Essence of South Africa

BM-20971

5.0Based on

13 days

“

The whole trip from start to finish was excellent. The quality of accommodations in were outstanding, we had a piano player at breakfast in Cape Town and a dedicated barista in Johannesburg! The luxury tent at Chisomo was huge with everything you could need also. The Trafalgar trip managers in both Cape Town and Johannesburg were fantastic, very considerate and made sure we all were having a great time. We were a small group of 6. In Kruger our guide and tracker were great fun, and ensured we got to see the big 5 by the second day. The way the itineraries were laid out were very good, just the right balance between getting to see all the sights and having downtime. We were supposed to do a cultural experience at Chisomo on the first day but this had to be changed, so we did it when we arrived in Johannesburg. We were taken to Lesedi cultural village which was fantastic, and definitely should be a regular part of the trip, you get completely immersed in the tribal cultures, the show they did for us and the food afterwards was brilliant! There is a great contrast between the 3 different venues, the natural beauty of Cape Town with Table Mountain and the cape and winery, the incredible experience of getting up close to the animals in Kruger, even around the camp with monkeys, impala, warthogs, and my favourite dung beetles! Fascinating creatures, and the political history of Johannesburg. The internal flights were all done for us too, all we needed to do was present our passports. We always felt completely safe on the trip, we had a very convenient shuttle bus to the waterfront from the hotel on the hour there and back, but we walked sometimes, as it’s only 20 minutes. The hotel in Johannesburg was right beside a huge shopping mall we could also walk to without a problem, we even went to the cinema there on the last day before our flight. This is definitely a bucket list trip and Trafalgar made sure it was perfect for us, they even met us at the airport to check us in for our flight home. I can’t recommend this trip enough!

Gary D. | Traveled in February

5 - Excellent

Carbon neutral

13 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

48 peopleMaximum group size

5 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Ends

Cape Town, South Africa

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Select Date

Best price guaranteedNo credit card or booking fees.Carbon neutral tours.

1 other person is considering this tour right now.

Highlights

Explore Cape Town, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park

Visit Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap, Cape of Good Hope, Franschhoek, Hermanus, the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Chobe National Park

View the Castle of Good Hope, Boulder's Beach penguin colony, Mandela's House in Soweto, and Victoria Falls

Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal

4-star stays

Coach and 4 x 4 safari vehicle travel

Cape Town: Spend the day discovering the wonderful views of Table Mountain.

Cape Town: Take in the landmarks of Cape Town during a city tour with your Travel Director. See the Company Gardens, Bo-Kaap and the Castle of Good Hope.

Cape Peninsula: Discover the incredible views of the Twelve Apostles.

Cape Town: Spend the day surrounded by penguins on Boulders Beach.

Franschhoek: Visit Rickety Bridge Winery in Franschhoek for a tasting of the Foundation Stone range, inspired by the forebears of the Shona tribe. Sampling a rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, you’ll learn how these wines are produced as you compare styles from crisp and aromatic to a fuller red.

Hoedspruit: Have your camera ready to capture the beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife on your Reserve Tour with a Shangaan tracker-guide.

Head out on a game drive in search of Africa’s wildlife, then slow the pace on a bush walk with a Local Specialist. You’ll learn how to track animals from their footprints, uncover the uses of medicinal plants and look out for birds, insects and smaller animals you might otherwise miss.

Karongwe Portfolio: Spend the day marvelling at Africa's iconic wildlife on your Karongwe Private Reserve Visit.

Johannesburg: Learn about South Africa's turbulent past on an interactive Johannesburg and Soweto Freedom tour.

Johannesburg: Spend the day seeing the iconic sight of Mandela's house on your Johannesburg City Tour.

Victoria Falls: Experience the beauty of Africa's islands on your Zambezi River Cruise.

Victoria Falls: Admire the cascading waters at Victoria Falls.

Chobe National Park: Have the experience of a lifetime as you explore Botswana's Chobe National Park.

Hermanus: Join a local Hermanus business owner for a traditional braai (barbecue) and some of his homemade wine against a clifftop backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

Hoedspruit: Your stay in Karongwe Private Game Reserve contributes to the area's environmental sustainability and community development.

Hoedspruit: Meet the Shangaan people and learn about their way of life through music, dance and daily traditions. Watch a performance celebrating the heritage of the San, Shona, Venda, Tswana, Zulu and Shangaan communities. Try your hand at grinding maize or building huts, and learn how architecture, agriculture and family customs shape daily life, before sharing a traditional meal with the community. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.