24 Day South Africa Tour

Transcription

1 24 Day South Africa Tour 24 days/23 nights - MyDiscoveries Discover the rich history of Cape Town and explore South Africa s famous wine regions of Stellenbosh, Parrl and Franschhoek. You ll then travel to Knysna to experience the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park, then you ll head north and take to the water on a St Lucia Boat Cruise. Then cross the border to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland and discover the famous Ngwenya Glass and Swazi Candle Factory. Before your trip ends you will take a flight to the greatest curtain of falling water in the world, Victoria Falls. This tour will leave you inspired by the history, culture and wildlife of South Africa. HIGHLIGHTS Get the chance to experience wildlife up close and tick off seeing the Big 5 - lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros This tour offers lots of optional extras available so you can decide what adventures take place. Visit amazing sites such as Table Mountain, Victoria Falls and Swaziland Includes Return Economy Class airfares from Brisbane! Departure on 25 Aug 2018 Itinerary Day 1, Saturday, 25 AUG

2 This afternoon, depart Australia flying overnight to Cape Town via Perth. Day 2, Sunday, 26 AUG This morning on arrival into Cape Town, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon is yours at leisure to explore or relax ahead of a group Welcome Dinner. Hotel: The Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel Meals: Dinner Day 3, Monday, 27 AUG This morning after breakfast, explore South Africa s exciting Mother City on a guided tour of the historical and cultural sights of Cape Town. You will step into the rich history of the city, passing by key historical monuments and places of interest, such as the impressive Castle of Good Hope and Cape Town City Hall. The tour stops at the beautiful St. George s Cathedral, passes through the lush Company Gardens, and explores a cultural hub of Cape Town, the Bo- Kaap, also known as the Cape Malay Quarter. You will also take a trip to the top of the world, high above the famous Table Mountain (weather permitting). Table Mountain has been named as one of the seven wonders of nature and attracts millions of visitors from all across the globe. You ll also explore the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens which are set up against Table Mountain. Tonight, dinner will be at the hotel. Hotel: The Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 4, Tuesday, 28 AUG This morning, head to South Africa s famous Wine regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. You will travel through Stellenbosch (South Africa s second oldest town) on your way to enjoy a wine tasting at a vineyard. Later visit Franschhoek and explore this lovely town. This evening you will be taken to Golds Restaurant for some African fun as the restaurant is lively with African drumming and performers and wonderful cuisine. Hotel: The Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 5, Wednesday, 29 AUG There is so much to see and explore in Cape Town, today is a free day to do your own sightseeing. There are two optional tours on offer today at additional expense. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel. Hotel: The Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Optional Tour 1: Full day Cape Point AUD95 per person You will be met by a guide at the hotel (pick up time: 09:00). You will travel via the 12 Apostles and Hout Bay, as well as Chapman s Peak (dependant on the road being open) one of the region s most dramatic mountain drives offering amazing panoramic views over the city. Continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, established in 1939 to protect indigenous flora and fauna. The Reserve comes to an end at majestic Cape Point. The Cape of Good Hope is popularly perceived as the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Indian

3 Oceans. You will take the funicular to the vantage point from where you will be able to witness the meeting of the two oceans. Travel through the historic naval base of Simon's Town where guests will be able to visit a colony of African Penguins in their natural environment at Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is a popular tourist stop because of a colony of African Penguins which settled there in Optional Tour 2: Robben Island AUD70 per person This tour departs from the V & A Waterfront on a scheduled boat trip across Table Bay to Robben Island (Time is 45 minutes to 90 minutes and is weather dependent). On arrival, you will be met by a guide an ex political prisoner. You will be taken on a 45 minute tour with a guide visiting the infamous Maximum Security Prison as well as the Murray's Bay Harbour precinct, home to the Muslim Shrine, or kramat, and the Museum Shop. For nearly 400 years, Robben Island wasa place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. Nelson Mandela was incarcerated on Robben Island for 18 of the 27 years he spent as a political prisoner. Day 6, Thursday, 30 AUG Depart Cape Town and travel via False Bay to the seaside town of Hermanus. Hermanus is considered one of the world s best locations for whale sightings as they come very close to the cliffs. The whales migrate along this coast normally between July and November. Enjoy lunch (own expense) before travelling onto Swellendam. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. Hotel: Bloomestate Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 7, Friday, 31 AUG After breakfast, travel along the Garden Route visiting the towns of Mossel Bay and George before arriving at Knysna where you will spend the next two nights. Hotel: Graywood Hotel Day 8, Saturday, 1 SEP Today is a free day to do your own exploring. There are two optional tours available today (at additional expense). Dinner will be at the hotel this evening. Hotel: Graywood Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Optional Tour 1: Featherbed Nature Reserve AUD100 per person Featherbed Nature Reserve is situated on the Western Head in Knysna, and is a premier ecoexperience on the Garden Route. You will enjoy a return ferry trip on the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head. On arrival you will board a 4x4 vehicle & trailer and be taken up the headland onto the Reserve, enjoying the views along the way. You will meet a specialist guide who will give you information on the history and the fauna & flora of the region. You can partake in a guided 2.2km walk through coastal forest and fynbos into ancient sea caves. Afterwards enjoy a buffet lunch set under a canopy of Milkwood trees.

4 Optional Tour 2: Paddle Cruise and Dinner AUD85 per person The Paddle Cruiser is South Africa's only paddle -driven vessel, offering a unique and unforgettable experience on the Knysna Lagoon. You will cruise to Knysna Heads to enjoy the wonderful lagoon views. Enjoy dinner on board. There are two bars on board (drinks own expense). Day 9, Sunday, 2 SEP Today, you will continue along the Garden Route visiting the beautiful and popular Tsitsikamma National Park (meaning place of abundant water). The park is bordered by mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. It is a place of lush indigenous and commercial forests, deep river gorges and ravines and abundance of fynbos and bird life. At the opening of the Storm River mouth, there is a large suspension bridge that provides wonderful views. Continue onto Port Elizabeth and check into your Hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. Hotel: Kelway Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 10, Monday, 3 SEP This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Durban. Upon arrival in Durban, you will be met and transferred to the coastal area of Umhlanga. Enjoy the a afternoon at leisure ahead of dinner at your hotel. Hotel: Garden Court Umhlanga Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 11, Tuesday, 4 SEP After breakfast, you will travel north to Hluhluwe and check into your hotel for your two nights stay. This afternoon, get ready to head out on an open vehicle game drive. Hotel: Anew Hotel Hluhluwe and Safaris Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 12, Wednesday, 5 SEP This morning you will head out on a game drive. After breakfast, make you way to St Lucia and head out on a cruise exploring the estuaries where you can expect to see a variety of hippos, birdlife and other animals. This afternoon, enjoy some time to relax or head out on an optional afternoon game drive (additional expense). This evening enjoy a boma dinner. Hotel: Anew Hotel Hluhluwe and Safaris Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Optional Tour: Afternoon Game Drive AUD75 per person Day 13, Thursday, 6 SEP After breakfast, you will depart for Swaziland. You will need your passport handy as you enter the landlocked country. Upon arrival to Swaziland you will be transferred to your hotel where you will spend the next two nights. Dinner tonight will be at your hotel. Hotel: Mountain Inn Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

5 Day 14, Friday, 7 SEP Swaziland is well known for its hand crafts and artistry, so you will visit the famous Ngwenya Glass and Swazi Candle Factory, both community based projects. You will also visit a local market. Hotel: Mountain Inn Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 15, Saturday, 8 SEP Have your passports ready as today you will depart Swaziland and re-enter South Africa. Travel through Nelspruit and Hazyview on your way to your private game lodge situated in the Blue Canyon Conservancy, which forms part of the Greater Kruger Game Area. This afternoon, enjoy a game drive whilst enjoying a sundowner drink. Hotel: Moditlo River Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 16, Sunday, 9 SEP Today is packed full of game drives with one in the morning to discover the beautiful wildlife. Then after lunch, head out for afternoon game drive. Make sure you have your cameras ready! Hotel: Moditlo River Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 17, Monday, 10 SEP Enjoy a morning game drive and breakfast before heading o to explore the Panorama Route. The Panoroma Route is best known for its cultural heritage and its dramatic landscapes. The Blyde River Canyon is the largest green canyon in the world situated in the Drakensberg escarpment. Stop at God s Window, Berlin Falls, Bourke s Luck potholes and the Three Rondavels. Afterwards, check into your hotel in Nelspruit. Hotel: South Sun Emnotweni Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 18, Tuesday, 11 SEP This morning you will visit the Jane Goodall Chimp Eden. Situated within the beautiful 1,000 hectare Umhloti Nature Reserve, 15 kilometres outside Nelspruit, the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to chimps that have been misplaced from their natural habitats in Africa. Chimp Eden was established in 2006 and is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. This chimpanzee sanctuary brings the world of chimpanzees closer to humanity through education end ecotourism. The goal of the chimpanzee sanctuary is to rescue chimpanzees that have survived the bushmeat trade, been orphaned, traded in the illegal pet market, or rescued from being traumatised for entertainment in circuses, beach resorts and night clubs. The chimpanzees at Chimp Eden live out their lives in a risk free environment and being provided with the necessary attention to recover from the trauma they have experienced. Afterwards travel to Sandton, a vibrant cosmopolitan suburb of Johannesburg. The hotel is directly across the road from Nelson Mandela Square and a large shopping complex so there are many restaurants to choose from for dinner tonight (own expense). Meals: Breakfast and lunch

6 Day 19, Wednesday, 12 SEP Today, you are free to explore on your own or take up an optional tour (at additional expense). Meals: Breakfast Optional Tour: Full Day Soweto, Apartheid & Liliesleaf Farm Tour AUD150 per person Vibrant and upbeat, Soweto is home to anti-apartheid activists, Nobel Prize winners and uprisings that changed the world. Soweto is a sprawling township, or more accurately, a cluster of townships on the south-western flank of Johannesburg created in the 1930s. With a population of over 2 million, the township is the biggest black urban settlement in Africa with a rich political history as Soweto was the centre of political campaigns aimed at defeating the apartheid state. Travel along Vilakazi Street, former home of Nelson Mandela (now the Mandela Family Museum) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story. The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers They include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid. Tucked away in the leafy Johannesburg suburb of Rivonia, is Liliesleaf. This was once the nerve centre of the liberation movement and a place of refuge for its leaders, including Nelson Mandela. Liliesleaf opened to the public in June 2008 and provides a vital piece in the liberation struggle puzzle. This museum uncovers the extent of those involved in the liberation struggle, both black and white. This is the location where many of the liberation senior figures were arrested and then subsequently faced court, known as the Rivonia Trial. This trial is where Nelson Mandela received his life sentence. Day 20, Thursday, 13 SEP This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival, be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel where you will spend the next three nights. This afternoon, get ready to head out on a river sunset cruise before returning to the hotel for dinner. Hotel: Ilala Lodge Meals: Breakfast Day 21, Friday, 14 SEP After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the Falls. Discover how the Falls were formed and what local customs and traditions surround them. The rest of the day is free to do your own exploring. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Day 22, Saturday, 15 SEP Today is a free day to do your own exploring or you may want to take an optional tour (at additional expense). Tonight enjoy dinner at the Palm Restaurant at the hotel.

7 Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Optional Tours: Village Tour AUD100 per person Game Drive with Bush Dinner AUD250 per person Helicopter Flight AUD290 per person DEPARTS Day 23, Sunday, 16 SEP Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before being transferred to the airport for your homeward flight via Johannesburg. Upon arrival at Johannesburg Airport this afternoon, you will be at leisure until your flight back to Australia via Perth which departs later this evening. You may like to take the free shuttle to Emperors Palace for some retail therapy and a quick meal (own expense) or simply relax at the airport. Meals: Breakfast Day 24, Monday, 17 SEP You will arrive home late this evening and your wonderful South African Safari will come to an end. INCLUDES Return economy airfares from Brisbane Internal airfares All airline taxes and fuel surcharges Transfers as per itinerary in private coaches 21 nights accommodation Meals as indicated Cape Town tour Game drives as indicated Travel along the Panorama Route Ngwenya Glass and Swazi Candle Factory St Lucia boat cruise Guided Tour of Victoria Falls Franschhoek winelands Table Mountain Kirstenbosch Gardens Travel along the Garden Route EXCLUDES Travel Insurance Tips and Gratuities paid on Day One 2750 South African Rand per person.

8 Victoria Falls Park entrance fee (US$30 pp) * River Usage Fee (US $10 pp)* Zimbabwe Visa Fee (US $30pp)* Meals unless specified Beverages unless specified Items of a personal nature Optional activities * Subject to change based on government levys. FACILITIES TRAVEL PERIOD Departs: 25 Aug, 2018 BOOKING ESSENTIALS Once your MyDiscoveries Voucher has been purchased you will be contacted by the MyDiscoveries Reservations team will work with the tour operator to get you booked onto your preferred travel dates. If for any reason we are unable to book you onto your preferred dates please refer to the MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee to understand our refund policy. When booking in your travel dates, make sure you have your travel voucher number, traveller names and details of any special requirements (e.g. vegetarian etc) The MyDiscoveries team will send an to you confirming all of your booking information. We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. FAQ Why is the tour Fitness Level rated as Moderate? The tour involves a reasonable amount of walking, especially climbing in and out of

9 game drive vehicles. People with knee or hip injuries, who have poor balance or are otherwise unable to complete these activities independently should consider the suitability of this itinerary carefully. Parts of the itinerary may involve very long days of travel and combined with the local infrastructure may prove challenging at times. In order to get the most from this tour it is important to have a good level of fitness. Please ensure you are aware of the specifics required to participate in tour as outlined on the second page of this brochure. Do I need to tip? Tipping is a growing international trend in the travel industry. So to save embarrassment and avoid the need to tip individually we have asked that each traveller pay 2750 Rand to your Tour Host, on day 1 of your tour. From this kitty your Host will arrange the tipping for the group throughout your time in South Africa for the driver, local guides, trackers and rangers. However, if someone has personally provided you with exceptional service and you wish to offer an additional token of appreciation for the excellent service you ve received then you can most definitely provide them with an additional tip. What is the standard of the hotels? Your accommodation is selected for convenience of location, comfort or character. Hotels are generally rated as local three to fourstar standard, but please note that there is no international classification system for hotels and differences in facilities and quality do exist between Australia and South Africa. All group tour hotels have private western bathroom facilities, air conditioning, TV and telephone. Rest assure that all hotels used by Travel Team are regularly inspected by our ground operator to ensure that standards meet your needs. Please note hotels are subject to change. Do I need a Visa? Australian passport holders do not require a pre obtained visa to enter South Africa. It is required that passports are valid for at least 6 months beyond the period of stay and at least 6 spare visa pages. A visa is required for Zimbabwe and is issued at the airport on arrival into Victoria Falls. This will cost US$30 per person payable in US Dollars so please have the correct monies. There is a usage fee for the Zambezi River of US$10 per person and an entrance fee of US$30 for Victoria Falls Park all payable on entry in US Dollars only. It is advised that you carry a colour photocopy of your passport so that if it is lost or stolen you have a copy at hand to begin the process of getting an emergency passport issued. Do I need Travel Insurance? Travel insurance is highly recommended and should be taken out to cover unforeseen circumstances such as cancellation of your trip due to a medical situation, loss of luggage while travelling and any medical or hospital emergencies. If you require medical or hospital treatment while travelling in a foreign country many hospitals and

10 medical facilities will require you to pay for this treatment upfront. This means you could have to pay out a substantial amount of money before you are able to put in a claim to your insurance company. Therefore, please ensure that you travel with a credit card and that it has a sufficient limit to cover any upfront costs should this be required as medical and hospital charges can be very expensive. Please do not hesitate to call our office for a quote or to send you a travel insurance brochure and the costing. Do I need vaccinations for this journey? Although there are no specific heath requirements for travel to South Africa certain vaccinations are recommended. Travel Team recommends that you consult a Travel Doctor or your GP prior to departure to discuss your personal health requirements and get up to date information on vaccinations and medical preparation for travel to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Whilst on tour there are limited medical facilities provided by private practitioners however, medical services can be expensive. When will I receive my final travel documents? A detailed itinerary and final documents will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to the tour s departure. What is the climate like at the various times of the year? Due to the extensive geographic range across your tour you will see a noticeable difference in weather conditions and temperature. South Africa at this time of year should range from about 10 to 24 degrees so you should feel comfortable in a jacket and jeans or lightweight travel pants when touring in this weather. Early spring in South Africa is usually dry with some rainy days so you should be prepared for such conditions. A light weight waterproof jacket is recommended. If I travel alone, do I have to pay the single supplement? If you do not want to share a hotel room with another person in the group, you will have to pay the single supplement. However, if you are willing to share we can assist in finding a fellow travel companion of the same gender to save on the single supplement. However, this cannot be guaranteed and if we are unable to find a suitable travelling companion and you still wish to travel, then you will be required to pay the additional single supplement with your final payment. Travel Team accepts no responsibility for the suitability or unsuitability of the twin share companion. To avoid discrimination, we are unable to disclose details of twin share passengers until deposit is received. FINE PRINT TOUR DATES Tour departs from 25 Aug, 2018 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AT TIME OF BOOKING. The MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee means that if you can't get the travel dates you want within 30 days of buying the voucher, we'll give you your money back,

11 no questions asked. CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS & AMENDMENTS Cancellation must be made in writing for your reservation to be cancelled.if you need to cancel your trip after travel has been confirmed, the travel operator may impose cancellation fees listed below. In addition, MyDiscoveries will charge a $100 per person cancellation fee. We recommend taking out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your travel dates so you have protection against emergency cancellations that might be needed. Any cancellations of the tour will result in the following cancellation fees from travel operator:91 days or more prior to departure, loss of deposit plus the cost of the airline ticket if issued. Less than 91 days prior to departure, 100% of the tour package price HEALTH & FITNESS/ACTIVITY LEVEL You must ensure that you are aware of any health requirements for your travel and that you are able to participate in the activities included in your itinerary. This tour requires an Active Fitness Level.All passengers must be able to: It is essential that you are physically able to walk 2km at any one time unaided and at a reasonable pace over uneven surfaces. Parts of this itinerary may involve very long days of travel and this combined with the local infrastructure may prove challenging at times. This is also a large part of the appeal of the destinations so a robust adventurous attitude will serve you well. Walk an incline equal to a flight of stairs, without stopping Get in and out of transportation unassistedstand for longer than 30 mins, without needing to sit downmanage own luggage. A completed booking form and fitness to travel form will be required to be completed to confirm your place on this tour. Travel Team reserves the right to remove a traveller from a tour at the traveller's own expense, if their health/ fitness interferes with the tour or other travellers tour experience in any way. We do not, nor are we required to, provide carers or assistants for those with reduced mobility or other health needs. In particular, tour guides, coach drivers, and your fellow passengers will not act as assistants or carers in these circumstances. PRICES Schedules and availability, fare conditions and prices can change at any time.price changes may occur for reason or matters outside our control which increase the cost of the products or service.such factors include adverse currency fluctuation The MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee means that if you can't get the travel dates you want within 30 days of buying the voucher, we'll give you your money back, no questions asked.

12 Twin / Single Departure City Price twin Brisbane $10, single Brisbane $12, twin Sydney $10, single Sydney $12, single Melbourne $10, twin Melbourne $12, twin Adelaide $10, single Adelaide $12, single Perth $12, twin Perth $10, Promotional prices and offers valid from until or while stocks last. Note: While all due care has been taken in the preparation of this document, MyDiscoveries shall not be liable for any inaccuracies or omissions which may occur. This document has been prepared from material supplied by our Travel Suppliers and from their websites.mydiscoveries reserves the right to change information without notice and the most up to date version will always be found on Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.