Blue Train Kruger Safari – 2 nights Cape Town | 2 nights Franschhoek | 1 night Cape Town | 1 night Blue Train | 1 night Johannesburg | 3 nights Sabi Sand | 1 night White River | 3 nights Victoria Falls

Overview

I cannot thank you enough, Gail, for all that you did planning our trip! It was amazing. Everything went exactly according to the plans. Every person and place and animal that we encountered exceeded our expectations. In Cape Town and the Winelands where Ian and Gideon took great care of us! Ian was great arranging our trip to Stellenbosch. He changed his normal itinerary when he found out that we loved champagne or MCC. His restaurant recommendations were always on target too! Franschhoek was beautiful and the Wine Tram was great. I did want to share with you a special treat at Le Lude Winery. We had lunch there and I must say that I have eaten in some amazing restaurants around the world, but this was by far the most amazing meal I have ever had. I chose to eat at their restaurant Orangerie because it reminded me a restaurant that I went to in London! So it was just a fluke that we discovered this amazing place. The food and the wine and the service were way beyond what we expected.

Loved the Blue train – felt a bit like I was part of a different era. The best part of the trip was meeting some amazing people on the train who had so many great travel experiences to share.

Just when we did not think that things could get better – we went to Arathusa Lodge! The place was amazing and we got a kick out of telling our friends back home that we had to wait for a ride to the main lodge because there were elephants in the path way between our bush lodge and main lodge. I was at first scared to death of being so far removed from the main lodge – but I would never trade the experience we had! Our guide Jamie and tracker Norm made sure we had an amazing experience. We saw all three of the Birmingham males at the same time! Poor Owen at the front desk had to deal with my overly enthusiastic sharing of our sightings when we returned to the lodge after each drive. I did not really want to leave!

By the time we got to Victoria Falls, we were ready to see the falls and spend a lot of time just relaxing at the lodge. It was certainly a good place to end the trip! I was happy not to try any of those daredevil excursions….lying by the pool was fine with me.

I must admit I am ready to start planning my next trip to Africa – but it will need to wait just a bit!

Thanks again!
Audrey

Day 01 :

Arrival in Cape Town

Upon arrival at Cape Town airport, you are met by our representative and are transferred to your hotel for a 2 night stay.

Day 02 :

Cape Town (2 nights)

Explore the Mother City and the Fairest Cape – from the oldest buildings in South Africa to trendy waterfront shopping; from majestic Table Mountain to sun drenched beaches; from dramatic seascapes to verdant vineyards. Cape Town regularly tops many lists of world must-visit destinations and the iconic Table Mountain has recently been voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Cosmopolitan and fashionable, the relaxed atmosphere and pavement café culture give Cape Town a Southern European feel – but with a distinctive African twist.

Day 03 :

Cape Town to Franschhoek

You are picked up from your hotel by a tour guide and taken on a tour of the Cape Winelands, with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges, lush valleys and verdant vineyards. After a full day of exploring the various Wine Routes and enjoying wine tastings along the way, you are dropped off at your accommodation in Franschhoek.

Day 04 :

Franschhoek (2 nights)

South African wine has a proud history dating back to 1659, when the first wine recorded in South Africa was produced by the founder of the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck. French Huguenots settled in the Franschhoek Valley in the late seventeenth century, seeking refuge from religious persecution in Europe and bringing with them precious root-stock to establish the wine-growing industry in South Africa. By the time of Napoleon, wine produced by Constantia, a vineyard near Cape Town, was considered by Europeans to be one of the greatest wines in the world. Anti-apartheid sanctions hit the wine industry hard, but since independence in 1994, access to international markets has unleashed a burst of new energy and new investment, and South African wines are once again winning awards across the world.

Each wine route has a wide range of wine estates and wineries: ranging from historical to avant garde and from garagiste to large scale producers. Many of the wine estates offer informative guided wine-tastings to the public as well as cellar tours or tours of the vineyards. Some of them also make cheese, chocolate and olive oil and offer tastings of these products alongside their wines. Many of them have on-site restaurants offering food that ranges from gastronomical delights to picnic hampers to enjoy under the oak trees.

Day 05 :

Franschhoek to Cape Town (1 night)

This morning after breakfast you will be collected and driven back to Cape Town for your one night stay.

Day 06 :

Blue Train (1 night)

This morning after an early breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Cape Town station to check in at the Blue Train departure lounge. After welcome drinks, your butler will escort you to the train. Relax and watch South Africa pass by your train window.

Day 07 :

Blue Train to Johannesburg (1 night)

On arrival in Pretoria Station, you will be met by a driver and transferred by road to your hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg for one night.

Day 08 :

Johannesburg to Sabi Sand Game Reserve

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred by road to OR Tambo International Airport for your domestic flight to Hoedspruit. You will be met at Hoedspruit Airport and transferred to your lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve in time for check in and lunch/tea.

Day 09 :

Sabi Sand Game Reserve (3 nights)

Forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Reserve has no fences and the wildlife is able to cross freely between the Sabi Sands and the rest of the Greater Kruger National Park. The safari experience here is highly personalised because game drive vehicles have exclusive traversing rights in their area. The Reserve is a remarkable natural sanctuary known for its exceptionally high concentration of animal and bird life. Close contact encounters are guaranteed as the animals are not threatened by the presence of vehicles thanks to sound conservation management policies. Safaris are led by experienced rangers coupled with local Shangaan trackers. With exceptional sightings of leopard (usually the most elusive of cats), lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo during game drives – visitors are never lacking in exciting photographic content.

Day 10 :

Sabi Sand Game Reserve to White River (1 night)

This morning after your morning game drive and brunch, you are transferred to your country lodge near Nelspruit Airport for a one night stay. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in the gardens of your lodge.

Day 11 :

White River to Victoria Falls

This morning you are transferred to Nelspruit Airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival at Livingstone Airport, you are transferred to your hotel.

Day 12 :

Victoria Falls (3 nights)

Besides being one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available.

The Victoria Falls is considered to be the largest waterfall in the world. See the mighty Zambezi River as it thunders over the 1700 metre wide Victoria Falls and plunges 100 metres into a narrow gorge below. The great columns of spray rising from the tumultuous falls can be seen from 80 kilometres away on a clear day. If you are lucky enough to be there at full moon, a “moonbow” can be seen in the spray instead of the usual daylight rainbow.

Day 13 :

Departure

After a leisurely breakfast, you can relax until you are collected by your driver and transferred to the airport for your flight home.