South Africa|Safaris in South Africa
Cape, Blue Train, Victoria Falls, Madikwe
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Fast Facts
Travelling to:
Franschhoek, Cape Town, Northern Cape, Pretoria, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Johannesburg and Madikwe Game Reserve
duration:
22 Days - 21 Nights
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This itinerary that travels through some of South Africa's highlights is just WOW. Coupled with the entire experience and the superb accommodation, you are in for a treat all the way!
Visiting Franschhoek, Cape Town, travelling on The Blue Train, Victoria Falls and then ending on an amazing safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve. This trip suits families as well as couples as the safari is malaria free in the Madikwe Game Reserve.
Our highlight of visiting the Madikwe is trying to keep up with a pack of Wild Dog - we were not successful but soon caught up with them in the evening when they were sleeping!
Highlights
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Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle.
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The Blue Train
The Blue Train has been the ultimate in luxury rail travel since 1946.It offers a unique way of experiencing some of Southern Africa’s magnificent landscapes and landmarks. On this train luxury assumes a new dimension.
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Victoria Falls
Resting on the southern banks of the mighty Zambezi river at the western end of the eponymous falls of the same name, the popular tourist town of Victoria Falls is compact enough to walk around and makes and ideal base for travellers exploring the seventh wonder of the world.
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Madikwe Game Reserve
The Madikwe Game Reserve is the newest of South Africa’s prime safari destinations. A public-private partnership resulted in the creation of this Big Five game reserve on almost worthless cattle farms and today it is home to 66 mammal species.
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1 - Travelling
Make your way to London Heathrow Airport for your overnight flight to Cape Town.
Days 3-5 - Franschhoek
Staying at: Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard
On arrival into Cape Town Airport you will be met and transferred by road to your hotel in the Cape Winelands - Franschhoek.
The best part of staying on a vineyard is that you can do wine tasting right on your doorstep and Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard will certainly allow you the opportunity to sample some fine wines. We also highly recommend a trip to other vineyards by using the Franschhoek Wine Tram, stopping for lunch at any one of the superb restaurants.
Days 6 - 10 - Cape Town
Staying at: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
After breakfast you will be picked up and transferred by road to Cape Town. There is so much to do and see in Cape Town, you will not have a chance to stop. A visit to Robben Island is really interesting as you are usually toured around by an ex prisoner and they really take you back in time with their tales. If Table Mountain is clear then be sure to visit straightaway because the table cloth can cover it very quickly and the opportunity of a vist will pass. If you travel to Cape TOwn between the months of July to November you may wish to travel to Hermanus and see the whales either from the shoreline or from a boat, either way is just as exciting.
Day 11 - The Blue Train
Today you will be transferred to the station, where you will meet The Blue Train.
14:30 Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Cape Town Station.
Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks.
15:30 Boarding commences.
Butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers. Boarding concludes at 15:45
16:00 The Blue Train departs from Cape Town Station (will depart earlier if all guests have checked-in.)
18:30 – 20:00 First sitting for Dinner
(Please Note: Dinner is an elegant affair. Gentlemen are requested to at least wear a jacket/waistcoat). Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
20:15 – 22:00 Second sitting for Dinner
(Please Note: Dinner is an elegant affair. Gentlemen are requested to at least wear a jacket / waistcoat). Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed
Day 12 - The Blue Train
06:00 – 09:00 Breakfast is served on a first-come-first-served basis.
11:30 – 13:00 First sitting for Lunch
13:15 – 14:00 Second sitting for Lunch. OFF-THE-TRAIN EXCURSION (Weather & time permitting.)
14:00 The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station
Guests disembark and gather at the Railway Museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum.
15:00 Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine
Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Big Hole.
17:00 Guests depart from Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station
At Kimberly Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo as a memento for guests to keep.
18:30 The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Northbound to Pretoria.
After this exciting tour, guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy aperitifs served at any one of our lounges.
18:30 – 20:00 First sitting for Dinner
(Please Note: Dinner is an elegant affair. Gentlemen are requested to at least wear a jacket/waistcoat). Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
20:30 – 22:00 Second sitting for Dinner
(Please Note: Dinner is an elegant affair. Gentlemen are requested to at least wear a jacket/ waistcoat). Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
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Day 13 - Pretoria
Staying at: Sheraton Pretoria Hotel
06:00 – 09:00 Breakfast is served on a first-come-first- served basis.
10:30 The Blue Train arrives at Pretoria Station - Butlers usher guests to the Arrival Lounge
On arrival into Pretoria train station you will be met and taken to your hotel in Pretoria for an overnight stay.
Days 14 - 15 - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Staying at: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
After breakfast you will have a road transfer to Johannesburg Airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. After arranging your visa for entry into Zimbabwe, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you do as much or as little as you wish. We do recommend a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, the scenery is spectacular and if you are very lucky you will see some wildlife. Of course, a visit to Victoria Falls is not complete without a tour of the falls themselves, these are easy to arrange either locally or in advance.
Day 16 - Johannesburg
Staying at: The Residence, Johannesburg
After your stay at Victoria Falls you will have a flight back down to Johannesburg Airport. On arrival you will be met and transferred by road to your hotel in Johannesburg for an overnight stay.
Days 17 - 19 - Madikwe Game Reserve
Staying at: Tuningi Safari Lodge
After breakfast you will be collected and taken to Johannesburg Airport for your light air transfer to Madikwe Game Reserve. You will be met at Madikwe Airstrip by a lodge vehicle and taken to your game lodge. Game drives in the Madikwe Game Reserve are absolutely amazing. Here you will probably see lions, elephant, giraffe, baboons and if you're really lucky leopard and wild dog. Alongside this you will see plently of birds such as the lilac breasted, fish eagles, yellow horn bills and the police of the bush - guineafowl.
Day 20 - Departure
After your morning game drive and breakfast you will be taken back to Madikwe Airstrip for your light air transfer to Johannesburg Airport which will connect with your overnight flight back to the UK.