A Comprehensive tour of South Africa including Johannesburg, Soweto, Panoramic Route, Kruger National Park, safari game drive, Garden Route, Knysna, Featherbed Nature Reserve, an ostrich farm visit, wine pairing dinner, Cape Town and Table Mountain. Escorted by Vince and Jan Sacilotto.
***Please Note:
*Important Passport Information: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the intended period of stay. You must have 2 blank pages (with visa hologram) remaining in your passport to allow for the entry stamp to be issued for South Africa. The two pages for South Africa MUST be facing each other. Failure to comply with this law will result in denied boarding of your international flight.
**Malaria Pills are recommended when visiting Kreuger National Park. Please see a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before you travel to discuss your options.
November 14 - 27, 2016
based on double occupancy Land Only: $4,189 Single supplement: $840 **Book early! $50.00 off until May 16, 2016, air included offer only**
DOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY
*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Evening flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport enroute to Johannesburg, South Africa. Flight details and routing to be advised.
Your journey begins in Sandton, a city established in 1969. Famous for its rich veins of gold and other valuable minerals, it is now the bustling cosmopolitan centre of greater Johannesburg.
Travel through the spectacular Northern Drakensberg Mountain Range en route to Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa. Scenic wonders surround you as you pass through the Blyde River Canyon, made mostly of red sandstone and known as one of Africa's greatest natural wonders. Set against the triple mountain formation of the Three Rondovals, resembling traditional round houses of the indigenous people, the canyon is the third largest in the world. Along this magnificent route you will also see Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the dramatic natural cylinders shaped by millions of years of natural erosion caused by fastflowing sand-filled waters. This evening, enjoy a traditional BOMA dinner under the stars, where you may sample some local game meat! (B, D)
Have your cameras ready for an unforgettable day of adventure and excitement! Enjoy a full-day open-air vehicle safari game drive. A local expert leads you in search of the "Big 5" – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – and provides insight into these fascinating animals along the way. Watch carefully – you may also see a graceful impala, dazzling zebra or gorgeous giraffe. Relax with a picnic lunch surrounded by the natural beauty of Kruger National Park. (B, L, D)
Travel back to Johannesburg to board your flight to George. Upon arrival, travel to the picturesque resort town of Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route, to enjoy a 3-night stay. (B)
Today you visit nearby Featherbed Nature Reserve. Begin with a lagoon cruise out to the famous Knysna Heads which mark the entrance to the lagoon. Next, board a 4x4 vehicle and travel deep into the forest. Discover the local flora and fauna during a leisurely paced nature walk. Enjoy lunch amongst the ancient milkwood trees – so called because of their white latex sap — before your return cruise. This afternoon, visit Plettenberg Bay, a tranquil and charming town originally known as “Bahia Formosa” (or “Beautiful Bay”). Enjoy views of beaches, dramatic rock formations and lagoons. Later you return to Knysna. (B, L, D)
This morning, your township tour will highlight the diversity of this community followed by a touching experience as you visit a school*. Learn about the efforts of the Collette Foundation and the local community to conquer the challenges of educating the children of the region. Travel to Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of South Africa. Enjoy a guided tour of one of the oldest working ostrich farms in the area and, if you wish, go for a ride on one of these great birds! An outdoor barbecue lunch adds to an amazing day. Upon your return to Knysna, enjoy some time to independently explore the charming waterfront area. (B, L)
Before leaving the Garden Route, enjoy a visit to the Aloe Ferox region where you will enjoy an aloe-tapping demonstration and a stroll in the indigenous gardens. Next, journey to the heart of the beautiful winelands region, known for its colourful mountains and endless vineyards. This evening, enjoy a wine pairing dinner. (B, D)
Later this morning you set out on a walking tour of Stellenbosch – one the oldest European settlements in the region – with a local expert. The afternoon is at leisure to explore, visit a museum, or shop. Later, enjoy a wine tasting complemented by some local savories. (B)
This morning, travel to Cape Town to enjoy a panoramic tour of this beautiful harborside city. Cape Town celebrates its noted architecture that fuses the traditions of the French, German and Dutch. Enjoy a thrilling ride on a cable car as it whisks you to an altitude of more than 3,000 feet, landing atop the aptly named – and flattopped – Table Mountain. The views of Cape Town, Robben Island and Lion’s Head will leave you breathless. Return to the city via Table Bay, passing through the Malay Quarter with its mosques and minarets. Make a special stop at the Milnerton Lighthouse. (B)
Explore the coastal scenery and charming towns that populate the Cape Peninsula. Travel out to Cape Point, stopping for a visit with the penguins at Boulders Beach. On your return, explore the fascinating and famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, home to over 5,000 species of plants native to South Africa. (B)
The day is yours to explore Cape Town. Your Tour Manager is available to offer suggestions. This evening, experience a unique farewell to Africa as you enjoy a lesson on the Djembe Drums to learn the local beat. Then, experience a soothing hand washing ceremony before a communal African dining experience! (B, D)
Your tour ends today in Cape Town with breakfast before transferring to the airport for return flight home to Toronto. (B)
- Return airfare including domestic flight - Airport taxes/fuel surcharges - Johannesburg/Sandton arrival and Capetown departure transfers - Accommodation - A/C coach and driver/guide - Sightseeing as specified - Meals denoted (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner - Entrances as specified in itinerary - Porterage - Applicable gratuities for bellman, doorman and dining room wait staff - Pauwels Escort
- Items of a personal nature - Beverages at meals - Gratuities for hotel housekeeping, driver, guides and tour manager (approx. 9-12 USD a day combined) - Travel Insurance - call the office for rates.
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