South Africa encourages excitement, the natural landscape suggesting thrills and charms. Cage diving with white sharks, horseback and walking safaris, helicoptering over Table Mountain; this country is always a unique adventure. On this 12-day South Africa tour, you experience an abundance of adrenaline, with stops in Cape Town, Sabi Sands, and the white beach of St Lucia. From the Big Five to vintage WWII sidecars and rappelling Table Mountain, this is South Africa for adventurous travelers.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Cape Town – A Relaxed Welcome to South Africa
Descending into Cape Town provides breathtaking aesthetics. The plane swoops over the Table Mountain chain, jagged mountains rising sporadically above a carpet of vineyards. Atlantic Ocean waves glisten in the distance and the precipitous slopes of Table Mountain are eminently visible. Such a raw natural landscape immediately suggests adventure, while quickly inducing an atmosphere of serenity; with such a majestic mountain hanging above everything, nobody feels the need to rush anything in Cape Town. A guide greets you at the airport for the short transfer into the city and your five-star hotel, an ocean-facing residence with sublime sunset views. It's located within the V & A Waterfront, a large pedestrianized complex filled with restaurants, food markets, boutique shops, and bars.
What's Included:
Day 2
Cape Town – Climbing Table Mountain then Rappelling Down From the Summit
Day 3
Cape Town – Driving a Vintage Sidecar to the Southwestern Tip of Africa
Day 4
Cape Town – Helicopter Flight Above Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula
Day 5
Cape Town – The Thrills and Surprising Charms of Great White Shark Cage Diving
Day 6
Sabi Sands – Big Five Safari Introduction in the Kruger Ecosystem
Day 7
Sabi Sands – Exhilarating Walking Safari in the Sabi Sands
Day 8
Sabi Sands – Horse Riding in the Kruger
Day 9 - 11
St Lucia – White Beach Tranquility and Boat Safaris Through the iSimangaliso Wetlands
Day 12
Richards Bay to Johannesburg – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Complement all the adventure with luxurious accommodations in the hearts of your destinations: five nights in Cape Town, three in Sabi Sands, and three in St Lucia
- Discover the Cape from two inspiring perspectives, first by driving to the tip in a vintage sidecar, then by helicoptering above Table Mountain and two oceans
- Many people stand on the summit of Table Mountain; you'll also rappel down its vertical face
- Come face to face with wild white sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, with a (very safe) cage diving experience in Shark Alley
- Explore the Kruger ecosystem on exhilarating game drives, enjoying personal encounters with far more than the Big Five
- Continue the safari adventure with a walking safari alongside wild elephants, then a horseback safari with the zebra herds
- After eight days of adventure, you relax on the white Indian Ocean beaches of St Lucia, where diving and snorkeling reveal vibrant reefs and aquatic wildlife
- Paddle in a canoe through the lagoons of iSimangaliso, a huge wetland that teems with hippos, primates, and elephants
Detailed Description
South Africa has always has its own take on adventure. You don't just go horse riding here, you take a horseback safari with galloping zebra herds. Canoeing through a lagoon includes circumnavigating hippo pods. Table Mountain entices you skyward, and then encourages you to jump off the side on one of the world's longest commercial rappels. Helicopter rides, diving with great white sharks, walking safari with elephants; South Africa is an adult playground, a realm of adventure that matches thrills with charms. This 12-day tour connects South Africa's most unique adventures, with five nights in Cape Town, three in the Sabi Sands game reserve, and three on St Lucia amongst the iSimangaliso wetlands. Providing a counterpoint to the adrenaline is a series of exceptional accommodations, including a decadent oceanfront hotel and a treehouse lodge in the heart of the savannah.
Cape Town immediately compels, Table Mountain rising imperiously above the Atlantic Ocean. Adventure comes in all styles here, including a Table Mountain rappel and driving a vintage WWII sidecar to the southwestern tip of Africa. Nature defines the city and a helicopter flight offers the ultimate panorama, showcasing how the suburbs are nestled into the folds of the mountain. Follow the Atlantic waves around the peninsula and you reach Shark Alley, a fabled haven for great whites. Seals must run a gauntlet whenever they wish to dive for fish and shark cage diving offers the ultimate view of the spectacle. No diving experience is required, as you're essentially suspended in a cage as the great whites swim past. While it might sound alarming, just like all the experiences featured on this itinerary, shark cage diving has an exemplary safety record.
You fly from Cape Town to Kruger, South Africa's most famous safari ecosystem. A day of game drives acquaints you with the great mammals, particularly the abundance of rhinos, lions, and elephants. By staying in the private Sabi Sands reserve, you're able to get closer. Gallop alongside the ungulate herds on a horseback safari, then spend a day walking into a savannah that's packed with wild animals. On both these experiences, the focus is on avoiding the predators and getting close to the charming world of African wildlife. Fly to St Lucia for three days on a white sand beach, with Indian Ocean waters lapping gently and monkeys shouting from the trees surrounding your lodge. You'll combine the sunbathing with canoe and boat safaris into the iSimangaliso wetlands, home to large populations of hippo, elephant, and primates.
Starting Price
$7,800 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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