Best Of Cape Town Victoria Falls Hwange National Park And Kruger Safari – 4 nights Cape Town ∣ 2 nights Victoria Falls ∣ 3 nights Hwange National Park ∣ 1 night Victoria Falls ∣ 1 night White River ∣ 2 nights Kruger National Park | 1 night Johannesburg
Tour Consultant's Overview
Jane and Brad were looking to combine South Africa with Zimbabwe during their trip and asked me for advice on areas and destinations within each country. We communicated for a few days and settled on Cape Town and Kruger National Park for the South African portion of the tour; allowing them to get the signature Mother City experience as well as a safari in six nights. We then decided to combine Victoria Falls with the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. These clients absolutely loved the combination of city sights, adventure activities and spectacular safari experiences. It was a pleasure planning this trip for them!
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Cape Town Airport, you will be met in the arrivals hall by our representative. He will hand over your travel packs and from here, transfer you to your hotel in Cape Town, where you spend four nights. Check-in to your room and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Transfer time: Cape Town Airport to Hotel: ± 30 to 45 minutes
Welcome to Cape Town, Mother City of Africa, and the Western Cape, an area which is regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. The City is a rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers, the local Bushman and Hottentot tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north.
The impressive presence of Table Mountain, flanked by the legendary Devil’s Peak and historical Signal Hill, stands proudly above the city. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the Cape Peninsula, which is famed for its unique floral kingdom, bountiful rivers, vleis and dams and magnificent countryside. The surrounding area extends far into the Winelands, green in summer and red-gold in autumn.
With an early start, you are collected from you hotel for your transfer to Cape Town Airport. From here you fly to Johannesburg and connect with your flight to Livingstone.
On arrival at Livingstone Airport, you will be met in the arrivals hall by your driver from Wild Horizons and from here, transferred to your hotel, where you spend 2 nights. You check into your room and have the afternoon at leisure.
Transfer time: The Commodore Hotel to Cape Town Airport – ± 30 minutes
Flight time: Cape Town to Johannesburg – ± 2 hours
Flight time: Johannesburg to Livingstone – ± 1¾ hours
Transfer time: Livingstone Airport to Victoria Falls Resort – ± 30 minutes
Today is at leisure and you can enjoy relaxing at the hotel. Today you can also visit the amazing Victoria Falls, which are a short walk from the hotel. Remember to take your room key card with you to get free entrance into the Falls. Enjoy a stroll along the path to view the Falls.
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.
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.
After a leisurely breakfast and check out, you meet your guide in reception. From here you are transferred across the border to the town of Victoria Falls. From Victoria Falls you are then transferred to Hwange Main Camp in the Hwange National Park. At this camp, you are met by your ranger and transferred to Tom’s Little Hide, where you spend three nights.
Arriving at your lodge in the afternoon, you are met by the lodge members and a refreshing welcome drink. After High Tea, you set off on your first afternoon game drive in the Hwange National Park and return to the lodge for a hearty dinner.
Transfer time: Livingstone to Hwange Main Camp – ± 3 to 3 ½ hours
Transfer time: Hwange Main Camp to Tom’s Little Hide – ± 1½ hours (game viewing en route)
Hwange National Park is a dedicated nature ´nirvana` consisting of 14,651 unfenced square kilometres in the northwest of Zimbabwe and the Park extends westward to link with the Kasane Forest and Chobe region of neighbouring Botswana. This glorious National Park rightfully boasts the highest concentration of wildlife species (mammals, birds, reptiles and insects) of any safari region in Africa.
Hwange National Park has always been heralded as the ´Jewel of Africa’ for safari experiences and has earned a world-wide reputation for its large herds of resident buffalo, its predators and more especially so, huge numbers of African elephant.
Not only it is estimated that some 30,000 elephants reside within Hwange and make it their home range, but there is a millenniums old elephant migratory trail that runs from the Caprivi Strip through the Chobe region of Botswana, to the far south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park. Elephants feature largely on any activity, as the largest population left in Africa occupies this northern corner between Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Game drives in open-sided 4 x 4 vehicles bring these grey giants into easy reach as they drink and frolic at the water’s edge in their boisterous herds. Thrilling game drives lead by our qualified professional guides bring you close to hippos, buffalos, and other animals.
After your morning game drive and breakfast, you bid farewell to this African wonderland. From here you are transferred back to Hwange Main Camp, where you meet your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel in Victoria Falls, where you spend the night. The afternoon is at leisure and you can enjoy a lovely dinner at the hotel restaurant or at a local restaurant in town.
Transfer time: Tom’s Little Hide to Hwange Main Camp – ± 1½ hours
Transfer time: Hwange Main Camp to Victoria Falls – ± 2 ½ – 3 hour
Enjoy your last game drive, followed by a hearty breakfast. Your driver will meet you in reception and from here you are transferred to your hotel in Johannesburg, where you spend the night.
he morning is at leisure and your driver will meet you in reception for your transfer across the border to the Livingstone Airport. From here you fly directly to Nelspruit. On arrival in Nelspruit Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel, where you spend the night.
Transfer time: Batonka Lodge to Livingstone Airport – ± 1 hour
Flight time: Livingstone to Nelspruit – ± 1½ hours
Transfer time: Nelspruit Airport to Nut Grove Manor – ± 15 minutes
White River to Kruger National Park
An early breakfast and check out. Your guide will meet you in reception and from here you depart for the Kruger National Park. You enjoy a game drive and stop for comfort breaks en route. You are dropped off at your safari lodge in the southern section of the Kruger National Park, where you spend two nights.
You check in and have time to relax in your room, before enjoying High Tea and then setting out on your afternoon Game Drive. You return to the lodge for a sumptuous bush dinner.
Transfer time: White River to Kruger National Park – ± 5 hours – game drive en route
The Kruger National Park was established in 1898 and is the oldest National Park in Africa. The 2-million hectare Park provides sanctuary to 147 mammal species, including the Big Five, as well as over 500 bird species. The Kruger National Park has more than its fair share of the Big Five, with an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 4,000 rhino. Cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, warthog and many antelope species are also regularly seen on game drives.
Boundary fences have been dropped between Kruger and its neighbouring private game reserves, such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie and Manyaleti, meaning that the animals are free-roaming over an area the size of Switzerland, resulting in an immense gene pool. Kruger is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.
Game drives take place in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when animals are most active.
In the morning, 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, read a book in the peace of your room’s private verandah or go on a unique walking safari with an armed game ranger knowledgeable in all aspects of conservation, ecology and the environment of the bush.
After High Tea you set off on your afternoon/evening game drive – providing 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.
Your final day in Southern Africa has arrived, as we bid you farewell!
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. You make your way back to OR Tambo Airport. You check in at International Departures for your flight home.
Cape Town: The Commodore Hotel
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.
Victoria Falls: Avani Victoria Falls Resort
Avani Victoria Falls Resort is a superior 3-star hotel located right on the edge of the Eastern Cataract of the falls and reflects the richness and diversity of the land’s heritage. The architecture of the hotel was inspired by the timeless African tradition. Simple, rustic, and welcoming, its unique styling offers visitors the experience of truly being in the heart of Africa.
The 212 en-suite rooms have private balconies that allow the morning sun in and are tastefully decorated with an African flavour with mosaics and earthy coloured fabrics. Facilities at the hotel include an in-house restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool.
The Victoria Falls National Park borders the front of the property and wild animals often graze on the hotel lawns, with the spray of the falls in the background. The hotel is within walking distance of the Falls.
Hwange National Park: Toms Little Hide
As a family-owned camp, they love the idea of families gathering and sharing the life-changing experience of being on safari together. And Tom’s Little Hide is perfect, especially as children of all ages are welcome here. Built as a tribute to Tom Preston, Tom’s Little Hide is a beautifully authentic safari house set just along from The Hide.
With no worries about intruding on other guests, Tom’s Little Hide offers the opportunity to really let go and relax. As Tom’s is booked out exclusively and comes with its own private guide and vehicle, the freedom extends beyond happy interactions. The days stretch out before you, yours to do as you wish. Perhaps choose to explore the park all day, right to the farthest reaches, or enjoy a lazy morning by the private splash pool before the rigours of another afternoon in paradise.
Tom’s Little Hide is designed to reflect a contemporary African style with surprising little distinctive touches. It is made up of three large adjacent rooms, all with en suite bathrooms, and each room looks out over the waterhole, which is a constant scene of activity – your veranda is as good as any safari vehicle.
Victoria Falls: Batonka Lodge
Batonka Guest Lodge is located in a lush, tranquil garden, a haven from the bustling town, but is within strolling distance to the chief attractions in the area.
The main lodge offers both indoor and outdoor dining, a comfortable lounge and a verandah with a picturesque view of the surrounding gardens. The restaurant on the property offers a full English breakfast and a selection of wholesome home-style meals for lunch and dinner.
Other facilities at Batonka include a swimming pool, activities desk and curio shop
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Batonka Guest Lodge is environmentally friendly, with one of their top priorities being the safety of our environment.
The lodge will offer 22 well-appointed rooms with elegant, contemporary style décor encompassing Victoria Falls’ colonial past and African flavour. All rooms are air conditioned and have en suite bathroom. Each room will have a verandah opening out onto the surrounding gardens. Several rooms will have inter leading doors making it ideal for families
White River: Nut Grove Manor
Nut Grove Manor is a hidden gem in the Lowveld where you can unwind in a laid back, private family atmosphere steeped in history. Set in a colonial farm house from 1924 and nestled on a 2.3 hectare estate featuring lush gardens, an outdoor swimming pool and a children’s playground. 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.
The 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, they strive to give their 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.
Kruger National Park: Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Lukimbi Safari Lodge is a luxury safari lodge situated on a private concession in the southern portion of the Kruger National Park. The lodge features carved plaster panels showing intricate mystical creatures and African patterns, in a subtle yet extremely decorative way. The main buildings are linked together with open wooden decks, making the most of the view, as the lodge meanders along the banks of the river Lwakahle. The designer interior combines colours and specially created pieces artistically and imaginatively. The height of the lodge above the river provides viewing points with a feeling of safety. Meals are served at a variety of venues, so guests may enjoy breakfast in the bush, lunch round the pool and dinner on the candlelit wooden decks or around the campfire in the boma.
The raised walkways provide guests with easy access to their suites. 16 spacious suites combine luxury and modern African decor with private decks and river views. The suites all have a sense of space. The rooms seems to stretch into the bush beyond, and the high windows bring the sky and the trees right into the room. Each suite has an en-suite bathroom with spacious bath, inside and outside shower and separate toilet. All have air-conditioning, fan, safe, gauzy, romantic mosquito nets, tea and coffee facilities and a mini bar. These rooms are large enough to share with young children and still enjoy the space.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Cape Town: Half Day City Tour & Table Mountain
INCLUDED IN PRICE Cape Town: Full Day Cape Point Tour
You are collected from your hotel by your tour guide. You are 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 will 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.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Cape Winelands: Full Day Tour
You are collected from your 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.
SUGGESTED Victoria Falls: Tour of The Falls
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.
SUGGESTED Victoria Falls: Adventure Activities
Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available. Here is our selection of the best:
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 the Angels Helicopter Flip over the Victoria 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 inthe whole panorama and enormity of this mighty spectacle.
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.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Hwange National Park : Daily Safari Programme at The Hide Safari Camp
The Hide Safari Camp is fortunate to have the best of both worlds. While located within the Hwange National Park, it is also surrounded by a private concession, which allows us to offer activities not otherwise permitted. Hwange is a vast playground worth exploring so you don’t have to worry about being bored. Early morning walks are there for the thrill of encountering wildlife on its own terms and exploring the little surprises of the bush.
The rest of the day can be spent further afield on game drives in search of predators and prey alike. We like to do things properly, so sundowners are an important part of the experience. Enjoy the natural beauty with a cold drink in hand. The guides at The Hide are very much part of the family and have been with us for many years. They have undergone some of the most rigorous training in Africa and their passion for and knowledge of the bush is often what makes a safari so special.
There is no typical day at The Hide as it really depends on you how much or little you would like to do. As a general rule, we go out-and-about at the same time as the animals – usually mornings and late afternoons or evenings. However, the scope and scale of Hwange’s wildlife is such that there is generally always something to see. We don’t limit the number of activities you can do, so if you can’t sit still, you could do an early morning walk followed by a morning drive after breakfast. In the afternoon you could head out again, stopping off for a sundowner and a night-drive back to camp.
If you are really looking for value, you could venture out after dinner to see if you can find anything out on the prowl. The waterhole at The Hide is particularly special, being the only source of permanent water for a good-sized area. So even if you don’t feel like venturing out, you will still be able to enjoy the daily visitors to the camp, which often include elephant, giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck and kudu. Lion come in from time to time and wild dog have even made kills in full view of the camp.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Kruger Game Reserve: Daily Safari Programme at Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Lukimbi Safari Lodge is situated in the game rich, southern section of the world renowned Kruger National Park. Bounded by 3 major river systems, the extensive 15 000 hectare area offers a diverse array of habitats. Vast grasslands dominate the northern portion, whereas the southern and central areas are more heavily wooded and interspersed with lush riverine thickets.
This provides ideal habitat for large herds of zebra, wildebeest and other plains animals. White rhino enjoy the numerous pans and wallows, whilst the shyer and more elusive black rhino can be found in the more thickly wooded areas. Herds of buffalo roam through grasslands seeking the succulent grasses, before moving down to rivers to amble slowly through the reeds. Elephants can frequently be seen all over the concession and in the river in front of the lodge is a favourite place for them to spend hours at a time. Guests relaxing at the lodge pools can find themselves enthralled, watching elephant families equally enjoying their own pools, particularly if the families include endearing babies.
Where you find animals, you find the predators. Tracking lions in open vehicles is one of the most exciting things to do and guests will never forget the spine chilling and awesome sound of a lion roaring at close quarters. Leopards are also found at Lukimbi, more difficult to spot, but guests are rewarded with the sight of one of the most beautiful animals in the world. Twice-daily game drives are conducted in open vehicles, led by an experience field guide and local Shangaan tracker.
During daily walks, field guides will fascinate guests with information on the smaller reptiles and insects, which they might have missed on drives. Inquisitive giraffe frequently amuse guests on walks, as they watch the guests watching them, their long, luxuriant eyelashes never failing to charm. Lukimbi is a birders’ paradise, as there are over 420 species of birds to be found.
Jade & Bryan , UK ,20th December 2019
Thank you Kerry for everything! WE had the most wonderful time in Cape Town, we finally saw the breathtaking Victoria Falls and were blown away by the wildlife and scenery of the Hwange – what a great suggestion that was! We were able to tick off so many “bucket list” items and cannot wait to plan our next trip to Africa with you!
