Detailed Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Greater Kruger National Park
Guests are met upon arrival at Johannesburg International (O.R. Tambo) from where they are assisted in transferring to a flight bound for Hoedspruit. Guests are met upon arrival at Hoedspruit Airport and are transferred to their lodge which is situated in the Sabi Sand which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. Two major rivers namely the Sabi River and the Sand River flow through this area, which is renowned to be the finest game viewing area in South Africa. An open 4X4 safari is conducted during the late afternoon by a local ranger who has an intimate knowledge of the area as well as the wildlife which call it home. |
| Overnight: Arathusa |
Meals: Dinner |
Day 2: Greater Kruger National Park
A morning safari is conducted shortly after sunrise. During this time of day the animals are very active as they start grazing or browsing after the nervousness of night when they are at their most vulnerable to the many predators in the area. The game drive returns to camp for a late breakfast after which guests have the opportunity to explore this region of the Sabi Sand on foot before returning to camp for some relaxation before embarking on the late afternoon safari. |
| Overnight: Arathusa |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 3: Greater Kruger National Park
The day is once again devoted to two open 4X4 safaris in this area where all of the Big Five are sighted no less than eight days out of ten. The opportunity of getting close to the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) is an experience not to be forgotten. |
| Overnight: Arathusa |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 4: Mpumalanga Highlands
A last morning game drive is followed by an exploration of the Mpumalanga Panoramic Route, where visits are made to the Blyde River Gorge dominated by the triplet peaks of the Three Rondavels and Gods Window, a cleft in the edge of the escarpment from where magnificent views of the Lowveld can be enjoyed. God's Window is situated in a patch of indigenous forest where many flowering and aromatic plants flourish. A visit is also made to the historical mining village of Pilgrims Rest before traveling on to the Walkersons Highlands Estate |
| Overnight: Walkersons |
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 5: Livingstone
Breakfast is followed by a transfer to Johannesburg International (O.R. Tambo) from where guests fly to Livingstone. Guests are met upon arrival at Livingstone airport and are transferred to their lodge which is situated on the heights above the Victoria Falls.The lodge is bordered by the Mosi oa Tunya National Park. The Victoria Falls are situated in the Zambezi River, they are approximately 1.7 km wide and plummet 108m over a sheer drop which makes for a very impressive sight. The late afternoon is devoted to viewing the falls from different vantage points. |
| Overnight: Stanley Safari Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 6: Livingstone
The morning is devoted to visiting the falls section of the "Mosi oa Tunya National Park". The name translates to" the smoke that thunders" which is the name locals have given the Victoria Falls.
The sanctuary affords incredible views of the falls and during the dry season we walk across to Livingstone Island for a heart stopping peak across the edge of the falls. The park is home to the last Rhino in Zambia and guests might sight Zebra, Giraffe and from time to time Elephant also pass through the area.
In the late afternoon a sunset cruise is enjoyed on the mighty Zambezi River. Traditional cocktails and snacks are served aboard the river boat. The sight of the setting sun over one of Africa's most impressive areas will surely be remembered. |
| Overnight: Stanley Safari Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 7: Livingstone
Guests are met at the lodge during the early morning from where we travel to Thorntree Lodge for an Elephant Back Safari. Upon arrival at Thorntree, tea, coffee and cordial is served – after which the elephant guide will give a short introductory talk including safety aspects. Guests will then be introduced to the Elephants and their Handlers.
On mounting the Elephants, the Safari begins. The trails lead through riverside bush and shallow parts of the Zambezi River onto the islands. Actual time spent riding is approximately 1 hour after which an elephant interaction takes place. During interaction, the guide will give an informative talk on the African Elephant and its relationship with man. A full english breakfast is then enjoyed after which guests are transferred to their hotel where the rest of the day is spent at leisure. |
Overnight: Stanley's Safari Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 8: Botswana-Chobe
Breakfast is followed by a drive of about an hour to Kazangula, the border post of Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. After crossing the border into Botswana a drive of about thirty minutes
leads to Kasane which is situated on the edge of the Chobe National Park. The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometers, has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. After checking in at the lodge some time is allowed for relaxation before enjoying a first afternoon game drive accompanied by your experienced ranger and tracker. |
| Overnight: Chobe Garden Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 9: Botswana Chobe
A morning safari in open 4X4 vehicles will bring guests in contact with the largest concentration of Elephant on the African continent, as well as hippo, buffalo, puku, antelope, lions and other mammals that gather on the banks of the Chobe River.
A sundown cruise is conducted on the Chobe River during the late afternoon. This offers a unique vantage point from which to enjoy wildlife coming to the waters edge for a late afternoon drink. Elephant will often be cooling down or on occasion will cross the river or cross between islands in the river to gain access to desired vegetation. |
| Overnight: Chobe Garden Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 10: Botswana - Okavango
A morning game drive in Chobe is followed by a transfer to Kasane and a light charter flight to the Okavango Delta, where an afternoon safari is conducted on open 4X4 vehicles by local rangers and trackers. The area was once part of Lake Makgadikgadi, an ancient lake that dried up some 10,000 years ago. Today, the Okavango River has no outlet to the sea. Instead, it empties onto the sands of the Kalahari Desert, irrigating 15,000 km² of the desert. The waters of the Okavango Delta are subject to seasonal flooding, which begins about mid-summer in the north and six months later in the south (May/June) |
| Overnight: Camp Okavango |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 11: Botswana- Okavango
Two game activities in this one of Africa's most unspoiled wilderness areas is the focus of the day. The game activities will consist of open 4X4 safaris as well as mokoro "traditional wooden canoe" rides on the reed lined channels of the Delta.
The delta environment has large numbers of animal populations that are otherwise rare, such as crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, wattled crane as well as the other more common mammals and bird life.The best time for game viewing in the delta is during the May-October period, as the animal life is concentrated along the flooded areas and the vegetation has dried out. |
| Overnight: Camp Okavango |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 12: Botswana Okavango
A 6,000-square-mile maze of lagoons, channels, and islands helps Okavango earn the description "the river that never finds the sea" and provides the backdrop to another day of game activities conducted by knowledgeable rangers whose insight into the behavior of the different species and understanding of the ecology of the region is sure to enhance your experience in this wilderness area.
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| Overnight: Atlantic House |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 13: Cape Town
A last morning game drive in the Okavango is followed by a late breakfast. Guests then fly to Maun on a light charter from where a connection is made to Johannesburg. Guests are met at Johannesburg International (O.R. Tambo) and are assisted in transferring to a flight bound for Cape Town. Guests are met upon arrival at Cape Town international and area transferred to Camps Bay. The late afternoon is spent at leisure enjoying breathtaking views of the Atlantic and the rigid Cape Mountains. |
| Overnight: Atlantic House |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 14: Cape Town
The morning is devoted to visiting Table Mountain. The main feature of this mountain is a level plateau of 3 km which is bordered to the East by Lions Head and to the west by Signal Hill. It is one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in the world. The cable car ride of about 5 minutes offers exceptional views of the Cape Town City Bowl. Upon reaching the top we devote some time to visiting different viewpoints from which spectacular views of the Cape Peninsula can be enjoyed.
The tour then makes its way to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. The gardens cover an area of 528 hectares with 36 hectares of cultivated garden. The gardens are a celebration of South African flora - showcasing only indigenous South African plants. Fynbos, proteas, cycads and rolling lawns are intermingled with streams and ponds. The gardens are home to a great diversity of Birds, and some incredible views can be enjoyed from the upper slopes. Following the Kirstenbosch visit , we make our way back to the hotel.. |
| Overnight: Atlantic House |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 15: Cape Town
A stop is made in Hout bay from where a short boat ride to Seal Island is enjoyed before crossing over the Imposing Sir Lowery's pass en route to the Cape Peninsula. In 1488, Bartholomew Dias named the Peninsula Cabo Tormenentoso or the Cape of Storms. Portugal's King John II later gave it the name Cabo da Boa Esperanca, the Cape of Good Hope. In 1580, Sir Frances Drake described it as "The most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth."
We visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where some fine examples of Cape Fynbos can be enjoyed. The Fauna in the area includes the rare Bontebok which escaped extinction during the first part of the 19th century. The reserve is also home to herds of Eland and Zebra. On the way back to Cape Town a stop is made at Boulders Beach to view the growing colony of the Vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information center. |
| Overnight: Atlantic House |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 16: Winelands
Traveling via the Imposing Hellshoogte Pass, the tour makes its way to the town of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and is heart of the South African wine industry. A brief tour of the town offers the opportunity of viewing some of South Africa's finest examples of Cape Dutch Architecture set along oak lined streets. We then visit one of the foremost wineries in the area where the wine making process is discussed, guests also have the opportunity to sample some of South Africa's finest before visiting the cellar where the aging process of wine is highlighted. A second vineyard is visited in the Stellenbosch region before traveling on to the town of Somerset West where a visit is made to Vergelegen.
Throughout its history celebrities of international renown have frequently visited Vergelegen, which IS one of the most remarkable places in the Western Cape.. Over the last decade Vergelegen has been honored by the visits of the full Executive Committee of the ANC, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, and in March 1998 by Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton with their First Ladies. Upon completion of the visit to Vergelegen the tour makes its way back to the overnight destination. |
| Overnight: Le Franschhoek |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 17: Winelands
The morning is devoted to visiting two of the finest wineries in the Franschhoek Valley where a range of different cultivars are produced. The Franschhoek area was first settled by the French Huguenots in the late 18th century, they brought with them a knowledge and understanding of the wine making process which was further adapted to South African conditions to produce some of the finest wines in South Africa. The Franschhoek Pass is then crossed with some of the most majestic mountain scenery in the Western Cape on display in order to reach Grabouw. Grabouw and Elgin the train station close to which it is situated form the heart of the Apple producing region where a visit is made to a working apple farm where light is shed on the production, storage and shipment of this fruit for which the Cape has become internationally renowned. During the late afternoon the tour makes its way back to Franschhoek. |
| Overnight: Le Franschhoek |
Meals: Breakfast |
Day 18: Departure
After breakfast guests are transferred to Cape Town International Airport where a memorable South African Safari experience ends. |
| Overnight: None |
Meals: Breakfast |
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African Sky Safaris and Tours has been offering quality South Africa Safari Options for over 10 years. We are committed to making your African Safari in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia or Zambia a memorable experience. We offer Luxury African Safari Holidays, as well as Kruger Park Safaris which visit the Kruger National Park itself. If none of our African Safari itineraries meet with your approval we will gladly tailor make a safari itinerary which takes your unique requirements into account. |
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