18 Day Kaleidoscope of South Africa
Starting at $3,019
Destinations & Sightseeing
Itinerary and Meals
Accomodations
800.528.9300
Destination & Sightseeing
- Flights New York-Johannesburg, Cape Town-New York
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices - Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
- Intra-flight Durban-Port Elizabeth
- 16 nights accommodations
- 2 nights Johannesburg
- 3 nights Hazyview
- 1 night eSwatini
- 2 nights Hluhluwe
- 1 night Port Elizabeth
- 2 nights Knysna
- 1 night Oudtshoorn
- 4 nights Cape Town
- Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
- Hotel porterage
- All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates†
- 30 meals: 16 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 11 dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Game drives in modern 10-seater safari vehicles
- Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
- Entrance fees per itinerary
Special Features
- Visit Nelson Mandela's former home and the stirring Apartheid Museum
- Thrilling game drives with experienced rangers in Kruger National Park, home of the “Big Five”
- Game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, renowned for its conservation efforts
- Visit a Zulu village to observe the local culture and traditional dancing
- Cruise to the tidal St. Lucia Estuary, home to Nile crocodiles, hippopotami, and sharks
- Journey along the picturesque Garden Route to Knysna, a paradise for nature lovers
- Visit Featherbed Nature Reserve, a Natural Heritage Site, home of the endangered Blue Duiker
- In Oudtshoorn, visit a working Ostrich Farm to learn more about the world's biggest bird
- Home hosted dinner in Cape Town with South African wine and delightful conversation
†Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates
ITINERARY
DAY 1, Friday - Depart for South Africa
Depart for South Africa
DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Johannesburg
Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born a gold mining town, it’s often called "Gauteng - the City of Gold." Transfer to your hotel; time to rest, relax and acclimate to your new time zone
Overnight: Johannesburg
DAY 3, Sunday - Soweto Tour
After an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager, an exploration of Soweto reveals the township’s bustling neighborhood life, setting trends in politics, fashion, music, and dance. Visit Nelson Mandela's former home, now a museum, with its expansive multimedia exhibits outlining the life of this storied South African hero. Then, to the Hector Pieterson Memorial, dedicated to casualties of the Soweto uprising of 1976. Lunch in Soweto at a popular restaurant before a visit to the stirring Apartheid Museum. Here, journey through the beginning of segregation in the country implementation of the system and factors that shaped its 20th-century history. This evening, a Welcome Dinner together celebrates your arrival
Overnight: Johannesburg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4, Monday - Panorama Route to Kruger National Park Area
Depart after breakfast and travel to Mpumalanga Province, known as "Paradise Country," driving the spectacular "Panorama Route." Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, a series of waterfalls and distinctive rock formations created by countless millennia. From afar spot the famous “Three Sisters,” huge spiraling mountaintop sculptures that resemble pointed roofs of traditional African homesteads, considered a geological wonder. This evening join your traveling companions for dinner at your hotel
Overnight: Hazyview
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5, Tuesday - Full Day Game Drive in Kruger National Park
Rise early to get ready for a thrilling open vehicle game drive with an experienced ranger in Kruger National Park. Larger than the state of Connecticut, the park offers some of the best game and wildlife viewing opportunities in the entire world, and early morning is an optimal time of day. Perhaps you’ll have a chance to see lion, elephant, giraffe, or zebra in their natural habitat. Search for the “Big Five” and keep an eye out for the many other smaller creatures that also live in this reserve including over 500 species of birds and over 100 different reptiles. Lunch inside the park before another game drive in the afternoon. Later, after the day's excitement, return to the hotel for dinner
Overnight: Hazyview
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6, Wednesday - Morning at Leisure, Sunset Safari & Boma Dinner in Kruger National Park
Spend your morning at leisure. Later in the afternoon, head to Kruger Park National Park for a sunset safari and Boma dinner. Embark on a game drive in the world-famous Kruger National Park, a place of unspoiled beauty which is home to the “Big Five”, a multitude of animals and an array of bird life. Experience a magnificent African sunset before your Boma dinner in the bush. Dine under the glittering African sky and savor a sumptuous meal. Return to the hotel later this evening with memories of a lifetime!
Overnight: Hazyview
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Thursday - eSwatini*
The drive today takes you to eSwatini, an independent Kingdom within the borders of South Africa, known for its lovely scenery, fine handicrafts and vibrant indigenous culture. Visit the Ngwenya glass factory where talented glass blowers form enchanting African animals, birds and fish from 100% recycled glass, collected by the children of eSwatini. Later, perhaps join the excursion to a Swati candle factory to see wax artists creating beautiful candles in different shapes and sizes. Dinner together is at the hotel
*Please note: eSwatini is an independent country from South Africa and therefore has different entry requirements. Non-US passport holders are responsible to check if a visa is required for eSwatini in addition to all other countries on their itinerary.
Overnight: eSwatini
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8, Friday - St. Lucia Estuary Cruise
Travel to Hluhluwe, a small town in northern KwaZulu-Natal on the banks of the Hluhluwe River. Continue to the southernmost point of Lake St. Lucia to embark on a cruise to the tidal St. Lucia Estuary, home to Nile crocodiles, hippopotami, sea turtles, and even sharks -- a fascinating and uniquely diverse ecosystem
Overnight: Hluhluwe
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9, Saturday - Game Drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi & Zulu Village
This morning travel to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest game park in South Africa, established in 1895. As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s, the park became world renowned for its white rhino conservation. On this morning’s game drive, you may have a chance to see Africa's 'Big Five' (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros). Afterwards, visit a Zulu village where you will have an opportunity to observe their dancing, local culture and experience a traditional lunch
Overnight: Hluhluwe
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10, Sunday - Fly to Port Elizabeth
In Durban board a flight to Port Elizabeth, known as the “Friendly City.” A scenic orientation tour introduces you to this lovely city with its balmy climate and sandy white beaches. In the evening, perhaps a trip to the Boardwalk Entertainment Complex known for its eateries and action filled casino
Overnight: Port Elizabeth
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11, Monday - Garden Route to Knysna
Today, journey along South Africa’s picturesque Garden Route via Tsitsikamma National Park in the Western Cape Province to Knysna. The park is one of South Africa’s most diverse protected natural areas. One of the many highlights in this area is the long suspension bridge offering striking gorge views. Then, take a guided tour of Birds of Eden, an award winning bird sanctuary. Explore the enormous single-dome flight aviary, home to 3500 birds from 200 species. Proceed to Knysna, a protected marine reserve, nestled on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon
Overnight: Knysna
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12, Tuesday - Featherbed Nature Reserve
Today, take the ferry to Knysna’s famous Featherbed Nature Reserve with its abundance of plant, bird and small wildlife, including the rare Blue duiker, and a variety of marine life. Upon arrival, embark on a hike along a trail that winds its way through Milkwood Forests up to steep sandstone cliffs overlooking the wild Atlantic Ocean. The trail also meanders past ancient Khoi sea caves and through indigenous wilderness. After your walk, return to Knysna for leisure time
Overnight: Knysna
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 13, Wednesday - Cango Caves & Oudtshoorn’s Ostrich Farms
This morning, a scenic drive takes you along the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo (Little Karoo). Take in the beauty of the deep gorges and ravines, the high cliffs and the majestic mountains to the south and north and the ever-present colorful Fynbos vegetation of the region. Tour the Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s great natural wonders. Be amazed by the range of dripstone caverns that open into large areas of towering stalagmite formations, some resembling real-life objects, and even historical figures. One of the main attractions and the most famous is Cleopatra’s Needle, which stands at 30 feet high and is at least 150,000 years old. Continue to Oudtshoorn, the "Ostrich Capital of the World," and learn more about the world's biggest bird. Oudtshoorn's ostrich industry dates back to 1864 when ostrich feathers were fashionable accessories among European nobility, launching the feather industry in South Africa. On to a working ostrich farm for an interesting guided tour that explains every aspect of ostrich farming, breeding, and rearing. View the eggs, incubators, and chicks (in season) and perhaps even feed one of the ostriches by hand
Overnight: Oudtshoorn
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 14, Thursday - Scenic Drive to Cape Town, Wine Tasting
Today, travel from the Garden Route to Cape Town via Route 62, considered the longest wine route in the world. Visit a vineyard, where you will have the opportunity to taste famous South African wines. In the late afternoon, arrive to Cape Town where you will be welcomed by the towering symbol of the city - Table Mountain
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 15, Friday - Cape Town City Tour
The discovery of Cape Town begins with a drive past the Castle of Good Hope built by the Dutch East India Company, the splendid baroque City Hall, and the Grand Parade. View St. George's Cathedral, the Anglican Diocese of Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Pass the Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter where thousands of slaves were brought in the early 18th century from Java, Ceylon and other Far Eastern regions. The route then leads to Kloof Nek and the magnificent Table Mountain. Ascend to the top (weather permitting) by means of a cable car*. At the summit, see wildflowers and the famous silver tree, and marvel at a birds-eye view of the city and its beaches. Explore Cape Town this afternoon on your own, or learn about the distinctive Cape Malay cuisine on the optional cooking experience. Later, you're invited to a home hosted dinner. You'll be welcomed by a local family in their home to share a delicious dinner coupled with world-famous South African wines and delightful conversation
*Table Mountain Aerial Cableway closes for annual maintenance in July & August. Exact dates will be advised in early 2021.
Optional: Cape Malay Cooking Experience
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 16, Saturday - Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour
Depart on a full day tour of the striking Cape Peninsula. Drive to Cape Point passing steep mountains, secluded coves, and sweeping beaches. Stop at Hout Bay; see colorful boats moored on the docks and fresh fish markets overlooking the bay. The scenic drive then meanders along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a World Heritage site comprising over 17,000 acres of indigenous flora and fauna. Ascend by funicular to the old lighthouse built to warn ships sailing near the “Cape of Storms.” The views are spectacular! After, continue on to Boulders Beach, home of an endangered land-based colony of African penguins, viewing these unique and endearing animals in their natural habitat is a unique experience!. End the day with a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with a rich display of more than 7,000 species and the first garden to be included within a natural World Heritage Site
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 17, Sunday - Full Day in Cape Town
Spend the day at leisure in Cape Town. Perhaps join the optional tour of historic Robben Island* to learn about the poignant struggles, hopes, and dreams of freedom made famous by Nelson Mandela's imprisonment here. This notorious prison, located on an island off the coast of Cape Town in Table Bay is where South Africa’s political prisoners were kept during the colonial and apartheid years of the country. Tour the island and the infamous prison before returning to Cape Town. This afternoon's optional tour takes you to Stellenbosch, South Africa's second oldest town and the historic heart of the country's wine region. Tonight, say goodbye to your newfound friends and Tour Manager at a Farewell Dinner
*The operation of the Robben Island ferry is dependent on weather and sea conditions.
Optional: Robben Island Tour
Optional: Half Day South African Wine Tour
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 18, Monday - Depart South Africa
Transfer to the airport in Cape Town for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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