Ties that Bind
Duration: 8 days and
5 nights
Package Price: $2,600.00
Departure from US: Saturdays from JFK International Airport, New York
Departure from South Africa: Saturdays from Johannesburg International Airport
Airline: South Africa Airways Destination: South Africa
Day 1: Saturday
Depart JFK International Airport, New York on South Africa Airways flight number SA 202 at 5.55 p.m. to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Day 2: Sunday
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.
After a Welcome Dinner with a cultural performance, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Welcome Dinner included
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 3: Monday
The first day of our tour will be spent on a city tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. After breakfast we will drive through the metropolitan areas of Johannesburg with views of gold mines and stop at the Africa Museum to learn about the history of the city. 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 in a Soweto restaurant, our tour continues by visiting the original home of Nelson Mandela now a Museum, 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 rest of the afternoon will be spent shopping for arts, crafts, fashion and jewelry at the Bruma Lake Flea Market.
After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 4: Tuesday
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. Depart by road to Kwandebele and upon arrival go 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. We will have an opportunity to see Ndebele artisans and craftsmen at work, and to purchase arts, crafts and jewelry.
Enjoy lunch at Safika Restaurant and go on a city tour of Pretoria. Stop at various landmarks and return to Johannesburg after the tour.
After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, Sandton City
Day 5: Wednesday
After an early breakfast and check out of hotel, we embark on a picturesque drive To Durban, passing through the Drakensburg Mountains, the highest mountain range in South Africa. Upon arrival in Durban, we will check into the Holiday Inn Hotel, South Beach and have lunch.
Spent the afternoon enjoying a city tour of Durban. Venues of interest include the Kwamuhle Museum, where you can learn about the history of the area, see the Umuti Market, an African herbal medicine market, and meet an Inyanga, traditional doctor.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent touring Umlazi Township, see the Glebe Male Hostel and Lamontville Township, created for the settlement of non-whites who served in World War II
After dinner, the evening will be spent at leisure.
Lunch included
Dinner on own account
Overnight: Holiday Inn, South Beach
Day 6: Thursday
After an early breakfast and check out of hotel, we embark on an expedition to Kwabhekithunga Cultural Village. Embark on an overland excursion to Showe, a historical city on a hill situated around a tropical rainforest. Showe derives its historical importance as the home of great AmaZulu kings, Shaka, Mpande, Cetshayo and Dinizulu. The city also served as the first British capital of Zululand during 1887 to 1897 when it was a separate British colony and also as a military headquarters.
Cultural village tour includes lectures on the way of life of the Zulu people. You will be treated to a traditional Zulu meal and interact with the indigenous inhabitants of the village. Upon completion of the tour we will check in to the Kwabhekithunga Lodge, with architecture fashioned like a traditional Zulu beehive with modern amenities and bathroom en-suite.
Welcome dinner with traditional musical performance.
Lunch on own account
Dinner included
Overnight: Kwabhekithunga Lodge
Day 7: Friday
After breakfast, spend the morning packing for our return flight to the US. Late morning check out of lodge, and overland transfer to Durban. Spend afternoon relaxing on the beach. Late afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Johannesburg International Airport for check in for South African Airways flight number SA 201 for 8.50 p.m. flight to the United States.
Lunch on own account
Dinner on own account
Day 8: Saturday
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.