South African Adventure

15 DAYS FROM ONLY £2,255 PER PERSON

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Take the aerial cable car up to Table Mountain with us for spectacular panoramic views of Cape Town (weather permitting). Guided tour of the Cango Caves – nature’s fairyland columns and crystal curtains. A full day game drive in Kruger National Park – a once in a lifetime experience.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart UK from London Heathrow

Your adventure begins with an overnight flight with South African Airlines from Heathrow to Cape Town. Settle in and enjoy the in-flight entertainment.

Day 2 Arrive Cape Town

Wakey, wakey, welcome to South Africa. We arrive in Cape Town early morning and there is no better way to orientate ourselves than from the top of Table Mountain. We waste no time in taking you up the aerial cable car (weather permitting) to admire the fabulous panoramic views of the city, Table Bay, Robben Island, the Atlantic Seaboard and the spectacular Cape Peninsula. Then it’s time for a closer look at things as we explore the charming Malay Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets before visiting the District Six Museum. We’ll then check into our hotel where you can choose to relax – we have a big day ahead tomorrow.

Day 3 Cape Peninsula

We are off to the dramatic Cape Peninsula and our drive takes us through the exclusive suburbs of Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Hout Bay. Then it is onwards over the magnificent Chapman’s Peak Drive (if the road is open) and into the Cape Peninsula National Park. We have reached the world-renowned Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. The park covers 7,750 hectares of indigenous flora and fauna and for the ‘birdies’ amongst you there are at least 150 bird species chirping in the background! Here also is something very special and unique, take the optional trip and travel by the only funicular in Africa to the viewing platform 678 metres above sea level. A magical scene awaits us next. The Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and the navel hamlet of Simon’s Town allows you to meander on well placed wooden walkways to view these delightful creatures in their natural habitat. Just time to end our actionpacked day at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens at the base of Skeleton Gorge before kicking your shoes off back at your hotel in Cape Town.

Day 4 Cape Town

The entire day is yours to do with what you please. Why not enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then do a little souvenir hunting in the impressive Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Mall? Or maybe you want to mooch around the bustling squares and grab yourself something local from the craft markets. You decide, but don’t forget we have an early start tomorrow!

Day 5 Cape Town to Oudtshoorn

Put on your traveller’s hat again, we are off along the Southern Cape route to Oudtshoorn. We will pass through Swellendam, which is the third oldest settlement in South Africa – it certainly lives up to its name as a ‘refreshment station’. Here we will relax for an hour or so to allow time for coffee and a bite. Late afternoon and we reach the feather capital of the world – Oudtshoorn. We jest you not! Ostrich farms are plentiful in the area... and so are the feathers. Maybe you’ll put one in your traveller’shat before we head to your hotel for the evening!

Day 6 Oudtshoorn to Knysna

Be prepared to be thrilled by the fascinating Cango Caves... a place of great natural beauty and a national monument. If we may we would like to indulge in geology for a moment... for more than 20 million years rainwater has flowed through fissures and seeped through cracks in the earth’s face, scouring and dissolving rock and limestone -the result? Vast halls and tunnels in the Cango Cave system. Explore with us on a one hour guided tour a fairyland of column, crystal curtains and a fantasia of flowstone formations. We head out into the sunlight next as we make our way along the charming Garden Route crossing the Outeniqua Mountains. Knysna is our destination early afternoon and the rest of the day is yours to relax and review your photos so far.

Day 7 Knysna to Port Elizabeth

Today we make our way to Port Elizabeth, travelling by the village of Plettenberg Bay and passing the Tsitsikamma National Park before reaching our destination for the evening.

Day 8 Port Elizabeth to Durban

Lets take to the skies together as we fly out of Port Elizabeth Airport to Durban. After transferring to the hotel the rest of the day is yours to do with as you please in this city, which has the busiest port in Africa and boasts a basking warm subtropical climate.

Day 9 Durban to Swaziland

It’s not everyday that you get to visit a local Zulu village – but today is that day. You will be able to learn all about the Zulu’s fascinating culture before we take off to the tiny mountainous kingdom of Swaziland... a small country with a big heart.

Day 10 Swaziland to Mpumalanga (White River)

From one country to the next today as we head back into South Africa by entering the Mpumalanga Province. Settle yourself into the ‘land of the rising sun’ In the evening we have arranged something extra special for you. Enjoy a traditional Shangana experience in the pretty village of the same name. The locals from the villages share with you a festival evening in the Chief’s Kraal. Choirs, actors and dancers gather to tell their stories of the Shangana people. You will be able to sample traditional beer and local delicacies and then the wives of the Chief will share a traditional feast in their houses with small groups of us. Suitably refreshed we return to hear their modern day

stories before heading back to the hotel.

Day 11 Mpumalanga (White River)

Today is what many of our fellow travellers have been waiting for with great anticipation. We enter Kruger National Park for a full day’s game drive in your closed vehicle. However you may wish to take the optional open safari vehicle at an additional cost. Whichever way, you will truly have lifetime memories – nothing can prepare you for seeing these majestic animals up close.

Day 12 White River to Johannesburg

Of course you may have found it difficult to sleep last night, with so many fantastic sights and sounds buzzing around your head from yesterday, but our adventure must continue. We set our compass for the majestic Panorama Route and there is nature in abundance. The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is set in the Drakensberg Mountains of Mpumalanga where you can see the Three Rondavels... easily identifiable

promontories on the cliffs of the canyon. We arrive late afternoon in the affluent suburb of Johannesburg where your hotel is based and have free time for yourself.

Day 13 Johannesburg

A day of real learnings as we tour Johannesburg and Soweto – taking its name from the South Western Township. A city developed of course as a township for black people under the apartheid system. We learn of the struggles at the Apartheid Museum and the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. We end our tour with a visit to the city centre before returning to your hotel.

Day 14 Depart Johannesburg

Take your last look at the South African way of life until late afternoon, when we will whisk you off to the airport for your flight back to London Heathrow.

Day 15 Arrive into London Heathrow

Home sweet home as we arrive in the morning into London Heathrow. What stories to tell and photos to share.

DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES

11 Nov 2010 - £2,255

10 Feb 2011 - £2,335

03 Mar 2011 - £2,335

04 Aug 2011 - £2,315

Prices per person, based on Double/Twin Share. Single supplement £365. Supplements for First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy where applicable are available on request. Please note any reference to optional excursions in our itinerary are not included in the price, but are available to purchase at an additional cost. Prices for these excursions are available on request.