Itinerary

This tour starts at 1:00PM on January 22, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town after changing flights in Johannesburg. In Cape Town, you will be met by your chauffeur and transferred to your hotel. The Commodore Hotel is a 5 star property situated in the heart of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town's cultural center, with a variety of stores, restaurants and bars. The hotel offers superb service and excellent cuisine in a friendly environment and most rooms have wonderful views of Table Mountain, Table Bay and Signal Hill. The Clipper Restaurant offers superb dining in a tranquil setting or you can relax to the nostalgic melodies played by the piano man over a light meal or afternoon tea at The Admiralty Bar & Lounge and indulge in a large selection of sherries, brandies and fine cognacs, or explore the Commodore House Wine Collection. Tonight, you'll enjoy welcome dinner at the hotel.
Meals: D

Day 2: The tour starts early with a trip up Table Mountain in a cable car (weather permitting). The revolving cable cars give stunning views over Cape Town. The summit of Cape Town's world-famous landmark is a national monument, where there will be time to do some easy hiking to different vistas. After the descent, you'll begin an orientation of the city: pass by the Houses of Parliament, City Hall and Slave Lodge, followed by a stroll through the Company Gardens, as well as the Castle - South Africa's oldest building, and District Six Museum, which documents the tragic apartheid-era disintegration of a vibrant community, experience the colorful Bo-Kaap and savor the spicy aromas of the Malay Quarter. Your tour ends with a diamond cutting tour and a stop at shopper's paradise at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront before returning to your hotel.
Meals: B

Day 3: After breakfast, depart on your full day Cape Peninsula tour. See for yourself how this spectacular southern tip of Africa became known as the 'Fairest Cape'. Drive past the pristine beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno - the hottest real estate in the world - to Hout Bay, a crayfish fishing harbor. After a stop for lunch, it's on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where you'll ride the funicular to the scenic viewing point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The sea and mountain views are spectacular: amid the rocky landscape - home to mountain zebra, baboons, eland and ostriches - blooms magnificent Cape flora. After lunch at Two Oceans Restaurant, continue along the coastline to the beautiful Boulders Beach where you can stroll among a colony of penguins. The next stop is an old European settlement of Simon's Town and a tour of the colorful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. With over 3,500 species of Flora and Fauna, it is regarded as one of the finest botanical gardens in the world, and with the backdrop of Table Mountain, there's nothing that can compare. There are remarkable floral displays throughout the year and an exhibit of Zimbabwean stone sculptures in Gardens. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Meals: B, L

Day 4: After breakfast, depart on your full day Winelands tour. While South Africa's fertile valleys are world famous for their crisp white and classic French-style red wines, the area is also a treasury of rustic beauty and sprawling estates shaded by giant oak trees. Our drive today will include the country's principal wine routes of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Begin with a visit to Paarl where you will be struck by the beauty of the Valley, the pristine blue sky, the rolling vineyards and the Pearl of Paarl set high above the valley. From Paarl, continue northwest to the beautiful village of Franschhoek, near the Drakenstein Mountains founded in 1688 by French immigrants fleeing the Huguenot religious persecution in Europe. A memorial in the town commemorates the arrival of these early settlers who helped develop the wines sought after by Napoleon, Bismarck and Edward VII. Then, we enjoy a sumptuous Cape Malay cuisine during lunch, before we head to Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and the historic heart of the wine region.  In 1679, Dutch East India Company governor Simon van der Stel, recognized the fertility of this long valley on the banks of the Eerste River, as perfect for vineyards. A gracious blend of 18th century Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian buildings is evident on Dorp Street, where massive oaks still shade original water furrows. For the grand finale, you'll head to the fabulous Stellenbosch wine estate.
Meals: B, L

Day 5: Spend the day at your leisure exploring Cape Town. Cape Town is a city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities to offer and it has something for everyone. From the landmark beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to the vibrant V&A Waterfront, Cape Town city centere to excellent shopping. It is a sophisticated city at the gateway to a majestic continent. The Mother City is a place where old and new harmoniously converge - in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essence of its people. The city is dominated by a towering, table-shaped mountain, set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush valleys, where two oceans converge.
Meals: B

Day 6: Today, you'll fly to Mpumalanga, where you will be transferred to the magnificently situated Hippo Hollows Country Estate. With lush indigenous gardens and views of the Sabie River, it offers stylish accommodation with great views of the river with its resident hippos. There are two outdoor swimming pools, and the rooms are beautifully decorated with African patterns, tall thatched roofs and cool stone tiles. In the afternoon, you'll tour the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest in the world and one of South Africa's scenic wonders. The Canyon starts at Bourke's Luck Potholes and ends at the Three Rondavels, and during the tour it is easy to access the hiking trails to vistas over the Pinnacle, God's Window and the Three Rondavels. In the evening, enjoy a relaxed dinner in the estate's restaurant.
Meals, B, D

Day 7: After breakfast, enjoy a visit to a local Shangana village, where the residents share in the way of life of the Shangaan people. The village is set in the shade of ancient trees in a reserve of forest and grassland, and has a bustling African market where local craftspeople trade their craft. The native guides take guests through the village, including the Chief's Kraal. Created and built by local Shangana people, the village is a place of great pride and a way of preserving a rich heritage. After the tour, you'll be transferred to your safari lodge. The Djuma Vuyatela in Sabi Sands consists of 8 luxury thatched suites, including bedroom, dressing-room and bathroom with indoor bathtub and outdoor shower, separate lounge, a private teak deck and a private plunge pool. The suites have air-conditioning, fans, mosquito nets, telephone and bar fridge. Each chalet has a breathtaking view into pristine African savannah with a waterhole where abundant wildlife comes to drink. This Sabi Sands lodge boasts unique African art, with beautiful mosaics adorning the walls while vibrant and colorful crockery decorate the tables. The main lodge is constructed of dark hardwood and stainless steel, with a tall viewing platform, a large double deck, outdoor dining area, wine cellar, a bar overlooking the watering hole, and a suspended bird-watching tower. The lodge has Internet, a library, a gym and a relaxation room. Breakfast is a full English style buffet, lunch and the afternoon tea include a wide range of savory specialties and cakes; dinner is a four-course meal under the stars. All drinks are included.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 8: Enjoy early morning and evening game drives in the unspoilt bush to see the animals in their natural environment. The Vuyatela Djuma Lodge is in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve where the "Big Five" - Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard - are prominent. Beyond day and night game drives, there are daily guided walks in the bush and tours to a nearby Shangaan village, where you will learn about the customs and traditions of the local people.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9: Enjoy early morning and evening game drives in the unspoilt bush to see the animals in their natural environment. The Vuyatela Djuma Lodge is in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve where the "Big Five" - Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard - are prominent.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 10: Enjoy early morning and evening game drives in the unspoilt bush to see the animals in their natural environment. The Vuyatela Djuma Lodge is in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve where the "Big Five" - Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard - are prominent.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 11: After an early morning game drive to track the animals that may have eluded you so far, followed by breakfast, you will be transferred by road to Mpumalanga Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo International Airport, connect with your scheduled South African Airways flight back to the USA.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 12 (Post Tour): Arrive in New York (JFK) and return home with a lifetime of memories!

The tour ends at 5:30PM on February 1, 2012 at the Johannesburg Airport in South Africa.

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