The Affordable South African Safari

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Day 1

Depart from the U.S.

Day 2: Commodore Hotel – Cape Town, South Africa

Arrive Cape Town. Met upon arrival and transfer to the Commodore Hotel, located on the highest point of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, it offers spectacular 360-degree views of Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Granger Bay, Table Bay and Robben Island.

Day 3: Commodore Hotel

You will be collected this morning by Elite Chauffeur Services for a private day trip to the wild and beautiful Cape of Good Hope, stopping to visit the penguin colony on the way. Time permitting you will also visit the world famous beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens, home to 9,000 of Southern Africa’s flowering plants, situated right under the south side of the Table Mountain. (Excludes lunch and entrances)

Day 4: Commodore Hotel

Today you will be collected this morning by your driver for a private day trip with Elite Chauffeur Services to the Stellenbosch wine district, for some tasting and exploring this beautiful area. Since the founding of Stellenbosch in 1679, it has become famous throughout the world for wines of high quality. The 44 cellars of the Wine Route are situated along the four main roads leading to Stellenbosch. Each cellar entrance is clearly signposted, and most of the cellars offer cellar tours as well as lunches in their shaded gardens or restaurants together with a bottle of wine of your choice. You will make new friends as you enjoy the traditional South African hospitality.

Day 5: Commodore Hotel

Day at leisure. Some options would be to go up Table Mountain in the cable car, ascending the mountain in a modern, slowly rotating, cable car. For hikers it is possible to organize a walk to the top – if you are fit! Or walk across to the Robben Island Ferry jetty, just five minutes from the hotel, and take the ferry that leaves every hour on the hour. Here you will make a poignant visit to the prison where Nelson Mandela and his fellow political prisoners languished for 25 years - a 3.5hr trip. (Cost is currently Rand100 per person.) Must book in advance. You will also have a chance to see some of the famous historical buildings in the city. Another option would be to explore the hugely successful Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of South Africa's biggest tourist attractions. The V & A Waterfront has been developed around older wharves of the scenic Cape Town harbour. It is one of the most popular places to dine and stroll, it has the charm of a working harbour with Seagulls and Fur Seals waiting for scraps from fishing boats, and tugs tied next to luxury yachts.

Day 6 - 8: Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge - Sabi Sands Reserve - Kruger

Collected from the Commodore and transfer to Cape Town airport for departure to Johannesburg. Connect in Johannesburg to Fed Air to Skukuza. Met upon arrival and transfer to Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, situated in the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, which is within the southern section of the Kruger National Park. A variety of activities at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge will keep you occupied in this luxurious lodge, ranging from game drives to shopping to relaxing by the pool. Available too are relaxation facilities to give you time to soak in the day's events. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge offers exciting game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles.

Day 9 – 12: Sindabezi Camp - Zambezi - Victoria Falls - Zambia

Depart Sabi Sabi on Federal Air to Johannesburg. Met upon arrival and driven to International Departures. Connect onto SA scheduled departure to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Met by a driver and transfer across the border into Zambia. Continue on to Tongabezi. From there you will be transferred by motorized banana boat (about a 20-minute ride) to their charming island camp Sindabezi.

Located 10 miles upstream from the Victoria Falls, Sindabezi Island offers magnificent views overlooking other islands and a nearby floodplain of the Victoria Falls National Park. Sindabezi is unique being the only island lodge on the Upper Zambezi River in the Victoria Falls area. There is the chance here to experience elephant, hippo, awaken to the dawn chorus - possibly the best wildlife experience in the Victoria Falls region.

Accommodating a maximum of eight guests, Sindabezi chalets are built from local timber, reed and thatch, each with spectacular private views over the Zambezi. All chalets have cold running water, hot bucket showers and flush loos (toilets) with views. The island is fully staffed and all chalets have field phones for room service, but have no electricity.

Many activities can be arranged for you during your stay at Sindabezi. From camp you may game view by boat, canoe, or on foot (all with a professional guide) fish, star gaze, and simply relax in Sindabezi's superb setting.

Day 13: Departure to the U.S.

You will be transferred from Sindabezi to Livingstone. Depart on Nationwide CE to Johannesburg. Connect on to your flight back to the U.S.

Day 14

Arrive in the U.S.

The cost of this safari:

In the High Season for 2004 will be $4,414.00 pp
In the Low Season will be $3,799.00 pp

The price of your safari includes everything in Africa except:

• Entrance fees, lunch, and dinner while in Cape Town.
• Tips for staff - advised by your host, but allow up to $10 per guest per day. This will take care of all the "behind the scenes" help such as: laundry, cooks, game drivers, and portage. Should your driver/guide provide exceptional service or exceed the call of duty, you may tip him direct. Porters at hotels, US $1 per bag per trip. Restaurant bills in Cape Town, 10%-15%. Your guide in Cape Town, $30.
• Items of a personal nature, telephone, fax, laundry.
• The luggage restriction is 15kg p/p in soft - sided bags. Any costs incurred due to excess luggage will be payable direct.
• Increase in fuel prices, currency fluctuations, vat increases. Your safari has been quoted using a Sept 2003 exchange rate of $1 = ZAR 6.915. Please note that the exchange rate fluctuates quite a bit, and the rate at time of final payment will apply.
• The charter company may have to divert or change the flight routing/aircraft for weather/safety/comfort reasons, and reserves the right to charge the passengers for any changes.
• Passport, Zimbabwe visa $30 p/p, Zambian visa $25 p/p, and health inoculation charges.
• International airfare to Cape Town returning from Johannesburg. Internal flights on SA from Cape Town to Johannesburg, SA from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, and CE from Livingston to Johannesburg.

Included:

Commodore Hotel - Breakfast.

Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge - All meals, game drives in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles.

Sindabezi - All meals, drinks, house wine (not premium wines, champagne, sparkling wines or liqueurs), laundry service, parks fees & levies, sunset/sunrise boat trips, fishing, bird walks, gorge walks, afternoon canoeing, visit to Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Livingstone markets and local chief's village, game drives in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park.