Escape to Africa
October 11-19, 2017

South Africa, positioned at the southern tip of the African continent, is acknowledged as “a world in one country.” It offers a wealth of pristine wilderness, which is complimented by the country’s warm hospitality. In northeastern South Africa, one will encounter 16 ecosystems and experience the thrill of spotting the Big Five (lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros) at the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Off the southwest coast of the country lies Robben Island, which was once home to Nelson Mendala while imprisoned. The southernmost tip of South Africa is known as the Cape of Good Hope. South Africa is also known for its prize-winning coastal seascapes, boasting natural beauty of both landscape and wildlife within the many eco-friendly resorts and national parks. Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland comprise the border of the country.

Package Includes 

  • Safari experience in Kapama Private Game Reserve in an Open 4×4 vehicle, with hopes to see the Big Five
  • Wine Tastings in the famed Cape Winelands
  • Explore the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost tip of Africa
  • Witness the Cape’s rich and diverse wildlife including Cape fur seals and African penguins
  • Celebrate Nelson Mandela’s revolutionary life and struggle for equality
  • Visit Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years
  • Experience local cuisine in Soweto
  • Tour the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg

BESPOKE JOURNEY IN SOUTH AFRICA

8 NIGHTS/ 9 DAYS ITINERARY
​11 October Depart USA
Today you embark on your journey as you board the international flight to Cape Town.
12 October Cape Town Arrive
In  Amsterdam  connect  with  KLM  flight  597 departing at 10:00am to Cape Town.  Upon arrival at  9:20pm  as  a  group  (not  valid  for  individual arrivals) you will meet our representative who will meet  you  as  you  disembark  from  your  plane.  Be assisted  through  immigration  and  custom formalities.  Collect  your  baggage  and  be transferred in a private motor coach to your hotel. Cape  Town has  traditionally  been  the  gateway between  Europe  and  Southern  Africa  and  this  is still evident in its atmosphere, its playful character, its people and even its architecture. The ‘Mother City’ as it’s known locally has no shortage of attractions. It’s a magnetic, multi­cultural city with an
array of diverse offerings within a small, accessible area, surrounded by spectacular  topography. Spectacular  beaches,  mountains  (incredibly  unique  bio­diversity),  hiking,  watersport, shopping centers, markets, theaters, museums, historical & cultural attractions. First ­rate waterfront, galleries, night­clubs, restaurants and an abundance of activities to suite all, are prolific in this world­class destination. Experience a rich piece of history with modern­day comfort when staying in Cape Town at the Protea Hotel Waterfront  Breakwater  Lodge.  Located  adjacent  to  the  fabulous  V&A  Waterfront,  the  Green Point  hotel occupies  an  historic  19th  century  building  overlooking  Table  Bay  and  the  city’s  iconic  landmark, Table Mountain. Guests are treated to a bird's ­eye view of the harbour and easy access to the waterfront’s many attractions. On­site dining is offered at Stonebreakers Restaurant and other amenities include the full­service Relax Spa and a well­ equipped fitness centre. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.   Overnight Breakwater Hotel
13 October Cape Town (B)  Enjoy breakfast at the hotel 
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out on a half day tour.  No  visit to Cape Town is  complete without a stop at Table Mountain. Take in the crisp air  and  clear  visibility  as  you  reach  the  summit (weather  permitting)  by  cable  car.  Our  guide  will point out the highlights of one of the world’s most famous  views,  and  one  of  New  7  Wonders  of Nature. After your decent, continue on for a Cape Town City Tour to visit Green Market Square. We stretch our legs with a walk through the Company Gardens.  The tour continues with a drive past the Houses  of  Parliament,  the  City  Hall,  The  Castle and Slave  Lodge,  before  entering  the “Bo Kaap”, also known as the Malay quarter. Learn about the history of this area of brightly painted houses and quaint cobbled streets. We ascend Signal Hill to witness firing of the noon gun (except Sundays and Public Holidays). Join the fascinating Diamond and Tanzanite experience at Jewel Africa. Discover the secrets of Diamonds, Tanzanite and other authentic African Treasures. You will be dazzled by the diamond tour where we learn about the history of these sparkling gems. Return to the hotel to enjoy the afternoon at  your leisure or  you may  choose to  stay behind at the Green Market to test your bargaining skills, where vendors from across Africa
come to sell their wares or stroll the V&A Waterfront
stopping along the way at cafes.  Overnight at the Breakwater Hotel

Your Journey Continues


14 October Cape Town (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide in the lobby of the hotel and make your way to the waterfront  to  board  the  Robben  Island  ferry  and enjoy  spectacular  views  of  Cape Town  and Table Mountain as you sail across the bay to this island which  is  so  full  of  history. Robben  Island  is  the political  prison  that  housed  former  South  African President  Nelson  Mandela  and  current  president Jacob  Zuma  spend  many  years  during  Apartheid Oppression.The  tours  are  conducted  in  groups, guided  by  former  inmates  of  the  prison.  You  will see  Mandela’s  cell,  along  with  the  rock  quarry’s where  prisoners  worked long  painful  days  during their  imprisonment. The  original  ferry  used  to transport prisoners is still being used and while the particular ferry for the 2 hour ride out to the island cannot be guaranteed, lucky visitors will have an opportunity to gain an appreciation of the full experience one­way onboard this vessel. Return to the hotel to relax and indulge in the amenities offered by the hotel or stay at the V&A Waterfront where you can enjoy the afternoon exploring the many shops and bistros or visit the Diamond Museum. Overnight at the Breakwater Hotel
15 October Cape Town (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy an unforgettable full day journey exploring the Peninsula. Begin with a scenic excursion out to Duiker Island home to Cape fur seals. Drive along the the Platinum Coast to the meeting place of oceans where breathtaking scenery clashes with the rugged coastline of the southwest edge of the continent. Visit the Atlantic Coast towns of Clifton and Camps Bay, Mariners Wharf at Hout Bay with an optional cruise to Seal Island. Enjoy the magnificent Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (optional funicular ride to the top) and stop to see the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, the peculiar ostriches en-route and the old Royal Navy town of Simonstown. Venture inland for your last stop of the day at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens as the sun begins to set over the tail peaks of Table Mountain. Overnight Breakwater Lodge – Standard Room
16 October Cape Town – Stellenbosch – Cape Town (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer overland to Stellenbosch. The scenic beauty of the region will stay with you long after you return home! The town of Stellenbosch dates back to 1679 but today has a lively university feel. Visit Oom Samie se Winkel, Dorp Street and NG Kerk Moederkerk before enjoying a wine tasting and cellar tour at Bergkelder Winery. The first vineyards were planted in 1679 and the Stellenbosch Wine Route was founded in 1971. Now known as the Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes, it is divided into five sub-routes and is the second-oldest wine producing region in South Africa, world-renowned for its award-winning wines. With over 200 wine producers in the valley, this is truly the pulsating heart of the country’s wine industry, where both connoisseurs and novice winedrinkers can equally enjoy the fruits of our vines. Continue on to Franschoek via the Helshoogte Pass. Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley. This is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and our top chefs create international cuisine. Here breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world class cuisine and the finest wines all combine to create lasting memories. Spectacular vineyards cover these mountain slopes settled more than 300 years ago by the Huguenots, who brought with them their age-old French wine and food culture. This is a valley rich in history centered around a picturesque village of friendly, welcoming people. In the village you will find wonderful crafts, art and antique shops and galleries. The main street is lined with coffee shops and restaurants. Enjoy a visit to the Huguenot Museum and Monument and some time to explore the Main Road area. Visit Haute Cabriere Wine Estate for a wine tasting and cellar tour, including the art of sabrage before returning to Cape Town and the hotel. Overnight Breakwater Lodge – Standard Room
17 October Cape Town – Hoedspruit/Kapama River Lodge (B, D)
After breakfast at the hotel you are transferred to the Cape Town airport to board your flight to Hoedspruit. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to Kapama River Lodge. Within the expansive Kapama Private Game Reserve, Kapama River Lodge epitomizes five-star safari accommodation. The majestic northern Drakensberg mountains form the backdrop to the lodge positioned along a bend of the seasonal Kapama River. It’s the largest luxury game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park area, and is stylishly furnished to ensure an unforgettable African safari experience. Spacious air-conditioned suites have uninterrupted views over the Big Five game reserve from private patios, and all feature full, en-suite bathrooms with lavish amenities replenished daily. The suites are decorated to reflect old Africa in a luxury game lodge setting. Beverage stations for early morning coffee in suite and minibars for sundowners on your private patio are standard in all rooms. This afternoon enjoy your first of four game drives offered in open 4×4 vehicles. Return to the lodge for dinner and the remainder of the day at your leisure or participate in the optional activities offered by the lodge.
*Camp Inclusions Transfers to/from airstrip x 3 Daily meals x 2 Daily game drives x Air-conditioned, en-suite accommodation x 1 liter bottled water per person per day on safari x Overnight at Kapama River Lodge – Standard Suite
18 October Beck’s Safari Lodge and Karongwe Private Game Reserve (B, L, D)  
Today enjoy two game drives within the Karongwe Private Game Reserve in open 4×4 vehicles; one in the morning and one in the evening returning to the lodge in between to relax and enjoy meals.     Karongwe Game Reserve is an untamed garden of Eden  where  the  spoor  of  wildlife  invites  you  to explore the timeless beauty of the bush; an oasis of  unimaginable  luxury  provides  the  greatest vantage  point  to  the  Big  Five  and  its  vast, untouched wilderness. The  21000  acre  wildlife  paradise  is  straddled between  four rivers  and  just  45  minutes  from  the world  famous  Kruger  National  Park. The Karongwe Game Reserve teems  with an abundance of game, birdlife and diverse dense vegetation which provides the perfect
​habitat for the most secretive of Africa’s large cats, the leopard. The  game drive and walk experience in  the Karongwe  Reserve  is  a  modern­day  journey  into the  past  when  this  expanse  of  pristine  bushveld knew  nothing  else  but  a rich  profusion  of  diverse game and virgin vegetation. The  specially  trained  game  rangers  and  trackers will  take  you  on  day  and  night  drives  in comfortable open four­wheel drive landcruisers. Most  of  the  rangers  and  trackers  are  Shangaan and bring to the game experience the richness of their  culture  and  vast  knowledge  of  nature.  With their natural tracking abilities and Karongwe Game Reserve’s modern bush telegraph, the rangers will go out of their way to bring  you as  close to the Magnificent Seven (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, cheetah and African wild dog) as they possibly can. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge today.  Overnight at Beck’s Safari Lodge ­ Suite
19 October Beck’s Safari Lodge and Karongwe Private Game Reserve/Hoedspruit ­Johannesburg ­ Depart (B, L)
This morning enjoy your final game drive followed by  breakfast  at  the  lodge  before  you  are transferred to the Eastgate Airport for your flight to Johannesburg  (suggested  flight  is  SA1226 12:00/1:00pm).  Upon  arrival,  you  are  met  and embark  on  a  tour  of  Soweto  and  the  Apartheid Museum.   Soweto  (South  Western  Township),  largest  black residential  area  in  South  Africa,  where  we  see  a fascinating  contrast  to  Rosebank  and  Sandton  in the north. This sprawling “city within a city” is home to  approximately  2­million  people,  many  of whom work  in  various  parts  of  the  greater  metropolitan area of the Witwatersrand. Enjoy sampling local cuisine with lunch at Wandies Place before visiting the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Nelson Mandela's former home. Our  next  stop  is  the  Apartheid  Museum.  This extraordinarily  powerful  museum  has  already become  the  city’s  leading  tourist  attraction,  an obligatory stop for visitors and residents alike.  The Museum,  with  its  large  blown­up  photographs, metal  cages  and  numerous  monitors  recording continuous  replays  of  apartheid  scenes  set  in  a double volume ceiling, concrete and red brick walls and  grey  concrete  floor, is  next  to  the Gold  Reef City  Casino,  five  kilometers  south  of  the  city center.  The  Museum  covers  approximately  6,000 square meters on a 7­hectare site which consists of  natural  recreated  veld  and  indigenous  bush habitat  containing  a  lake and  paths,  alongside  its stark but stunning building. At the completion of today’s tour you are transferred back to the airport to board your evening international flight home carrying with you fond memories of South Africa.
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