Southern Africa Safari Splendour

Day 1 - Saturday 7 September 2024

Melbourne - Sydney - Johannesburg (in-flight meals, D)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.  Join your tour hostess and fellow travellers at the Melbourne airport for our flight to Johannesburg. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards South Africa.

Upon arrival into Johannesburg, we'll transfer to our hotel to relax and refresh.

Dinner tonight in the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation:  Voco IHG Johannesburg Rosebank, Johannesburg 

Day 2 - Sunday 8 September 2024

Johannesburg (B, L)

This morning enjoy Lebo’s Soweto Tuk Tuk Tour.  The tour starts by reaching the panoramic viewpoint on top of Leboland. Surrounded by the community gardens pumpkin fields and the greenery of the campsite, view Soweto with a 360-degree angle.  The guide will introduce the history and talk about what is being done today to take the community forward.  Famous landmarks such as the Orlando Towers and the Orlando Stadium can be viewed from here.  

We'll also visit the former men's hostel in Mzimhlophe which was the home of former migrant mine workers during the apartheid era.  Learn about the history of gold mining in Guateng, and the harsh conditions endured by the workers, and witness the area’s development today.  Continue towards Orlando West and the famed Vilakazi Street Precinct with stops to support local traders, sampling delicacies and refreshments along the way.  The next stop is the Hector Peterson Memorial site, dedicated to the Soweto Uprising in 1976, when students protested the apartheid government’s education system in Black schools.

We'll also drive down Vilakazi Street and visit Nelson Mandela's house to learn more about this great leader.   Around the corner from Mandela's house is Archbishop Desmond Tutus's house and a quick stop is made here to acknowledge another icon in the fight against Apartheid.
Return to Lebos Soweto Backpackers where the tour ends with a traditional drink ceremony.  The guide will take guests through African customs and traditions by gathering in an African kraal decorated with various African accessories and artifacts.  Everyone is offered a taste of the home-brewed sorghum beer, Umqhombothi as well as the traditional Maize drink Mageu. The tour includes lunch which is served after the tour at the Outdoor Restaurant with seating in the community park.  The meal is a delicious African stew cooked the traditional way over the fire served with homemade bread and our popular staple, Pap.

Return to the hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation:  Voco IHG Johannesburg Rosebank, Johannesburg 

Day 3 - Monday 9 September 2024

Johannesburg - Kasane (B, L, D)

This morning we will be transferred to the Johannesburg Airport for our onward flight to Kasane, Botswana.

Upon arrival in Kasane, we will be transferred to the hotel for a 2-night stay including two activities per day and all meals.

Enjoy lunch at the lodge.

Chobe National Park is undoubtedly one of the best safari destinations in the world.  This land is famed for its gentle giants, the African elephant and Chobe has one of the largest concentrations of them in Africa.  The abundance of wildlife in this reserve is truly prolific and it’s all centred around the Chobe River and, in Africa, where there is water, there is life.  The river is populated with hippos and crocodiles and an overwhelming amount of birdlife that has photographers from all over the world itching to get a shot of the many rare species. 

This evening enjoy one of the boat cruises or game drive activities offered by the hotel.

Accommodation:  Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa

Day 4 - Tuesday 10 September 2024

Chobe National Park (B, L, D)

This morning enjoy a game drive into Chobe National Park.  This is the land where the Big Five are missing one player, the rhino, but where encounters with lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards are commonplace.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and time at leisure until lunch. 

After lunch rest and relax at the lodge until the afternoon game-viewing activity or river cruise.

Accommodation:  Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa 

Day 5 - Wednesday 11 September 2024

Kasane - Victoria Falls (B, A/T, D)

This morning enjoy a boat cruise or game drive activity and return to the hotel for breakfast.  We will then be transferred to Victoria Falls (with Driver only), crossing the border into Zimbabwe, for a 2-night stay.

Victoria Falls, where the “Smoke that Thunders” inspires all that stand in its regal glory.  The area is renowned for its activities including white water river rafting, canoeing, helicopter flights, zip-lining, bungee jumping and fishing.  Other local attractions include golf and guided game safaris.

This afternoon we'll enjoy high tea at Victoria Falls Hotel. Taking High Tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel is a tradition as old as tourism in Victoria Falls itself.  Pull up a chair on Stanley’s Terrace and let the afternoon sun, gentle clink of china and distant roar of the waterfall take us back in time.

This evening enjoy a Boma Dinner - indulge in both a cultural as well as culinary experience at the Boma dinner. The menu comprises a range of traditional Zimbabwean dishes complemented by a delicious barbeque buffet.  The ambiance is created by local Shangaan dancers and singers who provide entertainment during the meal – face painting is an optional extra!  A traditional storyteller adds that extra element of intrigue and drama to the evening.  The sound of the drums reverberates through the stillness of the African night.

Accommodation:  Ilala Lodge, Standard Room, Victoria Falls 

Day 6 - Thursday 12 September 2024

Victoria Falls (B, L)

This morning, we enjoy a half-day guided tour of Victoria Falls and Mpisi Village.  The tour exposes us to not only one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the incredible Victoria Falls, plunging more than 1,000 metres into the Zambezi River, but also to the surrounding rainforest, home to a diverse range of plants and wildlife.  Following that, continue onto Mpisi Village, a typical 19th-century hamlet, home to several ethnic groups.  Experience their way of life.  The tour is an immersive experience and unforgettable.

Enjoy a Home Hosted Lunch including transfers.  The home-hosted meals provide valuable income to local providers. This has proved highly successful and greatly beneficial to the individuals involved.  Guests can gain an insight into Zimbabwean rural life, which enables visitors to understand the cultural aspect of this lifestyle and allows them to interact with a local family.

This afternoon we will be transferred to the departure point for the sunset cruise onboard Zambezi Explorer, Signature Deck, including canapes and beverages. Enjoy uninterrupted views from the 6m elevation, delicious canapés and the service of a dedicated mixologist.  A range of our Pure Africa wines, craft beer, and artisanal spirits are also available throughout.  

Cruising along the Zambezi River is an experience that creates lasting memories and includes sightings of hippos and crocodiles and any other species that congregate on the banks to quench their thirst.  

As the sun sets, head back to the Pure Africa Waterfront. 

Accommodation:  Ilala Lodge, Standard Room, Victoria Falls 

Day 7- Friday 13 September 2024

Victoria Falls – Mpumalanga – Hazyview (B, D)

This morning we'll transfer to the Victoria Falls International Airport for the onward flight.

Upon arrival at Mpumalanga, South Africa we will be met and transferred to our hotel.

Accommodation:  Hippo Hollow Country Estate, Hazyview 

Day 8 - Saturday 14 September 2024

Hazyview - Kapama Game Reserve (B, L, D)

Today we'll depart for Kapama Game Reserve via the Panorama Mountain route.  Mpumalanga is a magnificent region, home to many of South Africa’s most spectacular natural sights. Travel via Kowyns Pass to Graskop and then on to Gods Window and enjoy the never-ending Lowveld landscape from the ledge of God’s Window.  From God’s Window continue to the extraordinary rock formations of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, one of nature’s most intriguing creations.  Continue the tour via Abel Erasmus Pass and Strydom Tunnel to Mad Dogz Café for lunch.

Continue to Kapama Game Reserve for a two-night stay on a fully inclusive basis.  Includes: All meals, teas and snacks, all local and select premium drinks, two daily safari activities and bush walks.

Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive.

Accommodation:  Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Game Reserve 

Day 9 - Sunday 15 September 2024

Kapama Game Reserve (B, L, D)

Enjoy morning and afternoon game activities offered by Kapama Game Reserve.

The Kapama Game Reserve is a slice of African paradise, a 13,000-hectare slice.  It consists of savannah and riverine forest and is where the mighty Drakensberg Mountains can be seen in the distance and the icon that is the Kruger National Park is to the east. Kapama Game Reserve is home to Africa’s most famous wildlife, the Big Five, lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard and both game drives, as well as bush walks, are offered.  

This reserve doesn’t only offer a chance to get well acquainted with the wild spirit of Africa, but it also has a selection of luxurious safari lodges that offer decadent African spa treatments, romantic sleep-outs as well as mouth-watering cuisine.  This safari experience is all-encompassing.

Accommodation:  Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Game Reserve 

Day 10 - Monday 16 September 2024

Hoedspruit - Cape Town (B)

This morning enjoy a game activity.

Then we'll check out and transfer from Kapama River Lodge to Hoedspruit Airport for our flight to Cape Town.

Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, we will be met by a local guide and local driver and transferred to the hotel for a four-night stay.

Remainder of day at leisure.

Accommodation:  Portswood Hotel, Cape Town 

Day 11 - Tuesday 17 September 2024

Robben Island, Table Mountain and City Tour, Cape Town (B)

This morning we depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront and head to one of the most famous prisons in the world, Robben Island.  This is where South Africa’s father of the nation spent 18 years, the legend of a man, Nelson Mandela.  Disembark at Murray’s Harbour on the east coast of the island and take a short walk to buses that will transport you to all of the historically significant sites.  The guides inside the prison today, are former political prisoners and their knowledge of this island is unparalleled and adds a unique cultural layer to this experience.  The tour culminates with a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell. 

Explore South Africa’s exciting “Mother City” on a guided tour of the historical and cultural sights of Cape Town.  Step into the rich history of the city passing by key historical monuments and places of interest, such as the impressive Castle of Good Hope and Cape Town City Hall.  

Stop at the beautiful St George’s Cathedral, pass through the lush Company Gardens, and explore a cultural hub of Cape Town, the Bo Kaap, also known as the Cape Malay Quarter.  A tour of this vibrant city, home to street markets of every kind, cosmopolitan and rustic eateries, and a host of cultures is an unforgettable experience.

Take a trip to the top of the world, high above the clouds on the famous Table Mountain (weather permitting). Table Mountain is an icon in Cape Town and is most likely the most photographed landmark in the country.  Table Mountain has been named as one of the seven wonders of nature and attracts millions of visitors from all across the globe, in fact, since the opening of the aerial cableway in 1929, more than 22 million people have taken the trip to the top.  At the upper cable station, guests will find a restaurant and a curio shop as well as some footpaths for exploration.

Accommodation:  Portswood Hotel, Cape Town 

Day 12 - Wednesday 18 September 2024

Cape Peninsula Full Day Tour (B, D)

Today we'll depart Cape Town for a Cape Peninsula Full Day Tour including Chapman’s Peak (weather permitting), Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Funicular, Boulders Beach (Penguins) and Kirstenbosch Gardens.

The road out of town takes us to Chapman’s Peak along Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world.  Locals call this famous scenic drive that winds its way between picturesque Hout Bay and Noordhoek on Cape Town’s stunning Atlantic Ocean coastline “Chappies”.  The toll route stretches nine kilometres along the coast taking 114 curves in a road carved out by prisoners of war in the mid-1910s over seven years. On the one side are towering cliffs and on the other a steep drop to the ocean.  A favourite with visitors and locals alike for scenic hikes, cycles and drives, as well as picnicking.

The famous Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, a World Heritage site, is set at the end of Cape Town’s south peninsula. Take a trip via funicular to the lighthouse at 286 metres above sea level (built to warn ships they are approaching the feared “Cape of Storms”), stroll along the cliff paths or venture down the steep slopes to the stunning white-sand beaches below.  

The reserve is home to a variety of small wildlife and is a favoured picnicking, fishing (with a permit) and hiking destination with its rich plant biodiversity and inspiring landscapes.

Return to Cape Town via Boulders Beach, home of the endangered land-based colony of African penguins, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, set up against Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. It is the first botanical garden to be included within a natural World Heritage site.

This evening, enjoy a 14-dish taste safari and inter-active drumming at Gold Restaurant including return transfers with the local guide and driver. 

Accommodation:  Portswood Hotel, Cape Town 

Day 13 - Thursday 19 September 2024

Cape Town (B)

Today we have a free day at leisure in Cape Town.

Relax or enjoy some last-minute shopping.

Accommodation:  Portswood Hotel, Cape Town 

Day 14 - Friday 20 September 2024

Cape Town – Stellenbosch (B, L, D)

This morning depart Cape Town for the Cape Winelands.   We'll visit Fairview Wine Estate for a wine and cheese tasting followed by lunch at The Goatshed Restaurant.  Their world-renowned tasting room consists of 4 unique, barrel-shaped 'pods' that facilitate a welcoming and more social tasting.  The custom-designed pods offer a tasting selection of 6 different wines with dedicated hosts to guide and assist guests.  The tasting also includes an expertly paired selection of 6 Fairview cow and goat's milk cheeses.

After lunch travel to Stellenbosch, often described as the crown jewel of the Cape Winelands.  It is a world-class wine, art and hospitality destination and has exceptional examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture along its oak-lined streets.  It is the second oldest town in South Africa and was founded in 1679; it also boasts the oldest wine route in the country. Stellenbosch is an aesthetic beauty and there are several hiking trails in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve for those who want to immerse themselves in the landscape.  Enjoy a tour of the town.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure in Stellenbosch.

This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation:  Southern Sun De Wagen, Stellenbosch 

Day 15 - Saturday 21 September 2024

Cape Town - Johannesburg - Sydney - Melbourne (B, in-flight meals)

This morning we will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport for the flight to Johannesburg.

On arrival in Johannesburg we will be met and taken on an orientation tour followed by time at leisure for shopping at Sandton Square.  Transfer back to Johannesburg airport for the return flight to Australia.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of the airlines as we head towards home.

Day 16 - Sunday 22 September 2024

Welcome home

Welcome Home! 

Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure!