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South Africa Highlights & Safari tour

South Africa Highlights & Safari

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Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
4.9 . Excellent
99%
Travel Style: Array Full on
Physical Level: All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
14 days
From: $ 2,999 $ 214 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Explore Table Mountain (Cape Town)
  • See the Cape Peninsula (Cape Town)
  • Explore amazing Hluhluwe Game Reserve
  • Visit to Kruger National Park
  • Vist Apartheid Museum (Johannesburg)

Short Description

Experience South Africa like never before on this comprehensive journey! Arrive in Cape Town to your elegant hotel and spend four nights exploring the highlights of this spectacular city. On the next leg of your trip, traverse the gorgeous coastlines of the Indian Ocean and enjoy a game drive in the fascinating Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Then, visit the most famous of all the game reserves in South Africa, Kruger National Park. Your unforgettable odyssey comes to an end in the gorgeous metropolis of Johannesburg.

Style Group tour
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions Roundtrip air to/from trip start & all internal transport
Start City Cape Town
End City Johannesburg

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA.

Your fascinating sojourn to South Africa begins as you depart New York today.

Day 2: Arrive Cape Town.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel

Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and most spectacular city, where you’ll be met and escorted to your hotel, ideally located near the vibrant V&A Waterfront. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner and briefing. Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel

Sheltered beneath the dramatic shape of Table Mountain, Cape Town is indeed one of the world’s most unique cities. This morning, a local expert leads you on a sightseeing tour to explore the charms of the city. Ride by cable car to the top of Table Mountain for glorious city and bay views. Descend and travel through the Malay Quarter and the city center for a chance to view and photograph impressive Table Mountain from a distance. Your tour ends at the vibrant V&A Waterfront where the balance of the day is at leisure. You may relax at one of the many cafes, stroll around and browse the craft and art shops or sample South Africa’s renowned wines.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel

A memorable full day excursion to Cape Peninsula begins with a scenic drive passing steep mountains, secluded coves, and sweeping beaches en route to Cape Point at the southern tip of the Peninsula. Stop at the fishing village of Hout Bay before arriving to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. The reserve is rich with flora and fauna and you may see baboons, rheboks and Cape Mountain zebras. Savor the stunning views of the coastline where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. After lunch at a famous seafood restaurant follow the majestic coastline along False Bay and stop at Simon’s Town, where you’ll visit the Penguin colony. Lastly, visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and enjoy the magnificent display of indigenous South African flora before returning to Cape Town late this afternoon.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel

Today is at leisure for independent exploration, shopping or relaxing! An optional excursion to the charming winelands region just outside Cape Town is available. You may also use your free time to visit Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela spent nearly two decades in captivity.

Day 6: Cape Town/ Zululand/ Hluhluwe.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Emdoneni Lodge

Board a morning flight to King Shaka International Airport on the Kwazulu Natal North Coast, just outside the bustling port city of Durban. Journey to the charming resort village of Westbrooke, where you may enjoy a stroll on the golden sands of the Indian Ocean shoreline. Later, travel northwards through canefields and timber plantations to Zululand, home to one of the most famous of the African tribal peoples. Arrive at your hotel located near the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, renowned for saving the white rhinoceros from extinction. Emdoneni Lodge 

Day 7: Hluhluwe Game Reserve/Zululand.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Emdoneni Lodge

An exciting day begins with a morning game drive in open safari vehicles to explore the magnificent animals and species in the fascinating Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Later, visit Dumazulu Village and experience the everyday life of the Zulu tribe, renowned for its warrior culture. Witness traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear making and a ceremony of beer drinking. A special Zulu lunch will be served. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 8: Hluhluwe/Swaziland.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lugogo Sun Hotel

Today, continue your scenic drive north and cross the border into the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland. Shop for unique African souvenirs at the colorful markets and see basket weavers at work. Lugogo Sun Hotel.

Day 9: Swaziland/Kruger National Park.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Kruger Gate Lodge

Drive through the beautiful countryside of the province of Transvaal to the world famous Kruger National Park. Encompassing some of the most stunning and diverse terrain, the park is South Africa’s premier game sanctuary. An unforgettable game drive in your own motor coach this afternoon takes you in search of the wild. Your upscale lodge is located near the park. Kruger Gate Lodge.

Day 10:

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Kruger Gate Lodge

Your safari today includes a morning game drive, in open vehicles, in search of the parks many residents including the “Big Five”: Lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino and hopefully the more elusive leopard. You may also spot hippopotamus and crocodiles as well as zebras and giraffes. Plains game and bird life also abound. Have your camera ready! After a lunch break, return to the park for an afternoon open-vehicle safari.

Day 11: Kruger Park/ Mpumalanga/ Sandton (Johannesburg).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Garden Court Sandton City

Drive through Mpumalanga (formerly Eastern Transvaal) panoramic wild countryside and enjoy unparalleled views of densely forested mountains, valleys, rivers and waterfalls. Arrive in the magnificent Blyde River Canyon, one of the greatest spectacles of Africa. Proceed to Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes, a place of African legend containing bizarre holes cut into rock by powerful river erosion. Later relish sweeping views from God’s Window. Proceed to Sandton, a flourishing suburb of Johannesburg, the commerce and diamond mining center. Garden Court Sandton City Hotel.

Day 12: Soweto Excursion/Apartheid Museum.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Garden Court Sandton City

This morning learn more about South Africa’s turbulent past and its hope for the future on a fascinating tour to Soweto, a sprawling metropolis on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Peek into the past – hostels, Freedom Square and the struggle for liberty. Tread the paths to greatness by the late Nelson Mandela and visit his former house. This afternoon, visit the Apartheid Museum, the pre-eminent museum in the world exposing the rise and fall of apartheid and South Africa’s tumultuous journey through the 20th century. Tonight, celebrate with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner feasting on a traditional South African buffet.

Day 13: Depart South Africa.

Meals: Breakfast

Today is at leisure for last minute shopping or independent pursuits before transferring to the airport for your return flight.

Day 14: Arrive USA.

Your memorable journey comes to an end as you touch down in New York this morning.

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 2,999
Price Per Day: $ 214 per day
Checking price
  • Deposit Price: $ 300
  • Single Supplement: $ 449

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with SmarTours.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

1,112 SmarTours Travel Reviews & Ratings

99%
4.9 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 995
Great 111
Average 1
Disappointing 1
Terrible 4
Value
4.9
Guide
4.9
Activities
4.9
Lodging
4.9
Transportation
4.9
Meals
4.9

South Africa Highlights & Safari

experience of a lifetime

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
What an experience walking with the lions? Up close and personal with the beastly lions was an experience of a lifetime. A trip I would definitely want to retake Best trip ever. I love animals and our group was able to see the Big 5 at both Kroger and Chobi National Parks. Giraffes like to stay camouflaged but such graceful animals. If you love animals, this trip is for you.
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we have been so very happy with EVERYTHING

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We have done 4 Smartours over the years. South Africa, Macchu Piccu, Galapagos, India and Nepal. Each and every time we have been so very happy with EVERYTHING. The tour, the accommodations, the food, the tour guides, especially the tour guides. Safe, knowledgeable and fun! I recommend Smartours to so many people you would think I worked for the company. 111 countries and the very best of these were done with Smartours.
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Efficiently hitting all the highlights

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was the first tour we’ve taken, having always arranged transpiration, hotel and sightseeing activities by ourselves in the past. I had less confidence about doing this for Africa and when our friends suggested SmarTours, we decided to try it. Efficiently hitting all the highlights, the South African Tour was outstanding and our guide, Jeremy was absolutely top notch. Very informative, on top of every detail, he arranged absolutely everything flawlessly. We will definitely be doing more SmarTours in the future! Signed by Susan Miller-Pinhey
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exceeded our expectations

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was our seventh tour with smarTours and it did not disappoint. The hotels, included meals, safaris, and guide exceeded our expectations. We saw the big five and enjoyed every safari. Our safari guides did everything possible to ensure we saw animals from the best vantage point. We extended our trip to Victoria Falls. This is highly recommended. We spent a full morning visiting the falls. Our entire group embarked on the optional tour to Chobe National Park in Botswana; this is not to be missed. If you are taking the extension to Victoria Falls and Botswana, you will need to buy a multi-entry visa upon arrival in Zimbabwe. Our tour guide gave us the entry form the previous night so we could complete it before departure. This was a great time saver, as many other arriving passengers, were filling out their forms at the entrance way to customs. We purchased a Kasi visa, which allowed us to walk across the bridge from Victoria Falls to Zambia. This self-guided tour was a highlight of our trip. The taxi from the Zambia side of the bridge to Livingstone cost $7. South Africa highlights and Safari is our most favorite trip.
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Loved our trip

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Loved our trip to South Africa. We very much loved Sean our guide as he went over and above on keeping all safe, informed, happy and laughing with his wonderful humor. Hotels and restaurants were over and above. Kruger was outstanding and we got to see 2 lion brothers fight right in front of us over a new bunch of lion cubs. Elvis our driver took us on quite a whirl and we saw many animals up close and personal. I got to hold baby lion cubs in my lap and my husband laid beside a Cheetah. Who does that? We loved Table Mountain and the enchanted clouds that rose just as we arrived. Also enjoyed Cape peninsula and Cape Point and the beauty and waters that surround it. The children and their wonderful principal that told us of the conditions of their school and what could improve it. The children's smiles as they sang to us. The wonderful museum that told us of the history and court trials of the past. The wonderful food so healthy and not packaged served in the restaurants. The high cliffs and twisty roads where families walked to their homes high in the mountains. The skyscrapers in Johannesburg and the wonderful progress that is there for all. Yes we highly recommend Smart Tours and their lovely tour in South Africa.
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wonderful vacation

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Just back from a wonderful vacation to South Africa and Safari. First I want to compliment our wonderful guide who went over and above to tell us about Africa, keep us all safe and keep us laughing with his wonderful sense of humor. Sean made it so much more enjoyable with all his history and facts. He never missed a thing.. obliging us in the wonderful hotels, vehicles, great food, wine and told us about every excursion in detail. What a time we had in Kruger seeing all the animals, two lion brothers fighting over their pride of cubs right in front of us, a cheetah up in a tree eating his latest kill, herds of elephants crossing in front of us. We had Elvis as our driver and that alone was a thrill, as he knew exactly where to bring us to see the best animals. I highly recommend signing up for the extra safari offered to all. We visited a school in Cape Town and realized what school is like for some that might not be so privileged. But the children were wonderful and sang their heart out to us with big smiles. They are great kids and hopefully will be voting soon and then a nation will be born to all. They had the most dedicated principal ever and we will all spread the word back home, so their school will have more. Table Mountain and the clouds that lifted as we arrived, made it like an enchanted visit from above the angels. The twisted roads that led to African homesteads and wonderful families walking in the fields and roads. The 4 star hotels and restaurants that served freshly grown foods that rarely came out of a package. The beds were all wonderfuI and oh so comfortable. The surroundings around the hotel each unique with transportation into the city. The modern city of Johannesburg with its skyscrapers and wonderful museums. We sat and watched the court hearings on screen at one museum and are thankful things are a bit better than long ago. The privilege of seeing wild cats up close and actually holding new born baby lions in my lap. My husband laying beside a Cheetah for a photograph. The visit to Cape Point and Cape Peninisula was well worth the stop and the beauty of its splendor. The penguins were interesting but not the highlight I thought. We really enjoyed the ride on the way more so , where we saw an Ostrich farm and a Baboon chasing them. The Ostrichs were more clever this time. We also loved seeing the Zulula dancers and how some of us got to dance with them and the laughter. We have gone on 5 trips with Smart Tours and you will always get a huge variety of activities and places that no other tours do quite the same. So I highly recommend the trip with Smart Tours to Southern Africa.... your gonna love it. Gail and Mark Mitchell New Hampshire.
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Details

Optional Activities

  • Victoria Falls extension: from approx. $1,289 per person
  • Half-Day Cultural Heritage & Township Tour (Approx. $40 per person)
  • Winelands Tour (Approx. $48 per person)
  • Full Day Great White Shark Cage Diving*** (Approx. $148 per person, including breakfast, packed lunch, hot soup and transfers)
  • Full-Day Chobe National Park (Botswana) Safari & Tour (Approx. $175 per person)

Flight & Transport Inclusions

Roundtrip air to/from trip start & all internal transport

Group Size

Standard Group - 25 + people

Accommodations

  • Night 1: International Flight: South African Airways
  • Nights 2-5: Cape Town: Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel OR Cape Town: President Hotel
  • Nights 6-7: Hluhluwe: Emdoneni Lodge
  • Night 8: Swaziland: Avani Ezulwini Valley Hotel
  • Nights 9-10: Kruger National Park: Kruger Gate Lodge OR Sabi River Sun Resort
  • Nights 11-12:  Johannesburg: Garden Court Sandton City
  • Night 13 Main: International Flight: South African Airways
  • Nights 13-15 Extension: Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
  • Night 16 Extension: International Flight: South African Airways

Cancellation policy

Full Payment due 75 days before departure. Failure to make final payment on time may result in automatic cancellation of reservation and loss of deposit.

Changes to the original reservation will result in a $150 change fee per person per change. No changes allowed within 75 days of departure.

Cancellation charges per person are:

Up to 75 days before departure: $300

74-45 days before departure: $600

44-30 days before departure: $1000

29-10 days before departure: $1500

9 days or less before departure: No refund.

All cancellations must be received in writing

Trip ID#:

smartours-SSA

What's excluded

  • Baggage and personal insurance
  • Passport and visa fees
  • Gratuities and optional tours
  • Expenses of personal nature
  • Any items not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
  • Beverages
  • Meals other than specified in the trip itinerary
  • Items of a personal nature.

Meals Included

18 meals: 11 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 5 Dinners

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