Day 1. Depart your hometown for New York. After introductions and meeting your tour director, fly across the Atlantic with award winning South African Airways. F

Day 2. Arrive Cape Town. Welcome to Africa! We will be met and transferred to our Stay of Distinction hotel.

Table Bay (3 nights)

Day 3. Cape Peninsula. Depart after breakfast on a full day's touring of the ruggedly beautiful Cape Peninsula. Travel to Hout Bay, Noordhoek and through Ou Kaapse Weg to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Ride the funicular to the viewpoint. A delicious lunch is included in Simon's Town, before visiting Boulders Beach and the Penguin Colony on our way back to Cape Town. This evening we will be transferred to a local restaurant in Bloubergstrand called "On the Rocks" to meet some of the locals and experience your first traditional South African dinner. BLD

Day 4. Cape Winelands. Journey into the tranquil Cape Winelands of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. We visit some world famous wineries and enjoy wine tasting at two well-known estates. We also visit the Huguenot Memorial in Franschhoek, with time to stroll the streets of this quaint little town, before visiting the Afrikaans Language Monument. BL

Day 5. Cape Town to Oudtshoorn. Travelling via the town of Montagu, with a stop in the pretty village of Barrydale for tea, we arrive in Oudtshoorn, known as the "Feather Capital of the World" due to its huge ostrich industry. Later we go underground to marvel at the icy formations in the Cango Caves, one of South Africa's most spectacular natural wonders.

Queens Hotel BD

Day 6. Oudtshoorn to Knysna. This morning visit a nearby ostrich farm for an informative tour and an ostrich race. We will then continue driving via the spectacular Outeniqua Pass to Knysna where we will board the Featherbed Nature Reserve Cruise and view the imposing sandstone "Heads" which guard the sea entrance to the lagoon. Our specialist guides will share some of the fascinating tales of the surrounding areas while we enjoy the scenery and lunch. Later in the day we drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Protea Knysna Quays - Lagoon Facing room (2 nights) BLD

Day 7. Knysna. Transfer to Plettenberg Bay's main beach and board a boat for your 2-hour marine tour. Head out into the ocean, hoping to get a glimpse of the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin or the Bryde's Whale. Cruising along the 'Wild' side, we may see more pods of dolphins as well as the unique geology of the area. After our cruise, we will drive up to Stormsriver Village to explore the wonders of the Tsitsikamma backroutes. BD

Day 8. Knysna to St Lucia. Today we travel via the glorious indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest to reach Port Elizabeth where we connect with our flight to Durban. We transfer to our hotel in St Lucia, located approximately 3 hours north of Durban. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Seasands Lodge (2 nights) B

Day 9. Excursion to Zululand. This morning we travel to the Kingdom of the Zulu's towards Hluhluwe visiting an authentic "Kraal", where the assegai-wielding warriors share their fascinating secret of the sangomas. After lunch we will travel to St Lucia to board a sunset cruise to view the St Lucia Wetlands. BLD

Day 10. Zululand to Swaziland. After a leisurely breakfast we leave for the tiny kingdom of Swaziland, a former Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. Enjoy a visit to the Swazi Candle Factory.

Royal Swazi Sun B

Day 11. Swaziland to Kruger This morning we visit the famous Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen at work. Travel northwards heading for your luxurious private game lodge located in the world famous Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park. Arrive in time to freshen up and depart on your first safari in open 4x4 vehicles. Enjoy luxurious accommodations and world-class game viewing.

Lion Sands Private Game Reserve (3 nights) BLD

Day 12 & 13. Lion Sands Private Game Lodge - Sabi Sands. After some light refreshments we set off before breakfast in open safari vehicles in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and all manner of wondrous wildlife including birds and plants. Savor the magic of this enormous wilderness. BLD

Day 14. The Lowveld and Panorama Route. Bid farewell to the wildlife and travel via God's Window to the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery of the Lowveld. Stop in the old mining town of Pilgrims Rest before continuing to Johannesburg in the late afternoon. Protea Balalaika Hotel BL

Day 15. Johannesburg to Chobe National Park via Livingstone. After breakfast we will be transferred to OR Tambo International Airport for our flight to Livingstone. Upon arrival we will be met and transferred by road to Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana where the remainder of our day is at leisure. The lodge features a large swimming pool, bar with an outdoor patio overlooking the Chobe River, and a cigar bar with a champion size billiard table.

Chobe Game Lodge (2 nights) BLD

Day 16. Chobe National Park. After some light refreshments we set off before breakfast in our open safari vehicles in search of all manner of wondrous wildlife including birds and plants. The Chobe National Park is home to 450 species of birds and the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. BLD

Day 17. Chobe National Park to Livingstone. After breakfast we will be transferred to The Royal Livingstone Hotel. This afternoon we will visit the Cultural Village, handicraft markets, and the museum.

Royal Livingstone Hotel (2 nights) B

Day 18. Livingstone. We take a guided walk to the Falls, considered the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the spectacular surroundings before boarding the African Queen for a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi. B

Day 19. Livingstone to Home. Our last morning in Africa is spent relaxing at our hotel or visiting the exciting markets in Livingstone Town. Later today we will transfer back to Livingstone Airport and board our onward flight to Johannesburg and connect with our transatlantic flight to New York's JFK. BF