South Africa Explorer Safari

Welcome to South Africa! You will be met at the door of your aircraft with your name on a paging board, and your documents will be handed over to you. You will be assisted through immigration, baggage collection and customs and assisted to your onward scheduled flight to Hoedspruit, where you will be met and transferred to Kapama Buffalo Camp. The enormous Kruger National Park is almost two million hectares of wilderness. Proclaimed in 1899 thanks to the vision of President Paul Kruger, its size continues to expand as private reserves on its borders remove fence lines and more recently, international borders between the Kruger National Park and Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been removed to create the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, effectively doubling the protected game reserve area. This afternoon, head out on your first game drive.

Kapama Private Game Reserve occupies a vast area between the northern Drakensberg mountains and the Greater Kruger National Park. The reserve with its 13000 hectares of pristine wilderness shares a large number of biomes with the Kruger Park and therefore are able to host all animals including the Big 5: Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhinoceros, to name but a few of the approximately 42 different mammal species calling Kapama home. Approximately 350 bird species and a myriad of smaller species can also be seen in their natural environment. Game drives are conducted twice daily with expert guides and trackers who will eagerly share their bush experiences and knowledge with you whilst driving through some of the most beautiful savannah woodlands, grassland and riverine bush which makes up the Kapama Game Reserve.

Today enjoy one last game drive if time permits before returning to the Hoedspruit Airport for your flight(s) to Cape Town to continue your safari vacation. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the Cape Codogan Boutique Hotel 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 region is often visited on foot, encompassing the historic parliament buildings, the Company Gardens and the lively café culture and boutiques of Kloof Street. Overnight Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel in a Luxury Room. Breakfast included.

You will be picked up at your hotel and embark on a shared tour today which starts with the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, before crossing over to Hout Bay, where you may choose to join an optional boat cruise to Seal Island. Continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve via Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, where a funicular takes you to the top of the Peninsula to witness the symbolic meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and enjoy spectacular views over False Bay. Stop for lunch in the area (own account) before continuing to Simonstown, the naval base, and then visit the African Penguin breeding colony at Boulders Beach. On the return trip, enjoy a stop at the world renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens before arriving at your hotel late this afternoon.

On your last full day in South Africa, relax and enjoy a delightful drive through the Winelands; your shared tour route winds its way through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. Your first stop is Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, with canal lined avenues, and magnificent examples of Cape Dutch architecture where you enjoy your first wine tasting, coupled with a chocolate and dessert tasting. Onward over the scenic Helshoogte Pass, to Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots over 350 years ago, and widely regarded as the culinary capital of South Africa. Its beautiful setting and café lined streets will charm you and a further wine tasting is included at one of the renowned estates in this area. Your final stop is at the town of Paarl, at the foot of a cluster of remarkable granite domes where you do your last wine tasting of the day, before heading back to Cape Town.

Today is at your leisure until it’s time for your transfer to Cape Town Airport to meet your departing flight. We recommend getting up bright and early to be the first in line to visit iconic Table Mountain! Breakfast included.