The Best of South Africa
12 Days / 11 Nights
What The Best of South Africa has to offer:
On this extraordinary adventure through southern Africa, journey from glittering Cape Town to the vast wilderness of Kruger National Park—home of the legendary "big five". Visit Soweto township, where Nelson Mandela once lived; enjoy a homemade dinner with a local family in a Zimbabwean village; and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tour Includes:
G for Good / Highlights
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Kirstenbosch Guided Walk, Cape Town
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Carnivore Conservation Experience, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
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Zimbabwean Family Dinner, Victoria Falls
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Boma Braai, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Included Activities
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Arrival transfer
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Orientation tour of Cape Town
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Excursion to Cape Point & penguins at Boulders Beach
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Soweto tour
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Panorama Route scenic drive with entrances
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Kruger National Park wildlife safari drive in open vehicle
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Private nature reserve wildlife safari drive in open safari vehicles
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Tour of Victoria Falls
Transportation
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Internal flights included
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All transport between destinations
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Transfers to and from all included activities
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Air-conditioned touring vehicle, open safari vehicle
Meals
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11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners
Group Leadership & Support
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National Geographic Expedition Leader and local guides/rangers
Accommodation
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Hotel – 5 nts, Lodge – 4 nts
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Comfortable tent or chalets – 2 nts
Group Size
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Max 16, Avg 12
Solo Travellers
Shared accommodation; no single supplement.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Transportation
Cape Town – Cape Town International Airport, 1h
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Activities
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting activity (1 hr)
Meet your Cape Town G Adventures representative at the hotel - please have a look at the information board in the hotel for the meeting time. Your rep will go through your tour details, help you with booking optional activities, and be your contact person for the next few days.
Accommodation:
The Portswood Hotel (or similar) – Hotel
Day 2 – Cape Town
Begin the day with an exploration of vibrant Cape Town, wandering through the multicultural Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Then enjoy an exclusive guided tour of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Later, stop by Boulders Beach to see the resident population of African penguins, and continue to the Cape Point lighthouse and the Cape of Good Hope.
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Meals Included
Breakfast
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Transportation
Private Vehicle
Included Activities
Kirstenbosch Guided Walk: Cape Town, 2h
Stop and smell the flowers on a tour specially designed for National Geographic travellers. Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, led by an expert who will talk about the history of the gardens.The garden is administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) who have received funding from National Geographic and the site has been named one of the Top 10 gardens in the world by National Geographic Traveler.
Guided Cape Town Orientation Tour and Excursion to Cape Point Cape Town, 7h
Enjoy a guided orientation tour of vibrant Cape Town. Continue on to Cape Point to enjoy a stunning vista and visit the penguins at Boulders Beach.
Accommodation
The Portswood Hotel (or similar) – Hotel
Day 3 – Cape Town
There is something for everyone in Cape Town. Visit Table Mountain, walk the V&A Waterfront or check the optional activities. Wander through the city center, or check out the museums and theatres.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Free time-Full Day
Accommodation
The Portswood Hotel (or similar) – Hotel
Optional Activities
Whale and Bird Watching at Dyer Island
Boat excursion to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock with a marine guide. See seals, African penguins, and possibly great white sharks and whales. Includes transfers, light lunch, and conservation fees.
Two Oceans Aquarium
Self-guided visit exploring marine life from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
Table Mountain Cable Car
Cable car ride to the summit (1,085m) for panoramic views over Cape Town and Table Mountain National Park. Weather dependent. Self-guided. (Closed for 2 weeks for maintenance Aug or July)
South African Wine Tour and Tasting
Guided day trip to Stellenbosch with visits to wine estates. Includes tastings, food pairings, and insight into local wine production.
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Day 4 – Cape Town/Johannesburg
Fly to Johannesburg, then take a guided tour of Soweto township. Soweto was an important center of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and home to its leader, Nelson Mandela. Visit the Mandela House Museum and learn about this painful chapter in the country’s history.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
Transportation
Plane from Cape Town – Johannesburg, 2h
Included Activities
Soweto Tour 1-2h
Take a guided tour of bustling Soweto and learn more about its important history. The residential area was created under apartheid and played a significant role in bringing the issues of segregation to the forefront. The anti-apartheid movement was launched here by its most famous resident, Nelson Mandela.
Accommodation
Southern Sun Rosebank (or similar) – Hotel
Day 5 – Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Area
Set out towards Kruger National Park via the magnificent Panorama Route. Make stops at the dramatic Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, and take in panoramic views of the forest-covered valley from the God's Window viewpoint. Continue to our lodge near Kruger National park, savour a delicious South African Dinner.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
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Transportation
Private Vehicle
Johannesburg – Nelspruit, 10h-10h30m
Today is a very long driving day; however, we will make many stops along the way at sites along the Panorama Route.
Included Activities
Panorama Route Scenic Drive
Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed Panorama Route. You’ll see magnificent mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, and waterfalls. There will also be stops at Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's Window.
Accommodation
Umbhaba Eco Lodge (or similar) – Lodge
Day 6 – Kruger National Park
At over 19,000 sq km (7,500 sq mi), South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the largest and most impressive animal reserves in the world. With 147 species, Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other park on the continent.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
Kruger National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive - Full day 6h-7h
Hop in a 4x4 safari vehicle and get yourself one step closer to the surrounding nature. Be ready to spot elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, and many other species in this impressive South African national park.
Accommodation
Umbhaba Eco Lodge (or similar) – Lodge
Day 7 – Greater Kruger Area/Karongwe Private Game Reserve
For the next two days, enjoy ranger-led morning and evening wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle in Karongwe Nature Reserve, searching for Africa's famed Big Five.
We use various accommodations within the reserve.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wildlife safari drives are conducted with qualified wildlife rangers and local expert trackers who will share their vast experience of the African bush.
On some occasions, if space is unavailable, we may need to change accommodations or even use a different private reserve.
Transportation - Private Vehicle
Nelspruit – Karongwe Private Game Reserve, 2h30m-3h
Included Activities - Carnivore Conservation Experience-Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Meet a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Range Expansion Project for a talk on cheetah conservation, research, and wildlife protection efforts. Then join a guided safari drive for closer insight into cheetahs and other carnivores.
Accommodation
Karongwe Portfolio - Chisomo Safari Camp (or similar) – Lodge
Day 8 - Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Wake up before sunrise (around 5am) and head out on a morning safari drive. Return to the lodge for brunch and leisure time, with opportunities to relax on the deck or explore the grounds. Enjoy high tea before a late afternoon safari drive, then return to camp to freshen up before a traditional braai dinner.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
Karongwe Private Reserve Wildlife Safari Drive (3h)
Jump into a safari 4x4 and keep your eyes open for fantastic wildlife encounters. Wildlife safari drives are conducted with qualified wildlife rangers and local expert trackers; both will share their vast experience of the African bush.
Free time -Afternoon
Relax and enjoy some down time between wildlife safari drives.
Boma Braai - Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Enjoy a traditional South African braai in an outdoor lantern-lit boma, featuring local dishes such as grilled meats, potjiekos, and malva pudding.
Accommodation
Karongwe Portfolio - Chisomo Safari Camp (or similar) – Lodge
Day 9 - Karongwe Private Game Reserve/Johannesburg
Embark on one last safari this morning, keeping a lookout for Karongwe’s iconic inhabitants. Then head back to the city, where you’ll enjoy dinner in our lodge.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
Wildlife Safari Drive - Karongwe Private Game Reserve, 3h
Jump into a safari 4x4 and keep your eyes open for fantastic wildlife encounters. Wildlife safari drives are conducted with qualified wildlife rangers and local expert trackers; both will share their vast experience of the African bush.
Transportation - Private Vehicle
Karongwe Private Game Reserve – Johannesburg, 7h
Accommodation
Southern Sun Rosebank (or similar) – Hotel
Day 10 - Johannesburg/Victoria Falls
The mist off Victoria Falls can rise to a height of more than 400m. Local tribes used to call the falls Mosi-o-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders.”
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Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
Transportation - Plane
Oliver Reginald Tambo International – Victoria Falls, 2h
Included Activities - Cultural Experience
Zimbabwean Family Dinner - Victoria Falls
Flatter Ncube is the head of her family which includes two sisters and numerous children. She lives in the village she was raised in near Victoria Falls. Flatter’s story highlights that life isn’t easy in Africa, but despite its challenges, there is much love and laughter and a strong sense of family here.
Visit Flatter’s homestead in her rural village; meet her and some of her family, and walk with some of them throughout the property, among the fruit and vegetable plants the family grows for consumption. Then help the family prepare a traditional Zimbabwean dinner, which we'll all eat together outside on the property. Ingredients for the meal will have been hand-selected earlier in the day, at the bustling and friendly local village market.
Accommodation
Explorers Village Lodge (or similar) – Lodge
Day 11 - Victoria Falls
Set out for a tour of magnificent Victoria Falls. Scottish explorer David Livingstone named them after Britain’s Queen Victoria.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Victoria Falls Guided Tour
Head out for an unforgettable experience at Victoria Falls. Explore the rainforest and learn about the geology, history, and local legends of this world wonder. After your immersion, get up close to the falls and discover the beauty of “the smoke that thunders.” Be sure to have your camera ready!
Optional Activities
Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park
Full-day guided trip to Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Includes a river cruise to view wildlife along the banks, lunch, and an afternoon 4x4 safari drive. Return to Victoria Falls in the evening. Includes two border crossings between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Note: A double-entry visa or Univisa is required when arriving in Zimbabwe to re-enter without additional fees.
AccommodationExplorers Village Lodge (or similar) – Lodge
Day 12 - Departure Day
Depart at any time.
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Meals Included
Breakfast
Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.
Optional Activities
Another Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park!
Full-day guided trip to Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Includes a river cruise to view wildlife along the banks, lunch, and an afternoon 4x4 safari drive. Return to Victoria Falls in the evening. Includes two border crossings between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Note: A double-entry visa or Univisa is required when arriving in Zimbabwe to re-enter without additional fees.
Day 11/ 12 Important Info
Please note that if you opt to go on the Chobe National Park Full Day Excursion then your visit to Victoria Falls will happen on the final morning of tour. Please book any onward travel no earlier than 11AM.