a delicious breakfast. You'll then drive to Port Elizabeth Airport for your scheduled flight back to Cape Town. You'll transfer to The Portswood Hotel in the buzzy Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Neighborhood.

Other suggested activities in the neighborhood include:

• Stroll the waterfront and watch the boats unload their daily catch
• Enjoy views of the city from the Cape Wheel
• Dip your toes in the water at Mouille Point Beach
• Indulge in retail therapy
• Sip wine and watch the sunset

Day 11: Fly from Cape Town to Victoria Falls

Today is a day for a little adventure. After breakfast you'll catch your flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. On arrival, a driver will transfer you to The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge where you will enjoy a waterhole-facing room. Posh quarters include terraces where you can view wildlife right out your window, all while relaxing and sipping your morning coffee.

Traditional thatched-roof buildings include dining areas, an outdoor pool, and a lounge to enjoy the sunset. Stroll around the property on its designated paths and enjoy views of the endless savanna and shrubbery.

Day 12: Guided tour of the falls and sunset cruise

After breakfast, your host will collect you for a guided hiking tour of the world-famous Victoria Falls. The first stop is the Big Tree, a massive, 2,000-year-old baobab tree. Next is the Livingstone’s statue and Devil’s Cataract before proceeding through the rainforest to Danger Point. The total walk is just under two miles (3 km) with many spectacular view points along the way. Note that the falls are fullest in June and lowest in November due to seasonal rains. 

After your tour of the falls, your host will collect you for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Soak in the relaxing sights and sounds of the river while enjoying local drinks and snacks, and while witnessing a spectacular African sunset. Cruise back to the jetty and transfer to the hotel in the evening.

Day 13: Say goodbye to Africa with one final elephant viewing

Enjoy one final morning in Zimbabwe with a hearty breakfast at your chic accommodation. Gaze out on the savanna and catch final glimpses of elephants bathing at the watering hole. Arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg, and your return home.