Day 01: Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive Cape Town International Airport. Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by our local representative who will present you with a welcome packet including necessary documentation. Private transfer to your hotel for check-in and balance of day at leisure. Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
Day 02: Cape Town
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day private Cape Peninsula tour.
In 1578 Sir Francis Drake described it as “The fairest cape in the whole circumference of the globe,” and it still is. The Peninsula can be divided into the Atlantic coast on the west (including the City of Cape Town) and the False Bay coast on the east. With nothing but water all around the peninsula, the weather can be a little unpredictable and the wind can whip itself up into a fury. Luckily when it is howling on one side it is normally quiet on the other, so you can always find a sheltered spot.
Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard, to Hout Bay. From Hout Bay, travel to Noordhoek and through Ou Kaapse Weg. Proceed to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, where you may opt to ride the Funicular (own account) where you can view the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape Peninsula is the thin finger of land in the Southwestern corner of Africa with the city of Cape Town at its head. As you travel south towards Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the land gets narrower until you reach the very tip, with nothing beyond except Antarctica.
On leaving the Nature Reserve, proceed to Simonstown, for a short stop at Boulders Beach. Nestled in historic Simon's Town in South Africa, Boulders Penguin Colony is part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. Almost 3000 African (jackass) penguins, so called because their call resembles the bray of a donkey, reign supreme amidst rounded rocks and fish-filled False Bay. These endangered, flightless birds are free to roam the seas and return to their private haven – Boulders Beach.
Return to Cape Town later this afternoon. Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)
Day 03: Cape Town
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day private Cape Winelands tour.
Your full day excursion takes in the tranquility and beauty of the Cape Winelands. Travel to the French Quarter of Franschhoek, home to the French Huguenots, who first made wine in this area some 300 years ago. Spend some time exploring Franschhoek on foot - a host of shops and galleries line the Main Street, providing a wonderful choice of antiques, a world-class collection of artworks and interesting bric-a-brac to browse through. There are also specialty shops such as Fromagerie's, a chocolate factory and a carpet maker.
After a picnic lunch (own account) at a well-known wine estate, travel to Stellenbosch and onto Spier Wine Estate. While the adults enjoy a wine tasting, the children spend time viewing the big cats of the Cheetah Outreach Program, and visit the Birds of Prey center. This afternoon we recommend time spent relaxing in the gardens on the estate while the children explore the varied terrain of the Children's Garden. There are also walks through the rose gardens, by the riverside, and by the lakeside. For the energetic there are long walks to the Golf Course and the vineyards.
Return to Cape Town this afternoon. Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)Day 04: Cape Town – Grootbos Reserve
Breakfast at the hotel. Private visit to Table Mountain National Park and transfer Grootbos Nature Reserve.
Transfer to Table Mountain for a ride in the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic city views. This famous landmark is one of Cape Town’s wonders and the view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking.
Continue by land to Grootbos Nature Reserve for check-in and free afternoon to explore your surrounds.
Experience nature like never before. Let expert guides introduce you to the wonders of the fynbos. Discover the fascinating relationships between the insects, birds, mammals and flowering plants of this diverse ecosystem. Smell the aromatic wild herbs, watch for exquisite birds and be awed by the scenery that surrounds you. Take a meandering path through an ancient Milkwood forest, where thousand-year-old trees send exploratory branches in search of sunlight, or visit one of the remnant Afro-montane forests on the reserve. Young and old can explore this natural wonderland on foot or by four-wheel drive vehicle, or take a horse ride to enjoy the views from the elevation of a comfortable saddle on a well-schooled horse or pony.
Families discover countless adventures in a world with a wealth of treasures. It may be found in a beach excursion filled with a host of fun and games or an exciting boat trip to visit seals, penguins and the humbling giant of the ocean, the Southern Right Whale. If you prefer to stay firmly land-based, a rich choice of nature-based activities are available. Children help feed the animals and enjoy riding lessons on the paddock and rides through the reserve. On scenic walks or 4x4 drives our guides will share exciting nature stories with you.
Lunch and dinner at lodge. Garden Lodge or Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 05: Grootbos Reserve
All meals at the lodge. Full day at Grootbos Nature Reserve.
Feel the sand beneath your feet while breathing in crisp salt air that has the unmistakable freshness and magnificence of the ocean. See your lone footprints fade into the distance behind you while exploring deserted beaches or visit a stone-age coastal cave and be reminded of the countless generations who have walked these beaches before you.
Accompany our specialist guides to explore the tidal rock pools and coastal caves while listening to stories that make you wonder at the mysteries of early inhabitants and famous shipwrecks along the coast. Spend an afternoon lazing on one of our safe swimming beaches while enjoying a freshly packed picnic.
This coastline offers a marine experience like no other. See 40-ton Southern Right Whales only meters from your boat. Travel to the island refuge of huge sea bird colonies and admire the underwater antics of a 60 000 strong Cape Fur Seal colony. Be amazed by the awesome spectacle of a great white shark breaking the surface and transfixing you with an unblinking stare. The cliffs of Walker Bay, right at our doorstep, offer the best land based whale viewing in the world. Watch spellbound as mothers, calves and energetic bulls come to within 30 meters of the rocky shoreline.
The Cape’s floral environment is one of a kind. Nowhere else is plant life more diverse. Grootbos Nature Reserve conserves 1700 hectares of pristine fynbos, the Cape’s unique vegetation type. Within our borders lies a wealth of more than 650 species of indigenous plants. Huge stands of extravagant proteas paint the hillsides and bulbs burst into flower after fire. Pollination, seed dispersal and germination - there is always something happening and a story to be told.
Our expert botanical guides will open your eyes to the intricacies of the fynbos ecosystems and leave you with another lasting impression of the wonders of nature. Garden Lodge or Forest Lodge (B,L,D)Day 06: Grootbos Reserve - Kruger National Park
Breakfast at lodge. Private return transfer to Cape Town Airport.
NOTE: Cape Town-Kruger Mpumalanga flight is not included in land price.
On arrival to Kruger Mpumalanga airport, you are met by lodge staff and transferred to world-renowned Kruger National Park where your safari begins with game viewing en route to your luxury lodge.
Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
After checking in, you will have the opportunity to freshen up and have lunch. Spend some time relaxing, before departing on a game drive late this afternoon. Return to the lodge after dark, for dinner. Jock’s Safari Lodge (B,L,D)Day 07: Kruger National Park
Meals at lodge. Full day game viewing activities with your resident safari guides.
Game drives in open landrovers and a professional team of game rangers, offer guests the thrill of close encounters with Africa’s BIG FIVE.
Early morning game drives start with a wake up call between 05h00 and 06h00; tea and coffee is served in the lounge before heading out for your game drive. Leave in time to catch the sunrise & great animal viewing.
Return to camp by 9am and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Join guided Walking safaris after breakfast where our game rangers offer fauna and flora lectures and magnificent rock art viewing. Each topic is discussed and guests are welcome to set the pace as they wish. There is of course always the good possibility of game viewing on these outings. Lunch and relaxation time is enjoyed until the big game drive starts in the late afternoon. Beverages and snacks are served at a scenic place en route to watch the African sunset.
Once back from the evening game drive, dinner is served at the lodge or in your own room if you wish. Jock’s Safari Lodge (B,L,D)Day 08: Kruger National Park - Depart
Breakfast at lodge. Early morning game drive and return private transfer to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport. (B)
NOTE: Kruger Mpumalanga - Johannesburg flight is not included in land price.
