Ultimate Southern Africa Experience: Cape Town, Blue Train, Chobe - 16 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Cape Town

Welcome to bustling Cape Town! After you arrive at Cape Town International Airport, you'll be transferred to The Commodore Hotel set in the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront neighborhood. Enjoy this buzzy area known for its shopping, eateries, museums, and gorgeous views of the waterfront. Grab a meal or glass of local wine while watching the boats pull into the harbor. Or relax at your hotel, which has a sleek restaurant and pool.

Day 2: Conquer Table Mountain and Explore Cape Town

After a hearty breakfast, seize the day with a full tour of Cape Town and its dominating natural skyline. Table Mountain is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and you can enjoy breathtaking views from both the cable car and the summit.

Next, you'll explore all that Cape Town has to offer, including a glimpse into its colorful past. You'll visit historic landmarks such as the Malay Quarter and the Castle of Good Hope. Indulge in some much needed retail therapy or watch the boats come in at the V&A Waterfront.

Itinerary Includes:

• Table Mountain by cable car
• Malay Quarter
• Cape Town city center
• Greenmarket Square
• The flower sellers
• The Castle of Good Hope
• Houses of Parliament

Day 3: Search for penguins on Cape Peninsula

Get ready for a full day of exploring one of the most scenic areas of the Cape Town region: Cape Peninsula. We'll start with a drive along the spectacular Atlantic Seaboard, passing through the coastal suburbs of Sea Point, Bantry Bay, and Clifton. We'll stop for a photo opportunity of Table Mountain's impressive Twelve Apostles before passing Bakoven and Llandudno, which are marked by famous shipwrecks. Next,  we'll visit the scenic fishing village of Hout Bay where you can opt for a boat tour of the Cape Fur Seal colony on Duiker Island.

Continue your tour with spectacular views over the 2,000-ft summit of Chapman's Peak before watching southern right whales frolic just offshore (from June to November). Explore more rocky coastline, which is home to unique birdlife such as African Black Oystercatchers and Cape Sugarbirds. You may also catch a glimpse of other animals, such as zebra, bontebok, ostrich, and baboon as you enter the Cape of Good Hope National Park. Climb to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay, and stop at the southwestern-most point of Africa, Cape of Good Hope.

After lunch, we'll visit Boulders Beach for an exciting close-up encounter with African penguins. Drive through the historical naval village of Simon's Town and over yet another spectacular mountain pass (Boyes Drive) for exceptional views of the quaint fishing harbor at Kalk Bay. Before the day ends, we'll also visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which is set on the slopes of Table Mountain.

Highlights include:

• Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
• Boulders Beach – Penguin Colony
• Hout Bay – optional boat trip to Seal Colony
• Simon's Town historical naval base
• Fynbos vegetation
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Day 4: Taste award-winning reds and whites in the scenic Winelands Region

Today is all about wine, beautiful scenery, and historical towns. Enjoy a full day touring the historically-rich and picturesque Winelands Region of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. The individual wine estates included on the tour will be personalized for your own taste and preference in wine. Your guide will discuss all options with you and select the best suitable wine estates to visit in the region. The tastings will include high-quality (and often award-winning) red and white wines.

You'll enjoy lunch at one of the award-winning restaurants in the area before continuing on your tour. There are many natural and historic heritage places in this area, including the Afrikaans Taal Monument. The tour includes unparalleled scenery, with its beautiful countryside and history making it well worth the visit. Stellenbosch, with its tree-lined streets, is filled with unique historical architecture and a variety of alfresco cafes that you can visit.

Highlights of the tour include:

• Stellenbosch and its unique historical architecture & variety of alfresco cafés
• Franschhoek, the tranquil valley with its endless majestic mountain vistas
• Paarl, home to the Afrikaans language
• Wine tasting on some of the best wine estates the Cape has to offer
• Wine cellar tours

Day 5: Ride the luxury rails to Pretoria

Today is your last morning in Cape Town. Explore the colorful neighborhoods of this buzzy city to find a final breakfast and coffee. Then, step back in time an onto the famous (and luxurious) Blue Train that connects Cape Town with Pretoria, South Africa. Upon arrival to the station, you'll enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks as you settle into your sleeper suite. Your butler will give you a tour and orientation of the train and your journey.

After settling in, and as the train departs, enjoy an afternoon high tea in the Lounge Car. You can continue to relax in the lounge, or enjoy your suite and the beautiful scenery out your window. There are two seatings for dinner, which you can arrange prior to your arrival. Mingle with other guests while you enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs, and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.

Day 6: Enjoy the Blue Train with a stop at the Open Mine Museum

Relax in your luxury suite before you join other guests for a seated breakfast. Watch the incredible views of South Africa whizz by in the Observation Car or relax in the Lounge Car before lunch. You'll enjoy an off-the-train excursion at the city of Kimberley. Here, you'll explore the Open Mine Museum with a private tour, visiting interesting and historical sites. You'll also view the famous Big Hole.

After the tour, you'll arrive back at the train station where you can enjoy a glass of sherry. The sherry glass is engraved with The Blue Train logo as a memento for you to keep. Once back on the train, you're welcome to refresh yourself back in your suite and enjoy aperitifs before dinner. Once again, you are invited to other guests for post-dinner drinks, cognacs, and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before bed.

Day 7: Welcome to Johannesburg

After breakfast, you'll arrive in Pretoria by mid-morning. At the station, your butler will guide you to the Arrival Lounge. Then, you'll transfer to the all-inclusive African Rock Hotel for the night. The hotel is set in the bustling city of Johannesburg, which has many attractions to enjoy. Other suggested activities include:

• Visit historical sites on Vilakazi Street
• Join a bicycle tour at Lebo's hostel
• Explore your taste buds at the market in Braamfontein
• Learn about local history in the Apartheid Museum
• Take in the city via the Carlton Tower viewing deck

Day 8: Flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls

Enjoy your morning in Johannesburg before boarding your scheduled flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for your 2-night stay. You'll enjoy a Waterhole Facing Room where you can gaze at wildlife right out of your bedroom window.

Day 9: Hike to Victoria Falls and cruise the river at sunset

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before departing on a guided hiking tour of Victoria Falls. Your walk starts with a viewing of the Big Tree, a massive, 2,000-year-old baobab tree. Then you'll continue on to Victoria Falls, starting at Livingstone’s statue and Devil’s Cataract before proceeding through the rainforest to Danger Point. The total hike is just under two miles (3 km) and features many spectacular view points along the way. Note that the falls are fullest in June and lowest in November due to seasonal rains.

After the hike, your host will collect you for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Relax to the sights and sounds of the river while sipping local wines and noshing on snacks. This trip offers the chance to see a spectacular African sunset. Cruise back to the jetty for transfer to the hotel.

Day 10: Flight from Victoria Falls to Chobe, Botswana

Take in the final sites of the savanna and watering hole before boarding your scheduled flight from Kasane Airport to Chobe, Botswana. You'll transfer to Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana for two nights of full-board benefits in a luxury room, plus boat cruises, safaris, and complimentary park fees.

Day 11: View elephants and other big game on two safaris

Chobe Game Lodge offers a choice of land or water-based activities and the most complete game experience in Chobe National Park. Expert guides offer two daily safaris in open-sided 4x4 vehicles to ensure maximum visibility of Chobe National Park’s spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. You can also enjoy riverside game viewing in highly maneuverable boats, which are perfect for morning or sunset cruises.

Chobe's diverse wildlife roams in abundance, as it's home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. During the dry season, these large herds—as well as vast herds of buffalo—congregate on the fertile flood plains along the Chobe River to drink, bathe, and play. There are also frequent sightings of lion, African wild dog, puku, red lechwe, sable, giraffe, and roan antelope.

Day 12: Flight from Chobe National Park to Camp Okavango

Today you will catch a charter flight and travel from Chobe to Camp Okavango. Here, you will spend two all-inclusive nights at a traditional, thatched-roof resort.  The accommodation is set on stilts above the marshy riverbank and includes all wildlife viewings and park fees. Relax in your room, enjoy dinner overlooking the river, or walk the grounds while taking in a gorgeous sunset.

Day 13: Navigate the Okavango Delta by traditional boat

Experienced and professional guides offer water-based activities through the many meandering, reed-lined waterways of the Okavango River Delta. Roam the vast expanses of water from the comfort of a modern motorboat or explore the intricacies of the Okavango Delta the quiet and old-fashioned way—in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe).

If you'd like to get a little closer to nature, you can opt for a guided bush walk of the nearby islands, offering an opportunity to track some of the larger land-based species that inhabit this water wilderness. Birding opportunities are outstanding and anglers can try their luck against bream and tiger fish.

Day 14: Fly to Camp Moremi and sleep under the stars in glamping tents

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as you sip coffee and view the glistening marshlands. Afterward, you'll take a charter flight to beautiful Camp Moremi where you'll spend two all-inclusive nights in posh glamping-style tents. Enjoy a dinner overlooking the vast savanna and sip drinks while sitting around a campfire.

Day 15: Search for leopards, lions, and elephants on safari

Rise with the sun and enjoy an early-morning safari drive through the many different ecosystems in Moremi Game Reserve. Explore the Xakanaxa Lagoon and its surrounding channels by boat for a chance to enjoy the picturesque waters of the Okavango Delta, with its kaleidoscope of birdlife. Experienced guides will introduce you to a whole new world of wildlife: find a leopard relaxing in the branches of a Mopane tree; watch herds of elephant grazing under a canopy of green; gaze at a pride of lions camouflaged in the long grasses of the savanna.

Moremi Game Reserve’s incredible wetlands support a vast number of antelope, including impala, kudu, and waterbuck. The majestic fish eagle and vivid malachite kingfisher are frequently seen. You may even catch the rare Pel’s fishing owl.

Safaris are also offered in the afternoon if you wish to enjoy a leisurely morning at your accommodation, or to try your luck viewing wildlife two times in one day.

Day 16: One final safari - flight to Johannesburg

After you last safari activity and breakfast, you will board your charter flight to Maun Airport. On arrival you will board your scheduled flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.