South Africa offers unique experiences that can only be found within the country’s borders. Travelers rightfully associate South Africa with safaris. It is one of the most ecologically diverse countries on the planet. Most people with a travel ‘bucket list’ are dreaming of a safari, but South Africa Travel & Tours will bookend your travel fantasy with a few more once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

In this carefully curated 10-day tour of South Africa, lucky travelers can:

• Safari in an extinct volcanic crater.
• See live performances by international jazz legends.
• Cage dive with great white sharks.
• Sip some of the world’s best wines, made from vines with roots in the 1600s.

Authentic experiences paired with the very best hotels, expertly guided cultural tours, shopping, and fine dining are what make this tour a traveler’s dream.

Ten Days, Three Cities, Countless Experiences

Johannesburg

The thriving metropolis of Johannesburg, or ‘The City of Gold,’ is the largest city in South Africa and home to many of the country’s famed cultural institutions. Travelers will partake in a historic tour where they will visit the Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela’s home, and Hector Pieterson Memorial. Guests will begin their trip by learning about the tumultuous road to democracy that has shaped South Africa into the nation it is today.

While touring Johannesburg, guests will stay in the opulent Sandton Sun Hotel in the heart of Sandton, the most affluent neighborhood of ‘Joburg.’ The hotel is centrally located, a stone’s throw from the upscale Sandton mall with its array of shops and restaurants. On the evening of their check-in, guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails and light bites on the breathtaking terrace while they mingle with their fellow travelers.

Pilansberg

Pilansberg is home to Pilansberg National Park, one of the largest game reserves in South Africa. This particular park is located inside the crater of an extinct volcano that was active 1.3 billion years ago. Now teeming with wildlife, visitors can view the ‘Big 5’ in their natural habitat: lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo.

During their two-day safari, guests will stay at the Ivory Tree Game Lodge. The lodge is an upscale all-suite lodge located at the Northern point of the reserve. Travelers will enjoy beautifully prepared meals at the lodge, with dinners under the stars. Leisurely afternoons between game drives can be spent by the pool, on a bush walk, or taking an archery lesson from the resort staff.

Cape Town

Cape Town, one of South Africa’s three capitals, features stunning vistas from its location along the peninsula beneath the iconic Table Mountain, recognizable for its flat top — 2 miles long across the plateau. Travelers will visit Table Mountain National Park during their tour of the Cape Peninsula. The tour takes guests along the breathtaking coastline, through fishing harbors and the historic naval port of Simon’s Town.

No trip to the Cape Peninsula would be complete without a boat ride to Seal Island and a stop at Boulder’s Beach to see the penguin colony. Optional tours include a hike up Table Mountain, cage diving with great white sharks, or — for the less adventurous type — a quiet day of shopping in the city center.

During their time in Cape Town, travelers will stay at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel. The hotel, located directly on the water with stunning harbor views, features an expansive patio for dining and cocktails. During their downtime, guests can unwind at the pool or treat themselves to a massage in the spa.

Your 2-Day Dream Safari

There are a number of countries and regions throughout the continent to see African animals in their natural habitat, but no place on earth can offer the abundance and diversity of wildlife combined with the luxury of a cosmopolitan getaway quite like South Africa can.

The gorgeous Ivory Tree Game Lodge will serve as a home away from home during a two-day safari in Pilansberg National Park. Each morning will begin with a “wake up call” of tea and coffee before a 2- to 3 hour game drive, returning to hearty breakfast. Afterward guests can lounge poolside with a cocktail until lunch before heading back out into the bush for the last game drive of the day. Evenings are capped off with dinner under the stars.

19th Annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Travelers will have the option to attend the 19th Annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival — the fourth largest jazz festival in the world. Known as “Africa’s Grandest Gathering,” the festival boasts five stages with 40 artists performing over two nights. With 37,000 festival goers, the event draws crowds from around the globe. Notable performers in years past include Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Isaac Hayes, Leela James, Mos Def, and Erykah Badu.

The Best Wines in the World

Cape Town is just about an hour’s drive from scenic Stellenbosch. This quaint college town located in the foothills of the majestic Hottentots-Holland Mountain is known for its vineyards, art galleries, and eclectic shops, many featuring African curios.

South Africa has been producing wine since 1659 and is presently the world’s seventh largest wine producer. The winelands, where Stellenbosch is located, is known for its exceptionally rich soil and ideal growing conditions for a number of varietals. Travelers will enjoy two tastings and a walking tour of Stellenbosch before a leisurely lunch. A perfectly relaxing way to end an unforgettable ten days in South Africa.

See the full itinerary and reserve your spot here. For more tips, ideas, and advice for seeing all there is to see in South Africa, visit us at westcuratedtravel.com.

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