South Africa & Victoria Falls Tour

Enjoy a private car ride to the airport. Travellers departing from the Toronto airport are assisted with their check-in. Meet your dedicated Group Guru and fellow travellers and fly to Cape Town. It’s a long way to Cape Town, but don’t worry, in-flight entertainment (and Group Guru entertainment) helps time fly by! Upon your late evening arrival, our luxury coach will bring you to your hotel. Settle in, take a nice long shower, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep. Overnight in Cape Town.

Morning at your leisure. Your adventure begins with an afternoon boat ride to Robben Island where you will experience a cross-section of amazing views and important South African history. Trace the footsteps of Nelson Mandela with a guided tour of the Robben Island Museum, which once housed the country’s most famous political prisoner and freedom fighter. Animal lovers, don’t forget to bring your camera, as Robben Island also plays host to a colony of penguins! Overnight in Cape Town. (B,L,D)

Today is dedicated to beautiful Cape Town: tour of the city, where you will discover City Hall and the colourful Bo-Kaap area (previously, the Malay Quarter). Weather permitting, you will board the cable car and climb 302 metres above sea level for a sweeping panoramic view of Cape Town and its surroundings atop iconic Table Mountain. Enjoy an evening walk on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront before dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Cape Town. (B,L,D)

Tread along the beautiful coastlines of Clifton, Camp Bay and Hout Bay, from where you will cruise to Duiker Island to see the local sea lion community (originating from the Antarctic!) as well as a variety of bird species. Enjoy the scenery at Chapman’s Peak on your way to the Cape of Good Hope National Park where you will admire an endless coastline of cliff-crashing waves and beachfronts. Marvel at the spectacular sight of hundreds of African penguins stomping sand and treading water at Boulders Beach – a unique inlet that this penguin colony calls home. End the afternoon with a tour of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. Overnight in Cape Town. (B,L,D)

Experience a touch of colonial influence with a tour of Stellenbosch, located in the appropriately named Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch, renowned for its beautiful oak-lined Dutch and Victorian houses, as well as its award-winning wines, is the very first wine town in South Africa. Learn about the local history while cleansing your palate with wine tasting at a two-century old local winery estate. In the afternoon, discover Franschhoek (the “French Corner” of the Cape), one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world, during an orientation tour. Overnight in Somerset West. (B,L,D)

Drive through Little Karoo, a fertile valley and one of the Western Cape’s most diverse regions – an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora. Enjoy an afternoon visit to an ostrich farm in the Oudtshoorn area, the ostrich capital of the world, where you will learn all about these large flightless birds. Road to Knysna for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Discover Plettenberg’s beautiful beaches along the Garden Route, before arriving at Tsitsikamma National Park. Covering 80 kilometres of pristine coastline, the park is known for its biodiversity, including the famous protea wildflower. You will be drawn in by the prolific fauna, including bird-life such as the African black oyster catcher and Knysna loerie, as well as native mammals like the Cape clawless otter and African wild cat. The park’s expanse stretches five kilometres out to sea, protecting a magnificent wonderland of inter-tidal sea life and reef fish. Keen observers can also spot dolphins and porpoises. Overnight in Port Elizabeth. (B,L,D)

Marked by the massive arrival of British settlers in 1820, Port Elizabeth’s history is a rich one you will discover on a guided tour along the Donkin Heritage Trail. The five kilometre trail visits 47 historical sites and architectural delights in the Old Hill area of central Port Elizabeth. Rest during our afternoon flight to Durban, before our luxury coach escorts you to your lodge in Hluhluwe for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a morning boat cruise on the Saint Lucia Estuary, a network of coastal lakes, dunes, subtropical forests, swamps and wetland that is home to 800 hippos, over 1,000 Nile crocodiles and over 500 resident bird species. Marvel at the colourful butterflies that drink on the nectar of fynbos flowers on a leisurely cruise along the estuary. Spend the early afternoon in DumaZulu Cultural Village, feeling the beat of the Zulu drums and learning the rich significance of the tribe’s famous beadwork, weaving and pottery. End the afternoon with a 4x4 game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, known for its black and white rhino conservation efforts and home to some 1,500 white rhinos, 360 black rhinos, and a variety of antelope species. Return to our lodge in Hluhuwe for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)

On to Swaziland, a small landlocked country that is a true kaleidoscope of colours. Mingle with local Swazis at the Manzini Market, an eclectic space filled with a daily buzz of activity and colourful stalls selling everything from fruits and vegetables, to traditional medicines and contemporary artefacts. In the afternoon, meet Swazi candlemakers at the Swazi Candle Factory, which now exports its products all over the world . Overnight stay in the area. (B,L,D)

Ascend towards Piggs Peak, a mountainous landscape filled with sparkling waterfalls that earned it the nickname ‘Switzerland of Africa’. Enjoy a tour of Matsamo Cultural Park, a village showcasing the Swazi way of life through cultural celebration and live interactions. Leave convention behind as you partake in rhythmic dancing performances, age-old folk songs and music with authentic African instruments, as well as traditional Swazi cuisine. End the day with an afternoon 4x4 game drive in breathtaking Kruger National Park. This massive park covers 20,000 square kilometres and is home to over 137 species of mammals, including the “Big Five”: elephants, lions, leopards, Cape buffalos and rhinos, as well as numerous bird species. Overnight near Kruger National Park. (B,L,D)

Short drive to Karongwe where you will discover the African wild as portrayed in postcards. This is the land of combretum and acacia thornveld, a land where bushveld reigns supreme and the city skyline is a thing only of the imagination; where sightings of major mammals such as giraffe, wildebeest, rhino and zebra are regular, and night visits by aardvark, bush babies, genets and porcupines are a reality. The night skies are dark, peppered by a myriad stars, the Milky Way, and the calls of nocturnal birds. Enjoy an afternoon 4x4 game drive where you can look forward to an encounter with over 20 different game species and a much-anticipated encounter with at least one of the Big Five. Overnight in a lodge on a private reserve. (B,L,D)

Wake for a special sunrise 4x4 game drive, a special time to observe animals (for those who are keeping count, this is safari number four!). Following a late breakfast, visit Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. This awe-inspiring stretch of landscape is filled with some of the most beautifully scenic vistas in South Africa where one breathtaking view follows the next. The canyon itself is one of the largest in the world, covered in lush sub-tropical vegetation with an average depth of 750 metres and 25 kilometres in length. End the day with a drive to lovely Ohrigstad for an overnight stay in a lodge. (B,L,D)

Visit of Dullstroom, a small historic village recognized for its fly-fishing dams, quaint shops and country restaurants. Enjoy an afternoon visit of the home village for the Ndebele tribe, among the most distinctive tribes in South Africa, renowned for their lavish beaded designs and stacked brass rings worn around their necks, arms and legs. The tribe’s homesteads all feature their trademark geometrical mural art, instantly recognizable for their colour and beauty. Try the local beer and, if you have a steady stomach, munch on some traditional mopane worms! In Pretoria, explore iconic landmarks such as the Church Square, Voortrekker Monument and an imposing nine-metre statue of Nelson Mandela. In the months of October and November, witness the bright purple bursts thanks to the bloom of the jacaranda trees lining the streets of Pretoria. End of day arrival into Johannesburg for the night. (B,L,D)

Walk the path of racial segregation at the Apartheid Museum dedicated to recounting the history of the rise and fall of apartheid in 20^th-century South Africa and providing a very real image of what it was like to live in such a society. In the afternoon, get a taste of vibrant and gritty street life with a tour of Soweto. This township is located to the south-west of Johannesburg and is the biggest in the city, made famous for its role in the struggle against apartheid. Overnight in Johannesburg. (B,L,D)

Morning transfer to Johannesburg airport for our flight to Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe. Upon arrival, your visa and entrance formalities are handled by your Group Guru. Victoria Falls is a small, quiet tourism village dotted with many craft markets, where wildlife lovers can spot the occasional elephant crossing. After you settle into your hotel room, head out for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, the longest eastern flowing river in Africa, connecting the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. On a tranquil stretch of the river, you will start to notice the rich wildlife that surrounds its banks, from the occasional family of hippos popping up for air to the chirps of exotic birds that accompany us downstream. Aperitifs and snacks will be served on board. Overnight stay in Victoria Falls. (B,L,D)

Morning scenic route to Chobe National Park in Botswana. The park lies along the Chobe River and is comprised of four distinct ecosystems – lush plains and forests, rich grasslands and savannahs, swamps, as well as hot and dry hinterlands that hold water well into the dry season, attracting a profusion of game. As you embark on a riverboat safari, look for the African fish eagle or Marabou stork flying overhead or resting on one of the river’s islets. In the same afternoon, revel in a most special encounter during a land safari, as Chobe is known to be a haven for over 100,000 African elephants. Starry-eyed, return to Victoria Falls for our farewell dinner, before falling asleep to the distant hum of the falls. (B,L,D)

Early morning departure for the crown jewel of this journey, an encounter with Victoria Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The Zimbabwe side of the falls is a 1,700 metre-long water curtain that thunders down a steep 108-metre drop – get ready to feel small! You will get to enjoy the falls from over a dozen viewpoints sprinkled along an impressive walkway. Still in awe, you will make your way to the airport for your return flights to Canada, arriving the next day. Your driver will meet you at the airport to help you with your luggage and drive you home. What a truly amazing experience! (B,L)