South Africa – Beach to Bushveld

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Depart Ottawa by bus to Montreal to catch your flights to Amsterdam.

 

Day 2

Amsterdam- Cape Town

A warm welcome to Cape Town, South Africa!

We will be transferred directly to our hotel on arrival.

On the doorstep of the Atlantic, The Bay Hotel is an exclusive members-only hotel where our mission is to provide excellent service and unforgettable experiences.

Overnight: The Bay Hotel Cape Town Mountain view room (B)

Day 3

Full day Table Mountain and City Tour – Cape Town

Start your trip to the Mother City with the highlights. We kick off our tour with breathtaking views of the city and Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Clifton, and Sea Point. Driving past Cape Town Stadium, we take a detour through the bustling V&A Waterfront to the City Centre. Here, we stretch our legs and take a walk through the Company Gardens, which were created by South Africa’s first European settlers in the 1650s.Then we hop back on board and chronicle some of the city’s most significant landmarks – the Houses of Parliament, City Hall, The Castle, and Slave Lodge – finally heading up to the Bo Kaap. Amid these iconic, brightly coloured houses along cobbled streets, you will discover the fascinating history of the Cape Malay culture. Going further up Signal Hill, we head for the Noon Gun, which has helped Capetonians tell the time since 1806, except of course on Sundays and public holidays, when we’re left to our own devices. End off your City Tour at the Table Mountain Cableway, where you will take the cable car to the summit to enjoy this spectacular view. Nowhere else will you get such a spectacular view of Cape Town as from the summit of one of the Seven Wonders of Nature. After our cable car tour, we will be transferred back to our hotel.

Overnight: The Bay Hotel Cape Town Mountain view room (B)

Day 4

Full day Cape Point tour – Cape Town

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula – only 60 km from the city of Cape Town – lies a wild and untamed wilderness. The perfect city escape for any nature lover, Cape Point is a Natural World Heritage Site – rich in fauna and flora – where wild antelope, baboon, Cape Mountain Zebra and 250 species of bird roam free in this 7750-hectare nature reserve. Heading out of the city, we journey south along the coast, past the pristine beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. To the left, we see the majestic peaks of the Twelve Apostles touching the sky, while to the right, the cliffs drop sharply into the Atlantic. Our first stop is Hout Bay, a quaint fishing village where you will have the option of heading out to sea to explore Seal Island. Or you can stay on dry land to peruse the souvenir shops and craft market at your leisure. Continuing our journey, we leave civilization behind – traversing Chapman’s Peak – heading out to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. Here, surrounded by valleys of fynbos and a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat, you can take in some of the most extraordinary views in the Western Cape. For an even better view of the Two Oceans, you can take the Funicular to the lighthouse. We’ll stop for lunch before we head out to Boulders Beach, one of the most flourishing colonies of African Penguins in South Africa. From here, we’re only a stone’s throw away from Simon’s Town, where we’ll see the naval base. Our last stop of the day is Kirstenbosch – the crown jewel of South Africa’s nine national botanical gardens – which was founded in 1913 to preserve the country’s unique flora. As the last rays of sunshine streaming in through the peaks of Table Mountain kiss the tips of the leaves and flowers, our unforgettable journey comes to a satisfactory end.

Overnight: The Bay Hotel Cape Town Mountain view room (B)

Day 5

Free day

Today is a free day to enjoy time on your own. You might want to visit the V & A Waterfront with all its great restaurants and shops. At the

V & A waterfront there is also the ferry over to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years for plotting to overthrow South Africa’s racist apartheid system.

You can also choose to just relax on the beach at your hotel.

Overnight: The Bay Hotel Cape Town Mountain view room (B)

Day 6

Full Day Winelands– Cape Town

For this tour, we head north to the Winelands of Paarl and Franschhoek, stopping on the way at the Groot Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela was released in 1990.

Founded by French Huguenot refugees in 1688, Franschhoek is one of South Africa’s oldest and most picturesque towns with a distinctly French flair. The valley’s climate proved ideal for growing vineyards and today, is famed for making some of the country’s finest wines. Here we will do a cellar tour, attend two exceptional wine tastings, and enjoy a spot of lunch. The town boasts some of the best restaurants in the Western Cape, so be sure to ask us for recommendations!

After a leisurely lunch, we make our way to Stellenbosch, the second oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town. Hundreds of oak trees line these pristine streets, which has earned the town the nickname, Eikestad (City of Oaks). Stellenbosch is famous for its gabled Cape Dutch architecture, which, against the backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, lend the town an unforgettable charm. If there’s time, we’ll certainly squeeze in a third wine tasting before heading back to Cape Town with some great memories and a great deal of cheer.

Overnight: The Bay Hotel Cape Town Mountain view room (B)

Day 7

Cape Town to Johannesburg

Early this morning we will depart our hotel to the airport for our flight to Port Elizabeth.

Driving time hotel to Airport 40 minutes.

Upon arrival you will be transferred to the Ukhozi Lodge in the game reserve. The drive from the airport to the Kariega Game Reserve typically takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We will be driven straight to the lodge. Today we will enjoy lunch, a game drive and dinner.

Overnight – Kariega Game Reserve – Ukhozi Lodge – (All inclusive)

 

Day 7 - 10

Kariega Game Reserve

At Kariega, everything revolves around our twice-daily safari drives and river cruises. The close-up encounters with African wildlife are the center of guests’ unforgettable safari holiday. Our experienced game rangers will drive you out on safari every morning and afternoon/evening in open game-drive vehicles, traversing the valleys, grassy plains, and African bushveld to bring you close to the Big 5 and other game roaming freely in their natural habitat. If you are fortunate, you may witness the lion hunting or feeding, or even the heartwarming social interactions of an elephant herd.

Overnight: Kariega Ukhozi Lodge luxury accommodation, all meals, tea, coffee and mini bar in room, selected beverages alcoholic and non-alcoholic, early morning and evening game drives – time permitted)

Here is the schedule of a typical day at the lodge.

06h00 : Tea, coffee and a snack. Depart for an early morning game drive or perhaps a river cruise. 10h00 : Return to your lodge for a late, but hearty breakfast/brunch. 11h00 : Enjoy a bush walk, a spa treatment, go canoeing, have a swim, or just relax or siesta. 14h30 : Savor the flavors of our well-earned afternoon eats. 16h00 : Depart for an evening game drive and sundowners. 19h30 : Return to the lodge for your evening meal in either the boma or the restaurant.

Overnight: Kariega Ukhozi Lodge luxury accommodation, 3 nights.

Includes all meals, tea, coffee and mini bar in room, selected beverages alcoholic and non-alcoholic as well as two daily game drives (time and weather permitted).

Day 10

Kariega to Madikwe

This morning, we depart beautiful Kariega Game reserve for our flight to Johannesburg. Driving time is approximately 45 minutes.

At the airport in Johannesburg, we will be met by a member of the Madikwe Game Reserve for our transfer to our accommodation at the Lelapa Lodge in Madikwe for the next four nights. (Approximately 5-hour drive)

Enjoy a late lunch and settle into your rooms.

Tonight, we embark on our first game drive at Madikwe!

 

Day 10 - 14

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve, in the Northwest province, is one of South Africa’s largest Big Five game reserves and set in a malaria-free area in the historic Northwest province, near the border with Botswana.  The 76 000-hectare (187 800 acre) Madikwe Game Reserve supports a diverse combination of bushveld and the semi-arid Kalahari. Madikwe is famed for Operation Phoenix, the world’s largest game translocation exercise. Established almost 20 years ago, the reserve successfully reintroduced more than 8 000 animals of 28 species, including lion, elephant, and buffalo, as well as black and white rhino. This area is now home to the famous Big Five, as well as the endangered African wild dog and 350 bird species.

Here is an example of the daily events at Madikwe (times are approximate and subject to change)

05h00 Wake-up call

05h30 Tea/Coffee and game drive departs.

09h00 Game drive returns, breakfast/brunch is served.

At leisure Bush walk or activities of personal preference

16h00 High tea

16h30 Game drive departs.

19h30 Game drive returns and dinner follows.

Overnight 4 nights: Madikwe – Lelapa Lodge -ALL INCLUSIVE (Including: all meals, tea, coffee and mini bar in room, selected beverages alcoholic and non-alcoholic, two daily game drives (time and weather permitting).

Day 15

Madikwe to Johannesburg

After our game drive and breakfast, we leave Madikwe Game Reserve and transfer to our hotel in Johannesburg. (The drive is approximately 5 hours.)

Experience a passionate sense of style and service at the Melrose Arch Hotel. Situated in the new Melrose Arch development in Northern Johannesburg, the Melrose Arch Hotel offers easy access from the airport to the best that Johannesburg has to offer, day or night. The world- renowned March Restaurant, legendary swimming pool, inviting library and modern, comfortably appointed rooms conspire to make your visit to the Melrose Arch Hotel unique and unforgettable. Feel the pulse of urban Africa, set the course for your business, or just lay back in designer luxury – the choice is yours at The Melrose Arch Hotel where service excellence, absolute luxury and superb facilities are the order of the day.

Overnight: Melrose Arch Hotel (B).

Day 16

Full Day Soweto and Apartheid Museum or Constitution Hill

Today with our local guide, you will be introduced to a bit of the “Local Culture” as we pay a visit to the former “Black City of Johannesburg” – Soweto. We start with an orientation tour of Johannesburg – passing the house of Nelson Mandela in the upmarket residential area of Houghton. We will pass the suburb of Hillbrow – the most densely populated per square kilometre in Africa. Constitution Hill, Mandela Bridge, New Town, and Mining. Houses are some of the highlights. En-route to Soweto we pass Soccer City – the stadium that hosted the opening and final game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The establishment of Soweto is, like Johannesburg, linked directly to the discovery of Gold in 1885.Thousands of people from around the world and South Africa flocked to the new town to seek their fortunes or to offer their labour. Within 4 years Johannesburg was the second largest city in South Africa. More than half the early Johannesburg population was black, most living in multi racial shanty towns near the gold mines in the centre of the town. As the gold mining industry developed, the need for labour increased. Migrant labour was started and most of these workers lived in mine compounds. However other workers had to find their own accommodation often in appalling conditions. The first residents of what is now known as Soweto were located into the area called Klipspruit in 1905 following their relocation from “Coolietown” in the centre of Johannesburg because of an outbreak of bubonic plague. The Johannesburg City Council took the opportunity to establish racially segregated residential areas. We enter Soweto via the Diepkloof – a very affluent suburb and home to the rich. Across the road from here you will find the hugely contrasting old compounds. Your tour takes you pass the Chris Harni Baragwanath Hospital – the largest in the world. Across the street you find the enormous “Bara Taxi Rank” where hundreds of minibus-taxis transport more than a million passengers around the area per day.

Apartheids Museum (Freedom Struggle)

The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Beginning in

1948, the white elected National Party government initiated a process which turned over 20 million people into 2nd class citizens, damning them to a life of servitude, humiliation, and abuse. Their liberation in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela, the prisoner who became president, is a climax in the saga of a nation’s resistance, courage, and fortitude. Discover the true history of South Africa. Whoever you are, you cannot but come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of this country, its darkest days, and its brightest triumphs. The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid: The racially prejudiced system that blighted much of its progress and the triumph of reason which crowned half a century of struggle. The Museum has been assembled and organized by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, filmmakers, historians, and designers. An architectural consortium comprising several leading architectural firms, conceptualized the design of the museum on a seven-hectare site. The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience. The exhibits are from film footages, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid. A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a state sanctioned system based solely on racial discrimination. For anyone wanting to understand and experience what South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental. The museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with the past and working towards a future that all South African’s can call their own.

Overnight: Melrose Arch Hotel (B)

Day 17

Free morning

3:00pm – depart Hotel for airport and bid farewell to amazing South Africa.

 

Day 18

Arrival in Ottawa.

 

Itinerary subject to change.

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