Classic Southern Africa - Packaged Getaways - South Africa

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport, where a Thompsons Representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the ‘Mother City’ at your own pace. Wander around the V&A Waterfront or visit one of the many shopping malls Cape Town has to offer. One of the most beautiful cities in South Africa, and possibly the world, Cape Town has the reputation of being the most laid back city with Capetonians adhering to ‘Africa time’. This relaxed atmosphere is attributed to Table Mountain which is known to be amongst the most spiritual places on earth.

Day 2: Cape Peninsula
Depart on a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, a journey with incomparable scenery. Drive along the Atlantic sea-board, via Hout Bay, on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and its scenic viewing point. Stop at Boulders Beach to visit the resident African penguins, and then travel through the naval port of Simon’s Town, which has stunning views of the Cape Peninsula. Simon’s Town is nestled on False Bay and is rich in history, character, atmosphere and lots of warmth. This little town is well known for the whales, penguins and seals with World Heritage status.

Day 3: Cape Winelands
You don’t need to be a wine connoisseur to see the pleasure of spending a day meandering around the Cape Winelands, sampling wines that are among the finest in the world. Today we take in the tranquillity and beauty of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, in the Cape Winelands. The Cape Winelands is a wonderful combination of small historic towns, beautiful scenery and wine estates producing delicious wines and brandies. There are literally hundreds of wine estates all offering the chance to sample their unique blends in a picture perfect setting. Experience our rich historical and cultural heritage while visiting quaint villages, and sampling wines of merit at some well known wineries.

Day 4: Cape Town / Johannesburg / Kruger National Park
Transfer to Cape Town International Airport and board your onward flights to Johannesburg and Kruger (flight not included). On arrival at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport transfer to your selected game lodge. The Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. Depart on your first safari this afternoon, and experience Africa’s wildlife with your game ranger sharing his intimate knowledge of the bush.

Day 5: Kruger National Park
After an early wake-up, depart on another exhilarating safari. This area is well known for its leopard sightings and boasts numerous species of antelope, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, lion, elephant, wild dog and buffalo, as well as an abundance of birdlife. Return to the lodge to enjoy a hearty breakfast, and laze away the afternoon by the pool or in the library. Later depart on a thrilling game drive, returning to the lodge for a delicious dinner.

Day 6: Kruger National Park / Johannesburg
After your morning safari transfer to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport for your flight to Johannesburg (flight not included). Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to your hotel, located in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the site of a large-scale gold and diamond trade due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills. The city is fast paced, fun, a modern cosmopolitan metropolis packed with vitality and verve.

Day 7: Johannesburg / Victoria Falls
After breakfast transfer back to OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), for your flight to Livingstone/Victoria Falls (flight not included). Arrive and settle in to your hotel, and then enjoy a romantic sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River. No trip to Victoria Falls is complete without experiencing the famous Zambezi River sunset by boat. A 2 hour sojourn up the river with the opportunity of seeing elephant swimming to the islands, or the white rhino and giraffe on the Zambian bank. Pods of hippo snort and gape, and crocodiles slither from the sandbanks. Herds of buffalo and antelope may be seen coming down to the river to drink. The boat is allowed to drift quietly as the sun sets through the palms lining the bank, and the myriad water birds skim the surface, heading for the trees to roost.

Day 8: Victoria Falls
View the glorious spectacle of Victoria Falls, known by the locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or ‘the Smoke that thunders’. This incomparable wonder is shrouded by mists, and surrounded by evergreen forests. The Victoria Falls offer an inescapable closeness to the natural elements. The towering column of spray when the river is high, the thunder of the falling water, the terrifying abyss that separates Zimbabwe from Zambia, the forest-lined, placid, tranquil lagoons upstream in which hippo and deadly crocodiles lurk.

Day 9: Victoria Falls
Spend today at leisure or experience a ‘taste of Chobe‘ on a full day Chobe Tour (departing and returning same day to Victoria Falls). Chobe National Park, located a short drive from Victoria Falls, is the second largest National Park in Botswana, and home to one of the greatest concentrations of elephant in Africa. A day tour to Chobe includes a game drive in the Chobe National Park and a boat cruise on the Chobe River to view these magnificent beasts.

Day 10: Victoria Falls / Johannesburg
This morning we recommend an optional ‘Flight of Angels’ for a breathtaking bird’s eye-view of the Falls. Transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight back to OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), after having seen Africa’s wildlife and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World!