South Africa Classic Tailor-made journey

Experience awe-inspiring South Africa on a seamlessly planned tailor-made journey. A land that is vast, wild, and exciting. See the Big 5 for yourself. Explore South Africa’s the rugged natural beauty. Taste incredible wines and visit the green winelands created by Dutch settlers. Understand South Africa’s tumultuous background and the pain and struggle of the country’s heroes and founders.

DAY 1 Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum, Soweto & City private half-day morning tour

Our guide will pick you up at your hotel for a half-day tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. Get a glimpse into South Africa’s tumultuous background. Learn about the journey, pain and struggle of the heroes; witness the places and visit the museum that documents these years.

Afternoon at your leisure.

DAY 2 Johannesburg/Safari

Private transfer for your flight from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit Airport and then another private road transfer to Kapama Game Reserve. Words cannot describe the thrill of tracking a leopard on the hunt or observing a breeding herd of elephants at a waterhole. You will enjoy game drives in open-vehicle with an experienced ranger and a local Shangaan tracker who work together to give you a deeper understanding of the wildlife and the natural cycles of the bush. Drives are in the early morning and late afternoon when game is most likely to be active. Tracking Africa’s big game, the evening safari departs after afternoon tea. After enjoying the bush sunset, the evening holds a sense of anticipation as the rare and elusive nocturnal species begin to hunt.

You normally arrive at the Safari Lodge around lunchtime. After lunch you meet the elephants for a briefing and interaction. You depart on an elephant-back safari and arrive with elephants at the sundowners in the bush.

DAY 3 Elephant Safari

Start with an early morning wake up call followed by a morning elephant safari, a game drive, or a game walk, depending on what suits your style. Then it’s time for a hearty breakfast. Get ready for a specialized tour of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, which includes the opportunity to interact with the cheetahs. Time for lunch, and then some R and R. You then head out on a game drive with informal sundowners. Afterwards is the highlight – an elephant-back safari at night, lit only by lanterns and stars.

DAY 4/5/6 Safari

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Transfer to a second lodge in a different part of the Sabi Sands in order to maximize viewing of the big five. We provide a private transfer back to Hoedspruit Airport to Sabi Sands airstrip charter flight. The next 3 days will take you on a safari that includes the thrill of tracking a leopard on the hunt or observing a breeding herd of elephants at a waterhole. The Sabi Sands, the Timbavati and the Manyeleti private game reserves all share an open border with the Kruger so animals move freely.

The 65,000 ha Sabi Sands is considered to have some of the best Big Five game-viewing in the country with an open border with the Kruger so animals move freely in and out.

The habitat and wild life is so diverse that we recommend at least 3 days in the Sabi Sands to maximize your opportunity to enjoy the habitat and see the wildlife – including the Big 5 – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard.

DAYS 7/8 Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. Cradled by Table Mountain, it has immense charm and historical interest whilst its unique cultural blend; part African, part European and part Asian, makes for a cosmopolitan dining experience. Take the cable car or walk up Table Mountain, visit the colourful Malay quarter or meander through the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Browse through the vibrant Greenmarket Square, take a boat trip to Robben Island or simply relax on the beach. When you want to range further, the Cape Peninsula offers one of the finest coastal drives in Africa to the Cape of Good Hope. Here you might see whales breeching just off the bay or quirky African penguins on Boulder’s beach.

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The charm of Cape Town is partly explained by Table Mountain, which breaks up the city into distinct areas, each with its own character and, indeed, its own weather! The city bowl basks in the dramatic shadow of the 1000m mountain, with its characteristic ‘tablecloth’ of mist rolling over the edge. The fashionable Waterfront and City Bowl areas are ideal for visitors who enjoy city life with plenty of restaurants, cafes and clubs within walking distance of your hotel. Spectacular views of the Ocean, dramatic crimson sunsets, palm trees swaying against white sandy beaches and alfresco pavement dining are very much the norm, and yet you’re only 10 minutes drive from the city.

Suggested activities

Guided walk: “Footsteps to Freedom city walk tour (2½ – 3 hours)”

Explore the Old Town, catch the buzz of the city in Greenmarket Square, hear fascinating tales of Dutch rule at the Castle of Good Hope and Grand Parade, see where slaves were traded and where they toiled in the Company’s Garden. Visit Parliament, where the apartheid laws where passed and repealed, and hear of the devastating consequences of unfettered racism at the District Six. These are just some of the places of interest that you will be seeing.

Abseil & Table Mountain summit walk – Table Mountain Summit Walk & Abseil including Return transfer

A guided walk up Plattekloof Gorge to the top of Table Mountain. The walk usually takes approx 2½ to 3 hours depending on fitness levels of the group. At the top you then enjoy an exhilarating abseil from the top – for approx 112m. Step off the top, at 1000 meters above sea level, and rappel into pure vertical space. This is the world’s original highest commercial abseil. You are surrounded by awesome views and the deep blue Atlantic at your feet. At the end of the abseil, you enjoy a short hike (20-30 mins) to get back to the top of the mountain.

Private Peninsula scenic full day tour including deluxe lunch

A full day private Cape Peninsula tour including a scenic coastal drive along Chapmans Peak; the Cape of Good Hope National Park and Cape Point; viewing the Penguins at Boulders Bay; Simonstown historical naval base and ends with the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Add an optional 30 minute boat cruise to view the Cape Fur Seal colony on Duiker Island.) Next you enjoy a scenic drive along the famous Chapmans Peak drive – if open – as it hugs the cliff-side with a 200m drop on one side and a 200m rise on the other. This is without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular mountain passes. Continue south to reach the Cape of Good Hope National Park. Explore the rocky coastline and unique Cape Fynbos vegetation, which is home to unique birdlife such as African black oystercatchers and Cape sugarbirds among others. After lunch, you visit the unique penguin colonies at Boulders beach for an exciting close encounter with African Penguins – often a highlight of the tour. Drive through the historical naval village of Simonstown and over yet another spectacular mountain pass, Boyes Drive, and on to Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens – some of the finest gardens in Africa.

DAY 9/10 The Winelads and Stellenbosch

The Winelands

The Winelands region is an area of exquisite beauty with rocky mountains overlooking green vineyards; oak avenues leading to elegant Cape Ducth wine estates and some of the most charming towns and villages in South Africa.

The main pleasure of this region is the enjoyment of the good life: appreciating the wine and the superb architecture, enjoying long, lazy meals in one of the many excellent restaurants, browsing in Shops and galleries or taking scenic drives or walks in the surrounding mountains. Explore the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch, a bustling university town; enjoy the rural charm of the Huguenot settlement of Franschhoek or meander along a wine route.

Suggested Activities

Private Winelands Countryside full day tour including deluxe lunch

Today you enjoy a private tour to the Cape Winelands for a leisurely exploration of the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek as well as wine tasting at local wine estates. The majestic scenery of the winelands is unparalleled so even if you don’t drink wine, the countryside and history make it well worth the visit.

Lunch will be at one of the spectacular award-winning winelands restaurants. After lunch, you head to Stellenbosch. It is easy to see why Simon Van Der Stel decided to build a village in such an idyllic spot. The Cape Dutch architecture along the oak-lined streets and the many alfresco cafes give Stellenbosch a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. We return to Cape Town in the late afternoon. This tour does not take place on Sunday.

DAY 11 Homeward bound

All good things come to an end. We will provide a private transfer to Cape Town airport for your return home.

This is one of our sample, ready to go itineraries. As it is part of our tailor-made journey selection, we will tweak it to suit your tastes, help you choose the best hotels, and guide you every step of the way. It is priced upon request.