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SOUTH AFRICA - Cape Town and the African Safari 
South Africa is one of those destinations that dreams are made of: surreal mountain landscapes and sublime seascapes, world-class wildlife safari, luxurious jungle lodges, cultural vivacity and history of the people, cosmopolitan cities and isolated Zulu and Shangaan villages, excellent South African wines and cuisine. With an immensely varied terrain and a rich natural diversity, South Africa offers a wide range of experiences and is a delight for the senses. This tour will become a highlight of your life. 
During our South African adventure, you will spend 5 days in a luxury designer on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, exploring the vibrant city of Cape Town and the magnificent area that surrounds it. You will explore the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, walk on the Boulder Beach among the colonies of African penguins, take the cable car to Table Mountain and hike to beautiful vistas overlooking the city. You will also tour the Groot Constantia Vineyards in the South African Winelands with its renowned wineries, see the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens to walk on carpets of exotic flowers, stroll in quaint fishing villages and towns with impressive Cape Dutch architecture. 
The most memorable part of the tour will be the 5 days spent at a safari at the luxurious, yet authentic Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve, part of the Sabi Sands and the Kruger National Park ecosystem. Here, you'll experience the true magic of Africa: enjoy two daily game drives (safari) to view the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino), bush walks and visiting local villages and learning about the Tsongas people who once lived on this land alongside the animals.
 Cape Town 

No other South African city combines the heart stopping beauty with the historical importance as Cape Town. This chic waterfront city with Table Mountain towering above it, is known for its Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and is defined by elegant Cape Dutch buildings, big whitewashed gables, often a thatch roof, and shuttered windows and imposing monuments to Britain's imperial legacy. more

 The Table Mountain 
The Table Mountain which towers above the city of Cape Town is a natural phenomenon. Quite often, its completely flat top, stretching 2 for two miles and bordered by impressive cliffs, is covered in clouds which seem to rest on the mountain, spilling down at several places. more
 Cape of Good Hope 
The rocky headland that for centuries was considered the southern tip of Africa and the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans is the Cape of Good Hope. Even though Cape Agulhas is further south, the first rounding of the cape in 1488 by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was a milestone in the attempts to establish direct trading route with the Far East in the Era of Discoveries and Spices (although Herodotus proves that some Phoenicians had done so much earlier). more
 Wine in South Africa 
In 1659, the Dutch settlers produced the first wine in South Africa. To say that it was bad, would be an understatement. But soon, they were joined by the French Huguenots, and by 1685, Simon van der Stel's Constantia winegrowing estate was producing reputable whites and reds. more
 Blyde River Canyon 

The Blyde River's spectacular canyon is one of South Africa's most impressive natural formations. It is located within the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve which follows the escarpment above the Blyde River as it carves its way down to the lowveld. more

 Jungle Accommodations  

One of the pleasures of the African safari is staying in the jungle. The safari lodges are synonymous with gracious style, exotic "African chic" decor and fine dining. They combine the warmth and the wild African beauty with the comfort expected from fine hotels. Surrounded by the jungle, they are the ultimate escape from the stressful world. After the safaris tracking the wildlife in their natural habitat, you'll enjoy the champagne sun-downers in the cooling dusk of the African bush. In the afternoon, there is the formal afternoon tea, and dinner with excellent South African wines is served around a roaring boma fire, under the millions of stars.
The Djuma Bush Lodge in the Sabi Sand part of the Kruger National Park, is unlike any place in the world. Made of wood and thatch, it offers magnificent views of the surrounding African veld. The pool is in a small grove of Tamboti trees and is always delightfully cool. Two viewing decks over the waterhole afford the view of the animals as they come to drink. The luxury chalets are artistically elegant, filled with unique African crafts, teak decks and private plunge pools to create a memorable ambience, which along with the exceptional service and hospitality assure that its magic will stay with you forever.

 African Savannah  

The roar of lions and the sound of crickets traveling across the endless space under a star-studded sky, the smell of wild elephants, the sharp outlines of exotic trees against the setting sun... This is the savannah, a park-like vista of grassland dotted with thorny, flat-topped acacia trees, the quintessential African landscape so often depicted in movies and imagined by travelers.
Savannah, with its diverse natural kingdom, is the place where time began. It holds secrets and mysticism that have captured poets, painters, dreamers and explorers. Here, you can turn the clock to the glorious days of the early safaris when Ernest Hemingway and Teddy Roosevelt stalked the golden grasses for the Big Five. They were all looking up at the starry night sky, knowing that they were closer to heaven here; they sat around a blazing fire under the brilliant Milky Way, evoking the memories of mankind's ancestors who evolved in the savannah millions of years ago. When you experience this, you'll know that even though you will leave Africa, Africa will always remain a part of you. more

 The Big Five  
An African safari is a journey crafted in the tradition of wealthy 13th-century traders who first hunted the plains of Africa for wild game trophies. Today's adventurers hunt for photo opportunities instead, but they encounter the same scenes that have fascinated the early explorers: thousands of zebras migrating across emerald grasslands, flocks of florescent flamingos creating a field of color across a shining lake, lions feasting on a hard-earned kill.
Many travelers trek to Africa in search of the "big five": buffalo, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses. The chance to get close to these animals in their natural habitats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Kruger National Park, where we'll be staying during the safari, is home to an impressive variety of African animals and is the largest conservation area in the world. You are guaranteed to feel the thrill and adventure of a close encounter with wild elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. more

Our South Africa movie

DATES 

January 13 - 22, 2013
10 Days / 9 Nights

Tour starts and ends in Johannesburg (or in New York or Washington with the optional airfare)

COST 

$4,790 double occupancy
$1,050 optional single supplement
$1,195 optional airfare from JFK or IAD (add-on airfare from your city may be available)

$280 optional additional night in Cape Town, including private airport transfer (per room)

MORE DETAILS

REGISTRATION

 

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TOLL FREE: 866-737-9602
240-750-0597 when calling from outside the US 
 
Tours and Vacations for Women 2007-2012
13610 Chrisbar Ct., Germantown, MD 20874
 Email: ymbarnes@sightsandsoul.com

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