Itinerary
The following itinerary is a sample. To customize this itinerary to your wishes and preferences, please contact one of our Adventure Specialists at 800-543-8917.
Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Explore Cape Town beneath Table Mountain and along the Cape Peninsula
Discover the city’s cultural mix, creative cuisine and nearby wine country
Follow the coast toward the Cape of Good Hope past beaches and sheer sea cliffs
Look for African penguins and marine wildlife along the peninsula
Arrive in Cape Town, where you’re greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Located at the southern tip of the African continent where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, Cape Town and the Western Cape are strikingly beautiful. At the foot of Table Mountain, this city of 3 million is a charismatic blend of cultures, renowned for its scenic setting, creative cuisine and world-class local wines. Outside the city, enjoy spectacular beaches, sheer sea cliffs along the Cape of Good Hope, and wildlife encounters from penguins to sharks.
Days 4 to 6: Track cheetahs on foot across a private Karoo reserve
Fly into the Eastern Cape, a region spanning seven distinct biomes
Explore Samara Private Game Reserve on twice-daily wildlife drives
Join family-friendly nature walks through 70,000 acres of mountains and open plains
Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Then, transfer by road to your camp. Comprising the southeastern coast of South Africa, the Eastern Cape is a wonderland of natural diversity. This malaria-free region boasts 500 miles of coastline, seven different biomes, more than 3,500 endemic plant species, and South Africa’s “Big Seven” (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, plus whale and great white shark!). Your journey of exploration begins in the west at Samara Private Game Reserve, known for its broad vistas, mountains and fantastic cheetah habitat. Samara's vast reaches encompass 70,000 acres of private land on which cheetah were reintroduced for the first time after 125 years of being hunted out of this natural habitat. Embark on twice-daily wildlife drives on the reserve, as well as interpretive nature walks designed for both adults and children of all ages. Samara offers the rare opportunity to track cheetah on foot, a special privilege available to very few safari-goers. Accommodations are offered in an exclusive private manor house for families of four to eight guests, or in the main lodge for smaller or larger groups.
Days 7 to 9: Search for the Big Five along the Great Fish River
Explore Kwandwe Private Game Reserve on morning and afternoon wildlife drives
Look for elephants, lions, rhinos, kudu, eland and endangered blue cranes
Join guided walks for a closer look at smaller wildlife and subtropical thicket habitats
Transfer by road today to reach the lush forests and grasslands of the east, where your destination is Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a definite contrast to Samara. Kwandwe’s 54,000 acres contain a 19-mile stretch bordering the Great Fish River plus 32,000 acres of sensitive subtropical thicket vegetation, providing the capacity to store more than half a million tons of carbon—a boon to the environment. The reserve is home to South Africa's famous Big Five as well as kudu, eland, red hartebeest and rare birds such as the endangered blue crane. Twice-daily wildlife drives showcase large mammals such as elephant, lion and rhinoceros, while guided walks offer a more intimate perspective on smaller creatures and their habitats. Accommodations are provided in an exclusive private manor house for families of four to eight guests, or in Kwandwe Ecca Lodge for smaller or larger groups.
Day 10: Leave the Eastern Cape for homeward flights
Transfer by road to Port Elizabeth
Fly onward to Johannesburg or Cape Town and connect with homeward flights
After a road transfer to Port Elizabeth this morning, connect with your onward flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town today, where you'll bid farewell to South Africa as you depart for home.
