~ From Halifax This will be a trip of a lifetime not to be missed with THE TRAVEL STORE We ll visit Victoria Falls (one of the seven wonders of the world), Johannesburg, Pretoria, the Blyde River Canyon, Kruger National Park (experience an open safari to view the Big Five ), Kingdom of Swaziland, the indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest in Port Elizabeth, cruise the Knysna Lagoon, visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve, tour an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, two wine tastings in Cape Winelands. When our tour of beautiful South Africa finishes, it s not over yet! Not to be missed will be Victoria Falls then onto Chobe National Park for another open air safari. Items of a personal nature, including but not limited to, Travel Insurance, Visa s/ Passport handling fees, connecting flights outside of Halifax, are not included in our pricing. Please ask your Professional Travel Advisor for more details. Inclusions: ~ Return Airfare from Halifax Johannesburg ~ All accommodations in hotels & lodges (porterage where applicable) ~ All transfers ~ Private luxury A/C coach transportation (with driver/guide) ~ Sightseeing & Admissions as per itinerary ~ Domestic & Regional Airfares (4 Flights) ~ Meals as indicated on itinerary Professionally Escorted by Gary & Lynda Rayner of The Travel Store * $7350* Per Person/Double Occupancy *Plus $823.80 Taxes & Professional Fees -Important Non-Refundable Payment Dates- Deposit of $1000 pp due at time of booking plus insurance Final Payment due by June 30 th, 2012 *Minimum Number of Guest Required*
Oct 19 th ~ Depart Halifax for London Oct 20 th ~ Arrive London with full free day to explore the city followed by an evening departure for Johannesburg. Johannesburg Oct 21 st ~ Early Morning Arrival in Johannesburg Upon arrival at Tambo International Airport we ll be met by a local representative and transfer to our hotel to enjoy the rest of the day at our leisure. Johannesburg which was founded in 1886 is now the largest city in South Africa (+3.2 million) and is the most important industrial, financial and commercial center is Africa south of the Sahara. Overnight: Protea Hotel Wanderers (1 Night) Oct 22 nd ~ Pretoria to Mpumalanga (B/D) Today we ll depart Johannesburg s at 7:30am and head for Kruger National Park with a stop at the glory that is God s Window, a boundless view of forested mountains and fertile plains, and visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon; one of the natural wonders of Africa. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. Dinner tonight will be at the hotel. Overnight: Hippo Hollow (3 Nights) Pretoria Oct 23 rd ~ Kruger National Park (B/D) Enjoy a full day of leisure in Kruger National Park! You will have the option to purchase an optional elephant interaction where you could touch, feed & brush down this magnificent animals. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Oct 24 th ~ Big Five viewing @ Kruger National Park (B) With registered guides (the most experienced game rangers) we venture into Africa s largest and most famous game reserve; the Kruger National Park in specially modified open safari vehicles. Our rangers will enthrall us with their passion and knowledge of the bush and its inhabitants, both big and small. All vehicles have carry maps, reference books & binoculars (blankets are also available on the open vehicles). We ll return to the lodge in the late afternoon. Gaming @ Kruger National Park Oct 25 th ~ Kingdom of Swaziland (B/L/D) Today we visit the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland, a former British Protection Territory, now ruled by King MsWati III. We ll witness a Swazi cultural experience, visit the Swaziland National Museum and continue through the capital city, Mbabane, known for its vibrant markets packed with woven baskets, beadwork and carvings. Tonight we ll spend in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley Overnight: Lugogo Sun (1 Night) www.thetravelstore.ca
Swazi Candle Factory Oct 26 th ~ Kingdom of Zula s (B) This morning we ll visit the Swazi Candle Factory with exquisite wax artworks in every shape and colour imaginable, and then it s on to Zululand, passing the traditional round huts and endless vistas with a mid afternoon arrival in the town of St. Lucia; a World Heritage Site and home to hippo, crocodile and no less than 367 bird species. Overnight: Protea Hluhluwe (1 Night) Oct 27 th ~ Umhlanga (Durban) (B) We start our day off with a cruise on Lake St. Lucia before departing for Durban travelling the lush KwaZula-Natal coastline enroute to Durban/Umhlanga. We ll enjoy watching the sugar cane fields do their own version of the Mexican wave at the urging of the wind. We ll check into our hotel just before noon and enjoy an afternoon of leisure. Overnight: Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge (1 Night) Knysna Oct 28 th ~ Umhlanga, Port Elizabeth (fly) & Knysna (B/D) Today we ll start with a flight to Port Elizabeth where upon arrival will be taken through the glorious, indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest before reaching Knysna; perhaps South Africa s most visually stunning resort in the heart of the Garden Route. Overnight: Knysna Log Inn (2 Nights) Oct 29 th ~ Knysna (B/L) Our day starts by cruising the vast Knysna Lagoon with a visit to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Before lunch we ll enjoy the views of the imposing sandstone Heads which guard the sea entrance to Knysna s huge tidal lagoon, forests, marshes and pristine beaches; the rest of the day is yours to enjoy this lovely and special town. Cango Caves Oct 30 th ~ Oudtshoorn (B/L) Enroute to Oudtshoorn which is known as the feather capital of the world we ll enjoy the spectacular views of Outeniqua Pass. After lunch we ll learn about the hardy, enigmatic ostrich with a tour of an ostrich farm, followed by an underground fascinating tour of the Cango Caves, one of South Africa s most incredible natural wonders. Overnight: The Queens Hotel (1Night)
Hout Bay Oct 31 st ~ Cape Town (B) Today we ll enjoy the magnificent vistas and ever changing passing canvas while we travel to Cape Town. During the whale season we ll travel via the seaside villag of Hermanus in the hopes of catching a glimpse of southern right whales, which frolic offshore (July to November only). Overnight: Protea Hotel President (3 Nights) Nov 1 st ~ Cape Peninsula (B) It s a full day of touring the ruggedly beautiful Cape Peninsula via the Atlantic seaboard. We ll stop in the fishing village of Hout Bay, where you may choose to take an optional cruise (own cost) to Seal Island to watch the antics of these natural performers. Then it s off to Cape Point Nature Reserve, however we ll also stop to see the lovable penguins at Boulders Beach, and a drive through the quaint naval village of Simon s Town on the way back to Cape Town. Cape Winelands Victoria Falls Nov 2 nd ~ Cape Winelands (B) It s wine tasting in the beautiful and tranquil Cape Winelands, visiting both Paarl & Stellenbosch before stops at the well known estates for tasting. A visit to the Huguenot Memorial Museum and the Afrikaans Language Monument which provides historical perspective as well as panoramic views of the surrounding area. Nov 3 rd ~ Depart Cape Town to Victoria Falls (B/In-Flight) This morning our tour continues onto Victoria Falls. After our arrival and meeting with our guide the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy. The first impression was unmistakable; immense power, the raw energy unleashed with the entire Zambezi leaps wildly into a black two km wide abyss. The scale is massive, the spectacle spellbinding and perpetually changing. The falls hiss and roar as if possessed, they rumble and crash like thunder. Vast clouds spew and billow out from the seething cauldron of its dark impenetrable depths. The moving water creates a magnetism that sucks you closer, so that you recoil in horror to quench a subliminal sacrificial urge (Jumbo Williams, Zambezi, River of Africa. 1988) Overnight: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (2 Nights) Nov 4 th ~ Victoria Falls (B) A guided walking tour of Victoria Falls takes place this morning, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Late afternoon we ll also be picked up and transferred to the cruise boat to enjoy a sunset cruise, after our return back to the hotel the evening is yours to enjoy.
Chobe National Park Big Gaming South Africa Nov 5 th ~ Chobe National Park (B/L/D) By way of a road transfer we ll head to Chobe National Park in Botswana (approx 100 km west of Victoria Falls), home to 450 species of birds and the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. After we check in we ll then enjoy the game drives in 4x4 open vehicles and a boat cruise on the Chobe River. Overnight: Mowana Safari (2 Nights) Nov 6 th ~ Chobe National Park Full Day Game Drive - (B/L/D) Chobe National Park is the second largest National Park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km s. It has one of the greatest concentrations of game found. It s uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and true African nature of the region offers a safari experience of a lifetime. Chobe is famous for its elephants; like clockwork they travel along their well worn paths to drink in the shoes of the Chobe River. The park is divided into four distinctly different eco systems: Serondela with its lush plains and dense forests in the extreme north-east; the Savuti Marsh in the west; the Linyanti Swamps in the north-west and the hot dry hinterland in between. Nov 7 th ~ Chobe to Johannesburg (B/In-Flight) After breakfast we ll be transferred back to Victoria Falls for our return flight to Johannesburg with connection to London. Nov 8 th ~ Arrive London with departure to Halifax (In-Flight) Professionally Escorted by Gary & Lynda Rayner of The Travel Store * $7350* Per Person/Double Occupancy *Plus $823.80 Taxes & Professional Fees -Important Non-Refundable Payment Dates- Deposit of $1000 pp due at time of booking plus insurance Final Payment due by June 30 th, 2012 *Minimum Number of Guest Required*