Compare Treasures of South Africa by Smithsonian Journeys vs Kruger & Cape Town Short Break by Plane by Intrepid Travel
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| Trip |
3 | Average
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 15 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 8,590 | $ 5,040 |
| Price Per Day | $ 573 | $ 458 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
A land of spectacular biological diversity and fascinating culture, the wonders of Southern Africa exceed the imagination. Poised between soaring mountains and expansive views of the sea, cosmopolitan Cape Town spans from Table Mountain to Robben Island to the Cape Peninsula coastline. Travel through the breathtaking South African countryside aboard the Rovos Rail, one of the world’s most luxurious trains. Thrill to sightings of the “Big Five” and other animals on game drives from the exclusive accommodations at Thornybush Game Lodge near Kruger National Park. Travel to Johannesburg, a sprawling metropolis that grew out of a 19th-century gold-rush camp. Conclude in Zimbabwe to experience Victoria Falls known as the “Smoke that Thunders.” |
Enjoy an incredible African adventure on this journey from Kruger National Park to Cape Town. Feel the thrill of spotting one (or more) of Africa’s Big Five for the first time on a game drive safari, hear the trumpet of elephants across the plains and learn about the park’s unique ecosystem on a guided walk. Travel to bustling Joburg – a juxtaposing city of mansions and shantytowns – before travelling to the chic streets of Cape Town to learn about the city’s dramatic past. Immerse yourself in the culture, beauty and history of this astonishing region and sample a few glasses on regional wine along the way. |
Days 1-2: Depart the U.S., Frankfurt
Travelers depart the U.S. for Frankfurt, Germany via overnight air service. After a morning arrival at the Frankfurt Rhein-Main International Airport, check in at the Frankfurt Sheraton Hotel and Towers*, where dayrooms have been reserved for your comfort and daytime relaxation between flights. This evening, depart refreshed and rested for Cape Town, South Africa, aboard scheduled, overnight air service.
*Note: Day rooms are only available to Air Program travlers. Some Air Program travelers may be routed through Munich. In that case, dayrooms will be provided at the Munich Airport Kempinski Hotel.
Day 3: Cape Town
Arrive at the Cape Town airport, and transfer to the exquisite Mount Nelson Hotel, a historic city landmark. The balance of the day will be at leisure to relax and explore the hotel facilities.
Day 4: Cape Town and Robben Island
Meals: Breakfast
Begin the exploration of Cape Town with a tour of the city’s highlights and an ascent of Table Mountain (weather permitting) for breathtaking panoramic views of the city, Table Bay and the Cape of Good Hope. Continue on to Robben Island. For nearly 400 years, isolated Robben Island was a place of exile. Cruise to the island by boat and tour the former prison where the late Nelson Mandela was incarcerated from 1964-1982. The tour is performed by a former prisoner with first hand knowledge of life on the island. Then, see the island’s lime quarry and local village. A lecture on The History and Culture of South Africa will highlight some of the key events in the history of this amazing country, including Dutch and British colonization, the introduction of slavery, struggle of native tribes, discovery of gold and diamonds, and more.
Day 5: Cape Town and Cape Point
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Motor this morning to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Journey along the magnificent Marine Drive, beyond Lion’s Head Mountain and past the Twelve Apostles, limestone stacks that rise from the sea. Continue to picturesque Hout Bay, a coastal suburb of Cape Town. Ascend Cape Point by funicular and marvel at panoramic ocean views. Visit Boulders Beach and see the African Penguin Colony.
Day 6: Cape Town and Rovos Rail
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The 900-mile rail adventure aboard Rovos Rail begins this morning with transfer to the train station where you board a luxury train born in a bygone era. Experience the elegance and excitement of traveling by rail, while marveling at the spectacular South African veldt. Journey to the charming, perfectly preserved Victorian village of Matjiesfontein, an oasis situated in the semi-desert region of Klein Karoo or Little Karoo. Declared a National Historic Monument in 1970, Matjiesfontein is home to the Victorian Matjiesfontein Railway Station. In addition to being a stop on the Rovos Rail line, this historic building is home to the Transnet Museum. Its treasured exhibits include a stationmaster’s office from the late 1800s, the original signal room and signal box. Another highlight of the Railway Station is the Marie Rawdon Museum, which showcases an eclectic collection of Victoriana and Boer War memorabilia.
Day 7: Rovos Rail
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Breakfast is served on the train. Gather with fellow travelers in the observation lounge and revel in the breathtaking landscape of South Africa. Enjoy the distinctive character and charm of Rovos Rail’s classic, refurbished wood-paneled coaches. After an overview of the world-renowned diamond city of Kimberley, visit the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole, one of the largest man-made excavations in the world.
Day 8: Pretoria and Kruger National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enjoy breakfast aboard, and then relax with leisure time before arriving in Pretoria. Disembark the train and motor to the area of Kruger National Park and the deluxe Thornybush Game Reserve.
Day 9: Thornybush Game Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Get an early start this morning with a game drive to find and track South African big game. After this exciting outing, luncheon will be served at the lodge. In late afternoon, another game drive is planned. As the sun sets, join fellow travelers for “Sundowners”. Dinner this evening is a “Boma” traditional dinner.
Day 10: Thornybush Game Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Start the day just after sunrise, for another chance today to track the Big Five African wildlife with a morning game drive. After a hearty lunch, there is time to relax.
Day 11: Johannesburg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive from Thornybush Game Reserve to Hoedspruit for the flight to Johannesburg. After a late morning arrival in Johannesburg, enjoy lunch followed by an afternoon tour of Soweto Township. The tour will drive past the homes of Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Afterwards, drive to Kliptown, for a tour of a local youth project and tree planting ceremony. Overnight at the 54 on Bath Hotel.
Day 12: Johannesburg and Victoria Falls
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to the Johannesburg International Airport for the flight to Victoria Falls. Motor to the Victoria Falls Hotel. Victoria Falls is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe where the Zambezi River plunges over 300 feet into the basalt gorges and mist below. An afternoon excursion visits the falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Day 13: Victoria Falls
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
The day is free of planned activities, however there is time to explore independently or take an optional excursion to Chobe National Park. The excursion sets off on an unforgettable safari through Chobe National Park, the second-largest national park in Botswana and encompasses four distinct ecosystems. See its renowned African elephants that can number from 500 to 5,000 depending on the season. Chobe is also home to one of the most diverse concentrations of game and birds found on the African continent. A Farewell dinner is planned for this evening at the hotel.
Day 14: Victoria Falls
Meals: Breakfast
An early breakfast is served at the hotel. Later, transfer by motor coach to the Victoria Falls Airport. There, board your flight to Johannesburg and connect to the flight to Frankfurt.
Day 15: Connect to Flight to U.S.
Arrive Frankfurt, and connect to trans-Atlantic flights to the U.S.
Day 1 Johannesburg / Greater Kruger National Park
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure starts very early this morning to get you to Kruger for a late lunch. You'll arrive in the Greater Kruger National Park in the afternoon and after some time to settle in, you'll head off on a 3-hour game drive in open 4WDs through a private game reserve. Enjoy the thrill of spotting impalas, zebras, giraffes and lions among the brush. Half way through the safari, stop for drinks at one of the waterholes before continuing the game drive into the early evening. Tonight, why not get to know your fellow travellers a little better in the intimate lodge setting?
Day 2 Greater Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa and is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. This morning you'll rise early, heading into prime game viewing areas to catch a glimpse of some of the Big Five. Have breakfast at one of the picnic spots then continue through the park – game viewing, bird watching and stopping off at the various waterholes. Leave the park in the late afternoon and return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation.
Day 3 Greater Kruger National Park
Today is another full day of exploring Kruger National Park. Head out on game drives, look out for your favourite animals, soak in the atmosphere and excitement of a safari and take as many photos as your heart desires! Tonight, you'll spend another evening at your lodge. Why not relax around the fire, listening to the night sounds of Africa after dinner.
Day 4 Greater Kruger National Park
Spend the day at the lodge at your leisure today or take part in the optional drive along the Panoramic Route, viewing the Drakensberg Escarpment – some of the most stunning scenery South Africa has to offer awaits. The sights on this drive can include God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and some of the magnificent waterfalls within the Blyde River Canyon.
Day 5 Johannesburg
Rise early this morning and head out on a morning bush walk. Guided by a qualified nature guide, you'll learn about nature's finer details like bird, tree and spoor identification. Transfer back to Johannesburg in the early afternoon. There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way and take in the amazing views at the viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. When you arrive, you'll be dropped at the Holiday Inn Rosebank where you'll spend the night. The hotel has a restaurant and bar, and is also located next to the Mall of Rosebank.
Day 6 Cape Town
Check-out of the hotel after breakfast today and transfer to the airport. Fly to Cape Town and when you arrive, you'll be transferred to your hotel. Cape Town's stunning coastline, dominating mountain and modern cityscape makes it one of Africa's most appealing cities for visitors. With vineyards on its doorstep, adventure activities around every corner and plenty of restaurants and cafes to while away the time, this is a very easy city to spend time in. You have a free afternoon here, so maybe take a stroll around the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, laze on one of the city’s popular beaches or sample your first taste of authentic South African cuisine while watching the sun set over the bay.
Day 7 Cape Town - Walking Tour & Cape Point Peninsula
Today, you'll drive along the peninsula and see the many natural highlights of the area before retracing 350 years of Cape Town’s history on a two-hour walking tour of the city. Starting on the Atlantic Seaboard, take in natural sights like Maiden's Cove, Sentinel Lookout and the Cape of Good Hope in Table Mountain Nature Reserve. Look out for local wildlife, walk up to the old lighthouse at Cape Point and see the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Carry on to Simonstown, the home of the South African Navy, and to Boulders Beach to see the African penguins. See the prison where Nelson Mandela spent six years of his life then learn about the history of apartheid as you arrive into Cape Town's centre. Gain valuable insight into the effects of racism and discrimination on the lives of modern-day South Africans. See historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope (the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa), significant slavery sites such as the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum, the District Six Museum and the parliament buildings where apartheid laws were made and later repealed. End the day with a photo stop in Bo-Kaap.
Day 8 Cape Town - Winelands
Spend a full day travelling through Cape Winelands, visiting both old and new estates for a taste of the region’s best wines. You'll start off in the Fairview Estate for a wine and cheese tasting. On the slopes of the Paarl Mountain, this working farm is world-renowned for its wines, artisanal cheeses and the iconic goat tower. After, visit the Groot Drakenstein prison where Nelson Mandela was released in February 1990. Then, it's into the hills to Franschhoek. The view of the valley from here is lined with rows of manicured vineyards. Soak up the scenery and enjoy a glass of the region's finest from Rickety Bridge in the La Cabriere Estate. You can take the chance to lunch at the estate’s gourmet restaurant or visit one of the village’s many cafés instead. This afternoon you'll visit the college town of Stellenbosch to wander the boulevards and town center before heading to your final activity – a cellar tour at Hidden Valley Estate, which sits on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. You'll also indulge in a chocolate and wine pairing experience to elevate your time here. Later, return to the city for a free evening.
Day 9 Cape Town
Today is a free day in Cape Town to explore at your own pace. Maybe hit the beach for a full day of relaxation in the sun or hop on the revolving cable car and set off on one of the hundreds of hiking trails that criss cross Table Mountain to its summit. You could even strap on a harness and abseil down! Alternatively, you could head to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were detained or take in the atmosphere of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Tonight, unwind in the evening with an optional group dinner and another few glasses of the region’s best vino.
Day 10 Cape Town
Today is another free day to enjoy this great city. Perhaps take the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour around Cape Town or take a kayaking tour in the morning of the city's gorgeous oceans.
Day 11 Cape Town
Your adventure comes to an end today. There are no activities planned for the final day and you can depart the accommodation at any time after check out. Additional accommodation can be booked if you’d like to extend your time in Cape Town, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
