Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa

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SAMPLE ITINERARY 5

Wildlife, Wilderness, and Wonders of Southern Africa

Day 1

Arrive Cape Town International Airport under your own arrangements. You will be met by a representative of our local partners and transferred by private vehicle to the Victoria & Alfred Hotel.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Hotel is located in the historic 1904 North Quay warehouse, with wonderful views of Table Mountain, Table Bay and the working harbour. The hotel has 94 spacious, comfortably furnished, air-conditioned, en suite double bedrooms - each with a fully stocked bar-fridge, television, radio and hairdryer.

Alongside the Alfred Basin's working dock is the hotel's acclaimed restaurant and cocktail bar, Oyo. Meals can also be taken alfresco on the quayside terrace. The Waterfront offers many interesting shops and boutiques, a shopping mall with cinemas, a theatre, restaurants and cafés, bistros and bars, a local brewery, as well as historic buildings, and a maritime museum.

The city center is only minutes away and there is a regular shuttle bus service that transports guests from the front of the hotel to the heart of the city and to major beaches.

Days 1-4

Spend three nights at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in a Mountain Facing Room, with breakfast included.

Day 2

Today you will be collected from the Victoria & Alfred Hotel for a private half day tour of the City of Cape Town and Table Mountain, with entrance fees included.

You will be collected at your hotel and taken on a scenic drive to the lower cable station at Table Mountain. Here you will board the new Rotair cable car that takes under 5 minutes to reach the summit of the Mountain, 1036 meters above sea level. You will have an opportunity to walk around the top and experience the spectacular views of the city and surrounds. If weather prevents the cable car from operating, your guide will take drive you up Signal Hill, from where you will also enjoy breath-taking views.

The tour returns to Cape Town via the Bo-Kaap, the Cape Malay quarter. Here, guests disembark and walk through Government Avenue, where the original settlers planted their vegetable gardens. Today, the street is home to the South African Museum, Cultural History Museum, Houses of Parliament, National Gallery and St George's Cathedral. The walk continues through the city to the old Town Square that is bustling with market traders.

You will then be collected from the market and transported to the castle, the oldest building in South Africa, with its beautiful collection of old Cape paintings. It is home to the Western Cape Command and the tour highlights the Grand Parade where Nelson Mandela spoke to Capetonians after his release from prison in 1990.

Next, the tour visits the moving District Six Museum, which highlights the horror of the forced removal of citizens from their homes in that district during the 1960's. The museum contains a collection of memorabilia donated by former residents of the area and their descendants.

At the end of the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

This afternoon you will walk the short distance to the ferry departure point for Robben Island, from where you will enjoy a scheduled tour of Robben Island.

Make your way to the Robben Island ferry departure point at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The ferry takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the Island, located in Table Bay. This World Heritage site is one of the most symbolically significant landmarks in South Africa. On arrival, you will be met by a specialist Robben Island guide (some of whom are ex-political prisoners who know the penitentiary intimately).

The 3 ½ hour fully guided tour includes a visit to the prison block, the limestone quarry, where many of the prisoners worked for a number of years, and a drive around the island offering breathtaking views of the city across the bay. There is an African Penguin colony on the island as well as some antelope species. After the tour you will board the ferry back to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Day 3

Today you will be collected from the Victoria & Alfred Hotel for a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, with a baboon excursion, lunch and entrance fees included.

You will leave the city of Cape Town along the Southern Peninsula to meet a qualified baboon monitor, for a guided encounter with a troop of Chacma baboons in their natural mountain environment. You will discover their habits as they eat, play and socialize.

From here, you will visit the historic naval village of Simonstown, stopping at famous Boulders Beach for another "creature close-up" with a colony of African Penguins.

After lunch at one of False Bay's typical seafood restaurants, you will drive along the rocky coast into the Cape of Good Hope National Park to view its rich fauna & flora, with a chance to see species like Cape Mountain Zebra, Eland and Bontebok. Continue on to Cape Point, with a climb to its lighthouse to view Africa's rugged south westernmost tip, legendary among seafarers.

You will leave the reserve, passing the Cape's longest beach at Noordhoek and head over the dizzying heights of Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular coastal passes in the world.

Continue on to the fishing hamlet of Hout Bay and along the Atlantic Seaboard, passing through Camps Bay and Bantry Bay en route back to the city. From June to November, Southern Right Whales can often be seen just offshore from the road.

Day 4

Today you will be collected from the Victoria & Alfred Hotel and transferred by private vehicle to Cape Town International Airport. Check in for your flight to Johannesburg. Connect with your flight to Maun. You will be met and transferred by light charter aircraft to Tubu Tree Camp.

Days 4-7

Spend three nights at Tubu Tree Camp in a Tented Room, on a fully inclusive basis (including accommodation, all meals, high tea and hors d'oeuvres, all activities, refreshments while on activity, all non-premium brand beverages, laundry, and the services of a professional guide).

Day 7

Today you will be collected from Tubu Tree Camp and transferred by light charter aircraft to Kasane Airport. From Kasane you will be transferred by light charter aircraft to Livingstone Airport. You will be met and transferred by vehicle and boat to the River Club.

Days 7-9

Spend two nights at the River Club in a Chalet, on a fully inclusive basis (including accommodation, all meals, high tea, hors d'oeuvres, all non-premium brand drinks, laundry, services of a professional guide, and all lodge activities including: guided tour of the Falls on the Zambian side, fishing, sundowner boat trips, visits to historical Livingstone and Livingstone Museum, visits to Musi Oa Tunya National Park, visits to a local Lozi village).

Day 9

Today you will be collected from the River Club and transferred by vehicle to Livingstone Airport. You will be met and transferred by light charter aircraft to Busanga Airstrip. From Busanga you will be transferred by helicopter to Shumba Camp.

Days 9-12

Spend three nights at Shumba Camp in a Tented Room, on a fully inclusive basis (including accommodation, all meals, high tea and hors d'oeuvres, all activities, refreshments while on activity, all non-premium brand beverages, laundry, and the services of a professional guide).

Day 12

Today you will be collected from Shumba Bush Camp and transferred by helicopter to Busanga Airstrip. From Busanga you will be transferred by light charter aircraft to Livingstone Airport. Check in for your flight to Johannesburg. From this point you will depart under your own arrangements.

Rough Cost - 2009

From around $9,360 to around $10,960 per person sharing.

Rate Includes

Accommodation as specified, Meals as specified, Ground transportation and excursions as noted, Park and entrance fees for lodges/camps inside national parks, Intra-Africa flights as specified, All government and airline taxes.

Rate Excludes

International flights to and from southern Africa; Drinks (unless otherwise specified), Items of a personal nature, Gratuities, Laundry (unless otherwise specified), Meals other than specified, Excursions other than specified, Flights other than specified, Medical, cancellation and baggage insurance, Visa fees and departure taxes (where applicable).

** PLEASE NOTE: These rates are given as guidelines, and will differ depending on factors such as the time of the year that guests travel, the number of guests travelling, and the class of airline seats available. All rates are subject to change at the discretion of the properties/operators, and due to currency fluctuations, unforeseen increases in fuel prices, increased airline prices, or any future government imposed taxes.

To find out more about this sample itinerary, or to start creating your own itinerary, call toll-free on 1-888-227-8311 or email us at info@classicafrica.com