9 Days
Starting From
$6,798
11 Days
Starting From
$7,898
per person, double occupancy
Want more from your experience?
Add an ExtensionIn South Africa, anything feels possible. Awaking in your luxury tent on the remote edge of Kruger National Park, you’ll feel a sense of awe at the variety of experiences you’ve already lived in a few short days of this hiking tour in South Africa—Cape Town, vineyard villages, the lush subtropical gardens of Kirstenbosch, and the Cape of Good Hope’s dramatic cliff-fringed coastlines. Today, hot coffee and rusks beckon from the kitchen. Dawn is breaking over the plains outside. And a world of African wildlife is waiting for you to meet up with your seasoned wilderness guides and start exploring. Rise, shine, stretch, and smile. Today’s thrilling walking safari into Kruger’s backcountry is just a prelude to four more days of spectacular, wild diversity.
Itinerary
Begin your adventure by departing from a convenient gateway city in the United States or Canada. Spend your first night aloft.
Day 2
Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a representative holding a Country Walkers sign meets you as you exit the baggage claim area. A complimentary small-group transfer will be provided to the Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, an approximately 30-minute shuttle. Please note that there may be an additional wait if there are other guests arriving within the same time frame.
If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.
Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m., in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.
Depending on the time of your arrival, venture into Cape Town for some exploration. More Quarters offers a complimentary shuttle that will bring you anywhere within five kilometers of the hotel. While walking during the day is generally considered safe in this area, we do recommend using the shuttle after dark or if venturing out alone. The remainder of the day is at leisure (no meals or activities included).
Country Walkers provides you with City Information including recommendations on what to see and do in Cape Town during your stay.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
Meet your guide(s) in the lobby at 9:00 a.m. Your guide(s) will be wearing a Country Walkers shirt. Please be dressed for walking.
After a welcome orientation and a discussion regarding the details of the day, your first stop is Table Mountain. Towering 3,300 feet above sea level, this icon is instantly recognizable. A cable car with a revolving floor, offering 360-degree views, whisks you to the top where you’ll take in fabulous vistas over Cape Town and the ocean beyond. Here, you may choose from several walking routes offering a bird’s-eye view of the city below. Afterward, enjoy lunch in the revamped Company Gardens Restaurant. This venture, part of a larger project aimed at revitalizing the CBD Greenway, serves as a magnet of sorts to draw people into the lush oasis that envelops it, encouraging visitors to engage with the peaceful environment.
This afternoon, explore the city on foot. Points of interest include a 17th-century water reservoir, the historic Grand Parade adjacent to the Castle, the old Drill Hall, City Hall, the flower market, and the impressive Standard Bank Building. Along your route, pause to learn about the Greenmarket Square, the Groote Kerk, and the original Slave Lodge. Walk through history when you pass the St. George Cathedral and enter the former Dutch East India Company Garden. The Garden, a green oasis in the middle of town, was founded in city’s early trading days. Leaving the city center behind, a drive through the Bo-Kaap area will introduce you to Cape Town’s historical Muslim section with its quaint, colorful houses.
Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant. only a short walk from the hotel. Menu choices include an amazing extravaganza of fresh fish and dishes with African, Dutch and East Asian influences. Here, sip your first of many fine South African wines.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
Today’s tour of the Cape Peninsula takes you along Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most dramatic coastal drives in the world. Heading down the west side of the peninsula, you follow the Atlantic seaboard via Sea Point to admire the magnificent beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay. Your road safari continues to Llandudno for spectacular views, then on to the quaint village and fishing harbor of Hout Bay before heading further down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to richly varied plant, bird, and animal life. Here, you walk to the towering headland of Cape Point and the old lighthouse, which was once commonly considered the continent’s southernmost point. On clear days, the entire peninsula stretches as far as you can see. While walking, the Cape’s lush flowers and foliage color your way, and perhaps you’ll spot a baboon family watching your passage.
After lunch, you stop to observe a large African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Time permitting, move further inland to visit the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The gardens, showcasing much of the Cape’s rich flora, is one of Cape Town’s special delights. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world’s six floral kingdoms, and the botanical richness of Kirstenbosch reflects this remarkable distinction. Covering an area of 1,300 acres, the gardens are a celebration of South African flora. Proteas and cycads, as well as rolling lawns, streams, and ponds, are yours to discover along pathways. Many varieties of birds inhabit the gardens, and the upper slopes offer spectacular, sweeping views.
This incredible day will end in celebration over another delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
South Africa has become a prominent wine region, and today you’ll discover why.
A 45-minute drive brings you to Stellenbosch, a picturesque university town surrounded by mountains and vineyards. After a brief introduction, you are invited to explore its village streets dotted with quaint Cape Dutch-style architecture, small shops, and teahouses. Contrary to popular belief, the Winelands are no longer just about award-winning wine. In fact, Stellenbosch boasts some of the finest artisanal beer brewed in South Africa, together with an engaging blend of historical architecture, epicurean delights, and oak-lined avenues. Afterward, spend a few minutes walking through Franschhoek, another wine town slightly smaller and quieter than Stellenbosch.
Next you continue your travels to Bochard Finchlayson in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the wine region just before Hermanus. Lunch will be served upon your arrival at the estate, and afterward, you are joined by resident conservationist and botanist, Frank Woodvine. An honorary member of Fernkloof Nature Reserve – with nearly 60 years experience and accumulated knowledge of the Cape Floral Kingdom – he will accompany you on your next walk.
The 2-1/2 hour route (maximum 150 feet of elevation gain/loss) takes you through the Forest Loop in the Galpin Kloof. This afromontane forest is one of the few surviving on the northern slopes of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It is the only section of land on the estate sheltered from the strong winds and veld fires, allowing fine specimens of Rooiels, Boekenhout, and Cape Holly, among others, to flourish. The Forest Loop trail reaches a small, grassy sward at the foot of a waterfall, ideal for taking a relaxing rest.
Your walk may also include sightings of plants such as Witsenia maura (commonly known as the “Bokmakierieriet”), which was thought to be locally extinct in the greater Hermanus region. You might also see the first bloom of the Caledon Bluebell and many different species of Erica and Protea. During the hike, you may spot South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, as well as grysbok antelope and mongoose. Occasionally, walkers even come across footprints of the elusive Cape mountain leopard.
Back at the cellar, your tasting includes a choice of nine wines. Afterward, a short transfer takes you to your hotel in the seaside hamlet of Hermanus, renowned for the whale migration off its shores. This evening you are on your own to venture into town. Choose from an informal dinner at a pub, or ask your guide to assist with more formal dinner reservations.
Accommodation: Ocean Eleven Guesthouse, Hermanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate. Optional free time or cliff walk; 1 hour, easy
After a relaxing breakfast in the sunroom, drive the short distance to Fernkloof Nature Reserve. A variety of loop trails bring you through diverse flora—the reserve’s hills are carpeted in wildflowers and native fynbos in spring, and wind-clipped heather in summer. A 30- 45-minute ascent brings you to the top of a small mountain with sweeping views of Walker Bay and its expansive town below. Along the way, you may spot dassies (rodent-like mammals also referred to as “rock rats” but actually related to the elephant), klipspringers (a type of antelope), and a variety of colorful birds.
Then, head to the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (meaning ‘Heaven and Earth’ in Afrikaans) for an elegant lunch at a local winery.
This afternoon chose between free time to relax at your ocean-side hotel or join your guide on an easy walk along the Cliff Top trail. This trail runs all the way from New Harbour to the Blue Flagged “Grotto Beach,” a wide, golden beach popular with surfers. The trail passes the town of Hermanus, where you can also stop to browse the galleries or perhaps enjoy a microbrew in one of its many seaside pubs. If you are joining a tour in the spring (September and October), you may even spot a southern right whale swimming in the bay. Other marine life in the waters along this shore includes seals, dolphins, marine birds, and at certain times of the year, humpback whales.
Dinner tonight is at a lively restaurant on the harbor, favored by locals for its fresh seafood. Sample the catch of the day, either simply grilled or cooked Cape Malay-style. Non-seafood options may include local braised beef or free-range roasted chicken.
Accommodation: Ocean Eleven Guesthouse, Hermanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1 hour, easy to moderate (time permitting). Evening game drive
After four days on the coast, today you transfer to a completely different world deep in the bush. Your day starts with a return to Cape Town to catch a flight to Kruger National Park (luggage limited to 44 pounds in a soft bag). Upon arrival you are met by your driver for your first game drive en route to your bush camp. You’ll arrive briefly at the Rhino Post Safari Lodge and then transfer to your accommodation, the more-remote Plains Camp, by safari vehicle.
Your camp is situated on a vast private concession in the Kruger National Park. Game moves freely through this area in the heart of the wilderness, overlooking the spectacular Timbitene Plain and waterhole. The concession is an environmentally sensitive area and previously unexplored. With its huge diversity of flora and fauna—including the renowned Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo)—it makes an ideal setting for walking safaris. After settling into your tent, join your campmates for a late lunch or high tea, followed by a brief orientation to the area. Then, depart for a short walk and game drive culminating with sundowners in the bush before returning to camp for a candlelit dinner in the main dining tent.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3-4 hours of bush walking, easy to moderate. Evening game drive
An early-morning wake-up brings you fresh coffee, tea, and traditional South African rusks before you set out with your guides on a walking tour of Kruger National Park. Because nothing is predictable in the bush, each day offers a new experience. As you walk, learn about the animals, trees, landscapes, insects, birds, and the medicinal uses of plants. Pick up some tracking tips from your expert guides and learn how to read the signs of animal movement and behavior.
Walking trails are best enjoyed early morning and late afternoon, avoiding the midday heat. This morning’s walk averages two to three hours. Walks are customized by your guides to accommodate the group’s fitness level and special interests, and the weather. A light snack is served on the trail, and a satisfying brunch awaits upon your return to camp.
During the midday heat, enjoy the camp’s small library of Africana or the plunge pool overlooking the plains, where buffalo, elephant, giraffe, lion, rhino, and zebra are sometimes sighted.
Late afternoon you join your guides for another bushwalk or an exciting game drive into the wildlands surrounding the camp, capped off by sundowners in the bush as you recount your day’s adventures. Back at camp, your exploits are rewarded by a sumptuous dinner, accompanied by the sounds of the African night.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
There’s time for one more walking tour of Kruger National Park deep in the bush before you decamp to Rhino Post Safari Lodge. After settling in at your new accommodation and perhaps taking a dip in the swimming pool, you’ll join your group in the lounge overlooking the bush to enjoy a delicious high tea before departing for your late afternoon game drive.
Guided game drives at Rhino Post Safari Lodge are conducted in customized, open four-by-four Land Cruisers. In addition to the lodge’s private wilderness concession, visitors have access to the Kruger public roads with exclusive use of some roads at night—well after gate closing times. This privilege affords exciting sightings of the park’s nocturnal animals.
At sunset, the game drive stops for sundowner cocktails beneath the colorful African skies before continuing into the early evening. Return to the lodge in time to freshen up and enjoy a drink before a sumptuous dinner on the lodge’s deck, serenaded by the sounds of night creatures.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you have the full day to embark on two additional game drives in Kruger National Park, one pre-breakfast and one late in the afternoon. When this region was first set aside as a protected reserve by President Paul Kruger in the late 1800s, the local game had been almost completely wiped out by hunters. Nowadays, Kruger boasts the African continent’s greatest concentration of species. The A-to-Z collection of wildlife to be seen here—from antelopes to zebras—is truly staggering. As you explore, your main focus may be on spotting Africa’s famous Big Five, but there are many other creatures to discover. Spread throughout Kruger’s 2 million hectares (4.8 million acres) are nearly 150 mammal species, including giraffe, hippopotamus, cheetah, baboon, and warthog, along with over 500 bird species.
In between today’s two game drives, you have plenty of downtime to enjoy the amenities of your lovely lodge. Relax on the open deck with a good book or a glass of South African wine, take a dip in the swimming pool, or perhaps enjoy a spa treatment in the privacy of your room (treatment cost not included in the tour price). Or, simply relax in your luxurious chalet complete with a private balcony and outdoor shower.
After your late afternoon game drive, toast your fellow travel companions farewell around the outdoor fire before a final dinner under the stars.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Make the most of this last precious day of your South Africa hiking tour with an early morning rising and light breakfast in the lounge, preparing you for one final morning game drive. Take midmorning refreshment in the bush as you track the abundant wildlife. Return to the lodge for a leisurely brunch with time to freshen up before you pack up and decamp. You bid your hosts a warm farewell before boarding your flight back to Johannesburg to connect with your included international flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
Meet your guide(s) in the lobby at 9:00 a.m. Your guide(s) will be wearing a Country Walkers shirt. Please be dressed for walking.
After a welcome orientation and a discussion regarding the details of the day, your first stop is Table Mountain. Towering 3,300 feet above sea level, this icon is instantly recognizable. A cable car with a revolving floor, offering 360-degree views, whisks you to the top where you’ll take in fabulous vistas over Cape Town and the ocean beyond. Here, you may choose from several walking routes offering a bird’s-eye view of the city below. Afterward, enjoy lunch in the revamped Company Gardens Restaurant. This venture, part of a larger project aimed at revitalizing the CBD Greenway, serves as a magnet of sorts to draw people into the lush oasis that envelops it, encouraging visitors to engage with the peaceful environment.
This afternoon, explore the city on foot. Points of interest include a 17th-century water reservoir, the historic Grand Parade adjacent to the Castle, the old Drill Hall, City Hall, the flower market, and the impressive Standard Bank Building. Along your route, pause to learn about the Greenmarket Square, the Groote Kerk, and the original Slave Lodge. Walk through history when you pass the St. George Cathedral and enter the former Dutch East India Company Garden. The Garden, a green oasis in the middle of town, was founded in city’s early trading days. Leaving the city center behind, a drive through the Bo-Kaap area will introduce you to Cape Town’s historical Muslim section with its quaint, colorful houses.
Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant. only a short walk from the hotel. Menu choices include an amazing extravaganza of fresh fish and dishes with African, Dutch and East Asian influences. Here, sip your first of many fine South African wines.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
Today’s tour of the Cape Peninsula takes you along Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most dramatic coastal drives in the world. Heading down the west side of the peninsula, you follow the Atlantic seaboard via Sea Point to admire the magnificent beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay. Your road safari continues to Llandudno for spectacular views, then on to the quaint village and fishing harbor of Hout Bay before heading further down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to richly varied plant, bird, and animal life. Here, you walk to the towering headland of Cape Point and the old lighthouse, which was once commonly considered the continent’s southernmost point. On clear days, the entire peninsula stretches as far as you can see. While walking, the Cape’s lush flowers and foliage color your way, and perhaps you’ll spot a baboon family watching your passage.
After lunch, you stop to observe a large African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Time permitting, move further inland to visit the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The gardens, showcasing much of the Cape’s rich flora, is one of Cape Town’s special delights. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world’s six floral kingdoms, and the botanical richness of Kirstenbosch reflects this remarkable distinction. Covering an area of 1,300 acres, the gardens are a celebration of South African flora. Proteas and cycads, as well as rolling lawns, streams, and ponds, are yours to discover along pathways. Many varieties of birds inhabit the gardens, and the upper slopes offer spectacular, sweeping views.
This incredible day will end in celebration over another delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
South Africa has become a prominent wine region, and today you’ll discover why.
A 45-minute drive brings you to Stellenbosch, a picturesque university town surrounded by mountains and vineyards. After a brief introduction, you are invited to explore its village streets dotted with quaint Cape Dutch-style architecture, small shops, and teahouses. Contrary to popular belief, the Winelands are no longer just about award-winning wine. In fact, Stellenbosch boasts some of the finest artisanal beer brewed in South Africa, together with an engaging blend of historical architecture, epicurean delights, and oak-lined avenues. Afterward, spend a few minutes walking through Franschhoek, another wine town slightly smaller and quieter than Stellenbosch.
Next you continue your travels to Bochard Finchlayson in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the wine region just before Hermanus. Lunch will be served upon your arrival at the estate, and afterward, you are joined by resident conservationist and botanist, Frank Woodvine. An honorary member of Fernkloof Nature Reserve – with nearly 60 years experience and accumulated knowledge of the Cape Floral Kingdom – he will accompany you on your next walk.
The 2-1/2 hour route (maximum 150 feet of elevation gain/loss) takes you through the Forest Loop in the Galpin Kloof. This afromontane forest is one of the few surviving on the northern slopes of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It is the only section of land on the estate sheltered from the strong winds and veld fires, allowing fine specimens of Rooiels, Boekenhout, and Cape Holly, among others, to flourish. The Forest Loop trail reaches a small, grassy sward at the foot of a waterfall, ideal for taking a relaxing rest.
Your walk may also include sightings of plants such as Witsenia maura (commonly known as the “Bokmakierieriet”), which was thought to be locally extinct in the greater Hermanus region. You might also see the first bloom of the Caledon Bluebell and many different species of Erica and Protea. During the hike, you may spot South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, as well as grysbok antelope and mongoose. Occasionally, walkers even come across footprints of the elusive Cape mountain leopard.
Back at the cellar, your tasting includes a choice of nine wines. Afterward, a short transfer takes you to your hotel in the seaside hamlet of Hermanus, renowned for the whale migration off its shores. This evening you are on your own to venture into town. Choose from an informal dinner at a pub, or ask your guide to assist with more formal dinner reservations.
Accommodation: Ocean Eleven Guesthouse, Hermanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate. Optional free time or cliff walk; 1 hour, easy
After a relaxing breakfast in the sunroom, drive the short distance to Fernkloof Nature Reserve. A variety of loop trails bring you through diverse flora—the reserve’s hills are carpeted in wildflowers and native fynbos in spring, and wind-clipped heather in summer. A 30- 45-minute ascent brings you to the top of a small mountain with sweeping views of Walker Bay and its expansive town below. Along the way, you may spot dassies (rodent-like mammals also referred to as “rock rats” but actually related to the elephant), klipspringers (a type of antelope), and a variety of colorful birds.
Then, head to the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (meaning ‘Heaven and Earth’ in Afrikaans) for an elegant lunch at a local winery.
This afternoon chose between free time to relax at your ocean-side hotel or join your guide on an easy walk along the Cliff Top trail. This trail runs all the way from New Harbour to the Blue Flagged “Grotto Beach,” a wide, golden beach popular with surfers. The trail passes the town of Hermanus, where you can also stop to browse the galleries or perhaps enjoy a microbrew in one of its many seaside pubs. If you are joining a tour in the spring (September and October), you may even spot a southern right whale swimming in the bay. Other marine life in the waters along this shore includes seals, dolphins, marine birds, and at certain times of the year, humpback whales.
Dinner tonight is at a lively restaurant on the harbor, favored by locals for its fresh seafood. Sample the catch of the day, either simply grilled or cooked Cape Malay-style. Non-seafood options may include local braised beef or free-range roasted chicken.
Accommodation: Ocean Eleven Guesthouse, Hermanus
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1 hour, easy to moderate (time permitting). Evening game drive
After four days on the coast, today you transfer to a completely different world deep in the bush. Your day starts with a return to Cape Town to catch a flight to Kruger National Park (luggage limited to 44 pounds in a soft bag). Upon arrival you are met by your driver for your first game drive en route to your bush camp. You’ll arrive briefly at the Rhino Post Safari Lodge and then transfer to your accommodation, the more-remote Plains Camp, by safari vehicle.
Your camp is situated on a vast private concession in the Kruger National Park. Game moves freely through this area in the heart of the wilderness, overlooking the spectacular Timbitene Plain and waterhole. The concession is an environmentally sensitive area and previously unexplored. With its huge diversity of flora and fauna—including the renowned Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo)—it makes an ideal setting for walking safaris. After settling into your tent, join your campmates for a late lunch or high tea, followed by a brief orientation to the area. Then, depart for a short walk and game drive culminating with sundowners in the bush before returning to camp for a candlelit dinner in the main dining tent.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3-4 hours of bush walking, easy to moderate. Evening game drive
An early-morning wake-up brings you fresh coffee, tea, and traditional South African rusks before you set out with your guides on a walking tour of Kruger National Park. Because nothing is predictable in the bush, each day offers a new experience. As you walk, learn about the animals, trees, landscapes, insects, birds, and the medicinal uses of plants. Pick up some tracking tips from your expert guides and learn how to read the signs of animal movement and behavior.
Walking trails are best enjoyed early morning and late afternoon, avoiding the midday heat. This morning’s walk averages two to three hours. Walks are customized by your guides to accommodate the group’s fitness level and special interests, and the weather. A light snack is served on the trail, and a satisfying brunch awaits upon your return to camp.
During the midday heat, enjoy the camp’s small library of Africana or the plunge pool overlooking the plains, where buffalo, elephant, giraffe, lion, rhino, and zebra are sometimes sighted.
Late afternoon you join your guides for another bushwalk or an exciting game drive into the wildlands surrounding the camp, capped off by sundowners in the bush as you recount your day’s adventures. Back at camp, your exploits are rewarded by a sumptuous dinner, accompanied by the sounds of the African night.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2-3 hours of walking, easy to moderate
There’s time for one more walking tour of Kruger National Park deep in the bush before you decamp to Rhino Post Safari Lodge. After settling in at your new accommodation and perhaps taking a dip in the swimming pool, you’ll join your group in the lounge overlooking the bush to enjoy a delicious high tea before departing for your late afternoon game drive.
Guided game drives at Rhino Post Safari Lodge are conducted in customized, open four-by-four Land Cruisers. In addition to the lodge’s private wilderness concession, visitors have access to the Kruger public roads with exclusive use of some roads at night—well after gate closing times. This privilege affords exciting sightings of the park’s nocturnal animals.
At sunset, the game drive stops for sundowner cocktails beneath the colorful African skies before continuing into the early evening. Return to the lodge in time to freshen up and enjoy a drink before a sumptuous dinner on the lodge’s deck, serenaded by the sounds of night creatures.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you have the full day to embark on two additional game drives in Kruger National Park, one pre-breakfast and one late in the afternoon. When this region was first set aside as a protected reserve by President Paul Kruger in the late 1800s, the local game had been almost completely wiped out by hunters. Nowadays, Kruger boasts the African continent’s greatest concentration of species. The A-to-Z collection of wildlife to be seen here—from antelopes to zebras—is truly staggering. As you explore, your main focus may be on spotting Africa’s famous Big Five, but there are many other creatures to discover. Spread throughout Kruger’s 2 million hectares (4.8 million acres) are nearly 150 mammal species, including giraffe, hippopotamus, cheetah, baboon, and warthog, along with over 500 bird species.
In between today’s two game drives, you have plenty of downtime to enjoy the amenities of your lovely lodge. Relax on the open deck with a good book or a glass of South African wine, take a dip in the swimming pool, or perhaps enjoy a spa treatment in the privacy of your room (treatment cost not included in the tour price). Or, simply relax in your luxurious chalet complete with a private balcony and outdoor shower.
After your late afternoon game drive, toast your fellow travel companions farewell around the outdoor fire before a final dinner under the stars.
Accommodation: Plains Camp, Kruger National Park
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Make the most of this last precious day of your South Africa hiking tour with an early morning rising and light breakfast in the lounge, preparing you for one final morning game drive. Take midmorning refreshment in the bush as you track the abundant wildlife. Return to the lodge for a leisurely brunch with time to freshen up before you pack up and decamp. You bid your hosts a warm farewell before boarding your included flight back to Johannesburg to connect with your international departure flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel
An integration of five heritage properties, Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel is modern, luxurious, and ideally located in the heart of Cape Town. Rooms include guest amenities such as a Nespresso coffee machine, Ultra HD TV, in-room WiFi, and air conditioning. The hotel features a spa, sauna, plunge pool, and fitness room as well as a gallery. A rooftop bar offers stunning views of the city and Table Mountain, while many nearby restaurants cater to any taste.
Ocean Eleven Guest House
Ocean Eleven is a Cape Cod, Colonial-style luxury guest house, situated on the famous cliffs of Hermanus. The main house—with its high ceilings, tall windows, and teak floors—retains the elegance, grace, and style of its original Colonial architecture. Each of the 10 beautifully appointed guest rooms enjoy modern amenities including in-room WiFi and air conditioning. All-encompassing vistas over Walker Bay are framed by the gentle embrace of picturesque mountains.
Plains Camp
Built in authentic pioneer tradition, Plains Camp has the serenity of a 19th-century naturalist’s rest, nestled in an acacia knob thorn thicket. Designed for splendid isolation, it offers just four tents, comfortably furnished in traditional African explorer style. En suite facilities with ceiling fans (no air conditioning) and hot running water add to the ambiance, as does the African wilderness sitting at your threshold.
Rhino Post Safari Lodge
The luxurious Rhino Post Safari Lodge is built on the banks of the dry Mutlumuvi riverbed. Constructed of natural materials such as stone, wood, thatch, and canvas, it uses ceiling fans rather than air conditioning to blend elegantly into the environment. Stilts raise the eight spaciously appointed suites along the riverbank for wonderful views from the bedroom, bathroom, and private deck.
2020 Pre-Tour Extension - Cape Town
1 Night From $198
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $98
Please refer to your air itinerary for your specific flight details.
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a representative holding a Country Walkers sign meets you as you exit the baggage-claim area. A complimentary small-group transfer will be provided to the Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, an approximately 30-minute shuttle. Please note that there may be an additional wait if there are other guests arriving within the same time frame.
If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please contact One Call travel assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.
Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m., in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.
After settling into your luxury hotel and refreshing from the long flight, you may be up for a short, but invigorating hike up Lion’s Head for stunning views of Table Mountain and the city below. Or, head to the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront, South Africa’s oldest working harbor and now a lively promenade with an array of shops and restaurants. From here you may choose to take a ferry ride to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years (advance reservations required). Tours are led by former prisoners who detail the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights leader and past South African President. Other suggested sites include the newly opened Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa or visiting the iconic Planet Bar at Mount Nelson Hotel to enjoy an evening sundowner with a view. Your hotel’s front desk can help arrange these or other activities and excursions. Dinner options abound and many favorite restaurants are just minutes away on Kloof Street including the Kloof Street House, Café Paradiso, The Black Sheep Restaurant, and Mana Epicure (reservations recommended).
Continue your explorations of the city that was once commonly referred to as “the Tavern of the Seas” during Cape Town’s early days as a stop-over during the spice trade. On Saturdays, the Old Biscuit Mill (which itself holds some of the city’s best restaurants and shops), plays host to the Neighbourgoods Market, where local farmers, bakers, artisans, and other vendors come together to showcase their goods. Spend your evening dining in one of Cape Town’s many world-class restaurants, as you toast to the adventure that awaits.
2021 Pre-Tour Extension - Cape Town
1 Night From $198
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $98
Begin your adventure by departing from a convenient gateway city in the United States or Canada. Spend your first night aloft.
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a representative holding a Country Walkers sign meets you as you exit the baggage claim area. A complimentary small-group transfer will be provided to the Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, an approximately 30-minute shuttle. Please note that there may be an additional wait if there are other guests arriving within the same time frame.
If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.
Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m., in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.
After settling into your luxury hotel and refreshing from the long flight, you may be up for some exploring. Country Walkers provides you with City Information including recommendations on what to see and do in Cape Town during your stay.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Continue your explorations of Cape Town, once commonly referred to as “the Tavern of the Seas” during its early days as a stop-over for the spice trade. On Saturdays, the Old Biscuit Mill (which itself holds some of the city’s best restaurants and shops), plays host to the Neighbourgoods Market, where local farmers, bakers, artisans, and other vendors come together to showcase their goods. Spend your evening dining in one of Cape Town’s many world-class restaurants, as you toast to the adventure that awaits.
Accommodation: Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
Included Meals: Breakfast
2020 Post-Tour Extension - Victoria Falls
3 Nights From $2298
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $448
Upon your arrival into Johannesburg, a transfer will be provided to the lovely African Rocks Hotel for your overnight. A peaceful oasis just 15 minutes from the airport, this small, personal hotel invites relaxation. Depending on your time of arrival, relax in the poolside gardens or the hotel’s small library. (No other activities or meals included).
Accommodation: African Rock Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa
An early morning flight delivers you to the Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI), formerly Livingstone Airport, Zambia, where you are met by a representative from your hotel and transferred to your home for the next two nights, the lovely Islands of Siankaba Lodge on the Zambezi River (an approximate one-hour transfer).
Upon arrival, settle into your spacious tent overlooking the Zambezi River before enjoying lunch al fresco on the hotel’s riverside patio. Afterwards, relax by the swimming pool, or on your private deck, take a short nature walk around the island, or perhaps indulge in a spa treatment (additional cost).
This evening embark on a sundowner cruise aboard a small platoon boat. Skirting the shores, you are likely to spot hippos wallowing in the shallow waters. Crossing the river towards Zimbabwe, you may also be entertained by baboons along the shore. Sip your choice of beverage as the sun slips below the horizon. (All meals, beverages, and optional lodge activities included.)
Accommodation: Islands of Siankaba Lodge, Zambezi River
Early risers may wish to join the guide on a short birding walk as the surrounding jungle comes alive or enjoy coffee on your deck. After breakfast, you transfer approximately one hour to the Victoria Falls National Park for a guided excursion.
No description, no matter how vivid, can prepare you for the reality of Victoria Falls. Natives call it “the smoke that thunders.” Geologists call it “the greatest-known curtain of falling water,” and “Seventh Wonder of the Natural World.” The majestic Zambezi River sends more than 500 million cubic meters of water per minute plummeting over the edge of this massive gorge, with a width of one-and-a-quarter miles and over 330 feet deep.
The falls transform the placid Zambezi River into a ferocious torrent exploding into clouds of spray seen from miles away. Follow a series of trails along the rim with various viewpoint and, if you don’t mind getting wet, cross the bridge to the rainforest point where you really experience the full power of the falls. A choice of visiting the falls on the Zambian or Zimbabwean side is included. During the dry season (August through November), you may wish to secure a KAWA Visa in order to visit the Zimbabwean side of the falls where water runs year-round.
Late afternoon, return to your lodge for relaxation and perhaps a short mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) ride around the island before joining your fellow companions around the fire pit for a sundowner under the stars.
Please Note: Should you wish to add on any optional Victorian Falls excursions such as the “Flight of the Angels” helicopter ride over the falls, these can be booked through your lodge. Due to the distance of the falls from the lodge, it is recommended that you book these for the same day you visit the falls (day three of your extension). (All meals, beverages, and optional lodge activities included.)
Depending on the time of your flight today, you may have time for a short nature walk or walk to the local village. Here, you are invited to visit the newly built pre-school and chat with the village headman. After breakfast, a transfer is provided to the Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI), formerly Livingstone Airport, Zambia, based on your departure arrangements.
2021 Post-Tour Extension - Victoria Falls
3 Nights From $1648
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $148
Upon your arrival into Johannesburg, a transfer will be provided to the lovely African Rocks Hotel for your overnight. A peaceful oasis just 15 minutes from the airport, this small, personal hotel invites relaxation. Depending on your time of arrival, unwind in the poolside gardens or the hotel’s small library. (No other activities or meals included.)
Accommodation: African Rock Hotel, Johannesburg
Included Meals: Breakfast
An early morning flight delivers you to the Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), Zimbabwe, where you are met by a representative from your hotel and transferred to your home for the next two nights, the charming Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel (an approximate 20-minute transfer).
Upon arrival, settle into your spacious suite overlooking the lodge’s private game reserve, spanning nearly 10,000 acres. Then enjoy lunch in the hotel’s 1871 Restaurant or alfresco by the swimming pool. Afterward, relax by the pool or on your private deck, take a short nature walk around the property, or perhaps indulge in a spa treatment (additional cost).
This evening you may decide to embark on an exclusive rhino safari. The Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve has been designated a rhino Intensive Protection Zone and is home to the elusive black rhino. After enjoying an afternoon tea at the hotel, you meet with an expert guide for an immersive talk about the conservation and management of this important species, followed by a game drive in search of the rhino. Afterward, return to the lodge for a scrumptious three-course dinner.
Please Note: All meals, beverages, and activities are not included in your tour price unless noted otherwise. Should you wish to add on any optional Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve activities or Victorian Falls excursions such as the “Flight of the Angels” helicopter ride over the falls, these can be booked through your lodge. To avoid disappointment, pre-booking is encouraged, but many activities can also be booked upon arrival.
Accommodation: Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel, Victoria Falls
Included Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you transfer approximately 15 minutes to the Victoria Falls National Park for an included guided excursion.
No description, no matter how vivid, can prepare you for the reality of Victoria Falls. Natives call it “the smoke that thunders.” Geologists call it “the greatest-known curtain of falling water,” and the “Seventh Wonder of the Natural World.” The majestic Zambezi River sends water plummeting over the edge of the falls’ massive gorge, with a width of one-and-a-quarter miles plunging over 330 feet deep.
The falls transform the placid Zambezi River into a ferocious torrent exploding into clouds of spray seen from miles away. Trace footpaths along the gorge-side cliff through the mopane woodland and rainforest. The vegetation you observe, including ebony, ivory and date palm, is rare for this region, nurtured by spray from the falls. Throughout your walk, pause at inspiring viewpoints and keep your eyes open for one of the 35 species of fish-eating raptors. Fish eagles, peregrine falcons, and others perch in riverside trees waiting to dive for their catch.
After your tour, you have the option to stay back in the town of Victoria Falls to enjoy lunch in one of its numerous restaurants or partake in one Zimbabwe’s famous thrill-seeking activities such as the “Flight of the Angels” helicopter ride, white water rafting on the Zambezi River, or a tour of the historic Victoria Falls bridge. The lodge provides complimentary scheduled transfers to and from Victoria Falls throughout the day. Or, you may wish to return directly to your lodge for relaxation and join one of the activities offered on the reserve.
Accommodation: Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel, Victoria Falls
Included Meals: Breakfast
Depending on the time of your flight today, you may have time for one last activity, perhaps a final game drive, horseback safari, or a guided tour to the local community of Woodlands and Masuwe Primary School. A transfer is provided to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), Zimbabwe, based on your departure arrangements.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's Included | Flight + Tour Combo | Tour Only |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional boutique accommodations |  |
|
| All on-tour meals except 1 dinner | |
|
| Local guides with you throughout tour | |
|
| Local wine and/or beer with dinner | |
|
| Entrance fees and special events as noted in the itinerary | |
|
| Travel assistance available 24/7 provided by Allianz | |
|
| Roundtrip airfare | |
|
| One extra night in Cape Town | |
|
| Airport car service for arrival & departure | |
|
| Pre- and post-tour breakfasts | |
|
| Business-class upgrades available | |
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Erica Klocke
Erica Klocke is a born and bred South African who has forever been passionate about her native country and its people. Starting over 20 years ago as a driver-guide, she worked her way up to the National Guide level and has also led several tours that have taken her across the border into Zimbabwe and Namibia. Erica speaks and guides in German, English, and Flemish and her interests include history, music, art, wine, food, and anything having to do with nature. Please note that Erica will only be accompanying you during the Cape area portion of the tour (days 1 through 4) and upon arrival to Kruger National Park, you will be in the expert care of the safari guides and staff at Plains Camp and Rhino Post Lodge. With small groups of six or fewer, game drives and walking safaris will likely be with non-CW guests.
Rod Prodgers
Rod Prodgers has always found himself fascinated and enchanted by South Africa’s rich history, the beauty of its natural areas, and the variety of cultures of its people. He considers it his mission to provide visitors from far and wide with a memorable experience when they visit his corner of the world and loves sharing information and insights about past and current affairs. When not guiding, Rod enjoys volunteering at the South African Jewish Museum in Cape Town, where he offers tours highlighting the city’s Jewish community and history. Please note that Rod will only be accompanying you during the Cape area portion of the tour (days 1 through 4) and upon arrival to Kruger National Park, you will be in the expert care of the safari guides and staff at Plains Camp and Rhino Post Lodge. With small groups of six or fewer, game drives and walking safaris will likely be with non-CW guests.
Alan Thomas
Alan Thomas is a Cape Town native and a runner and cyclist. In fact, he has cycled the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad to Kashgar as well as from Lhasa to Kathmandu via Everest Base Camp. Having travelled extensively in Europe, Asia, Southern Africa, and Australasia to rid himself of wanderlust, he eventually returned to his beloved Table Mountain and the Mother City. Guiding seemed a natural progression and for the last many years he has concentrated on taking guests around South Africa. When he is not guiding he enjoys spending time with his two daughters and hiking and cycling around the peninsula. Please note that Alan will only be accompanying you during the Cape area portion of the tour (days 1 through 4) and upon arrival to Kruger National Park, you will be in the expert care of the safari guides and staff at Plains Camp and Rhino Post Lodge. With small groups of six or fewer, game drives and walking safaris will likely be with non-CW guests.
Erica Vink
Born in the North Western Cape on a Karoo sheep farm, Erica Vink is an outgoing and energetic guide. She feels that it is a privilege to share the vibrancy and beauty of South Africa with guests and is both passionate and optimistic about the future of her country. Erica is fluent in English, Afrikaans, and German and received her education at the University of Stellenbosch. Her professional experience has ranged widely, from working in the vineyards in Stellenbosch to the medical industry, with many other roles in tourism in between. She is an active member of a local hiking club, a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism, and a volunteer mountain guide for Table Mountain National Park. When not guiding, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and two sons. Please note that Erica will only be accompanying you during the Cape area portion of the tour (days 1 through 4) and upon arrival to Kruger National Park, you will be in the expert care of the safari guides and staff at Plains Camp and Rhino Post Lodge. With small groups of six or fewer, game drives and walking safaris will likely be with non-CW guests.
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