South Africa

Upon arriving in Cape Town you'll be picked up at the airport by private driver and transferred to our hotel near the V&A Waterfront. This harbor area is known for its many restaurants and cultural attractions, and is a good place to relax, recover from your journey, and meet your fellow travelers.

For those who arrive early, our tour leader will be on-site to offer recommendations and help everyone make the most of their time.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a tour orientation followed by a great welcome dinner at a nearby local restaurant.

Today will begin with a city orientation tour of Cape Town's highlights, including stops at the Parliament building and Street Six, a historic area that once served as the center of the city's multicultural community, where we’ll learn about its challenging history.

Afterwards we’ll continue to Bo-Kaap, a lively neighborhood famous for its brightly colored houses, where we’ll join a walking tour of the area followed by a hands-on cooking class with a local family. During the class we’ll learn how to prepare traditional South African dishes such as Bobotie, a spiced minced meat dish with a creamy custard topping, and Chakalaka, a flavorful vegetable relish.

In the afternoon we'll take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain that offers breathtaking views over Cape Town.

You'll then have some free time in the evening in order to further explore the area near the hotel before gathering for dinner.

After breakfast we'll embark on a full-day private tour of the Cape of Good Hope, a nature reserve known for its dramatic sea cliffs and abundant wildlife, including baboons, ostriches, and various marine birds. Our journey begins at Boulders Beach, where we’ll have the chance to see African penguins in their natural habitat as they roam the sandy shores.

Next we'll take a guided walk to the historic Cape Point Lighthouse, located at the tip of the peninsula where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean, offering a unique view of the convergence of the two great seas. For lunch we'll enjoy fresh seafood at a restaurant along the picturesque False Bay coastline before returning to Cape Town in the late afternoon.

We’ll begin the day with a visit to an NGO dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through education and art programs. Here we’ll learn about the cooperative efforts that support the community and even create our own bookmarks with local craftspeople.

Next we'll head to a bustling market for lunch, where we’ll sample a variety of dishes and see how artisans craft their products from recycled materials. After lunch we'll travel to Langa, one of Cape Town's oldest townships, where we’ll have a guided walk to learn about the area’s past. During the tour we'll visit a local craft centerswhere residents continue to practice their time-honored arts.

Later we’ll return to the hotel for some free time before concluding the day with a sunset walk along the Seapoint Promenade, a scenic oceanfront walkway. This will be followed by a unique dinner featuring live music and performances.

After a 1.5-hour morning drive to Franschhoek, a town celebrated for its world-class vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture, we'll head to a winery for a wine tasting and a lesson on how the local wines are made. After sampling some of the region's varietals, we'll take a leisurely walk along the town's main road and enjoy lunch.

Next we'll continue on to Stellenbosch, a historic town in the heart of the Cape Winelands, where we’ll join a private wine-making class that gives you the chance to create your own unique blend and take home a bottle of your personalized wine.

Afterwards we'll check into our hotel, where you'll have free time to relax, whether by sipping a glass of wine at the pool, treating yourself to a soothing spa massage, or simply walking around the beautiful gardens, before gathering for dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants.

After a leisurely breakfast we'll depart on a 1.5-hour drive to Pringle Bay, a small seaside village, via the scenic Clarens Drive, a route known for its mesmerizing coastal views. Upon arrival we’ll visit a local craft workshop, where a skilled artisan will guide us through a traditional bead-making session and explain the cultural significance behind these pieces.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant we'll continue on a 1-hour drive to Hermanus, a town famous for its whale watching and laid-back charm. We’ll check into our hotel and have some free time to freshen up. In the evening we’ll have an optional sunset orientation tour along the coast, where we’ll stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the soft colors of dusk.

Today we'll head to a nearby pottery studio for a hands-on workshop, where a local artisan will introduce us to time-honored techniques passed down through generations. We’ll learn every step of the process, from shaping the clay by hand to carefully curing our own piece in the kiln. After the class, we'll enjoy lunch at a restaurant renowned for its fresh seafood before having some free time to explore Hermanus.

You might choose to visit art galleries to see the work of regional artists, stop for a wine tasting, or simply wander the historic streets and stroll along the waterfront at your own pace.

As the day draws to a close, we'll head to a nearby viewpoint at sunset, where we’ll hopefully get the chance to watch majestic whales in their natural habitat. After the whale viewing experience, we'll return to Hermanus for dinner.

After breakfast we’ll set off on our journey to the other side of the country. Our day will begin with a 1.5-hour drive back to Cape Town, followed by a 2-hour flight to the King Shaka International Airport in the city of Durban.

Once we land, we'll drive for 2.5 hours to reach the peaceful and remote town of St. Lucia, where we'll check into our lodge and settle in.

In the evening we'll have dinner at one of the town's top restaurants, and if luck is on our side, we'll observe the hippos that walk from the marshes right into town around sunset!

Today will begin with our first game drive in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its diverse habitats. Here we’ll have the opportunity to see wildlife such as African elephants, buffalos, and zebras roaming across a mix of landscapes, from clear lakes to open grasslands. Bird enthusiasts will be able to observe some of the 500 species in their natural surroundings.

After exploring the park we'll have a quick lunch before setting off on a two-hour cruise along Lake St. Lucia Estuary, Africa's largest estuarine system. This network of marshes and lagoons is home to crocodiles that are often resting on the banks and hundreds of hippos moving through the water. This unique experience will bring you up close and personal with the wildlife of the area.

The evening will offer some time to relax before we head out for dinner.

After breakfast we’ll pack up our vehicle and head to a nearby cultural village where we’ll discover the deep-rooted customs of the Zulu people, South Africa's largest ethnic group. We’ll listen to local stories and folklore, learn about traditional crafts, and even experience fortune-telling and healing practices that offer a real glimpse into Zulu life.

Next we’ll continue on a 2-hour drive to Bayala, located in the heart of the Sungulwane Game Reserve. We'll check into our lodge, located in the middle of this incredibly diverse Reserve. From there, we'll set out on an afternoon safari adventure with a naturalist guide in search of Africa's Big Five. Our goal is to spot lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo, among many other animals, as we explore the varied landscapes.

After the safari we'll return to our lodge for a cozy evening complete with dinner and stargazing under the clear African sky.

We’ll depart from our lodge in the early morning for our next safari experience, going deeper into the Reserve. Our focus will be searching for the elusive pangolin, a rare, mammal recognized by its overlapping protective scales. Although they are typically active at night, these fascinating creatures can sometimes be spotted in the early morning.

We’ll also enjoy a packed breakfast with excellent views as we continue our search for Africa’s Big Five and all other animals that live in this Reserve.

After our drive, we’ll return to the lodge for some well-deserved rest, lunch, and some optional afternoon activities. Later, for those interested, there will be one final safari drive before we gather for dinner.

After a trip full of memorable adventures, we'll set out after breakfast for a 4-hour drive back to Durban. Along the way we'll stop at a rhino orphanage, where we’ll learn about the dedicated efforts to rescue and rehabilitate young rhinos and get a chance to see these remarkable animals up close.

Upon arriving in Durban, we’ll check into our hotel and have some free time to unwind. We'll then gather for one last meal together as we celebrate this unforgettable trip!

You'll be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport in time for your departing flight.