Classic Great Migration & Cape Safari

Welcome to Africa! After passing through customs and immigration at the international airport, you will be transferred to your hotel overlooking the Nairobi National Park.

This morning you will be transferred to the regional Wilson Airport for the light aircraft into the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and head to your camp with a game drive en route. You have four days in the heart of the Masai Mara to try to see more river crossings with the Great Migration.

The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Acacia dotted plains, tree-lined rivers and woodlands are abundant with wildlife and an array of birdlife. Game viewing is spectacular year-round; you may see a pride of lions stalking their prey, observe a herd of elephant and their fascinating social structure, or see pods of hippo wallowing in the rivers.

During the months of July through October, the Great Migration of about 1.5 million wildebeest and several hundred thousand zebra make the Maasai Mara their home. Here herds of zebra, wildebeest, and topi mingle on the short grass plains keeping an eye out for numerous predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. Maasai giraffe and impala graze in the woodlands and hippos and crocodiles bask along the shores of the Talek and Mara Rivers. The Masai Mara is also home to one of the great fighting tribes of Africa, the Maasai whose culture is both fascinating and truly unique.

Sentinel Mara Safari Camp is situated in a prime area of the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Musiara Marsh area renowned for its outstanding game viewing is where both the BBC “Big Cat Diaries” and Disney’s “African Cats” were filmed. During the annual migration, various crossing points are easily accessible from Sentinel. The camp itself is set up along the Mara River with wonderful bird life and the private and natural setting ensures that guests have a most enjoyable and authentic experience of the bush. Being on high banks above the Mara River means that there are always hippo and crocodile in the river below to be seen with other animals coming to drink or cross the river at times.

In addition to time spent relaxing at the camp with the view the river and wildlife seen from this amazing location, there are a number of activities for guests to enjoy. Sentinel Camp’s bespoke approach to safari hospitality means that each visitor enjoys a personalized and flexible experience to match your particular preferences while at camp.

Daily game drives can be complimented by guided bush walks in a nearby area with our naturalist or a bird walk in the forest around the precincts of the camp. We offer a longer walk on the escarpment with amazing vistas of the savannah plains. Guests can visit a Masai village for an opportunity to see their lifestyle and learn about their customs and culture. A balloon safari with champagne breakfast is another option.

Our passionate and well qualified guides are always ready to engage in conversation ranging from history and current affairs to culture and conservation in a way that is entertaining and educational. They have a whole range of stories to tell you!

You will rise before dawn one morning for the transfer you by Landrover to the hot air balloon launch site. Here you will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon. At dawn you take off, rising as the sun rises and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times he will ascend to 1000′ or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Maasai Mara. From time to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below.

Enjoy one last game drive or walk in the Mara wilderness this morning before it’s time to head to the airstrip for the flight back to Nairobi. You will be picked up at Wilson Airport and head to local favorite Talisman for lunch before continuing on to the international Nairobi Airport to check in for the flight to Cape Town.

You will be met at the gate of your international arriving flight and be assisted through customs and immigration and to the transfer to your boutique guesthouse in the city bowl. The old and established suburbs of Gardens, Oranjezicht and Tamboerskloof merge into each other as they line the foothills of Table Mountain and Signal Hill. The area enjoys convenient proximity to the city, the Table Mountain Cableway, as well as the beaches. The narrow little streets are lined by original Cape buildings, many of which have been beautifully restored, some now housing museums and art galleries, as well as lively sidewalk cafés and highly acclaimed restaurants. Now known for its trendy and modern vibe, this area is often visited on foot, encompassing the historic parliament buildings, the Company Gardens and the lively café culture and boutiques of Kloof Street.

Meet your private guide this morning and set out for an exploration of the real Cape Town – edgy, artsy and bursting with culinary flavor and creativity. Our first point is the top of the mountain, the cable car spreading the city out before our eyes as we rise above the rest of the world. Back down on earth its ‘bean time” and we enjoy some of the finest in-house coffee varieties, blended and roasted with true skill. Hit the streets of the East City Precinct, the trendy zone known as the “design district” and home to art studios and hipster hangouts. From Buitenkant Street to the Castle, it’s a treasure trove: fashion and jewelry boutiques, studios, quirky home décor, atmospheric pubs, craft beers and concept stores. We will touch on some of the city’s lesser known historical facts and shipwreck stories and meet a few of the captivating characters behind the roasteries, distilleries and workshops – creative souls who reveal the more “off-beat” side of town. Meet the folks behind the uplifting urban art and craft township projects, responsible for enriching so many lives.

We don’t call Cape Town the ‘Mother City’ just because it is the highlight of SA. When you come into contact with some of our mesmerizing locals who take their skill set to outta-this-world levels of expertise and resourcefulness, you may well come to believe that “mother city” is code for “mother ship”.

This afternoon explore Woodstock’s street art, murals and galleries. One of the oldest suburbs, this village is now the poster child for urban regeneration, polished to a level of trendy cool and hip inner-city living. Craft beer and gin tasting caps a well-rounded day!

The Cape Peninsula is a complete contrast to the more cosmopolitan city. With its wild national parks, artistic bohemian seaside villages and working fishing harbors this day will be about embracing the locals and spending as much time out of the vehicle as possible. Your private guide will pick you up and your first stop is for Cape Town’s coolest coffee at Muizenbergs Surfers corner the epicenter of South Africa’s surf culture. From here we head to Kalk Bay to explore the working fishing harbour and meet the colorful and entertaining fishing folk. Browse the bohemian arty shops and perhaps take a short hike through the fairy-like Milkwood forests before taking a horseback ride down the beach!

We head to Simon’s Town to find our own rogue penguins on a secret beach only accessible to the locals. Snorkel and stand-up paddle in rock pools, getting a unique perspective of the penguins (weather permitting).

After visiting Cape Point we’ll venture deeper into the Peninsula to explore deserted wild beaches, secret coves, rock pools and shipwreck hiking trails away from the tourist crowds. This part of the Table Mountain National Park is home to ostrich, baboons, tortoises and mountain zebra. Our return journey along the Atlantic side is a story of amazing views, hidden local cafes and watering holes full of character. We stop en-route for a beer tasting at a local surfer hang-out, wrapping up our day out.

Day 9 is to explore on your own. We recommend heading down to the V&A Waterfront, walking down trendy Kloof, Long or Bree Streets or heading over to Camp’s Bay if the weather is
nice! If you have a particular interest in the history, culture, food, art, shopping etc. and would like your private guide to join you today, please just let us know! Overnight at Kensington Place.

On day 10, pack your bags and take them with you today. Your private guide will pick you up this up to explore one of the most scenically beautiful areas in SA, visiting fascinating towns and taking a look into off-the-beaten-track farms which revel in their old-world roots and influences. Today is about so much more than just sipping the wines. Depending on time and season, stroll through the vines, learning about farming methods and techniques. Take an intimate wine-tasting and cellar tour and possibly meet the driving force behind the estate. If lucky, our behind-the-scenes experience could include grape picking or barrel tastings.

Spend time in Stellenbosch, browsing through its wealth of appealing stores and museums and sip local coffee blends in tempting cafes. Let the pairing of wine and olives awaken your senses before we meander through lush gardens bursting with life. Admire a collection of contemporary art, see the highest-growing vines and, from an elevated point, take in the stunning vistas over an old-world estate.

This afternoon, discover Franschhoek. Established by the French Huguenots in 1688, this town retains its historic charm but has fused it with a contemporary vibe. It boasts gourmet restaurants, appealing boutiques and art galleries. You will then head to your winelands boutique hotel right on the main street of Franschhoek to check-in. Overnight at Avondrood Guest House.

Today is on your own to relax or explore. The magnificent Franschhoek Valley is nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape Winelands. This is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and our top chefs create international cuisine. Here breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world class cuisine and the finest wines all combine to create lasting memories.

Spectacular vineyards cover these mountain slopes settled more than 300 years ago by the Huguenots, who brought with them their age-old French wine and food culture. This is a valley rich in history centered around a picturesque village of friendly, welcoming people. In the village you will find wonderful crafts, art and antique shops and galleries. The main street is lined with coffee shops and restaurants.

The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley – picturesque vineyards, breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a 300-year history. A combination of tram and tram-bus transports passengers around a loop of stops allowing them to hop-off at each stop and experience the activities on offer, be it wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards and when they are ready, hop-on to continue the tour. Tours depart every 15 minutes from 10:00 until 12:45 PM and there are four sets of wineries to choose from – ask the manager at your hotel to give you directions for the short walk to the departure point.

This morning is at your leisure until it’s time to meet your return transfer to the Cape Town Airport for your departing flights home. Please note that you may need to check out of your room before your transfer arrives, however the front desk is happy to store your luggage until you depart.