Lion prides basking on the scorched African savannah, great white sharks leaping from the waves with a seal carcass, white rhinos marching past your lodge verandah. South Africa is the home of nature's giants, both on land and in the ocean. On this 7-night South Africa tour, you see all seven of the most revered African animals, including exquisite leopards, rumbustious elephant herds, boisterous buffalo, and 50-ton southern right whales.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Cape Town – Sunset at the Waterfront
Land in Cape Town and its most famous monument is easily found, Table Mountain rising majestically above a city of colorful houses and a relaxed coastal ambiance. Nothing is rushed here, the towering mountain a reminder that the passage of time can't be interrupted or cheated. You'll be greeted at the airport, and it's a 30-minute private transfer to the V & A Waterfront, the city's premier coastal address. Your five-star hotel stands over the harbor, offering prime views of the ocean sunset as well as angles towards the rugged mountain. Within a five-minute walk, you can find boutique craft markets, exceptional seafood restaurants, unusual public artwork and the welcoming atmosphere that the city is renowned for. It's all in a large fully-pedestrianized space that provides a charming welcome to the country.
What's Included:
Day 2
Cape Town – Table Mountain and the Vineyards of Constantia
Day 3
Gansbaai to Hermanus – Great White Shark Cage Diving
Day 4
Hermanus – Intimate Encounters with Southern Right Whales
Day 5
Cape Town to Sabi Sands – A Game Drive on the African Savannah
Day 6 - 7
Sabi Sands – Thrilling Big Five Safari in the Kruger Area
Day 8
Sabi Sands to Johannesburg – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Come face to face with great white sharks on a cage diving experience in Gansbaai, then watch from the boat as the ocean's greatest predator jumps clear from the water
- Watch whales breaching from your hotel balcony in Hermanus, then take a boat or kayak trip to get closer to their immense 50-ton frames
- Go on safari in an ecosystem that contains over half the world's wild rhinos and constantly bump into the graceful horned giants
- A 3-day safari in the Sabi Sands is all about the predators, and the experience isn't just about spotting lions and leopards, it's about seeing them in the thrill of the hunt
- Large elephant and buffalo herds complete the big seven experience, their thunderous footsteps reverberating across the savannah
- Explore the beauty of Cape Town on your first two days in South Africa, which include the summit of Table Mountain and the sensual vineyards of Constantia
Detailed Description
South Africa is the land of nature's giants. Elephants move in large herds, their trumpeted calls resonating beyond the horizon. Buffalos march, rumbling footsteps echoing far across the savannah. Great white sharks leap clear of frothy ocean waters, often with a seal carcass hanging limply from razored teeth. In a calm bay, a little further around the coast, female southern right whales nurture their calves. The 50 to 60-ton males follow the scent of the hormones, filling the bay with further charms. Back on the savannah, and the predators rule their kingdom, lion prides who bask beneath trees and leopards who drape their spots across the acacia branches. Then there are also rhinos, over half the world's wild and endangered population residing in the savannah where you'll be going on safari. It's not just the big five. There are seven giants to intimately discover.
South Africa's dramatic landscapes provide the starting point to this tour, the vertical Table Mountain Chain casting a shadow across two different oceans. Spend the first two days in Cape Town and the mountain is almost always in view, including when you sip wine from the sensual vineyards of its hidden back slopes. Follow the waves two hours east, stopping in Gansbaai for a boat trip to Shark Alley. Great whites soar from the water then disappear into the depths, only to return and circle as they intercept seals out hunting for fish. From the safety of a half-submerged cage, you admire their haunting beauty, sometimes from barely one or two meters away. Continue 30 minutes further to Walker Bay and migratory southern right whales can be spotted from your hotel balcony. Next, you'll enjoy thrilling close-ups, choosing either a boat or kayak tour across the bay. Weighing over 50 tons, these are some of the largest mammals alive, and they're in frisky mood as the mating and calving seasons coincide.
Then it's onto the savannah, a flight taking you from Cape Town to the Sabi Sands and an airstrip that's surrounded by the drama of the wild. On the transfer to the lodge, there will be a series of encounters, Africa's big game roaming freely in a huge unfenced habitat. The land-based big five are here, and they're found in abundance; Sabi Sands isn't a place to glimpse the revered animals, it's where you're fully immersed in the rhythm of the savannah, from elephants wandering past at dinner time to lionesses and buffaloes clashing at sunrise.
Three days of safari means the experience isn't rushed, and you can explore in a variety of ways. Walking safaris bring intimate moments with the smaller animals while nighttime drives find the predators on the move. This is wild Africa, and you don't need to search for the big five; sometimes you're sitting on the verandah, and a herd of elephants or a small rhino family will wander past before your eyes. From the Sabi Sands, there are direct flights to Johannesburg, where you connect with your international flight, after seeing the big seven in just seven nights.
Starting Price
$5,200 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.95 stars based on 1184 reviews.
Zicasso's trip planner and his team were amazing! He worked with us to plan the perfect trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. From the moment we landed in Johannesburg until our flight home from Cape Town, everything was seamless and flawless. We can't thank him and his team enough. If you are looking to visit South Africa and beyond, I highly recommend our agent and his team!!! He and his team will be the first to be contacted if we venture to the African continent again. Thank you again! We can't thank you enough!
Reviewed By David M.
Our trip was amazing and Zicasso's travel company and our agent could not have been more helpful in planning the trip and making sure it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She listened to our desires and planned a trip that met all our requirements. She was very patient in making little modifications until we were completely satisfied.
When we encountered some delays during the trip, she was very responsive in helping notify people on the ground and rescheduling our activities so we didn't miss a thing.
She was very knowledgeable about Southern Africa and selected exceptional lodging facilities for us. The accommodations were not only beautiful, but the staff were extremely professional, friendly, and attentive.
I would highly recommend this travel company if planning an African adventure!
Reviewed By David B.
Zicasso's tour agents planned an amazing trip; everything was perfect and every detail was covered! Their recommendations on when to go, where to go, and what to see were spot on.
Reviewed By diane B.
This was a trip of a lifetime. We are not sure we will ever be able to top it! I have never cried leaving a place before because I was so sad it was over, but I did... three times! From the incredible food and views in Cape Town to the unforgettable adventure at the buffalo camp to the amazing views of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, we cannot say enough good things about our experience.
We've used Zicasso several times and have always had a great experience. That's why we keep coming back! But our experience with this travel agency was above and beyond all our expectations. The way our travel agent crafted our trip to meet our desires; stayed in constant contact via text, phone and email; provided us a departure call to walk us through every step of the trip before we left; and stayed connected throughout our trip to ensure we were having a good time and help us tweak some things along the way was customer service like we have never received. We would work with this agency and our agent again in a heartbeat and recommend them to friends and family.
Reviewed By Allison B.
Zicasso's travel agents were excellent at providing a luxury trip. I also sincerely appreciated that they respected my budget. Every detail was expertly planned and completely stress-free.
Reviewed By Amanda G.
Zicasso's travel agent was a blessing. Her organizational skills were excellent. The trip plan app was used daily during our trip. What a wonderful tool. Our agent had all the pertinent information in the app and at our fingertips. The trip exceeded our expectations. I would definitely recommend using our travel agent and Zicasso to all my friends.
Reviewed By Tom O.