African Angel Tours 9 Parkmore Place One 10 th Street Parkmore Tel: 00 27 11 783 7546 Mobile: 00 27 82 807 2596 Fax 00 27 11 783 7546 luke@africanangeltours.com www.africanangeltours.com VAT Reg. No.: 4700278312 Co. Reg. No.: CK 9810845/23 Santa Monica College Study Abroad Program Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Cape Town & Johannesburg 13 January 2018 03 February 2018 Itinerary 2018 1 P a g e
DAY 1: SATURDAY, 13 JANUARY 2018 ARRIVE IN JOHANNESBURG: LION PARK On arrival in Johannesburg at OR Tambo International Airport you will be met by an African Angel Tours representative who will take time to explain the itinerary to you and answer any questions which you might have about your holiday. There will be a guide and vehicle with you at all times during your tour. You will be transferred to your hotel to check-in. After check-in, you depart for the Lion and Safari Park. Here, you will have the opportunity to have lunch at their onsite restaurant (at your own cost). Lion and Safari Park Lion and Safari Park: The park is a 600-hectare wilderness reserve where employees and volunteers care for some of Africa s most iconic animals. It is home to white lion, South African cheetah, Cape wild dog, hyena, black-backed jackal, antelope, giraffes, and ostrich. Your activity includes a guided lion and wild dog tour and lion cub interaction. The guided tour is approximately a 45-minute tour on a game viewing truck led by an experienced Lion Park guide. After, you have the opportunity to interact with lion cubs. You have the option of eating lunch at their onsite restaurant that overlooks the reserve, where giraffes and ostrich wander freely. Main Location: Johannesburg Johannesburg, also known as Jozi or Joburg, is the largest city and wealthiest province in South Africa. Though Joburg is not officially one of South Africa's three capital cities, it is home to the Constitutional Court, the country's highest court. Because of its location on mineral-rich land, the city is known for its gold and diamond trade. Overnight: Centurion Lake Hotel The garden-like setting of the hotel offers the ideal location for both business and leisure guests to enjoy fabulous dining in Bruno's Restaurant or to simply relax on the terrace alongside the sparkling swimming pool. For those who would prefer to relax in the rooms a 24 hour, in-room dining menu is available. The hotel also offers a number of convenient services such as laundry, dry cleaning, secretarial services and secure parking. 2 P a g e
DAY 2: SUNDAY, 14 JANUARY 2018 APARTHEID MUSEUM, SOWETO TOUR AND OTHANDWENI FAMILY CARE CENTRE After breakfast, you will depart for the Apartheid Museum. Next you will go on a tour of Soweto, this tour includes a brief tour of the Mandela House, a visit to Hector Pietersen Museum, lunch at Sakhumzi s and end your day with a visit to Othandweni Family Care Centre. Apartheid Museum Soweto Tour Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum Sakhumzi Restaurant Othandweni Family Care Centre Apartheid Museum The museum displays the rise and fall of apartheid. You walk from one room to another, each illustrating another element of the oppressive regime. You will gain a greater understanding of what individuals endured by reading and watching first-hand accounts. While the museum brings to light the atrocities committed during apartheid, it also emphasizes how South Africa is coming to terms with its past and working towards a better future through truth and reconciliation. Soweto Tour During apartheid, the government separated Soweto from the rest of Johannesburg to make it a completely Black area. The name Soweto comes from the first two letters of each word in South Western Townships. Today, Soweto remains a group of settlements on the outskirts of Johannesburg and is the biggest township in the city. While many parts of the township are still impoverished, Soweto is also a bustling cultural hub known for music, dancing, art, and sport. Famous residents include Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Trevor Noah. On tour, you will walk around various parts of Soweto. In addition to viewing various famous landmarks, you will have the opportunity to walk inside the home that former President Nelson Mandela resided in from 1946-1962 (entrance fee to Mandela House at your own cost). Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum On 16 June 1976, thousands of students gathered in Soweto to begin a protest march against the implementation of Afrikaans being one of two main languages of instruction in school. The protest quickly turned deadly when police opened fire on the students. Hector Pieterson, 12 years old, was one of the first casualties of the Soweto Uprising- there were over 500 killed that day. The museum honours the role of school children of South Africa and how they contributed towards ending apartheid. Sakhumzi Restaurant Nestled on Vilakazi Street, Sakhumzi s features traditional South African dishes like umngqusho, umleqwa, pap, and mogodu. We go during their buffet hours, so you can sample each of the dozens of dishes they offer. The outdoor seating overlooks a street that is often busy with street performers and small goods vendors. 3 P a g e
Othandweni Family Care Centre This is home to 30 children in the nursery and 60 children in the five cottages on the property. At this facility, Johannesburg Child Welfare provides a safe and loving environment for all of its residents by catering to their emotional, spiritual, and educational needs. Main Location: Johannesburg Overnight: Centurion Lake Hotel DAY 3: MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 2018 WITKOPPEN HEALTH AND WELFARE CENTRE; THE CRADLE OF THE HUMANKIND AND WELCOME DINNER After breakfast, you start off your day with a visit to Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre, then a visit to The Cradle of the Humankind where you will visit Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves and end your day with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre The Cradle of the Humankind: Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves Welcome Dinner Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre A comprehensive primary healthcare centre that provides high quality services with a holistic approach to care, including acute, curative and chronic disease management for adults and children; HIV education, community outreach, counselling and testing, prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV transmission (PMTCT), ARVs, care for OVCs, adherence counselling and support groups. The Cradle of the Humankind The Cradle of Humankind, one of South Africa s eight World Heritage Sites and the only one in Gauteng. It's the world's richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils. This 47 000-hectare site has unearthed the best evidence of the complex journey which our species has taken to make us what we are a place of pilgrimage for all humankind. It is not only a place of ongoing scientific discovery into our origins, but also a place of contemplation a place that allows us to reflect on who we are, where we come from and where we are going to. Maropeng Maropeng is the official visitors centre for the Cradle of Humankind with fun and interactive displays. Its name means return to the place of origin in Setswana, one of South Africa s 11 official languages where you will journey back in time from the start of our universe, some 14-billion years ago, to the present and beyond. Sterkfontein Caves The world-renowned Sterkfontein Caves is home to the oldest and most continuous paleaontological dig in the world. It is also the site of discovery of the famous pre-human skull affectionately known as Mrs. Ples, and an almost complete hominid skeleton called Little Foot, dated 2.3 and 4.17 million years old respectively. No one knows what still lies hidden in the rocks of the Sterkfontein Caves and other sites. The World Heritage Site status the area now enjoys ensures that what is deep within its core will be protected and explored forever. 4 P a g e
Main Location: Johannesburg Overnight: Centurion Lake Hotel DAY 4: TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2018 ROAD TRANSFER TO KRUGER NATIONAL PARK After breakfast, check out of Centurion Lake Hotel proceed to your road trip to Kruger National Park for your safari experience. Kruger National Park Kruger National Park Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sites - this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. The park is run by the South African National Parks (SANParks) and is probably the best managed African National Park. It is one of the main attractions of South Africa and it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks (SANParks). The Park was established in 1898 by the then South African President Paul Kruger as a protected area for wildlife and it opened its gates to the general public in 1927 for the first time. Overnight: Tremisana Game Lodge Tremisana Game Lodge is managed by Viva Safaris company and was developed with the view to providing comfortable yet affordable accommodation in a Big Five Game Reserve. Tremisana is the largest and leading lodge in this section, having a total of 15 chalets plus a two-bedroomed guesthouse. Every unit is en suite (shower, toilet, basin) and all units are air-conditioned. Every bed has its own mosquito net. Tremisana offers guests 24-hour WiFi. Perhaps the most striking feature of Tremisana Game Lodge is the beautiful gardens. DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2018 FULL DAY 4X4 GAME DRIVE AT KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Wake up early for your breakfast and proceed to Viva Safaris open vehicles for your full day game viewing experience and return back in time for your dinner. 5 P a g e
Full day game drive Full Day Game Drive Travel to the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park where you board the open game-viewer vehicle. The absence of windows and the elevated vantage position allow for excellent photographic opportunities. You will have an amazing chance not only to view game but also to listen to and smell the African bush and its denizens. Your experienced ranger will show you many animals and birds that frequent this wildlife paradise. The Orpen-Satara-Nwanedzi regions boast open plains and support large herds of zebra, giraffe and antelope that attract numerous predators. Main Location: Viva Safaris Overnight: Tremisana Game Lodge DAY 6: THURSDAY, 18 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT FUNJA PRIMARY SCHOOL After breakfast proceed to Funjwa Primary School for your volunteer program. Volunteer program at Funjwa Primary School Volunteer program at Funjwa Primary School The main needs in this deserving project centre are on helping learners become self-sufficient. An extensive vegetable garden is in place and the children are fed from its produce. Volunteers will be able to add to this vegetable garden as well as help in improving reading and writing skills amongst the learners. Main Location: Viva Safaris 6 P a g e
Overnight: Tremisana Game Lodge DAY 7: FRIDAY, 19 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT A LOCAL ORPHANAGE After breakfast proceed to a local orphanage for your volunteer program. Volunteer program at a local orphanage Main Location: Viva Safaris Overnight: Tremisana Game Lodge DAY 8: SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY 2018 TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT TO CAPE TOWN After breakfast, proceed on your road trip to Johannesburg via Blyde Canyon and Three Rondavels for your flight to Cape Town. There will be a stop for lunch en-route to Johannesburg. Blyde Canyon and Three Rondavels Transfer to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg Blyde Canyon and Three Rondavels Located in the small town of Graskop, this famous route is home to mountains, forests and canyons, most notably, the Blyde River Canyon. The Blyde River Canyon (recently renamed the Motlatse) is the third deepest canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the western U.S. and Namibia's Fish Eagle Canyon) and the world s largest green canyon. Blyde means "glad" or "happy" in Dutch, a name derived from a Voortrekkers' expedition. The 'happy river' was thus named in 1844, when Hendrik Potgieter and others returned safely from Delagoa Bay to the rest of their party of trekkers who had considered them dead. The Three Rondavels are three round mountain tops with slightly pointed tops, very similar to the traditional round or oval African homesteads made with local materials called rondavels. The view point is spectacular - from here one looks over the canyon to the Three Rondavels on the other side of the northern edges of the Drakensberg range of mountains. The beautiful to look at formations are explained geographically as the slow erosion of underlying soft stone, leaving the exposed quartzite and shale rondavels at which we marvel. Whatever their origin, they are undoubtedly breathtaking. On arrival in Cape Town, you will be met and assisted by an African Angel Tours representative and transferred to Dale Court to overnight. Cape Town was originally colonized by the Dutch East India Company and it became a stop for ships sailing to other parts of the world. After being established as the first European settlement in Southern Africa in 1652, Cape Town quickly 7 P a g e
became an economic and cultural hub. The city remained a destination for immigrants and is now one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Lonely Planet has ranked Cape Town the 2 nd Best City in the World to Visit in 2017 - though we know it is actually first! Resting between Table Mountain and the crystal blue waters of Table Bay, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Vibrant city life is balanced with serene natural beauty that appeals to locals and travellers alike. Dale Court is a conveniently located guest house, just 5 minutes walk from the closest entrance to the V&A Waterfront, 5 minutes drive to the Cape Town city centre and 10 minutes drive from the famous Clifton beaches. Rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, television sets, telephones and tea / coffee facilities. DAY 9: SUNDAY, 21 JANUARY 2018 UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT) CAMPUS ORIENTATION After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up for your campus orientation at UCT. Later spend the rest of the day at leisure. UCT Campus Orientation Afternoon at leisure 8 P a g e
UCT Campus Orientation Orientation at UCT includes a safety talk by a UCT safety and security representative, which involves introduction to the local transport systems and give you the do s and don ts in order to have a safe and enjoyable stay in Cape Town. The University of Cape Town stands tall and proud on the mountainside, overlooking some of the prettiest residential areas of the city. It is also the oldest university in the country, and the second oldest in Africa. UCT has a number of different campuses that are scattered in different locations around Cape Town. DAY 10: MONDAY, 22 JANUARY 2018 CITY TOUR After breakfast, join your tour guide for the Cape Town City Tour. Cape Town City Tour o Castle of Good Hope o Company s Gardens o Bo Kaap Cape Town City Tour On your Cape Town City Tour, you will learn about historical and cultural highlights of the Mother City, like Town Hall the Company s Garden, and Parliament. Castle of Good Hope Construction of the Castle of Good Hope began in 1666 and it remains the oldest surviving building in South Africa. Since its completion in 1679, the castle has been the centre of civilian, political, and military life at the Cape. It was built to represent Dutch, English, and French building styles and houses living quarters, offices, cells, a church, a bakery, and various other facilities. Today, it displays the William Fehr Collection, an African pottery collection, the Castle Military Museum, and a forge. 9 P a g e
Company s Gardens Company's Garden is a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town, home to a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond and aviary. Company's Garden is intricately bound with the arts in South Africa. Not only is there an art gallery within the park, but it is also the venue of a number of festivals, including the Human Rights Concert and the Youth Festival. Bo Kaap The Bo-Kaap Museum, situated in the historic area that became home to many Muslims and freed slaves after the abolition of slavery, showcases local Islamic culture and heritage. Colorful houses, steep cobbled streets, the muezzin s calls to prayer, and children traditionally dressed for Madrassa, add to this unique Cape experience. DAY 11: TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY 2018 GUEST LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN AND AFTERNOON SMC CLASS INTRODUCTION After breakfast, proceed to UCT for your lectures. Morning: Guest lecture at UCT Afternoon: SMC Class Introduction DAY 12: WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 2018 DISTRICT SIX AND TOWNSHIP TOUR After breakfast, join your tour guide for the District Six Museum and Township Tours. District Six Museum Township Tour: Langa District Six District Six was once the proud home of Capetonians of all ethnic backgrounds and religions. It was originally established as a community of freed slaves, artisans, merchants, immigrants, and labourers. It was a vibrant city centre, where trivial differences, like skin colour, did not prevent people from living peacefully together. However, in the 1970 s, marginalisation had begun and 60,000 inhabitants were forcibly removed from their homes due to the separate development policy of the apartheid government. The former residents were then relocated all over the Cape Peninsula, mainly to the Cape Flats. On our tour, we visit the original site of District Six (now a barren wasteland) as well as the District Six Museum. 10 P a g e
Township Tour: Langa We call this tour the Rainbow Curtain Tour because it s a cross cultural voyage of discovery into the many facets of South African society. This tour is completely interactive and encompasses the history of the lives and development of the disadvantaged communities in Cape Town, starting in 1652. Langa, which means sun in isixhosa is the oldest formal township in Cape Town. In Langa you learn about the hostel system that was initiated by the former government to house migrant workers (men) who came to the city to work but were not allowed to live in the city. DAY 13: THURSDAY, 25 JANUARY 2018 MORNING LECTURE AND ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR After breakfast, proceed to UCT for your morning lecture. Later, your tour guide will pick you up for your cruise to Robben Island. Morning: Guest lecture at UCT Robben Island Tour Robben Island The Robben Island experience begins at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, located at the V&A Waterfront. This triple-story glass museum links the V&A Waterfront with the Robben Island Museum and incorporates the passenger ferry terminal. Also included are various exhibition areas, an auditorium and museum shop. Robben Island, the unique symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suffering and injustice with a rich 500-year-old multi-layered history, is visited every year by thousands of people eager to understand and honour the important aspects of South Africa s history that the Island represents. The Robben Island tour includes a visit to the lime quarry, which was used by the prisoners to mine lime. A visit to the maximum-security prison, where most of the political leaders were kept, is one of the important highlights of the tour on Robben Island. This section includes the single cells in which Nelson Mandela and other prisoners spent their prison time in. In the village tour, you get to see the leper cemetery, Sobukhwe house, WWII gun batteries as well as the houses used by the warders. DAY 14: FRIDAY, 26 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT THEMBANI PRIMARY SCHOOL AND AFTERNOON SMC CLASS After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up for your volunteer program at Thembani Primary School. Later, you will proceed to your afternoon lecture. 11 P a g e
Volunteer program at Thembani Primary School SMC Lecture Thembani Primary School Thembani Primary School is a state school located in Langa. Here volunteers of differing physical strength and interests will choose which kind of volunteer work they prefer to do. DAY 15: SATURDAY, 27 JANUARY 2018 HIKE UP LIONS HEAD After breakfast, proceed for your hike up Lion s Head. Later spend the rest of the day at leisure. Hike up Lions Head Lions Head Lions Head forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and is the mountain peak that frames the city of Cape Town to the right of Table Mountain. The Lions Head trail is easily navigable and takes you up and around the mountainside before a steady ascent to the top. The trail is fairly easy for novice hikers but it s not for the fainthearted as there are some pretty wild chain ladders and pegs to climb up just before you summit. You can dust off your shoes after only two hours in which time you would have ascended the mountain, experienced the 360 panoramic view of Cape Town and the Atlantic Seaboard, indulged in fresh air, feasted your eyes on the rich indigenous fynbos and descended the mountain. 12 P a g e
DAY 16: SUNDAY, 28 JANUARY 2018 CAPE PENINSULA TOUR After breakfast, depart for your Cape Peninsula tour. This includes the historic Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point as well as the Boulder s Penguin Colony. Peninsula Tour Cape of Good Hope Cape Point Boulders Penguin Colony Peninsula Tour The Peninsula Tour is one of the most scenic drives in South Africa. We will take the Chapman s Peak Drive, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the dramatic mountain range of Chapman s Peakon the other. We will see the golden beaches of Camps Bay as well as Hout Bay, a quaint fishing village. Cape of Good Hope Bartolomeu Dias named the area Cape of Storms in 1488 and Sir Francis Drake called it The Fairest Cape in all the World in 1580. The rocky headland was then named Cape of Good Hope by King John II of Portugal. Today, the Cape of Good Hope is ideal for walking, hiking, surfing, picnicking, cycling, or sitting and spotting the wildlife. Visitors can regularly spot baboons, ostrich, zebra, eland, red hartebeest, and bontebok. Cape Point Cape Point is in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve located in Table Mountain National Park, which forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site. The land feature valleys, bays and beaches and contains a mix of diverse fauna and flora. Rocky cliffs tower 200 metres above sea level, and The Point has served as a notable landmark by sailors for centuries. By day, the salient Cape Point helped sailors navigate, by night, it was hidden amidst the fog and resulted in countless shipwrecks. Today a light house sits 87 metres above sea level and it remains the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast. Here, you can walk up to the lighthouse, enjoy a light lunch, shop for souvenirs, or sit and enjoy the incredible view. Boulders Penguin Colony Boulders Penguin Colony is home to a unique and endangered colony of the African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat. DAY 17: MONDAY, 29 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT THEMBANI PRIMARY SCHOOL AND AFTERNOON SMC CLASS After breakfast, continue with your volunteer program at Thembani Primary School. Later, you will proceed to your afternoon lecture. 13 P a g e
Volunteer program at Thembani Primary School DAY 18: TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT REHOBOTH AND LATER SMC CLASS After breakfast, depart for your volunteer program at Rehoboth and later attend SMC classes. Rehoboth Volunteer Program SMC Classes Rehoboth Volunteer Program Rehoboth is a center for the aged in Hanover Park, a low income formerly 'coloured' area on the outskirts of Cape Town. Rehoboth provides housing, Alzheimer's daycare and hospice care for the elderly. Students will learn about the facility and residents through discussions with staff, visiting residents and helping with sports day activities. DAY 19: WEDNESDAY, 31 JANUARY 2018 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT REHOBOTH AND LATER SMC CLASS After breakfast, the volunteer program at Rehoboth continues and later attend SMC classes. Rehoboth Volunteer Program SMC Classes DAY 20: THURSDAY, 01 FEBRUARY 2018 SMC CLASS After breakfast, proceed to your SMC classes. 14 P a g e
SMC Classes DAY 21: FRIDAY, 02 FEBRUARY 2018 FREE DAY There are no tours planned for this day spend it at leisure. Recommended Shopping at Green Market Square OR V&A Waterfront Biscuit Mill DAY 22: SATURDAY, 03 FEBRUARY 2018 TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back home via Johannesburg. TOUR ENDS!!! 15 P a g e
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