2 nights Sabi Sand | 3 nights Cape Town | 1 night Johannesburg
My wife and I had been planning a trip to South Africa for several months but scheduling the trips and tours and finding the right accommodation was taking too much time. While surfing the web I came across Safari Bookings and saw that Pembury Tours offered customized tour itineraries for South Africa. Once I submitted a request for help in arranging our trip, Heidi from Pembury Tours contacted me within 24 hours. I gave her the dates that we had in mind and the places we wanted to visit. She took care of all the details. We could set aside only 7 days for the trip but she was able to come up with the perfect itinerary. We spent 3 days on Safari and stayed at the Narina Lodge which was excellent. We loved the lodge and the attentive service there was excellent. They made the game drives extremely pleasant and comfortable. And we saw the Big Five.
From Kruger National Park we went to Capetown. We loved Capetown. We stayed at the Table Bay Hotel on the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. The waterfront area was great for shopping and dining and simply loitering around enjoying the nightlife. But the hotel was disappointing. Taking a shower was challenging. The water was either too cold or scalding hot. Though most of the staff was attentive, the staff at the main desk were not helpful and rather condescending. They were more worried about the minibar in the room being under lock and key than making our stay more enjoyable. Our room had been paid in full by Pembury Tours in advance but the hotel charged us again, though they did ultimately refund the charge after Heidi called to complain. In Johannesburg we stayed at a very nice boutique hotel in an upscale area of town before catching our return flight to New York.
While in South Africa we did not have to worry about transportation or booking any tours because Heidi had arranged for private tours in and around Capetown and Johannesburg. She took care of all internal flights and hotel bookings well ahead of our arrival even though we gave her only 2-3 weeks notice. There was always someone waiting to pick us up at the airport to take us to our hotel or to drop us off at the airport in tine for our flights. and Heidi was always available on the phone. The guides who took us sight seeing were very knowledgeable and helpful, especially Graham who was extremely gracious, accompanying us in and around Capetown for 3 days. All in all this was one of our best vacations and we will have pleasant memories for years to come
Upon your arrival in Johannesburg, you are met by our representative and taken through to the domestic terminal. You will board your flight to Skukuza. Upon arrival in Skukuza you are met by our representative and transferred by road to your Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. You have time to settle into your lodge before embarking on your afternoon game drive.
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 and breakfast, you check out of your lodge. You are met by our representative and transferred to Nelspruit Airport. You will check in for your flight to Cape Town. Upon Arrival in Cape Town you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
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.
After breakfast you check out of your hotel. You have time to do some shopping this morning. You are met by our representative and transferred to the airport to connect with your flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival in Johannesburg you are met by our representative and transferred to your boutique hotel in Houghton, an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg.
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and is the financial and commercial capital of Africa. It is in this fast-paced metropolis that the country’s radical political and social transformation is most evident – this is the “Rainbow Nation”
After breakfast you will check out of your hotel. You are met by our representative and taken on a seven hour tour of Johannesburg, Soweto & the apartheid museum. Upon completion of your tour you bid farewell to this African wonderland as you are transferred to the airport to connect with your international flight home.
