Cultural & Historical Journey Through South Africa
An Experience of A Lifetime
November 8 – 19, 2009
11 DAYS
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ITINERARY |
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Day 1 |
USA - Johannesburg
Depart the U.S, for overnight South African Airways flight to Johannesburg, SA
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In-flight |
Day 2  |
Johannesburg
Early evening arrival in Johannesburg where you will be met assisted and transferred to your hotel. Breakfast and lunch aloft.
Dinner will be at your hotel
(D)
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Rosebank
Hotel |
Day 3
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Johannesburg - Soweto
Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel.
This morning guests will be collected from the hotel for a full day Johannesburg and Soweto sightseeing tour including a traditional African meal at the well-known Wandie’s Restaurant.
On this tour you will see Constitution Hill, the site of the Old Fort Prison Complex, commonly known as Number Four. At the height of apartheid rule, up to 2000 black South Africans were processed through its entrance daily. Struggle stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe and Nelson Mandela spent many cold, lonely hours in the cells reserved for black males at Number Four. The prison was closed in 1983, leaving a scar on Johannesburg’s metropolis - a bleak reminder of our painful past. The site has now been transformed into a modern, living museum dedicated to human rights.
This tour gives you the opportunity to gain a new perspective and personal insight into the largest Black city in Africa. Soweto is synonymous with the struggle for freedom in South Africa and is a vibrant, culturally rich township situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Within Soweto you will see the Hector Petersen Memorial, Regina Mundi Church, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Mandela's House, Freedom Square and the Oppenheimer Tower. (B,L)
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Rosebank
Hotel |
Day 4
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Johannesburg - Lesedi
After breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Following check-out procedures, guests will be transferred to Lesedi Cultural Village:
The morning program is known as the Monati experience with the following program:
Arrive to a vibrant traditional African welcome and a refreshing welcome drink;
· Browse in our Ndebele village and African craft market where Ndebele murals decorate the walls and courtyard;
· Attend a multi-visual theatre presentation on the history and origin of the different ethnic groups;
· Guests are divided into smaller groups and taken on a guided tour of four homesteads – Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho and Pedi;
· After a few drinks in the bar, guests and the families meet back in the Boma for traditional song and dance of all the villages. The dance culminates in communal dancing with the guests around the fire.
· A Pan African Feast is served in the Nyama Choma restaurant with delicacies from North, East and Southern Africa.
Early evening return to your hotel.
(B,L)
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Rosebank |
Day 5
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Joberg - Sun City - Pilanesburg
After breakfast, travel to Pilanesburg with stops in Pretoria, the political capital of South Africa followed by an afternoon in Sun City, the playground of South Africa. Our motor coach will take us to Pilansburg private game reserve where we will check into Bakubung Bush Lodge in time for the evening game drive.
Dinner will be at the lodge
(B,D)
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Bakubung Bush Lodge |
Day 6
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Pilanesburg – Joberg - Cape Town
Early morning game drives before returning to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast depart for Johannesburg to arrive at OR Tambo Int. Airport for the early afternoon flight to Cape Town. (B)
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Portswood Hotel |
Day 7
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Cape Town - Winelands
Depart on a Cape Winelands tour through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. Visit Paarl and the Nelson’s Creek cellar for a tour and wine tasting. Cheese and wine tasting at Rust en Vrede. Visit Franschoek where the French Huguenots settled in the 1600’s. Travel over the Helshoogte mountain pass. Continue to historic Stellenbosch (Dorp Street and Oom Samie se Winkel). Enjoy buffet lunch on own in Stellenbosch. You will have the opportunity to taste and buy wines at the different wine estates. (B)
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Portswood Hotel |
Day 8
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Table Mountain - Robben Islands
The first part of the day will be spent on Table Mountain- a cable car will take you to the 1086m-mountain top towering over Cape Town. On your descent continue on a scenic city tour passing the Houses of Parliament, City Hall, Castle and the Slave Lodge. Pass through the Bo-Kaap, Green Market Square and District Six. After lunch, on own, board the ferry to Robben Island the former political prison [weather permitting] where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life. Dinner at Baia Seafood Restaurant. (B,D)
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Portswood Hotel |
Day 9
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Cape Town
Set out this morning for a full-day tour of the Cape of Good Hope, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the Cape Floral Region, it harbors once of the richest areas for plants in the world, including types unique to the Cape of Good Hope. Highlights of your tour include the Cape Point Nature Reserve and a ride along the Chapman’s Peak Marine Drive. During the drive, you’ll stop for spectacular views of Hout Bay. Your tour also features a visit to Simon’s Town, a typical colonial town and naval base that once served as the winter anchorage of the Dutch East India Company. Tonight, perhaps dine at one of the numerous restaurants on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. (B)
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Portswood Hotel |
Day 10 |
Cape Town
Full day tour offering a wealth of insight into South Africa’s history, financially supports five different community-based organizations through the entrance fees they levy [incl. in the tour price]. Brief educational introduction to Cape Town with a visit to Bo-Kaap, the picturesque “Malay Quarter”, the dynamic District Six Museum and an informal school. Continue on a walking tour of Langa. You will have the opportunity to interact with residents. Try the traditional African sorghum beer or ginger beer at a township shop or tavern.
This afternoon shopping is for shopping including visits to Jewel Africa or Uwe Koetter Jewelers. Tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
(B)
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Portswood Hotel |
Day 11 |
Cape Town/Depart
Today is at leisure to relax or do your last minute shopping.
This afternoon transfer to the airport for your homeward flight connecting in Johannesburg.
(B,L,D) |
In-flight |
Price Per Person in US Dollars
Price per person |
* Estimated Airfare |
TOTAL |
$3,412 |
$ 1,368 |
$ 4,078 |
*GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE PLEASE CONTACT US FOR PRICES!
E-Z PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE
Tour Price Includes:
Superior hotels & lodges with private facilities, Airport/hotel transfers, Tours in private motor coach, Game viewing in safari vehicle, Mineral water on safari, Park entrance fees, Admission fees to listed sites, Experienced English-speaking guides, Meals as listed.
Price Does Not Include:
Travel insurance, gratuity to drivers and guides, meals not listed, Add-on airfare from most cities JFK, Fuel and other airline surcharges. |
