Luxurious Western Cape Victoria Falls Spectacular – 4 nights Cape Town | 2 nights Franschhoek | 2 nights Blue Train | 1 night Pretoria | 4 nights Sabi Sand | 3 nights Victoria Falls
Overview
Kerry at Pembury Tours is the best!
From the very start dealing with Kerry at Pembury tours have been a pleasant experience. My wife & I had desired to take a 3-week vacation/safari in Africa which is a substantial endeavor. We spoke with several travel companies but ultimately we felt most comfortable dealing with Kerry at Pembury . She listened to our needs and preferences (some which were unique) and put together an itinerary that matched our desires. All of the accommodations exceeded our expectations and in addition, the travel arrangements went without a flaw. We never had problems with transfers or flights. On the days we had tours there was always someone pleasant waiting for us. Our African vacation was an A+ in the combination of Kerry’s skills and the beautiful countries we visited made for one of the best vacations we ever had.
Thank you Kerry & Pembury tours!
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 transfer you to the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, where you spend four nights.
Transfer time – Cape Town Airport to Hotel: ± 25 to 45 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 mustvisit 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.
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 is at leisure until your driver transfers you to the Cape Town Station. Here you board The Blue Train for your two night trip up to Pretoria.
Experiences on board The Blue Train include:
Day 7:
Snacks and drinks before departure from Cape Town.
High Tea in the late afternoon.
Formal Dinner in either first or second sitting, followed by post-dinner drinks, cognacs and cigars in the Club Car.
Day 8:
Breakfast and Lunch on board while train is travelling.
Weather permitting: Off-the-Train Excursion from the Kimberley Station – including a tour of the Railway Museum and on to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum with a view of The Big Hole.
Back on board; enjoy aperitifs before sitting for dinner.
Day 9:
Breakfast on board and disembarkation in Pretoria.
On arrival at the station in Pretoria, you will be met by your guide for a Half Day City Tour of Pretoria. After the tour, you are dropped off at your hotel, where you spend the night.
The City of Pretoria lies only 58 km (36 miles) north of Johannesburg and provides a complete contrast to the City of Gold. South Africa’s administrative capital was founded in 1855 and named after the Voortrekker leader, Andries Pretorius. Often referred to as the “Jacaranda City”, this nickname refers to the thousands of trees lining the streets, their purple blossoms heralding the approach of summer each October.
Recommended places to visit:
The Voortrekker Monument – a striking memorial built to honour the early pioneers.
Kruger House Museum and Church Square – where the statue of Paul Kruger looks down on the passers-by.
Union Buildings – which house the offices of the State President, Deputy President and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This also provides an impressive view over the city.
The evening is at leisure.
This morning you driver will collect you for your transfer to OR Tambo Airport for your flight to Nelspruit. Upon arrival in Nelspruit, you are met at the airport by your driver and transferred by road to the Sabi Sand Game 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 in the Sabi Sand.
Transfer time – Hotel to OR Tambo Airport: approx. 30 to 45 minutes
Flight time – Johannesburg to Nelspruit: approx. 1 hour
Transfer time – Nelspruit to Sabi Sand: approx. 2 hours
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.
Nowhere in South Africa will one find a wildlife experience quite like the one experienced within the Sabi Sand Reserve. Sharing a 50km (31.25 miles) unfenced border with the Kruger National Park, this immense (65 000 hectare/ 153 000 acre) and diverse tract of land is home to The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant), and much much more. This area is also in the process of being further enlarged within the Peace Park concept with an expected integration and amalgamation with protected areas in Mozambique, and eventually Zimbabwe.
Two rivers supply the game reserve with a valuable water source. The Sand River flows through the reserve for 50km (31 miles) from north west to south east whilst the Sabie River flows on the southern boundary. The sustenance of these rivers ensures that this area enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa. Over two hundred different species live in abundance, whilst the ever changing bird life provides even the most experienced ornithologist with rare finds. Such is the environment that the wildlife, save for the migratory birds, remain in their territories all year round.
After a leisurely breakfast you check out and bid farewell to this African wonderland. You are met at reception for your transfer to Nelspruit Airport where you board your flight to Livingstone airport. Upon arrival in Livingstone, you will be met by your driver from Wild Horizons and transferred to The Royal Livingstone Hotel, where you spend three nights.
Transfer time: Sabi Sand to Nelspruit Airport – approx. 2 hours
Flight time: Nelspruit to Livingstone – approx. 1½ hours
Transfer time: Livingstone Airport to The Royal Livingstone Hotel – approx. 30 minutes.
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.
The Victoria Falls is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and travellers can access the falls through either the town of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side or from Livingstone in Zambia.
The morning is at leisure. Your driver will meet you at reception for your transfer to the airport. You fly direct from Livingstone to OR Tambo Airport and connect with your flight home.
