Day 1 - USA/Capetown
Depart from Bew York City on award-winning Emirates Airlines.
Day 2 - Cape Town
Arrive Capetown Airport, where you are met as you exit the terminal building. Board your transfer vehicle and continue to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. (Sun Square City Bowl)
Day 3 - Cape Town
Full-day Cape Point Tour. The tour begins with a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast, passing through the cosmopolitan suburb of Sea Point and Camps Bay with its glorious views of the Twelve Apostles, part of the Table Mountain range. Continue to the fishing village of Hout Bay, where there is an option to take a short boat trip to Duiker Island (on own account & time permitting) to view the Cape Fur Seals that inhabit the island. From here travel over Chapman's Peak (if open) to the Cape Point Nature Reserve to see a variety of wildlife that includes baboons, Cape Mountain zebra, bontebok and the elusive eland. The reserve is also one of the world's largest breeding grounds for tortoises. The majestic coastline offers drama worthy of being called "Nature's Greatest Show." You'll be able to see the union of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (as per legend) and may even feel the brisk wind that is dubbed the "Cape Doctor" for its presumed curative powers. Following the coastline along False Bay, return to Cape Town by way of Simon's Town (optional, on own account & time permitting visit to Penguin colony), Fish Hoek fishing village and Muizenberg. Return to Cape Town, stopping at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (on own account), then passing the University of Cape Town, Rhodes Memorial, and the Groote Schuur Hospital. (B)
Option includes: Cape Point entrance fee, Chapmans Peak (if open)
Option excludes: Seal Island boat cruise, lunch, penguin colony, Cape Point funicular, Kirstenbosch Gardens.
Day 4 - Capetown
Full day free to explore Cape Town on your own. Or, take optional tours. (B)
Day 5 - Cape Town/Johannesburg/Mongena Private Game Lodge
In the morning, fly to Johannesburg. Meet your driver guide and have a safari briefing. Board your safari vehicle and continue by road to the Dinokeng Game Reserve, the first free-roaming Big 5 game reserve in Gauteng – and probably in the world – next to an urbanized area. A private/public initiative for which planning and development started in the early 2000’s, the Reserve was officially opened on September 22, 2011 after the introduction of four of the Big 5. The last of the Big 5, the buffalo, were introduced in late 2012 and they have settled in well.
Arrive for lunch. Afternoon game drive in Dinokeng Private Game Reserve. Early evening return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. (Mongena Private Game Lodge) (B/L/D)
Day 6 & Day 7 - Malaria Free Dinokeng Private Game Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drive in Dinokeng Private Game Reserve. Early evening return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Mongena Private Game Lodge, situated within the Dinokeng Game Reserve, is a 4-star private lodge a mere 90-minute drive from OR Tambo International Airport and 40 minutes from Pretoria. This hidden gem spans a total of 8,000 ha of pristine bushveld, which is not only home to the Big 5, but also an abundant birdlife and diverse general plains game population. Sundowner boat cruises provide an alternative game viewing option, while morning and evening game drives are conducted on custom-built 10-seat game viewers. The lodge is able to accommodate up to 61 guests in shared accommodation, while central guest facilities include bar, lounge, swimming pool, main dining area, and Boma. (B/L/D)
Day 8 - Johannesburg/Mongena Private Game Lodge/Johannesburg
Private Road Transfer from Magic Bus from Mongena Private Game Lodge to Garden Court Sandton City - Standard Sedan With Driver. (Garden Court Sandton City Hotel) (B)
Day 9 - Johannesburg/USA
Transfer to the airport, board Emirates Airlines and arrive in US the same day. (B)
