Luxury Tour - 11 Days in Africa
 This safari is a private safari with a private
guide accompanying guests on the day trips
and scenic tours, except at Phinda and Londolozi
where you will be in the hands of their expert
rangers and trackers.
 Accommodations
are in Relais & Chateaux Properties
except for Phinda (which
is one of the Small
Luxury Hotels of the
World) and
Fancourt.
Day 1: Cape Town
Transfer from Cape Town International Airport
to Ellerman House, an exclusive private
retreat, situated on the slopes of Lion's
Head Mountain with magnificent ocean
and mountain views. The tranquil mood of
Ellerman House is further complemented by
excellent cuisine and a fully stocked cellar
of South African vintage wines. Individual
balconies have panoramic views across the
Atlantic to Robben Island, and the
skyline of Cape Town.
Overnight Ellerman House.
Day 2: Cape Town
Full day Cape Peninsula Private Tour.
In the early morning we depart for the Good
Hope Nature Reserve and travel along
the Atlantic Seaboard coast passing the
seaside suburbs of Sea Point, Bantry
Bay and Clifton. We stop on the granite
boulders where we have magnificent views
of the Twelve Apostles along the
Atlantic coast side of Table Mountain,
and the beach of Camps Bay. We
continue our coastal drive to Hout
Bay, a charming little village and
fishing harbor where we board a boat to
see the mass of Cape Fur Seals on Duiker
Island (this is weather dependent).
We leave Hout Bay and drive along
the spectacular road below Chapman's Peak,
considered to be one of the finest scenic
coastal drives in the world. We enter the Cape
of Good Hope Nature Reserve and take
a drive off the main road to the untouched
area of Olifants Bay. We may have
a picnic lunch here or enjoy lunch at one
of the restaurants along the coast. We spend
time exploring the rocky coastline and fynbos before
heading for the tip of the Cape Peninsula and
take a walk or the funicular to the lighthouse
at Cape Point with its beautiful views
overlooking False Bay.
We leave the reserve and drive along the False
Bay coastline to Boulders Beach,
an opportunity to study the only penguins
found on the continent of Africa, the African
Jackass Penguin. We continue on through
historic Simonstown, with its past
and present naval traditions and travel
along the coast to Fish Hoek. We
return to the city over Boyes drive with
views of the fishing village of Kalk
Bay and the seaside towns of St.
James and Muizenberg.
Overnight Ellerman House. Breakfast & lunch
included.
Day 3: Cape Town
Full day city. Table Mountain & Kirstenbosch
Private Tour.
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Our tour
today starts with a visit to Table
Mountain. Weather permitting, we
board the new rotair cable car which
takes under 5 minutes to reach the
summit. Experience the unforgettable
sweeping views of "the fairest
cape in the whole circumference of
the world". |
We return to the city via the Cape Malay
quarter. The Malay people were first
brought to Cape Town as slaves,
and today their colorful culture and cuisine
are an influential part of city life.
We take a walk through Government Avenue where
the original settlers planted their vegetable
gardens. Today it is home to South
African Museum, House of Parliament, National
Gallery and St. George's Cathedral.
Our walk through the city takes us to
the old town square which bustles with
the market traders of Greenmarket Square and
the St. George's Mall.
Our tour continues to The Cape Castle,
the oldest building in the country with its
beautiful collection of old Cape paintings.
We visit the moving District Six Museum,
highlighting the horror of the forced removal
of people from their homes.
We then drive to the world renowned Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens, situated on the
slopes of Table Mountain for lunch
at the Silvertree Restaurant. These
world-renowned gardens are dedicated to
the preservation of the indigenous plants
of Southern Africa. Some 6,000 different
species are grown here, including ancient
cycads and many species of protea, erica,
pelargoniums and ferns. Throughout the
year, the gardens are a colorful blaze
of flowers, shrubs and trees. We spend
time in this magnificent garden and return
to the city in the late afternoon. This
evening is at leisure. Experience one
of the many other excellent restaurants
in Cape town.
Overnight Ellerman House. Breakfast
and lunch included.
Day 4: Winelands
| Today will be a leisurely experience
as we explore the Cape's wine route
towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and
Franschhoek. We will taste the "fruits
of the vines" and enjoy the charm
and hospitality of this unique area.
Estates visited vary and are selected
after discussing personal preferences. |
 |
We may have a picnic lunch or enjoy lunch
at one of the many restaurants in the area.
We drive to Boschendal and visit the
historic estate with some of the most beautifully
preserved Cape Dutch buildings in the Cape,
and its collection of priceless period furniture.
This estate gives us an insight into how
the early settlers lived at the Cape. We
explore the university town of Stellenbosch,
the second oldest town in the country, renowned
for the gracious Cape Dutch thatched and
gabled buildings and stately oaks, which
line the streets. Le Quartier Francais
Hotel is our stop for the night. It rests
in the French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek at
the head of one of the most beautiful valleys
of the Cape winelands and fine regional wines.
It frequently features amongst the Top Ten
Popular Restaurants in South Africa.
Overnight Le Quartier Francais. Breakfast,
lunch & dinner included.
Day 5: Garden Route
After breakfast we depart Franschoek and
the first leg of our journey takes us into
the fertile Breede River Valley through
the farming towns of Worcester and Robertson.
Today's attractions along the way are The Little
Karoo (Semi Desert), a visit to an ostrich
farm in Oudtshoorn, a visit to the
spectacular Cango Caves, and a drive
through the scenic Outeniqua Pass.
We spend our evening and overnight at the
uniquely located Fancourt Hotel and Country
Club Estate, set at the foot of the Outeniqua
Mountains in the heart of the Garden
Route. Enjoy superb cuisine in one of the
four restaurants. All rooms and suites are
individually furnished in country manor style.
Overnight Fancourt. Breakfast,
lunch & dinner included.
Day 6: Garden Route
In the town of George, we embark on
one of South Africa's most scenic railway
journeys aboard the Outeniqua steam train crossing
the Kaaimans River and disembark in Knysna.
We board the John Benn Ferry for a
visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve.
On our return by ferry we meet up with our
guide to continue the scenic drive to Plettenberg
Bay. Reminiscent of a gracious country
house, The Plettenberg Hotel was originally
a 19th century holiday mansion. Built on
a dramatic rocky headland separating the
two main swimming beaches, exclusivity is
the keynote of the Plettenberg.
Overnight at The Plettenberg Hotel.
Breakfast lunch & dinner included.
Day 7: Phinda
We transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport for
a scheduled flight to Durban. Air
transfer from Durban Airport to Phinda Reserve.
The Phinda Reserve spans seven different
ecosystems ranging from sand forests and
wetlands, to bushveld and fresh water pools.
Phinda attracts discerning visitors to the
region by offering a wide choice of activities:
game viewing, boat cruises, canoeing and
walking, as well as snorkeling and diving
along the nearby Maputaland coastline. Wildlife
attractions include lion, elephant, cheetah,
leopard, rhino, hippo, an abundance of general
game and prolific bird life.
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Phinda Rock Lodge offers
sweeping views across Maputaland's
coastal plain. |
Each of the six suites at Phinda Rock Lodge,
garlanded with twisting vegetation and suspended
off the edge of the rocky cliff, has a large
en suite bedroom, some leading to an outdoor
shower for bush bathing with an unrivaled
view. Suites decorated in subtle ethnic moods
also have their own private lounge, deck
and plunge pool. Phinda Vlei Lodge suites
of thatch, teak and glass, overlook Phinda's
unique vlei or pan system at the edge of
a forest, a favorite roaming ground of cheetah,
suni and red duiker. Each suite boasts a
large airy bedroom with spacious en suite
bathroom, plunge pool and outdoor deck, ideal
for bird and game watching.
Overnight at Rock or Vlei Lodge.
All meals and game viewing activities included.
Day 8: Phinda
Full day of game viewing activities. Overnight
at Rock or Vlei Lodge. All meals and
game viewing activities included.
Day 9: Londolozi
Air transfer from Phinda to Londolozi
Game Reserve. Overnight on a fully
inclusive basis. The top of the range Tree
Camp (rated by many as the most beautiful
in Africa) captures the ambiance of Africa
in an intimate and memorable way and accommodates
only 12 guests.
Photographic safaris using open land rovers,
on and off road, during the day and night
promise you a wide range of Africa's prolific
wildlife. For over twenty years Londolozi
has thrilled guests with spectacular viewing
of big game, with regular sightings of the
elusive leopard. They are also a wonderful
inspiration with their dynamic approach to "creative
conservation".
Overnight at Londolozi Tree Lodge.
All meals and game viewing activities included.
Day 10: Londolozi
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Full day game viewing activities. Overnight
at Londolozi Tree Camp.
All meals and game viewing activities
included.
Londolozi Leopard |
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Day 11: Mapumalanga/Johannesburg
Morning game viewing. After brunch we transfer
to Skukuza Airport for flight to JNB
and onward journey home or to take part in
one of the many extensions.
2008
Tour Costs
| 2008 - US$ per person sharing
accommodation |
| Per person sharing |
from $9,341.00
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| Includes light aircraft
travel |
Tour Includes
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Transport as stated in
air-conditioned microbus |
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English Speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified |
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3 meals + 2 game drives
daily, teas, coffees, cakes and laundry
at Phinda and Londolozi |
|
Air transfers as specified
- Entrance fees where applicable |
Tour Excludes
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Scheduled flights and airport departure taxes (quoted separately) |
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Meals other than those
specified |
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All beverages |
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Extras and gratuities |
Airfare Costs
International Airfare.
New
York or Atlanta roundtrip to Johannesburg or Cape
Town + scheduled internal flights in Africa from
US $1,525.00 (excluding taxes)
Other Safaris to South Africa
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