EXTRAVAGANT WINE AND SAFARI TOUR
- 9-days / 9-nights land package
- 5-star Phinda Private Game Lodge* (Luxury option)
or Kruger National Park Safari (Classic option)
*please note that Phinda is merely one of the many exquisite game lodges we can include in this package, so please free to request the lodge of your choice and we will send you a relevant quote.
Price: LUXURY
on enquiry
(October 10 – end April 11)
Price: CLASSIC
on enquiry
(October 10 – end April 11)
Inclusions: Luxury Safari - return airport transfer; 5* private game lodge accommodation (dinner; bed; breakfast and high tea); 2 game drives; Classic Safari - transport; breakfast and supper; game drives; all entry fees and accommodation; Winelands - wine specialist guide; transport; accommodation (including breakfast); all tastings and entrance fees included in the itinerary
Exclusions: all beverages - alcoholic or non alcoholic; all meals in Winelands, except breakfast, unless specified otherwise; where meal suggestions are provided, these are for your own account
Itinerary:
As there are specific check-in times at the game lodge, this would depend on what time of day your flight arrives. If you arrive in time to check-in by 13h00 you will be taken straight to the lodge, if not, you will check into a guesthouse on the outskirts of Pretoria - cost not included in package.
LUXURY
Day 1 - Day 4
Early arrival at O.R Thambo airport. Upon arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport, make your way to the Information counter at International Arrivals (Terminal A). From here, a Federal Air representative will transfer you directly to the Federal Air lounge in preparation for your flight to Phinda Private Game Reserve departing at 11h00. (Limit of 20 kgs of soft luggage per person)
Phinda Forest Lodge: Four overnights at Phinda Forest Lodge in a suite inclusive of all meals, all house wines, local branded spirits, and Emergency medical evacuation insurance, laundry and two game drives daily
Day 5
Today you will check out of the lodge and board the Federal Air flight to Johannesburg, departing at 13h15. (Limit of 20 kgs of soft luggage per person)
Depart Phinda 13h15 to O. R Thambo. Flight to Cape Town. Overnight Cape Town at Kensington Place.
CLASSIC
4 Day Classic Kruger Safari
Collection - from Johannesburg Int Airport and from any hotel in Johannesburg and Pretoria, including Nelspruit.
Your Safari Ranger guide will collect you between 7.00 - 7.30am at your hotel or off your early morning flight arriving at Jo'burg Int Airport. You will comfortably travel East for 4 hours to 'Nelspruit' the capital of Mpumalanga Province.
At Nelspruit you have an opportunity to do some last minute shopping, to stock up the vehicles cooler box with your drinks, buy loads of film, snacks, insect repellent etc.
Leaving Nelspruit, you continue overland for approx 1 hour to the game rich Southern region of Kruger Park and enter the park at Crocodile Bridge.
Day 1: Johannesburg - Kruger Park - Skukuza Camp (D)
On entering Kruger Park, you spend the rest of the day game viewing following the Sabi River. The animals tend to move towards the Sabi River in the afternoon to quench their thirst from the sun's heat - you see herds of Impala or Waterbuck drinking at the waters edge. A herd of Elephants cross the river, splashing, play fighting once they arrive on the far side. Crocodiles are seen basking in the afternoon sun; mouths open regulating their body temperatures. A grunt from a Hippo is heard, we find them in a shallow section of the river sleeping with the biggest male keeping an eye on his territory and his females.
This first game drive up the Sabi River sets up what's yet to come. Arriving at 'Skukuza' camp just before the entrance gates close for the evening, you check in, move into your chalet to freshen up, ready for your first safari dinner.
Your dinner is prepared, cooked and served outside under the stars. Traditional South African meals are prepared giving you a taste of our delicious, barbeque cuisine.
Day 2: Kruger Park - Skukuza Camp (B D)
The day starts early with a wake up call at 5.30am. At 6.00am the camp gates open so we can start the day's game viewing. We visit Lower Sabi camp at approx 10.00am when it's time to have some breakfast and of course, have a good stretch.
On the way your Safari Ranger finds a Leopard walking on the edge of the road, marking it's territory by scenting trees and bushes. He's a big male, powerful. We slowly follow him as he proudly walks along the edge of the road. Later you see a White Rhino using a rubbing post then wanders off..
Impalas always next to or crossing the road. Three Lionesses on the road laying close to each other and then moving off into the bush. Later a Hyena crossed the road making it's way back to its den.
After breakfast at 'Lower Sabi' camp we continue game viewing, stopping off at water holes, following river lines, checking dams for the rest of the morning and early afternoon. Your Safari Ranger spots you lots of wildlife - a herd of Buffalos at a water hole, Eagles in the afternoon sky, Giraffes grazing off the Acacia trees with their necks stretched to the limit. Birds are spotted all the time. We stop off at Nkombi lookout and enjoy this stunning view, seeing more Rhino in the distance. Zebra and Wildebeest grazing the open grass areas keeping a watchful eye out for predators. You see more Elephants passing near by.
Arriving back at camp for 4.00pm you then have a chance to check the curio shop, stock up with drinks and freshen up ready for your night drive, which departs from camp at 6.00pm.
A SANParks ranger in an open sided truck conducts the night drive, which lasts for approx three hours.
On your return from your night drive at 9.00pm your dinner would have been prepared, cooked ready for you to enjoy dinner out in the open, listening to the African night sounds, whilst we discuss the next day's exciting events.
Day 3: Kruger Park - Satara Camp (B D)
Your Safari Ranger heard of a 'Lion Kill' happening the day before on the road to Satara camp. We make our way directly to the kill, we are one of the first to arrive. We position perfectly. A pride of seven Lions are still surrounding the carcass - a Buffalo. Two Lionesses are feeding with the remaining Lions lazing with full stomachs, a few meters off. A Hyena arrived but does not have the strength in numbers to irritate the Lions and push them off the kill. He'll have to wait till more Hyenas arrive. We wait and watch for an hour or so viewing the integration of the Lion pride with their kill. A Black Back Jackal arrives and darts in and out, picking up a few scraps of meat.
We visit 'Tshokwane' picnic spot at approx 10.00am when it is time to have breakfast.
After breakfast we continue game viewing, stopping off at water holes, following the river lines and checking dams for the rest of the morning - you see loads of different wildlife.
We arrive at 'Satara' camp at 1.00pm. You check in. You may wish to stay in camp and siesta the afternoon away or continue the game drive with your Safari Ranger. At this time of the day it's hot but as you are in an air-conditioned vehicle it's still worth checking a few water holes and waiting for the sun to cool a little later in the afternoon.
After sinking a few beers or a glass of wine and after seeing more game we return back to 'Satara' camp just before the gates close for the evening/night. We meet up with those who had stayed in camp for the afternoon, return to your chalet to freshen up, ready for dinner and to discuss the next day's exciting events.
Day 4: Kruger Park - Johannesburg (B)
We start the morning's game viewing - loads of Impalas are found. A troop of Baboons block the road. We slowly drive through the troop with our windows shut. More Elephants, close and in the distance, being destructive with their eating habits. A Steenbok standing in the middle of an open area. More Lions lazing around a base of a wild fig tree, the cubs playing with each other.......
After breakfast we regrettably have to leave the Kruger Park. On our homeward bound journey you enjoy the 'Panoramic Route' driving through the Drakensberg Mountains.
En-route we stop and spend a few minutes to go view the Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels, Lisbon Falls and lastly Pilgrims Rest.
Pilgrims Rest is an old gold mining town. It's now a national monument and will be your lunch stop for the day. At each of the scenic stops you have the opportunity to finish off your film and to barter for locally crafted curios.
Overnight at Look Out Lodge
Day 5
Flight to Cape Town
Overnight Cape Town at Rosedene Guest House (from here on LUXURY and CLASSIC itineraries are the same)
Day 6
Our first stop: Table Mountain. No visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain, from where you will see some of South Africa's most breathtaking 360 degree views from a 1,059 metre summit. Take a guided walk on one of the many routes or simply take the 5-minute cable car ride. Memories guaranteed!
We then head off to Cape Point which is a wild, unspoiled and undeveloped coastline and an important haven for seabirds. It was first named the Cape of Storms by Bartholomeu Dias, the Portuguese seafarer who was the first to sail round the Cape in 1488, the most south westerly point of Africa where the cold Benguela current on the West Coast and the warm Agulhus current on the East Coast, merge.
The evening is spent at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. With an estimated 20 million visitors per annum you'll find this shopping mecca situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain, right in the heart of Cape Town's working harbour. Get your fix of retail therapy at South Africa’s most visited destination. While shopping up a storm, pause over coffee to take in the magnificent sea and mountain views. Shops and entertainment zones are interspersed with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments, which in turn are situated within a residential marina - it's in fact a place so addictive that an ever increasing number of foreign and local investors continue to snap up this hot property.
We then return to the guest house.
Day 7
Today we discover Cape Town’s most intimate wine route, only minutes from the centre of Cape Town, the Constantia Valley, stopping first at Groot Constantia, the finest surviving example of Cape Dutch architecture and one of South Africa's foremost historical monuments and tourist attractions, dating back to 1685. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the modern cellar and a tasting of the multiple award winning wines.
From there we travel to Klein Constantia Estate which is part of the original vineyard that in the 18th century produced “Constantia”, prized throughout Europe by the leaders and aristocracy of the time. As the wine tasting will reveal, the focus here is on quality rather than quantity resulting in accolades, both locally and internationally.
Stellenbosch is the 2nd oldest town in South Africa and it is here that the early settlers were encouraged to plant oak trees resulting in oak lined streets with the town being known as “Eikestad” - Village of Oaks. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Stellenbosch produces more wine than any other wine district in South Africa.
After a short drive through Stellenbosch, we head off to Spier Estate which has changed from a fairly modest wine farm to one of South Africa’s premier tourist attractions, without losing an ounce of it's charm. Lunch will be at Moyo, which is unlike any other restaurant, set in a garden where Bedouin tents and gazebos are placed to create a setting similar to a Nomadic village and where the buffet offers dishes from all corners of Africa. The wines too, are something special, but perhaps even more memorable will be your chance to visit Spier's Cheetah Outreach Programme. (Optional)
Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate, known for its informal elegance, beauty and grace is where we enjoy the last wine tasting of the day before travelling to our overnight stay in Wellington at Bovlei Country Retreat. Situated in the foothills of the historic Bainskloof Pass in the Bovlei valley, this gracious 4-star graded Cape Dutch homestead, boasts enviable views of the Limietberg mountain range. A working wine farm, lavender and fruit are also farmed at this magical spot.
Day 8
Dunstone Wines, is a small family owned vineyard lying on the foothills of the Hawequa & Limiet Mountains in Wellington and here we taste winemaker, Corlea Fourie's, Shiraz, Merlot and Shiraz Rose wines, award winners at the South African Young Wine Awards 2007.
Next, we head out to the town of Paarl with its huge granite outcrop which glistens like a pearl after the rain, where our first stop is at Backsberg Estate Cellars, for a tasting of wine as well as potstill brandy. This is one of oldest farms in the Western Cape and proudly holds the status of being Carbon Neutral in an effort to counter global warming.
Glen Carlou was established by the pioneering Walter Finlayson, one of South Africa's most revered wine makers, who together with his son David, has built the wineries' reputation and statue to become one of South Africa's premier wine producers and this is where we stop for our next wine tasting. We enjoy our wine on the terrace of Zen restaurant where we lunch on contemporary African cuisine admiring the panoramic views of vineyard and mountains.
We then travel to the Franschhoek Wine Valley, first settled by French Huguenots in 1688, which is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and our top chefs create international cuisine. Our first stop is at La Motte, home of internationally recognised wines and venue for classical music concerts. La Motte is proud of its active socio-economic upliftment of its workers and their families.
Further along the valley, Archim von Arnim, famed proprietor of 300 year old Cabriere, defied conventional wisdom decades ago and decided to focus on planting the classic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir cultivars resulting in an enticing range of wines and method champenoise, named after the original owner, Pierre Jourdan. These are wines that form a fitting climax to our day.
In the heart of the historic, vibrant village of Franschhoek, we will overnight at Rusthof Country House, a classic Cape Dutch styled home where owners Frank and Ruth promise an unforgettable stay.
Day 9
Leaving Franschhoek, we travel towards Stellenbosch via the Helshoogte Pass on its spectacular and scenic route between the Simonsberg and Stellenbosch mountains. We head for the heart of the town, oak lined Dorp Street with its venerable old buildings. This is the University of Stellenbosch’s main thoroughfare, where modern student life sits comfortably side by side with our history and architectural heritage. A visit to Stellenbosch is not complete without a stop at Oom Samie se Winkel (Uncle Samie's shop) where a wander between the narrow aisles will reveal anything from wines, antiques, confectionaries, sweets, preserves, furniture, clothing and curios to take home as momentos.
Then on to the historic Blaauwklippen Agricultural Estate for a visit to the Arabella Stable - a centre dedicated to the whole wine experience, which includes a history of the SA wine industry, a soil display and a fragrant herb garden exemplifying herbal nuances in wine, as well as a tasting of their unique Zinfandel wine.
Our lunch stop is at Dornier, on the site of a traditional farm dating back to 1694 which boasts an historic Sir Herbert Baker homestead in contrast to the startlingly modern winery with its curved roof and face brick finish. We will find Dornier wines to be elegant, complex and unique as we pair them with the farm cuisine at Bodega restaurant.
After a relaxing meal, we wind our way up the Helderberg mountainside to the highest winery in the Stellenbosch area, Uva Mira Boutique Winery at 620 meters above sea level, to sample the iconic wines which have received accolades locally and internationally. The 360 degree views of Table Mountain, Robben Mountain, Table Bay, False Bay and Cape Point are breathtaking.
The day's final wine tasting is at Avontuur Wine Estate and Stud Farm, the home of fine wine and fast horses where we will sample top wines in the cosy tasting room.
The night is spent at Kleinbosch Lodge in Stellenbosch, where you'll be treated like royalty by owner Hans-Joachim Kast. Add the adjacent pine forest and dramatic mountain views to the experience and you're sure to top up body, mind and spirit.
Dinner could be a braai at Kleinbosch or a meal at one of the Cape's most famous restaurants, Terroir. This 'deceptively simple' food at this restaurant won the enormously prestigious Eat Out Johnnie Walker Restaurant of the Year 2006 award. Terroir is on the Kleine Zalze Wine Estate.
Tour ends.
* Itinerary subject to change: every effort will be made to keep the itinerary as it appears here; however, the final itinerary may vary due to wine producer schedules, availability, and factors beyond our control.
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