Highlights of Southern Africa Safari
Destination
South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana
Travel Period
January-December
Duration
14 days | 13 nights
Cape Town is a true fan favorite, with its exciting Mediterranean vibe, amazing culinary scene, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, thriving art community, and successful sports teams – all set to the backdrop of iconic Table Mountain and the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is no wonder it is called The Mother City. This vibrant, trendy city has broad appeal. Local attractions include Table Mountain, Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, boutique shops, numerous museums, wineries, and world famous restaurants. For those venturing beyond the city, the Cape Winelands and Cape Peninsula are a day trip away.
Cape Town’s rich cultural heritage dates back more than 300 years and its diversity is evident in the city’s architecture, art, and food. It is the second most populous city in South Africa and sits at the southwest tip of Africa.
At Cape Cadogan, you truly get the best of both worlds: a peaceful oasis amidst the vibrant energy of Cape Town’s Kloof Street Neighborhood.
This historic hotel has been thoughtfully revitalized in collaboration with local artisans, who infused its design with elegant accents of emerald green, timeless black and white, and a subtle touch of gold sparkle. Each of the 19 rooms effortlessly blends classic charm with modern luxury, offering an inviting and indulgent retreat.
Cape Cadogan embodies a holistic commitment to wellness. The spa offers soothing treatments, and the gym is equipped with essential facilities. Guests can relax in the sunroom, reminiscent of a charming Victorian home, or unwind by one of the two pools while enjoying refreshing beverages. The prized restaurant, Upper Union, is a renowned dining destination in Cape Town.
As the epitome of a stylish urban retreat, Cape Cadogan curates the finest experiences, ensuring every stay in Cape Town is truly memorable.
Superior Luxury Room
Experience unparalleled luxury, comfort, and privacy, in the spacious Superior Luxury Rooms. The six Superior Luxury Rooms cater to those looking for that special something extra. The rooms are spacious and besides a lavish en-suite bedroom with a bath and a shower, have a lounge and a private sun terrace. Expect air conditioning, satellite television, a safe, a mini-bar, a direct-dial telephone, a hairdryer, complimentary high-speed fiber access, and a range of deluxe TheraNaka organic amenities.
Location is everything, and the Kloof Street neighborhood offers an authentic glimpse into local life with its vibrant, village-like charm. Here, you can immerse yourself in the heartbeat of the city between your Cape adventures—discover hidden shopping gems, satisfy your foodie cravings, or catch a captivating show, all just steps away. Best of all, the hotel is just minutes by road from Cape Town’s most iconic attractions, putting the best of the city right at your doorstep.
Active Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula is a complete contrast to the more cosmopolitan city. With its wild national parks, artistic bohemian seaside villages and working fishing harbours this day will be about embracing the locals and spending as much time out of the vehicle as possible. Our first stop is for Cape Town’s coolest coffee spot at Muizenberg’s Surfers Corner the epicentre of South Africa’s surf culture. We head to Simon’s Town to find our own rogue penguins on a local beach. Snorkel and stand-up paddle in sheltered coves, getting a unique perspective of the penguins (weather permitting).
After visiting Cape Point, we’ll venture deeper into the Peninsula to explore secluded wild beaches, lesser-known coves, rock pools and shipwreck hiking trails away from the tourist crowds. This part of the Table Mountain National Park is home to ostrich, baboons, tortoises and mountain zebra. Our return journey along the Atlantic side is a story of amazing views, hidden local cafes and watering holes full of character. We stop en-route for a sundowner at a local hang-out, wrapping up our day out.
Please note: During your morning brief your guide may advise changing the route of your tour to allow for us to beat any pending crowds into certain areas during peak seasons, so that we can spend maximum time exploring outside the vehicle.
Quirky Cape Town
This is the grittier, real Cape Town. Edgy, artsy and bursting with culinary flavour and creativity. We don’t call Cape Town the ‘Mother City’ just because it is the highlight of SA. When you come into contact with some of our mesmerizing locals who take their skill set to outta-this-world levels of expertise and resourcefulness, you may well come to believe that “mother city” is code for “mother ship”. Our first point is the top of the mountain, the cable car spreading the city out before our eyes as we rise above the rest of the world.
Cape Town’s inner-city streets are a treasure trove of fashion and jewellery boutiques, studios, quirky home décor, atmospheric pubs, craft beers and concept stores. We’ll touch on some of the city’s lesser known historical facts, shipwreck stories and possibly meet a few of the captivating characters behind the roasteries, distilleries and workshops.
Craft beer and gin tasting at a local distillery or brewery, caps a well-rounded day!
Explore The Winelands
Set out on a full-day journey through the heart of the Cape Winelands, where dramatic mountain backdrops, rolling vineyards, and historic towns create one of South Africa’s most captivating landscapes. This immersive experience blends curated wine tastings with time to explore charming villages, offering a balanced and deeply personal introduction to the region.
Begin in Stellenbosch, where oak-lined streets lead to a collection of boutiques, galleries, and cafés. Take time to wander at leisure before your first tasting at a renowned wine estate, where thoughtfully paired wines are enjoyed against a backdrop of lush gardens and sweeping vineyard views. Along the way, discover contemporary art, unique terroirs, and elevated viewpoints that showcase the beauty of this historic region.
A leisurely fine dining lunch is included, offering a seasonal, locally inspired menu that reflects the flavours of the Winelands.
Continue your journey with a visit to smaller, boutique wine farms tucked away off the beaten track. These intimate tastings offer a deeper connection to the craft, with each estate sharing its own story and character.
The day unfolds into Franschhoek, a picturesque village founded by French Huguenots in 1688. Here, old-world charm meets modern refinement, with inviting cafés, artisanal boutiques, and acclaimed restaurants lining its streets.
About Our “Cape Town Enhanced” Tours
These tours are innovative and carefully researched and curated – and are designed to take guests off the beaten-track and away from the crowds. Natural hosts, extremely passionate, knowledgeable and professional; each guide imparts knowledge through storytelling, piquing interest until the very end. Viewed as the best in Africa in their fields, they have a wealth of experience and stories to share.
We offer complete flexibility – and our tours are adaptable on an hour-to-hour basis to suit your needs and changing weather conditions throughout the day. Where you go and what activities you do are up to you. So, whilst there is an itinerary in place, our guides will also discuss the day’s plan with you in the morning before setting off to tailor touring to your exact requirements.
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve, named for the Sabie and Sand Rivers which flow through it, is renowned for its wildlife density and predator interactions; seldom will a visitor not see the Big Five. Although it shares a fenceless boundary with Kruger National Park, much of the wildlife in the Sabi Sand stays more or less in the reserve. Over the years, the animals have become used to the presence of safari vehicles, resulting in close encounters, particularly with the elusive leopards.
Roaming packs of African wild dogs, territorial lions, and large herds of elephants are also signature sightings. As well as having a consistently high density of wildlife, the reserve’s conservation ethos keeps vehicle numbers to a minimum at wildlife sightings. This offers a more exclusive safari experience while ensuring the welfare of the habituated animals. Being in the private reserve generally affords more flexibility with opportunities to off-road, enjoy night drives and bush walks, all of which make visiting this area a truly unique experience.
As one of the original game lodges in South Africa, Notten’s Bush Camp offers a truly authentic African safari experience. It is a destination that captures the true meaning of being in the bush. With limited electrical lighting, a magical atmosphere is created. Surrounded by candlelight and lanterns at night capturing a warm and enchanting spirit of what the bush is meant to be. Splendid panoramic views, Notten’s is the perfect place for peace and relaxation while watching wildlife meander past.
Excursions to explore the reserve can be followed by lazy hours spent in the pool or having a massage at the Nature Spa. Under the cloak of nightfall one can enjoy the sounds of the African night, while dining in the candlelit boma beneath a canopy of stars.
The Rooms
The rooms consist of beautifully appointed suites with open plan bedroom and en-suite bathroom. All suites have both indoor and outdoor shower facilities. All windows and sliding doors are fitted with screens and insect coils are provided. Each suite at Notten’s Bush Camp leads onto a private wooden deck with a beautiful view of the bush. Paraffin lamps and candles replace electric lighting for ambience and all the rooms are cooled with air-conditioning. There are charging points for mobile phones, cameras and electronic equipment. A main line telephone facility is also available.
Safaris are led by experienced and professional rangers in open-top Landcruisers, offering an adventurous discovery of the region’s prolific wildlife, including Big 5 game viewing. Unique walking safaris are offered daily giving guests the opportunity of discovering the hidden treasures of the region.
Notten’s also plays a large role in conservation of the area and providing employment which adds to the development of the local community.
The town of Victoria Falls lies on the southern banks of the Zambezi River at the western edge of the falls that it is named after. After David Livingstone set his eyes on the “smoke that thunders” in 1855, the settlement was later developed in 1901 when the possibility of using the waterfall for hydro-electric power was explored, and expanded when the railway from Bulawayo reached the town shortly before the Victoria Falls Bridge was opened in April 1905, connecting Southern Rhodesia (later Rhodesia; now Zimbabwe) to Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia).
Vic Falls, as it is affectionately abbreviated to, is known as the adventure capital of Africa, with any number of outdoor and adventure activities to choose from. As well as world-class white water rafting, there is one of the world’s highest bungee jumps, skydiving, swing slides, helicopter rides and more.
Although the town is small, it has a vibrant feel to it with lots of craft shops, pop up craft breweries and cafes, and relies heavily on tourism.
Victoria Falls National Park
Victoria Falls National Park is a tiny piece of protected land surrounding Victoria Falls, one of the world’s three great waterfalls. Situated in western Zimbabwe in the town of Victoria Falls, the views are incredible and you can follow a path right along the edge of the gorge. The mighty Zambezi creates a roar and a huge spray of mist that can be seen from many miles away. The falls are also known as Mosi-oa- Tunya, an incredibly descriptive name that captures the essence of this very special place so well – translating to the “Smoke that Thunders.”
As a result of the spray from the falls, a mini rainforest exists in the surrounding area, creating a wildlife hotspot. Species such as lion and leopard occasionally come through while sightings of elephants are more common. Above the falls, hippo and crocodiles abound, amongst a large array of wildlife – an added bonus to a visit to this World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The Palm River Hotel is a unique hotel offering unparalleled luxury accommodation without compromising a sense of home comfort. The hotel is situated along the banks of the iconic Zambezi River, surrounded by towering indigenous trees. It is only 4 kilometres from Victoria Falls. It’s so close, in fact, that on a clear, quiet day you can hear the thunder and see the spray of the mighty waterfall from your room. The hotel’s restaurant offers an à la carte menu serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cuisine reflects the natural setting, using fresh, local ingredients. At the Palm River Hotel, shelter and privacy meet vast, unimpeded views. The convenience of a central location is preserved within a tranquil bubble of peace and quiet.
Deluxe Suite
Perfect for families who want to enjoy a shared private space to relax together in their room, the Deluxe Suite is comprised of two Deluxe Rooms, both of which interconnect into a shared lounge area and private veranda. The spacious bedrooms come complete with a writing desk, fixed luggage storage, right and left bedside tables, bedside reading lights, and a fully equipped tea and coffee station. The bathrooms are more like a suite bathroom, with beautiful big bathtubs as well as open showers and a double vanity.
Take a leisurely self-guided tour or opt for a two-hour guided tour to learn about the history of Victoria Falls from an experienced local guide. Meander through the lush rainforest and visit the 15 spectacular viewing points to take in the breathtaking view of the falls from the Zimbabwean side. Victoria Falls offers everything from helicopter flights above the falls, highwire activities over the gorges, or white-water rafting the rapids beyond the waterfall. Adventure also awaits within the five national parks within 100 kilometers of Victoria Falls, offering unmatched game viewing in untouched wilderness areas. A luxury river cruise on the hotel’s historic and intimate boats offers breakfast, birdwatching, lunch, and sunset cruises on the Zambezi River. The calming and relaxing cruises launch from the jetty site located in front of the hotel.
Ra-Ikane Sunset Cruise
There simply is not a better way to enjoy the dazzling African sunset than from the comfort of a Ra-Ikane boat on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Our ever-popular sunset cruise offers a unique way to explore the channels of the river and to get an up-close view of the pristine wilderness and African game along its banks. Enjoy an array of canapés, a full bar and a charming crew who can impart a bit of interesting Victoria Falls history with you on board the Ra-Ikane.
About the Boats
The Ra-Ikane I, II and III, offer a variety of cruises as well as private charters. Fashioned after David Livingstone’s exploration boat, the Ma-Robert, the Ra-Ikane boats are named after the instrumental guide, Lazarus Ra-Ikane, who accompanied and assisted Livingstone in his monumental discovery of the natural wonder, Victoria Falls. The monohull design of the Ra-Ikane boats enables them to navigate further up the Zambezi River and bring guests closer to the banks in the shallow water and, therefore, closer to all the action! With lots of space on the flat deck and a maximum of 16 passengers, there is plenty of room!
The well-appointed Ra-Ikane fleet was built to ensure that each guest is able to experience the wild beauty of the Zambezi River with ease and style. Our boats take a circular route around the islands to provide guests with a panoramic view of the upper and lower Zambezi River and the wildlife and birdlife it offers. Each Ra-Ikane boat has its own crew, made up of a friendly and knowledgeable captain, guide and waiter to ensure that you can sit back and enjoy the ride.
The Okavango Delta is the largest intact inland delta in the world, and is exceptionally rich in wildlife. Situated deep within the Kalahari Basin, the Delta is characterized by meandering deep water channels lined with papyrus reeds that open up into larger lagoons and islands; these in turn give way to seasonal floodplains and eventually large tracts of dry land where animals congregate. Fed by the Okavango River and rains from the highlands of Angola, the Delta can vary in size from 15,000 sq km (5,800 sq mi) during drier periods to a staggering 22,000 sq kms (8,500 sq mi) during wetter periods.
The game viewing depends on season, floodwaters and food availability but it is one of the most sought after wilderness destinations in the world. In addition to big game viewing, visitors come to experience the supreme tranquility and serenity of an untouched delta, and scenes of extraordinary natural beauty. It consistently produces very good predator action with considerable herds of ungulates and elephants, as well as a reintroduced (predominantly white) rhino population.
A hidden jewel on the Xudum River, Kanana is located in the southwest of the Okavango Delta. The area encompasses a necklace of islands dotted with palms, figs, ebony and knobthorn, and is home to a myriad of birds, plants and animals. The nature of the habitat means it is the perfect place to experience the diversity of species found within the Okavango Delta.
The annual floods transform parts of this concession into a true water paradise, offering guests the best of both worlds. Due to the camps location guests can experience magnificent game sightings during drives as well as the unique experience of exploring the delta’s beautiful waterways by boat or mokoro. You may actually enjoy the breath-taking spectacle of the water visibly rising around the camp’s raised teak decks. The Sleep Out Deck offers guests the opportunity to spend the night out under the magnificent African night sky.
Tent
Guests are accommodated in spacious, twin-bedded safari tents, each with en-suite bathrooms with shower, hot and cold running water and flush toilet. The tents are well spaced, affording privacy whilst remaining within comfortable distance from the main camp area. Double on request.
Situated in the Kanana Concession, the focus of activities at Kanana varies with the rising and falling levels of the Okavango Delta. Activities include morning and afternoon game drives in open safari vehicles, with afternoon game drives often continuing into the evening. When out on game drives the window seat guarantee ensures no more than four guests per vehicle and individual use of a camera mount. Alternatively, you may explore the crystal-clear waterways by Mokoro or motorboat, and enjoy the magnificent variety of birds, plant and reptile species found in the area.
Birding is spectacular with Kanana hosting a seasonal heronry that is one of the largest in Southern Africa, a highlight that converts all visitors to avid ‘twitchers’. Guided bush walks are highly recommended as is fishing for tilapia, African pike and sharptooth catfish.
Kanana’s private concession location allows guided walks, Mokoro excursions and night drives in addition to game drives and motor boating. Wildlife is in abundance with frequent predator sightings such as lion, leopard and wilddog all making Kanana their hunting grounds.
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