4 nights Cape Town | 2 nights Franschhoek | 3 nights Sabi Sand | 1 night White River | 2 nights Victoria Falls | 2 nights Chobe
Tour Highlights
- Kruger National Park
- Chobe Game Reserve
- Victoria Falls
- Zambezi National Park
- Big Five Game Viewing
- Cape Town
Client Review
5/5 stars They are very knowledgeable and professional in their approach. They are very professional and designed a great 2 weeks based on our requirements and budget. We covered South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Drivers/guides had great knowledge and communication skills. Hotels selected were comfortable and met our expectations as we asked for a 4 star package.
Tour Consultant's Overview
Andre contacted me midway in 2017. They are a fit and active couple and were looking for a trip that would reflect their interests – some hiking, cultural activities and, of course, a great safari! I suggested some walking while in Cape Town and 2 safari options (one in Sabi Sands, Kruger and one in Chobe Game Reserve) that offered walks as well as game drives. The combination of City and Safari was a great one and they had a fabulous time.
Upon arrival at Cape Town airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for a 4 night stay.
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; and from dramatic seascapes to verdant vineyards. Cape Town regularly tops many lists of world must-visit destinations and Cape Town’s 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.
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.
The village of Franschhoek is at the heart of the Franschhoek Wine Route and is surrounded by craggy mountains and verdant vineyards. Many of the 42 wine estates on the Franschhoek Wine Route 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. There is a hop-on hop-off Wine Tram, which visits some of these estates. Franschhoek village, South Africa’s “French Corner”, has a distinct French feel and is undoubtedly South Africa’s gourmet capital, with several of South Africa’s Top Ten restaurants. It is also filled with quirky shops.
This morning you are transferred to Cape Town airport for your flight to Nelspruit. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your game lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve.
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 in the Sabi Sand is highly personalised because game drive vehicles have exclusive traversing rights in their area. The Sabi Sand 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.
After your morning game drive, you are transferred by road to your lodge in White River in the Mpumalanga Lowveld. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in the gardens of your lodge.
This morning you are transferred to Nelspruit Airport for your flight to Victoria Falls (either a direct flight to Livingstone Airport on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls where you will be transferred across the border to Zimbabwe or via Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport on the Zimbabwe side of The Falls). Upon arrival at Livingstone/Victoria Falls Airport, you are transferred to your hotel.
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.
Today is at leisure until you are transferred to Kasane in Botswana and Chobe National Park. You will be transferred to the border between Zimbabwe and Botswana and met by your Botswana guide who will transfer you by road to your lodge bordering on the western side of Chobe National Park.
Chobe National Park on Botswana’s north west border is a pristine wilderness of open plains, baobab trees, ancient woodland, swamps and flood plains and is home to the greatest concentration of game in the entire southern African subcontinent. One of Africa’s most beautiful rivers, the Chobe River forms the Park’s northern boundary. The Chobe riverfront area is most famous for its large herds of elephants and buffalo, which come down to the river in huge herds to drink during the dry winter months. During this season, one may see hundreds of elephants at one time. Other species include waterbuck, lechwe, puku (this is the only part of Botswana where they can be seen), giraffe, kudu, roan and sable, impala, warthog, bushbuck, monkeys and baboons, along with the accompanying predators lion, leopard, hyena and jackal. Over 460 bird species have been recorded in the park, making it one of Africa’s premier venues for bird Safaris. A highlight of Chobe is taking a river cruise, which allows you to get up close with hippo, crocodile and a mind-boggling array of water birds. You also get really close to animals that come down to the river.
You enjoy your last morning in the Chobe National Park before you are transferred to the Kasane airport for your flight home (via Johannesburg).
The Commodore Hotel is a nautically themed, 4-star hotel at Cape Town's popular Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. With views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean, The Commodore is Legacy Hotels’ flagship hotel in Cape Town. Stylish accommodation, quality service and a tranquil setting have ensured that guests return year after year.
As the name suggests, the nautical theme is carried throughout the hotel, including the 150-seater Clipper Restaurant, which offers an array of seafood dishes. The menu is varied, with influences from around the globe. There is also a stylish cocktail bar & lounge. The Commodore is spacious enough to accommodate 236 rooms. They have a fully-equipped gymnasium with sauna and steam room, as well as a pool deck and terrace. Wellness and rejuvenating treatments are on offer in the in-house spa.
The Commodore is in the heart of the bustling Waterfront precinct and is an easy stroll from a host of fine restaurants and trendy shops.
La Fontaine is a 4-star guesthouse in the heart of Franschhoek village. This gracious, centrally-situated home is set in a small garden with spectacular mountain views. La Fontaine is spread across two heritage properties, full of period charm. There are 14 spacious double bedrooms en suite – five en-suite double rooms upstairs and one en-suite double room downstairs in the main house, three garden suites, set in the peaceful garden with pool and courtyard surroundings, two family-friendly garden suites, and three Luxury rooms in Campbell House, our adjoining late 19th century home. Most rooms have beautiful mountain views. Generous buffet breakfasts are served indoors in the dining or under the vine-covered pergola. There is a lovely swimming pool and off-street parking. Free Wifi access is available in all the rooms. The central location allows easy walking distance to restaurants, shops and galleries.
Found in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Idube is right in the heart of South Africa’s premier wildlife conservation area – the Greater Kruger Park. The Big 5 and many more beautiful animals and more than 300 species of birds can be viewed up close from open Landrovers, or seen on guided walks. The thatched bar and entertainment areas are beautiful focal points where guests gather in between game drives. Warthog and nyala families play on the grass surrounding the chalets and lodge, and can be viewed from your private deck.
The four-star lodge offers 10 en-suite chalets hidden among shady trees, all with private viewing decks. The beds are artfully draped in mosquito nets, which add a feeling of African romance. All chalets have a private outdoor shower that will give you a truly African experience, and the rooms are air-conditioned. Another way to cool off is to have a float in the pool, refreshing drink in hand, as you watch the nearby game and birds.
Each meal at Idube is a special occasion - breakfast and lunch are enjoyed out on the open air dining deck, and dinner is celebrated in the lantern-lit boma or out at the bush venue. There, you will enjoy the quiet sounds of the bush - still very much alive with all of its inhabitants – until drums and singing fill the air as Idube celebrates the delicious food the way only Africa can. The meals are artful combinations of African flavours and the latest gourmet trends, and game meats are often on the menu. Enjoy two game drives a day, where you can expect to see magnificent animals in their natural habitat and enjoy the one-of-a-kind beauty of the African bush as you stop for tea, coffee, or sundowners.
Nut Grove Manor is a hidden gem in the Lowveld where you can unwind in a laid back, private family atmosphere steeped in history. Its location is conveniently close to the best that the region offers – whether you are a leisure or business traveller – and yet is just far enough from the beaten path to offer peace and quiet. Our lovely subtropical garden is quite legendary for its tranquility and the panoramic views surrounding the property make this hideaway something truly special.
Nut Grove Manor offers both bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation. It is close to many Lowveld attractions like the Kruger National Park and world-class facilities like the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Click here for a taste of all the attractions that await you in the area.
At Nut Grove Manor, we strive to give our guests so much more than just a room for the night. We believe in personal service and attention to the little details that will make your stay unforgettable.
Set high on a natural plateau, the westward facing Victoria Falls Safari Lodge borders the Zambezi National Park & is just 4 km from the thundering Victoria Falls. Enjoy uninterrupted views of spectacular African sunsets and the on-site waterhole, frequented by buffalo, elephant, warthog, various antelope and an endless stream of colourful African birds.
The rooms at the lodge all have private decks and views of the waterhole or surrounding bush. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has two restaurants. The award-winning MaKuwa-Kuwa is a split-level open-air à la carte restaurant with impeccable service, mouth-watering meals, a wide selection of fine South African wines and incredible views of the waterhole. The Boma is an outdoor fireside restaurant specialising in a superb selection of traditional Zimbabwean dishes and is renowned for its warthog fillet. Sample local delicacies such as Mopani worms and venison stews, as well as more conventional Western fare, and then enjoy an evening filled with entertainment from Amakwezi traditional dancers to a local story teller and a fortune teller, followed by a drumming extravaganza. The open-plan Buffalo Bar has its own game-viewing platform overlooking the waterhole. Each day at 1 pm the Buffalo Bar offers a free vulture feeding display. Meat is put out just below the decks of the bar and hotel and you can witness the incredible spectacle of hundreds of vultures and other birds of prey descending on this free picnic while you sit and enjoy your own lunch or drink. There is a swimming pool and sun deck.
A complimentary shuttle service transports guests to the Victoria Falls and town centre on an hourly basis throughout the day.
Situated in northern Chobe, Botswana, within the Chobe Forest Reserve, Ngoma Safari Lodge is 55 km from Kasane and 135 km from the magnificent Natural Wonder of Victoria Falls. The lodge has magnificent views of the legendary Chobe river, giving you the opportunity to see the famous Chobe elephants, migrating zebra or buffalo grazing on the Caprivi floodplain below, depending on the season.
Ngoma Safari Lodge is a traditional safari lodge, with a thatched main guest and six thatched guest suites. The lodge incorporates rustic and ethnic styles, with natural finishes and an emphasis on space and comfort. The central area includes a sitting room, dining room, bar area, game viewing deck, pool deck and a plunge pool with a striking water feature. Spend evenings around the fire looking out at the floodlit waterhole.
Your own exclusive river-facing suite offers a quiet refuge and includes an indoor bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers and a private outdoor sanctuary. Wide glass windows let in soft natural light and give you panoramic views of the bushveld.
Enjoy afternoons by the pool followed by candlelit dinners. Take your pick from river cruises and picnics to guided walks and game drives.
A tour guide takes you on a city tour of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. You will visit the historic Castle of Good Hope and the Bo-Kaap Malay Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and colourful mosques. You will also visit District Six, site of forced removals during the Apartheid era. You view the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall and the Slave Lodge and will enjoy a walk through the Company Gardens. Weather-permitting, you will ride the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy the view over Cape Town and across Table Bay to Robben Island. If the weather is inclement, you will be taken on a scenic drive up Signal Hill.
You are collected from your hotel by a tour guide and taken on a drive along the Atlantic seaboard via glamorous Clifton to the quaint seaside village of Hout Bay. We continue via the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point. Looking at this dramatic promontory jutting into the sea gives one an idea why early sailors nicknamed it the Cape of Storms. We then follow the coastline northwards via Simonstown, where you can visit the penguin colony of Boulders Beach. We also visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which is dedicated to the extraordinary variety of plants found in the Cape Floral Kingdom. A leisurely drive through the leafy southern suburbs will bring us back to the city bowl in the late afternoon.
Spend time today at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You can take a ferry from the Waterfront across Table Bay to Robben Island. An ex-prisoner takes you on an extensive tour of the prison, which includes a visit to Nelson Mandela’s cell, the limestone quarry and the old leper colony. You could also visit the Waterfront’s Two Oceans Aquarium, which is highly recommended for the insight it gives into life in the two oceans off the southern tip of Africa – the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warm Indian Ocean. The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s trendiest shopping precinct and is full of great restaurants and bars. If the weather was inclement on the first day, take the opportunity to go up Table Mountain today.
You are collected from the hotel this morning and are taken on a Full-day tour of the Cape Winelands, with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges and lush valleys. We stop for wine tastings at a minimum of two wineries and you have the chance to purchase some of the wines you have tasted. We visit Stellenbosch, the “town of oaks” for a short guided tour of South Africa’s second oldest town. A scenic drive over the Helshoogte Pass (Hell’s Heights) takes us to the Franschhoek Valley. 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. After the tour you are dropped off at your hotel in Franschhoek.
The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley – picturesque vineyards, breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a 300 year history.
Passengers aboard the hop-on hop-off tour will experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as they journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram and open-air tram-bus stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates. A combination of tram and tram-bus transports passengers around a loop of stops allowing them to hop-off at each stop and experience the activities on offer, be it wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards and when they are ready, hop-on to continue the tour. The tour takes passengers right into the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, with a narration focusing on the history of Franschhoek and wine cultivation in the valley, complimentary wine tastings and unparalleled views of the valley and vineyards.
The Blue Line visits the following estates: Mont Rochelle, La Couronne, Holden Manz, La Bourgogne, La Bri, Rickety Bridge and Grande Provence. The Red Line visits the following estates: Maison, Eikehof, Leopard's Leap, Dieu Donne, Chamonix, Rickety Bridge and Grande Provence.
The Sabi Sand Reserve is part of the largest conservation area in South Africa and it is the oldest of all the private reserves. It was formed in 1950 and comprises of many privately owned game lodges, covering an area of 65 000 hectares (153 000 acres) of savannah thornveld. It is now part of the Greater Kruger National Park and there are no fences between them, so the game moves freely through this enormous natural reserve. This is one of South Africa’s most treasured natural sanctuaries. The Sabi Sand Reserve enjoys good quality viewing of leopard (the most elusive of predators), as well as elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a vast variety of antelope and other species. In fact, there are more than 330 tree species, 45 fish species, 30 amphibian species, 110 reptile species, 500 bird species and 145 mammal species, including the Big Five.
Upon arrival at your safari lodge you are given a welcome drink and your safari experience will be explained to you by your lodge host. There will be time to settle in before afternoon High Tea followed by your first game drive. Game drives take place in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when animals are most active. Night game drives provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the predators, particularly the leopard for which this area is renowned. You return to your lodge in time for a sumptuous safari cuisine dinner. The next day after a light snack you are taken on a morning game drive. You return to the lodge for a grand brunch. There is time to relax around the sunny pool, do some bird-watching from the observation deck or read a book in the peace of your room’s private verandah. After High Tea you set off on another evening game drive, returning again in time for dinner. On your day of departure, you will do a morning game drive and will leave the lodge after brunch.
Follow in the footsteps of David Livingstone and travel up the Zambezi River above the Falls. There are several companies offering boat trips on the Zambezi River. Especially recommended is an evening sundowner boat cruise or a dinner cruise. As afternoon fades into twilight, animals come down to the river to drink as you go by.
As you approach the Falls and hear the water pounding and witness the vapour rising, you quickly understand why local tribesman called the Falls “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (the smoke that thunders) and why the explorer David Livingstone exclaimed that a scene “so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. 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. Because the Victoria Falls fall into a chasm, rather than falling down an escarpment, it is possible to walk along the opposite side of the chasm, at the same height as the top of the Falls. From the unique walking trails the magnificence and glory of the Falls are head on and only about 60 metres (200 feet) away. The spray falls on the trails like soft rain, feeding the lush vegetation.
Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available. Here is our selection of the best:
Tiger fishing:
Spend a half day on the Zambezi River fishing for one of the great freshwater game fish - The Tigerfish. These powerful, swift predators are truly thrilling to catch.
Canoeing:
Paddle slowly down the Zambezi River in a canoe with some of the best wildlife guides in Africa and enjoy the beauty, peace and wildlife of this unique place. Explore islands and waterways and learn about the birds and animals you come across along the route.
Flight of Angels Helicopter Flip over the Falls:
At ground level you can feel the enormous power of the Victoria Falls as tremendous volumes of water pound into the chasm below. But it is only when you take to the air that you can take in the whole panorama and enormity of this mighty spectacle.
Bungi Jumping:
Bungi jump off the 111 metre high railway bridge into the Zambezi gorge, stopping just metres from the rushing water of the Zambezi River. This is a wild jump! There are two bungi options: A single jump on your own or a tandem jump with a partner.
White Water Rafting:
White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River is acclaimed as the best one day white water rafting trip available in the world. There are different options for rafting depending on the time of year and the level of water in the river.
Jet Boat Extreme:
Speedboats powered by huge jet engines shoot down the rapids below the Victoria Falls at 100 km an hour. Enjoy a thrilling half hour spent “flying” over the water.
Famous for its large elephant herds, Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana covering some 11 700 square kilometres, has some of the largest concentrations of game found on the continent of Africa. Game drives in this park are legendary, with sightings of herds of more than 100 elephants at any one time being the norm. You may also see up to 15 different species of animals on any one game drive, including all the antelope, warthog, monkeys and baboons, as well as predators like lion, leopard, hyena and jackal. The Park provides a kaleidoscope of species for bird enthusiasts, in what is one of Africa’s finest birding safari locations. Day drives are into Chobe National Park and night drives are on the concession.
Located within the Chobe Forest Reserve, Ngoma Safari Lodge also offers guided walks with theirteam of experienced professional guides who will escort you on an enthralling walk in this game-rich enclave. Walks depart early morning and return for breakfast.
At Ngoma Safari Lodge you enjoy a scenic cruise along the Chobe River, which allows you to get up close with hippo, crocodile and many water birds. You also get really close to any animals that come down to the river, especially elephants and buffalo.