Highlights
- Take a walking tour through Cape Town history
- Follow scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive along the coast
- Taste wine and chocolates in the Winelands
- Visit three different safari spots
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, City Tour, & Table Mountain | Cape Town |
| Day 2 | Cape Peninsula Tour & Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden | Cape Town |
| Day 3 | Cheese, Wine, & Chocolate Tour | Cape Town |
| Day 4 | Cape Town to Sabi Sands Safari | Sabi Sands Game Reserve |
| Days 5-6 | On Safari in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve | Sabi Sands Game Reserve |
| Day 7 | Sabi Sands to Victoria Falls | Victoria Falls |
| Day 8 | Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park | Hwange National Park |
| Day 9 | Hwange to Mana Pools National Park | Mana Pools National Park |
| Day 10 | On Safari at Mana Pools National Park | Mana Pools National Park |
| Day 11 | Depart Mana Pools via Johannesburg |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, City Tour, & Table Mountain
Welcome to South Africa! Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and transfer to your accommodation to unpack and unwind. After you settle in, spend the rest of your day exploring the city.
Known as the 'Rainbow Nation,' Cape Town and South Africa have a long and complicated history involving a multitude of ethnic and cultural groups. The area's history starts with the indigenous Khoisan and Bantu people, who were the primary residents of the area until the Portuguese and Dutch arrived in South Africa, beginning a centuries-long occupation.
These days, South Africa is home to a diverse population. Roughly 80% of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry from a variety of ethnic groups, each with a distinct language. The remainder of the community is made up primarily of European, Asian (Indian, Chinese, and others from the formerly enslaved and indentured population), and mixed-race (Cape Coloured) ancestry.
Meet your local guide in the city center for a 4-hour walking tour of the historic city. You'll explore the different eras of Cape Town and learn about South Africa's history, as well as the people who shaped it. Stops along the tour include the Company's Garden, Parliament, Green Market Square, The Castle of Good Hope, and the Slave Lodge.
The Company's Garden dates back to the 1650s when European settlers farmed the land to grow fresh produce to replenish ships rounding the cape. Around the corner is the Iziko Slave Lodge, a national history museum dedicated to exploring the history of slavery at the Cape. Since its construction in 1679, the building has functioned as a center for the bustling slave trade (primarily operated by the Dutch East India Company) as well as a government building and supreme court.
Nearby sits the historic Green Market Square, which has served as a slave market, vegetable market, and center for political protests under Apartheid. These days it hosts a flea market with African souvenirs and crafts for sale.
Just down the street is the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa's oldest existing Dutch East India colonial building. On the way, you'll pass by several memorials and monuments, including the We Are Still Here Street Memorial to destitute children and the District Six Museum, which commemorates forced relocation under apartheid.
After strolling the streets of Cape Town, stop for lunch in the city center. In the afternoon, give your legs a rest with a hop-on-hop-off tour aboard the distinctive red open-top bus. Start at the Cape Town City Center Terminal, then take the bus to Table Mountain. From the bus stop, continue to the summit on the cable car for spectacular views of the city, mountains, and ocean. Return to Cape Town in time for dinner at the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you'll find a variety of fine dining restaurants and pubs with views of the ocean.
Day 2: Cape Peninsula Tour & Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Get an early start for your full-day Cape Peninsula tour. The Cape Peninsula is a rocky peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. On the northern end is Table Mountain, overlooking Cape Town. The Cape Peninsula has outstanding flora and fauna and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Cape Floral Region.
Start the day on Chapman’s Peak Drive along the scenic roads of the Atlantic Seaboard. You'll pass by Llandudno and Camps Bay beaches before reaching Cape Point (an hourlong drive from Cape Town.) Afterward, head to Simon's Town (a thirty-minute drive) and visit the penguin colony and naval base (South Africa's largest) before breaking for lunch at a local seafood restaurant along the water in the sleepy fishing town.
End your day with a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (a half-hour north in Cape Town,) one of the world's most exceptional botanical gardens. Set against the slopes of Table Mountain, this lush paradise houses thousands of unique species of indigenous and exotic plants. Walk along the curved steel and timber Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway (informally known as the 'Boomslang') to see the views from the treetop canopy.
End the day with dinner in the city before returning to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.
Day 3: Cheese, Wine, & Chocolate Tour
Enjoy a full-day cheese, wine, and chocolate tour—a heavenly combination. You'll sample dark chocolates, creamy cheeses, and superb wine while experiencing South Africa's stunning scenery and acclaimed hospitality.
Start your day with a 1-hour drive to the Fairview Winery. With several hundred years of wine-making heritage originating on the farm, it's no wonder that Fairview wine has become a cornerstone of South African wine history. Enjoy a wine and goat cheese tasting in an intimate setting, then head outside to visit the winery's furry mascots (baby goats!) and take in the beautiful views.
Your next stop is the Tokara winery in Stellenbosch for wine tasting, located on the southern slopes of Simonsberg Mountain about 20 minutes down the road. Round out your wine tour with a 20-minute drive to visit Bilton, on the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains. Here you can sample fine South African wines, accompanied by dark Belgian chocolates to complement the flavors of the wines.
Return to Cape Town in the evening.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Cape Town to Sabi Sands Safari
In the morning transfer to Cape Town International Airport and board your domestic flight to the Ulusaba Airstrip in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. The game reserve shares a border with Kruger National Park and is home to a remarkable number of wild animals, thanks to the careful conservation efforts of the reserve staff. The Sabi and Sand Rivers run through the reserve, further adding to the rich ecology of the region.
Upon arrival in Ulusaba, you'll be met by a preserve representative and transferred to the lodge at Sabi Sands, where you'll spend the night. The resort is all-inclusive, so you don't have to worry about a thing—besides taking in the views and relaxing. Twice daily, in the mornings and afternoons, head out for big game drives and walking safaris.
Keep your eyes open for the elusive leopard—one of the reserve's top predators. In the evening, sit down to a delicious home-style meal as you listen to the nighttime sounds of the African bush around you.
Days 5-6: On Safari in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve
Spend the day on safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
Sabi hosts a variety of wildlife, many of which also live across the park border in the Kruger National Park. Early European landowners used the land for recreation and hunting before transforming it into the luxurious Big Five safaris of today.
In the 1960s the neighboring Kruger Park erected fences to prevent the transmission of diseases into the park. This prompted the Sabi Sands management to fence in the entire park to keep the wildlife contained within the park boundaries. Following a 1990s agreement between the two parks, the fence between Sabi and Kruger was removed to allow wildlife to once again roam freely between the regions.
Many inter-park projects ensure the ecological diversity and health of the plants an animals. Invasive plant control, anti-poaching activities, and fire control management are all used to improve the quality of habitat for the animals.
These days the park is famous for its luxury lodges and Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). Make sure to keep to also keep your eyes open for the Sabi Sands Secret Seven (serval, African wild cat, aardvark, pangolin, civet, porcupine, and large spotted genet)—the park's most elusive nocturnal wildlife.
Over 145 mammal species, 500+ bird species, and hundreds of amphibian, reptile species, fish, and plant species call the park home. Thanks to the limited farming practices in the area, the environment appears a lot like how it did hundreds of years ago.
Day 7: Sabi Sands to Victoria Falls
Get an early start today with a transfer to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit. Catch a flight to Livingstone Airport in Zambia, then transfer across the border to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya in Lozi). From here continue to your hotel.
The town of Victoria Falls in western Zimbabwe is a gateway to the incredible nearby waterfall of the same name. The native Lozi name for the falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, means "The Smoke that Thunders". Here, the Zambezi River plunges over a cliff and into the Boiling Pot (a permanent whirlpool) before rushing through a series of steep gorges. The incredible Devil's Pool, a natural infinity pool, sits on the edge of a sheer drop.
Victoria Falls Bridge, which was built in 1905, spans the river. Nearby, Zambezi National Park is home to spectacular Africa wildlife like white rhinos, elephants, hippos, and more.
In the late afternoon transfer to the jetty for a dinner cruise along the Upper Zambezi. Relax on deck as you take in the views of the surrounding landscapes, then sit down to dinner as you experience an African sunset. After dinner, cruise back to the jetty and transfer to the hotel.
Day 8: Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park
In the morning, transfer from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park located a 1.5-hour drive to the south in western Zimbabwe.
The national park is covered in grasslands and mopane woods which are home to the "Big 5," along with African wild dogs and numerous other species. The park is especially famous for its large population of elephants. In the northwest region of the park, animals gather in large numbers at the Mandavu and Masuma Dams, where concealed lookouts enable visitors to get up-close without being seen.
Bumbusi National Monument, located within the park boundaries, has been protected since 1946. It includes ruins of meticulously planned 18th-century homes and rock carvings. The monument also serves as a sacred and spiritual center for the living descendants of the Bumbusi builders.
In the southeast of the park, waterholes like the Nyamandhlovu Pan feature elevated viewing platforms, offering visitors unparalleled views of the surrounding countryside and herds of wildlife.
Day 9: Hwange to Mana Pools National Park
In the morning, transfer to the local airstrip to board your small aircraft to transfer to Mana Pools National Park, located in far northern Zimbabwe. (Please note that as a result of access restrictions during the summer months, the camp operates seasonally between April and mid-November.)
Spend your time at the park soaking in the incredible nature and views on game drives, morning walks through the park and lazy afternoons at camp.
The park is an international destination for wildlife and fishing enthusiasts, and fishing is a popular activity for visitors. Try your hand from the bank or by boat to net local bream (tilapia), barbel (catfish), and tigerfish. For dedicated fishermen and fisherwomen, rented boats and fly fishing gear are available for you to set your sights on a more serious catch.
Day 10: On Safari at Mana Pools National Park
Spend the day on safari in Mana Pools National Park. The park includes the south bank and islands of the Zambezi River, which forms the border with Zambia. The park is famed for its wildlife sightings along the river banks and in the flood plains.
Large populations of elephants, hippos, and Nile crocodiles gather at sunrise at Long Pool. In the park's southern region, lions and other predators wait for prey around the waterhole at Chitake Spring.
At night, enjoy a fire under the stars before falling asleep to the sounds of the African bush at nighttime.
Day 11: Depart Mana Pools via Johannesburg
Get an early start for your full day of travel. Transfer back to the airstrip, then board your flight back to Victoria Falls International Airport. From here, board your outbound flight to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Here you'll connect with your flight home.
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