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31 Days Adventures in the African south Tour Package Duration: 31 Days / 30 Nights Priced From: $10,896 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses) Dates: Oct, Oct  Enjoying 'sundowners' around a crackling campfire as a red-orange sun slowly creeps behind the horizon, we prepare for our first night of this amazing 31-day tour through three incredible African countries in exotic style near Maun, the capital of Botswana. From the vast stretches of lush reed marsh in the Okavango Delta, through the thick canopy forests fringing the Kwai River and around the thundering cascade of Victoria Falls, and to the foothills of the snow-tipped Mount Kilimanjaro, we explore a wide range of topographical feature that encompass some of the most spectacular sceneries on the planet. Snapping photos of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and the huge array of other wildlife that brings flocks of tourists to Africa year after year, we have the unique opportunity to see creatures that can otherwise be seen only in zoos; to witness a herd of elephants roaming through lush thickets or prides of lions sunning themselves and sharing the spoils of a frenetic hunt truly are sights to behold. We visit tribal villages and learn about ancient customs, traditions and style of attire that have been passed down through the millennia; we saunter the streets of colonial towns in Zambia and admire unique architecture in booming metropolises in South Africa; we witness huge varieties of untouched flora and abounding fauna in world-famous wildlife reserves and conservation parks; and we treasure every day that we spend in these three magical destinations brimming with superlatives.
Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Maun Arrive in Maun, Botswana. After a chance to shower and relax after your long journey, we will enjoy "sundowners" around the campfire before dinner, as well as an orientation by your Tour Leader and local guide. Our first night is at Sitatunga camp just outside Maun, an area known for prolific resident birdlife. Though not deluxe, this safari is run on the basis of providing reasonable comfort for a camping trip. Wherever possible the camp is set up prior to our arrival allowing optimal time to view game. Mess tents are erected for dining and a competent cook produces tasty, well-balanced meals. Travelling with us means that you will be enjoying a real holiday; all duties are taken care of by our staff. Our specially designed and equipped vehicles are unequalled, and offer space, comfort and maximum pleasure in game viewing. Maintenance and service receive top priority and we carry with us a full range of spare parts. Our camping equipment is of the highest quality, comprising refrigerator, camp showers and toilets. Accommodation is in spacious 3x3m tents, which are insect-proof and well-ventilated. All bedding facilities are supplied, including sprung stretchers, mattresses and duvets. Overnight Sitatunga camp. Dinner. Day 2 Maun - Moremi This morning we include a scenic over-flight for an aerial view of the Okavango Delta. Rain falling on the distant Angolan highlands drains into this legendary African paradise. Our flight takes us over reed marsh comprised of papyrus, bullrush and acacia. An abundance of bird and animal life gather around the wetlands where crocodile and hippopotamus live. We then depart by overland vehicle to Moremi passing traditional villages en-route before entering the South Gate into the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, located on one of the "fingers" that form a peninsula into the Okavango swamps. Our game drive takes us on a scenic road through the Xaxanaka Lagoons where we have time to relax before dinner is served in the dining tent (Please note that the selection of beverages is local and limited). Every year, floods pour down from the highlands of Angola into the Okavango River and flow on through a vast network of narrow waterways, lagoons and broad expanses of the Okavango Delta. The water courses through this huge, 10 000 square kilometres of flood plain and dissipates in the sands of the Kalahari. ***** IT IS IMPORTANT to note that the nature of our activities and exact camp locations over the next few days could be significantly affected by seasonal variations in precipitation and water levels. This itinerary should give a very accurate sense of what will happen over these days, but passengers are urged to be flexible and be prepared for changes at the discretion of our local agents, Tour Leader, and guides. Overnight camping Xaxanaka area. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Moremi Wildlife Reserve Many travellers regard the Moremi Wildlife Reserve as the most spectacular and beautiful game park in Southern Africa. It covers more than 1000 sq km of grassy flood plains in the north-eastern corner of the Okavango Delta. Apart from savannah, the terrain includes winding waterways with banks of reeds, palm-covered islands, thick forest and lush, lily-covered lagoons where hippos bathe and sport. With such a wide variety of vegetation comes an incredibly wide spectrum of wild life. Huge herds of impala and tsessebe are always in the area, while in the dry season large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra flock into the park from the Kalahari in search of food and water. The rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope live in the papyrus banks of the waterways. Lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs hunt in the open grassland. The reserve is home to an immense number of birds. Unlike most other game parks, Moremi allows visitors to approach game on foot. The park has been kept as natural as possible by the people who created it, the Tawana tribe. In 1961, worried about the increase in game hunting, the tribe under the regent, Mrs Pulane Moremi, widow of Chief Moremi III, established the reserve on their own land. It was the first time an African tribe had founded and administered a game park. We have an early morning game drive through Moremi with its magnificent scenery in search of numbers of wildlife resident in this area. We return to camp at about 11h00 for delicious brunch and time to relax in camp. An afternoon boating excursion on the Xaxanaka Lagoons take us down the papyrus fringed channels of the eastern delta, prolific in bird life. Overnight camping in Xaxanaka area. All meals. Day 4 Moremi Wildlife Reserve - Kwai After breakfast we depart our campsite and travel towards Kwai River at Moremi's North Gate. The vegetation is mainly low but thick Mopani forest, with a lot of elephant activity. With lunch en route we will arrive at North Gate in the late afternoon. We overnight in view of the Kwai River. The Kwai (Khwai) River is part of the Okavango Delta's system. At a point where the river narrows to a stream and disappears into the sand you find Moremi. The Okavango is frequently called a swamp, but mostly its waters are beautifully clear and blue. Most of the Okavango waters are soaked up by the desert, or evaporate. In good years, a fraction may remain to flood Lake Ngami in the south and feed the Boteti River which runs into Lake Xau in the west and eventually into the huge depression of the Makgadikgadi Pan. The floods reach their peak in May, covering vast grass flats and making thousands of islands out of tree-covered ridges of land. Thick papyrus grows everywhere and, in the northern parts of the delta, chokes the waterways so that they are impenetrable except by canoes. Overnight camp in Kwai area. All meals. Day 5 Kwai River Area Today we have early morning and afternoon game drives around the Kwai River area. This wilderness is uninhabited, except for a few river Bushmen who roam there. They still work iron with primitive bellows, making knives, axes and spears. Their canoes, called mokoros, are hand-hewn from logs. In the parts of the delta where there is perennial water there are large numbers of crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes. Animals like the sitatunga, lechwe and Chobe bushbuck, which have adapted themselves to the conditions of reed and water, live on the islands. Overnight camp in Kwai River area. All meals. Day 6 Moremi Wildlife Reserve - Savuti Channel Area We have an early morning game drive for one last look at the Kwai before returning to our camp for breakfast. We leave Moremi and our route takes us on an adventurous day's drive northwards to Savuti. We will stop en-route for lunch. After a game drive past the Mababe Depression we will arrive at our campsite. Savuti's highlights are numerous--large prides of lions and immense herds of plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, Sassaby and impala. The Savuti Channel, a strange waterway, apparently seems to have a mind of its own; dry for one hundred years, it then flooded abruptly in the 1950's and remained flooded till the 1980's, when shifting of the subterranean tectonic plates caused it to dry up again. Overnight camping at Savuti. All meals. Day 7 Savuti Channel Area Savuti is one of Africa's most densely populated predator areas, and well known for its bull elephants. Both the Savuti waterhole and the Savuti Pan offer an ever changing spectacle of birds and wildlife. Morning and afternoon game drives with some time to relax during the heat of the day. Overnight camping at Savuti. All meals. Day 8 Savuti - Nogaatsha Leaving the plains of the Savuti Marsh we follow the Ngwezumba Valley, driving through mopane forests. Lunch en-route. In the afternoon we arrive at the remote pan of Nogaatsha, on which a variety of wildlife depend. Tonight we camp within sight of the waterhole. Overnight in the area of Nogaatsha. All meals. Day 9 Nogaatsha - Chobe National Park - Kasane After breakfast we leave for the Chobe River and hopefully will see the herds of elephant for which this park is famous. In the afternoon a boating excursion on the Chobe River offers a new dimension to game-viewing. The original inhabitants of what is now the park were the San people, otherwise known in Botswana as the Basarwa. They were hunter-gatherers who lived by moving from one area to another in search of water, wild fruits and wild animals. The San were later joined by groups of the Basubiya people and later still, around 1911, by a group of Batawana led by Sekgoma. When the country was divided into various land tenure systems, late last century and early this century, the larger part of the area that is now the national park, was classified as crown land. In 1967, the reserve was declared a national park. A major feature of Chobe National Park is its elephant population, comprising what is probably the world's largest. This population covers most of northern Botswana plus north-western Zimbabwe and is currently estimated at around 100,000. This elephant population has built up steadily from a few thousand since the early 1900s and has escaped the massive illegal offtake that decimated other populations in the 1970s and 1980s. The Chobe elephant are migratory, making seasonal movements of up to 200 km (125 miles) from the Chobe and Linyanti rivers where they concentrate in the dry season, to the pans in the south-east of the park, to which they disperse in the rains. The Kalahari elephant, including Chobe, has the distinction of being the largest in body size of all living elephants, though the ivory is brittle such that you will not see many huge tuskers among these rangy monsters. Overnight in Kasane. Chobe Safari Lodge. All meals. Day 10 Kasane, Botswana - Livingstone, Zambia - Victoria Falls Today we travel to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls from Kasane, the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and roughly the place where the countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia meet, the only place in Africa where four countries do so. We make our way across the river by boat (20 minutes) and continue the rest of the way to Vic Falls by road via the town of Livingstone, once an important town in southern Africa during the first days of European settlement and the beginnings of Colonial rule. This area has been inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years. The first known name of the falls was "Shongwe," and the current name did not come into being until the Scottish missionary David Livingstone was brought to the falls in 1855 and named them after Queen Victoria. The falls and the nearby town of Livingstone are on the mighty Zambezi River, the fourth longest in Africa, and forming the border with neighbouring Zimbabwe. Overnight at Victoria Falls, Zambia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Victoria Falls This morning we visit an authentic Zambian village. The chief has invited visitors into his village to get a glimpse of how his people have lived for generations and to learn a little about their traditional customs and beliefs. The Chief's guides and the people of the village are more than happy to show visitors their huts and take you inside, explain how they are built and decorated, introduce you to various craftsmen and women at work and ask you to taste some traditional foods and beer. This is a working village, not a purpose-built tourist attraction, and it is a privilege to be welcomed in. We will pass through the town of Livingstone, named for missionary and explorer David Livingstone. The main street of this sleepy colonial town is the important Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, sections of which are lined with classic colonial buildings. These Victorian tin roofed houses with wooden verandas, many of which are decaying, are a typical example of the English settler architecture. In 1905 settlers moved in to the higher ground at Livingstone to try and escape Malaria. Livingstone became the capital of Northern Rhodesia in 1911, but the capital was moved to Lusaka in 1935. This afternoon we will have a leisurely walking tour of the Zambian side of the falls. Though water levels may be low at this end of the falls from August to January, there are still some incredible views down the gorge. One special vantage point is the Knife Edge Bridge, which affords views of the eastern cataract, the main falls, and Boiling Pot, where the river turns into the Batoka Gorge, and of the famous 2km (1? mile) Zambezi River Bridge, commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes. The bridge was completed by 1905, but Rhodes never lived to see it completed. Those wanting to visit the Zimbabwe side of the falls can book an optional excursion (water always flows at this end of the falls regardless of seasonality). The bridge provides easy access between Zambia and Zimbabwe and normal form-filling (visa fees applicable, approx 30 USD for US citizens, 65 USD for Canadians, 55 USD for Britons) and leisurely queuing has to be done at the border post to pass from one side to the other. The bridge itself has an amazing view of the falls and the black shiny basalt rocks opposite on which sits a lush green mist-soaked rain forest. Overnight at Victoria Falls. Dinner if required. Day 12 Victoria Falls - Livingstone - Lusaka Today we fly from Livingstone to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Lusaka is part traditional Africa and part modern; this mix of new and old allows African markets and modern buildings to coexist. This is the central province of Zambia, which makes it naturally the most densely populated and the most tribally-diverse region. The city ends abruptly as the magnificent Zambezi valley drops away from the edges of the eastern suburbs. Overnight Lusaka. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Lusaka - Kafue National Park Today we drive from Lusaka to the vicinity of Kafue National Park and our lodge. The Kafue River and its tributaries contribute to the diversity of landscapes making this one of the most interesting and rewarding African parks. This park situated in central-western Zambia, is the size of Wales in Britain and twice the size of Yellowstone National Park in the USA. The park spills into three of Zambia's provinces and has an impressive range of over 400 species of birds and abundant wildlife. The only visible absentee being the giraffe. Kafue River and its tributaries help the great diversity of this landscape of rolling grass plains and forests. Much of the park is wooded but opens up at intervals to wide grassy clearings known as ?dambos', where antelopes are attracted to the good grazing. These are punctuated with termite mounds, spouting fig trees and phoenix palms. Predators such as leopard and lion are found here. A dominant feature of the park is the Busanga Plains--a vast floodplain fed by the Lufupa River system. This floodplain has been known to recede in the dry season, often trapping hippo in shallow pools. ** It is important to note that the nature of our activities over the next few days could be significantly affected by seasonal variations in preciptation. This itinerary should give a very accurate sense of what will happen over these days, but passengers are urged to be flexible and be prepared for changes, your Tour Leader and guides. Overnight in Kafue. Lodge accommodations. All meals. Day 14 Kafue National Park Kafue National Park is one of the largest parks in the world. The park's vegetation types include riverine forest, mixed woodland, vast grassland plains, and bushland swamps. Classic wildlife include lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo; plus hyena, crocodile and hippo. Antelope species include impala, roan, kudu, sable and red lechwe. Birdlife is also predominant throughout the park. At 22400 sq km (8,603 sq miles,) Kafue covers a vast, gently undulating plateau with expanses of Kalahari sand in the west and south. It is watered by the huge Kafue River and its tributaries, and is home to many crocodiles and hippos. It boasts all of the large predators and the greatest variety of antelope of any African park. Wild dog and cheetah are found on the Busanga Plains, whereas dense leopard populations inhabit the riverine woodlands, where magnificent raintrees, knobthornes, jackalberries, leadwoods and sausage trees can be found. Fig trees occur on the plains while teak grows throughout. Today we enjoy a guided safari through the park. Overnight in Kafue. Lodge accommodations. All meals. Day 15 Kafue - Lusaka - South Luangwa National Park Today we travel back to the capital and connect with our flight to South Luangwa National Park, near the eastern border with Malawi. The park is rich in fauna and flora, and is relatively unspoiled--some rate this park as the best in Africa. We transfer to our lodge. In 1904 a Luangwa Game Park was declared on the eastern bank of the river, but this was not maintained. Then in May 1938 three parks were defined in the valley: the North Luangwa Game Reserve; the Lukusuzi Game Reserve; and the South Luangwa Game Reserve. In 1949 Senior Chief Nsefu established a private game reserve on the Luangwa's eastern bank, between the Mwasauke and Kauluzi Rivers. This became the Nsefu Sector, which was absorbed into the boundaries of the present park when new legislation turned all game reserves into national parks in February 1972. Nesting at the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, in the Luangwa Valley, the South Luangwa National Park is wild and remote. It has an abundance of wildlife that is rarely seen in other game reserves and is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. This huge area of pristine wilderness is home to a large variety of game and birds, as well as the bigger predators. The survival of the valley depends on the winding Luangwa River, crowded with hippos, crocodiles and wading waterfowl. Few parks can match this phenomenally high game density nor do they have the ability to show visitors such remarkable wildlife in such remote and isolated wilderness. Overnight South Luangwa National Park. Lodge accommodation. Breakfast and dinner. Day 16 South Luangwa National Park Today we enjoy a safari through the park. Because of its phenomenal richness of fauna and flora and its unspoiled nature, the game park is considered the best in Africa. It lies in the 700 km (435 mile) long gently sloping rift valley through which the Luangwa River periodically inundates its alluvial flood plains, leaving oxbow inlets and lagoons along its old channel. The rich volcanic soils support large grass plains and miombo and mopane woodlands that allow high densities of game. Huge herds of elephant, hippo, buffalo, impala and puku are commonly encountered. There are big prides of lions, a very high density of leopards and the largest number of crocodiles on any river in Africa. Specialties include the striking Thorneycroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest. Bird lovers revel in the mixture of over 400 species of birds from across eastern and southern Africa. Overnight South Luangwa National Park. Lodge accommodation. All meals. Day 17 South Luangwa National Park - Lusaka The Luangwa Valley forms part of the Great Rift Valley. The scenery is dramatic; the valley floor nestles some 800 metres below the surrounding plateau, with the river carving its tortuous course through the centre. The Luangwa and its tributaries are the lifeblood of the region. These waters account for the great profusion of wildlife, which we will able to view as we enjoy a boat trip on the river this morning before returning by air to Lusaka. Overnight in Lusaka. Breakfast and dinner. Day 18 Lusaka - Livingstone - Victoria Falls Today we fly from Lusaka to Victoria Falls with the balance of the day at leisure. At this point you may be joining an group arriving today from Johannesburg on a different tour combination. Overnight in Victoria Falls, Zambia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 19 Victoria Falls Passengers on tour BW5 will have a choice of activites today (passengers arriving yesterday from Johannesburg will travel to Chobe Park for sightseeing already completed earlier by BW5 participants). We will include your choice of one excursion from a range of choices today; your Tour Leader will assist in making these arrangements but will not accompany you as he / she will be travelling to Chobe. Your options: 1) Visits to Livingstone Island. Dr David Livingstone was paddled in a dug-out canoe through swift rapids towards the roar and rising cloud of mist above a cliff over which the whole of the Zambezi River plunged. You are picked up in a banana boat with a powerful engine and a skilled skipper and re-trace Livingstone's approach to the island to witness the very best view of the falls. A superb meal is served on the island and afterwards a guided walk is conducted along the edge of the Falls. Probably the most unique venue for a meal in the world. Two different meals are available on the island, a breezer, which lasts 1 and 3/4 hours, and high tea 1 1/2 hours. All visits to the island are during the 'low water' season which usually begins in mid-July and goes through to the end of January. 2) Elephant Back Safaris. It is not often one can climb onto the back of an African Elephant and set off at an easy rolling pace in search of other wild game; wild elephant, giraffe, buffalo and much more. This is an elephant 'experience' and the guides are highly trained experts in the behaviour of elephants and the wildlife around them. Morning and afternoon, 1/2 day trails (we strongly recommend morning as afternoons can be very hot and game / bird viewing is not as good). The handler and no more than two guests on each animal then head off through the riverine bush, crossing the river in shallow water to get onto islands. Halfway through the ride, guests will dismount and interact with the elephants on the ground giving the guides an opportunity to make an interesting and informative explanation about the African elephant and their relationship with humans. Safaris in the morning last about 4 hours and end with a full English breakfast and the opportunity to view a video of each guest's elephant ride. The price includes transfers, tea, coffee, breakfast and cordial drinks. Pick-up from the Day Activity Centre at 06.45, drop off at 11.00 hours. 3) Canoe Safaris on the Upper Zambezi. Probably the best way to appreciate the beauty, peace and wildlife of the Zambezi River above the falls is to paddle slowly downstream in a canoe with some of the best wildlife guides in Africa. Watch the Pied Kingfisher hover and dive, listen to the haunting call of the fish eagle and the grunts of the hippo, see elephant, buffalo, and other animals come down to drink and explore the islands and waterways along the route. There is time to stop for something to eat and drink and listen to tales of Livingstone's journey to the Falls. There are 5 1/2 hour safaris which begin in the morning and include tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks. Guests are picked up from the Day Activity Centre at 08.00 and dropped off there at 13.30. 4) Museum tour. The David Livingston Museum houses the most comprehensive memorabilia of the explorer and Missionary, Dr. David Livingstone. A guided tour offers an interesting sight into the life and work of one of the world's great explorers. There are also very interesting displays on the Stone Age people who first lived in this area and an African cultural section that includes traditional living, medicines and witchcraft. Livingstone was an important town in southern Africa during the first days of European settlement and the beginnings of colonial rule. It is well worth spending a couple of hours touring this historic town with a guide and learning about its past and the colourful people who created it. For many years Livingstone was the railway capital of a vast region and much of its wealth came from the railways. The Railway Museum is dedicated to that past and covers its history from the days when the bridge crossed the gorge to the building of the great TamZam railway in the late 1970s. For train buffs there are a unique collection of ancient locomotives and coaches. Pick up is usually 08.00 and includes the services of a guide and bottled water. Overnight at Vic Falls, Zambia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 20 Victoria Falls, Zambia - Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls, Zambia This morning we visit an authentic Zambian village. The chief has invited visitors into his village to get a glimpse of how his people have lived for generations and to learn a little about their traditional customs and beliefs. The Chief's guides and the people of the village are more than happy to show visitors their huts and take you inside, explain how they are built and decorated, introduce you to various craftsmen and women at work. This is a working village, not a purpose built tourist attraction, and it is a privilege to be welcomed in. This afternoon we cross the Zambezi River Bridge and view the falls from the Zimbabwe side (water always flows at this end of the falls regardless of seasonality).* The bridge provides easy access between Zambia and Zimbabwe and normal form-filling and leisurely queuing has to be done at the border post to pass from one side to the other (entry fee applicable: approx 30 USD CASH per person for US pasport holders; 65 USD CASH for Canadian passport holders; 55 USD per person for UK passports). The bridge itself has an amazing view of the falls and the black shiny basalt rocks opposite on which sits a lush green mist-soaked rain forest. We will have a leisurely walking tour of the Zimbabwean falls. While walking the paved path through the dense rainforest, you will notice the profusion of interesting species of plants found in this nature enclave--ebony, ferns, fig trees and lianas. The falls plunge 108 m (350 feet) into the Zambezi River. We then pay a visit to the town of Victoria Falls with some free time to shop for African handicrafts and possibly have tea at the world famous Victoria Falls Hotel, built at the time of Cecil Rhodes and the European colonization and economic development of this part of southern Africa. We return to the Zambian side this afternoon. *NOTE: Due to the cost of entry into Zimbabwe, especially for Canadians and Britons, many passengers visiting during high water season (January - July) are satisfied with the excellent falls viewing from the Zambian side near our hotel and choose to forego this excursion and enjoy some free time. If you visit during low water season (August to December), however, it is likely that the only way that you will get a close-up look at the falls is to travel to the Zimbabwe side. If you choose to go to Zimbabwe in any season, we will include the excursion, excluding your "visa" entry fee. If you choose not to go on this excursion, we will NOT refund its value as the price that we pay our local operator for the excursion is a fixed amount per group. Overnight at Victoria Falls, Zambia. Zambezi Sun or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 21 Victoria Falls, Zambia - Johannesburg, South Africa Today we fly from Livingstone / Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. If time permits this morning, you may choose to book optional excursions in the Vic Falls area. Elephant back safaris, river cruises, canoe trips, scenic overflights, or trips into Livingstone to visit the David Livingstone and / or Railway museums can be arranged with the assistance of your Tour Leader. Overnight in Johannesburg (Sandton). Garden Court, Sandton City Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 22 Johannesburg - the 'Panoramic Route ' - Hazyview From Jo'burg we head off through the vast wilderness of Mpumalanga (formerly The Eastern Transvaal), the "Land of the Rising Mist". Along the way we travel from the vast grasslands of the High Veld, with its huge farms and ranches, down to the drier Low Veld region characterized by rocky hills and acacia scrub forest. This is an expansive landscape of mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, primal forests, and colourful flora. Steeped in a history of pioneers and fortune-seekers, we will pass many Gold Rush towns and farming communities en route. Lydenburg ("town of suffering") established by Voortrekkers in 1849 lies at the bottom of Long Tom pass. This pass, named after the big gun used by the Afrikaners during the Anglo Boer War, is one of the most scenically dramatic in the country. It links Sabie on the escarpment with Lydenburg on the Drakensberg plateau. A highlight of our sightseeing today is the spectacular Blyde River Canyon. This great escarpment is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views. The Blyde River Canyon is one of the most spectacular in Africa and its cliffs rise between 600-800 m (2,000-2,640 feet) from the river bed. At the "Three Rondavels viewpoint" is an unforgettable view of three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon. Their tops appear to have a hut-like rounded roof. Following the road and the Treur River south, there are further viewpoints; Wonder View, God's Window and the Pinnacle. Their names help to conjure up the indescribable vastness of the scenery. From here we continue to Hazyview near Kruger National Park. Overnight in Hazyview. Hazyview Protea Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 23 Hazyview - Kruger National Park - Hazyview Early this morning we enter South Africa's largest game reserve, Kruger National Park, named after Paul Kruger, the first to initiate the setting aside of this area as a reserve in the 1890s. Here we transfer to open safari vehicles and make a full-day excursion through the southern sector of this fascinating and beautiful park. The Kruger Park is an enormous area of flat veld, broken by rivers and comprised of mixed vegetation and terrain. The park, officially founded in 1926, supports more species of wildlife than any other African reserve--over 137 mammal species, 49 fish species, 112 reptile species, and nearly 500 bird species! With some luck we may see and photograph lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and many other wonderful African animals. We return to Hazyview in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hazyview. Hazyview Protea Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 24 Hazyview, South Africa - Mbabane, Swaziland We travel south today and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, an independent country completely landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique, and smaller than Kruger Park! Naturally fortified by beautiful mountains, Swaziland remains one of the last kingdoms in Africa, a continent once dominated by colonialism. The pace of life here is relaxed and the lifestyle traditional; we will see rural people working their farms and tending their herds as we make our way to the vicinity of Mbabane, the capital city. Overnight in / near Mbabane. Forrester's Arms Inn or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 25 Mbabane, Swaziland - Hluhluwe, South Africa This morning we travel into the Swazi Lowveld, an area of tiny villages and endless rolling hills planted in sugarcane. Later this morning we cross back into the Republic of South Africa and travel into the province of Kwazulu-Natal. This area is a nature-lover's paradise, boasting unforgettable untamed African wilderness. This is the traditional homeland of the Zulu people whose informal economy was historically based upon livestock, subsistence agriculture and hunting. The Zulu have lived in southern Africa for over 300 years and have maintained their traditions and customs perhaps more than any other indigenous southern African ethnic group. In the late 18th century, the Zulu clan was but one of a number of small groups among the northern Nguni. By the 1820s, a powerful Zulu state had emerged under the control of Shaka. Historians continue to debate the reason/s for the rise of a militarised and authoritarian Zulu state. This afternoon we settle into our comfortable lodge in the African bush, situated in close proximity to the Umfolozi, Mkuze and Hluhluwe National Parks. Overnight near Hluhluwe. Breakfast and dinner. Day 26 Hhuhluwe Game Reserve - Durban - Port Elizabeth This morning we will participate in an early morning game drive through Hluhluwe Game Reserve. The reserve is the oldest conservation area in Africa, established on 30 April 1895, and is famous for saving the White Rhino from extinction. The area currently boasts the largest rhino populations in Africa; both the Black and White Rhinos are endemic to the area. Apart from the "Big Five," the area is also refuge to the endangered wild dog and the elusive cheetah. This afternoon we travel toward the Indian Ocean and continue on to Durban, the 'Garden City' of South Africa. This area was opened up to white settlement by the Voortrekkers in the early 19th century, though the Portuguese were navigating the coast here as early as the late 15th century. Vasco da Gama was the first European to sail along this coast, giving it the name Natal to commemorate his Christmas Day arrival. In 1899 the British and the Boers went to war, but under reconciliation in 1910 formed the Union of South Africa with an agreement signed in what is now Durban's modern-day Main Post Office. This evening we fly from Durban to Port Elizabeth, the start of the famous "Garden Route." Overnight in Port Elizabeth. Holiday Inn Garden Court or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 27 Port Elizabeth - Knysna - Oudtshoorn Port Elizabeth is South Africa's fifth largest city and the third largest port. This morning we will have a brief panoramic tour of this city seeing the Market Square and the beaches of Algoa Bay. From Port Elizabeth we travel along the world-famous Garden Route to Knysna. This route is parallel to the ocean and features lakes, mountains, beaches, and steep cliffs. We pass beautiful Jeffery's Bay, a popular surfing beach. The Tsitsikamma Forest Park contains many huge Yellowwood trees--the national tree of South Africa. This part of the garden route reminds one somewhat of the Oregon Coast (USA) or the Cornwall Coast (Britain) with its sand dunes and great surf beaches. Knysna affords tremendous views of a lagoon and the surrounding mountains. The town was founded in 1817 by George Rex, reputed to be an illegitimate son of King George V. Known for its picturesque lagoon, the town was first established as a timber port. Separated from the ocean by the imposing Knysna Heads, Knysna is proud of its riviera atmosphere with sidewalk cafes and shops. We continue through the towns of Wilderness and George to Oudtshoorn (pronounced "Oats-horn"). PLEASE NOTE: For our departure in June / July 2008, we will not travel to Oudtshoorn due to a large Majorette and Drumming competition being held in that city during our scheduled visit. Due to a subsequent lack of accommodation, we will overnight in George. This will give us more time to enjoy the Garden Route today and spend more time at leisure exploring Knysna. Tomorrow morning we will depart George for Mossel Bay where we will visit the Bartolomeu Dias Museum before heading west to Cape Town via Swellendam, bypassing Oudtshoorn. Upon arrival in the Cape Town area, we will have time for a panoramic view of the city and Table Mountain from the area of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. Riempie Estate or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 28 Outdshoorn - Cape Town This is the ostrich capital of South Africa with thousands of these unusual birds dotting fields throughout the area. At the turn of the century ostrich feathers were in such demand that the fashion conscious paid a premium and feathered the nests of the barons who built magnificent mansions known as "Feather Palaces." This fine architecture can still be seen around the sedate and pleasant town. There are several ostrich show farms that still sell the beautiful downy feathers but now make more money out of the desirable soft, strong, knobby leather. There is also an export demand for the eggs, one of which makes an omelette for 20 people. The bottom suddenly dropped out of the feather market in 1914, leaving ostrich farmers penniless. There were some 750,000 domesticated ostriches on Little Karoo farms in 1914; today there are about a tenth of that number. Today it is not merely the plume feathers of the males but the whole birds that are utilised. We will have a tour of one of the region's main ostrich show farms before continuing our journey to Cape Town. From Oudtshoorn we travel through the Huis River Pass with its spectacular rock formations. The little farming town of Ladysmith was named after the beautiful Spanish wife of British Cape Governor Sir Harry Smith. The town of Swellendam, established in 1745, is the third oldest in South Africa. Here we see several historic buildings built in the charming Cape Dutch style. These buildings have whitewashed walls and black, thatched roofs. We pass through a wheat growing and sheep farming area on our way to Cape Town. In the late afternoon we cross the Hottentot's Holland Mountains, the centre of South Africa's apple growing region, to arrive in Cape Town, one of the world's most isolated and beautiful cities. Overnight in Cape Town. The Capetonian Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 29 City Tour & the Cape Peninsula Today we tour Cape Town, one of the world's most spectacularly located cities. Cape Town is the seat of the Parliament which holds a six-month session here each year. We will see the Houses of Parliament, the Malay Quarter with its narrow streets and minarets; the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa's oldest building; and visit the South African Museum. We continue our tour of the Cape Peninsula, including a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. The Nature Reserve is a wildflower, bird, and animal paradise on 77 sq km (30 sq miles) of the Cape Peninsula. The reserve is also home to eland, springbok, bontebok, baboon, and zebra. Within the reserve are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwesterly point on the African continent. We head north again up the Indian Ocean side of the peninsula, passing through Simonstown, founded by the Dutch in 1741 as a naval depot and named for Simon van der Stel, governor of Cape Colony from 1679 to 1697. In 1814 the town became the headquarters of the British South Atlantic squadron. Today Simonstown is famous for its distinctly English architecture and atmosphere, and the southernmost train station on the continent. We complete our loop around the peninsula, past the well-watered eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Constantia, Bishops Court and the campuses of the University of Cape Town. Overnight in Cape Town. Breakfast and dinner. Day 30 Table Mountain & Cape Winelands We will start our day with a gondola trip to the top of Table Mountain,* a sandstone plateau rising up above the city. The top is approximately 3km wide and at its highest point, Maclears Beacon, rises to 1085m / 3,580 ft. Over the centuries it has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mountain play home to a number of plants and animals. The mountain is home to approximately 1,470 species of plants; more than the entire British Isles! We continue to Stellenbosch, South Africa's second oldest settlement. We'll spend time in the centre of town and allow some time for some independent, on-foot exploration. You will notice some of the finest examples of traditional Cape Dutch architecture along the town's oak-lined streets. We continue to one of the area's many wineries for a cellar tour and tasting. The Cape vineyards were originated at Constantia by Jan van Riebeeck in 1685 and were advanced in 1688 by Hugenot refugees who brought their vine seedlings and skills with them from France. The Cape's different soils and climatic variations allow a wide variety of wines to be pressed--exquisite sweet and dry whites and fruity reds. Along our route today we will see several wine estates with their delightful Cape Dutch houses, thatched roofs and decorative gables. *Please Note: Views from Table Mountain in Cape Town are spectacular--but only on a clear day! The order of days spent in Cape Town may be changed in order to go up Table Mountain on the clearest day. Should the weather be too cloudy, and/or winds are too high to travel safely in the gondola, Table Mountain may be abandoned and the programme adjusted at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Overnight in Cape Town. The Capetonian or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 31 Departure Departure from Cape Town. Breakfast.
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