GUIDED JOURNEYS 2024
Contents 2
A message from our CEO Vehicle Safety Covid-19 Cullinan Holdings Vaccination Policy
3
Who We Are
4
Make Travel Matter
5-6
Guided Journeys by Thompsons Africa
7-8
Your Trip Matters
9-10
Make Travel Matter
11-12
A World In One Country
13
South African Surprise
14
Garden Route Splendour
15
Inspirational Garden Route
16
Kruger and The Kingdoms
17
Spectacular South Africa
18
Kruger Wildlife Safari
19
Magnificent Garden Route
20
Wildlife, Wine and Garden Route
21
South African Highlights
22
Garden Route Uncovered
23
Majestic Victoria Falls
AM
MESSAGE from our CEO Greetings from Thompsons Africa!
Our Guided Journeys have always been designed with small groups in mind, handpicked and crafted to ensure maximum comfort and an authentic, immersive experience. Our journeys focus on personal attention, boutique style accommodation and excellent value for Jonathan Gadiah money. All tours are now operated as Small Group Tours with a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 10, except for the SA Surprise, that can run with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 40 people. Further enhancements have been made to the routings on some tours based on feedback from guests and partners who have travelled and personally experienced these tours. Again, this year, we’ve highlighted those journeys where your guests will enjoy experiences that align with The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals, and we have increased the number of included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences. Read more about our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® initiative and the goals we strive to achieve on page XXX. We trust that you will enjoy browsing these pages and are delighted you are considering booking your guests’ next journey with Thompsons Africa, your Africa Travel Experts.
ABOUT OUR VEHICLES
VEHICLE Safety
Cullinan Guided Journeys, part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd and The Travel Corporation, has one of the largest and best maintained touring fleets in Southern Africa at their disposal. With world-class centralised depots, offering support and backup, a fleet of quality vehicles, and top qualified guides and drivers, you can rest assured that every part of your journey is well taken care of. Cullinan Guided Journeys certainly goes the mile! Through our relationship with the TreadRight Foundation, we are committed to the protection and promotion of our rich heritage. This entails, but is not limited to, environmentally friendly wash water re-cycling plants and solar power at our vehicle depots, dedicated staff to sort through waste for re-cycling purposes at all our offices and workshops, and the elimination of single-use plastic on our vehicles.
PAGE 2
Who we are...
With almost half a century of experience under our belt, Thompsons Africa is your highly trained Southern African destination management expert. Our reservations team is knowledgeable, innovative, and committed to exceptional service delivery. No customer is too big or too small and while we are big enough to buy well, we remain small enough to care. Our dedicated teams of sales, procurement and reservations staff ensure that our customers’ needs are not only met but exceeded. Thompsons Africa is part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd, whose main shareholder is The Travel Corporation, a family-owned entity with 45 offices worldwide and an envied reputation for delivering quality, service, and value. We also have trusted, long-standing customer and supplier relationships that extend back more than 40 years. As part of the global The Travel Corporation family, we are known for our reliability and financial solidity. It’s an ethos reflected in the fact that in a sector known for high employee turnover, our average staff tenure is ten years — a further guarantee of experience and professionalism. Thompsons Africa operates in the three main cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, as well as from 11 reception offices in the Southern African region: Kruger Park, Hluhluwe, Hazyview, Malalane, Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Victoria Falls/Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. All offices offer a team of permanent Tour Guides, Drivers and Guest Service Officers. Our Guided Journeys offer something unique and memorable and after so many years of perfecting the product, these just cannot be beaten. With set itineraries and departure dates, guests will be fully guided throughout their journey. Our tour guiding professionals have honed their skills, with many holding university degrees in fields such as marketing, photography, tourism, and education. They are the collective face of Thompsons Africa and proud ambassadors for our beautiful country. Our guides and reservations team guide and consult in all major languages. The Guest Service Officers (GSOs) at four major airports meet-and-greet, assist with lost luggage, and undertake care visits when required. Our Customer Care Centre is available 24/7 to deal with any of your guests’ concerns and our GSOs are at hand, around the clock, to deal with any hitches or emergencies.
Bespoke Travel — Because we tell it like it is, we are the experts in tailor-made FIT packages. Our handpicked portfolio of products is continually monitored with our own team personally experiencing them. Our commitment is to ensure that customers get an authentic African travel experience, coupled with comfort and safety, to provide the holiday of a lifetime. Inventive Incentives — We understand the specialist nature of the incentive business and are well versed in the logistics of travel in Africa. Our approach to handling incentives of any size is to understand our clients and their requirements and carefully match these to our products. It’s all about assembling the perfect combination of accommodation and entertainment to suit each group, delivered in an enthusiastic, personalised way. Free Sell Policy — A unique feature on all tours is a ‘Free Sell’ policy. Most of our Fully Guided Journeys can be free sold up to 30 days prior to departure, while our Day Tours can be free sold up to 48 hours before departure. That’s easy and efficient!
Group Travel — We are specialists in caring for series and ad hoc business. We design individual packages to suit the unique interests of school groups, sales groups, religious groups, and their like. It’s an innovative, seamless programme, implemented professionally. At Your Fingertips — Our dedicated Customer Zone can be accessed for up- to-the-minute rates, online availability, exclusive allocations and other creative and inspiring information, including a high-resolution image gallery, video library and downloading brochures. We can connect with you on multiple platforms, including our Thompsons Africa Online Booking and Quoting System as well as numerous XML/ API Integrations, allowing for a seamless, fast, and efficient means of communicating and confirming services with us in real-time. Flexibility – We always offer options which provide flexible booking terms regarding unintended cancellations or changes in bookings. PAGE 3
The Guest Service Officers (GSOs) at four major airports meet-and-gree t, assist with lost luggage, and unde rtake care visits when required. Our Customer Care Centre is available 24/7 to deal with any of your gues ts’ concerns and our GSOs are at hand , around the clock, to deal with any hitches or emergencies. As part of Cullinan Holdings Ltd, we have a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan comprising of protocols, checklists and action plan s ensuring, to the best of our abilities, the health and well-being of our workforce and guests. Finally, you can take comfort in the knowledge that when dealing with Thompsons Africa, you are dealing with a company with substantial liability cover, well above the mini mum requirements, as well as a stron g partnership with SATIB24, the cont inent’s leading incident managem ent unit.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER
®
As you might expect from a family-built company with a big heart, Thompsons Africa is about sustainability and giving back. To help shape the face of the future Africa, our goal is to ensure that the environment and communities we explore remain vibrant for future generations. We do this in two ways: through our TreadRight Foundation, and our sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right.
Tread R ight Foundation
We are proud to be part of a joint initiative by The Travel Corporation family of brands, called The TreadRight Foundation — a not-for-profit supporting sustainable tourism projects around the world. To date, TreadRight has helped fund more than 60 projects worldwide. Learn about our project partners at treadright.org. How We Tread Right (HWTR) is The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) five-year sustainability strategy, which sets the mandate on sustainability at Thompsons Africa and our sister travel companies. Our strategy is based on 11 measurable goals, anchored to the United Nations Global Goals, which were developed to address Thompsons Africa’s impact on Planet, People, and Wildlife. Learn about our goals at ttc.com/hwtr. Through our foundation and our strategy, our three pillars of support are:
Planet
sustainability and conservation: ensuring that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources
People
cultural preservation: ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities
Wildlife
protection of our world’s wildlife: while advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences
Protecting Our Wildlife
Our promise
At Thompsons Africa we are mind ful of the plight of wildlife across the globe and in Africa in parti cular. We are especially conscious of the importanc e of conserving our wildlife heritage. After all, we are blessed to be the caretakers of an abundance of wildl ife that brings so many travellers to our shores. Thompson s Africa does not support any wildlife interaction that we deem to be unethical in either its purpose or in any way results in cruelty as a side effect. As a priority we ensure that we are 100% involved with our partnered wildlife organisations, and as a member of The TreadRight Foundation, we practise the promise to make the welfare of our wildlife our num ber one concern. Our endorsement of the SATSA Anim al Interaction Charter further reinforces our commitment to an ethical approach to the long-term conservation of wildlife welfare.
PAGE 4
Guided Journeys
by Thompsons Africa In the arranging and operating of variable sized tours in Southern Africa, with set itineraries and frequent departures, Thompsons Africa leads the field. These packaged holidays offer something special, unique and memorable. Our tours have been operating since 1997 and we proudly claim that our service cannot be beaten. Our signature product, ‘Fully Guided’ means what it says: we do all the work, you relax and enjoy the experience, knowing that you are in capable and experienced hands. FULLY GUIDED PRIVATE JOURNEYS FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL GROUPS If anyone understands family travel, Thompsons Africa does. We offer the perfect package: just the family or small group (four to eight people), a Tour Guide and the most flexible of itineraries to suit younger members especially. The number and length of game drives, content and timing of meals, and length of the safari is entirely flexible to fully accommodate your needs. Lively kids? Nobody’s fussing. There’s no finer way for a young family, or small group, preferring a less structured holiday, to travel together. We have a selection of entirely private tours for intimate groups of four to eight people, travelling with your own Tour Guide and Driver - a superb option for a 50th birthday party treat for esteemed clients, or simply family or friends who prefer exclusivity and privacy.
Journeys with our Guides THE FACE OF THOMPSONS AFRICA Our NQF (National Qualifications Framework) and FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) qualified permanent Tour Guides are the very best calibre of staff. Join them on one of our exciting Guided Journeys or Tailor-Made packages – you will be completely blown away by their knowledge, excitement, and passion! They speak English, German and Spanish, and our wider network of Tour Guides speak most other languages. All our Safari Guides have completed additional courses enhancing their skills to ensure the best possible experience for guests. These include the Kruger National Park Orientation Course, a botany course at Skukuza Nursery by a qualified botany expert and some have completed the VPDA Course (Viewing Potentially Dangerous Animals). Our tour guiding professionals have honed their skills, with many holding university degrees in fields such as marketing, photography, tourism, and education. They are the collective face of Thompsons Africa and proud ambassadors for our beautiful country.
PAGE 5
Our fleet
Our fleet of around 170 vehicles ranges from sedans to two-passenger limousines, 8 seaters, 11 seaters and 15 seaters; luxury 44-seater coaches and 60-seater touring vehicles. This massive tyre-print across the continent also comes with a small carbon footprint and among our innovations is a water recycling plant to provide environmentally friendly washes.
10-SEATER OPEN SAFARI VEHICLE • • • •
Bucket seats with lap belts Two-way communication radios Seatback ‘grab’ bars Non slip foot stirrups for easy boarding and disembarking
7-SEATER LUXURY MINIVAN – MERCEDES VITO • • • • • • •
Cloth bucket seats Double entry door Air conditioning/climate control Radio/CD/MP3 player Hands free public address system Individual reading lights Seatback storage pouch
13-SEATER TOURING MIDIVAN – TOYOTA QUANTUM LWB
15-SEATER TOURING MIDI COACH – MERCEDES SPRINTER LWB
• Cloth bucket seats • Air conditioning/climate control • Centre aisle for easy boarding and disembarking • Radio/CD/MP3 player • Hands free public address system • Seatback storage net and cup holder
• • • • • •
Cloth bucket seats (reclining) Air conditioning/climate control Radio/CD/MP3 player Hands free public address system Individual reading lights Seatback storage pouch
28 – 44 SEATER TOURING COACHES • • • • • • • •
Cloth bucket seats (reclining) Air conditioning/climate control Radio/CD/MP3 player Multi AV public address system and LED monitor Individual reading lights Seatback storage net and tray table Refrigerator Blinds or curtains
What Sets Us Apart We own and maintain an impeccable fleet of modern air-conditioned vehicles. Our recommended tours display the very best of Africa. Our Tour Guides are amiable, welcoming and passionate about their areas of expertise; they speak English, German and Spanish, and our wider network of Tour Guides speak most other languages.
?
A tour can be a whirlwind but our itineraries are designed with welcome stretches of leisure time so that guests can relax and do their own thing at their own pace. Tours for at least two people depart without fail on pre-advertised days – usually daily or weekly. Activities and most meals are included, and hotels are selected for the high standard of service that we require. Our tours range from a leisurely fortnight, enjoying highlights of Southern Africa, to an intriguing half-day into the renowned township of Soweto. Long or short, to any destination, the Thompsons Africa touch is unique.
PAGE 6
your trip matters...
Planet
sustainability and conservation
ensuring that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources In January 2020 we introduced 100% biodegradable plant-based water bottles to our journeys supporting our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® pillar Planet – sustainability and conservation. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources.
People cultural preservation ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities
Included in our A World in One Country, Garden Route Splendour and Wildlife, Wine and Garden Route is a visit to a local farm school in the Barrydale area. To date we have purchased a microwave, fridges and covered a playground area in shade net with money collected from guest donations. We have also created a reading corner with bookcases, rugs and scatter cushions and stocked their corner with books donated by guests. Guests have sent us cricket gear and ballet shoes (a volunteer from the community gives the kids dance lessons) after visiting the kids on one of our tours. We’ve bought the kids gloves and scarves for winter and have an annual Christmas party for them, all made possible through the incredible generosity of our guests who have donated to the community after a visit. This is a truly authentic experience and an opportunity for guests to meet with rural communities away from the typical tourist routes. The kids are aged between 6 and 14 years and are the children of local farm workers. The meal provided by the school is often the only food the children receive. A visit to this local farm school supports our goal of People – cultural preservation, ensuring that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities.
PAGE 7
Wildlife protection of our world’s wildlife While advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences
Our final pillar of support is Wildlife – protection of our world’s wildlife: while advocating for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences. Rest assured that every experience on our Guided Journeys align to our signing and endorsement of the SATSA Animal Interaction Charter, ensuring an ethical approach to the long-term conservation of wildlife welfare. View the charter here https://www.satsa.com/animal-interaction-charter/
PAGE 8
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences available on itineraries across our family of brands. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are chosen with great care based on the positive social or environmental impact they have on their communities and those who experience them. Using a proprietary assessment tool endorsed by industry experts and developed exclusively for TTC’s family of brands, MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are assessed against a robust set of criteria directly tied to the UN Global Goals. Travelers can identify MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences across our brands by locating the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seal.
PAGE
E9
What can our guests expect? MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while educating guests across our brands about the Global Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them. As a traveler you can be assured that your experience is having a positive impact by partaking in one of these experiences. How are MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences chosen? Using our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® E-Assessment, travel experiences will be rated against a set of rigorous criteria, selected from the Global Indicator Framework for the Global Goals, to identify the ways they advance the UN Global Goals that TTC’s new 5-year sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right (HWTR) prioritizes. These criteria also account for the educational component that is vital in helping travelers become aware of their global citizenship. Through HWTR, we are committed to integrating at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience across 50% of all TTC itineraries by 2025. Included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences Kruger National Park Anti-Poaching Dog Unit (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land) Marine Big Five Safari Experience (aligns with Goal 14 – Life below Water) Early Morning Meerkat Safari (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land) Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary (aligns with Goal 15 – Life on Land)
PAGE 10
A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY 14 2
From
ZAR 53 175
2 Max 10 Min
Days Countries
13 Nights accommodation
13 Breakfasts 3 Lunches 6 Dinners
Transport in English speaking air-conditioned tour guide vehicles including toll fees
per person sharing
Entrance fees Water in included as eco friendly packaging specified
Group size
JOURNEY PLANNER
JOHANNESBURG | KRUGER NATIONAL PARK | eSWATINI | HLUHLUWE | UMHLANGA | KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | OUDTSHOORN | CAPE TOWN
Classic Trip
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
2024
7;14;21;28 Jan
4;11;18;25 Feb
3;10;17;24;31 Mar
7;14;21;28 Apr 7;14;21;28 Jul 6;13;20;27 Oct
5;12;19;26 May 4;11;18;25 Aug 3;10;17;24 Nov
2;9;16;23;30 Jun 1;8;15;22;29 Sep 1;8 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
1
3
eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
1
St Lucia 1
1 Durban ATLANTIC OCEAN
A World in One Country is an exceptional, long wandering journey through South Africa. From city life to adventure, wildlife to culture, breath-taking scenery to sun-soaked coasts, South Africa is a premier travel destination.
Highlights:
1. Traverse the famous
Long Tom Pass en route from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga
13. Authentic
African dinner experience with a 14-dish taste safari paired with entertainment
A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY
7
. Immersive journey into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
National Park and the scenic Storms River Mouth
lookout in Wilderness, with spectacular views of Wilderness beach and beyond
14. Three
10.Guided tour of the
Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
overnights in Cape Town, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain
Port Elizabeth
4. Meet the friendly
2. Visit the spectacular
9. Visit the ‘Dolphin Point’
Knysna
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing
game safari in the Kruger National Park including a visit to the KNP anti-poaching Dog Unit
6. Visit Tsitsikamma
Lake St Lucia
2
1
Cape Town 3
3. Experience an open vehicle scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window
5. Boat game cruise on
INDIAN OCEAN
Oudtshoorn
15. Full Day
. Enjoy a delicious dinner at a delightful lagoon side restaurant in Knysna
8
a rural farm school in the 11. VisitBarrydale area with the
12. Explore the
opportunity to interact with the children. This visit supports our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund that encourages local education of underprivileged children in rural communities
Cape Peninsula Tour including the Cape of Good Hope, ‘the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth’
16. Meals included in this trip
support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared
small towns along the well-known Route 62 between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town
17. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit. PAGE 11
Optional Activities:
Enhance your journey with optional excursions, available for pre-booking, subject to a minimum of 2 adults travelling: DAY 1 SUNDAY – JOHANNESBURG – AFTERNOON SOWETO TOUR – ZAR 1 080 pp -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 4 WEDNESDAY – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – AFTERNOON OPEN VEHICLE GAME SAFARI – ZAR 990 pp -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 6 FRIDAY – HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK – AFTERNOON OPEN VEHICLE GAME SAFARI – ZAR 1 065 pp -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 11 ** WEDNESDAY - OUDTSHOORN – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - EARLY MORNING MEERKAT SAFARI – ZAR 850 pp -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 12 THURSDAY – CAPE TOWN – MORNING TABLE MOUNTAIN & CAPE TOWN CITY TOUR - ZAR 745 pp, excluding the cost of the Table Mountain cable way ticket. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 12 ** THURSDAY – CAPE TOWN – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - MARINE BIG FIVE SAFARI EXPERIENCE – ZAR 3 500 pp
Induldge...
There is an opportunity to maximise your experience of the Cape Winelands, with an optional overnight stay (unescorted and at a supplementary cost) in the picturesque village of Franschhoek on Day 11, re-joining the main tour on Day 12. Accommodation based on 4* Protea Hotel Franschhoek or similar (this option is subject to availability at the time of booking)
FRANSCHHOEK WINELANDS OPTION FROM
ZAR 3 220 pps
If you’ve always dreamed of expe riencing an overnight in the scenic Cape Winelands, then this option is for you. You will have the oppo rtunity to maximise your experience of pictu resque vineyards, breath-taking scen ery, warm hospitality, and fine wines, thereafter, re-joining the tour with minimum disruption. DAY 11 – WEDNESDAY OUDTSHOORN - FRANSCHHOEK Travel to Franschhoek, a picturesque village surrounded by spectacular vineyards, where French Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago, bringing with them their age-old French wine and food culture. Overnight in Franschhoek. [Breakfast] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 12 – THURSDAY FRANSCHHOEK – CAPE TOWN After a leisurely breakfast, meet your tour guide and set out to the picture sque Winelands of Paarl and Stellenbosch, surrounded by awe inspiri ng scenery. With extraordinary wine estates and fascinating historical landmarks to explore, your knowledgeable guide will create a memorable Winelands experience. Enjoy two wine tastings and a cellar tour before continuing to Cape Town, where you’ll re-join the main tour. [Breakfast & Dinner] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
Visa Requirements This tour travels through eSwatini (Swaziland). Please check visa requirements, as certain nationalities may require visas to travel through eSwatini (Swaziland). Note FLIGHT: DURBAN (UMHLANGA) – GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH) (DUR/PLZ) and departure tax on Day 8 excluded. Recommended flight – FA421 departing Durban at 14h05, arriving Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) 15h35
A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY
PAGE 12
SOUTH AFRICAN SURPRISE 15 1
Min
Days Country
From
14 Nights accommodation
Classic Trip
14 Breakfasts 4 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
2 40
Group size
ZAR 31 775 per person sharing
Entrance fees included as specified
JOURNEY PLANNER
JOHANNESBURG | MPUMALANGA | eSWATINI | ST LUCIA | DURBAN | DRAKENSBERG | TSITSIKAMMA | KNYSNA | OUDTSHOORN | CAPE TOWN
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
2024
7 Jan 7 Apr 7 Jul 6 Oct
4 Feb
3 Mar
5 May 4 Aug 3 Nov
2 Jun 1 Sep 1 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
2
1
eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
St Lucia 1
Drakensberg
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Beginning in Johannesburg, highlights include the Kruger National Park with its boundless wildlife, and the Panorama Route, a wonder of natural sights. It’s then on to eSwatini and Zululand, two regions steeped in ancient culture and tradition. The Southern Drakensberg Mountains forms a great part of this package, where nature rejuvenates the soul. The last leg includes trips to the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, a world hero and revolutionary, and the famed Garden Route region, ending in the Mother City, Cape Town.
Highlights: 2. Experience a game
safari in the Kruger National Park
5. Visit to the charming
village of Howick and its impressive waterfall
8. Visit Tsitsikamma
National Park and the scenic Storms River Mouth
11. Explore the small towns
long the famous Route 62 between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn
SOUTH AFRICAN SURPRISE
1. Visit the spectacular
scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window
3. Meet the friendly people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing
6. Overnight in the
Nelson Mandela’s birthplace and house
10. Guided tour of the
known as the oyster box of South Africa
12.Two overnights in
Cape Town, spectacularly set at the foot of Table Mountain
Durban including a visit to the Durban Botanic Gardens
7. Travel past
magnificent Southern Drakensberg Mountains and experience the unspoilt Eastern Cape Coast
9. Overnight in Knysna,
4. Orientation tour of
Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
13. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit.
Oudtshoorn
Cape Town 2
1 Mossel Bay
1
Knysna
2
East London
1
1
1
1 Durban INDIAN OCEAN
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
Optional Activities: DAY 3
TUESDAY - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – FULL DAY OPEN VEHICLE GAME SAFARI – ZAR 1 360 pp -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 3 ** TUESDAY - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - FULL DAY OPEN VEHICLE GAME SAFARI including a visit to the Anti-Poaching Dog Unit – ZAR 1 585 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 6 FRIDAY - HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK – MORNING OPEN VEHICLE GAME SAFARI – ZAR 1 065 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 8 SUNDAY – SANI PASS 4X4 ADVENTURE TOUR – ZAR 1 670 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 14 SATURDAY – CAPE TOWN – AFRICAN DINNER & DRUMMING – ZAR 1 010 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 14 SATURDAY – CAPE TOWN – MORNING TABLE MOUNTAIN & CAPE TOWN CITY TOUR ZAR 745 pp excluding the cost of the Table Mountain cable way ticket. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 14 SATURDAY – CAPE TOWN - FULL DAY CAPE PENINSULA TOUR – ZAR 1 575 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 14 SATURDAY – CAPE TOWN – FULL DAY CAPE WINELANDS TOUR – ZAR 1 415 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 14 SATURDAY – CAPE TOWN – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - MARINE BIG FIVE SAFARI EXPERIENCE – ZAR 3 500 pp
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
Visa Requirements This tour travels through eSwatini (Swaziland) and Lesotho. Please check visa requirements as certain nationalities may require visas. Note Accommodation check-in on Day 1 is from 14h00. Shuttle service on Day 1 starts at 05h15 and ends at 23h00. If you are arriving on a very early morning or late evening flight, please inform your Travel Agent, to make alternative transfer arrangements.
PAGE 13
GARDEN ROUTE SPLENDOUR 4 1
Min
Days Country
3 Nights accommodation
3 Breakfasts 2 Lunches 1 Dinner
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
From
ZAR 15 540
2 10
per person sharing
Entrance fees Water in included as eco friendly specified packaging
Group size
KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | OUDTSHOORN | CAPE TOWN
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Classic Trip
2024
14;21;28 Jan
4;11;18;25 Feb
3;10;17;24;31 Mar
7;14;21;28 Apr 7;14;21;28 Jul 6;13;20;27 Oct
5;12;19;26 May 4;11;18;25 Aug 3;10;17;24 Nov
2;9;16;23;30 Jun 1;8;15;22;29 Sep 1;8;15 Dec
All departures are in English
SOUTH AFRICA
ATLANTIC Franschhoek Oudtshoorn OCEAN Cape Town
Your journey begins in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and you will travel through Knysna, often called the heart of the Garden Route, and adored for its oysters. It is then on to Oudtshoorn, with a booming Ostrich industry, and a unique insight into these quirky creatures. The Cango Caves is a true highlight, a subterranean world that is a natural display of magnificence.
1. Visit to
Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
4
. Visit the ‘Dolphin Point’ lookout in Wilderness, with spectacular views of Wilderness beach and beyond
7. Explore the small towns along the well-known Route 62 between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town
GARDEN ROUTE SPLENDOUR
2
Knysna
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
Optional Activities: DAY 4
Highlights:
1
INDIAN OCEAN
WEDNESDAY - OUDTSHOORN – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - EARLY MORNING MEERKAT SAFARI – ZAR 850 pp
3. Immersive journey
2. Enjoy a delicious
dinner at a delightful lagoon side restaurant in Knysna
5. Guided tour
of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
8. Meals included in this trip
support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared
into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
6. Visit a rural farm school in the
Barrydale area with the opportunity to interact with the children. This visit supports our Barrydale Farm School Development Fund that encourages local education of underprivileged children in rural communities
9. Enjoy carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit.
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
PAGE 14
INSPIRATIONAL GARDEN ROUTE 6 1
Min
Days Country
5 Breakfasts 5 Nights 1 Lunch accommodation
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
2 8
Group size
From
ZAR 26 775 per person sharing
Entrance fees Water in included as eco friendly specified packaging
JOURNEY PLANNER
HERMANUS | OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
deluxe Trip
2024
13 Jan 13 Apr 6 Jul 5 Oct
10 Feb
9 Mar
11 May 3 Aug 2 Nov
8 Jun 7 Sep 7 Dec
All departures are in English
SOUTH AFRICA
ATLANTIC OCEAN Cape Town
The Inspirational Garden Route package is a collection of all the experiences that make this region celebrated. You will follow the path from Cape Town to Hermanus, a whale watching mecca (in season), through the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, also home to the Cango Caves, and then enjoy the splendour of Knysna and the Tsitsikamma. A world of natural wonder beckons..
1
4. Wine tasting at a
2. Visit to Hermanus,
family-owned boutique wine estate in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley
6
. Visit Plettenberg Bay for a boat-based Ocean Safari
INSPIRATIONAL GARDEN ROUTE
famous for shore-based whale watching during the whale season (August – November)
5
. Immersive journey into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
7. Visit to
Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
1
INDIAN OCEAN
Tsitsikamma
2
1
Plettenberg Bay
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
* Land and sea wildlife encounters * Guest numbers limited to 8 in a vehicle * Exclusive selected boutique properties
3. Guided tour of the
Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
1
Hermanus
Highlights: . Visit to Harold Porter Botanical Garden and the African Penguin Colony at Stony Point
Oudtshoorn
Optional Activities: DAY 4
** TUESDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY – ZAR 450 pp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 4 ** TUESDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY – ZAR 450 pp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 4 MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY / – BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY COMBO Ticket – ZAR 730 pp
8. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit. PAGE 15
KRUGER AND THE KINGDOMS 7 2
Min
Days Countries
6 Nights accommodation
6 Breakfasts 1 Lunch 4 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
English speaking tour guide
Max
2 10
From
ZAR 26 530 per person sharing
Group size
Entrance fees Water in included as eco friendly specified packaging
JOHANNESBURG | MPUMALANGA | eSWATINI | ZULULAND
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Classic Trip
2024
7;14;21;28 Jan
4;11;18;25 Feb
3;10;17;24;31 Mar
7;14;21;28 Apr 7;14;21;28 Jul 6;13;20;27 Oct
5;12;19;26 May 4;11;18;25 Aug 3;10;17;24 Nov
2;9;16;23;30 Jun 1;8;15;22;29 Sep 1;8 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
3
1
eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
1
Zululand 1
1 Durban ATLANTIC OCEAN
It all begins in Johannesburg, where you will begin the first leg, a trip into Mpumalanga to marvel at the scenery along the Panorama Route. It’s then on to the Kruger National Park, where the Big Five roam, wild and free. Sightings are of an extraordinary caliber and an open vehicle game drive with a passionate guide is going to both thrill and excite. You will then travel to eSwatini, an independent kingdom within the borders of South Africa, known for its colorful and vibrant culture. The people of eSwatini are the main attraction, where you will learn all about their traditions and customs. In Zululand, a cruise on Lake St Lucia awaits, where hippo and crocodiles abound. The journey ends in Durban.
Highlights:
1. Traverse the famous
Long Tom Pass en route from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga
4. Meet the friendly
people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing
6.
2. Visit the spectacular
scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
Optional Activities: DAY 1 SUNDAY – JOHANNESBURG – AFTERNOON SOWETO TOUR – ZAR 1 080 pp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 4 WEDNESDAY – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK –AFTERNOON OPEN VEHICLE SAFAR – ZAR 990 pp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 6 FRIDAY – HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK – AFTERNOON OPEN VEHICLE SAFARI – ZAR 1 065 pp
3.
Experience an open vehicle game safari in the Kruger National Park including an introduction to the KNP anti-poaching Dog Unit
5. Boat game cruise on
Meals included in this trip support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared
KRUGER AND THE KINGDOMS
INDIAN OCEAN
Lake St Lucia
7. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them. Visa Requirements This tour travels through eSwatini (Swaziland). Please check visa requirements, as certain nationalities may require visas to travel through eSwatini (Swaziland).
PAGE 16
SPECTACULAR SOUTH AFRICA 15 2
Min
Days Countries
14 Breakfasts 14 Nights 2 Lunch accommodation 4 Dinners
deluxe Trip
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
2 8
From
ZAR 86 700 per person sharing
Group size
Water in eco friendly packagingv
CAPE TOWN | HERMANUS |OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH) | UMHLANGA | ZULULAND | ESWATINI | MPUMALANGA | KAPAMA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
2024
10 Jan 10 Apr 3;31 Jul 2;30 Oct
7 Feb
6 Mar
8 May Aug Nov
5 Jun 4 Sep 4 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park 2
1 eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
1
St Lucia 1
1 Durban ATLANTIC OCEAN
The Spectacular South Africa is a combination of the best of the best. It all starts in Cape Town, travelling through the celebrated Garden Route and experiencing its warm hospitality, quirky towns and then on to the Kruger National Park, where wildlife encounters will have the spirit of Africa coursing through your veins.
Highlights: 1. Experience the Cape
Winelands with visits to extraordinary wine estates in Stellenbosch, Paarl & Franschhoek
4. Visit Harold Porter
Botanical Garden and the African Penguin Colony at Stony Point
7. Wine tasting
at a family-owned boutique wine estate in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley
10. Visit Tsitsikamma
National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
13. Meet the
friendly people of eSwatini (Swaziland) and experience their culture through singing and dancing SPECTACULAR SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town 3
Oudtshoorn
1
Mossel Bay
1
2
Tsitsikamma
Knysna
1
INDIAN OCEAN
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
3. Explore majestic 2
. Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour including the Cape of Good Hope
Table Mountain – one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of Nature’
6. Guided tour of
5. Visit Hermanus, famous for shore-based whale watching during the whale season (August – November)
8. Immersive journey
into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
11. Boat Game
Cruise on St Lucia Estuary
14. Visit the
spectacular scenic Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window
* Private Game Lodges * Guest numbers limited to 8 in a luxury vehicle * Exclusive selected boutique properties
the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn . Visit Plettenberg Bay for a boat based Marine Safari
9
12. Open vehicle game
safaris in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
15. Two overnights
at a Big Five Private Game Reserve including open vehicle game safaris
16.Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit.
Optional Activities: DAY 7
** TUESDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY – – ZAR 450 pp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 7 ** TUESDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY – ZAR 450 pp --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAY 4 MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY / – BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY COMBO Ticket – ZAR 730 pp ** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them. Visa Requirements This tour travels through eSwatini (Swaziland). Please check visa requirements, as certain nationalities may require visas to travel through eSwatini (Swaziland). Note FLIGHT: GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH) - DURBAN (UMHLANGA) (PLZ/ DUR) and departure tax on Day 9 excluded. Please book flights to depart Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) after 14h30 on Day 9. Recommended flight – FA422 departing Gqeberha (PLZ) at 16h15, arriving Durban (DUR) at 17h35. FLIGHT: HOEDSPRUIT – JOHANNESBURG (HDS/JNB) and departure tax on Day 15 Please book flights to depart Hoedspruit from 12h00 onwards on Day 15
PAGE 17
KRUGER WILDLIFE SAFARI 4 1
Min
Days Country
From
3 Nights accommodation
3 Breakfasts 3 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
2 10
Group size
ZAR 18 630 per person sharing
Water in eco friendly packaging
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Classic Trip
2024
9;23 Jan 2;9;16 Apr 9;23 Jul 1;15;22;29 Oct
6;13;27 Feb
5;12;19;26 Mar
14;28 May 13;27 Aug 5;12;19;26 Nov
18 Jun 3;10;24 Sep 3;10 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
3
eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
INDIAN OCEAN * numbers on map indicate number of nights
Your days will be filled with early morning and afternoon game drives, where each venture into the park holds something new to see. No two days in the Kruger National Park are ever the same and it adds an exciting element. After your time in one of the world’s greatest national parks, you will end with a tour of the Panorama Route, a collection of natural sights that will leave you enamored with the beauty of this country.
Optional Activities: DAY 2
WEDNESDAY - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - VISIT TO THE KNP ANTI-POACHING DOG UNIT – ZAR 250 pp
Highlights: 1. Two days of game
viewing in the Kruger National Park including a thrilling open vehicle game safari with packed breakfast
3. Cosy dinners
around the light of a campfire
2.
Experience the spectacular scenic Panorama Route with visits to God’s Window, Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes
4. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit KRUGER WILDLIFE SAFARI
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
PAGE 18
MAGNIFICENT GARDEN ROUTE 4 1
Min
Days Country
3 Nights accommodation
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
3 Breakfasts 1 Lunch 1 Dinner
Max
2 10
English speaking Group size tour guide
From
ZAR 15 300 per person sharing
Entrance fees
Water in eco friendly packaging
JOURNEY PLANNER
MOSSEL BAY | OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Classic Trip
2024
1;15;29 Jan
5;12;19;26 Feb
4;11;18;25 Mar
1;8 Apr 1;15 Jul 7;14;21;28 Oct
6;20 May 5;19;26 Aug 4;11;18;25 Nov
10 Jun 2;16;23 Sep 2 Dec
All departures are in English
SOUTH AFRICA
You will start in Cape Town and go to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa and the true meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. You will then spend time in Oudtshoorn, where ostriches are the main source of tourism as well as the Cango Caves. Knysna is the next stop, which features a gorgeous lagoon and mythical forests. Your adventure comes to an end in the friendly city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
Highlights: 1
. Visit Dassiesfontein, a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region
2. Visit to
Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)
5
. Sample top quality Port style wines in Calitzdorp, a town well known for its fortified wines
the scenic Tradouw Pass
7
MAGNIFICENT GARDEN ROUTE
Oudtshoorn
Cape Town
1
1 Mossel Bay
1
Knysna
INDIAN OCEAN Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
3
4.Travel via
. Immersive journey into the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
ATLANTIC OCEAN
8
.Enjoy carefully chosen experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit
. Visit to Cape St Blaize Cave in Mossel Bay, site of one of South Africa’s oldest archaeological excavations, and known as the Cradle of Human Culture
6
. Guided tour of the Cango Caves, a wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
9. Meals included in this trip
support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared PAGE 19
WILDLIFE, WINE AND GARDEN ROUTE 6 1
Min
Days Country
5 Nights accommodation
5 Breakfasts 2 Lunches 3 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
Max
English speaking tour guide
2 10
From
ZAR 22 730 per person sharing
Group size
Entrance fees
OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | ALBERTINIA | HERMANUS | CAPE TOWN
Water in eco friendly packaging
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Best Seller!
2024
4;18 Jan 11;25 Apr 4;25 Jul 3;17 Oct
1;15 Feb
7;21 Mar
9 May 8;22 Aug 7;21 Nov
6 Jun 5;19 Sep 5 Dec
All departures are in English
SOUTH AFRICA
This round trip begins in Cape Town and travels through Barrydale, Oudtshoorn and Knysna, where you will experience local life at a farm school, before enjoying the ‘ostrich feather capital’ Oudtshoorn and Knysna, a verdant paradise. Your safari will be reveled in at a private game reserve that is malaria-free and features the Big Five. The journey concludes with a trip to Hermanus, a whale-watching mecca (in season) and ending in Franschhoek, South Africa’s French corner, where wine and art create the ambience of a distinguished experience.
Highlights: 1. Explore the
quality Port style wines in Calitzdorp, a town well known for its fortified wine
2. Enjoy tea & scones
10. Visit to Hermanus,
famous for shore-based whale watching during the whale season (August – November)
3. Visit a local
farm school in the Barrydale area with the opportunity to interact with the children
at the Montagu Country Hotel, the only original Art Deco Hotel in South Africa
5. Guided tour
of the Cango Caves and a guided tour of a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
8. Enjoy a leisurely walk
or swim at Victoria Bay, one or the smallest and most beautiful bays along the Garden Route
7. Visit Tsitsikamma
National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
Cape Town
1
2
Knysna
INDIAN OCEAN
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
Optional Activities:
small towns along the famous Route 62 between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn
4. Sample top
ATLANTIC Franschhoek Oudtshoorn OCEAN
picturesque village in the Cape Winelands
. Enjoy carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit
WILDLIFE, WINE AND GARDEN ROUTE
6
. Visit the ‘Map of Africa’ viewpoint in Wilderness, a unique sight that is quite literally a Map of Africa
11. Visit to Franschhoek, a 13
** DAY 3 SATURDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY – ZAR 450 pp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** DAY 3 SATURDAY – PLETTENBERG BAY – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY – ZAR 450 pp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** DAY 3 MONKEYLAND PRIMATE SANCTUARY / – BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY COMBO Ticket – ZAR 730 pp
9. Open vehicle
game safaris in a malaria-free Big Five private game reserve
12. Drive past the
Victor Verster prison where Nelson Mandela was released from in 1990
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
PAGE 20
SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHLIGHTS 12 1
Min
Days Country
11 Nights accommodation
11 Breakfasts 1 Lunch 4 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
English speaking tour guide
Max
2 10
From
ZAR 47 420 per person sharing
Group size
Water in eco friendly packaging
Entrance fees
JOURNEY PLANNER
MOSSEL BAY | OUDTSHOORN | KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH) | JOHANNESBURG | KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Classic Trip
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
2024
1;15;29 Jan
5;12;19;26 Feb
4;11;18;25 Mar
1;8 Apr 1;15 Jul 7;14;21;28 Oct
6;20 May 5;19;26 Aug 4;11;18;25 Nov
10 Jun 2;16;23 Sep 2 Dec
All departures are in English
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
3
1. Visit Dassiesfontein, a farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region
2. Visit to
Tradouw Pass
Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)
5
. Sample top quality Port style wines in Calitzdorp, a town well known for its fortified wines
4. Guided tour of the
Cango Caves, 1 wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
3. Travel via the scenic
8.
7
. Visit to the Big Tree set in the lush, green indigenous forest
10
. Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
Visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary & Birds of Eden Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay
11. Visit to vibrant
Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Hector Peterson Memorial and Liliesleaf Heritage Site
13. Experience the spectacular
scenic Panorama Route with visits to God’s Window, Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes
SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHLIGHTS
6. Immersive journey into
the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
eSWATINI
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African Highlights is a combination of the best of the best. It all starts in Cape Town, travelling through the celebrated Garden Route and experiencing its warm hospitality, quirky towns and then on to Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, a historical insight into the country’s apartheid struggle years and its liberation, is a fascinating and heart-wrenching narrative, a story that needs to be told. A trip to South Africa would be incomplete without visiting the Kruger National Park, where wildlife encounters will have the spirit of Africa coursing through your veins.
Highlights:
3
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Oudtshoorn
Cape Town
1
1 Mossel Bay
INDIAN OCEAN
Tsitsikamma
2
Knysna
1
Port Elizabeth
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
Optional Activities: DAY 8
MONDAY – JOHANNESBURG
MORNING MAROPENG, CRADLE OF HUMANKIND & STERKFONTEIN CAVES TOUR – ZAR 2 815 pp AFTERNOON PRETORIA TOUR – ZAR R 2 885 pp ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** DAY 10 WEDNESDAY - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience VISIT TO THE ANTI-POACHING DOG UNIT – ZAR 250 pp
9. Bloukrans Bridge
(highest single span arch bridge in the world)
12. Two days of
game viewing in the Kruger National Park including a thrilling open vehicle game safari with packed breakfast
14. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit
Note Flight and departure tax between Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg on Day 6 excluded. Recommended flight – FA376 departing Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) at 15h40, arriving JNB at 17h20.
** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
PAGE 21
GARDEN ROUTE UNCOVERED 6 1
ZAR 19 935
Min
Days Country
2 Max 10
From
5 Nights accommodation
5 Breakfasts 1 Lunch 1 Dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
English speaking tour guide
Group size
per person sharing
Entrance fees
CAPE TOWN | OUDTSHOORN |KNYSNA | TSITSIKAMMA | GQEBERHA (PORT ELIZABETH)
Water in eco friendly packaging
JOURNEY PLANNER 2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Classic Trip
2024
1;15;29 Jan
5;12;19;26 Feb
4;11;18;25 Mar
1;8 Apr 1;15 Jul 7;14;21;28 Oct
6;20 May 5;19;26 Aug 4;11;18;25 Nov
10 Jun 2;16;23 Sep 2 Dec
All departures are in English
The Garden Route Uncovered package is a collection of experiences that make this region celebrated. You will follow the path from Cape Town, through the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, also home to the Cango Caves, and then enjoy the splendour of Knysna and the Tsitsikamma. A world of natural wonder beckons.
Highlights:
4. Guided tour of the
Cango Caves, 1 wine tasting in the scenic Schoemanshoek Valley, guided tour of an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn
7
. Visit to Tsitsikamma National Park and scenic Storms River Mouth
5. Sample top
quality Port style wines in Calitzdorp, a town well known for its fortified wines
8.
Visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary & Birds of Eden Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay
10. Meals included in this trip
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Oudtshoorn
2 Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa)
farmstall packed with locally produced products from the Overberg region
ATLANTIC OCEAN Cape Town
2. Visit to
1. Visit Dassiesfontein, a
SOUTH AFRICA
2
INDIAN OCEAN
1
Knysna Tsitsikamma * numbers on map indicate number of nights
3. Travel via the scenic Tradouw Pass
6. Immersive journey into
the mythical Knysna Forests, discovering the legends built around woodcutters, elephants, steam trains and gold miners
9. Enjoy a variety of
carefully chosen optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences that positively impact our travellers and the communities we visit
support sustainable food production with at least 30% of the food on the menu being sourced locally (within 50-80km) of where it’s prepared ** MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences seek to encourage the greatest community benefit from travel and tourism, while also educating guests about The UN Global Sustainable Development Goals and the local community actions being taken to advance them.
PAGE 22
MAJESTIC VICTORIA FALLS 3 1
per person sharing
Days Country
From
USD 490
2 Nights accommodation
2 Breakfasts 1 Dinner
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles including toll fees
English speaking tour guide
Entrance fees
Water in eco friendly packaging
JOURNEY PLANNER
VICTORIA FALLS
2024 DEPARTURE DATES
Best Seller!
DAILY DEPARTURES WITH NO MINIMUM GUESTS PER BOOKING
ZAMBIA Livingstone
2 Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE
Hwange National Park
Matobo National Park
Spend three magnificent days exploring this legendary African icon and experiencing the scenic beauty of the area. The Victoria falls is known as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ by the locals which translates as ‘The Smoke That Thunders’.
Highlights: 1. Sunset
Boat Cruise (incl. light snacks)
* numbers on map indicate number of nights
DEPARTURE DATES WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY We are delighted that we are now able to offer greater flexibility on our Victoria Falls packages with daily departures on request, as well as additional nights on request. Come with us and experience the world’s natural wonder.
2.
Fully Guided Walking Tour of Victoria Falls
Visa Requirements Visas may be needed by some passport holders.
Note September to January is the dry season.
MAJESTIC VICTORIA FALLS
PAGE 23
GUIDED JOURNEYS MEALS / INCLUSIONS KEY [B] Breakfast [BL] Breakfast, Lunch [BD] Breakfast, Dinner [PB] Packed Breakfast [PL] Packed Lunch [BLD] Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner [FB] Full Board [1GA] 1 Game Activity [2GA] 2 Game Activities
THE PRODUCTION TEAM PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR THOMPSONS AFRICA Viki Haasbroek
DESIGN AND LAYOUT THOMPSONS AFRICA
EDITORIAL
CULLINAN GUIDED JOURNEYS Elana Redelinghuys William Saunderson-Meyer
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images Heather Fitchett Ilan Godfrey Mark Le Grange South African Tourism Kapama Private Game Reserve
Thompsons Africa would like to thank our partners and the numerous suppliers that assisted with imagery for our brochure. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Thompsons Africa cannot be held liable for any omissions or errors.
To complement our Guided Journeys, our South and Southern Africa Brochures feature a comprehensive listing of our product partners. Contact your Thompsons Africa consultant for more information or refer to our website www.thompsonsafrica.com for further details.
THOMPSONS AFRICA – DURBAN 20 The Boulevard, West End Office Park, Spine Road, Westville, Durban Tel: +27-31 275 3500 • Fax: +27-31 275 3990 E-mail: info@thompsonsafrica.com • Website: www.thompsonsafrica.com Thompsons Africa Offices also in: Hazyview & Malalane – Mpumalanga, Hluhluwe & St Lucia – KwaZulu-Natal, Port Elizabeth – Eastern Cape, with representation on the Garden Route. Regional Offices in Africa: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe & Zambia, Chobe – Botswana and Mauritius.