South Africa Ultimate Adventure & Safari

South Africa Ultimate Adventure & Safari Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Arrive in Cape Town and meet your guide and travel companions at our centrally-located hotel this afternoon.

  Your trip begins today in Cape Town, South Africa. Affectionately known as "The Mother City", Cape Town's natural beauty, cosmopolitan atmosphere, outdoor accessibility and rich cultural diversity all combine to make South Africa's oldest city (founded in 1652) a fantastic starting point for our adventure. We'll be met at the Cape Town airport upon arrival and transferred to our centrally-located boutique hotel in the leafy Gardens neighborhood. A welcome gathering will be held in late afternoon, followed by a short orientation briefing conducted by our guide. We have the remainder of the evening at leisure to sample one of the great restaurants on nearby Kloof Street or just relax in the comfort of our hotel. Overnight in Cape Town for the next three nights.

• Day 2 Set out to explore the rugged Cape Peninsula. Sea kayak to an African Penguin colony and hike at the Cape of Good Hope.

  After breakfast this morning, we head out for a full-day exploration of the wild Cape Peninsula. Our first stop will be Simonstown (approx. 45-minute transfer from our hotel) where we'll jump into our double kayaks for two hours of relaxed paddling in the fresh sea air of False Bay to Boulders Beach and the nearby African Penguin colony. After enjoying the antics of these little birds, we'll stop for lunch in a local seafood restaurant before continuing our drive down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope in Table Mountain National Park. Near the convergence point of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents, the Cape was first reached by European explorers in the late 15th century and later became an important stop along the spice trade route between Europe and the East Indies. Our own stop will include an hour-long uphill hike from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Point, a rocky promontory offering awe-inspiring views of the rugged coastline and shimmering waters of False Bay. En route back to Cape Town, we'll navigate the 114 curves along Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the world's most spectacularly scenic coastal roads, before returning to our hotel in late afternoon. Dinner tonight will be at the lively Cape Town Waterfront where we'll enjoy the festive atmosphere of our surroundings. All meals included.

  Sea kayaking: Approx. two hours (suitable for novices). Hiking: 2 miles on a well-marked path with 850' elevation gain.

• Day 3 Hike to the top of Table Mountain for fantastic panoramic views of Cape Town and environs. Visit a local township this afternoon.

  We get an early start today as our sights are set on conquering the 3,000-foot summit of Table Mountain! Beginning at the lower cable car station and accompanied by an experienced guide, we hike up the front face of the mountain along the Platteklip Gorge route. This trail offers magnificent vistas from bottom to top as well as an introduction to the indigenous "fynbos" flora of the Cape region, the smallest but richest of the world's six plant kingdoms with some 8,600 flowering species. Upon reaching the top of the gorge, we're greeted with panoramic views of Table Bay, Robben Island, the nearby peaks of Lion's Head and Signal Hill, the Twelve Apostles and distant Cape Point. We spend some time on our high perch with Cape Town stretching out below our feet before boarding the cable car for a breathtaking descent back to the base of the mountain.

  After rendezvousing with our waiting vehicle at the cable car terminus, we'll take a short drive to the township of Langa. Like many other townships, Langa was created during the apartheid era as a dormitory area for the non-white working class. In addition to a stop for lunch, we'll enjoy a walking tour of the township and gain a better understanding of the efforts being made to face the challenges of post-apartheid South Africa. We return to our hotel in late afternoon to refresh before dinner and enjoy our evening meal in one of Cape Town's great local restaurants. All meals included.

  Hiking: 3-4 hours on trail with 2,500' elevation gain. This is a strenuous, weather-dependent hike. Those wishing to skip the hike will have the morning at leisure and will be transferred to the Table Mountain cable car station at midday to rendezvous with the group hikers at the top of the mountain.

• Day 4 Cycle through the quaint towns and picturesque vineyards of the Cape Winelands, stopping to taste some delicious wines along the way.

  Located approximately one hour's drive from Cape Town, the majestic mountain scenery, picturesque vineyards and historic estate architecture of the Cape Winelands combine to make this famous region one of the most beautiful wine-growing regions in the world. We set out to explore the Winelands by bike today, cycling the quiet back roads and stopping at some of the estates to taste the celebrated vintages produced here. Our loop ride begins this morning in just outside the lovely village of Franschhoek, founded by the French Huguenots in 1688 and nestled in a valley between towering mountains in the heart of the Winelands region. Our route leads us through the peaceful countryside to a number of charming wine farms including Solms Delta, Morrison Winery, Grande Provence and Rickety Bridge and La Motte before meandering back to Franschhoek where we spend the night. Dinner is on our own tonight allowing us to choose from the many excellent eateries located within walking distance of our small guesthouse. Breakfast and lunch included.

  Cycling: 18 miles over gently rolling terrain on a combination of paved and dirt roads. Options for longer rides available.

• Day 5 Fly to Durban and drive to the spectacular Drakensburg Mountains, a jagged range containing some of Southern Africa's highest peaks.

  We transfer to the Cape Town airport this morning for the two-hour flight northeast to Durban where we'll board our private vehicle for the drive to uKhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park (uKhahlamba translates as "Barrier of Spears" in Zulu and Drakensberg as "Dragon Mountains" in Afrikaans). The jagged mountain range that lies within the park forms a 120-mile-long barrier between South Africa and the independent Kingdom of Lesotho to the west and, rising to over 11,000', includes Africa's highest peak south of Kilimanjaro. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the park contains a variety of habitats that play host to almost 300 bird species and 48 species of mammals including reedbuck, duiker, eland, caracal, jackal, mongoose, baboon and porcupine. The region also contains the highest concentration of rock art south of the Sahara with over 20,000 individual Bushmen (or San people) paintings having been recorded. We arrive at our hotel in late afternoon, in time to appreciate our first views of the park's lofty peaks before sitting down to a hearty dinner. Overnight at the Cathedral Peak Hotel for the next three nights. Breakfast and dinner included.

  Driving time: 3 hours from Durban to the Cathedral Peak Hotel.

• Days 6-7 Spend two full days hiking and exploring the wild backcountry of the beautiful Drakensberg, a UNESCO World Heritage park.

  We spend the next two full days in this hiker's paradise, discovering the trails and dramatic natural beauty of the park's Cathedral Peak region. The location of our hotel allows us to begin our hikes directly from our doorstep and local guides intimately familiar with the Cathedral Peak trail network join us on our explorations. Many of the walks in this area treat us to marvelous views of cascading waterfalls, lush yellowwood forests, massive rock buttresses and the soaring 3,000-meter summits of the Cathedral Peak range. Our guides will assist us each day in selecting memorable hikes based on current conditions that showcase the variety of scenery and terrain this fantastic area has to offer. All meals included.

  Hiking: 6-10 miles (4-6 hours) each day, with 1,200-2,500' elevation gain.

• Days 8-10 Enjoy a three-day safari in Sabi Sands Reserve, one of Africa's premier game viewing destinatations and home to the "Big Five".

  The final leg of our odyssey has us packing our hiking boots away and pulling out our safari shirts as we bid farewell to the Drakensberg and head north towards the wonders of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Sharing a 31-mile unfenced border with the immense and wildlife-rich Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Reserve offers some of the best opportunities in Southern Africa to observe many of the continent's large predator and prey species, as well as a large variety of smaller mammals and birds, in their natural environment.

  On the morning of Day 8, we return to Durban for our short flight to Nelspruit, followed by a 90-minute transfer to the deluxe Savannah Lodge located within the Sabi Sand Reserve. The lodge itself consists of seven large individual suite units, each with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. The central facilities include a lounge and open-air dining room built under thatch with views of a perennial waterhole. Our days at Savannah begin before dawn as we want to be out and about at first light when wildlife activity is at its most intense. Each morning, after a hot cup of coffee or tea, muffin or croissant, we'll climb aboard our vehicles and head into the reserve in search of the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo) as well as a host of additional species including hyena, zebra, warthog, hippo, giraffe and the critically endangered African wild dog. Birding is also outstanding here and may include sightings of the Lilac-breasted Roller, Red-backed Shrike, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Marabou Stork, Lappet-faced Vulture and raptors such as the Brown Snake Eagle and Martial Eagle, the largest eagle in Africa.

  After each morning exploration, we return to camp for brunch and have the middle of the day to ourselves to read, swim, watch for wildlife gathering at the camp's waterhole or even take a short bushwalk with one of the lodge guides. Each afternoon, we gather again for lunch at approximately 3 p.m. and begin our late-day game drive shortly thereafter. As our game drives all take place within the borders of a private reserve, our rangers have the liberty of driving off-road allowing us to get closer to the animals we find (always, of course, making sure to maintain enough distance to avoid interfering with the animal's natural movement and behavior). Our open Land Rovers offer unobstructed views of the animals and the landscape ensuring we don't miss any exciting moments and allowing group members interested in photography to capture the best images possible. With almost 25,000 acres of accessible wilderness in its backyard, game drives from the lodge are always varied and generally filled with close-up wildlife encounters from start to finish. We spend three nights at Savannah, celebrating each day's extraordinary sightings with our guide and traveling companions. All meals included.

• Day 11 Fly to Johannesburg and bid a fond farewell to new friends before departing for home.

  After a final early morning game drive, we enjoy lunch at camp before transferring back to the Nelspruit airport for our flight to Johannesburg. We arrive in Johannesburg by mid-afternoon, in time to catch evening connecting flights back to the U.S. this evening. Breakfast included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

All accomodations as specified on the itinerary; transfers as noted on itinerary including arrival transfer at Cape Town airport; all meals as noted on the itinerary; professional guide accompaniment throughout; all daily excursions/activities and associated gear as noted including sea kayaking in False Bay and Winelands cycling; wine tasting.

Round-trip international airfare to Cape Town/from Johannesburg; domestic airfare Cape Town-Durban, Durban-Nelspruit, Nelspruit-Johannesburg ($899 for these 3 flights); international entry/departure taxes; travel insurance; excess baggage charges; pre and post-trip tours; items of a personal nature; gratuities.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary.  If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available.  If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement.  Please be advised that there are a limited number of single accommodations available.

We've scheduled our departures to operate during South Africa's late spring and early fall months, both great times of year to visit the various destinations on our itinerary. In Cape Town, expect typically sunny days with daytime temperatures in the 70s, dropping into the 50s at night. As we move northeast to the Drakensberg Mountains, daytime temperatures can range from the mid-60s to low 80s with nighttime temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Spring and fall months in the Drakensberg are generally regarded as the most comfortable average between the heat of summer and cold of winter with spring offering the added bonus of wildflowers. Sabi Sands will be warmer with days in the low to mid 80s and nights in the 60s. Game viewing is exceptional in Sabi Sands year-round and our lodge rooms will be air-conditioned should air-conditioning be required. In general, participants must be prepared for weather conditions that can vary greatly, particularly in the mountainous Drakensberg where rain is always possible. Please plan to arrive equipped with appropriate gear and clothing based on the specific recommendations of the trip Gear List.

This safari trip is rated Moderate [3]. Our itinerary incorporates a variety of different activities including hiking, cycling and sea kayaking. Hikes range from 2-10 miles in length (1-6 hours) and include elevation gains of up to 2,500'. All hikes are on well-marked trails but some do include steep uphill sections. Our 20-mile cycling day is mostly on paved roads; options for longer rides will be available. We sea kayak for two hours on one day at a relaxed pace using sit-on-top kayaks. The kayaking is suitable for novices. The safari portion of the itinerary is not physically demanding but includes some vehicle travel over potentially rough terrain. All participants should arrive in good physical condition, prepared for an active 11 days of exploration. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen at least 3-4 months prior to departure. Recommended exercises include hiking/walking with some elevation gain and ideally some cycling if possible. The better shape you are in, the more fun you will have.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active adventure trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing (including hiking boots), and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Bring clothing that is light in weight and color, which ventilates and protects you from the sun. Neutral, light-colored clothing is best for the safari, to blend into the landscape and not stand out to wildlife. Camouflage and bright colors are not recommended. It is always good to have a lightweight, long-sleeve fleece or synthetic top, especially for early morning and late afternoon game drives.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip. Bring your favorite blister-prevention remedy such as Moleskin or Blister Block.
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens users should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
• We recommend that you carry a photocopy of your passport (the personal id information page) with you and keep it separate from your passport.