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 DAY 1 NORTH AMERICA /
ENROUTE. Depart from the United States
on your flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Overnight on board.
DAY 2 ARRIVAL / JOHANNESBURG.
Upon arrival on Johannesburg in the afternoon you will be met and
transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for
you to relax and get used to the new time zone.
The Rosebank Hotel: The hotel is situated in the
prestigious suburb of Rosebank, part of Greater Sandton, in Gauteng.
34kms from Johannesburg International Airport. The Rosebank Hotel has an
outstanding reputation for classical elegance and warmth, combined with
friendly, efficient service. The hotel has a fully-equipped gym with an
adjoining steam room. Alternatively relax in secluded, tranquil
surroundings around a beautiful swimming pool, with an open-air sun
deck. Two large shopping malls are within 3 minutes walking distance of
the hotel, providing guests with a wide variety of curio and craft
shops, gift shops, art galleries, clothing boutiques, chain stores,
restaurants, cinemas and entertainment. The hotel rooms are elegant and
comfortable, each equipped with satellite television, large personal
safe, telephone, computer modem point, air-conditioning, tea and coffee
making facilities, and en-suite bathrooms. Overnight at the
Rosebank Hotel (standard room.)
DAY 3 JOHANNESBURG DAY TOUR OF
SOWETO. After breakfast this morning
depart on a tour of the South Western Townships (Soweto). This tour with
a difference takes you through the streets of Soweto and it’s adjoining
townships. Despite crowded and often impoverished conditions, there is a
sense of happy bustling neighborhood life. Most who venture here return
enlightened but always fascinated by the glimpse of this face of South
Africa. Soweto is a huge sprawling township estimated to be inhabited by
over two million people. Homes range from affluent mansions to makeshift
shacks. Drive past former residences of Desmond Tutu, Winnie Mandela and
ex-president Nelson Mandela. Return to Johannesburg for our City Tour.
This interesting tour takes you into downtown Johannesburg, to the old
Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the De Beers diamond shop. Visit George
Harrison Park, where gold was first discovered, Bosmont, and the city’s
two universities. Continue to Hillbrow, the most densely populated area
in the city. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
 DAY
4 NORTHERN PROVINCE. Breakfast at the
hotel. Check out of the hotel for an early departure at 08h00. Travel
from Johannesburg along the N1 into the Northern Province. The North
ranks as one of South Africa’s loveliest corners and is extremely
accessible since it is traversed by tarred road with many smaller gravel
roads leading into the dark silent forests. A 25km pass through this
area links Tzaneen to Pietersburg, weaving through the Woodbush and De
Hoek Forest Plantations and then down into the lush farmlands that usher
in the lowveld. The Kruger National Park is only an hour’s drive away.
Check into your hotel, the Holiday Inn Garden Court Pietersburg,
situated in Pietersbug. Wide streets, colorful jacaranda and coral
trees, parks and sparkling fountains characterize the principal town and
capital of the Northern Province. In addition to its status as a major
commercial and agricultural centre, Pietersburg is the cultural hub of
the region, featuring impressive art exhibitions and elegant historical
buildings. In the vicinity, the countryside is the setting for some of
the most prosperous cattle ranches in South Africa. Strategically placed
on the Great North Road, and halfway between Pretoria and the Zimbabwean
border, this attractive city is an ideal base from which to explore.
DAY 5 LOUIS TRICHARDT.
Breakfast at the hotel. You will make your way to the town of Louis
Trichardt. The town of Louis Trichardt emerged out of the settlements of
Dutch Voortrekkers, who were traveling as far as possible away from
British influence in a country they considered their own. The Dutchman,
Louis Trichardt arrived at the foot of the Soutpansberg Mountains in
1836, and thought it a fine place to settle. Ten years later, Hendrik
Potgieter settled and a town developed in the area that Trichard had
left behind. The Northern Province was positively bursting with game and
an unruly crowd of hunters and ivory traders made this town their base.
Conditions became increasingly chaotic and the endless brawling and
fighting with the local Bavenda tribes finally destroyed the place.
Louis Trichardt was finally abandoned by the Europeans in 1867. You have
a full day visiting the Lemba Tribe. Return to the hotel.
DAY 6 KRUGER PARK NATIONAL PARK.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out and travel south via the Panorama Route. The 70km circular
scenic drive that traverses the edge of the Lowveld Drakensberg
escarpment is truly deserving of its title with many spectacular views
and dramatic waterfalls. Starting at Graskop the twisting road moves
down into Pilgrims Rest, a living museum of miner’s houses built during
the gold rush in the 1870s. It encompasses six museums, many shops and
is part of the historic Prospectors Trail. Moving on it reaches the
Berlin Falls and Watervalspruit that has a beautiful fern fringed
natural pool. Close by are the Lisbon Falls and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
This amazing geological formation was formed over the years by the
continuous scouring of the river and its contents. These potholes mark
the beginning of The Blyde River Canyon, the third largest gorge in the
world, where the Blyde River drops abruptly into a sheer ravine bounded
by sandstone walls some 600 to 800m high. Its dominating features
include the Three Rondavels and God’s Window, a deep fissure in the
mountain wall that affords breathtaking views of the rocky escarpment
and the Lowveld 1000 m below. From here we continue to the Kruger
National Park where we enter at Paul Kruger Gate. Enjoy game viewing
from the coach as you make your way to Pretoruiskop Rest Camp for the
night. This southern area of Kruger is very accessible and most visitors
enter the park at one of the southern gates or visit a private reserve
along the park borders. There is plenty of game to be found, such as the
big five and fabulous colorful birds, some of which eat out of your
hands a the picnic sites. But be watchful, as while you are feeding a
bird, a vervet monkey might come up behind you and steal your
sandwiches. There is a great diversity of habitats within Kruger
National Park. Overnight at Kruger Park.
DAY 7 KRUGER PARK/JOHANNESBURG.
Enjoy a morning of game viewing with the opportunity of viewing the “Big
Five” in the Kruger Park. Game drives are undertaken in our specially
designed open safari vehicles, accompanied by our registered guides who
are all experienced game rangers. Experiencing wild life with no
barriers is a once in a lifetime experience! Enjoy a packed breakfast at
one of the rest camps in the Kruger Park before you continue your game
drive through the bush of Kruger Park. Upon return from your game drive
we return back to Johannesburg and our hotel.
DAY 8 JOHANNESBURG/ENROUTE.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and have time at leisure for shopping.
In the afternoon you will be transferred to Johannesburg International
Airport for your international flight home. Overnight aboard the
aircraft.
DAY 9 NORTH AMERICA.
Arrival back into the United States. The end of a most enjoyable tour.
(Hotels listed are subject to
availability) |
