Extended your highlights of South Africa small group adventure with a Zambezi Queen cruise viewing wildlife in Chobe National Park.
Day 1. Arrive Cape Town
On arrival in the South African city of Cape Town, be met at the airport and transferred to your five-star hotel. This evening, meet your APT Tour Director.
Day 2. Cape Town, Freedom of Choice Touring
A guided sightseeing tour of Cape Town begins this morning with a ride on the aerial cableway to the top of Table Mountain. Enjoy time to admire the city and ocean views then return to town. Here, visit
the District Six Museum and the Good Hope Castle, then wander the Company’s Garden, established in the 1650s. This afternoon, choose from a visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens; a ferry ride to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned; an African Heritage Tour; or a Cape Winelands tour and wine tasting. Tonight, take part in a drumming session before enjoying a
meal of African and Cape Malay cuisine and live entertainment.
Day 3. Cape Town, Cape Peninsula
Today after breakfast, you’ll discover the breathtaking Cape Peninsula during a full-day tour. This picturesque journey takes you along Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point, where the two Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. After stopping here, you’ll continue on to historic Simon’s Town and then see penguins up-close at Boulders Beach before returning to Cape Town and enjoying the evening at leisure.
Day 4. Cape Town, Oudtshoorn
Leaving Cape Town, venture east along the Garden Route. Travel through beautiful coastal and forest landscapes then stop to discover the stunning subterranean limestone formations of the Cango Caves. After, head to Oudtshoorn and enjoy the hospitality of the Klein Karoo region as you spend the night in a beautifully restored rural 1830s property. Tonight, dine on regional produce including ostrich.
Day 5. Oudtshoorn, Knysna
After a hearty farm breakfast, visit an ostrich farm then continue travelling along the Garden Route to the coastal town of Knysna. Check in to your hotel, set on the Knysna Quays Waterfront, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 6. Knysna, Featherbed Nature Reserve
Today enjoy a visit to the pristine Featherbed Nature Reserve, a South African Heritage Site that’s only accessible by ferry. Here, join an expert park guide in a custom-designed 4WD vehicle on a journey to the top of Western Head, stopping at outlooks that offer unsurpassed views of the lagoon, mountains and Knysna. Afterwards, perhaps join an optional bushwalk down a nature trail that meanders through coastal forest and fynbos. Your experience concludes with a delicious buffet lunch at the Food Forest Restaurant, set on the edge of a lagoon under a canopy of Milkwood trees. After returning to your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 7. Knysna, Port Elizabeth, Freedom of Choice Touring
Immerse yourself in nature today during your Freedom of Choice Touring activity. Perhaps visit Monkeyland Primate Reserve, where you’ll wander along the canopy walkway and see primate species roaming freely, from the lemurs of Madagascar to the gibbons of Asia and more. Alternatively, enter the world’s largest aviary dome at the Birds of Eden sanctuary, home to a range of free-flight African birds in their natural habitat. This afternoon, continue along the Storms River Mouth and through Tsitsikamma Forest on the way to Port Elizabeth.
Day 8. Port Elizabeth, Zululand
Today fly to Durban (flight included) then travel by coach to the Zulu Nyala Game Lodge, set on a hilltop overlooking one of the country’s most diverse conservation reserves. Watch for local wildlife on the first of several African game drives before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 9. Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve, Zulu Village
Set off today on a game drive in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve, Africa’s oldest game park and home to the rare White Rhinoceros. During the drive you may spot wildlife such as giraffes, zebras, Blue Wildebeest, impalas, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos and Nyala, Southern African antelope, among other creatures. After, head for a Zulu village, where residents still practise the centuries-old Zulu traditions of their ancestors. Get a taste of African beer-making; try your hand at stick fighting or spear-making; let a sangoma, witch doctor read your future; and be entranced by the rhythms of Zulu dancing. Back at the lodge, enjoy an afternoon game drive and sundowner drinks before a special Boma dinner held outdoors around a bonfire.
Day 10. Zululand, Swaziland
Leaving South Africa, cross into the Kingdom of Swaziland on a journey past of mountains and through forests. Along the way, drop in at the Swazi Candle Factory near Manzini for the unique opportunity to see local Swazi craftsmen using an age-old technique to create highly decorative hand-made Swazi Candles. Then head for the Ngwenya Glass factory, where you’ll witness the magical art of glassblowing. Later, arrive in the tranquil Ezulwini Valley.
Day 11. Swaziland, Kruger National Park
Back in South Africa, travel to Tinga Private Game Lodge, a luxury lodge which exudes the atmosphere of a classic safari lodge, perched on the banks of the Sabie River. This afternoon, take a game drive in an open-air 4WD vehicle and stop for sundowner drinks at dusk, watching for the famed wildlife of Africa as the sun sets. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the lodge then retire to your decadent private suite.
Day 12. Kruger National Park, Freedom of Choice Touring
A morning game drive today offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spot one or all of Africa’s Big Five - the buffalo, lion, elephant, leopard and rhinoceros - along with other animals. Escorted by an expert guide, travel through the lodge’s exclusive concession of land in Kruger National Park. Then perhaps attend a wildlife lecture; take in a birdlife presentation or go on a bushwalk. During leisure time, perhaps make use of the lodge’s facilities or relax on your private deck, which affords views out over the Sabie River. After another game drive and sundowner drinks at sunset, today day ends with an intimate outdoor bush dinner out under the stars.
Day 13. Kruger National Park, Johannesburg
After a final game drive this morning, depart Kruger National Park bound for Johannesburg, travelling along the lovely Panorama Route. On the way, stop at God’s Window for views over Blyde River Canyon, and see The Three Rondavels - natural rock spirals that rise 700 metres out of the canyon wall. On arrival in Johannesburg, check in to your hotel.
Day 14. Johannesburg, Livingstone
This morning, fly to Livingstone in Zambia (flight included). On arrival, settle in to your iconic hotel, set right on the banks of the magnificent Zambezi River. This afternoon, enjoy a walk to Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfalls and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Visit a number of amazing viewing points before returning to your hotel for dinner followed by an evening at leisure.
Day 15. Livingstone, Freedom of Choice Touring
After breakfast, perhaps trace the steps of Dr Livingstone on a cultural tour then visit the Maramba Market; enjoy an Elephant Back Safari; go fishing; or take a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. Following free time this afternoon, set off for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi, watching for hippos and other wildlife on the riverbanks.
Day 16. Livingstone, Kasane, Embark River Cruise Safari
After a morning at leisure, head to Kasane in Botswana. Transfer to your river ship and watch for wildlife during a sunset cruise. Tonight, enjoy a delicious Welcome Dinner on board.
Day 17. Chobe National Park, Chobe River
Disembark this morning for a 4WD game drive through Chobe National Park, which has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa. Enjoy lunch back on board as you cruise the Chobe River. This afternoon, perhaps go on a game-viewing cruise on a smaller boat, or take to the shallow waters on a makoro (African canoe) and enjoy a cultural village tour.
Day 18. Disembark River Cruise Safari, Johannesburg
Disembark your ship after breakfast and travel by coach back into Zambia. On arrival in Livingstone, head to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg (flight included).
Day 19. Depart Johannesburg
Transfer to the airport this morning for your onward flight.
