Day 1: Depart New York
Your exciting journey starts this afternoon as you fly overnight to Cape Town from New York.

Day 2: Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and most spectacular city.  You will be met and assisted by your Tour Director.  Transfer to your 1st Class hotel.  PROTEA PRESIDENT HOTEL (B)

On top of Table Mountain

Day 3:  Cape Town
On this morning’s city tour, ride by cable car to the top of Table Mountain for glorious city and bay views.  Descend and travel through the Malay Quarter and the city center toward the Milnerton Lighthouse for a chance to view and photograph mountain vistas from a distance.  Sightseeing ends at the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, filled with restaurants and cafes, craft shops, and a sprawling mall.  Welcome dinner tonight! (B,D)

Cape of Good Hope Penquins

Day 4: Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities.  Enjoy a full day excursion to the Cape Peninsula, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.  Admire the views at the Cape of Good Hope Natural Reserve.  Baboons, rheboks, zebras, and even penguins are here.  After a delicious lunch, tour Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. (B,L)

Day 5:  Cape Town
Day at leisure.  Opt to tour the winelands region, where you can also visit the Cheetah Reserve.  (B) 

Petting Cheetahs
 
Day 6: Cape Town/Garden Route/George
Depart this morning for a drive along the spectacular Garden Route, stopping at Mossel Bay, explored by Bartholomew Dias in 1488.  Continue to Wilderness (a favorite honeymoon destination), on the Indian Ocean, and proceed to your hotel in nearby George.  PROTEA HOTEL KING GEORGE  (B)

Day 7: George
Visit the world-renowned Cango Caves in the valley of Oudtshoorn.  Proceed to the Safari Ostrich Farm, where you will learn about the breeding of the country’s ostriches and be treated to a hearty lunch. (B,L)

Day 8: George/Durban/Hluhluwe
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in George and bid adieu to your driver, who has served you the past week.  Fly to Durban, a bustling port city.  After an orientation panoramic tour, depart for the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve, in the heart of the Kingdom of Zulu.  HLUHLUWE HOTEL  (B,D)

Day 9:  Hluhluwe
Explore the magnificent animals and species in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve during an exciting morning game drive in open safari vehicles.  Later, visit Damazulu Village and experience the everyday life of the Zulu tribe, renowned for its warrior culture.  Witness tribal dancing, spear making, and enjoy a special Zulu lunch.  (B,L)

Day 10: Swaziland
Today, continue your scenic drive north and cross the border into the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland.  Shop at unique African colorful markets and see basket weavers at work.  LUGOGO SUN HOTEL (B)

Day 11: Kruger Nat’l Park
Drive through beautiful Transvaal to famous Kruger National Park, South Africa’s premier game sanctuary.  Before reaching your upscale hotel, an unforgettable game safari in your own motor coach takes you in search of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo, rhino).  PROTEA KRUGER GATE (B,D)

Safari Vehicle

Day 12:  Kruger Park
Enjoy two open-vehicle safaris today in Kruger, the world’s largest game reserve.  Keep a look out for hippopotamus and crocodiles, as well as zebras and giraffes.  Bird life and range animals also abound.  (B,D)

Day 13: Kruger Park/scenic northerly drive
Proceed by motorcoach through Mpumalanga’s panoramic countryside and enjoy striking views of valleys, rivers, and waterfalls in magnificent Blyde River Canyon.  Visit Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes (bizarre holes cut into rock by powerful river erosion), God’s Window, and Pilgrim’s Rest (an old gold mining post).  Arrive at dinnertime in the quaint town of Waterval Boven.   MALAGA HOTEL  (B,D)

Day 14:  Pretoria/Johannesburg.  After breakfast, drive to Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa.  Afternoon arrival in Sandton, a flourishing suburb of Johannesburg.  Lavish farewell dinner tonight.  BALALAIKA SANDTON (B,D)

Day 15:  JOHANNESBURG/DEPART AFRICA
Morning at leisure.  Optional tour to Soweto, where Nelson Mandela’s struggle for liberty began.  Late this afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the U.S.  (B)

Day 16: U.S.A.
Arrive in New York's JFK Airport at approximately 8:00 a.m.

THREE-NIGHT EXTENSION TO VICTORIA FALLS, “EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD” $995

Victoria Falls

Visit exquisite Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on our extension, which includes airfare, three nights at the luxurious Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, buffet breakfast daily, a Sundowner Safari cruise on the mighty Zambezi River, a tour of the Falls, and transfers.  Optional safaris in Botswana.  See Vic Falls from Zambia!  Return to NYC on March 30.