South Africa: An Elegant Adventure

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Cape Grace. A transfer from Cape Town International Airport to the Cape Grace is included; the hotel, found on the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List is perfectly situated right on the waterfront in the heart of the city. Meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers at our welcome reception followed by dinner in the Conservatory.

Your morning begins with a lecture on apartheid from Christo Brand, the former guard of Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment in the late 1970s and 1980s. It's then off to Cape Town for an orientation sightseeing tour in and around the city highlighted by views of City Hall, Parliament and St. George's Cathedral (where Desmond Tutu was inaugurated as Archbishop). Following a journey by rotating cable car, you'll find yourself atop famous Table Mountain. Enjoy magnificent 360-degree views of the city and bay during the ride up and on a walk at the top. After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of Kirstenbosch Gardens, the national botanical gardens on the eastern slope of Table Mountain highlighting the unique plant life of southern Africa. Back on the mainland, enjoy a stop at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) before a drive whisks you away to Constantia in the Cape Winelands for a memorable wine-pairing dinner.

First up today, travel to Cape Point and take a funicular up to the historic lighthouse. The views are outstanding and you'll overlook the Cape of Good Hope – the point that is thought to be where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. Meet African penguins in a boulder-strewn coastal park and have lunch at a popular seaside restaurant before returning to your hotel. This evening, enjoy the dining and entertainment options of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at leisure.

Fly from Cape Town to Skukuza airstrip and the incomparable Kruger National Park for a two-night safari stay; Lion Sands-Kruger National Park is set in the South African lowveldt in Kruger, thought to host more mammal species than any other game reserve on the continent. Home to Lion Sands Tinga Lodge and Lion Sands Narina Lodge, Lion Sands is located in a private riverside setting inside the park. The river is home to many endangered and rare animals, birds and reptiles – be on the lookout for them on an afternoon game drive before dinner.

Wildlife viewing is at its best on our South Africa tour here at the Lion Sands-Kruger National Park Concession, which covers 12,000 acres and boasts one of the highest recorded densities of predators – and especially of leopards – in Africa; guests have spotted elephant, cheetah, rhinos, wild dogs and, of course, leopards in Kruger during their stay. You'll have ample opportunity to spot the animals who live here on two game drives today. Tonight, feast on regional culinary specialties at dinner.

Enjoy a final game drive at Lion Sands this morning before moving on to Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, situated within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering expansive Kruger National Park. Comprising five smaller private game reserves set along the Sabie River, the Sabi Sands reserve is home to a great biodiversity of habitat and wildlife, including Africa's iconic "Big Five" – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard; wild dogs, cheetahs and over 300 species of birds can also be spotted here. An afternoon game drive is your introduction to life in the African bushveld.

Morning and afternoon game drives aboard four-wheel-drive, open-top Land Rovers make your South Africa tour come alive with up-close sightings of African game. Expert Shangaan trackers and experienced rangers help you spot the animals who migrate through the reserve, including antelopes, kudu, impalas and giraffes. They are well-versed in the geography of the area, the wildlife and the efforts being made to conserve these living treasures and eagerly share their knowledge with you. Enjoy afternoon coffee, tea and biscuits, or perhaps a swim between game drives, followed by dinner tonight.

Return to Skukuza airstrip and fly to Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city and commercial hub, for a two-night stay. Johannesburg is the world's biggest city not situated on a river, lake or coastline. Among the most modern and prosperous cities in South Africa, "Jo'burg" has derived much of its wealth from the major gold- and diamond-mining industries based here; you'll learn about diamonds and Africa's gemstones at a special presentation early this evening. Your hotel, Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa, an award-winning urban sanctuary set amidst lush acres of landscaped gardens; dine at your hotel restaurant.

During today's guided tour, you'll experience the diversity of the region, from its thriving business environment of today to its historical importance as a residential township in the time of the apartheid. You'll see South Africa's Constitutional Court and learn about justice in the "Rainbow Nation." Visit the Apartheid Museum, acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th-century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story; the museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please in Johannesburg.

Fly to Victoria Falls today, regarded as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Zambezi River plunges more than 300 feet into the Zambezi Gorge, often creating rainbows in the spray; the cataracts are nearly twice as wide and twice as high as Niagara Falls. Enjoy elegant accommodations at The Victoria Falls Hotel, established in 1904; in your free time, stroll the hotel's private pathway atop the gorge for inspiring views of the Victoria Falls Bridge crossing into Zambia. Nowhere is the hotel's gracious service more welcomed than at traditional afternoon high tea, which you experience during your stay. A local historian offers insights into the life of the famous Dr. David Livingstone aboard a private sundowner cruise on historic Zambezi River this evening – watching the setting African sun is an added bonus on this South Africa tour. Tonight, dine at your choice of restaurants in the hotel.

First up this morning is a choice of sightseeing; experience breathtaking aerial views of Victoria Falls, its mist, and surrounding landscapes on an unforgettable helicopter tour – alternatively, take a privately guided walk around Victoria Falls, stopping to view its thundering waters from various vantage points including the Devil's Cataract, Rain Forest, Main Falls and Danger Point.You'll gain some amazing insights about African elephants from a naturalist during a hands-on visit to an elephant sanctuary where you'll interact with the elephants and watch them as they feed, play, and socialize. Majestic, wise and very intelligent, they have earned their nickname "gentle giants" as they are thought to be the largest living mammal on Earth today. This afternoon, learn about the amazing efforts of doctors and scientists alike and their dedicated efforts to preserving the various wildlife populations on a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Clinic. Tonight, join us for our farewell cocktail reception and dinner, where you'll have a chance to share memories and stories from this enriching South Africa tour with your fellow guests, now friends.

Tour ends: O.R. Tambo International Airport. Enjoy a final morning at leisure in Victoria Falls before your flight to Johannesburg at the conclusion of your South Africa tour. You should allow a minimum of three hours from the time of arrival in Johannesburg for check-in for your flight home.