See Southern Africa Tour Itinerary – ZASAZ10
Delve deep into the delights of Southern Africa, from a Big Five safari to spectacular scenery, rich history, majestic waterfalls, gourmet food and wine and a classical rail journey on this See Southern Africa Itinerary.
This adventure begins in Cape Town and ends in Pretoria, in South Africa. Enjoy a tour that explores the many facets of this exceptional continent, beginning with scenic Cape Town, where you can touch history at Robben Island, admire the view from the top of iconic Table Mountain, witness the meeting of two oceans at Cape Point and sample some of the world’s finest vintages in the Cape Winelands. Move on to thrilling wildlife adventures on a Big Five safari in the famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve and explore the remote reaches of scenic and wild Hwange Game Reserve in Zimbabwe. Marvel at the thundering waters of Victoria Falls, where you can indulge in an endless array of adrenalin activities or simply drink in the colonial era atmosphere of the charming town of Livingstone. Travel in style as you board the gracious Rovos Rail for a stylish journey through the landscapes of Zimbabwe and Botswana as you travel back to the South African capital of Pretoria.
Itinerary
Day 1 Cape Town
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
With Table Mountain and two oceans at its feet, the city of Cape Town, strategically situated at the south-western tip of Africa, has been famed for centuries as the Tavern of the Seas. Vibrant, cosmopolitan and an eclectic mix of old and new, this laid-back city is as much at home with its 17th century castle, as it is with its sleek skyscrapers and trendy malls. Home to South Africa’s first mosque, oldest wine farm, a 350-year-old garden and timelessly beautiful beaches, this city does not disappoint.
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 2 Cape Town
Spend the day enjoying the extraordinary beauty of this scenic town and its surroundings with your choice of exciting activities.
Options include indulging in a full day in the spectacular Cape Winelands, beginning with your first wine tasting on the way to Franschhoek, home to award-winning wine estates and known as South Africa’s gourmet capital. Drive past the Groot Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated before his release and where he took his first steps as a free man. Visit the village of Franschhoek and see the Huguenot monument. Enjoy wine tasting in and around Franschhoek before stopping in the village for lunch. Continue your journey through the panoramic landscapes of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass, stopping for a third wine tasting in the area, time permitting. Your adventure ends with a leisurely stroll along the oak-lined streets of the university town of Stellenbosch, well known for its traditional Cape Dutch architecture.
Back in Cape Town, take a cable car to the top of iconic Table Mountain and marvel at the magnificent views from its flat top. Browse vibrant Greenmarket Square, one of the city’s oldest markets, and walk through Company Garden, established by Dutch settlers in 1652. Visit the traditional Malay Quarter, with it brightly coloured houses, and indulge in a glimpse into one of the city’s vibrant cultures.
Set out on a ferry ride to Robben Island, best known as the site of a jailhouse for political prisoners, including former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. Your tour of the island is guided by a former political inmate, which means you will hear first-hand tales of its story of hope and hardship.
Drive through the lovely scenery of the Cape Peninsula to beautiful Hout Bay and over the truly awe inspiring Chapman’s Peak Drive. Touch on the continent’s most south-western point at the Cape of Good Hope and admire the views from the old lighthouse at Cape Point.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 3 Sabi Sand Game Reserve, S.A.
After breakfast you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International/Skukuza Airport. On arrival you will connect onto a road transfer to Sabi Sand Game Reserve, adjacent to the world renowned Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is famed for its intimate wildlife encounters, particularly leopard viewing. Home to a host of animals, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), the Sabi Sand is part of a conservation area that covers over two million hectares.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Rondavel
Day 4 Sabi Sand Game Reserve, S.A.
Explore the bush on twice-daily game drives that venture out in search of the Big Five, as well as a host of other fascinating creatures. Keep an eye out for graceful and elegant leopards. The early morning game drives leaves shortly after dawn, with the mysteries of the bush lying open before you. Your experienced ranger and tracker team will discuss what you hope to see prior to the drive and will do their best to find all your favourite animals for you.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Rondavel
Day 5 Livingstone, Zambia
After breakfast you will be transferred by road to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport where you will connect onto your onward flight to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone.
This charming colonial town, named after the legendary Victorian missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone, was once the bustling capital of Zambia. Established in 1905 as the country’s key European settlement, it enjoyed the excellent facilities synonymous with high society – the town still boasts the elegant Edwardian architecture of this era. Today, Livingstone acts as Zambia’s adventure gateway, as it is conveniently situated near the mighty Zambezi River and the breathtaking Victoria Falls.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 6 Livingstone, Zambia
Bridging two countries, the mighty Victoria Falls sets a stunning scene. Stand on the edge of the Smoke that Thunders and feel the cool spray mist settle on your skin. Take a step back and look up at the vivid rainbow in the towering spray.
Options here include a descent into the gorge to ride the thrashing waters of one of the top rafting rapids on earth, or pick a more serene channel for a guided canoe safari. Watch wide-eyed as an expert pilot takes you high above the falls on the Flight of the Angels. Take a deep breath and leap from the dizzying heights of the Victoria Falls bridge (bungee cord firmly attached, please), or clip in and let gravity take you for a ride on the Flying Fox. Fix your camera lens on the vistas of the falls or the shadow-dappled avenues of the rainforest. As the day winds itself down, sit back and take in the glories of the sunset from the deck of a lazy sundowner cruise on The Zambezi River.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 7 Zimbabwe
After breakfast you will be transferred to Victoria Falls Station with clearing of immigration en-route.
This three night adventure begins with the train’s departure from Rovos Rail’s gracious station in Victoria Falls. Your journey includes accommodation, meals, limited on-board laundry and excursions during the journey as well as all beverages, including alcohol, while on board the train.
Depart Victoria Falls station and travel in a south-easterly direction towards Zimbabwe’s largest reserve, The Hwange National Park. Dinner is served in the dining car en-route to Kennedy Siding for the overnight stop.
The Pullman Suites (7 sq. metres/76 sq. feet) are equipped with a comfortable sofa-seat during the day with a conversion to double or twin beds for the evening, and also have an en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-paneled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodeled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Train Pullman Suite
Day 8 Zimbabwe
You will have an early wake-up call with a continental breakfast. Disembark for a game drive in Hwange National Park at The Hide. The Park hosts over 100 mammal and 400 bird species,including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. All Zimbabwe’s specially protected animals are to be found in Hwange. Brunch is served, after the game drive, in the dining car and tea in the lounge and observation cars. Dinner will be served as the train heads towards Plumtree, near Botswana’s border.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Train Pullman Suite
Day 9 Botswana/Krugersdorp, S.A.
Breakfast is served as we have a short journey through Botswana via the capital city, Gabarone. South African border formalities are at Ramatlabama. Lunch will be served as the train travels through the farmlands of the Marico Valley. Dinner is served as the train traverses the Magaliesberg Range, among the oldest mountains in the world. Overnight is spent in Krugersdorp.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Train Pullman Suite
Day 10 Depart Pretoria
After breakfast you will arrive at Pretoria Capital Park Station where Rovos Rail bids you farewell.
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional Activities:
PRIVATE FULL DAY WINE & DINE TOUR, CAPE TOWN
A Taste of the Wine Route, Taste the Finer Things in Life, Wine & Dine in the Cape. Sample the mouth-watering tastes of the Cape wine route, from robust reds and crisp sparkling wines, to creamy cheeses, dark chocolate and handmade nougat. Enjoy a beautiful drive from cosmopolitan Cape Town out to Paarl, a scenic town renowned for its award-winning wine estates. The first tasting is at the Fairview Winery, where a collection of eight fine wines will be savoured alongside a selection of cheeses and olive oil. A delicious lunch (optional) will be served at the exquisite Wijnhuis restaurant in Stellenbosch. From there, it’s onto the Waterford Wine Estate for their unforgettable chocolate and wine experience. Sample the Waterford, Pecan Stream and Kevin Arnold ranges, along with the accompanying chocolates, carefully selected to bring out the flavours in each wine. Last but not least, is a stop at the House of JC le Roux for a nougat and bubbles pairing. Taste locally made nougat and wash it down with five remarkable Cap Classique and sparkling wines.
HALF DAY UPPER ZAMBEZI CANOEING
This tranquil adventure begins with an early start in the Zambezi National Park. Guests are warmed up with coffee and tea before their safety briefing. Then the fun begins with a full day spent canoeing downstream on the mighty Zambezi River, running small grade one and two rapids and exploring the river’s breathtaking channels. Safari enthusiasts will take delight in the wonderful assortment bird and game viewing along the way!
FLIGHT OF ANGELS
Spoil your guests with an unforgettable helicopter flip over the Victoria Falls. The legendary “Flight of Angels” provides spectacular photographic opportunities on a 13 minute or a 25 minute flight that also incorporates a spot of game viewing. Departure is from the Victoria Falls Day Activity Centre and between 08h00 and 18h00. Guests must be at the Helipad 30 minutes before their booked departure time.
