Cape Town Kruger Safari Seychelles Beach Holiday – 4 nights Cape Town | 3 nights Sabi Sand | 1 night Johannesburg | 5 nights Seychelles
Overview
Lisa wanted to combine the key ingredients of a holiday to South Africa with the perfect beach getaway. What could be better than the views from the top of Table Mountain, a luxury safari in the Sabi and days of snorkeling, swimming and sipping cocktails on the beach in the Seychelles. The tour worked so well to blend all of these features.
Itinerary
Welcome to Cape Town! On arrival, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel for a four night stay. You have the afternoon at leisure to relax from your flight.
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.
Over the next few days, you enjoy some fantastic scheduled tours, highlighting the best of what Cape Town has to offer.
This morning is an early start as you are collected from your hotel and transferred to Cape Town Airport where you check in for your flight for Hoedspruit.
A driver will meet you at Hoedspruit airport and take you 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.
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 delicious brunch, you are collected from your lodge and transferred by road to Hoedspruit airport for your flight to Johannesburg.
In Johannesburg, you make your way to City Lodge OR Tambo hotel for your overnight stay.
The morning is at leisure to relax before you make your way to Johannesburg airport where you check in for your flight to the Seychelles departing in the early afternoon.
You arrive on Mahe Island late in the evening and connect with the shuttle flight to Praslin Island where you meet your driver who will take you by shuttle bus to your hotel for your five night stay. It’s time to put your feet in the sand and soak up the sun for the next few days.
The Seychelles is a dazzling array of 115 granite and coral islands lying in the Indian Ocean between the coasts of Africa and India. This archipelago of timeless beauty, tranquillity and harmony is famous for its idyllic beaches. The islands fall under two distinct groups: the tall granite Inner Islands, which cluster mainly within the relatively shallow Seychelles Plateau, and the low-lying coralline cays, atolls and reef islands of the Outer Islands. The principal islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue form the cultural and economic hub of Seychelles, as well as the centre of its tourism industry.
Seychelles offers almost clichéd postcard-perfect beaches: exquisite ribbons of palm-fringed white sandy beaches lapped by turquoise waters and backed by lush tropical hills and big granite boulders. This is because they are some of the most photographed beaches in the world and regularly appear on lists of “Top Ten beaches in the World”. As Seychelles is near the equator, it is blessed with a warm tropical climate all year long.
This morning is an early start as you catch the hotel transport to the local airport for your shuttle flight departing in the early morning. On arrival on Mahe Island, you connect with your return flight to Johannesburg.
Back in Johannesburg you check in for your international flight home departing later in the evening.
Cape Town: The Portswood
The Portswood Hotel in the V&A Waterfront is a piece of Cape Town’s history. The restaurant and lobby are built around the original well and holding cells for prisoners en route to Robben Island 300 years ago. Today, The Portswood is famous for its uniquely personal approach to service – catering to the international traveller’s every need.
The PortsWood offers a choice of 59 twin rooms, 35 double rooms and 9 suites, all of which are air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms. The PortsWood Hotel has the in-house Quarterdeck Restaurant which specialises in Cape Malay/Malaysian/ Indonesian infused cuisine. For those with a sense of adventure and who are historically driven, this restaurant is a must. Light meals are on offer at The Terrace as well as the “Links bar”. Relax in the comfort of our sunbeds and unwind in the tranquil atmosphere of the pool area. Enjoy a light lunch as you soak up the sun or sip on a delicious cocktail and you absorb the beauty of Cape Town sunsets.
The Portswood is in the heart of the bustling Waterfront precinct and is an easy stroll from a host of fine restaurants and trendy shops.
Sabi Sand Game Reserve: Arathusa Safari Lodge
Arathusa Safari Lodge is a jewel within the heart of the Sabi Sand Reserve. The camp is an intimate one, completely open-plan and designed to harmoniously blend with the adjacent waterhole and African bush. The lodge flanks the bank of a large waterhole (approximately 250m x 150m) allowing for a 180 degree view of the water. An infinity swimming pool overlooks the waterhole and is the perfect spot for wildlife viewing on a smoldering African summer’s afternoon. Massive herds of buffalo, antelope and elephant families gather at the waterhole and there is also a resident herd of hippos. 13 thatched suites are within the camp’s perimeter. Each has a bathroom en-suite (with bath and separate indoor and outdoor showers), and a verandah. Meal times at Arathusa are a sociable affair. Guests are treated to sumptuous dishes, fresh produce and home baked confectionary.
In addition to the morning and evening game drives, unique walking safaris are offered daily giving guest the opportunity of discovering the hidden treasures of the region. Arathusa prides itself on its leopard viewing. As leopards are territorial, their regular appearances in the area allow their movements to be plotted. Many of the animals become familiar and are easily recognized by the rangers. Large herds of buffalo numbering in excess of 300 are often encountered. Elephants are also seen in large numbers. There are various lion prides in the area, as well as a few nomadic males. General “lowveld” game are abundant in this section of the Sabi Sand Reserve, including giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala and more. Between game drives, lazy hours can be spent in the sparkling pool or having a massage at the Nature Spa.
Johannesburg: City Lodge OR Tambo
Based at Africa’s busiest airport, City Lodge at OR Tambo Airport will provide business and leisure travellers with “home away from home” accommodation that is ideal for those commuting to and from Johannesburg and perfect for those who require immediate access to the airport.
The hotel boasts boardroom and conference facilities, a fitness room as well as a deck with a pool and a large commercial area with a coffee shop. There is a sociable bar where you can while away an evening. The 303 spacious air-conditioned rooms have either queen or twin beds and en-suite bathrooms.
OR Tambo Airport offers a number of services from banking to a wide range of retailers, so whether it’s a good book or a scrumptious meal, the airport’s facilities have everything you need. The City Lodge O R Tambo is graded 3-star.
The Seychelles: Paradise Sun Hotel
Tucked away on a private corner of Cote d’Or beach, Paradise Sun is an excellent 4* family friendly hotel offering everything one would expect from an island hotel. The understated island style rooms, situated amidst a palm filled garden, offers a comfortable place to unwind and relax while the miles of beach, a short walk from your door, provides plenty of space to soak up the sun and is perfect for a beach stroll. Ideal for honeymooners to, Paradise Sun offers deluxe sea facing rooms, offering more space, privacy and understated luxury.
The Paradise Sun offers guests a choice of two room categories: 70 superior rooms and 10 seluxe / family suites. Room facilities include a private balcony with two chairs and a table, en suite bathroom, air-conditioning, electronic safe, flat screen television with satellite, complimentary wifi and other guest amenities. There are also a number of different bars and restaurants on the property including the Pool Side Restaurant for cooked or continental breakfasts to start the day; the St Pierre Restaurant for lunch and dinner offering a barefoot beach dining experience daily. Order drinks or lunch on the beach from your favourite lounger on the beach from the complementary beach service or enjoy cocktails from the beach bar.
SUGGESTED Cape Town: V&A Waterfront, Robben Island & Two Oceans Aquarium
Spend time today at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You can take a ferry from the Waterfront across Table Bay to Robben Island. An ex-prisoner takes you on an extensive tour of the prison, which includes a visit to Nelson Mandela’s cell, the limestone quarry and the old leper colony.
You could also visit the Waterfront’s Two Oceans Aquarium, which is highly recommended for the insight it gives into life in the two oceans off the southern tip of Africa – the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warm Indian Ocean. The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s trendiest shopping precinct and is full of great restaurants and bars. If the weather is inclement on the first day, take the opportunity to go up Table Mountain.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Cape Town: Half Day City Tour
A tour guide takes you on a city tour of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. You will visit the historic Castle and the Bo-Kaap Malay Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and colourful mosques. You will also visit District Six, site of forced removals during the Apartheid era. You view the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall and the Slave Lodge and will enjoy a walk through the Company Gardens. Weather-permitting, you will ride the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy the view over Cape Town and across Table Bay to Robben Island. If the weather is inclement, you will be taken on a scenic drive up Signal Hill.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Cape Town: Full Day Cape Point Tour
You are collected from your hotel by a tour guide and 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 can 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 Town: Full Day Cape Winelands 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. After the tour you are dropped off at your hotel.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Sabi Sand Game Reserve: Daily Safari Programme at Arathusa Safari Lodge
Game drives, in an open safari vehicle, are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon every day in search of animals – both large and small. Experienced, knowledgeable and personable rangers are paired with local trackers. Trackers sit up at the front of the vehicle looking for fresh animal tracks, while rangers skillfully navigate into ravines and through thickets in pursuit of fantastic game sightings. Close encounters are guaranteed, and the animals are not threatened by our presence thanks to our sound conservation management policies. Expect one-of-a-kind photographic opportunities of The Big Five, and much more – including over 300 bird species. Guided walks with an armed ranger may also be arranged. Walks are usually arranged in the early hours during the summer months, when temperatures are more moderate. Being on foot affords a unique and altogether different view of the bush.
Arathusa prides itself on its leopard viewing. As leopards are territorial, their regular appearance in our area allows us to plot their movements, and to observe their behaviour. Many of the animals become familiar and are easily recognised, which enables us to name them. Approximately 14 leopards are seen in the area in which Arathusa operate, six of which are seen on a regular basis. Large herds of buffalo, numbering in excess of 300, often find their way to the waterhole in front of the lodge. One need not move far to enjoy the safari experience! Elephants are also seen in numbers. There are various lion prides in the area, as well as a few nomadic males. Over 90% of guests will experience sightings of The Big Five – very often in one day, and sometimes on one drive. General “lowveld” game species are abundant in this section of the Sabi Sand Reserve, including giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala and more.
The Seychelles: Beach Resort Activities
Enjoy miles of untouched beaches for romantic walks or family excursions, exploring all that Pralin Island has to offer. For the more adventurous in nature there is the water sports centre, the whitetip dive centre, nature walks, island excursions, access to volley ball and table tennis equipment and lots more. All guests are welcome to enjoy a weekly sunset cruise at no extra cost as well as non-motorised watersports such as snorkelling and paddling in the clear, crisp Seychelles sea.
Lisa & Manny, USA, 28th January 2019
Melanie at Pembury Tours was extremely helpful. She was not pushy, offered detailed responses to our questions, and ultimately set-up the most perfect trip. We didn’t have to worry about a thing from transportation to relaxation. I highly recommend Melanie and Pembury Tours. We just wanted to thank you Melanie for helping us set-up the most perfect trip to South Africa and the Seychelles! Everything turned out wonderfully.