COLONIAL EXPLORER VICTORIA FALLS, KRUGER PARK AND CAPE TOWN

This trip follows in the footsteps of the grand old days of the colonial explorers: strap on your pith helmet, dust off your safari suit and head off to retrace the paths of Stanley and Livingstone. On this trip, you’ll be start with the majestic Victoria Falls, overnighting then in the buzzing city of gold and diamonds, Johannesberg, before spending five nights at two luxury safari lodges in the Kruger Park. From there, it’s short flight to Cape Town, with a tour of the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands to sample the finest food and vistas in Africa.

VICTORIA FALLS SAFARI CLUB: (3 nights) www.victoria-falls-safari-lodge.com Tel nr: +27 (0)21 424 6445

You’ll land from your incontinental flight in Johannesberg and then straight away board another flight to Victoria Falls. You’ll land The VFSC has been rated by its own industry as the best lodge in the whole of Zimbabwe for nearly all of its twenty-year history. It’s easy to see why: not only are you close enough to hear the thunder of the falls, you’re also so close to the towns of Livingstone and Victoria Falls but at the same time, have vistas over the African plains where wild animals roam day and night. Match all this with luxurious rooms and a choice of two restaurants on site and you’ll have a hard time leaving. On your last day, you’ll be transferred back to Victoria Falls airport and then fly on to Johanneberg.

LEIGHWOOD LODGE: (2 nights) www.leighwoodlodge.co.za

The peace and tranquillity of the rose garden at Leighwood.

You’ll be collected from your international flight at O R Tambo Airport and whisked to Leighwood Lodge: this upmarket guesthouse is in the fashionable district of Morningside which is right next to the lively café-culture of Rosebank. We’ve not booked anything for you for the first day as the flight gets in during the middle of the day but the following morning, you’ll be collected by Peter Mashaba of Mashaba Tours and taken on a tour of the Apartheid Museum, Soweto and the Hector Pietersen Memorial.

Sights and sounds of the largest South African city, Johannesberg.

ARATHUSA: (3 nights) www.arathusa.co.za

Arathusa lodges with views of the watering hole

From Johannesberg, it’s quite a distance to Kruger Park, so we’ve booked you onto a flight direct to Hoedspruit, a small regional airport very close to the Kruger border. You’ll be collected from Leighwood at 08h15 and the flight lands at 11h20, meaning you’ll be in time for lunch and then an afternoon/evening game drive. Arathua is a private lodge with only 20 rooms, located in the northern section of the world-renowned Sabi Sand Reserve: it has direct access to a large watering hole where you cannot fail to see a wonderful collection of wildlife, especially the group of resident hippos who come to cool off in the heat. There’s a small spa here and an award-winning restaurant too.

ELEPHANT PLAINS: (3 nights) www.elephantplains.co.za

The lounge and bar at Elephant Plains After three nights at Arathusa, you move ‘next door’ to Elephant Plains, also in the Sabi Sand Reserve.

Elephants Plains is even smaller than Arathusa in terms of guests, hosting a maximum of 24 guests at any one time. It’s also owner-managed by the Swart family, which guarantees a personal level of attention to detail. It has two swimming pools to cool off in after a hard day’s game viewing and also a library, where you can read in the evenings listening to the sounds of the bush all around you. You will be collected from Elephant Plains at 11h30 on your last morning and driven back to Hoedspruit Airport. From there, it’s a flight back to Johanneberg, with a change of flight to Cape Town.

MANNA BAY: (3 nights) www.mannabay.com

You’ll be collected from Cape Town International and taken to your final lodging for the trip. Manna Bay has long been the most highly rated boutique hotel in Cape Town. Set high up on the slopes of Table Mountain with wonderful views over the city, this superb owner-managed hotel manages to combine the chic, sleek modern interior with a splendid antiques and quirky design inside. Combine all this with the best service the Mother City has to offer and you’re in for a splendid stay. DAY 1 For your first day in Cape Town, we’ve left you with a free day, in which you might just choose to relax by the pool and cool off or head off into the town to see what there is to explore. DAY 2 Today it’s off to the Winelands, a cornucopia of delights with over 1 700 wine estates, delightful towns and villages to explore and some of the best restaurants to be found in the world, all less than an hour’s drive from central Cape Town. On your last day, you will be collected by your guide and driver, Chris Hannival, from Manna Bay at 13h30 for your flight back home. DAY 3 The Peninsula and Cape Point has the one of the most amazing arrays of wildlife (terrestial and marine), unspoilt sea side towns, vistas, food and wine that you could hope to find in one place. One day does not do it justice, but to miss it would be unthinkable ! You’ll love the penguins at Boulder’s Beach and the baboons at Cape Point in particular.

On your last day, collect the car we’ve booked for you from central Cape Town and head out on the N2 highway, direction Swellendam!