Best of South Africa with Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Johannesburg & Cape Town, 3 game drives in Kruger and a private conservancy, plus a bush walk; stay in upscale hotels throughout.
Overview
Also see Best of South Africa
Style | Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packaged, may accommodate up to 24.) More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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Departures | February – December 2024 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
Themes | Active, History & Culture, Grand Tours, Nature & Wildlife | ||
Activity Level | Recreational | ||
What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted South Africa tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations and may have limited rest stops. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
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Explore deeper into South Africa on our comprehensive Best of South Africa small group escorted tour. Begin your tour by visiting majestic Victoria Falls. Then, travel to cosmopolitan Johannesburg, South Africa's largest metropolis, also know as "Egoli" or City of Gold. Head north to begin your safari in Karongwe Private Game Reserve, where you'll embark on a late morning bush walk with an experienced ranger. Continue your game viewing in Kruger National Park, one of the world's oldest and most famous game reserves. Rest assured, you'll have ample opportunities to spot the Big 5! Finally, end your tour in scenic Cape Town, exploring the city's vibrant neighborhoods, storied past and incredible cuisine; then look down on it all from the top of Table Mountain. Your ticket is pre-purchased, so you won't spend hours waiting in line to buy one.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York via wide-bodied jet service, including taxes & fees
- Flights, ground transportation and transfers within South Africa
- 13 nights in superior first class and deluxe hotels
- 22 meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, & 5 dinners, including welcome and farewell dinners with wine
- Professional English-speaking tour directors
- Comprehensive touring program and safaris, including entrance fees
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional excursion to Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Why you'll love it
- Visit South Africa's largest and most populous city, Johannesburg, and learn about the country’s poignant past at the Apartheid Museum.
- Experience a close-up look at daily life in the bustling neighborhood of Soweto.
- Come face-to-face with lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and more during 2 game drives and a bush walk in Karongwe Private Game Reserve and a full-day game drive in Kruger National Park.
- Enjoy the jaw-dropping view of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons, during your drive along the astonishing Panorama Route.
- Bask in the scenic and historic highlights of beautiful Cape Town, including a trip to Table Mountain by cable car.
- Explore Cape Point including Hout Bay, Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
- Standing in the presence of the majestic Victoria Falls, surround yourself with the thunderous roar of the powerful water and the constant mist rising above.
- Cruise along the Zambezi River and marvel at the stunning African sunset.
Itinerary at a Glance
![Best of South Africa with Victoria Falls map](https://res.cloudinary.com/friendly-planet/image/fetch/q_auto,f_auto,w_520,c_limit/https://www.friendlyplanet.com/media/gallery/maps/best-of-south-africa-victoria-falls-big.png)
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Arrive Johannesburg
- 3 Johannesburg
- 4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- 5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park 2023
- 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park 2024
- 7 Kruger National Park 2023
- 7 Kruger National Park 2024
- 8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town
- 9 Cape Town
- 10 Cape Point & Cape Town
- 11 Cape Town
- Optional Excursion: Half Day Stellenbosch Winelands
- 12 Victoria Falls
- 13 Victoria Falls
- 14 Victoria Falls
- Optional Excursion: Chobe National Park, Botswana, $210
- 15 Depart Zimbabwe
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Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart New York on your overnight flight for Johannesburg, South Africa
Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg
- Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa meet your guide and transfer to your hotel
- This evening, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner
Sandton Sun or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryArrive today in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest and most populous city. Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. En route, enjoy a panoramic orientation tour of this cosmopolitan city, affectionately referred to as "Jo'Burg" or "Jozi" by the locals. Check in at your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
This evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner with wine.Day 3 Johannesburg
- See what daily life is like in the Soweto neighborhood
- Learn more about the rise and fall of apartheid at the Apartheid Museum
- Visit Maboneng district
Sandton Sun or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, embark on a fascinating tour to Soweto (short for Southwestern Township), a sprawling metropolis on the outskirts of Johannesburg, for a close-up look at daily life in this bustling neighborhood, the most prominent black urban settlement in Africa and the center of political campaigns aimed at the overthrow of the apartheid state. On the way, drive through the residential suburb of Rivonia, continue past the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Church, where many secret underground meetings took place, and the former residence of Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Nelson Mandela.
Later, visit the Apartheid Museum for an in-depth historical look at the system of extreme racial segregation that plagued South Africa from 1948 until 1994, when it was finally dismantled. Later, visit the Maboneng district, an innovative urban neighborhood filled with urban art galleries, chic restaurants, and unique office spaces for creative, like-minded people.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Depart for Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Afternoon game drive in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Shiduli Private Game Lodge or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDepart Johannesburg this morning for a scenic drive to your lodge in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve. The Reserve teems with an abundance of game, wildlife, and diverse vegetation. After check-in, you'll have some time to freshen up before an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Day 5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Early morning game drive in open safari vehicles
- Bush walk with an experienced local ranger
Shiduli Private Game Lodge or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early morning wake-up call and a fresh cup of coffee or tea served with rusks, a traditional South African biscuit, head out in open safari vehicles for your African bush game drive. Search for the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo - and some of the smaller fascinating creatures such as chameleons, scrub hare, and more. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast.
Later, set off on foot for a bush walk with your experienced ranger, who will teach you some bush skills such as animal tracking as well as bird and plant identification. Return to your lodge to relax and enjoy the facilities.Day 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park 2023
- Drive along the awe inspiring Panorama Route
- Stop at Graskop Gorge and take the lift to the forest below
- View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon
- Arrive this afternoon in Kruger National Park
Kruger Gate Hotel or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, relax on a scenic journey through the Limpopo province. Stop for breathtaking views of rolling mountains, verdant valleys, the Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's Window. Next, stop at Graskop Gorge, and descend 51 meters along the face of the gorge into the forest below. Wooden walkways and suspension bridges meander along a 600-meter trail through the indigenous forest with interactive exhibits. Later, view the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons. En route, enjoy lunch at the ever-popular Harries Pancakes.
Continue to your hotel, located just outside the Kruger National Park. On arrival, check in at your hotel, and take some time to relax in the beautiful surroundings.Day 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park 2024
- Drive along the awe inspiring Panorama Route
- Stop at Graskop Gorge and take the lift to the forest below
- View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon
Angels View Hotel Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, relax on a scenic journey through the Limpopo province. Stop for breathtaking views of rolling mountains, verdant valleys, the Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's Window. Next, stop at Graskop Gorge, and descend 51 meters along the face of the gorge into the forest below. Wooden walkways and suspension bridges meander along a 600-meter trail through the indigenous forest with interactive exhibits. Later, view the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons. En route, enjoy lunch at the ever-popular Harries Pancakes.
Continue to your hotel. On arrival, check in at your hotel, and take some time to relax in the beautiful surroundings.Day 7 Kruger National Park 2023
- Full day game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles in Kruger National Park
- Special Boma Dinner
Kruger Gate Hotel or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early morning wake-up call, depart for an exciting full-day safari in open 4x4 safari vehicles into the Kruger National Park, one of the world's most famous game reserves. You'll see the ever-present impala and be on the lookout for wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and many other types of antelopes.
This evening, enjoy a special Boma Dinner.Day 7 Kruger National Park 2024
- Full day game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles in Kruger National Park
Angels View Hotel or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early morning wake-up call, depart for an exciting full-day safari in open 4x4 safari vehicles into the Kruger National Park, one of the world's most famous game reserves. You'll see the ever-present impala and be on the lookout for wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and many other types of antelopes.
Day 8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town
- Transfer to the airport in Johannesburg
- Afternoon flight to Cape Town
- Balance of evening at leisure
The Capital 15 on Orange or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, leave the bush behind as you transfer to the airport in Johannesburg for your flight to Cape Town, a beautiful jewel nestled between stunning Table Mountain and a dramatic coastline. Cape Town is a modern, bustling, and vibrant city boasting gorgeous scenery, fabulous restaurants, hotels, and beaches, bursting with history and culture. Upon arrival at Cape Town's airport, you will be transferred to your centrally located hotel.
Enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Day 9 Cape Town
- Witness the scenic and historic highlights of Cape Town on a half day panoramic city tour
- Weather permitting, ascend by cable car to the top of Table Mountain
- Get hands-on and create your own bead and wire art souvenir
The Capital 15 on Orange or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Cape Town showcasing this vibrant city's scenic and historical highlights. Weather permitting, travel by cable car to the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town's most striking landmark and recently announced as one of the world's New Seven Wonders of Nature.
(If the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is closed due to maintenance or inclement weather, visit Signal Hill instead)
Continue through the Malay Quarter (Bo-Kaap). Lined with brightly colored houses and decorative mosques, this historic neighborhood was founded by formerly enslaved people from Malaysia, whose Islamic culture gives the area a distinct character and contributes to Cape Town's rich cultural diversity. The final stop on your tour is the lively Cape Town Waterfront, where numerous restaurants and entertainment options abound.
Visit Streetwires, an artists' collective and social enterprise that recruits unemployed people and trains them as wire and bead artists. Established in 2000, Streetwires began with the idea that something as dynamic and imaginative as wire art should have a supportive and sustainable business structure to boost the craft. Watch master artists at their craft, and then spend some time with them learning how to create two of your bead and wire art keychains.
Spend the rest of the afternoon leisurely to become better acquainted with Cape Town.Day 10 Cape Point & Cape Town
- Full day excursion to Cape Point National Park including a cruise along Hout Bay
- Visit Boulders Beach and see the African jackass penguins
- Afternoon tour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Remainder of the day at leisure
The Capital 15 on Orange or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryA full-day excursion to Cape Point National Park begins this morning with a cruise along Hout Bay, where you'll see the seals of Duiker Island. Enter the nature reserve that covers the southern part of the Peninsula, and drive through the unique scenery towards Cape Point. Travel by funicular railway to Cape Point, where you can take in stunning views of the Cape of Good Hope.
After lunch, make a brief stop to visit the African jackass penguins at Boulders Beach, and then continue to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you'll have a magnificent display of indigenous South African flora. Return to your hotel late this afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.Day 11 Cape Town
- Last day to explore Cape Town at leisure
- Join an optional excursion to Stellenbosch Winelands
- Enjoy a dinner and drum performance
The Capital 15 on Orange or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryLast day to explore Cape Town at leisure.
Optional Excursion: Half Day Stellenbosch WinelandsThis afternoon, depart to glorious Stellenbosch, in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Take a leisurely drive through this beautiful, world-renowned region before venturing into the wine-making process in a fascinating cellar tour with wine tasting. Then explore the region's fine art galleries, architecture, history, and quaint shops.
Purchased locally.
Day 12 Victoria Falls
- Transfer to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls
- Meet your local guide, and transfer to your hotel
- Remainder of the day at leisure
Victoria Falls Safari Club Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryToday, fly to Victoria Falls. You'll soon discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the greatest natural wonders—and the world's largest curtain of falling water!
Check into your award-winning resort, located high on a plateau bordering the Zambezi National Park. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure at one of the hotel swimming pools or game-viewing platforms. Elephants, buffalo, and other wild animals often graze on hotel lawns.Day 13 Victoria Falls
- Guided tour of Victoria Falls
- Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
Victoria Falls Safari Club Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryYour exploration of the falls begins with a guided tour of the Zimbabwe side. Located at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls consists of numerous falls separated by islands in the river below. The Zambezi River spills more than 2 million gallons per second over the Bakota Gorge, casting multiple rainbows and resulting in an awe-inspiring display of raw power unrivaled by other natural wonders. The tremendous roar of the water and the ever-present cloud of spray give the falls their local moniker, "Smoke that Thunders."
Later today, have the opportunity to witness a breathtaking sunset while enjoying a cruise along the Zambezi River. Be on the lookout for hippos, monkeys, elephants, and crocodiles that frequent the waters and the surrounding areas.Day 14 Victoria Falls
- Day at leisure or partake in an optional full day excursion to Chobe National Park.
Victoria Falls Safari Club Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent natural wonder on your own. Wander along the well-marked trails through the rainforest that wind up to and around the falls. The trails allow for excellent picture-taking from various vantage points (be sure to protect your camera if it's not waterproof). There is a wide range of optional excursions available locally on a request basis, including game drives, walking safaris, bungee jumping, and more. We recommend the full-day tour of Chobe National Park in Botswana.
Optional Excursion: Chobe National Park, Botswana, $210Take advantage of an optional full-day excursion to the Chobe National Park in Botswana, renowned for its large elephant population. Begin the day with a safari boat cruise on the Chobe River. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the Chobe Game Lodge and end the day with an afternoon game drive in an open vehicle.
This excursion requires a passport and a double-entry Zimbabwe visa.Minimum of 2 passengers is required.
Day 15 Depart Zimbabwe
- Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight home via Johannesburg
- Your memorable South African adventure ends as you touch down tomorrow morning in New York
Breakfast
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
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What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
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Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
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Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
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Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
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Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
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What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
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What should I know about South Africa? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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What should I know about Zimbabwe? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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What should I know about Botswana? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.