Essence of South Africa with Victoria Falls
Essence of South Africa with Victoria Falls
$7095
Essence of South Africa with Victoria Falls
13 Days Starting in Cape Town, South Africa and ending in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Visiting: Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Cape Winelands, Hoedspruit, Karongwe Private Game Reserve, Karongwe Private Reserve, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AFEVN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Eco Conscious, Foodie and Wine Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Southern Africa with the "Essence of South Africa with Victoria Falls" tour. This adventure takes you from the vibrant cityscapes of Cape Town and Johannesburg to the awe-inspiring natural wonders of Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. Experience the iconic Table Mountain, the historic streets of Bo-Kaap, and the wildlife-rich Karongwe Private Game Reserve. Enjoy a traditional braai in Hermanus, support sustainable tourism in a Shangaan village, and explore the cultural tapestry of Soweto. With expertly guided tours, luxurious accommodations, and immersive experiences, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation. Whether you're cruising the Chobe River or witnessing the majestic Victoria Falls, every moment promises to be a highlight. Join us for a journey that celebrates the diverse beauty and rich heritage of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Dinner
South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ and her iconic Table Mountain extend a warm welcome as you embark on a small group journey that will reveal the highlights of South Africa. Spend the day delving into Cape Town’s cosmopolitan surrounds before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Table Mountain And Tour Cape Town
Location: Cape Town
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we encounter Table Mountain first-hand, ascending via aerial cableway to its vast flat top – a rocky wonderland of rich Cape fynbos and curious dassies (hyraxes). Peer over the bustling City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard keeping a keen eye out for the landmarks your Travel Director will show you during this morning's city tour, including Company Gardens, Bo-Kaap and the Castle of Good Hope. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cape Town at leisure. Ramble up Bree Street to sample the city’s vibrant coffee culture or take a stroll along the Sea Point promenade with the fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Consider joining our Optional Experience to explore infamous Robben Island, with your guide revealing its turbulent past and the cell where Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his prison term.
Day 3: Circumnavigate The Cape Peninsula
Location: Cape Peninsula
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
Circumnavigate the Cape Peninsula, from trendy Camps Bay to Cape Point and back. The crashing waves of the Atlantic to your right, the rocky 12 Apostles to your left, wind your way along one of the world’s most magnificent coastal roads towards the outcrop that is Africa’s most extreme south-western tip. Say a quiet hello to the shy penguins of Boulders Beach, see the Cape of Good Hope and travel through charming coastal towns along the way.
Day 4: Cape Winelands And Hermanus Excursion Connect With Locals
Location: Cape Winelands
Accommodation: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Accommodation Name: Southern Sun The Cullinan
Meals Included: Breakfast
Venture to the town of Franschhoek and see during your orientation why it is proclaimed as one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world. Take the scenic Franschhoek Pass to the coastal town of Hermanus for your Be My Guest experience. Connect With Locals when you meet local business owner Stefan, who will treat you to a delicious traditional braai (barbecue) featuring deliciacies such as boerewors, pap and melktert. Over a glass of his homemade wine he’ll share stories of his life in South Africa’s whale watching capital. Return to Cape Town via a scenic driving route, arriving in the late afternoon. Enjoy your evening at leisure.
Day 5: From City To Safari
Location: Hoedspruit
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you’ll bid farewell to the 'Mother City' and fly to Hoedspruit where a private game reserve near South Africa's great Kruger National Park beckons. Start your time in the South African bushveld with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visit to a local Shangaan village. Learn about the traditions and customs of the Shangaan people and how the Eco Academy there provides eco and wildlife education. The visit includes a simple meal of grilled chicken, pap, Shangaan style cabbage, and for the brave, the opportunity to try mopani worms! Settle in to one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories, Becks Safari Lodge, your home in the bush for the next three nights.
Day 6: Safari In Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Location: Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The action begins as we embark on an early morning game drive through Karongwe Private Reserve with a Local Specialist game ranger and Shangaan tracker-guide. The rising sun awakens the birds and insects that share your journey into the bush, as you scour the dense brush for signs of the Big 5. After lunch, and time for a siesta and a swim, return to the bush for an afternoon safari drive.
Day 7: Seek Out The 'Big 5' Safari Animals In Karongwe
Location: Karongwe Private Reserve
Accommodation: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Accommodation Name: Shiduli Private Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today enjoy another full day of game drives through Karongwe Private Reserve. Continue to scour the dense brush with your Local Specialist for incredible encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife. End the day with a traditional sundowner drink overlooking the Game Reserve, keeping your eyes peeled for signs of wildlife that emerge from their cover of darkness.
Day 8: Journey To Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: The Maslow
Accommodation Name: The Maslow
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning have your camera's ready for the last of your game drives before your flight to Johannesburg. Check into your hotel in the heart of Sandton that's well located for exploring the nearby restaurants and shopping during your free evening.
Day 9: Discover Historical Soweto Dive Into Culture
Location: Johannesburg
Accommodation: The Maslow
Accommodation Name: The Maslow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Unlock the secrets of the 'city of gold' on a full-day tour. Dive Into Culture during a visit to the Constitutional Hill, Mandela House Museum and the Regina Mundi Church, which chronicles South Africa's tumultuous Apartheid years.
Day 10: Welcome To Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Accommodation Name: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Welcome to Zimbabwe! Meet your Trafalgar representative on arrival at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to your accommodation. Buckle up for an exhilarating small group encounter with Victoria Falls, an untamed natural wonder that has captured the imagination of explorers and adventurers since David Livingstone declared it the most wonderful sight he had seen in Africa. Board a cruise and navigate one of Africa’s mightiest rivers, cruising past islands of basking crocodile and hippo pods lazing in the waning African sun, before returning to your lodge for dinner.
Day 11: Discover Majestic Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Accommodation Name: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Join a Local Specialist on a guided tour of the world's largest waterfall. Admire the powerful curtain of water from various vantage points in Zimbabwe – feel the fine spray and hear the thunderous roar as water crashes over a hundred meters into a swirling mass in the gorge below. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure with the sound of the 'Smoke that Thunders' never far from your ears. Tonight you may choose to join an Optional Experience Boma dinner and interactive drum show.
Day 12: Explore Botswana's Chobe National Park
Location: Chobe National Park
Accommodation: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Accommodation Name: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cross the Botswana border for a day-trip into Chobe National Park, where large herds of African elephant roam. Board your Chobe River cruise, watching herds of elephant and buffalo come to the edge of the river to drink. See the flash of a kingfisher hovering over the water to catch its next meal, then enjoy an included lunch at Chobe Safari Lodge on the banks of the mighty Chobe River. Later return to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for your last night in Zimbabwe.
Day 13: Farewell Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Meals Included: Breakfast
We bid farewell to the 'Smoke that Thunders' and return to Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls Airport for your onward journey.
What's Included
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All transport and transfers shown
All transport and transfers as shown in the itinerary are included.
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver will accompany you throughout the tour.
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Cherry-picked hotels and safari lodges, all tried and trusted
Accommodation in cherry-picked hotels and safari lodges that are tried and trusted is included.
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included.
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Air-conditioned coach or Quantum bus
Travel in an air-conditioned coach or Quantum bus is included.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras are part of the tour.
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Optional Experiences and free time
Optional experiences and free time are included in the itinerary.
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On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Hotels of similar standard and location may be used if necessary.
What's Not Included
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional excursions
Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Visa fees
Visa fees for entry into South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana are not included.
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International flights
International flights to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included.
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
- 5 Lunch (L)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Dive Into Culture
- Johannesburg: Learn about South Africa's turbulent past on an interactive Johannesburg and Soweto Freedom tour.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with all transport and transfers included, featuring an air-conditioned coach or Quantum bus, and a flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, ensuring a seamless journey throughout your adventure.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury with cherry-picked hotels and safari lodges, including Southern Sun The Cullinan, Shiduli Private Game Lodge, The Maslow, and Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, all tried and trusted for a memorable stay.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a 'Be My Guest' experience in Hermanus where you join a local business owner for a traditional braai and homemade wine. Additionally, there is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Hoedspruit where you visit a local Shangaan village and learn about their traditions and the Eco Academy.
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What wildlife experiences can I expect on this tour?
You will have multiple game drives in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve to seek out the 'Big 5' safari animals. Additionally, there is a day-trip to Botswana's Chobe National Park where you can see large herds of African elephants and other wildlife during a river cruise.
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What is the significance of the visit to Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls is one of the world's largest waterfalls and a natural wonder. The tour includes a guided visit to the falls, allowing you to admire the powerful curtain of water from various vantage points in Zimbabwe.
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Are there any optional experiences available during the tour?
Yes, there is an optional experience to explore Robben Island in Cape Town, and you can also choose to join an optional Boma dinner and interactive drum show at Victoria Falls.
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How does the tour contribute to sustainability and community development?
The tour supports sustainability and community development through the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Hoedspruit, which directly supports the local Shangaan village and Eco Academy. Additionally, your stay in Karongwe Private Game Reserve contributes to the area's environmental sustainability.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions