This is a repeat of our
trip from 2017 which was an amazing trip. It will include 1-night
in Johannesburg, a 3-night safari in the Pilanesberg National
Park where we'll go on 2 safari's each day with a chance to
see the big five and then 6-nights in Cape Town, plus all the
tours that you see here.
Itinerary:
September 11th
Arrival in Johannesburg
Welcome to South Africa! We land at 7:00 am so
we will unload our luggage at the hotel and then go right into
a half-day tour.
Blessed
with blue skies a balmy climate a rich cultural heritage and
a magnificent backdrop of ocean and mountain, the Mother City
boasts a profusion of museums, art galleries, restaurants, shops,
theatres, night spots and landmarks. Fondly known to the world
as the Mother City, a word followed instantly by the visual
of Table Mountain · this gift from Mother Nature, offers
the most awesome view when ascended.
Johannesburg,
L
Begin with a tour of Soweto, this city developed as a township
for black people under the apartheid system. Soweto is inhabited
by 2 million people, a fascinating place to visit. Take in the
sights of Baragwaneth Hospital, Nelson Mandela's House, Freedom
Square and Vilikazi Street.
Lunch at a festive, local Sheebeen (township pub). Continue
to the Apartheid Museum, discover the true history of South
Africa, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall
of apartheid.
Afternoon at
leisure.
September
12th
Johannesburg to Kwa Lodge, B,L,D
This morning we will head off in the direction of our safari
lodge located in Pilanesberg National Park. In route we will
take a tour of the Cradle of Humankind, one of eight World Heritage
Sites in South Africa, and the only one in Gauteng, is renowned
as the place where humankind originated. It is here that the
first hominid, Australopithecus, was found in 1924 at Taung
in the North West Province by Professor Raymond Dart of the
University of the Witwatersrand. And is one of the major tourist
attractions in South Africa.
The Cradle of Humankind area boasts 13 excavation sites that
are recognised as national heritage sites, both internationally
and by the South African Heritage Resources Agency. For those
wanting to experience the birthplace of humankind first-hand,
the official visitor centres for the Cradle of Humankind, Maropeng
and the Sterkfontein Caves.
See fossils, learn about how humankind was born, view stone
tools that are up to one million years old, and much more. This
self-guided, interactive tour allows you to take all the time
you need to ponder humanity’s fascinating origin story.
We will then arrive at the Kwa Lodge in time for an afternoon
safari. Located in the Pilanesberg National Park, on the slopes
of a 2-billion-year-old volcano, is home to Africa’s big five.
We will get there in time to enjoy a late afternoon game drive
and then enjoy dinner in our wonderful restaurant.
September
13th
Kwa
Lodge B,L,D
Kwa
Maritane Bush Lodge: This 57,200ha sanctuary showcases an
impressive number of large animals, well exceeding 10,000 in numbers,
including the Big 5. Nestled beneath "the Rock", from
whence Kwa Maritane gets its name, this luxurious four star hotel
offers excellent service, mouth-watering cuisine and spacious
en-suite accommodation that exude elegance in true African style.Kwa
Maritane Bush Lodge is located in malaria free Pilanesberg National
Park, an easy 2 hour's drive from Johannesburg and a mere 10 minutes
from Sun City. Famous of it's hike and waterhole linked by a 180m
long tunnel, its outstanding cuisine and the hospitality of its
staff.
We will enjoy 2 game drives each day. Game drives feature regular
encounters with lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black and
white rhino as well as many other fascinating animals. Guided
bush walks give you insights into the subtleties of the bushveld.Kwa
Maritane offers ample opportunity to relax. Two swimming pools
and a spa are the perfect way to de-stress from city life.
September 14th
Kwa Lodge B,L,D
Another day
of game drives and chances to see the Big Five!
September 15th
Kwa Lodge/ Cape Town
We
will enjoy one more morning safari and then depart
for the Johannesburg airport and our flight to Cape Town.
Half
Day Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour B
This morning we will fly to Cape Town. No visit to
Cape Town is complete without a half day tour of the mother
city itself. After departing the hotel we head for Table Mountain.
Enjoy the crisp air and clear visibility as you reach the summit
(weather permitting). Our guide will point out the highlights
of one of the world's most famous views.
After the descent we enjoy a scenic coastal drive through Clifton
and Sea Point to the city centre where we visit Green Market
Square. We stretch our legs with a walk through the Company
Gardens.
The tour continues with a drive past the Houses of Parliament,
the City Hall, The Castle and Slave Lodge, before entering the
"Bo Kaap", also known as the Malay quarter. The architecture
in this area is typical of what Cape Town was like 200 years
ago. We ascend Signal Hill to witness firing of the noon gun
(except Sundays and Public Holidays). You will be dazzled by
the diamond tour where we learn about the history of these sparkling
gems before returning you back to your Hotel.
September
17th
Full
Day Cape Winelands Tour B, L
Our first stop this morning is at Anura Wine Estate for
a cheese and wine tasting. We make our way to Franschhoek with
a photo stop at the Groot Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela
was released in Feb 1990. The village of Franschhoek nestled
amongst the mountains, can easily be mistaken as being in Switzerland.
After a short tour of the little town, a second wine tasting
will take place in Franschhoek, followed by an amazing picnic
lunch at Boschendal winery.
After lunch the tour continues over the Hells Hoogte Mountain
Pass to Stellenbosch. It is easy to understand why Simon van
der Stel decided to settle a village amongst the mountains.
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 forgotten.
Time permitting; we will include a third wine tasting.
September
18th
Full Day Cape Point & Peninsula Tour B, L
Our
journey to Cape Point takes us along the scenic Atlantic seaboard
coastal road. We pass the pristine beaches of Clifton and Camps
Bay with their soft white sand and assure blue water. The formidable
12 Apostles Peaks rise above the road on one side, while sheer
cliffs and incredible rock formations drop into the icy Atlantic
Ocean on the other side.
There is no doubt the coast of the Cape peninsula offers magnificent
scenery with its great biodiversity. We arrive at the quaint
fishing village of Hout Bay with its imposing Sentinel. Visit
Seal Island or shop for souvenirs at the craft market at the
harbour.
Our tour continues over Chapman's Peak which offers amazing
photo opportunities, and onto the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.
This area is home to magnificent ·fynbos·, many
different species of buck and birds, the Cape Mountain Zebra,
and mischievous baboons. We'll stop for lunch at Two Oceans
Restaurant - (excludes beverages and gratuity).
Drive through Simons Town and see False Bay and the Indian Ocean.
Take the funicular to the lighthouse to see the meeting of the
Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the Cape Point. We visit Boulders
Beach to see the African penguins before arriving at the naval
base of Simons town, and then we venture inland and return to
the hotel.
September
19th
Visit
of Robben Island B
Today
we will walk over to the marina and take the boat and tour of
Robben Island. Robben Island is famous, or rather infamous,
as the holding place for the imprisoned Nelson Mandela. Mandela
served 18 of his 27 years in prison incarcerated on the island's
prison, but Robben Island has also housed a hospital, mental
institution, leper colony and military base during its rich
history. Now, Robben Island is a World Heritage Site and museum,
offering daily tours.
The tour begins at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A
Waterfront with a multimedia exhibition, museum shop and restaurant,
after which, guests hop onto the ferry for a scenic trip to
the island. Once on Robben Island itself, the tour is guided
by a former political prisoner of the island, for unique and
incomparable insights into the island's history.
THIS TOUR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. We will sign up directly
on the Robben Island website.
September
20th
Free
Day Cape Town B
Today
is a free day. We purposely did not want to include every tour
on this trip to give you a variety of choices. We will have
more information on our suggested options as we get closer to
the trip.Our last group even
went on a shark cage trip!
September
21st
We have most of the day today for any other tour you might
have in mind. Our flight is at 7:30 pm so we will be leaving
about 4:30 pm.
SoWeTo
/ Home B
A
fond farewell…
We wish you a fond farewell as you are collected from your hotel
and transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your
homeward flight…
So there it is. A wonderful itinerary
without any long layovers! Plus there are no visa's required! Cost
on this trip of $4,250 is about $100 less than our 2017 trip
and this trip is in high season! This will be an amazing trip.
I hope you are able to join us.
$200
DEPOSIT TO SIGN UP
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT (your
own room only if you prefer): $850
GROUP AIR: Deduct
$1,400 from the trip if you are getting your own air
We have secured 30 spots from LAX and 10 from JFK for the following
itinerary. Please let us know when you sign up if you will be
using our group air:
FROM LAX:
Flight:British Airways 268 Departure: Los Angeles 9SEP/935P
Arrival:London Heathrow 10SEP/405P
Flight:British Airways 55 Departure: London Heathrow 10SEP/705P
Arrival:Johannesburg 11SEP/705A
Flight:British Airways 58 Departure: Cape Town 21SEP/730P Arrival:London
Heathrow 22SEP/630A
Flight: British Airways 283 Departure:London Heathrow 22SEP/950A
Arrival:Los Angeles 22SEP/105P
FROM JFK - This air is $200 higher
Flight:British Airways 182 Departure: New York Kennedy 9SEP/1100P
Arrival:London Heathrow 10SEP/1105A
Flight:British Airways 55 Departure: London Heathrow 10SEP/705P
Arrival:Johannesburg 11SEP/705A
Flight:British Airways 58 Departure: Cape Town 21SEP/730P Arrival:London
Heathrow 22SEP/630A
Flight: British Airways 117 Departure:London Heathrow 22SEP/830A
Arrival:New York Kennedy 22SEP/1110A
INCLUDED:
The hotel’s 366 en-suite rooms are tastefully furnished, with
a wide range of amenities, including free WiFi, flat screen with
DStv, air conditioning and other in-room comforts and amenities.
In addition, guests enjoy the convenience of a porter service
and a wake-up call facility. For relaxation guests can make use
of the outdoor pool, while Caroline’s Day Spa offers a range of
exclusive beauty and health treatments.
Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport hotel offers guests
a complimentary return shuttle service from the airport to the
hotel, as well as a bus service to the nearby Rhodesfield station
- part of the Gautrain high-speed rapid rail transit system.
Bernoulli’s Restaurant offers a choice of Mediterranean-themed
dishes that are centered around grills, pastas, line fish, and
fresh produce.
Our Johannesburg airport hotel ensures convenience and comfort
whether you are just passing through to your next destination
or Johannesburg is your final stop. We look forward to welcoming
you to Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Nestled beneath “the Rock”, from whence Kwa Maritane gets its
name, this luxurious four star hotel offers excellent service,
mouth-watering cuisine and spacious en-suite accommodation that
exude elegance in true African style.Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge is
located in malaria free Pilanesberg National Park, an easy 2 hour’s
drive from Johannesburg and a mere 10 minutes from Sun City. This
is the perfect setting for a relaxing family weekend away or for
a corporate conference.Kwa Maritane Spa Rejuvenate your mind,
body and soul in our magnificent Spa. Indulge yourself with treatments
such as Thabayadiotso, our signature treatment, or be pampered
with a pedicure while watching the game feeding on the plains
in front of the Spa. Whether it is a full body massages, in which
the masseur uses Mountain Aloe oil, or a soothing, deep cleansing
facial using warm volcanic milk, the professional therapists will
simply spoil you.There are four treatment rooms, including one
suite suitable for couples looking to share the experience. There
is also a manicure and pedicure lounge, a rasul chamber, relaxation
area and hydro pool.
Website