Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome to Cape Town, commonly referred to as the “Mother City” by locals, as it was home to the first European settlement in South Africa. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.
Day 2: Cape Town
Start at the Grand Parade to see the Castle of Good Hope and City Hall. Walk to see more of Cape Town’s landmarks including St. George’s Cathedral, Parliament, and The Company’s Garden. Then, join a local community leader to explore the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, also known as the Malay Quarter, including a visit to the Bo-Kaap Community Center. After a traditional Malay lunch, enjoy a scenic cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain for stunning 360-degree views over the city. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant!
Day 3: Cape Town | Cape Peninsula Excursion
Take a scenic drive along stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope before arriving at Cape Point. Ride a funicular to the steps of the old lighthouse with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a local seafront restaurant, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African penguins. Free time this evening.
Day 4: Cape Town
Full day at leisure for your own discoveries in this beautiful city.
Day 5: Cape Town - Hoedspruit - Makalali Private Game Reserve
Fly to Hoedspruit and continue to the Makalali Private Game Reserve, a wildlife‑rich haven ideal for spotting Africa’s famed “Big Five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo—on guided game drives. Sip sundowner drinks as the sky blazes with color before returning to your lodge for a delicious dinner. As part of the Globus family of brands’ Lighthouse Project, your stay also supports the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Canine Project—training dogs to track and deter poachers—as well as the Lion Recovery Fund, dedicated to restoring lion populations and their natural habitats.
Day 6: Makalali (Kruger National Park Area)
Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. Keep an eye out for big cats after their night of hunting. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more. Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax at your lodge. Afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks.
Day 7: Makalali (Kruger National Park Area)
Sharpen your game-spotting skills on your morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for African buffalo, reintroduced to the area after an absence of more than 50 years, reuniting the “Big Five” to roam freely in the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve. After Sundowners, enjoy dinner prepared by a skilled chef featuring African cuisine representing cooking styles left behind by centuries of exploration on this great continent.
Day 8: Makalali - Hoedspruit - Johannesburg
Savor one last game drive at dawn, as the wilderness stirs to life in the soft morning light. Your ranger leads you across open plains and through acacia dotted bushveld, offering a final opportunity to spot iconic wildlife and soak in the magic of the reserve before you say farewell. Return to the lodge for breakfast before transferring to the airstrip for your flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. Arriving in the city by afternoon, enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure—relax at your hotel, explore nearby shops and restaurants, or simply unwind as you transition from the bush to the urban rhythm of Johannesburg.
Day 9: Johannesburg
Guided sightseeing includes a visit to Soweto (Southwestern Township) with a local community member. Along the way, see the neighborhood that was home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Visit Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived with his family from 1946 to around 1960, when he was forced underground to elude arrest. Also learn about the impact of his wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, known as the “Mother of the Nation” and a formidable anti-apartheid activists. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Constitution Hill, a museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy.
Day 10: Johannesburg - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly to Zimbabwe and transfer to your hotel. Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.
Day 11: Victoria Falls
Take a guided walk at Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), as the locals call it, due to the clouds of mist produced by the cascading cataracts. Learn about the history of the falls and fascinating facts about the local flora and fauna with plentiful photo opportunities. Free time late morning and early afternoon. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner on the banks of the Zambezi River, featuring a menu of African-fusion dishes using fresh local ingredients.
Day 12: Victoria Falls - Johannesburg
Fly to Johannesburg. Schedule departing flights after 7:30 pm.
