From exquisite landscapes to decadent flavours to magnificent wildlife to emotive monuments. Throughout its diversity, South Africa brings an intoxicating mood of optimism to those who connect with its unique character.

Tour itinerary
Day 1 Depart London Heathrow
Join your Tour Manager in the executive lounge before boarding your overnight flight.
Meals: In-flight.

Day 2 Cape Town
Once you’ve settled into your elegant guestroom, join your fellow adventurers in the hotel lounge for a decadent afternoon tea. The Mount Nelson Hotel is world renowned for its extravagant afternoon tea, served from the impressive Windsor Table.
Meals: Afternoon Tea.
Hotel: Mount Nelson.

Day 3 Cape Town
On today’s tour, you’ll see why Cape Town is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s an eclectic mix of cultural influences and architectural styles against a backdrop of the region’s most outstanding scenery, dominated by the dramatic Table Mountain. A cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain showcases this scenery with panoramic views over the city and to the mountains and ocean beyond. Your journey then takes you into the heart of the city to visit the Malay Quarter, known as the ‘Bo-Kaap’. Then, head into the city centre and pass by the Houses of Parliament, with its beautiful central dome, Corinthian porticos and pavilions. After viewing City Hall, you’ll continue on to the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, The Castle of Good Hope, built between 1666 and 1679. The last stop of the day is the working harbour and entertainment area of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, where pretty buildings include the quaint Clock Tower.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mount Nelson.

Day 4 Cape Town
Travelling along the rocky Cape coastline en route to Hout Bay harbour, you’ll pass some of the region’s most beautiful white sandy beaches and inlets, including Bantry Bay, Camp’s Bay, Clifton and Llandudno. At Hout Bay, you’ll board a boat to Seal Island to see the large colony of Cape fur seals. Back on land, you’ll head to the wild Cape Peninsula and Cape Point, which forms the south western tip of Africa. This area is often described as the romantic meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. After lunch, you’ll continue on to Boulders Beach; home to the protected colony of African penguins that settled here in 1982.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Mount Nelson.

Day 5 Cape Town
On this free day, you might like to pre-book an optional excursion to the famous Robben Island, or ask your Tour Manager about the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanicals Gardens.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mount Nelson.

Day 6 Cape Town to Cape Winelands
From the city, your adventure takes you into the rich, fertile valleys and hills of South Africa’s winelands. The Franschhoek valley is named after the French Huguenot settlers, and is renowned for its exceptional wine and fine restaurants, as well as the historic Huguenot Memorial Museum, where you’ll see a large collection of furniture, silverware and artefacts. You’ll visit one of Franschhoek’s premier wine estates for a wine tasting, then head over Helshoogte Pass. This route winds between the Simonsberg and Stellenbosch mountains and down into the university town of Stellenbosch, capturing the quintessential beauty of the winelands. In Stellenbosch, you’ll visit another winery before lunch and stay overnight in the winelands.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Lanzerac Hotel & Spa.

Day 7 Cape Winelands to The Garden Route
Driving east along South Africa’s picturesque Garden Route, you’ll arrive in the coastal village of Mossel Bay. After lunch, we’ve planned a nostalgic visit to the old Post Office Tree, which was used to pass messages between sailors in the days of discovery. Later in the day, you’ll arrive in the pretty town of George, known as ‘The Gateway to the Garden Route’.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Oubaai Resort & Spa.

Day 8 Garden Route
Today you'll visit the principal town in the Little Karoo valley, called Oudtshoorn, which sits on the edge of the Garden Route between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. On the drive inland, welcoming craft and food shops will tempt you with their wares, including locally produced cheese, chocolate and even liqueurs. The region is renowned for its many ostrich farms and you’ll visit a working farm, where you can hold one of the huge eggs, and have the opportunity to feed one of these magnificent birds! After lunch, you’ll head to a place of great natural beauty, the Cango Caves in the Swartberg Mountain Range, which were formed over 20 million years ago.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Oubaai Resort & Spa.

Day 9 Garden Route
At the scenic town of Knysna, you’ll discover the famous lagoon, where an unusual encounter awaits. The lagoon supports an oyster hatchery, producing what are reputedly among the tastiest oysters in the world; although you can decide that for yourself, when you sample one. You’ll take the ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve, then a trailer ride to the Western Head for great views of Knysna Bay and the lagoon. The reserve is a protected wilderness of flora, birds and marine life and a rare species breeding programme, which includes the blue duiker, part of the antelope family, and the endangered Knysna sea horse. After a picnic lunch, you’ll take the return ferry to Knysna, where the afternoon is free to explore this lively little town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Oubaai Resort & Spa.

Day 10 Garden Route to Johannesburg
Driving along the Garden Route towards Port Elizabeth, there’s time to visit the Garden Route Botanical Gardens before your flight to Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, set on the Highveld plateau. This evening you’re invited to dinner in the hotel’s stylish restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Hotel: Westcliff Hotel.

Day 11 Johannesburg
Today’s full day tour starts with a short drive to leafy Pretoria to visit the Voortrekker Monument, the museum at the home of former President Paul Kruger, and the grand architecture of the imposing Union Buildings; the seat of South Africa's government. This afternoon in the bustling neighbourhood of Soweto, you’ll visit the former home of Nelson Mandela, now a small museum with interesting artefacts including Mandela’s original memoirs. The tour culminates with a visit to the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the excellent Apartheid Museum.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Westcliff Hotel.

Day 12 Johannesburg to Kapama
Your extraordinary bush adventure starts once your flight lands in Hoedspruit, in the north eastern corner of Limpopo province, and you climb aboard an open safari vehicle for the journey to Kapama River Lodge. Watch out for glimpses of big game and other wildlife on the way. Later on, you have the opportunity to venture out on the first of our game drives over the rambling landscape of the Private Game Reserve, in search of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ – the African elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and leopard.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Hotel: Kapama River Lodge.

Day 13 Kapama
Enjoy morning and evening game drives into the African bush to see wildlife including giraffes, colourful birds and antelopes. The evening drive can be particularly spell-binding as the sun sets and casts a warm glow over the countryside, as you sip a refreshing sundowner. In between the drives, there’s plenty of time to relax and unwind in the beautiful natural surroundings of the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Hotel: Kapama River Lodge.

Day 14 Kapama
You’ll have an early morning wakeup call this morning, to venture out on a dawn game drive, to see the wildlife at its most active. Later, relax in Kapama River Lodge’s open surroundings, where monkeys and nyala antelope happily wander and birds are in full song. On a late afternoon game drive, watch out for big cats hunting.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Hotel: Kapama River Lodge.

Day 15 Depart Kapama
If you’re on the 16-day tour, it’s sadly time to transfer to Hoedspruit airport for your return flight to Johannesburg and onward connection to London Heathrow, which will arrive tomorrow morning. If you’ve booked the 19-day option, you’ll continue on to the magnificent Victoria Falls in Zambia, flying to Livingstone, where your hotel sits in a prime position beside the Zambezi River, with grounds extending up to the Falls themselves.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Day 16 Victoria Falls
This morning you’ll enjoy a walking tour at Victoria Falls. The sheer size of the falls and the gorges can take your breath away, and the experience is particularly exhilarating. Spend the rest of the day however you like, then join the leisurely sundowner river cruise to watch the world drift by while you’re served drinks and snacks.
Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Day 17 Victoria Falls
Today is a free day, and you can do as much or as little as you like. Your Tour Manager can tell you about a choice of exciting optional excursions, including a thrilling helicopter flight over the falls. This evening, meet back up with your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner in your beautiful colonial hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Hotel: Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Day 18 Victoria Falls to Johannesburg to Heathrow
After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight to Johannesburg and your onward connection to London Heathrow.
Meals: Breakfast, In-flight.

Day 19 London Heathrow
Your flight lands this morning, although your head may still be up in the clouds, on Table Mountain.

Extend Your Holiday
Let the mystery and allure of Africa steal your heart for a few more days. At the end of your tour, you can add a tour extension to see more of this captivating land. For another safari adventure, for those on the 19-day option, we can take you to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, where your wildlife spotting trips include an amazing helicopter safari. Or, for something completely different, whether you choose the 16-day or 19-day option, you can travel to Mozambique, to a fabulous and exclusive beach resort on the Indian Ocean coast.

Departure dates:
03 October 2012
14 November 2012
23 January 2013
27 February 2013