Get ready to experience one of the greatest countries in the Motherland: South Africa

A trip to South Africa keeps its promise of sheer delight with its wide open spaces, its wealth of wildlife, its game parks of outstanding natural beauty, its coastal paradise, its breathtaking landscapes, its mountainous regions with unlimited hiking possibilities, and its incredible ethnic diversity which is a source of an outstanding artistic vitality.
Itinerary

​Day 1

Upon arrival in Cape Town, you will meet one of our representatives who will assist you in being transferred to your hotel. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2

After breakfast, meet with your local guide and continue with the day's scheduled visits. Enjoy a city tour to Cape Town which was originally established as a refreshment station in 1652 for the trade between Europe and the Far East.
First, visit Table Mountain (this excursion usually takes about 2 hours). Use the Table Mountain Cable Car to ascend Table Mountain for the most beautiful panoramic views of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and Robben Island 11km offshore. The Table Mountain range has about 1400 species of flowers and is also home to the rock hyrax, a furry little creature often found on the rocks, basking in the sun. (Visit is weather dependent; should excursion not be possible, it will be moved to the following day, or the day after – weather permitting).

Continue to Bo-Kaap for an interactive cooking experience with one of the local inhabitants of the Bo-Kaap (also known as the Malay Quarter, situated just outside Cape Town’s CBD).

Lunch with your host (no alcohol is served).

Following lunch, head on an orientation tour of the city center including a drive by the Houses of Parliament, The Castle (the oldest building in South Africa), the old Malay Quarter, known as the Bo-Kaap, and will take a walk through the Company Gardens.

​You will also visit the following sites:
  • Iziko Slave Lodge: One of the oldest buildings in Cape Town (Open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm)
  • District Six Museum: District Six before its destruction under Apartheid, was a community representative of diversity on several levels – language, religion, economic class, geographical area of origin. It was a vibrant community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, laborers, and immigrants, with close links to the city and the port.

Day 3

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the Atlantic Coastline passing the areas called Sea Point, Clifton, and Camps Bay before arriving in Hout Bay, a small fishing village, dominated by the scenic Chapman’s Peak Pass. Hout Bay is one of the most beautiful and popular places on the Cape Peninsula and is a highlight of any holiday in South Africa. The fishing village of Hout Bay was probably established in about 1867 when a German immigrant, Jacob Trautmann, began to farm and fish in the area. Starting with a boat cruise from Hout Bay to view the seals at Seal Island, where you will see thousands of Cape Fur Seals basking on the rocks, or frolicking in the cold Atlantic Ocean. Return to the harbor and browse the local craft market. Stopping at the Original T-BAG Designs, originated with the desire to improve the daily quality of impoverished South Africans, Original Tea Bag Designs produces a range of high quality, innovative, handmade products (closed Saturdays and Sundays). Continue via the False Bay coastline to Simon’s Town, which is home to the South African Navy. It is located on the shores of False Bay, on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula. For more than two centuries it has been an important naval base and harbor (first for the Royal Navy and now the South African Navy). The town is named after Simon van der Stel, an early governor of the Cape Colony. The beautiful Boulders Beach is one of Cape Town’s most visited beaches and the only place in the world where you get close to African Penguins. Lunch at leisure. Continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. The area has been declared a National World Heritage Site and abounds with buck, baboons, and Cape Zebra, as well as over 50 species of birds. Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 meters above the sea cut into the ocean but that is not its sole allure; many visitors are drawn to the area because of its rich maritime history. Named the “Cape of Storms” by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488; the ‘Point’ was treated with respect by sailors for centuries. Fog, as well as violent storms and dangerous rocks, have caused over the centuries shipwrecks have dotted the coastline. Visit the lighthouse first completed in 1859; it still stands at 249 meters above sea-level and offers a magnificent view. Return to Cape Town to enjoy an African dinner experience at a local restaurant.

day 4

Breakfast at your hotel. Departing Stellenbosch, the Stellenbosch Wine Route was the first wine route to have been developed 40 years ago. The town is currently surrounded by approximately 100,000 hectares of vineyards. The wines of the Cape have a worldwide reputation for quality. It is in this region where you will see various examples of Cape Dutch architecture and about 60 of these houses have been declared national monuments. Stellenbosch is also a well-known University Town. Visit the Seven Sisters Vineyard (subject to availability); The Seven Sisters wine brand evolved from its association with the seven Brutus sisters of Paternoster. The Brutus family lived in a small fishing village on the western coast. The Brutus sisters and their baby brother left the tranquility of their sleepy town at a very early age when the family was evicted from their home. They yearned to return but were not able to do so given the unfavorable circumstances of the time. Continue to the town of Stellenbosch where you will have some free time for shopping and enjoy lunch at your own expense. Following lunch, head to Franschhoek – this area was settled by the French Huguenots in 1689 and this Valley of the Vignerons is also known for its quality wines and beautiful scenery. You will have some leisure time in this small village for shopping.

  • DAY 5

Early breakfast and check-out of the hotel for transfer to Cape Town Airport (flight is not included, to be booked by agent). Proposed flight (not included): SA306 departing at 7:20 am from CPT, arriving at 9:20 am at JNB Meet your new driver/guide upon arrival at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport, and continue with your vehicle to Mpumalanga Province. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Day 6

Early wakeup call for a full day game drive in the Kruger National Park. Gate opening time 6 A.M. and return at around 4:00 P.M. Packed breakfasts will be arranged with the lodge.

Enter the Kruger National Park at the Numbi Gate; ride on open vehicle 4 x 4 safari vehicles and enjoy a game drive with a professional ranger. This reserve was created by former President Paul Kruger in 1898 as a sanctuary for animals, which currently comprise about 450 different birds, 106 different types of mammals, i.e. elephant, rhino, giraffe, zebra, hippo’s, kudu, impala, and lion. The park is about 220 miles long and 37 miles wide, but there is every chance of seeing the Big 5 (lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and elephants). Enjoy lunch at one of the picnic spots in the park. Afterward, continue the safari game drive in an open vehicle. At the end of the afternoon, exit the park and return to the lodge. Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a buffet dinner at your hotel.

Day 7

Early wakeup call for a full day game drive in the Kruger National Park. Gate opening time 6 A.M. and return at around 4:00 P.M. Packed breakfasts will be arranged with the lodge. Enter the Kruger National Park at the Numbi Gate; ride on open vehicle 4 x 4 safari vehicles and enjoy a game drive with a professional ranger. This reserve was created by former President Paul Kruger in 1898 as a sanctuary for animals, which currently comprise about 450 different birds, 106 different types of mammals, i.e. elephant, rhino, giraffe, zebra, hippo’s, kudu, impala, and lion. The park is about 220 miles long and 37 miles wide, but there is every chance of seeing the Big 5 (lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and elephants). Enjoy lunch at one of the picnic spots in the park. Afterward, continue the safari game drive in an open vehicle. At the end of the afternoon, exit the park and return to the lodge. Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a buffet dinner at your hotel.

DAY 8

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Depart and enjoy the view of the Drakensberg mountains in the distance; weather permitting, stop at God’s Window just outside Graskop for a panoramic view across the valley, and on a clear day one can see as far as the Mozambique border. Continue towards Bourke’s Luck Potholes where paths and footbridges take visitors to view the 900 meters deep holes of cylindrical forms formed by fluvial erosion and floods. The Blyde River Canyon, with its spectacular gorge, is 26 km. long and the 3 Rondavels are rocky massifs that look like traditional Zulu huts. Lunch in Pilgrims Rest at Royal Hotel or similar. Pilgrim’s Rest is a  small village that has been renovated in the style of the gold rush around 1870 when pioneers tried to find their fortunes in gold. Before departing the area, attend a demonstration as to how gold was panned for in the old days and then have a look around the various shops and crafts on display in Pilgrim’s Rest Continue and check-in late afternoon at your hotel. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Day 9

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue to Johannesburg on a 4-hour ride. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, enjoy a guided tour of the Maboneng Precinct. Regeneration in Johannesburg has seen the transformation of areas that, for years, were declared no-go zones as a result of urban decay and crime. The Maboneng Precinct east of the city is one of these transformed areas. Maboneng, a Sotho word meaning “place of light”, is a fitting name for a district that has fast become a center of creative energy for Johannesburg’s urban artists. With a mix of restaurants, coffee shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, and retail and studio space, the precinct draws the inner-city public as well as the chic, art-going crowd of the city’s suburbs, bringing life back to this downtown Johannesburg neighborhood. Lunch is at leisure. Continue and check-in at your hotel. Enjoy dinner at your hotel.

DAy 10

Breakfast at your hotel. Depart for Soweto. South of Johannesburg is Soweto, a city developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system. Soweto is inhabited by over two million people, with homes ranging from extravagant mansions to makeshift shacks. It boasts one of the largest hospitals on the continent and the only African-owned private clinic. Enjoy a farewell lunch at a local shebeen (restaurant). Chez Alina is a multi-award-winning restaurant based in Dobsonville Soweto, boasting its unique, authentic, and homely environment in which guests enjoy their meals. Chez Alina is still a home, turned into a Restaurant and there is still a family living there consisting of 4 generations. Continuing with an orientation tour will include a visit to Mandela House. This is the house in which former President Nelson Mandela lived with his first two wives from 1946 to 1961, i.e. before his arrest. The house which is now a museum still has many of Mr. Mandela’s photographs and possessions. Continue the journey to Johannesburg’s  OR Tambo Airport, arriving on time for the international flight home. Note: Ensure to book your flight for a departure of 6 PM or later to avoid disruption with today’s planned activity.

Hotel Accomodations

Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre*
Take in Table Mountain Views from this beautiful high-rise hotel.  The Holiday Inn Express Cape Town is located in the lively downtown area set on a tree-lined street packed with restaurants, art galleries, markets, cafes and bars. Exploring Cape Town is made easy, with our close proximity to all major public transport lines, including the popular City Sightseeing Red Busses.
Sanbonani Hotel, Resort & Spa*
Nestled at the confluence of the Sabie and Sand Rivers, Sanbonani is in the heart of the Bushveld. Luxurious chalets overlook the tranquil rivers where hippos splash and crocodiles soak up the sun on the banks of the river bed, or spend time in one of the chalets where you can enjoy the sound of the beautiful man made stream. Relax on your patio with your own wood braai area and enjoy a sun downer while soaking up the beautiful Lowveld sunset. Spend time walking along the riverbanks or around the gardens and admire the amazing trees including some rare species. Socialise in the ladies’ bar or soak up the waters of the spectacular pool which is fed from an underground mineral spring.
Sabie at Misty Mountain*
Misty Mountain is a 280 hectare South African Natural Heritage Site situated on the spectacular Long Tom Pass (31 kilometres from Lydenburg and 24 kilometres from Sabie), Panorama Route, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Perched at an altitude of 1700 metres above sea level in a malaria free area, Misty Mountain is uniquely set in mountainous countryside with majestic views across the escarpment and into the lowveld. Conveniently situated on the Panorama Route, Misty Mountain is an ideal base from which to explore the Mpumalanga escarpment (God’s Window, The Pinnacle, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon) and world renowned Kruger National Park and adjacent private games reserves.
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Additional information

TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Sometimes the unexpected happens! Missing a vacation is bad enough. Losing the money you paid for your vacation is even worse. Trip insurance is therefore highly recommended.  Suggested Travel Insurance:
NOTES:
  • Traveling abroad requires a passport valid for six months beyond your travel dates. Please make sure that your passport does not expire on or before May 30, 2024.
  • South Africa – Upon entry into South Africa, passport holders are required to have at least one, entirely blank (unstamped) visa page (i.e. one side of such a page, not front and back thereof) in their passport, each time entry is sought into South Africa. These pages are in addition to the endorsement/ amendment pages at the back of the passport. South African government regulations prohibit airlines from boarding passengers without the required blank visa page.
  • Children Under 18 traveling to South Africa
    Effective October 1, 2014, the South African Department of Home Affairs has introduced new documentation requirements for visitors under the age of 18 years traveling to South Africa. Passengers traveling with children under 18 to South Africa are responsible to determine the requirements and to prepare the correct documentation. 
  • Two parents traveling together with a child under 18 must produce an unabridged English-language birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child. When one parent is traveling with a child,he/she must also provide an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child, authorizing him or her to enter South Africa with the child he or she is traveling with, or a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child or, where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate. Children under 18 traveling without parents require additional documentation.
  • All prices are based on the rates of exchange in effect at the time of price quotation. In the event that the US dollar devalues, First in Flight Travel reserves the right to increase prices accordingly. Your final invoice will reflect increases resulting from currency devaluation.
  • Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include the COVID-19 Vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
  • The CDC recommends you to visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

TERMS & POLICIES

  • ​Making reservations for this package signifies your acceptance of our Terms & Conditions.
  • All payments to First in Flight Travel are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is because First in Flight Travel has contractual agreements with hotels, airlines and other vendors that will not allow us to obtain any refunds. This way we can keep our package prices low and allow you to make monthly payments on your vacation.
  • Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or visa agency to determine whether any visas or passports are required. Passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. Some countries require a full blank “VISA” page in the passport for stamping purposes. Any information provided on travel description pertains to US citizens only. Non-US citizens should check with the respective consulate of the country(s) to be visited for current entry requirements.​
  • Reservations must be made in your FULL NAME as it appears on your passport. Your name on your invoice MUST match your passport.
  • Prices are subject to change without notice. Please make your reservations today at this price to be locked in.
  • All late payment requests must be approved by management before the final payment deadline on your account.
  • A predetermined payment plan is required to keep your reservations current. Your invoice will clearly note your payment plan. We suggest you put this payment plan on your personal calendar.
  • *Hotels shown above are subject to change based on supplier availability at the time of travel, but will be similar in star rating and general amenities. Supplier will confirm exact hotel within 30 days of travel.