South Africa

Self-drive / Family / Walking / Romance / General Tours / Specials
Camping Tours / Wildlife Training Courses / Victoria Falls

South Africa On Sale - Bakubung (9 Days)
(Jan 7 - May 14 & Aug - Oct, 2010)
From USD 2299* + $300 Fuel Surcharges + $140 TAXES

Day 1 - Depart from New York or Washington, DC for your flight to Cape Town, South Africa via Johannesburg on South African Airways.

Day 2 - On arrival at Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport, collect your luggage and then clear Customs & Immigration. You will be met and assisted to the Domestic Terminal for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in Cape Town you will be met by a representative who will assist and transfer you by coach to your hotel. Guide to assist with transfer and check-in at the hotel.

The Commodore Hotel is situated in the heart of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s center of activity, with a variety of stores, restaurants and bars. The hotel offers superb service and excellent cuisine in a secure, friendly environment and most rooms have wonderful views of Table Mountain, Table Bay, Signal Hill and Robben Island. The Clipper Restaurant offers superb dining in a tranquil setting, from a mouthwatering buffet breakfast to a diverse à la carte menu and exquisite desserts. Alternatively, relax to the nostalgic melodies played by the piano man over a light meal or high tea at The Admiralty Lounge. For comfort, convenience and 5-star luxury, there is no better base in this beautiful city. Accommodation: The Commodore Hotel

Day 3 - Today you will be taken on a full day (coach & guide) Cape Peninsula tour. After breakfast depart on your full day Cape Peninsula. See for yourself how this spectacular southern tip of Africa became known as the 'Fairest Cape'.

Drive past the pristine beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno - currently the hottest real estate in the world - to Hout Bay, a functioning harbor and heart of the local crayfish industry (optional Seal Island cruise, time permitting). From the harbor of Hout Bay the rocky coastline to Chapman's Peak have some magnificent views of the sandy bays below. The combination of steep, almost thrilling rocky inclines, shimmering blue waters and expansive skies simply take the breath away.

After a stop for lunch, it's on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where you are able to ride the Funicular to the scenic viewing point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The spectacular sea and mountain views are reason enough to make the 66km/41miles trip from Cape Town. Amid the rocky landscape - home to mountain zebra, eland and ostriches - blooms magnificent Cape flora. Continue along the coastline to the beautiful Boulders Beach where you can sit among a colony of penguins. Our last stop is the naval port of Simon's Town, the country's third oldest European settlement. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. This evening dinner is included at The Portswood Hotel's Quarterdeck Restaurant. Accommodation: The Commodore Hotel (B, D)

Day 4 - Today you will be taken on a scheduled half day Winelands tour. While South Africa's fertile valleys are world famous for their crisp white and classic French-style red wines, the Winelands area is also a treasury of rustic beauty and sprawling estates shaded by giant oak trees. The backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads and the oak-lined streets and lanes all blend in to give this place a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. See some of the wine estates that were developed by early settlers who produced the wines sought after by Napoleon, Bismarck and royalty such as Edward VII. Stop for a wine-tasting on an estate, where you will have the opportunity to purchase some of the wines. Accommodation: The Commodore Hotel (B)

Day 5 - Today you will be taken on a scheduled morning Table Mountain tour. Enjoy the ultimate 'Mother City' experience - designed to orientate you and give you an insight into the magic of Cape Town. Take a trip up Table Mountain (weather permitting) in a cable car (tickets provided). The new revolving cable cars give stunning views over the city. The summit of Cape Town's world-famous landmark is 1,086 meters above sea level and the mountain itself is a national monument, with spectacular views of the city and ocean. It is covered with a wide variety of wild flowers and is the natural home of the famous silver tree.

The rest of the day is at leisure in the fascinating city of Cape Town. Cape Town is a city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities to offer and it has something for everyone. From the landmark beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to the vibrant V&A Waterfront and Cape Town city center, the award-winning wine farms of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek - time spent in Cape Town will not be forgotten. It is a sophisticated city at the gateway to a majestic continent.

The Mother City is a place where old and new harmoniously converge - in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essence of its people. Warmed by the African sun, the city is dominated by a towering, table-shaped mountain, set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush valleys, where two oceans converge - Indian and Atlantic. Immense natural beauty and the fast pace and bright lights of a great urban center meld effortlessly here. Firmly positioned on the international map, Cape Town offers a myriad of things to do and places to see, whatever your tastes, inclinations or budget. Accommodation: The Commodore Hotel (B)

Day 6 -
Today you will be transferred from your hotel to Cape Town Airport for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at Johannesburg Airport you will be met and transferred by coach to Bakubung Bush Lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park which also borders on the entertainment complex of Sun City.

Tucked in the expanses of the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, Bakubung Bush Lodge offers the best of both worlds when combining the peaceful bush environment with luxury and comfort. The lodge offers plush rooms, each with air-conditioning, DStv, and en-suite bathrooms. The rooms are decorated to reflect the mood and ambience of the bush and are equipped with the necessary amenities to ensure supreme comfort. Enjoy a fine meal in the restaurant or relax over a light meal on the terrace overlooking the vastness of the game reserve. Accommodation: Bakubung Bush Lodge (B, D)

Day 7 - Enjoy an early morning open vehicle game drive. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax around the rock swimming pool or perhaps visit the nearby Sun City complex, a mere 10-minutes away by shuttle.

The Pilanesberg National Park is malaria-free and borders on the entertainment complex of Sun City. It is almost perfectly circular because it comprises the area of a 1200 million years old volcano crater with a small lake in the centre. The park exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as "Bushveld". Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone. Virtually all the animal species of southern Africa exist here, including healthy populations of Lion, black and white Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo and Leopard - Africa's "Big Five". Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. The park offers a number of wonderful picnic spots, numerous hides for game watching, huge walk-in aviaries, safe hiking trails, safari drives at night and flights over the park in a hot-air balloon.

Sun City is internationally renowned as South Africa's premier holiday resort offering a multitude of attractions and activities. With golf and gambling, and world class hotels, Sun City is the perfect choice for a holiday. The huge range of sporting and leisure facilities include floodlit tennis courts, horse riding, nature trails, and lawn bowls, as well as jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and sunset cruising at Waterworld. The Valley of the Waves offers surfing on two-meter high waves to the relaxing lazy river ride. Sun City has one of the largest casinos in the Southern Hemisphere, and also offers the thrill of glamorous dancers and exciting novelty acts. The many shops offer curios, clothing, jewelry and souvenirs. The two 18-hole championship golf courses at Sun City challenge all types of golfer, and there are real crocodiles in the water feature at the 13th hole!

Later this afternoon you will go on another game drive and view the nocturnal game. Following your game drive you will have dinner at the lodge. Accommodation: Bakubung Bush Lodge (B, D)

Day 8 - Today you will be transferred by coach from Bakubung Bush Lodge back to Johannesburg Airport. On arrival at Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport connect with your scheduled international South African Airways flight back to the USA.

Day - 9 Arrive in New York or Washington, DC with a lifetime of memories!

Please Note:
*The USD $2,299 rate is valid from January 7 - May 14 and August 15-October 31, 2010 and includes FREE add-ons from select US cities. From August 1-14, the rate is USD $2,699. Fuel Surcharges of USD $300 and Taxes of USD $140 are not included in package pricing.

This itinerary is available throughout 2010 at the following rates:

Jan 7-31 $2,299
Feb $2,299
Mar $2,299
Apr $2,299
May 1-14 $2,299
Jun-Jul N/A
Aug 1-14 $2,699
Aug 15-30 $2,299
Sep $2,299
Oct $2,299

Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
The single supplement fee for this itinerary is USD $450.

INCLUDES:
Roundtrip, international, economy airfare from Washington, DC or New York to Johannesburg
Regional flights in South Africa: JNB/CPT/JNB
All services as specified
6 Breakfasts
3 Dinners
Game drives as specified in itinerary
Accommodation in standard rooms
Transportation in luxury air-conditioned vehicles including qualified drivers
Sight-seeing as per itinerary led by qualified English speaking guide
Entrance fees for sight-seeing as indicated
Meet and Greet upon arrival

EXCLUDES:
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, etc.
All other services not mentioned
Gratuities/tips for game rangers, tour guides, and drivers
Costs of obtaining passports and/or visas
Applicable taxes
Trip cancellation insurance