South Africa Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
June 14 | Day 1
Depart Atlanta on an overnight flight bound for South Africa.
June 15 | Day 2
JOHANNESBURG
Touch down in Johannesburg and your private tour guide and bus driver will transport you through the city to your hotel for check in. Spend the day in leisure exploring Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city. Nicknamed “Africa’s Manhattan” due to its narrow streets, large skyscrapers, and rich culture, Johannesburg is also host to the largest man-made forest in the world. Head to Diagonal Street, where you can find traditional African wood carvings, jewelry, and blankets. Try some local cuisine, such as the boerewors roll, the Dutch chicken pie, and Hake fish.
June 16 | Day 3
JOHANNESBURG & KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, hop on a flight to Hoedspruit Airport, the gateway to the heartland of the country’s abundant wildlife.
You’ll be transported to Kruger National Park, a 7,700-square mile game sanctuary where you’ll stay in luxurious five-star safari accommodations in the heart of the reserve. The majestic northern Drakensberg mountains form the backdrop to the all-suite River Lodge, which is positioned along a bend of the seasonal Kapama River.
In the afternoon, set out for your first game drive in an open 4×4 safari vehicle. This premier game sanctuary sits between the Crocodile and Limpopo rivers and boasts the greatest species diversity in Africa. Your knowledgeable, English-speaking guide will share insights into the history of the park and its inhabitants as you discover the abundant wildlife and flora and fauna of the region. Send your camera into overdrive photographing more than 140 resident mammal species, including the “big five” – lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. Return to the lodge for dinner seated around a roaring fire under open-sided thatch and enjoy pan-African dishes prepared from fresh local ingredients. (B,L,D)
June 17 & June 18 | Day 4 & 5
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK & SAFARI GAME DRIVES
Spend these two days enjoying the mild South African weather as you take morning game drives through Kruger National Park. The drives allow you an unobtrusive up-close look at the magestic animals in their natural habitats. In addition to the “big five”, you’re likely to see zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, wild dog and antelope herds. See magnificent examples of the 300+ species of trees, including baobabs, marulas and mopanes, countless insects and fascinating plants and grasses. Return to the lodge to enjoy a hearty lunch, then spend the day in leisure, lounging by the pool or touring the park grounds.
In the late afternoon, you’ll go on an evening game drive to see the nocturnal animals in their natural habitats. After your game drive, you’ll return to the lodge for an open-air pan-African feast. (B,L,D)
June 19 | Day 6
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK & CAPE TOWN
Bid Kruger National Park farewell with a hearty breakfast and one final game drive, then travel to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight to Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and surrounded by pristine, white beaches, the coastal city of Cape Town is located on the underground river Camissa, which means “place of sweet waters.” Often called the ‘cosmopolitan hub of Africa’, it is home to a rich cultural and historical heritage, vibrant restaurants, nightlife, and a multitude of activities.
You’ll arrive in Cape Town in late afternoon and the rest of the day is yours. Choose to traverse the city. taking in the colorful sights and sounds of Ghoema music as you stroll down the streets, shopping and interacting with the local people. Or, ask your guide to arrange a dinner at a local vineyard where you can sip crisp white wines while you watch the sun set over the Constantia Valley. (B)
June 20 | Day 7
CAPE TOWN/TABLE MOUNTAIN/ROBBEN ISLAND
After breakfast, ascend to the top of Table Mountain in a cable car for one of the most impressive panoramic views in all of Africa. Your local guide will give you an insider’s look at Cape Town’s Malay Quarter, Company Gardens, the Edwardian-styled Town Hall, the Castle of Good Hope, and Cape Town’s Diamond Works, a fine jewelry manufacturer.
In the afternoon, you’ll head across Table Bay on a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A former political prisoner will lead you through the site on an insightful tour where you’ll see Mandela’s cell, roughly seven by eight feet, and learn about what life was like for him and the other prisoners.
June 21 | Day 8
CAPE TOWN/CAPE PENINSULA
Day three in Cape Town is all about the scenery. During this full-day Cape Peninsula tour, you’ll travel along the 12 Apostles and Hout Bay to Chapman’s Peak for a breathtaking panoramic view of Cape Town and the ocean beyond. Continue on to the most southwestern point in Africa, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve, where sheer cliffs overlook historical shipwreck sites, and hiking trails offer a glimpse at over 250 species of birds, buck, baboons and the Cape mountain zebra.
Walk along the white sands of Boulders Beach alongside a colony of African penguins lounging in the sun and diving in the clear water. After the beach, explore the Kirstenbosch Garden, widely admired as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Before returning to your hotel, you’ll visit a local school and have a chance to meet and interact with teachers and pupils. (B)
June 22 | Day 9
CAPE TOWN & DEPART FOR USA
OR EXTEND YOUR EXPERIENCE TO VICTORIA FALLS
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and one last morning in Cape Town before heading to the Cape Town International Airport for your departure flight. (B)
If you choose to extend your trip to Victoria Falls, please see the Day 9 itinerary below.
June 23 | Day 10
ARRIVE TO USA
Arrive back to Atlanta airport and the USA.
Victoria Falls Extension Itinerary (Optional)
+ 2 days, 2 nights $1,099 Double occupancy or $1,298 Single.
** NOTE: If registering after March 15, the Zimbabwe Extension is required **
Take in the sights of beautiful Zimbabwe when you extend your trip. Observe the country’s dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife. During your trip you’ll enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, gaze at Livingstone’s Tree, visit Victoria Falls and Victoria National Park, and more.
June 22 | Day 9
CAPE TOWN -VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE/ZAMBEZI RIVER
Bid Cape Town farewell after breakfast and transfer to the Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Zimbabwe. The word Zimbabwe means ‘honorable house’ in the Shona language. Though landlocked, Zimbabwe is known for its beautiful vistas and tropical climate.
You’ll have a few hours to explore the town on your own before boarding a sunset cruise down the mighty Zambezi River. Relax and enjoy the beauty of the river, and be on a lookout for a variety of game including hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a variety of bird species. (B)
June 23 | Day 10
VICTORIA FALLS/VICTORIA FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at your hotel before taking a tour of Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the smoke that thunders.” This 5,604 foot-wide waterfall rises 354 feet into the air, making it the world’s largest curtain of falling water.
The falls and the surrounding area has been declared a National Park and World Heritage Site. Let the beauty of Victoria Falls and Victoria National Park inspire you just as it did David Livingstone, the first westerner to explore the region in the 1860’s.
En route, stop by the ‘Big Tree’, also called Livingstone’s Tree, to admire one of the best-known trees in the world. Upon arrival at Victoria National Park, one of our knowledgeable guides will lead you through the rainforest providing a brief history of the falls and detailing the flora, fauna, bird, wildlife and other points of interest. Afterward, you’ll be given rain gear and invited to walk around the area and enjoy one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Return to Victoria Falls and spend the afternoon at leisure exploring artist’s villages and outdoor markets offering Zimbabwean jewelry designs, tribal art and statuary. (B)
June 24 | Day 11
VICTORIA FALLS & DEPART FOR USA
Sip locally sourced coffee and enjoy one last morning of local, pan-African cuisine in your hotel before you transfer to the Victoria Falls airport for your flight back to the USA. (B).
June 26 | Day 12
ARRIVE TO USA
Arrive back to Atlanta airport and the USA.
(B) – Breakfast, (L) – Lunch, (D) – Dinner
TO REGISTER
Space is limited for this exciting opportunity, and spots are going fast. If registering after March 15,the extension is required and the price below is not guaranteed- contact Chamber staff for confirmation of price and availability.
Click here and enter code B002197. For a step-by-step registration guide, please click here.
COST
The cost includes all air and land transportation, first class accommodations, all African tours and travel, as well as most meals. Fuel surcharge and taxes of $657 per person are included in the price. For the Victoria Falls Extension, the Zimbabwe single entry visa (US $30) and departure tax (US $30) are not included and are payable upon arrival at the airport.
South Africa: $4,299 double occupancy (+$799 single occupancy)
Victoria Falls Extension: $1,099 double occupancy (+$199 single occupancy)
Please note: Though rare, it may be necessary to substitute hotels and adjust itineraries at guide’s discretion due to local conditions. US Citizens currently do not need a visa for South Africa. This is subject to change.