Upon arrival at Cape Town airport, you are met by our representative and are transferred to your hotel at the V&A Waterfront. Spend the afternoon relaxing and spending time at the V&A Waterfront.

Transfer time – Cape Town airport to Cape Town hotel: approx 35 minutes

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.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you can spend the morning exploring the Waterfront or spending some time at the beach before being collected in the afternoon and transferred to the station in the city centre. After welcome drinks at the Blue Train Departure Lounge, your butler will escort you to the train. You can then relax and watch South Africa pass by your train window en route to Pretoria.

On arrival in Pretoria Station, you will be met by a driver and transferred by road to your hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg for your one night stay before you fly out to Madikwe Game Reserve for your safari the next day.

Transfer time – Pretoria Station to Sandton: approx 35 Minutes

This morning after breakfast you will be collected and transferred by road to the Federal Air terminal at OR Tambo International Airport for your shuttle flight to Madikwe Game Reserve. You are met at the Madikwe airstrip and transferred to your lodge.

Transfer time: Hotel to OR Tambo International Airport – approx 30 minutes

Flight time: OR Tambo International Airport to Madikwe Game Reserve – approx 1 hour

The 76,000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s biggest wildlife sanctuaries and is home to the Big 5 and over 340 bird species. It is especially famous for its packs of African Wild Dog – and it is malaria-free. It is about 4 hours by road from Johannesburg. Madikwe is situated in the transition region between two vegetation types: Lowveld bushveld and Kalahari thornveld. As a result, the region is able to host to an incredible diversity of species. In addition to wild dog, cheetah, lion, white and black rhino, buffalo and elephant, Madikwe is home to a wide range of plains game, such as giraffe, zebra and many antelope species. Madikwe’s game viewing is of a very high standard, aided by the fact that all game rangers are in radio contact with one another. There is a strict code of conduct and animal sightings are generally limited to a maximum of 3 vehicles at one time in order to maintain the feeling of exclusivity and to ensure the animals’ well-being.

After your morning game drive and brunch, you will bid this African wonderland goodbye and are transferred to the airstrip for your shuttle flight back to Johannesburg. On arrival at the Federal Air Lounge at OR Tambo, you will be transferred through to international departures to check in for your flight home.

Flight time: Madikwe Game Reserve to OR Tambo International Airport – approx 1 hour