Victoria Falls Kruger Cape Town Escape – 3 nights Victoria Falls | 1 night Hazyview | 3 nights Sabi Sand | 2 nights Timbavati | 2 nights Cape Town

Overview

We went to Victoria Falls, Kruger, Cape Town and the Garden Route on this customized trip. Gail efficiently and enthusiastically helped us plan this trip to suit our needs. Sometimes we stayed at 4* resorts and other times we decided to splurge 5*. ( Can’t say enough about Tanda Tula at Timbavati). This required a lot of back and forth planning and Gail was always on top of it and happy to help us create the trip of our lives as it pertained to our desires and tastes. All of the resorts we stayed at were incredible and the transfers were well organized and punctual.

One advantage to booking with Gail, that I did not anticipate, was her help when I broke my ankle at Victoria Falls! We were fortunately booked to fly to Nelspruit, ZA that day (surgery in Zambia – not an option!). Gail got us a personal transfer to the airport and found the best trauma hospital in Nelspruit and directions to get there when we arrived. We would have been lost without her! We ended up having to rearrange the trip a bit because I ended up needing surgery and was in the hospital for 3 nights. She was able to rearrange our stay at Tanda Tula for longer so I could go on safari drives where we got see the Big 5 and much more.

Afterwards, when we were in Cape Town and the Garden Route she was able to find us hotels that had wheel chairs – which was necessary for us at that point because I couldn’t put weight on the injured ankle. We had originally planned to just book B&B’s on the Garden Route on our own as we went so it was above and beyond for Gail to help us out there. She also called the airlines when we had to fly ( some of the flights that I booked) to let them know we needed help getting on and off the plane ( small planes with steps). And to top it off – when we started the last leg of the trip at Port Elizabeth airport to head back home – Gail surprised us by bringing us a wheel chair in person when we drove in to return the car rental! That was awesome! It was so nice to meet her and she is as warm in person as she is in e-mails and over the phone.

The original trip that we planned with Gail was fantastic. On top of that, even though I’m sure that no one plans to break an ankle on a trip, just know that you will get help from Pembury Tours if something unexpected does happen. Without Gail, we truly wouldn’t have been able to salvage our trip.

Day 01 :

Arrival in Victoria Falls

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you remain in transit and connect with your flight to Victoria Falls. You are met at Victoria Falls airport upon arrival and are transferred to your hotel.

Day 02 :

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.

At 1708 metres wide, Victoria Falls is the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, these Falls and the Zambezi River are the central points in an area of spectacular scenic beauty: from the Falls themselves to the broad, picturesque course of the Zambezi River upstream, the rainforest adjacent and the stark jagged gorge downstream, the power and timelessness of nature’s forces are evident throughout.

The Falls’ local name, Mosi-Oa-Tunya – “the Smoke that Thunders” – more accurately defines the essence of the place: the rising, shining spray that can be seen 30km away. This vapour has the effect of adding moisture in the form of humidity to the air in the “splash zone”, so that a unique, small rainforest ecosystem clings to the edge of the Falls, providing a toehold for no less than 70 shrub and 150 herbaceous species, as well as trees such as pod and Natal mahogany, ebony, Cape and strangler fig and Transvaal red milkwood. There are two National Parks in the vicinity: the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and the Mosi-oa-Tunya Zoological Park in Zambia, which means that herds of big game such as elephant and buffalo, as well as smaller species and even predators such as lion persist in the area.

Day 03 :

Victoria Falls to Hazyview (1 night)

This morning is at leisure to catch a last glimpse of the Falls, until you are picked up from the hotel and are transferred to Livingstone Airport to catch your flight to Nelspruit. You will make your way through to the car hire kiosk at Nelspruit Airport and take a leisurely drive through to your overnight stop in Hazyview.

Day 04 :

Hazyview to Sabi Sand Reserve

This morning after breakfast you will drive through to your lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. You have time to settle in at your lodge before you set off on the afternoon game drive.

Day 05 :

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 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.

Day 06 :

Sabi Sand Game Reserve to Timbavati Game Reserve

After your morning game drive, you will drive through to the Timbavati Reserve, also part of the Greater Kruger National Park. There is time to settle in at your new lodge before setting off on the afternoon game drive.

Day 07 :

Timbavati Game Reserve (2 nights)

The Timbavati forms part of the 2 million hectare Greater Kruger National Park. It was the first private game reserve to be incorporated into the Kruger National Park and is part of one of Africa’s most innovative conservation partnership agreements. The Timbavati is 14 700 hectares (36 300 acres) and shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. Track the Big Five, as well as a rich variety of other game such as antelope, zebra, warthog, giraffe and hippo, in the company of an armed ranger and local Shangaan tracker. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls, weavers. The Timbavati is also home to the world-famous “White Lions of Timbavati”.

Day 08 :

Timbavati to Cape Town

After your morning game drive, you bid farewell to this African wonderland. You will take an easy drive through to where you will drop off your hired car and check in for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival at Cape Town airport, you are met by our representative and are transferred to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 09 :

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; 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.

Day 10 :

Cape Town & Departure

You will check out of your hotel this morning after breakfast and start your travels along the Garden Route of South Africa – perhaps stopping off in Hermanus to spot the Southern Right Whales close to shore.