B | L | D denotes included breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Day 1 | Depart gateway city | In Transit
Please check your luggage from your gateway city to your arrival city. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: CPT.
Day 2 | Cape Town, South Africa
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
If you are arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg before flying onward to Cape Town, you must collect your baggage and proceed through immigration and customs before rechecking your bags and boarding your flight to Cape Town.
Arrive at Cape Town Airport. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing customs, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for the group arrival transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer should exit the baggage claim area and proceed to the Arrivals Hall, where an AHI Travel representative will meet you.
Transfer to the Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel. Please note, if you arrive before check-in time, your room may not be immediately available.
The Mount Nelson is a Cape Town landmark located across the street from the Company’s Garden. Built in 1652 by The Dutch East India Company, the garden provided fruit and vegetables for the Dutch ships that stopped here on their way to Asia. Today, it is a beautiful park lined with museums and historic buildings.
This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception.
Day 3 | Cape Town | Cape Point
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
B | L
Cape Peninsula. Explore the highlights of the beautiful Cape Peninsula, including Cape Point Nature Reserve. Drive along the coast, taking in the pretty panoramas, crashing waves and rocky coastlines along Marine Drive. Pass by the unique mountain landscape featuring Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles, which are 12 buttresses on the sea-facing side of the mountain. Upon arrival at Cape Point Nature Reserve, you can take a funicular to the top for spectacular 360-degree views. Snap some photos at the white lighthouse and see Cape of Good Hope in the distance. Travel down to the Cape of Good Hope, famous i maritime history for being the southernmost point in Africa. You may see bold baboons during your journey! On your return to Cape Town, visit Boulders Beach to watch playful African penguins. Stroll on the boardwalks that run through the penguins’ protected area and observe daily life among the 3,000 birds that live here.
Stop at a restaurant on the Cape Peninsula for lunch.
Enrichment: South African History. Discover the events that have shaped modern South Africa: Dutch and British colonization, the introduction of Indonesian slaves, the plight of indigenous peoples and the discovery of rich lodes of minerals, gemstones and precious metals. Learn more about brutal apartheid rule, which oppressed the country’s nonwhite citizens for most of the 20th century, and how democracy finally prevailed.
Day 4 | Cape Town | Robben Island
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel
B
Robben Island and Cape Town. At the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the gateway to Robben Island, board a ferry for a short ride to the island, home to the jail that held South Africa’s most famous prisoner, Nelson Mandela. This is a very special experience to hear firsthand the poignant story of a former Robben Island prisoner, your guide through the prison buildings and grounds. After the tour, you will have an opportunity to ask your guide questions about his personal experiences. Return to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a bustling working harbor before discovering the wonders and highlights of South Africa’s Mother City. Begin your excursion with a drive by the Castle of Good Hope, the 17th-century star fort built to defend the Dutch trading settlement from English attack. See the Company’s Garden district surrounded by the city’s numerous world-class museums. If weather permits, take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.
Free Time: At the V&A Waterfront, enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants. Browse through the shops, listen to the street musicians and admire the view of the harbor with Table Mountain in the distance.
Day 5 | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The Victoria Falls Hotel
B | D
This morning, fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Upon arrival, check in to The Victoria Falls Hotel.
Free Time: Enjoy some time at leisure to get settled in your guest room and have lunch on your own.
Victoria Falls. Until the 19th century, the Zambezi River’s great cascade was called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the smoke that thunders,” by the region’s Kololo tribe. “Discovered” on November 16, 1855, by Dr. David Livingstone and renamed for England’s queen, Victoria Falls is the planet’s largest curtain of water — spanning more than a mile — as it crashes some 328 feet into the raging Batoka Gorge below. Twice the height of Niagara Falls, mighty Victoria Falls casts a veil of spray that can be seen up to 50 miles away!
Gather for a group dinner tonight to revel in the day’s adventures!
Day 6 | Chobe National Park, Botswana
The Victoria Falls Hotel
B | L
Get an early start today and enjoy breakfast before exploring Chobe National Park in Botswana with your safari guide.
Chobe National Park. As the sun rises, watch the park spring to life. You never know what the day will bring. You may see a herd of buffalo lumbering to the water for a drink or beautiful sable antelope grazing on the floodplains. You may come across lions sprawled out and content after the hunt or see a leopard draped over a branch high in a tree. You will be amazed by the number of elephants who make their home here. You are likely to see several herds of elephants wandering the plains or stopping by the river for a drink or a bath. With a large bird population of more than 450 species, Chobe also is a spectacular destination for birdwatchers. If conditions permit, take a safari cruise on the Chobe River for game viewing from a perspective you just can’t get on land. The Chobe River gives life to the many animals, birds and reptiles that call the park home. Watch elephants frolicking in the water, hippos swimming and birds swooping down to catch a fish. Enjoy lunch during your excursion.
Tonight, dinner is at leisure.
Day 7 | Victoria Falls | Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail
B | D
Free Time: The morning and early afternoon are at leisure. Enjoy a relaxing day and the amenities of the hotel. Enjoy a dip in the pool or pamper yourself at the hotel’s spa.
This afternoon, embark Rovos Rail at Victoria Falls Station and begin your luxury train journey to Pretoria, South Africa. Settle into your suite, and enjoy the ambience of a train journey recapturing the Golden Age of Travel. Change for dinner, which is announced by a gong. Meals aboard Rovos Rail always are a treat. Enjoy fine cuisine accompanied by a selection of excellent South African wines.
The train heads to Malindi, where it will overnight.
Day 8 | Hwange National Park
Rovos Rail
B | L | D
Rise early this morning for a sunrise safari at Hwange National Park. Enjoy a light breakfast before the excursion.
Hwange National Park. Disembark the train this afternoon at Kennedy Siding, and enjoy a game drive at The Hide, a private concession in Hwange National Park. This park, Zimbabwe’s largest park and home to more than 100 mammal and 400 bird species, is known for its natural beauty. Visit one of the most popular watering holes to see some of the local residents. Some animals that you may see today include elephants, giraffes, lions, wildebeests, sable antelopes, buffalo, spotted hyenas, aardvarks, elands, oryx and pangolins.
Gather for brunch as the train travels along 71 miles (114 kilometers) of straight railway track, one of the longest stretches of straight track in the world, and the eastern edge of Hwange National Park. Take in the scenes of daily life as you continue through Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.
Afternoon tea is served in the lounge or Observation Car. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the Dining Car as the train travels to the town of Beitbridge at the South African border.
Day 9 | South Africa
Rovos Rail
B | L | D
Start another beautiful morning with a hearty breakfast. As you continue your journey south, watch the landscape to catch final glimpses of the region’s famous baobab trees.
Gather for a delicious lunch as the train passes through Bela-Bela, the hot springs resort once known as Warmbaths, and Modimolle, a town once known as Nylstroom. Modimolle sits in the verdant bushveld, which owes its greenery to the Nyl (Nile) River.
You may wish to catch up on your reading in the Lounge Car. There are books and magazines, as well as board games, in the Lounge and Observation cars. Later, gather for a sumptuous dinner.
The train overnights at Pyramid.
Day 10 | Pretoria | Soweto | Johannesburg
54 on Bath
B | L
Enjoy a final breakfast aboard Rovos Rail. Later, disembark at the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and transfer to Johannesburg.
Enjoy a delicious lunch of local traditional dishes at a restaurant in Soweto.
Soweto. Visit the townships of Soweto. The townships were built in the early 20th century to keep the black community, including the miners who toiled in the dark and dangerous conditions of the gold mines, out of the city center. When it was founded, Soweto was on the outskirts of Johannesburg. It was incorporated into the city of Johannesburg in 2002. Though life has improved for many people, you will still see corrugated tin shacks and homes without indoor plumbing. Several entrepreneurs have built successful businesses, and though many are millionaires, they have chosen to remain part of the Soweto community. Many people in Soweto run microbusinesses in their homes. They sell everything from fruit to auto parts, and they run hair salons and restaurants. During your tour, see the homes of Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Winnie Mandela. In historic Kliptown, one of the oldest townships, learn about a youth program that offers tutoring and opportunities to play sports and participate in the arts. See a dance performance during your visit.
Check in to 54 on Bath in Johannesburg’s Rosebank neighborhood.
Day 11 | Skukuza | Kruger National Park
Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
B | L | D
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Skukuza. Upon arrival, transfer to Leopard Sands, Kruger Park.
Enjoy lunch on arrival.
Introduction to Kruger National Park. This afternoon, get the lay of the African bushveld during your first game drive in Kruger National Park, home to myriad species of mammals, including the Big Five: lion, elephant, leopard, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros. Get to know your ranger, who will accompany you on each game drive. During your game drive, stop for refreshments and stretch your legs before resuming the hunt!
Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 12 | Kruger National Park
Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
B | L | D
Each morning on safari starts with a wakeup call from your ranger at dawn. Meet on the deck for coffee and rusks before climbing into your safari vehicle.
Sunrise Safari. It may seem quiet as the sun starts its journey across the sky, but there is plenty of animal activity to be noted. Many animals are just waking up and preparing to search for breakfast. Others are winding down after a night on the prowl and looking for a place to sleep during the day. See how many of the Big Five you can spot this morning. You may see lions out on the prowl or stretching out for a nap in the tall grasses, zebras grazing with their young frolicking nearby and elephants ambling through the tree line.
Tuck into a delicious breakfast back at the lodge.
Free Time: The morning and afternoon are at leisure. Gather for conversation at the bar, lounge by the pool or enjoy a spa treatment.
Enjoy lunch at the lodge.
Sunset Safari. Gain a different perspective as you see diurnal animals settling down for the evening and nocturnal animals beginning theirs. As the sun sets, stop for a round of sundowners, drinks enjoyed at sunset.
A delicious dinner awaits you at the lodge.
Day 13 | Kruger National Park
Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
B | L | D
Embark on another exciting day on safari!
Kruger at Dawn. Every safari holds the potential for a surprise, and each game drive is a unique experience forged by the time of day, the weather and the locale. Your ranger is an expert in finding animals on the reserve and knows the thickets where giraffes nibble at the treetops, the open veld where zebra like to graze and the waters where hippos submerge with just their noses, eyes and ears poking out.
Return to the lodge for breakfast.
Free Time: Enjoy a leisurely morning. Visit the spa, take a dip in the pool or relax with a book on the deck.
Lunch is served.
Safari Afternoon. Your ranger is very knowledgeable about both the wildlife and plants in the park. Feel free to ask questions about your surroundings. This afternoon, you may scout out popular watering holes, where four-legged and feathered residents gather for a drink.
Gather for a Farewell Dinner, a sumptuous meal seasoned with tales of your wild animal sightings and other adventures.
Day 14 | Skukuza | Johannesburg | Depart for gateway city
B
After breakfast, transfer to the Skukuza Airport. Fly to Johannesburg and connect to your return flight to your gateway city.
Day 15 | In Transit
Arrive in your gateway city.
