Pearls of the South
Duration: 13 days and
11 nights
Package Price: $4200.00
Departure from US: Fridays from JFK International Airport, New York
Departure from South Africa: Tuesday s from Johannesburg International Airport
Airline: South Africa Airways
Destinations: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana
Day 1: Friday
Depart JFK International Airport, New York on South Africa Airways flight number SA 202 at 5.55 p.m. for Johannesburg, South Africa.
Day 2: Saturday
Arrival at Johannesburg International Airport at 3.20 p.m. Upon completion of immigration and customs formalities, you will be met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel. A brief orientation meeting will take place and refreshments will be served.
Evening Welcome Dinner with cultural performance. After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Welcome Dinner included
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 3: Sunday
Early breakfast and check out of hotel. Storage of unneeded luggage at hotel. Transfer to Johannesburg International Airport for a South Africa Airways 45-minute flight to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival the group will transfer to Azambezi Lodge and after receiving refreshments, spend the rest of the morning at leisure.
After a sumptuous luncheon at the lodge, we will spend the afternoon touring Victoria Falls and take in some of the most breathtaking views of one of the natural wonders of the world.
After dinner at the lodge, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner included
Overnight: Azambezi Lodge
Day 4: Monday
After an early breakfast and check out, our action packed day begins with a scenic drive from Zimbabwe to Botswana for a safari experience at Chobe National Park. Upon arrival we will check in and have lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge and spend the afternoon on a Safari Expedition. During our safari, we will have opportunities to view the magnificent "Big Five", namely the Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhinoceros. We will also see Cheetah, Zebras, Giraffes and Antelopes in their natural habitat. After this euphoric experience, the evening will be spent on a leisurely sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.
Lunch and Dinner included
Overnight: Cresta
Mowana Lodge
Day 5: Tuesday
The group will wake up early in the morning to continue the Safari Expedition to see the wonders of the animal kingdom at its best. This exhilarating early morning game drive will provide better viewing opportunities. After breakfast at the lodge, we will transfer overland to Victoria Falls to catch a 45-minute flight to Johannesburg.
Upon arrival we will transfer and check in to our hotel. The afternoon will be spent shopping for arts, crafts, fashion and jewelry at the Bruma Lake Flea Market.
After dinner, a program of optional evening events will be provided for independent viewing.
Lunch and Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 6: Wednesday
The day will be spent on a city tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. We will drive through the metropolitan areas of Johannesburg with views of the gold mines and stop at the Africa Museum to learn about the history of the city. We depart for Soweto, a township that contributed immensely to the political discourse of South Africa. A unique feature of Soweto is the dualism of upscale residential homes and shanties situated next to each other.
After a traditional South African lunch at a Soweto restaurant, we will begin our tour of Soweto by visiting the original home of Nelson Mandela now a museum, the Hector Petersen Memorial erected to commemorate the 1976 student riots, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu's House and Regina Mundi Cathedral, a rallying point for the struggle against Apartheid.
The evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 7: Thursday
The day will be spent visiting Kwandebele Cultural Village and Pretoria gaining exposure to the culture of the people who live in this part of South Africa. We will spend the morning on a Walking Tour of the village to see how the Matabele people go about their daily lives. We will also pay a visit to King Mahlangu's Traditional Council to learn about the Matabele people and their renowned traditional artist, Madame Mahlangu and Madame Nzimande and to purchase arts, crafts and jewelry.
After lunch at Safika Restaurant we will go on a tour of Pretoria and return to our hotel in Johannesburg.
After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 8: Friday
Early morning drive through the Cashan territory for a morning Safari Tour of Pilanesburg Game Reserve. Upon arrival, go on a safari expedition in an open-air vehicle with a game ranger to see the Big Five. We will also visit the Lion Park to view lions and if we are lucky, have an opportunity to play with lion cubs.
Return to Sun-City for lunch and an orientation tour of the Lost City, the Valley of Waves and the Palace.
Evening return to Johannesburg. After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure
Lunch and Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 9: Saturday
Early morning check out of hotel and transfer to airport for flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in Cape Town, transfer to our hotel and check in. The morning will be spent on an orientation tour of the city. Venues of interest include the District 6 Museum to learn about the history of the city and the surrounding areas, especially about communities, which were displaced due to South Africa’s Apartheid regime.
After lunch, we will embark on a short drive to Table Mountain on the outskirts of the city. Upon arrival, we take a cable car ride to the top of the mountain for breathtaking views of landscapes filled with a variety of flowers. Later on in the afternoon we will visit the Kistern Bosch Gardens to learn more about the varied species of flora and fauna in the Cape Town area.
After checking into the hotel, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch on own account
Dinner included
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Water Front
Day 10: Saturday
This day will be spent viewing the scenic wonders of South Africa. In the morning we will go on a picturesque drive along the Atlantic seaboard as we take in the breath taking views of the Cape Peninsula, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches. After making a brief stopover at Hout Bay for a cruise to the Seal Colony, we continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Lunch will be at the Two Oceans restaurant, Cape Point.
After Lunch we ascend by funicular to the hillcrest for spectacular views of Cape Point, the southern most tip of the African continent where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Our last activity for the day will be a visit to Jack Ass Penguin Island Reserve. On our return journey to Cape Town, we will utilize an alternative route and drive through Simonstown, Constantia Kloof and Signal Hill.
Enjoy a live jazz performance while you have dinner at the Green Dolphin restaurant.
Lunch on own account
Dinner included
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Water Front
Day 11: Sunday
After breakfast, we go on a cruise to Robben Island to see the prison cell where Nelson Mandela lived for twenty years out of his twenty-seven year prison term under the Apartheid regime. Upon our arrival, former prison inmates will share the history of the Island and the role it played in the persecution of indigenous South Africans
After the tour of the Island, we will return to the mainland and have lunch at Victoria Waterfront. The afternoon will be spent touring Khayelisha and Langa townships. We will visit projects such as the Women’s Carpet Weaving Entrepreneurial Project, which are helping previously disadvantaged communities develop and build a better life for themselves. This highly enlightening experience will broaden your understanding of the cultural diversity that exists in South Africa.
For dinner, we will have sumptuous South African cuisine at Café Afrika.
Lunch on own account
Dinner included
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Water Front
Day 12: Monday
Our final day of the tour begins with a tour of the Wine Lands to gain insight into South African wines, which are increasingly becoming favorites of wine connoisseurs worldwide. We will have an introduction to South African wines through a Wine Tasting at a local wine estate.
After lunch, the afternoon will be spent packing for our return flight to Johannesburg. Early afternoon check out of hotel and transfer to airport. Upon arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, transfer to South African Airways flight number SA 201 for 8.50 p.m. flight to the United States.
Day 13: Tuesday
One hour transit at Ilha do Sal. Flight arrives at JFK International Airport in New York City at 7.20 a.m. Transfer to connecting flights or rides home.