Cape Town, Safari and Indian Ocean Dreams

Discover cosmopolitan Cape Town with your own vehicle and guide which gives you flexibility to explore at your own pace. Highlights of the tour include the Castle of Good Hope, Green Market Square, Kirstenbosch Garden, Company Gardens and of course – weather permitting – a visit to the top of Table Mountain which offers breathtaking views of Cape Town and the surrounding coastline. As you drive through the city you shall get a feel for the cultural melting pot that it is. Stop at Truth Cafe, an artisan coffee shop serving hand-roasted coffees in a vintage cast-iron drum. In the heart of the city enjoy for a short walk through the Company Gardens. From squirrels to a variety of plant life, it is just a happy place to soak up some Cape Town vibes. Continue the tour with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope – the oldest building in South Africa that today houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. En-route to your hotel, enjoy a drive through Bo-Kaap to discover how the Malay slaves influenced the culture, food and aesthetics of this beautiful city and its people. (Please note that if the cable car is not running due to weather or other unavoidable circumstances, guests will have to hike back down.)

Discover all that Cape Point has to offer on this enjoyable day excursion. Following an early breakfast at your hotel, drive out to the Atlantic Seaboard Coastal Road with your local guide. Enjoy your drive along this scenic stretch of road, passing by white sandy beaches and the ocean by Clifton and Camps Bay. Take in the bracing sea breeze as the wind catches your hair. Watch the sudden appearance of the Twelve Apostles Peaks to one side of the road, while the dramatic cliffs and rocky outcrops of the Cape Peninsula rise above the Atlantic on your other side. Make a pit stop at the pretty little fishing village of Hout Bay with its famous Sentinel. If you wish, you can take a boat ride to Seal Island, or browse through colorful stalls by the harbor piled high with handicrafts and local artifacts. Drive up to the Cape’s famed Chapman’s Peak and make the most of its photo opportunities. Continue up to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve before dropping by the spectacular Cape Point. Look out for the feathery ‘fynbos’ swaying in the heathland along with the region’s endemic birds and wildlife, particularly the Cape Mountain Zebra and the baboons. Gaze out at False Bay, or if you wish, you can ride the funicular to the old lighthouse for taking in the twin oceans of the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Take a refreshing lunch break (optional), before visiting the colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach. (Duration: Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Lunch not included. Entrance fees for Seal Island, Boulders Beach, Colony, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Funicular included; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).

Experience morning and afternoon game drives and bush walks during your stay at Arathusa Safari Lodge. Accompanied by wildlife rangers and trackers, head out in an open safari vehicle in search of the Big Five and the other creatures that call this sanctuary home. Drive through the endless plains and spot rhinos and predators such as cheetahs, lions and leopards that rest amid the grassland. Scattered throughout the savannah you’ll see herds of impalas, gazelles and elands, and hippos wading in shimmering pools of water. At dusk, you are most likely to find packs of jackals, spotted hyena and wild dogs. In between safaris, explore the wilderness on foot with a naturalist guide. Learn basic tracking techniques, see dung beetles and gain insight into the architecture of anthills. You will also discover trees like the acacia, marula and knob-thorn, and medicinal plants and herbs along the way. (Duration: half day; Time of day: morning & afternoon; Shared activity; Fitness level; easy; Please bring sunscreen, hats, binoculars and a camera)

Get up close with the wildlife at Kruger National Park while staying at Rhino Post Safari Lodge. Head out on early morning and afternoon game drives in a customized open vehicle, accompanied by expert guides. Wake up before dawn to enjoy coffee or tea before you head out. Travel deep into the wilderness, along marked roads, in search of lions, rhinos, giraffes and more. Along the way, learn about their distinctive characteristics and behavior. In the late afternoon, following a delicious high tea, settle down in a safari vehicle for your second game drive of the day. Unwind with sundowners as you watch the sunset over the horizon. Later, you will have the opportunity to view nocturnal animals such as leopards and hyenas in their natural habitat. (Duration: half day; Time of day: morning & afternoon; Shared activity; Fitness level; easy; Please bring sunscreen, hats, binoculars and a camera)