For approximately one month each year (typically late July to mid-September), Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is closed for annual maintenance. In these instances, a private tour of Kirstenbosch National Garden will be included in its place. During the dry season (September-December) and particularly dry years, water flow to Victoria Falls may be low. All game viewing is done at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver prior to travel. Due to rough driving on/off road and in/between game parks, this vacation is not recommended for guests with serious back problems or mobility issues.
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Your Small Group Discovery Tour begins!Welcome to Cape Town, commonly referred to as the “Mother City” by locals, as it was home to the first European settlement in South Africa. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.CAPE-TOWN.jpg
Day 2 CAPE TOWN
City Sights & Soaring HeightsStart at the Grand Parade to see the Castle of Good Hope and City Hall. Walk to see more of Cape Town’s landmarks including St. George’s Cathedral, Parliament, and The Company’s Garden. Then, explore the 
Bo-Kaap neighborhood, also known as the Malay Quarter, including a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum. After a traditional Malay lunch, enjoy a scenic cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain for stunning 360-degree views over the city. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant!LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore Cape Town’s neighborhood that was founded by former slaves in the 1750s. Today, Bo-Kaap is a melting pot of cultures within its National Heritage sites. Stroll past vibrantly hued houses ranging from lime-green and pink to orange, reflective of Dutch and British architecture. Your Local Guide shares fascinating stories of this lively neighborhood where the aromas of fragrant spices waft from local restaurants and spice shops. Enjoy lunch with your small group, followed by a cable-car ride to take in the 360-degree views from the top of Table Mountain.CAPE-TOWN-BO-KAAP.jpg
Day 3 CAPE TOWN–CAPE PENINSULA EXCURSION
Rocky Coast & Beach LifeTake a scenic drive along stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope before arriving at Cape Point. Ride a funicular to the steps of the old lighthouse with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African penguins. Free time this evening. TOUR HIGHLIGHTTUXEDO JUNCTION Jackets aren’t required on Boulders Beach, even though the residents look dressed to the hilt. The only penguins found on the continent, African penguins are known for the unique sound they make. Colonies can be found from southern Namibia all the way around the South African coast, and Boulders Beach is the premiere viewing spot. CAPE-TOWN-PENGUINS.jpg
Breakfast
Lunch
Day 4 CAPE TOWN
Free to Wander Full day at leisure for your own discoveries in this beautiful city. ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE Today, consider exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, take an excursion to the stunning Cape Winelands for wine tasting, or go whale watching in nearby Hermanus (Jun.-Nov.). Optional excursions are available for purchase with MyGlobus. CAPE-TOWN-VICTORIA-AND-ALFRED-WATERFRONT.jpg
Breakfast
Day 5 CAPE TOWN–HOEDSPRUIT–MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)
Operation Safari Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Makalali Private Game Reserve. Arrive in the home to an abundance of wildlife including the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger. Sip sundowner drinks before returning to your lodge for dinner. TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger who share fascinating facts about this wildlife paradise, while helping to spot the majestic creatures who call Makalali Private Game Reserve their home. Quench your thirst after today’s safari with a traditional sundowner experience with cocktails in true safari tradition with your small group. TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Staying in a private game reserve is the ultimate safari experience in South Africa. Go off-road to get close to the wildlife at Makalali Main Lodge, a stylish lodge featuring regional African cuisine, bar/lounge, pool, and spa facilities. Each spacious room features views from a private balcony, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, safe, and a large ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers! GREATER-KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK-LION.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 6 MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)
Makalali Magic Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. Keep an eye out for big cats after their night of hunting. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more. Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax at your lodge. Afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks. TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE As the sun sets over the majestic Drakensburg Mountains, enjoy a memorable happy hour in the bush in the nostalgic tradition of early safari explorers.KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK-IMPALA.jpg
Day 7 MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)
Spotting SkillsSharpen your game-spotting skills on your morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for African buffalo, reintroduced to the area after an absence of more than 50 years, reuniting the “Big Five” to roam freely in the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve. ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE When not on a game drive, do as the lions do with a rest in the heat of the day. Enjoy your lodge amenities, swim in the pool, pamper yourself with a wellness treatment, kick back on a viewing deck or your private balcony to watch nearby wildlife. GREATER-KRUGER-GIRAFFE.jpg
Day 8 MAKALALI–HOEDSPRUIT–JOHANNESBURG
A Jaunt to JoburgEnjoy a final game drive this morning before boarding your flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. Free time late afternoon and evening. KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK.jpg
Breakfast
Day 9 JOHANNESBURG
From the Dark Enters LightGuided sightseeing includes a visit to Soweto (Southwestern Township), Nelson Mandela's House, and Constitution Hill, a museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy.LOCAL FAVORITEA BEACON OF LIGHT Soweto, the largest township in the country, is a part of South Africa’s turbulent past, but this multicultural area is also a reflection of today and hope for tomorrow. Your Local Guide shares insightful stories as you see the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the former neighborhoods of Nobel Peace Prize winners, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela, featuring the Mandela House—former home of the legendary human rights leader.SOWETO-NELSON-MANDELA’S-HOUSE.jpg
Breakfast
Lunch
Day 10 JOHANNESBURG–VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
Zoom to Zimbabwe & Sunset SensationsFly to Zimbabwe and transfer to your hotel. Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.TOUR HIGHLIGHTTHE RIVER WILD Transfer to the Zambezi River’s edge and board the cruise boat. You’ll be treated like royalty as you take in the scenery and watch for wildlife while sipping and sampling from a selection of included drinks and canapés. Your cruise culminates in a spectacular African sunset!ZIMBABWE-ZAMBEZI-RIVER.jpg
Breakfast
Day 11 VICTORIA FALLS
Smoke on the WaterTake a guided walk at Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), as the locals call it, due to the clouds of mist produced by the cascading cataracts. Learn about the history of the falls and fascinating facts about the local flora and fauna with plentiful photo opportunities. Free time late morning and early afternoon. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a riverside farewell dinner with live entertainment. ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE Soar high above the falls on an optional helicopter ride or visit a nearby village to experience the local culture. Optional excursions are available for purchase at MyGlobus. VICTORIA-FALLS-ZIMBABWE.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 12 VICTORIA FALLS–CHOBE NATIONAL PARK AREA, BOTSWANA
Brilliant BotswanaTransfer by road to the Chobe National Park area. Board an afternoon river cruise on the Chobe River for game viewing. TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Nestled in the serene wilderness of the African bush, Elephant Valley Lodge boasts a prime location overlooking the Lesoma Valley in the Chobe District. This area is renowned for being home to the largest concentration of African elephants on the planet. Unlike the main congested areas of Chobe, the lodge features just 20 tents in its camp retreat where wildlife moves freely between Chobe National Park and the National Parks of Zimbabwe. From the comfort and tranquility of the Lodge you can watch creatures great and small, dropping by for a drink from the lodge’s watering hole.CHOBE-RIVER.jpg
Day 13 CHOBE
Where the Wild Things AreSpend the day on a full day game drive in Chobe National Park. Return to the lodge where you may wish to spend your time overlooking the Lesoma Valley from your veranda, watch for game enjoying the nearby waterhole, or enjoy time at the rim-flow pool. TOUR HIGHLIGHTLAND OF THE GIANTS Chobe National Park offers safari-goers the experience of a lifetime! Considered the best place in Africa to see the largest elephants in the world, Chobe’s pachyderm population is estimated to be 120,000—the largest elephant concentration in Africa. CHOBE-RIVER-HIPPO.jpg
Day 14 CHOBE–JOHANNESBURG
Homeward BoundFly to Johannesburg. Schedule departing flights after 7 pm. JOHANNESBURG-SKYLINE.jpg
Breakfast