HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH AFRICA WITH VICTORIA FALLS

Day 1: ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.

Welcome to Africa! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2: CAPE TOWN.

Today, enjoy a full day of sightseeing, starting with a cable-car ride up Table Mountain for stunning views of the city, Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands. Next, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African Penguins, known for their unique sound. After free time for lunch, continue to Cape Point Nature Reserve for stops at the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Here, take a funicular ride to the steps of the old lighthouse for spectacular panoramic views. On your return journey back to Cape Town, skirt the rocky coastline as you ascend Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B,L)

Day 3: CAPE TOWN

Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps explore the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, take an optional excursion to the stunning Cape Winelands for wine tasting, or go whale watching in nearby Hermanus (Jun.-Oct.). Your Tour Director has suggestions to help you make the most of your day. (B)

Day 4: JOHANNESBURG-HOEDSPRUIT-KARONGWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE.

Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Karongwe Private Game Reserve, overlooking the majestic Drakensburg Mountains. This area, near Kruger National Park, is famous for its abundance of wildlife, including the "Big 5"-lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. After lunch, embark on your first exciting game drive. Stop for a sundowner in the bush before returning to your lodge for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 5: KARONGWE.

Your skilled tracker and professional Ranger work together as a team during your early morning game drive, so you can learn more about the ecosystem as you view wildlife up close. Beyond the "Big 5," you'll have the chance to see kudu, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, and more! Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax and enjoy the lodge and its surroundings. In the mid-afternoon, tea will be served prior to your afternoon game drive. Step out of your safari vehicle for a sundowner drink and watch as the sun sets over the Drakensberg Mountains. Return to your lodge in time to freshen up for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 6: KARONGWE.

Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. If the timing is right, you might spot some of the big cats after a night of hunting. Spend time at leisure in the middle of the day. Perhaps take a swim in the pool, visit the wellness centre for one of its many spa treatments, or simply sit back and watch the animals. Your afternoon game drive concludes with a sundowner drink as the sun sets over the bushveld! (B,L,D)

Day 7: KARONGWE-HOEDSPRUIT-JOHANNESBURG.

Enjoy one last game drive this morning before transferring to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 8: JOHANNESBURG.

Today's sightseeing starts with a visit to Soweto (South Western Township), the largest township in the country. Along the way, see the neighborhood that was home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Visit Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to around 1960, when he was forced underground to elude arrest. After lunch, visit the Museum to learn about the founding of South Africa before delving into the apartheid era. Using photos, video, and print, the museum takes you on an extraordinary journey through the apartheid years to the 1994 democratic elections that named Nelson Mandela president. (B,L)

Day 9: JOHANNESBURG-VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE.

Today, leave South Africa and fly north to Zimbabwe. Later this afternoon, a cruise on the Zambezi River affords you a wonderful opportunity to photograph wildlife and a spectacular African sunset! (B)

Day 10: VICTORIA FALLS.

Today, visit mighty Victoria Falls for an awe-inspiring experience. Enjoy a guided walk, where you will learn the history of the falls and hear fascinating details about the surrounding flora and fauna. Afterwards, enjoy free time for independent exploration. (B)

Day 11: VICTORIA FALLS.

Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps take a helicopter flight over the falls or a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. (B)

Day 12: VICTORIA FALLS-JOHANNESBURG.

Your tour ends with a flight back to Johannesburg. Schedule departing flights after 7:30pm. (B)