Compare Luxurious South Africa & Victoria Falls by Audley Travel

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Cape Town.

Day 2 : Cape Town

On arrival in Cape Town, you're met at the airport by an Audley representative and escorted by private vehicle (either a BMW, Mercedes or Land Rover) to your accommodation in the city - a journey of around 30 minutes depending on the traffic and where you're staying. The rest of the day is free for you to relax in your luxurious hotel or guesthouse, or you may wish to head out to explore. We suggest walking along the V&A Waterfront, which is lined with an excellent selection of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Day 3 : Cape Town

This morning, ascend Table Mountain on the cable car, which gradually rotates 360º on the way up to ensure views over the city and ocean from all angles. Once at the summit, you can enjoy refreshments in the restaurant and explore the various trails and viewpoints along the top of the mountain, looking out for the resident dassies (rock hyrax), which resemble large hamsters. This afternoon, board a ferry from the Waterfront to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent much of his imprisonment during the apartheid. Here a local guide and former inmate will show you around the old prison for an insight into what life was like here.

Day 4 : Cape Town

Today your private driver and guide takes you on a tour of the Cape Peninsula. Highlights include visiting the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to admire the diverse range of local flora; seeing the jackass penguin colony at Boulders Bay; taking a funicular ride to the wild and windswept Cape Point; and spotting wildlife such as baboons, antelope and a variety of birdlife at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs en route, and you pass through several pretty towns and villages where you can purchase lunch.

Day 5 : Cape Town

With your private guide and driver, explore the Winelands' three main towns, sampling wines as you go. Your first stop is Stellenbosch, around an hour from Cape Town. The second-oldest town in South Africa, you can admire its canals and Cape Dutch architecture. Here your wines are complemented by carefully selected desserts and chocolates. You're then driven over the scenic Helshoogte Pass to Franschhoek, renowned as South Africa's culinary capital. Sample wines at one of the estates here before moving on to Paarl, set at the foot of dramatic granite domes. Here you enjoy a final wine tasting before heading back to Cape Town, around two hours away.

Day 6 : The Sabi Sand Wildtuin

You have a private transfer back to the airport for your two and a half hour flight to Kruger National Park. Arriving at Skukuza Airport, your private driver takes you into the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, a private reserve within the Kruger. The journey time varies depending on where you're staying, but could take up to an hour and a half. However, your safari begins as soon as you enter the reserve and you may spot game en route to your accommodation. You may have the chance to head out on another game drive before settling in this evening with sundowner drinks around the boma.

Day 7 : The Sabi Sand Wildtuin

Set out early for a morning game drive in an open vehicle with a tracker and a knowledgeable guide, who can help point out the wildlife and explain more about each species you encounter. The reserve is home to the Big Five, including a good population of leopard, as well as cheetah and wild dog. You return to your accommodation for a hearty breakfast before joining another game drive this afternoon. This continues into the early evening, giving you a chance to see some of the reserve's nocturnal species, such as chameleons and rhino, under the vehicle's spotlights.

Day 8 : The Sabi Sand Wildtuin

Enjoy another full day on safari. Your guides are very experienced at tracking and know the best spots for seeing certain species, giving you the best chance of seeing the animals you're most interested in. Between the morning and afternoon game drives you can embark on a guided bush walk to see and learn more about the smaller creatures that live in the bush, including insects, reptiles and birds, as well as learning about the reserve's plant life and its role in the local ecosystem.

Day 9 : Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

Today you're collected from your accommodation and transferred by private vehicle to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, around an hour and a half to two hours away depending on where you're staying. You catch a flight to Livingstone in Zambia. On arrival, you're met by a private driver and transferred to your accommodation on the banks of the Zambezi River. You may wish to join a guided sunset cruise along the river this evening to see and learn about the local wildlife, including birds, hippo and crocodile.

Day 10 : Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

You have a full day at Victoria Falls today. Gazing out over the expanse of water, you can hear its roar and feel the spray as it crashes over the rocks. The falls are within the Mosi O Tunya National Park, where you can go on game drives to see wildlife such as giraffe, zebra and impala, or simply follow one of the walking trails. Canoeing, fishing and white water rafting are also options. We also recommend taking a scenic helicopter or micro light flight for bird's-eye views over the falls.

Day 11 : International return flight

You're transferred by private vehicle back to the airport for your 1 hour 45 minute flight back to Johannesburg. In Johannesburg you will board your international flight home.

Day 12 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.