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Magic of South Africa | South Africa | Cape Town |
| Our private escorted tour, using PREMIER accommodation, is at a relaxed pace giving you time to savour each area. You begin in Cape Town and meander along the Garden Route to the bushveld of the Eastern Cape. Fly to the Kruger area for the scenic delights of the Drakensberg escarpment and end with a Big Five safari in the Sabi Sands private game reserve. |
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| Meals |
As text - BB in Cape Town, DBB elsewhere & FBG on safari |
| Accommodation |
Premier |
| Departure Dates |
On Request |
| Transport |
Luxury VW microbus with Air-conditioning |
| Price Includes |
Meals and accommodation as shown in text, transport, services of a guide, game drives on safari |
| Price Excludes |
International & domestic flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified |
| Minimum Number |
2 |
| Climate |
Sub-tropical climate in Mpumalanga and Swaziland, Meditterranean climate in the Cape |
| Best time to go |
Suitable all year round |
| Health Requirements |
Anti-Malarial precautions essential. Sunblock essential. |
| Combines well with |
Victoria Falls
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| Other Ideas |
You can also enjoy this tour in the opposite direction from Johannesburg to Cape Town. |
| Notes |
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 Day 1 : Depart Cape Town Airport, 4 nights, Vineyard Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, Bed & Breakfast
Private transfer from Cape Town Airport to the Vineyard Hotel for your 4 nights stay . Rest of day at leisure. 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.
The Vineyard Hotel is one of the original hotels in Cape Town and offers a delightful alternative to central city accommodation. This vibrant hotel lies in 6 acres of gardens complete with river frontage in Newlands, 15 mins from the city centre. You have a choice of either Mountain facing or Courtyard facing rooms (standard and deluxe), or the contemporary River Suites, all offering glamorous modern marble bathrooms with separate shower, dressing gowns, tea and coffee facilities, minibar on request, satellite television, telephone, international computer connections, international electric sockets and 24 hour room service. The hotel has two restaurants: Au Jardin offering a gourmet dining experience and the new Conservatory for lunches and relaxed evening dining. The sitting room and bar has French doors onto the expansive terrace overlooking the gardens and the mountain, which is also used for alfresco breakfasts and lunches. At the south end of the gardens, is a large heated outdoor swimming pool. Adjoining the pool area is the hotel's well-equipped fitness centre, indoor heated pool, healthy eating restaurant as well as the superb Banyan Tree spa. TGCSA 4 star hotel.
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Day 2 : Half Day Table Mountain and Cape Town City Tour
You begin with a journey by the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for a panoramic view of the Cape Peninsula. Afterwards you travel into the city where you fist visit the Castle of Good Hope, the original fort of Cape Town built in 1652 and now painstakingly restored. The Castle?s main entrance at first faced the sea, which in those days almost lapped at its walls. From there you continue to the lovely flower market and the historic centre of Cape Town with its many 18th century buildings. Finally you explore the Malay quarter, a historic sector of the city with original Malay buildings and narrow streets before continuing to the Waterfront where the tour ends just before lunch. The afternoon is at leisure.
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Day 3 : Full Day, Cape Peninsula Tour
Our full day Cape Peninsula tour includes a scenic coastal drive along Chapmans Peak; the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point; viewing the Penguins at Boulders Bay; Simon's Town historical naval base and ends with the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
You travel along the coastal road through the chic suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and onto the picturesque fishing community of Hout Bay. Next you enjoy a scenic drive along Chapmans Peak as it hugs the cliffside and continue south to reach Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, said to be the romantic meeting point of two mighty oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian. Sir Francis Drake, the famous explorer, once called it "the fairest Cape that we saw in the whole circumference of the Globe."
Returning along the Indian Ocean you stop to visit the unique penguin colonies at Boulders beach, often a highlight of your time in Cape Town, and meander through the historic naval base of Simonstown and onto Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens, which must surely be some of the finest gardens in Africa, nestling on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. We walk through the gardens where 4,000 of the 22,000 Southern African flowering plants are cultivated in a setting of mountain streams, pools and rolling lawns. In the late afternoon, you are dropped off at your hotel.
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Day 4 : Full Day, Winelands Tour
You are collected from your hotel between 8:15 and 9:15. (Paradise Touring will confirm the exact transfer time the night before as it depends on where the tour's participants are staying.) A combination of the favourable effects of the two major ocean currents meeting off the Cape makes the climate in the area perfect for the acres of vineyards. The stunning backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the tree-lined streets and the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads all blend in tranquil harmony.
You first visit a wine estate for a fascinating tour of the winemaking process. Here is the perfect opportunity to sample and buy Cape wine and experience the rich historical and architectural traditions of the region. You continue to Stellenbosch, which must be one of the finest towns in South Africa. It is easy to see why Simon Van Der Stel decided to build a village in such a charming spot. The backdrop of the Hottentots Holland mountains, the white gabled Cape Dutch Homesteads and the oak-lined streets and lanes all blend in to give this place a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. You enjoy a scenic drive over the majestic Helshoogte Pass to the charming village of Franschhoek for lunch (for own account) After lunch you visit the magnificent homestead of Boschendal before continuing to Paarl where you visit the Taal Monument, a symbolic gesture to the Afrikaans language, which was established and fostered here. Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding areas from Paarl Rock before being dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon.
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Day 5 : Transfer to Airport, Overnight at Eight Bells Moutain Inn, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for a short flight to George (Excluding Flight). Head over the Outeniqua Mountains for a tour of the Little Karoo visiting the Cango Caves and an ostrich farm. Overnight Eight Bells Mountain Inn (DBB).
Eight Bells Mountain Inn is an owner-managed hotel with a superb location near the Robinson Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains. Many features in this hotel, for example the 45cm thick walls of the billiard room, are part of the original homestead. Over the years the hotel has grown as the horse stables were converted and additional chalets were built. It now has excellent sporting and leisure facilities. The hotel has 24 en suite rooms, thatched chalets and log cabins all in the rolling gardens. Some face the mountains or the Palm Court garden. Others are close to the Swimming Pool terrace or part of the hotel's main building (Rose Court). It has a host of leisure activities on the 400 acre estate include swimming, tennis, squash, bowls, billiards, horse riding and a range of walking trails from 30 minutes to several hours in duration.
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Day 6 : 2 nights Emily Moon River Lodge, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Visit the Bartholomeus Diaz museum at Mossel Bay. Scenic lakeside drive to Plettenberg Bay via the Robberg Nature Reserve. 2 nights Emily Moon River Lodge (DBB).
Emily Moon River Lodge is a tranquil yet surprising haven with glorious sweeping views of the Bitou river and vlei. The eight chalets are stylishly decorated with interesting African furniture and artefacts and clean simple lines. Each has a sitting area with fireplace, TV, telephone, minibar, ceiling fan and a private wooden deck overlooking the river. The main lodge is entered by ancient carved wooden doors. Facilities include a swimming pool, canoes for paddling on the river, an acclaimed restaurant and bar. The location is ideal for birders and those who enjoy utter peace. Birds fly past at almost eye level whilst below ducks and geese make their home in the reeds of the river bank.
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Day 7 : Explore Knysna including the Featherbed Nature Reserve and a lagoon boat cruise.
Knysna is an attractive little town on the edge of the glorious Knysna lagoon, backed by the magical Knysna forest with its great yellowwood trees and massive ferns some 3 metres high. We begin our exploration of Knysna by driving up to the Heads, two sandstone buttressed cliffs at the mouth of the lagoon. Here at the summit of the heads you enjoy a lovely view of the town, the lagoon and the ocean.
Next you take a boat cruise across the lovely Knysna Lagoon to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve where you have a delicious lunch under the milkwood trees. From here you are taken by 4x4 vehicle up to the top of the reserve where you enjoy a 2.2 km guided walk to a viewpoint and then down to the lagoon through the reserve. You return to Knysna in the mid afternoon where you have some time at leisure to browse for arts and crafts amongst the many shops, visit the Knysna Oyster Farm or the fascinating little museum.
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Day 8 : Elephant House, 2 nights, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast.
Head to the verdant Tsitsikamma forest to visit Storms River. Continue to Elephant House, 2 nights. Optional valley tour in the late afternoon.
Elephant House is an exclusive thatched lodge only minutes from the Addo Elephant Park in the sun-drenched Sundays River Valley. Surrounded by rolling lawns and indigenous trees, this is the perfect place to return to after game viewing in the bush. Elephant House oozes character: deep verandas furnished with antiques; Persian carpets and a fascinating collection of Africana art. Cool off in the pool, relax in the summerhouse or retreat to the Map room for drinks. 12 air-conditioned bedrooms, stylishly decorated with Moorish, African and Colonial influences, open out onto verandas or courtyards. A sumptuous candlelit dinner is served on silver and crystal under the stars, and is prepared with personal attention and great flair. DBB.
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Day 9 : Addo Game Park drive
Full morning 4x4 game drive in the Addo Elephant Park and choose between a game drive in Schotia private reserve or an elephant back safari in the afternoon in the Zurrberg Mountains. Dinner is back at Elephant House.
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Day 10 : Jatinga Country House, 2 nights, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Transfer to Port Elizabeth for flight to the Kruger . Transfer to Jatinga Country House for 2 nights.
Jatinga Country Lodge is a boutique hotel on the outskirts of White River, close to the Kruger National Park. The original 1920's homestead is surrounded by 40 acres of magnificent gardens with towering purple Jacaranda trees and rolling lawns running down to the White River at the bottom of the property. Here an elevated deck provides the ideal spot for bird-watching or drinks at sunset. Jatinga prides itself on its impeccable friendly service and excellent cuisine, (member of The Good Cooks of South Africa association).
Furnished in a mix of styles from Colonial to Provencal to English country, the lodge has 16 superior rooms and 4 luxury suites. All rooms are very spacious with en-suite bathrooms with showers and private patios. Other facilities include a light-filled conservatory, a little pub, bowling green, swimming pool and croquet lawn. DBB basis.
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Day 11 : Explore the Drakensberg Escarpment
You travel up into the Drakensberg Escarpment, a beautiful area of tumbling streams and waterfalls amongst indigenous woodland and forest plantations where you enjoy a scenic tour of the Blyde River Canyon visiting the Three Rondavels, Bourne?s Luck potholes and God's Window. You visit also visit Pilgrims Rest, a restored mining village that was the centre of a 19th century gold rush. The town?s many preserved houses and museums bring this fascinating history alive.
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Day 12 : Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, Elephant Plains, 2 nights, Full Board & Game Drives.
Transfer to Elephant Plains Lodge in the exclusive Sabi Sands private game reserve for 2 nights on safari.
Elephant Plains Game Lodge comprises 11 rooms and suites with en suite bathrooms with shower and bath, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and mosquito nets. Meals are served around a fire in the open-air boma under a starlit sky. Adjacent to the swimming pool, the wooden sundeck offers spectacular views overlooking the waterhole and scenic plain. Discover the thrill of discovering wildlife from the safety of open 4x4 vehicles. Your experienced game ranger and local Shangaan tracker are keen to share with you their extensive knowledge and love of the African bush. The day starts with an early morning game drive, then after breakfast a bush walk gives you the opportunity to learn about the smaller wonders of the veld. During the afternoon game drive you will stop at a carefully selected venue to enjoy a sun-downer whilst watching the sun set over the awe-inspiring wilderness.
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 Day 14 : Transfer to Airport
Transfer to Hoedspruit airport for flight to Johannesburg (Flight excluded).
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1 May 2008
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31 Aug 2008
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1 Sep 2008
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31 Oct 2008
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1 Nov 2008
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31 Dec 2008
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| Per person sharing |
ZAR R 27,300 |
ZAR R 29,200 |
ZAR R 30,900 |
| Prices may be based
on current exchange rates and are subject to change prior to booking. |
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| Contact us for more information or book your trip by clicking on the appropriate button below. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have. |
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