South Africa: 9-Day Luxury Small-Group Tour with Cape Town, Johannesburg & Kruger National Park Game Drives

The '7-day change of mind guarantee' does not apply for Tour bookings. Due to the high demand and limited departures, any cancellation/refund requests must be made within 48 hours of purchase. Otherwise, the standard Refund Policy applies.

Valid for the following departure dates:

Low Season

• 1 July 2020
• 5 August 2020
• 11 September 2020

High Season

• 21 November 2020
• 30 November 2020
• 8 December 2020

Peak Season

• 7 January 2021
• 16 February 2021
• 18 March 2021
• 15 April 2021
• 29 May 2021
• 12 June 2021
• 14 August 2021

Important: Please allow for travelling time. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in South Africa on your chosen tour start date.

After you have made your booking, please follow the instructions on your confirmation email and ensure you complete your traveller information details within 48 hours.

Instant Booking: To secure your dates at purchase, click 'Instant Booking' and select your preferred package. Once your preferred package is selected, click through to 'Choose Your Dates of Travel' and enter your preferred tour commencement date.

Twin-Share Package: The package is valid for ONE PERSON (based on twin share). If you are travelling with another person you must purchase TWO PACKAGES, otherwise please purchase a solo traveller package.

Solo Traveller Package: Solo travellers must pay a surcharge as outlined in the packages and are subject to availability.

Private Departures Available: If you wish to travel with children aged under 18 years, or on your own private tour together with friends, please enquire for further information (minimum two travellers – surcharges apply).

Travel insurance is compulsory. We suggest purchasing travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package.

Guests must be aged 18 years or older.

Maximum tour capacity is 10 people.

A visa may be required. It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure they’re holding a current visa for the countries they’re visiting. Also, if the traveller is on a non-Australian passport, a valid re-entry visa may be required.

Important: Please start arranging your visa at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing time.

A valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers (including children and infants).

Name corrections may incur a fee. Name changes are not permitted.

Tour includes accommodation at the following hotels:

• Cape Town — The Table Bay Hotel (Luxury Room)
• Kruger National Park — Imbali Safari Lodge (Suite with Private Plunge Pool or Jucuzzi)
• Johannesburg — 54 on Bath (Standard Room)

Accommodation is subject to availability and may be substituted for a hotel of a similar standard.

Maximum Room Capacity: The maximum room capacity is two adults.

Domestic Flight Baggage Restrictions and Timings: Please note that baggage restrictions apply to your included domestic flights within South Africa. Passengers are permitted one piece of checked-in baggage with a maximum weight of 20kg. Passengers are permitted one carry-on piece with a maximum weight of 7kg. Timing provided on the itinerary is based on current schedules provided by South African Airways and can change at any time without notice.

Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility and must be able to negotiate uneven surfaces and climb stairs. Please note that we do a lot of walking so please be sure to pack comfortable hiking boots.

Does not include:

• Return international flights
• Visas
• Single supplement
• Meals/beverages not stated in the itinerary
• Optional activities/tours, personal expenses/transfers not mentioned
• Travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Tips and gratuities

Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated). Menus are subject to change without notice.

All-inclusive dining, high tea and a wide selection of the finest local wines and spirits are offered at the Imbali Safari Lodge. Premium brand wine, spirits and champagne are not included.

Tipping and gratuities are not included in the package and are at your own discretion (as a guide, approx. US$10 per person, per day is the industry standard).

Strictly no refunds for this package for amendments and change of date.

Arrival and departure transfers are only available on the first and last day.

The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving.

Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time.

Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website's terms and conditions.

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town, South Africa

Upon arrival to Cape Town International Airport (CPT), be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel — The Table Bay in Cape Town. Perfectly positioned on the historic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain, The Table Bay Hotel was opened in 1997 by former South African president Nelson Mandela. Considered to be the best address in Cape Town, enjoy direct access into the city's famous waterfront. Tonight, come together over dinner, as you get to know your fellow travellers. It is recommended that flights arrive at your destination no later than 2 pm.

Accommodation: The Table Bay Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Cape Town

After breakfast, explore Cape Town with a local guide who will show you the very best sights and attractions of this cosmopolitan city.

Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, nestled between Table Mountain and the glistening waters of Table Bay, Cape Town hides many surprises that wait to be discovered. Boasting rich culture, vibrant nightlife, extraordinary architecture and inspiring natural wonders, there’s nowhere quite like it.

Discover the stories behind the historic cobblestoned Greenmarket Square, where you could spend hours weaving between the stalls finding treasures to take home with you. Discover Company’s Garden, the oldest in South Africa, learn of South Africa’s oldest surviving building and centre of civilian, political and military life at the Castle of Good Hope and Grand Parade, before a visit to the moving District Six Museum — an emotional memory of a once lively multiracial area which was shattered during the apartheid in the 1960s and 1970s and the forceful relocation of its 60,000 inhabitants. A walk-through Cape Malay Quarter follows before a gentle cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views of the city and ocean (weather depending).

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Admire the painted facades of the Bo-Kaap, swoon over the old-world charm of the V&A Waterfront, browse a boutique on Long Street or take advantage of the abundance of natural space and go for a hike or walk.

Accommodation: The Table Bay Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Cape Point

Your full-day journey today takes you past the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, located along the scenic Atlantic coast. From here, you will descend into the Hout Bay valley, known for its bustling fishing harbour and white sand beaches, en route to Chapman’s Peak Drive. High on the mountainside overlooking the sea, once considered 'impossible to build', you will want to hold your breath as you traverse this engineering masterpiece (subject to road conditions).

Afterwards, continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which covers over 22,000 acres of land located in the south of Cape Point. Driving through the reserve, have your camera ready as you may spot wild animals like zebras, ostriches and antelopes within the endemic fynbos. With its picturesque sea cliffs, bays, beaches, and valleys, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve is one of the most scenic spots in South Africa. Here, choose to walk up the steep pathway or board the Flying Dutchman funicular to the lighthouse where panoramic views await.

Before lunch, you will stop at Boulders Beach — famous for its colony of endangered Jackass Penguins on the coast of False Bay — for an adorable photo opportunity.

Before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure, you will also pass interesting sites such as the University of Cape Town and Rhodes Memorial.

Accommodation: The Table Bay Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4: Cape Town — Kruger National Park

After your private transfer to Cape Town International Airport, fly to Hoedspruit, before transferring to your private lodge within Kruger National Park.

Your home for the next three nights is the incredible Imbali Safari Lodge – nestled discreetly amidst the Tamboti trees in Kruger National Park. Set on the banks of the N’waswitsontso River, this safari haven offers spacious accommodation in true classic safari style with unparalleled game viewing – where it is not uncommon to spot elephants, leopards and other game animals frequenting the trails through and beyond the camp. Enjoy game viewing from your intimate suite – all equipped with private plunge pools or jacuzzi and interiors that epitomise romance, with canopies of mosquito nets and beautiful bathrooms.

Enjoy your first game drive this afternoon in search of the ‘Big 5”. From the comfort of your safari vehicle, you will have the perfect vantage point to experience the very best that Kruger has to offer.

End this magical day with a special sundowners experience in the African bush. Watch the sunset over the expansive plains before returning to camp for a lavish dinner.

Accommodation: Imbali Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Flight: Departs Cape Town (CPT) at 10:50 on South African Airways. Arrives into Hoedspruit (HDS) at 13:10.

Day 5: Kruger National Park

10,000 hectares of pristine wilderness are traversed in the comfort of open land rovers. With the teeming biodiversity of the Kruger National Park and the skilled interpretation of bush signs by astute Shangaan trackers, no two game drives are ever the same. Trackers and rangers partner in looking for fresh animal tracks and sensitively follow elusive animals into ravines and through thicket to ensure a vivid and exhilarating wildlife encounter.

Your day begins at dawn as you wake to the sounds of the bush. An early morning game drive ensures that you catch the tail end of the night exploits of nocturnal creatures. This is an essential two to three-hour safari experience that ends in a lavish breakfast back at camp.

An afternoon of relaxation allows you to share bush tales, record memories in your safari journal, indulge in the culinary temptations of our chef or simply unwind.

The excitement of the safari begins again after tea when the intensity of the African heat begins to subside. This game drive coincides with the close of business for the daytime game and the emerging routines of nocturnal beasts on the prowl. There is nothing quite as enthralling as pursuing the hunt of the big cats. The excitement of each drive is interrupted by refreshment breaks, to accommodate any call of the wild and revitalize you with a sundown cocktail.

Accommodation: Imbali Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Kruger National Park

The second day in Kruger National Park illuminates the opportunity to spy any animals that you may have missed on game drives previously. Your day ends with a final dinner under the stars as you bask in the sounds of nature. This majestic setting provides a perfect farewell to your spectacular Kruger National Park experience.

(Please note: outdoor dining in Imbali’s Boma enclosure are enjoyed on Tuesdays and Fridays only)

Accommodation: Imbali Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Kruger National Park — Johannesburg

After breakfast, board a scheduled flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. On arrival, you will check into the historic redbrick 54 on Bath hotel. Known for its impressive reputation, sophistication and attentive service, 54 on Bath was recently awarded the 'Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame' and 'Travellers’ Choice Award' from TripAdvisor. Situated in the heart of the Rosebank, a walkable, tree-lined suburb, you are only minutes from attractions such as Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg Zoo, the African Craft Market and Everard Read Gallery. This evening, relax at your hotel or explore ‘Joberg’ independently.

Accommodation: 54 on Bath

Meals: Breakfast

Flight: Departs Hoedspruit (HDS) at 14:40 on South African Airways. Arrives into Johannesburg (JNB) at 15:45.

Day 8: Soweto

Today, immerse yourself in the tumultuous history of Soweto on a tour from Johannesburg. Standing for ‘South West Townships’, Soweto is synonymous with resistance to apartheid, South Africa’s former policy of racial segregation.

Often referred to as 'South Africa’s Heart', your half-day sightseeing tour of Soweto will include a visit to the Hector Pieterson Museum, (the first victim of the 1976 students uprising) where you will be moved by the graphic images on display (your guide will share personal memories of those days). You will also enjoy a visit to Nelson Mandela's former home. Throughout, your local guide will share an insider perspective of the township’s culture and vibrant personality.

Upon return to your hotel, enjoy an afternoon at leisure before re-joining your new friends for a farewell dinner.

Accommodation: 54 on Bath

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 9: Depart Johannesburg

Bid Johannesburg a fond farewell. After breakfast, you will be transferred to O. R. Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport (JNB) for your onward journey or flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour begins at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) with an arrival transfer and ends with a departure transfer to O. R. Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport (JNB).

International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately.

Getting to Cape Town is easy. Regular stopover flights are available with Qantas, Emirates, Qatar, South African, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways with an approximate flight time of 18 hours.

Flights depart regularly from selected Australian cities and stopover at major gateways including Johannesburg, Doha, Singapore, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Return airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last days only from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and to O. R. Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport (JNB). Please book your flight to arrive into Cape Town before 2 pm on Day 1. Your hotel room will be made available after 3 pm.

You MUST complete your booking form within 48 hours of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.

A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller's responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist.