South Africa's Unforgettable Family Journey
Programme Overview
Duration: 17 days
A luxury adventure of wine, wildlife and history through a backdrop of beautiful beaches and scientific discovery, this voyage will give you a true taste of South Africa's cultural and natural heritage.
Highlights: Johannesburg and the Cradle of Humankind, Etali Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, The Palace of the Lost City, Cape Wine Lands, Table Mountain, Knysna
Arrive in Johannesburg
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, after clearing customs and immigration and collecting your luggage you will be met in the arrivals hall by a representative, hand over your documents and then it's on to your hotel.
Through innovative architecture and outstanding design, the Melrose Arch Hotel has become an international destination in its own right, attracting those discerning guests who take pleasure in modern elegance and sophistication. The luxurious Melrose Arch Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa is situated within the exclusive urban Melrose Arch lifestyle development, a "city within a city".
Please note that check in time at the hotel is 1400, just relax while your room is prepared for you and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Melrose Arc Hotel
Johannesburg to World Heritage Site
Meet your guide in the reception area of the hotel, from there you will depart on a full day tour to discover the fascinating origins of mankind.
The tour starts off with a drive out of the city to the Cradle of Humankind, situated north-west of Johannesburg. This World Heritage Site is one of the places where man is believed to have originated.
You will visit the private, working site of Drimolen which was only discovered in 1992 and is already the third richest hominid site in Southern Africa. Access to this site is by arrangement only. On 26 April 2000, the discovery of the most complete female Australopithecus robustus skull along with a complete male jaw which made world headlines.
This site has unearthed 79 hominid fossils, a wealth of faunal remains and some fossil Homo babies. As the site is being excavated all year round, it provides an excellent opportunity to see an excavation in progress. On arrival at Drimolen, you will be served tea, coffee and refreshments at a secluded picnic site while a short fossil cast demonstration and talk on human evolution is presented by a scientist.
This will be followed by a guided tour of the actual fossilferous deposit of Drimolen where fossils at least 1.2 million years old may be viewed. A light, catered picnic lunch will be provided under the trees, before heading back to Johannesburg for a guided visit of the South African Museum of Rock Art at the Origins Centre. This world-class facility was recently opened at the University of the Witwatersrand. The museum has an outstanding, and fascinating, collection of rock paintings, engravings and artifacts, but more importantly, the history of South Africa is told through the art of the San people. If we want to understand the culture, the spiritual beliefs, and the very essence of the Zulu and Xhosa people as they are today, and even the reasons for the development of Soweto and other townships - we need to take a step back a few hundred years, and follow the path that the rock art stories can tell us.
Originally San rock art was seen as just pictures of animals and people, and narrative accounts of the hunter-gatherer life. Only now have researchers discovered the spiritual meaning behind the rock art, and their importance. Rock paintings and engravings have proved a valuable tool for Nature Conservationists, as the San provided historical evidence of wildlife species that occurred in their area hundreds of years ago.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Melrose Arc Hotel
Meal Plan: B
Arrive in Etali Safari Lodge
Meet your representative in the reception area of the hotel for your transfer to the Federal Air Lounge at OR Tambo International Airport.
Depart Johannesburg on a scheduled light aircraft charter flight to Madikwe. The flying time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Kindly note, that all inter-camp flights are subject to multiple pick up and drop offs en-route to your destination which affect the flying time. Please note that there is a luggage restriction of 44lbs (20kg) per person including hand luggage and all camera equipment. Should you have excess luggage there is a luggage storage facility at OR Tambo International Airport.
Please settle all storage costs directly.
On arrival at the airstrip a lodge representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge.
Out of the heart of the spectacular Madikwe Game Reserve, embraced by pristine bushveld nurtured by Mother Africa's rich red soil, Etali Safari Lodge rises to meet you with lavish hospitality. Built in harmony with nature under the vibrant African sun, Etali is an exclusive, intimate haven, where body and soul are rejuvenated in surroundings created by people who understand luxury.
Etali, meaning 'a new beginning' respects the privacy of guests while offering impeccable personal attention. Relax and be pampered in the tranquility of the Wellness Centre or enjoy the sheer pleasure of a massage on your own sundeck, therapeutic in itself. Etali safari lodge can accommodate a total of sixteen guests. Accommodation comprises eight double thatched luxury suites, each with its own en-suite bathroom.
Activities at Etali safari lodge revolve around relaxing your body and mind and experiencing the rich details of your surroundings.
To experience the vibrant bush life around you, allow yourself to be led through Madikwe's 75,000 hectare environment, either on foot or in an open vehicle. Watch the wildlife, oblivious to your presence, from one of our main decks overlooking a waterhole. Interested in the southern skies, finding the Southern Cross or looking at the moons of Jupiter? If we know in advance this is your passion we will invite an astronomer to the lodge during your stay, although our guides are well trained to take you on a tour through the galaxies with our telescope. Etali safari lodge has a fully equipped, open air gym. Work up an appetite for your next sumptuous meal in this facility, walking on the treadmill or brush up your rowing whilst watching the game coming down for water.
We offer a spin bike as well as enough stations developed by a professional to exercise every muscle.
The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy a game viewing activity on offer.
Overnight: Etali Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Etali Safari Lodge
The day is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer.
To get even closer to your surroundings, game walks are offered in place of, or in addition to, the game drives.
Armed and experienced rangers will lead you along game paths, in the footsteps of the animals, allowing you to experience the thrill of walking through this wild environment.
Walking will allow you to appreciate the stillness, the quiet and the beauty of the African bush and to examine the sights and sounds less obvious from a vehicle.
Overnight: Etali Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Etali Safari Lodge
Time permitting enjoy an early morning game viewing activity followed by breakfast.
Overnight: Etali Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
The Palace Hotel at Sun City
Meet your representative at the reception area of the lodge for your transfer to Sun City. The transfer time is approximately two hours.
The Palace of the Lost City in South Africa ranks as one of world's most extraordinary hotels. The interior features exquisite mosaics, frescoes and hand-painted ceilings depicting South Africa's wildlife and culture. Hard to believe that this is all located in a remote part of South Africa! There are no less than 338 rooms including four suites. The King, Royal, African and Desert Suites are available on request.
The King Suite at The Palace of the Lost City is the epitome of regal luxury with hand-carved walls, frescoed ceilings and hundreds of custom-designed items. All luxury suites at The Palace of the Lost City feature a sauna and Jacuzzi bath, while the Africa Suite even has an additional Jacuzzi on the balcony. Staying here affords you the opportunity to enjoy life in your very own Palace! All standard rooms at The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa consist of an entrance foyer, en-suite bathroom, lounge and seating area, amenities include air-conditioning, TV, radio, safe, telephone, minibar and butler station.
The Grand Pool at The Palace of the Lost City is a huge swimming pool and is situated outside the main entrance to The Palace of the Lost City and is intricately decorated with mosaics and sculpture. It's an excellent way to cool off on a hot day in South Africa. The Pool Braai Buffet and Snack Bar provides light lunches, buffet and snacks in an informal atmosphere. The Pool Cocktail Bar serves exotic cocktails under the cool shade of a pavilion. Both venues are open daily and it's also perfect for soaking up some of South Africa's sunshine!
The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the facilities on offer.
Overnight: The Palace of the Lost City
Meal Plan: B
Sun City
The day is at leisure to enjoy the activities the resort has to offer.
Overnight: The Palace of the Lost City
Meal Plan: B
Sun City to Cape Town
Please meet the representative in the reception area of the hotel for your transfer to OR Tambo International Airport. The transfer time is approximately two hours.
Depart Johannesburg on a scheduled flight to Cape Town. On arrival at the Cape Town International Airport, a representative will meet and transfer you to the hotel.
The transfer time is approximately 20 minutes.
The evening is at leisure.
The luxurious Twelve Apostles hotel lies where earth, sea and sky meet, poised above Atlantic rollers and flanked by the majestic Table Mountain and her Twelve Apostles mountain range. This intimate five star hotel fully lives up to its stunning location, with exceptional standards of service and relaxed Cape hospitality providing the perfect counterpoint to its dramatic backdrop.
To be remarkable, the 46 deluxe guestrooms and 24 luxurious suites at the Twelve Apostles only really need a window; thoughtfully, the hotel has provided much more besides. Set in four secluded and individual wings linked to the public areas via airy walkways, all are decorated with understated elegance and feature as standard a wide range of amenities, including 24 hour room service, individual air-conditioning, entertainment centres with DVD, and plush bathrobes and slippers.
Deluxe guest rooms and spacious suites, two breathtaking pool gardens magically perched above the ocean, the glorious Azure Restaurant accompanying exquisite cuisine, wonderful friendly service with endlessly seductive sea views adds to the uniqueness of the hotel. All barely ten minutes from the bustling heart of Cape Town, with nearby attractions including prime diving spots, nature trails, and seals, dolphins, whales and penguins.
Overnight: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Meal Plan: B
Cape Town
Meet the guide this morning in the reception area of the hotel for a half day Family City Tour including a visit up Table Mountain (weather permitting).
We drive though the Cape Town suburb of Tamboerskloof ("Drummers' Ravine") to the lower cable car station on the slopes of Table Mountain. Weather permitting we make the short and comfortable ascent to the top of the mountain by cable car.
The panoramic view of the sea and city from the summit is magnificent. From here we make our way to the Castle of Good Hope. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort, built in 1652 by Commander Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the maritime replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope.
The Castle Military Museum depicts the military history of the Cape, the Castle and Cape Regiments. Also worth a visit is the William Fehr collection consisting of artwork reflecting many aspects of cultural life at the Cape from the early VOC days until the middle of the 19th century. End your tour visiting the notorious dungeon. As a result of rising damp, the dungeon was not fit to store gun powder as intended and was later used as a prison for the accused awaiting trial.
At the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront you visit the Two Ocean's Aquarium, where over 3000 living sea animals, including sharks, fishes, seals, turtles and penguins can be seen in this spectacular underwater nature reserve. Your tour will end at the hotel or at the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, built around the old harbour. A hugely popular destination with tourists and locals alike (80% of visitors are from Cape Town itself) the Waterfront is unique in terms of being a working harbour while still boasting a varied selection of eclectic shops, restaurants and tourist attractions from scenic helicopter rides to boat cruises.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
Overnight: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Meal Plan: B
Cape Town
Meet the guide this morning in the reception area of the hotel for a full day Family tour of the Cape Point.
This tour will take us south of Cape Town city centre to the very end of the scenically dramatic Cape Peninsula. Hugging the Atlantic coast road we journey past the "bikini beaches" of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno, beautifully located at the base of the towering Twelve Apostles Mountains. We travel over the Suikerbossie ("Sugar Bush") Pass and descend into the bucolic Hout Bay valley, with its bustling fishing harbour, white sand beach and picturesque village.
In Hout Bay we will cruise the waters to Seal Island, home to the Cape Fur Seal. It is a wondrous show to behold - a water ballet by a thousand seals, pirouetting, diving and surfacing to a symphony of gull cries, timpani courtesy of the South Atlantic swell gently keeping time against the ancient granite shore. If you want to see a special part of the Peninsula from another perspective, this is about as good as it gets.
We travel over the famous Chapman's Peak Drive (subject to road conditions) to join the sea again at the town of Noordhoek. This historic road, high on the mountainside overlooking the sea, was once considered "impossible to build", but Charl Marais (mining surveyor) rose to the challenge and Chapman's Peak Drive was opened to the public in 1922. Our journey continues to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve at the end of the Cape Peninsula.
The reserve, which covers 22000 acres of land, converges in the south at Cape Point, a great pinnacle of rock. You can climb the steps or ride a funicular railway - the "Flying Dutchman" - to the top from where you may see southern right whales in spring and early summer, dolphins and a variety of seabirds. The original lighthouse at Cape Point was built in 1860.
The present lighthouse, one of the most powerful in the southern hemisphere, is closer to the point itself than the original. An alternative option (for the more energetic) is to take a scenic cliff-top trail to the Cape of Good Hope itself, the most south-westerly point in Africa, where your guide and vehicle would meet you. Afterwards we travel back through the reserve looking out for some of the animals that live here, including the rare Bontebok, Eland, Cape Mountain Zebra and Ostrich.
En route to lunch we visit Boulders, a lovely beach sheltered from the wind and famous for its colony of endangered Jackass Penguins on the coast of False Bay near Simon's Town. Boulders, had just two breeding pairs in 1982, but thanks to careful management the population has grown to about 3000 in recent years.
Pass through Simon's Town, which was the Royal Navy's main base in the south Atlantic from 1815 until 1957 and has the feel of a small English seaside village with steep narrow streets and cobbled alleyways. You will learn about the famous hound called "Just Nuisance", the most renowned animal in the annals of the Royal Navy. We continue to Kalk Bay the quaint fishing hamlet on the False Bay coast with a protected little harbour of brightly painted wooden boats.
The narrow main street is renowned for antique and art shops which make fascinating browsing. We lunch in Kalk Bay before journeying back into Cape Town via Boyes Drive for wonderful views of the harbour. We emerge above Muizenberg a famous location in South African history as it was the site of the Battle of Muizenberg in 1795 when British forces invaded the Cape and defeated the Dutch colonists.
We travel back towards Cape Town passing through the attractive, up-market suburb of Constantia, the cradle of the South African wine industry boasting famous estates like Klein Constantia. We continue to Streetwires passing interesting sites such as the University of Cape Town, Rhodes Memorial and Mostert's Mill, a Dutch windmill dating back to 1797 and still in working order.
Thereafter we return to the hotel.
Overnight: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L
Cape Winelands
Meet the guide this morning in the reception area of the hotel for a full day Family tour of the Winelands.
We leave Cape Town and head to Spier for the Cheetah experience. This morning enjoy a viewing of the Cheetah's, where a guide from the Outreach Programme will accompany you into the Cheetah enclosure where you will have the opportunity of stroking one of these magnificent creatures. The Cheetah Outreach assists the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in their efforts to ensure the survival of the free-ranging cheetah.
This is done through education programmes that increase the awareness of the diminishing numbers of free-ranging cheetahs in the wild. Funds are raised for CCF to support their efforts in releasing trapped, wild cheetah and non-lethal predator control methods (i.e. placement of guard dogs in Namibian farmlands). Cheetah Outreach was founded by Annie Beckhelling in January 1997 on a hectare of land donated by Spier. The education programme began with two cheetahs: Inca (6-year old male) whose role was to greet visitors at Spier and Shadow (1-year old male) who travelled to community events.
At Spier, with an annual visitor-ship of 650,000 people, the cheetah ambassadors are able to greet more than 10% of the guests. Since our successful beginning, Cheetah Outreach quickly expanded with the arrival of three cubs in September 1997. Nyana-Spier, Charlie-Girl and Moya enjoyed the public attention. Moya was donated to the Angel Trust Fund (Cincinnati, Ohio) to assist them with their efforts of raising awareness for the plight of the cheetah.
Our facility is continually evolving and growing and we are taking on more challenges than ever before. We are actively involved in cub rearing and are partners with De Wildt. Cheetah Outreach Education department aims to facilitate the increased respect and pride for South Africa's indigenous fauna in the youth of previously disadvantaged communities; using the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) as an ambassador species and to plant the seed of a conservation ethic. On the same property you will also view the Birds of Prey. Founded in December 2001 by Hank & Tracy Chalmers, Eagle Encounters is a bird of prey rehabilitation, education, conservation and eco-tourism center. As a self-funded, non-profit establishment, we rely on the income generated by tourism to drive the numerous programmes.
Our long-term vision is to do our part in preserving the eco-environment by protecting birds of prey through the release of prime rehabilitatable candidates, and through creating community awareness. Eagle Encounters is not a zoo and our birds do not live in cages.
Take a stroll through our 'weathering area' where you can openly view the largest, smallest, strongest, fastest and cheekiest… After this experience we continue to Franschhoek and Môreson. Mom and Dad will enjoy some of the finest wines of the Franschhoek valley while the kids will make their own bread in the Bread & Wine Restaurant. Môreson is one of the original farms granted to the French Huguenots in 1695 by Governor Simon van der Stel and is situated close to Franschhoek.
This little town with lots of ambiance, a fascinating history, breathtaking scenery with a definite French character, is also the culinary capital of South Africa.
When mom and dad have finished their wine tasting, they will go to the restaurant and join the children for lunch at the Bread & Wine Restaurant. The restaurant is set among the lemon orchards and vineyards of the Môreson wine estate in the famous Franschhoek valley of food and wine. Diners are satisfied and the desires of their taste buds are indulged in a playful affair of the senses.
After lunch, you will travel to the town of Franschhoek where you will visit Huguenot Chocolates. Huguenot Chocolates is a boutique chocolaterie which offers a delicious range of chocolates made from the finest imported Belgian chocolate. The programme includes chocolate tasting, demonstrations and a talk on the history of chocolate. The kids will have the opportunity to "make" their own chocolates to take home. After the chocolate tasting, the town of Franschhoek can be explored.
A visit of the Huguenot Memorial and Museum illustrate the life of the Huguenots at the Cape of Good Hope. From Franschhoek you will drive to Paarl where you will enjoy a scenic drive through this historical town returning to your hotel in Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Overnight: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L
Cape Town
Please meet the representative in the reception area of the hotel from where you depart on a half day 'Walking with Baboons' tour.
This inspiring project was started in an effort to create a level of awareness and appreciation for these incredible creatures; perhaps through better understanding will come an acceptance and tolerance that will enable primates to learn to live alongside each other in harmony. The aim is to bridge the gap between the wild world of the Baboons and the civilised world of their human cousins.
The remaining Chacma Baboons on the southern peninsula (close to Cape Town), face a bleak future as continued urbanization reduces wilderness areas, resulting in on-going conflict situations between man and baboon. Due to the unacceptably high mortality rates it was predicted that within 15 years the baboons would face certain extinction. At the current mortality rate there will not be a viable baboon population on the peninsula within the next 10 years.
The Baboon Monitor Project was started in 1999 and over the past five years has considerably reduced the conflicts between primates by keeping baboons out of villages for 85% of days. The project employs 8 men from the nearby community of Masiphumelele. These men have been working closely with the baboons and have gained a wealth of wildlife experience as well as developing unique relationships with the baboons of the Da Gama and Slangkop troops. Funding for the Baboon Monitor Project is an on-going concern as pressing social issues dominate the current funding situation in South Africa.
To support this important conservation initiative, 25% of net proceeds from this walk will be utilized to ensure the continuation of the Baboon Monitor Project. By taking part in this excursion, you are showing your support for this important conservation initiative. You will be guided across the mountains around Cape Town to spend time with the last remaining Chacma Baboons in the Cape Peninsula. For 2-3 hours you will be walking through the mountain fynbos until you encounter the baboons in their home territory.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to sit and watch these fascinating animals as they eat, play and socialize around you. Qualified guides ensure your safety and enjoyment of this unique experience.
Return to the hotel in the afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Meal Plan: B
Arrive in Knysna
Please meet the representative in the reception area of the hotel for your transfer to the Cape Town International Airport.
Depart Cape Town on a scheduled flight to George. On arrival at George Airport a representative will meet and transfer you to Pezula.
The transfer time is approximately 1 hour. Pezula includes a world-class Championship Golf Course and Club; a luxury Resort Hotel and Spa and the Field of Dreams sporting facility.
It is the first luxury resort estate in Africa, located on dramatic cliffs overlooking four kilometres of spectacular coastline and rolling sea near Knysna on the Garden Route. The luxurious Pezula Resort Hotel stands on the crest of the Eastern Heads, with the vast Indian Ocean to the south, the tranquil Knysna Lagoon to the north, the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains in the distance and, overhead, a boundless African sky.
The 18 hole golf course offers an exciting challenge to keen amateurs and world-class professionals. Activities also include horse-riding, tennis, cricket, cycling, mountain biking, jogging, outdoor or indoor aquacise, hiking, yachting, kayaking, diving and fishing.
The Pezula Resort Hotel offers 80 opulent suites, a gourmet restaurant, indoor pool and health spa as well as state-of-the-art conference and business facilities. Each suite has been designed with seclusion and rest in mind and is a 21st century cocoon with a private balcony for you to enjoy a massage or aromatherapy treatment in sensuous seclusion. All suites are sumptuously decorated and generous with space, making your stay at the Pezula Resort Hotel unforgettable. Zachary's restaurant at Pezula Resort Hotel serves local organic products with a global influence.
The gourmet menu is built on simple yet satisfying principles: the finest fresh local ingredients prepared to enhance natural flavours, succulence and tenderness. There is also a collection of some of the finest local and international wine labels and vintages. Intimate and romantic at night, the restaurant's setting is simply spectacular during the day. Magnificent views of one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world will tempt you to dine al fresco. A cigar bar and 24 hour in-room dining complete the picture of personalised entertaining.
The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
Meal Plan: B
Knysna
Your day is at leisure to enjoy this beautiful area. Should you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our local Cape Town office.
Overnight: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
Meal Plan: B
Knysna
Your day is at leisure to enjoy this beautiful area.
Overnight: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
Meal Plan: B
Knysna
Your day is at leisure to enjoy this beautiful area.
Overnight: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
Meal Plan: B
Depart Knysna
Please meet the representative in the reception area of the hotel for your transfer to George Airport. Depart George on a scheduled flight to Johannesburg.
On arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport a representative will meet and assist you with check in of your onward flight.
Depart Johannesburg on an outbound flight.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Breakfast is included daily provided it is taken in the hotel restaurant, Should you choose to have breakfast in you room, there will be an additional charge for your own account. At the Game Lodges, please consult the reception for the breakfast policy
Meal Plan: B