Detailed African Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Mpumalanga Highlands
Guests are met upon arrival at Johannesburg Airport ( O. R. Tambo) from where the African Safari makes its way east, traversing the towns of Witbank and Belfast en route to Dullstroom. Before reaching Dullstroom a visit is made to the bird of prey and rehabilitation center where a large number of different Raptor Species can be viewed. Dullstroom dates back to the early 1880's when Dutch Settlers made their way to the place of "eternal mist". The town is situated at 2100 m above sea level, making this one of the highest towns in the country. The architecture in the town is a mixture of 19th and 20th century building designs. A short distance outside Dullstroom is the Walkersons Highland Estate one of the finest country estates. |
| Overnight: Walkersons |
Meals: Dinner |
Day 2: Greater Kruger National Park (Sabi Sand)
The morning is devoted to visiting the highlights of the Panoramic Route.On entering the Panoramic Route via Long Tom Pass from Lydenburg, at 2,149 meters above sea-level we travel along the highest tarred road in South Africa. The Pass is named after an old cannon used in the Anglo Boer War and referred to as the Long Tom. From the crest of Mount Anderson one can look down 1,000 meters to South Africa's largest man made forest in the country.
Stops are then made at Gods Window with its sweeping views of the Lowveld Region as well as the Triplet peaks of the Three Rondavels, one of the most scenic views of the Blyde River Canyon, third largest of all the worlds canyons. The safari then crosses and descends the Eastern Escarpment and makes its way to the heart of South Africa's Big Five Country and the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. A late afternoon game drive is conducted on open 4X4 vehicles accompanied by a local ranger and an experienced tracker, in this African Safari area.
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| Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 3: Greater Kruger National Park (Sabi Sand)
The day is devoted to an early morning and late afternoon 4X4 safari in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.The Reserve lies in the South Western Region of the Kruger National Park and is home to some of the worlds finest lodges and ranges in habitat from reverie thicket along the Sabi and Sand rivers to open savannah. |
| Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 4: Sabi Sand
Guests are extremely likely to see territorial leopard and lion on either the morning open 4X4 African Safari or the game drive conducted during the late afternoon which extends into the evening. Several clans of spotted hyena den in collapsed termite mounds can be seen. Impala are the most abundant antelope, with common waterbuck and gray duiker also frequently seen. Greater Kudu, Bushbuck and Nyala favor thickets and reverie forest, whilst buffalo herds graze in tall grasslands. Waterhole's attract elephant, white rhino, giraffe and warthog. Cape Clawless Otter and hippo are resident in the Sand River. Nocturnal white-tailed mongoose are also inhabitants of this area. The smaller cat species which are frequently seen on the night drives include the African Civet and the Large Spotted Genet |
| Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge |
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 5: Cape Town
A last morning game drive is followed by a late breakfast. Guests are then transferred to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport for a flight to Cape Town. Guests are met upon arrival at Cape Town International and are transferred to their hotel which is situated on Cape Towns famous V & A Waterfront. The late afternoon is spent at leisure in the South African Mother City.. |
| Overnight: Commodore |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 6: 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: Commodore |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 7: 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: Commodore |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 8: 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 Franschoek |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 9: 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: Full Board |
Day 10: Swakopmund
Guests are met after breakfast, and are transferred to Cape Town International Airport for a flight to Windhoek. Guests are met at Windhoek Airport and are transferred to Eros for a light charter to Swakopmund. Swakopmund is a quiet seaside town that was established in 1892 , it is a quaint and picturesque town with a rich history. The later afternoon is spent relaxing after the days traveling. |
| Overnight: Hansa Hotel |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 11: Swakopmund
Our first stop is at ' Bird Rock '- a guano island inhabited by 200 000 birds and one of the first examples of man's efforts to utilize the rich natural resources of the area. The tour then makes its way to the Lagoon at Walvis Bay and then on to Sandwich Harbor. Both have been designated as 'Wetlands of International Importance'.
The safari then travels South to the towering, wind-sculptured dunes at the edge of Sandwich Harbor. Some 40 000 birds - 34 different species - were recorded in this area during recent surveys. Take a leisurely walk around the Lagoon (an official marine sanctuary) and you may also see seals, dolphins and even whales. The tour then makes its way back to Swakopmund where we arrive during the late afternoon. |
| Overnight: Hansa Hotel |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 12: Sossusvlei
After breakfast guests are transferred to Swakopmund Air Strip for a charter flight to Sossusvlei. Experience the haunting beauty of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, situated in the foothills of the private NamibRand Nature Reserve.
The Namib – known as ‘The Living Desert’ – is a world of vast space, endless horizons, dramatic desert landscapes and jagged mountain heights. Led by Sossusvlei’s expert rangers and naturalists guest will be treated to an amazing experience. The afternoon is devoted to exploring the desert landscape on open 4X4 vehicles. |
| Overnight: Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 13: Sossusvlei
The morning is devoted to an excursion to the famous Sossusvlei Sand dunes, the highest in the world and Sesriem Canyon.The name 'Sossusvlei' applies to an area that encompasses the great plain of the Tsauchab River together with the red dunes that march along like giant sentinels to south and north of the plain.
Then its on to Sesriem Canyon. The canyon begins as an almost imperceptible but nevertheless deep cleft in level, stony ground, and then widens until it finally flattens out onto the plain. Because it is so deep and sheltered, it often holds water well into the dry season. An invigorating sight in such a barren and stark environment. During the afternoon we return to the lodge and after some time for relaxation the area is explored by quad bike |
| Overnight: Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 14: Windhoek
A morning desert experience is followed by breakfast after which guests are transferred to a local airstrip for a flight to Windhoek, the Capital of Namibia where a short tour of Windhoek is followed by afternoon at leisure. |
| Overnight: Hotel Heinitzburg |
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 15: Okavango Delta
Guests are transferred to Windhoek Airport for a flight to Maun and a light charter connection 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 16: Okavango Delta
Two game activities are planned in this, one of the most unspoiled African Safari areas. The game activities will consist of open 4X4 safaris as well as mokoro "traditional wooden canoe" ride 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 17: Okavango Delta
The day is devoted to safaris, bush walks and Mokoro rides on the waterways of the Okavango. All game activities focus on interpretive viewing of the abundance of mammal and bird species which call the labyrinth of channels and Islands home. From the majesty of the Big Five to the illusive ways of the Puku. The secrets of the wilderness unfold in the company of an experienced guide. Gliding silently in a pole propelled Mokoro close to the dense reed beds lining the waterway, with the sounds of Africa in your ears is an experience sure to be remembered. |
| Overnight: Camp Okavango |
Meals: Full Board |
Day 18: Livingstone
A morning game activity and breakfast is followed by a light charter flight to Kasana in the North Eastern corner of Botswana. Guests are met upon arrival at Kasane Airstrip and are transferred via the Kazangula border post to Livingstone in Zambia. The town bears the name of the famous British explorer Sir David Livingstone who is reputed to be the first European to lay eyes on the majestic Victoria Falls. The afternoon is spent at leisure. |
| Overnight: Royal Livingstone |
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 19: 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.
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 safari areas will surely be remembered. |
| Overnight: Royal Livingstone |
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 20: 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: Royal Livingstone |
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 21: Departure
A last glimpse of the thundering Victoria Falls is followed by breakfast after which guests are transferred to Livingstone Airport for a flight to Johannesburg where they are met and transferred to any location in Pretoria or Johannesburg. An African Safari experience which would have made David Livingstone envious is sure to be remembered forever. |
| 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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