Duration: 9 Days
From colourful Cape Town and historic Johannesburg to safari in a private game reserve, your tour of South Africa is an adventure like no other. Start in Cape Town where you’ll ascend Table Mountain via cable car for spectacular views. At Boulders Beach, observe a colony of endangered penguins, then venture to Cape Point Nature Reserve, the Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Point at the continent’s most southwestern tip. Next, travel to a private game reserve where you’ll set out on six games drives in an open-air 4-wheel-drive vehicle with an expert Ranger. Search for Africa’s “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo and much more. Cap off each day with refreshing sundowner drink, the perfect way to relax and reflect as the sun sets over the beautiful South Africa landscape.
You’ll also visit Johannesburg’s Soweto Township to learn about its turbulent past and hopeful future. Tour the thought-provoking Apartheid Museum and Mandela House, located in the former neighbourhood of Nobel Peace Prize winners, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Your South Africa tour is an adventure into historic heritage.
Traveller Notes
- Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes expert Tour Directors, hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations including intra-tour flights—with value-minded travellers in mind. On safari, you’ll enjoy the knowledge and insight of a professional Ranger and Game Tracker aboard your open-air 4-wheel-drive safari vehicle. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
- Filtered Water: Included on all game drives
- All game viewing is done at your own risk. We will require a signed liability waiver prior to travel.
- For approximately one month each year, typically from late July to late August, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is closed for annual maintenance. In these instances, a private tour of Kirstenbosch National Garden will be included in its place.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to Africa! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Today, enjoy a full day of sightseeing, starting with a cable-car ride up Table Mountain for stunning views of the city, Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands. Next, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African Penguins, known for their unique sound. After free time for lunch, continue to Cape Point Nature Reserve for stops at the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Here, take a funicular ride to the steps of the old lighthouse for spectacular panoramic views. On your return journey back to Cape Town, skirt the rocky coastline as you ascend Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B,L)
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps explore the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, take an optional excursion to the stunning Cape Winelands for wine tasting, or go whale watching in nearby Hermanus (Jun.-Oct.). Your Tour Director has suggestions to help you make the most of your day. (B)
Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Karongwe Private Game Reserve, overlooking the majestic Drakensburg Mountains. This area, near Kruger National Park, is famous for its abundance of wildlife, including the "Big 5"-lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. After lunch, embark on your first exciting game drive. Stop for a sundowner in the bush before returning to your lodge for dinner. (B,L,D)
Your skilled tracker and professional Ranger work together as a team during your early morning game drive, so you can learn more about the ecosystem as you view wildlife up close. Beyond the "Big 5," you'll have the chance to see kudu, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, and more! Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax and enjoy the lodge and its surroundings. In the mid-afternoon, tea will be served prior to your afternoon game drive. Step out of your safari vehicle for a sundowner drink and watch as the sun sets over the Drakensberg Mountains. Return to your lodge in time to freshen up for dinner. (B,L,D)
Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. If the timing is right, you might spot some of the big cats after a night of hunting. Spend time at leisure in the middle of the day. Perhaps take a swim in the pool, visit the wellness centre for one of its many spa treatments, or simply sit back and watch the animals. Your afternoon game drive concludes with a sundowner drink as the sun sets over the bushveld! (B,L,D)
Enjoy one last game drive this morning before transferring to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Today's sightseeing starts with a visit to Soweto (South Western Township), the largest township in the country. Along the way, see the neighborhood that was home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Visit Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to around 1960, when he was forced underground to elude arrest. After lunch, visit the Museum to learn about the founding of South Africa before delving into the apartheid era. Using photos, video, and print, the museum takes you on an extraordinary journey through the apartheid years to the 1994 democratic elections that named Nelson Mandela president. (B,L)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
