Best of South Africa

Best of South Africa
2019

Johannesburg & Cape Town, 3 game drives in Kruger and a private conservancy, plus a bush walk; stay in upscale hotels throughout. Optional extensions to Victoria Falls or the Garden Route

Overview

This season or version is currently unavailable.
Check out the open departures.

Style	Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packages, may accommodate up to 30.) More of these packages Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures		Group Size	24 travelers max
Themes	Active, History & Culture, Grand Tours, Nature & Wildlife
Activity Level	Recreational
What to Expect	This moderately-paced, escorted South Africa tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations and may have limited rest stops. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols.
Already booked?	Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

Get updates about this package

Explore deeper into South Africa on our comprehensive Best of South Africa small group escorted tour. Begin your tour in cosmopolitan Johannesburg, South Africa's largest metropolis, also know as "Egoli" or City of Gold. Then head north to begin your safari in Karongwe Private Game Reserve, where you'll embark on a late morning bush walk with an experienced ranger. Continue your game viewing in Kruger National Park, one of the world's oldest and most famous game reserves. Rest assured, you'll have ample opportunities to spot the Big 5! Finally, end your tour in scenic Cape Town, exploring the city's vibrant neighborhoods, storied past and incredible cuisine; then look down on it all from the top of Table Mountain. Your ticket is pre-purchased, so you won't spend hours waiting in line to buy one. Want even more? Extend your stay with a pre-tour to the majestic Victoria Falls or a post-tour to the scenic Garden Route, or both!

Package includes

Flights
Coach
Transfers
Hotel
Meals
Guides

Round-trip flights from New York via South African Airways wide-bodied jet service, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
Flights, ground transportation and transfers within South Africa
10 nights in superior first class and deluxe hotels
19 meals: 10 buffet breakfasts, 4 lunches, & 5 dinners, including welcome and farewell dinners with wine
Professional English-speaking tour directors
Comprehensive touring program and safaris, including entrance fees

Optional add-ons

Exciting excursions from Cape Town
Pre-tour extension to the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Post-tour extension along the Garden Route, one of the world's most scenic coastlines
Flights from Washington D.C. (IAD) are available for an additional charge. Booking the Victoria Falls pre-tour extension will require you to leave the U.S. 1 day earlier and an extra hotel night. Request pricing when making your reservation.

Why you'll love it

Visit South Africa's largest and most populous city, Johannesburg, and learn about the country’s poignant past at Liliesleaf Farm and the Apartheid Museum.
Experience a close-up look at daily life in the bustling neighborhood of Soweto.
Come face to face with lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and more during 3 game drives and a bush walk in Karongwe Private Game Reserve and Kruger National Park.
Enjoy the jaw-dropping view of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons, during your drive along the astonishing Panorama Route.
Bask in the scenic and historic highlights of beautiful Cape Town, including a trip to Table Mountain by cable car.
Explore Cape Point including Hout Bay, Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Itinerary at a Glance

1 Depart USA
2 Arrive Johannesburg
3 Johannesburg
4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve
5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve
6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park
7 Kruger National Park
8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town
9 Cape Town
Optional Excursion: Half Day Stellenbosch Winelands, $75
10 Cape Point & Cape Town
11 Cape Town
Optional Excursion: Full Day Walk to Freedom Tour, $125
12 Depart South Africa

Victoria Falls Pre-Tour Optional Extension

1 Depart USA
2 Victoria Falls
3 Victoria Falls
4 Victoria Falls
Optional Excursion: Chobe National Park, Botswana, $170
5 Depart Victoria Falls

Videos

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA

Depart New York on your overnight flight to Johannesburg

Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg

Arrive in Johannesburg, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel
This evening, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner

Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive today in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest and most populous city. Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. En route, enjoy a panoramic orientation tour of this cosmopolitan city, affectionately referred to as "Jo'Burg" or "Jozi" by the locals. Check-in at your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.

This evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner with wine.

Day 3 Johannesburg

Visit Liliesleaf Farm, where the journey to democracy in South Africa is honored
See what daily life is like in the Soweto neighborhood
Learn more about the rise and fall of apartheid at the Apartheid Museum

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, learn more about South Africa's turbulent past and its unwavering hope for the future. Begin with Liliesleaf Farm, once the headquarters of the military wing of the ANC. Here you will experience a first-hand account of the time when Nelson Mandela lived under an alias, and the events and circumstances leading up to the raid which ultimately led to his trial and incarceration on Robben Island. Then, continue on a fascinating tour to Soweto (short for Southwestern Township), a sprawling metropolis on the outskirts of Johannesburg for a close-up look at daily life in this bustling neighborhood, the largest black urban settlement in Africa and center of political campaigns aimed at the overthrow of the apartheid state. On the way, drive through the residential suburb of Rivonia, continue past the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Church, where many secret underground meetings took place, and the former residence of Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Nelson Mandela. Later, visit the Apartheid Museum for an in-depth historical look at the system of extreme racial segregation that plagued South Africa from 1948 until 1994, when it was finally dismantled. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve

Depart for Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Afternoon game drive in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve

Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Depart Johannesburg this morning for a scenic drive to your lodge, located in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve. The Reserve teems with an abundance of game, wildlife, and diverse vegetation. After check-in, you'll have some time to freshen up before an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge in time for dinner.

Day 5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve

Early morning game drive in open safari vehicles
Bush walk with an experienced local ranger

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After a very early morning wake-up call and a fresh cup of coffee or tea, served with rusks, a traditional South African biscuit, head out in open safari vehicles for your game drive into the African bush in search of the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo - as well as some of the smaller fascinating creatures such as chameleons, scrub hare, and more. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast.

Later, set off on foot for a bush walk with your experienced ranger, who will teach you some bush skills such as animal tracking as well as bird and plant identification. Return to your lodge to relax and enjoy the facilities.

Day 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park

Drive along the awe inspiring Panorama Route
View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon
Arrive this afternoon in Kruger National Park

Protea Hotel by Marriott Kruger Gate or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, relax on a scenic journey through the Limpopo province. Stop for breathtaking views of rolling mountains, verdant valleys, the Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's window and pass through Graskop and the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons. En route, enjoy lunch at the ever-popular Harries Pancakes.

Continue to your hotel, located just outside the Kruger National Park. On arrival, check-in at your hotel, and take some time to relax in the beautiful surroundings.

Day 7 Kruger National Park

Early morning game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles in Kruger National Park
Special Boma Dinner

Protea Hotel by Marriott Kruger Gate or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After an early morning wake-up call, depart for a morning safari in open 4x4 safari vehicles into the Kruger National Park, one of the world's most famous game reserves. You'll see the ever-present impala, and be on the lookout for wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and many other types of antelopes. Return to your hotel for a full breakfast.

This evening enjoy a special Boma Dinner.

Day 8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town

Early morning transfer to the airport to board flight for Cape Town
Balance of evening at leisure

Taj Cape Town or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, leave the bush behind as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Cape Town, a beautiful jewel nestled between stunning Table Mountain and a dramatic coastline. Cape Town is a modern, bustling and vibrant city boasting gorgeous scenery, fabulous restaurants, hotels and beaches, bursting with history and culture. Upon arrival at Cape Town's airport, you will be transferred to your centrally located hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Day 9 Cape Town

Witness the scenic and historic highlights of Cape Town on a half day panoramic city tour
Weather permitting, ascend by cable car to the top of Table Mountain
Remainder of the day at leisure or join an optional tour to the Stellenbosch Winelands

Taj Cape Town or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Cape Town showcasing the scenic and historic highlights of this vibrant city. Weather permitting, you'll travel by cable car to the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town's most striking landmark and recently announced one of the world's New Seven Wonders of Nature.

(If the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is closed due to maintenance or inclement weather, visit Signal Hill instead)

Continue through the Malay Quarter (Bo-Kaap). Lined with brightly colored houses and decorative mosques, this historic neighborhood was founded by former slaves from Malaysia whose Islamic culture gives the area a distinct character and contributes to Cape Town's rich cultural diversity. The final stop on your tour is the lively Cape Town Waterfront, where numerous restaurants and entertainment options abound.

Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure to become better acquainted with Cape Town or join an optional excursion to the Stellenbosch Winelands.

Optional Excursion: Half Day Stellenbosch Winelands, $75

Enjoy an optional half day excursion to glorious Stellenbosch, located in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Take a leisurely drive through this beautiful, world-renowned region, before venturing into the wine-making process in a fascinating cellar tour with wine tasting. Then explore fine art galleries, architecture, history, and quaint shops in the region.

Day 10 Cape Point & Cape Town

Full day excursion to Cape Point including a cruise along Hout Bay
Visit Boulders Beach and see the African jackass penguins
Afternoon tour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Remainder of the day at leisure

Taj Cape Town or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

A full day excursion to Cape Point begins this morning with a cruise along Hout Bay, where you'll see the seals of Druiker Island. Enter the nature reserve that covers the southern part of the Peninsula, and drive through the unique scenery towards Cape Point. Travel by funicular railway to Cape Point where you can take in stunning views of the Cape of Good Hope.

After lunch, make a brief stop to visit the African jackass penguins at Boulders Beach, and then continue to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you'll have a magnificent display of indigenous South African flora. Return to your hotel late this afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 11 Cape Town

Last day to explore Cape Town at leisure
Join an optional excursion to Cape Town's townships and a visit to Robben Island
Enjoy a farewell dinner and drum performance

Taj Cape Town or similar Breakfast & dinner

Optional Excursion: Full Day Walk to Freedom Tour, $125

Experience the wonderful energy of Cape Town's oldest township, Langa. Stop by a local arts and crafts market, and a local community church. Continue to a community center and learn about their stained glass and pottery programs for local youth. In the afternoon, visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years of his incarceration.

Note: Ferry tickets to Robben Island are limited and may not be available locally. We strongly recommend prepaying for this optional excursion.

This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner and drum performance.

Day 12 Depart South Africa

This morning, enjoy free time for some last minute shopping
This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight home via Johannesburg
Your memorable South African adventure ends as you touch down tomorrow morning in New York

Breakfast

Victoria Falls Pre-Tour Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare to visit Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. You'll depart from the U.S. 3 days before the departure dates shown.

Day 1 Depart USA

Depart New York on your overnight flight for Victoria Falls via Johannesburg

Day 2 Victoria Falls

Arrive in Victoria Falls, meet your local guide, and transfer to your hotel
Remainder of the day at leisure

Full Day Itinerary

Today, arrive to Victoria Falls. You'll soon discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the greatest natural wonders—and the largest curtain of falling water in the world!

Check into your award-winning safari lodge, located high on a plateau bordering the Zambezi National Park. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure at one of the hotel swimming pools or game-viewing platforms. Elephants, buffalo and other wild animals often graze on hotel lawns.

May 21, 2020 will stay at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

Day 3 Victoria Falls

Guided tour of Victoria Falls
Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Your exploration of the falls begins with a guided tour of the Zimbabwe side. Located at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls consists of numerous falls separated by islands in the river below. The Zambezi River spills more than 2 million gallons per second over the Bakota Gorge, casting multiple rainbows and resulting in an awe-inspiring display of raw power unrivaled by other natural wonders. The tremendous roar of the water and the ever-present cloud of spray give the falls their local moniker, "Smoke that Thunders."

Later today, you'll have the opportunity to witness a breathtaking sunset while enjoying cruise along the Zambezi River. Be on the lookout for hippos, monkeys, elephants, and crocodiles that frequent the waters and the surrounding areas.

May 21, 2020 will stay at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

Day 4 Victoria Falls

Day at leisure or partake in an optional full day excursion to Chobe National Park

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent natural wonder on your own on the well-marked trails through the rainforest that wind up to and around the falls. The trails allow for excellent picture-taking from a variety of vantage points (be sure to protect your camera if it's not waterproof). There are a wide range of optional excursions available locally on request basis including game drives, walking safaris, bungee jumping, and more. We recommend the full day tour of Chobe National Park in Botswana.

May 21, 2020 will stay at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

Optional Excursion: Chobe National Park, Botswana, $170

Take advantage of an optional full day excursion to the Chobe National Park in Botswana, renowned for its large elephant population. Begin the day with a safari boat cruise on the Chobe River. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Chobe Game Lodge and end the day with an afternoon game drive in an open vehicle.

This excursion requires a passport and double-entry Zimbabwe visa.

Day 5 Depart Victoria Falls

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Johannesburg
See Day 2 of the tour itinerary above for the continuation of your touring program

Breakfast

Hotels

Protea Hotel by Marriott Kruger Gate

More information

Taj Cape Town

Deluxe

The 5 star Taj Cape Town Hotel captures the history and spirit of Cape Town’s inner city with all the opulence of the East. The hotel is optimally located, opening onto the bustling St. George’s Mall, nearby many of Cape Town’s top attractions and food destinations, along with a multitude of historic hot spots, galleries, and boutiques.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Reviews & Photos

We love hearing your stories and seeing your photos! Here are some moments other travelers captured on this package. Or check out our entire fan photo gallery.

Check out independent, verified reviews from real travelers on Feefo.

Trip Details

What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about South Africa? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Zimbabwe? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Botswana? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.