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Day 1
Thu 12 Nov
Dinner
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JOHANNESBURG – PRETORIA
Arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where you will be met and transferred to the CENTURION LAKE HOTEL
www.legacyhotels.co.za located on a tranquil lake near Pretoria, with direct access to a modern shopping complex. Welcome dinner this evening at The Odd Plate, Prue Leith’s award winning restaurant.
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Day 2
Fri 13 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
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PRETORIA – SOWETO
Explore the sprawling township of Soweto, the largest black urban settlement in Africa, synonymous with the freedom struggle in South Africa. Visit Mandela House, Regina Mundi Church, Freedom Square, with lunch at a typical local restaurant.
Afternoon visit to Maropeng, the Cradle of Human Kind. This exciting new tourist attraction, a World Heritage site, tells the story of our ancestry and includes an underground boat ride. The exhibits are entertaining, educational and interactive.
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Day 3
Sat 14 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner
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 PRETORIA – MPUMALANGA
After breakfast we visit the imposing Voortrekker Monument, symbolising the struggle of the Afrikaner for freedom and the graceful Union Buildings, seat of the South African Government, before heading for Mpumalanga Province, with a lunch stop en route.
Our overnight stop will be CRITCHLEY HACKLE LODGE
www.critchleyhackle.co.za in a tranquil garden setting at Dullstroom, the heart of South Africa’s trout breeding industry. Dinner at the lodge. |
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Day 4
Sun 15 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
MPUMALANGA – PANORAMA ROUTE --KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Explore the Panorama Route, including the Blyde River Canyon, one of the scenic wonders of Africa, God’s Window, with views across the Lowveld and the amazing water sculptured rock formations at Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Lunch stop at the popular Harries’ Pancake House for your own account. After lunch we head directly for the Kruger National Park, one of the world’s great wildlife sanctuaries. Overnight at SKUKUZA, the largest camp and administrative centre of the Kruger Park.
www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/skukuza/default.php Dinner in the camp restaurant.
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Day 5
Mon 16 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
The morning starts with an early cup of coffee and traditional South African buttermilk rusks (biscuits). We head south along the Sabie River, viewing the wildlife from the comfort of our coach. Experience the excitement of spotting the many species of big game, antelope and birds. Breakfast in the Lower Sabie Camp Restaurant. Lunch stop at Satara Camp and late afternoon arrival at OLIFANT’S CAMP,
www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/olifants/ situated on a hilltop with spectacular views of the Olifants River far below. Accommodation in the park is in basic but comfortable air conditioned cottages with en suite bathroom. Dinner in the camp restaurant.
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Day 6
Tue 17 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner |
 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MOTSWARI
This morning will be another early departure for more game viewing en route to Letaba Camp, where we stop for breakfast. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Elephant Museum, with its wonderful display of the famous tuskers. After leaving the Park via the Phalaborwa gate, a short drive takes us to MOTSWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, nestled in the heart of the Timbavati Nature Reserve, arrriving in time for lunch.
www.motswari.co.za Spend two unforgettable nights here. Game drives here will be in open Landrovers and you will also have an opportunity to enjoy a bush walk with a ranger. Dinner in the Boma seated around a large fire under the African sky.
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Day 7
Wed 18 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner |
MOTSWARI
This luxurious lodge is well placed in the bushveld adjacent to the Kruger National Park and offers unsurpassed game viewing opportunities. Check their excellent website for an insight into what you can expect to experience here. Savour another day in the bushveld and learn more about this fascinating eco-system. Dinner in the boma.
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Day 8
Thu 19 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
MPUMALANGA – SWAZILAND
Depart after breakfast and head South to enter the kingdom of Swaziland, one of only three monarchies left in Africa. Enter at the Oshoek border post and visit the Ngwenya glass factory before continuing to the capital Mbabane. A short scenic drive into the beautiful Swaziland highlands takes us to FORESTERS ARMS,
www.forestersarms.co.za where we spend two nights. Dinner at your hotel.
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Day 9
Fri 20 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
SWAZILAND
After breakfast visit the local art and craft outlets. Undoubtedly this is one of the Kingdom’s greatest attractions and there will be opportunities to buy well priced, high quality African crafts sold in specialist stores and at roadside markets.
At 13h00 meet with Mbabane Rotary Club at their regular weekly meeting for fellowship and exchanging of banners. Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
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Day 10
Sat 21 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner |
SWAZILAND – KWA-ZULU NATAL – SHAKALAND
Depart from Swaziland and return to South Africa. Enter the province of Kwa Zulu Natal, home of the mighty Zulu nation. Lunch stop at Ghost Mountain Inn. Continue through the sugar cane fields to check in at SHAKALAND ,
www.shakaland.co.za an authentic Zulu village. Take a step back in time and enter the world of Shaka, King of the Zulus, at his great kraal. Witness traditional customs such as dancing, spear making and the beer drinking ceremony. The cultural experience culminates in spectacular and vibrant Zulu dancing. Enjoy a traditional dinner before retiring for the night in a thatched beehive hut with en suite bathroom.
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Day 11
Sun 22 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
 SHAKALAND – DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
Our journey today takes us down the North coast and into the Midlands, with a lunch stop at the famous Rawdon’s Hotel, where you can sample the local beer. Continue into the mighty Drakensberg mountain range, a World Heritage Site, where we spend two nights at the CATHEDRAL PEAK HOTEL
www.cathedralpeak.co.za set against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Dinner at your hotel.
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Day 12
Mon 23 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
A full day to relax in beautiful surroundings. Enjoy the sparkling pool, play in a bowls tournament against your fellow travellers, have a game of tennis, hike in the mountains, take a helicopter flip or a horse ride in the peaceful countryside (last two activities not included in price). For dinner, once again enjoy the excellent cuisine offered by this hotel.
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Day 13
Tue 24 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS – DURBAN – PORT ELIZABETH
After breakfast, depart for Durban airport, to take a flight to Port Elizabeth, the British Settler city. Short city orientation tour on arrival. Check in at the BROOKES HILL SUITES on a hillside overlooking Algoa Bay.
www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=14 Dinner at a beachfront restaurant included.
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Day 14
Wed 25 Nov
Breakfast
Dinner |
 PORT ELIZABETH – KNYSNA
Our journey today takes us to the Tsitsikamma Coastal National park, where the breakers of the Indian Ocean pound the rocky shores and indigenous forests roll down to the sea. Walk through the forest, swim in the ocean or just relax and enjoy the scenery. There will be free time for lunch. Continue to Knysna in the heart of the Garden Route, where you will be home hosted by a Rotary family for two nights. Dinner with your hosts.
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Day 15
Thu 26 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch |
KNYSNA
After breakfast, a ferry ride takes us to the Feather Bed Bay Nature Reserve. A tractor/trailer ride to the top of the Western Head gives spectacular views of the coastline and the Knysna estuary. Return by foot, if you wish to walk, through the coastal forest along the Bushbuck Trail. Enjoy a buffet lunch under the milkwood trees. Return to the Knysna Waterfront for some free time, with an opportunity to visit some of the Knysna Club’s Rotary projects in the townships.
Meet this evening with Knysna Rotarians and partners for supper, fellowship and exchanging of banners.
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Day 16
Fri 27 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner |
KNYSNA – STELLENBOSCH
Our drive today takes us via the N2 Highway through rolling countryside to Swellendam, where we have lunch and then through the winelands of Worcester to the beautiful town of Stellenbosch, where we check in for two nights at D’ OUWE WERF
www.ouwewerf.com , the oldest and most historic hotel in the country, situated in the heart of Stellenbosch. Dinner at your hotel included tonight.
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Day 17
Sat 28 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch |
STELLENBOSCH - WINELANDS
After a visit to the Village Museum, we drive to the KWV in Paarl for a tour of the famous vaulted Cathedral Cellar, followed by a chocolate and brandy tasting. We continue to Boschendal, one of the oldest wine producing estates in the new world, for a wine tasting under the oak trees. Lunch at Boschendal is a memorable, gastronomic affair. After lunch, we visit the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek, in the valley where the French Huguenots settled. Return to our hotel in Stellenbosch, where you will be free to dine at your hotel or at one of the many fine restaurants nearby.
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Day 18
Sun 29 Nov
Breakfast |
 STELLENBOSCH - CAPE TOWN
After breakfast, we drive to Cape Town, where we take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain (weather permitting), followed by a visit to Kirstenbosch, one of the great botanical gardens of the world. It will then be time to check in to the 5 star COMMODORE HOTEL on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You will be at leisure for the rest of the afternoon to explore the exciting Waterfront complex with its many boutique shops, arts & crafts centres and restaurants. Free for dinner at your hotel or at one of the excellent Waterfront restaurants.
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Day 19
Mon 30 Nov
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner |
CAPE TOWN – PENINSULA TOUR
Full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, visiting Camps Bay and Hout Bay Harbour, where we take a boat trip to Duiker Island to see the large colony of Cape Fur Seals. Continue via the scenic and rugged Chapman’s Peak Drive and across the Peninsula, to Simonstown, for many years an important Naval Base. Nearby is the Boulders Beach, where we visit the colony of nesting African Penguins. Lunch will be at the excellent seafood restaurant, the Black Marlin. We then enter the Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve to visit Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Return to the hotel via the Constantia Winelands before taking a short walk to the nearby Waterfront restaurant for our special farewell dinner.
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Day 20
Tue 01 Dec
Breakfast |
 CAPE TOWN – DEPARTURES
A last morning to enjoy the Mother City before your transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight home. We will request a late check out at the hotel, but this cannot be guaranteed. Should you wish to extend your stay in Cape Town for another day or two, we can book accommodation for you.
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Our 20 day tour again includes many of South Africa’s top attractions, including Cape Town and the Winelands, Mpumalanga’s scenic Panorama Route, a wildlife safari in the Kruger National Park, as well as two nights at Motswari, an exclusive private game reserve known for its Big Five sightings. Two nights are spent at the charming Forester’s Arms in Swaziland and we enjoy a Zulu cultural experience at Shakaland in Kwazulu Natal, followed by two nights at Cathedral Peak Hotel in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. Two nights are home hosted with Rotary families in Knysna. Hotels and lodges have been hand picked for comfort and charm. There will be opportunities for make-up meetings, exchanging of banners and fellowship with Rotarians in South Africa and Swaziland.