Compare South Africa Family Adventure by National Geographic Expeditions vs Kruger & Cape Town Short Break by Plane by Intrepid Travel
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Trip |
3.5 | Average
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4.5 | Great
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Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
Price From | $ 6,990 | $ 5,040 |
Price Per Day | $ 635 | $ 458 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Luxury | Premium |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 9 Dinners |
N/A |
Description |
Brimming with fascinating cultures and eternally wild, South Africa offers an extraordinary array of family adventures. In Cape Town, explore Table Mountain and hike the hidden trails of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Observe African penguins up close on the spectacular Cape Peninsula, and spend time with San people, learning ancient tracking and hunting techniques. Drive one of the world’s most spectacular roads, and get up close to endangered animals at a rehabilitation center. Then, during four days on safari, watch for the glow of eyes on a night game drive, observe a jaw-dropping array of species, and gaze at tangerine-colored sunsets melting into the bush. |
Enjoy an incredible African adventure on this journey from Kruger National Park to Cape Town. Feel the thrill of spotting one (or more) of Africa’s Big Five for the first time on a game drive safari, hear the trumpet of elephants across the plains and learn about the park’s unique ecosystem on a guided walk. Travel to bustling Joburg – a juxtaposing city of mansions and shantytowns – before travelling to the chic streets of Cape Town to learn about the city’s dramatic past. Immerse yourself in the culture, beauty and history of this astonishing region and sample a few glasses on regional wine along the way. |
Days 1 & 2: U.S./Cape Town, South Africa
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation :Southern Sun the Cullinan
Welkom! Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and transfer to our hotel, located near the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. After time to relax this afternoon, gather for an orientation with your South African-born trip leaders and head to a popular Cape Town restaurant to try some traditional dishes.
Day 3: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend today discovering Cape Town, starting early with an aerial cable car ride to the summit of 3,558-foot Table Mountain. Walk the network of paths that crisscross the plateau and watch for lizards and mongooses in the underbrush and eagles and kestrels soaring overhead. Then drive to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where more than 7,000 plant species thrive. In the company of a local botanist, see a spectacular baobab tree and unusual blossoms of the endemic species of the fynbos biome. This afternoon, visit the township of Langa to learn about the history of apartheid. Join township artists to make your own mosaic or pottery at a cultural center and gather for a musical performance and a drumming lesson.
Day 4: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trace the coast of the Cape Peninsula on a spectacular drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, stopping to visit harbor towns and historic villages along the way. Walk on Atlantic beach trails and hike along the cliffs overlooking False Bay, keeping an eye out for wildlife like bonteboks and baboons, or dolphins swimming off the coast. Hike to the lighthouse at Cape Point, where rugged cliffs drop sharply into the sea, near the boundary between the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans. On our way back to Cape Town, stop in Simon’s Town and find yourself amid hundreds of African penguins on Boulders Beach.
Day 5: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meet volunteers at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds and take a tour of the chick-rearing areas and rehabilitation units for a close-up look at African penguins and other species. Then delve into one the oldest cultures on Earth at !Khwa Ttu, the San Education and Culture Centre. Meet San people, hunter-gatherers once called “Bushmen,” to learn about their unique traditions and try your hand at shooting a bow and arrow or igniting a fire using sticks. Cook up a typical San ostrich dish with our hosts or head into the countryside to learn ancient tracking techniques.
Day 6: Cape Town/Kruger National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation :Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Fly from Cape Town to Nelspruit this morning and drive to the southern region of Kruger National Park, home to around 145 species of mammals and more than 470 species of birds. Our base here is a stunning lodge with strategically placed viewing balconies so we can watch wildlife—especially elephants—as they come to drink at the river. Set out with trackers on our first safari this evening, looking for the “big five”: lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhino. Stop for a special sundowner drink as the sun sets over the bush and listen as nocturnal life begins to stir.
Day 7: Kruger National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake up early for an open-vehicle game drive to observe wildlife active at dawn. Keep a lookout for the magnificent leopards that live in the southern part of Kruger, as well as endangered wild dogs. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and time to relax at the pool. This afternoon, go on a bush walk with a tracker and learn to identify birds, plants, and animal footprints. Head out on an evening game drive followed by dinner under the stars.
Day 8: Kapama Game Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive north to the 32,000-acre wilderness of Kapama Private Game Reserve, nestled between the Drakensberg Mountains and the eastern border of the Greater Kruger National Park region. On the way, stop on the shores of the Sabie River to raft Class II and III rapids through lush forests, spotting wildlife on the banks. Or take a walk along the Mac-Mac River to view a spectacular set of twin waterfalls, formed accidentally by dynamite during South Africa’s gold rush. Continue our journey along the beautiful Panorama Route, stopping to take in some of the country’s most majestic views. This afternoon, pay a visit to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, an important center for the conservation of endangered species. Meet wildlife that has been injured, poisoned, or abandoned, and learn how they rehabilitate their resident animals. Arrive at Kapama for a late afternoon game drive before dinner at our lodge.
Day 9: Kapama Game Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Greet the morning from your open 4x4 vehicle as you set out for a magical dawn drive around the reserve in search of the big five and other creatures that roam here: giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest, hyena, kudu, antelope, the elusive cheetah, and many more. Take a bushwalk to identify signs of wildlife, relax at the pool, or enjoy a spa treatment before our afternoon safari.
Days 10 & 11: Kapama/Johannesburg/U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a last game drive this morning. After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Hoedspruit for our flight to Johannesburg, where we connect with evening flights home.
Day 1 Johannesburg / Greater Kruger National Park
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure starts very early this morning to get you to Kruger for a late lunch. You'll arrive in the Greater Kruger National Park in the afternoon and after some time to settle in, you'll head off on a 3-hour game drive in open 4WDs through a private game reserve. Enjoy the thrill of spotting impalas, zebras, giraffes and lions among the brush. Half way through the safari, stop for drinks at one of the waterholes before continuing the game drive into the early evening. Tonight, why not get to know your fellow travellers a little better in the intimate lodge setting?
Day 2 Greater Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa and is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. This morning you'll rise early, heading into prime game viewing areas to catch a glimpse of some of the Big Five. Have breakfast at one of the picnic spots then continue through the park – game viewing, bird watching and stopping off at the various waterholes. Leave the park in the late afternoon and return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation.
Day 3 Greater Kruger National Park
Today is another full day of exploring Kruger National Park. Head out on game drives, look out for your favourite animals, soak in the atmosphere and excitement of a safari and take as many photos as your heart desires! Tonight, you'll spend another evening at your lodge. Why not relax around the fire, listening to the night sounds of Africa after dinner.
Day 4 Greater Kruger National Park
Spend the day at the lodge at your leisure today or take part in the optional drive along the Panoramic Route, viewing the Drakensberg Escarpment – some of the most stunning scenery South Africa has to offer awaits. The sights on this drive can include God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and some of the magnificent waterfalls within the Blyde River Canyon.
Day 5 Johannesburg
Rise early this morning and head out on a morning bush walk. Guided by a qualified nature guide, you'll learn about nature's finer details like bird, tree and spoor identification. Transfer back to Johannesburg in the early afternoon. There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way and take in the amazing views at the viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. When you arrive, you'll be dropped at the Holiday Inn Rosebank where you'll spend the night. The hotel has a restaurant and bar, and is also located next to the Mall of Rosebank.
Day 6 Cape Town
Check-out of the hotel after breakfast today and transfer to the airport. Fly to Cape Town and when you arrive, you'll be transferred to your hotel. Cape Town's stunning coastline, dominating mountain and modern cityscape makes it one of Africa's most appealing cities for visitors. With vineyards on its doorstep, adventure activities around every corner and plenty of restaurants and cafes to while away the time, this is a very easy city to spend time in. You have a free afternoon here, so maybe take a stroll around the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, laze on one of the city’s popular beaches or sample your first taste of authentic South African cuisine while watching the sun set over the bay.
Day 7 Cape Town - Walking Tour & Cape Point Peninsula
Today, you'll drive along the peninsula and see the many natural highlights of the area before retracing 350 years of Cape Town’s history on a two-hour walking tour of the city. Starting on the Atlantic Seaboard, take in natural sights like Maiden's Cove, Sentinel Lookout and the Cape of Good Hope in Table Mountain Nature Reserve. Look out for local wildlife, walk up to the old lighthouse at Cape Point and see the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Carry on to Simonstown, the home of the South African Navy, and to Boulders Beach to see the African penguins. See the prison where Nelson Mandela spent six years of his life then learn about the history of apartheid as you arrive into Cape Town's centre. Gain valuable insight into the effects of racism and discrimination on the lives of modern-day South Africans. See historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope (the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa), significant slavery sites such as the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum, the District Six Museum and the parliament buildings where apartheid laws were made and later repealed. End the day with a photo stop in Bo-Kaap.
Day 8 Cape Town - Winelands
Spend a full day travelling through Cape Winelands, visiting both old and new estates for a taste of the region’s best wines. You'll start off in the Fairview Estate for a wine and cheese tasting. On the slopes of the Paarl Mountain, this working farm is world-renowned for its wines, artisanal cheeses and the iconic goat tower. After, visit the Groot Drakenstein prison where Nelson Mandela was released in February 1990. Then, it's into the hills to Franschhoek. The view of the valley from here is lined with rows of manicured vineyards. Soak up the scenery and enjoy a glass of the region's finest from Rickety Bridge in the La Cabriere Estate. You can take the chance to lunch at the estate’s gourmet restaurant or visit one of the village’s many cafés instead. This afternoon you'll visit the college town of Stellenbosch to wander the boulevards and town center before heading to your final activity – a cellar tour at Hidden Valley Estate, which sits on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. You'll also indulge in a chocolate and wine pairing experience to elevate your time here. Later, return to the city for a free evening.
Day 9 Cape Town
Today is a free day in Cape Town to explore at your own pace. Maybe hit the beach for a full day of relaxation in the sun or hop on the revolving cable car and set off on one of the hundreds of hiking trails that criss cross Table Mountain to its summit. You could even strap on a harness and abseil down! Alternatively, you could head to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were detained or take in the atmosphere of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Tonight, unwind in the evening with an optional group dinner and another few glasses of the region’s best vino.
Day 10 Cape Town
Today is another free day to enjoy this great city. Perhaps take the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour around Cape Town or take a kayaking tour in the morning of the city's gorgeous oceans.
Day 11 Cape Town
Your adventure comes to an end today. There are no activities planned for the final day and you can depart the accommodation at any time after check out. Additional accommodation can be booked if you’d like to extend your time in Cape Town, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.