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Great Escape

SOBER SAFARI 2023

August 14-27, 2023

We feel this is one of the best land tours we have put together in our 30 years of business!

Estimated Price $6,395.00 per person based on air

Single Supplement is $1,250.00

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are purposefully limiting the size of the group to maximize everyone's experience.

There will be an admin/conference fee between 150.00 and 275.00 per person depending on total participants. A partially refundable (250.00) deposit of 500.00 will be due upon booking.

 

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13 Aug           Outbound flights

14 Aug: Arrive in Johannesburg (Dinner included)

Day 1

Upon arrival at Johannesburg airport, we meet our guide and transfer to the hotel.

The hotel standard check in time is after 2:00 pm. Early check in may be requested with a surcharge.

Inclusions:

Meet & Greet at JNB Airport 

Transfer to hotel

Dinner at the hotel

2 nights hotel accommodation based on twin share

Overnight: Davinci Hotel Sandton City, Standard Room (2 nights)   

15 Aug: Morning at Leisure, Half Day City Tour of Johannesburg (Breakfast included)

Day 2

This afternoon, we depart with our guide for a half day tour of Johannesburg. Our first stop is Regina Mundi Church, site of so many of the underground meetings of then banned political parties. From there, we proceed to the legendary Apartheid Museum, which take us from the dark days of “white only” privilege, through to Nelson Mandela’s historic release. At the end of the tour, we travel to our hotel.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel          

Half day city in JNB including the entrance to Regina Mundi Church and the Apartheid Museum

16 Aug: Travel Overland to Hazyview (5 – 6 hours travel time, 402 KM) (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 3

Today we meet the guide and driver and travel by road to Hazyview via the Panorama Route. Along the journey, we will gasp at the glory that is God's Window, a boundless view of forested mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, the third largest in the world and second deepest in Africa, with towering cliffs rise nearly 800 meters above the winding valley. See the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, formed by centuries of swirling whirlpools at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers. Arrive late this afternoon in Hazyview and check into the hotel. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Overland to Hazyview via Panorama Route 

Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, Graskop     

Dinner at hotel        

3 nights accommodation at Little Pilgrim’s Boutique Hotel based on twin share

Overnight: Little Pilgrim's Boutique Hotel, standard room (3 nights)

17 Aug: Sudwala Cave, Butterfly Farm & Chimp Eden (Breakfast included)

Day 4

This morning, we start our tour at the Sudwala Caves (the oldest known caves with some amazing formations) and the Butterfly Farm. After lunch (on own arrangement) at the Chimp Eden, we visit this rustic sanctuary established since 206, and enjoy a unique opportunity to view chimpanzees in semi-wild surroundings. After the tour, we travel back to our hotel.   

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast

Depart the hotel with the guide and driver

Arrive at and proceed for the Sudwala Caves and Butterfly Farm

Depart for Chimp Eden

Arrive at Chimp Eden. Lunch on own arrangement

Tour the Chimp Eden 14:00-15:00

Return to the hotel

18 Aug: Full day game drive in Kruger National Park (Breakfast included)

Day 5

Depart with the coach for Numbi Gate with breakfast box. Board 4 x 4 open vehicles for a private safari on the main road in the park. Lunch stop (on own account) will be arranged. Travel back to the hotel at the end of the game drive.

19 Aug: Travel to Shiduli Private Game Lodge (Breakfast included)

Day 6

Today we meet the guide and driver and travel by road to Shiduli Private Game Lodge. En-route, we will stop for a morning tour of the renowned Moholoholo animal Rehabilitating Center, home to some of South Africa's fiercest animals—lions, leopards, wild dogs, and even honey badgers. After the tour, we continue to Shiduli Safari Lodge.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Travel to Shiduli Safari Lodge

2 nights accommodation based on twin share

Overnight: Shiduli Safari Lodge (2 nights)

20 Aug: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives at Kanrongwe Game Reserve (Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Day 7

Karongwe Game Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, is an untamed and tranquil Eden, rich in wildlife and timeless beauty. Positioned on 21 000 acres of land, this game reserve with its lush environment is one of the best locations to spot Africa's most elusive large cat, the Leopard. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in this vast wilderness. Lunch and dinner are included at the camp.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Travel overland via Panorama Route

Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, Graskop     

Lunch and dinner at the camp

21 Aug: Fly to Livingston (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 8  

After checking out, we transfer to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport for the flight to Livingstone Airport (airfare not included). On arrival, we meet our guide, cross the border, and transfer to Victoria Falls.

We will be picked up at approximately 15h45 and transferred to the cruise boat Deck 1 and 2.  Enjoy a 2.5 hour cruise with drinks and snacks available on board. Return to the hotel late this evening. After a short break, we proceed to the Boma dinner.

Overnight: Ilala Lodge, Standard Room (3 nights)

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast

Transfer to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport     

(FLIGHT: MQP/LVI - NOT INCLUDED)

Arrive Livingstone Airport    

Transfer to Victoria Falls (cross border)     

Zambezi Queen Sunset Cruise - Deck 1 and 2       

Boma Dinner with transfers                                        

3 nights accommodation at Ilala Lodge based on twin share        

22 Aug: Morning Guided Tour of Victoria Falls and Mpisi Village (Breakfast included)

Day 9

Discover why the Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world as we tour the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. Walk through the rain forest - a fun experience and quite beautiful. Stop at several vantage pints to view the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island and Livingstone Island. Witness the spray and thunderous noise, as millions of litres of water tumble over the Falls into a series of narrow gorges below. Following the tour, we proceed to Mpisi Village for a first hand glimpse into the real rural life. We travel back to the hotel at the end of the tour.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast

Guided walk of Victoria Falls

Travel to Mpisi Village for a guided walk

Travel back to the hotel

23 Aug: Chobe Day Trip (Breakfast & lunch included)

Day 10  

Depart the hotel for a full day game viewing at the Chobe National Park. Cruise along the Chobe River, sit back, relax, and keep those binoculars handy. Watch this glorious scene unfolding itself – large herds of elephant, often with the tiniest frolicking calves, kicking up dust as they wait their turn at the water’s edge to drink. Frighteningly large crocodiles sun themselves on the banks of the river, mouths agape, teeth terrifying. Glorious birdlife, wonderful game, and the gentle rocking of the riverboat.

After disembarking from the cruise, we join our open safari vehicle for a drive through the Chobe Game Reserve with the chance of seeing more wildlife and birdlife, and a gorgeous lunch at a lodge awaiting us.... overlooking the Chobe River. Travel back to the hotel at the end of the game drive.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast

Chobe River boat cruise

Wildlife and Birdlife viewing

Open safari vehicle game drive

Chobe Game Reserve

Lunch at a local restaurant

Pick Up/Drop Off Ilala Lodge

Duration : approx. 10 hours.

Pick Up: 07h30 – 08h00 Drop Off: 17h30-18h00.

General notes:

Guests should ideally have basic level of fitness. 

Border Crossings: Border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana at Kazangula Border Post. Guests are required to change vehicles at the Kazangula border post as transfer vehicles are not permitted to cross borders between Zimbabwe and Botswana.

24 Aug: Flight to Cape Town (airfare not included) (Dinner included)

Day 11  

We will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival at Cape Town airport, we meet our guide and transfer to our hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. 

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to Livingston airport

Airfare to Cape Town is NOT included

Meet & Greet Cape Town Airport    

Transfer to hotel

Dinner at the hotel

3 nights hotel accommodation based on twin share

Overnight: Protea Victoria Junction, Standard Room (3 nights) 

25 Aug: Cape Town City and Robben Island Tour (Breakfast included)

Day 12

We begin our full day tour of Cape Town with a ferry ride to the Robben Island, which was served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Today it is a World Heritage Site and museum, a poignant reminder of the price paid for freedom. The excursion includes a return ferry to the island, a bus tour on the island and of the prison.

Upon return to the mainland, enjoy a cable ride to the summit of legendary Table Mountain (weather permitting) for a view of the city. From there, we explore the Castle of Good Hope (closed on Sunday), which was built by the Dutch East India Company in the late 1600s, as a maritime resupply station. Stop at the Company’s Garden, built in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company to help feed the settlers. We driver past the Parliament, City Hall and the Slave Lodge before stopping for a brief guided walk at Bo-Kaap & Malay Quarter, a lively neighborhood in the Central Cape with brightly colored houses, cobblestone streets winding through the multicultural township, where freed slaves and Muslim immigrants settled.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the V&A waterfront - walk to ferry terminal with guide

Robben Island tour (09h00 - weather permitting)  

Return to the waterfront - lunch on own account   

Transfer to the cableway     

Table Mountain ticket (weather dependent)

Visit the Castle of Good Hope and Company's Garden       

Drive by Parliament, City Hall,

Brief guided walk of Bo-Kaap and Malay Quarter    

Transfer bck to the hotel

26 Aug: Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (Breakfast included)

Day 13

We depart the hotel for another full day sightseeing with our guide and driver. Enjoy a scenic drive along the exquisite stretch of coastline known as Millionaire’s Paradise – from Camps Bay and Clifton to the exclusive beach hamlet of Llandudno – towards the charming working harbour of Hout Bay. 

On arrival, we embark on an up-close-and-personal Seal Island cruise (weather permitting). We continue the journey to the wild and beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, an integral part of the world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom. Take a ride up on the funicular for magnificent views. From there, we proceed Simon’s Town for a lunch break (on own account) before we see the penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach.  Our tour ends at our hotel.

Inclusions:

Buffet breakfast at the hotel          

Full day Peninsula tour        

Drive by Clifton, Camps Bay & Llandudno   

Visit to Hout Bay and Seal Island Cruise (weather permitting)      

Chapman's Peak Drive        

Cape Point    

Return Funicular ticket        

(Lunch in Simon's Town - own account)

Penguins at Boulders Beach

27 Aug: Depart Cape Town (Breakfast included)

Day 14

Today, we transfer to the airport for the flight home.

 Click on the image for a printable flyer