South Africa

Itinerary note: this tour is limited to 12 guests

Limited to a small group of guests, ZOOM SOUTHERN AFRICA embodies all the elements of a perfect Southern Africa vacation:  the beaches and nightlife of cosmopolitan Cape Town, the delectable wine country, the exhilarating Big Five game viewing at Kruger National Park from the terrace of your luxury villa or a Range Rover, and stunning Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Plus, your dedicated Zoom Concierge is there to make sure your trip is nothing short of spectacular.  You will enjoy the best hotels and custom activities you have come to expect from a Zoom Vacations® trip.

Day One – Cape Town

Arrival in Cape Town. Transfer to the Mount Nelson, Cape Town.

Cape Town’s history goes back almost 400 years. Located at the base of majestic Table Mountain, at the tip of Africa, Cape Town is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city of abundant natural beauty.  Blessed with some of the most beautiful golden beaches in the Southern Hemisphere, Cape Town enjoys year-round sunshine and a Mediterranean climate.

Evening: Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at one of the best restaurants in Cape Town.

Accommodations:  The Mount Nelson, 5 Stars Meals Included: Welcome cocktail reception and dinner

Day Two – Cape Town

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel

Morning/Afternoon: Taste of Cape Town city tour with our own personal expert guide, including visits to Table Mountain by cable car to see a panoramic view of the city, stunning Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and Robben Island, where Mandela, the father of the modern day South African Republic, was imprisoned for 18 years. Time permitting we will also visit the world-class Two Oceans Aquarium which showcases the incredible diversity of marine life found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. We end at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront marina and shopping complex to explore this cosmopolitan shopping playground.

Evening: Evening is at leisure to explore one of Cape Town’s fantastic restaurants, and its nightlife.

Accommodations: The Mount Nelson, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast and lunch

Day Three – Cape Town and Cape Peninsula

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Depart for a full day experience to the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, an area known for its beautiful scenery.  We travel along False Bay and stop at Simonstown to visit Boulders Beach, home to the endangered African penguin colony.  We then head to Cape Point Nature Reserve and have some time to view the general geographic spot where it is said the two great oceans meet, and maybe even see the beautiful Bontebok, an antelope found in South Africa and Lesotho.

Afternoon: On our way back, we stop for lunch at a gourmet restaurant personally recommended by none other than celebrity chef Art Smith.  Evening is at leisure to explore one of Cape Town’s fantastic restaurants.

Accommodations: The Mount Nelson, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast and lunch

Day Four – Cape Town and Wine Valley

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning/Afternoon: In the morning, we take a short drive to South Africa’s famous Wine Valley, for a wine tasting experience with and expert sommelier and unforgettable lunch at one of the most famous gourmet restaurants in all of Africa.  It boasts expansive views of the wine valley vineyards, and even carries its own private wine label.  We will have some time to walk through the charming wine village of Franschhoek and do some shopping in the numerous boutiques, confectionaries, and craft and antique shops before heading back to Cape Town.

Accommodations: The Mount Nelson, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast and lunch

Day Five – Cape Town to Victoria Falls

Late Morning: Land transfer to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls.

Upon arrival to Zambia, we will enjoy a special transfer to the Royal Livingston Hotel, located on the banks of the Zambezi River with views of Victoria Falls.

Late Afternoon: We will enjoy a tour of Victoria Falls and see firsthand why it is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Evening at leisure to enjoy the majesty of the Falls.

Accommodations: Royal Livingstone Hotel, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast

Day Six – Victoria Falls

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel.

Late Morning: Optional Walk with Lions and Cheetahs Encounter. If you have ever wanted to get close to large lion or cheetah cubs, this is your opportunity to interact with them in the company of handlers in wild captivity as part of a program to reintroduce the offsprings of captive-bred African lions and cheetahs into the wild.

Afternoon: Village Tour. Mukuni Village is a Royal village that was founded around the 13th Century. It is home to about 7,000 Leya people. The Leya Chief has invited visitors into his village to get a glimpse of how his people have lived for generations and to learn a little about their traditional customs and beliefs. The Chief’s guides and the people of the village are more than happy to show visitors their homes and take you inside. The locals enjoy explaining how their homes are built and decorated, introducing you to various craftsmen and women at work, and asking you to taste some traditional foods and beer. This is a working village, not a purposely-built tourist attraction. It is a privilege to be welcomed into their lifestyle.

Evening dining train with 5-course dinner, wine, and beer.  The Royal Livingstone Express offers guests the ultimate fine dining experience: traveling back in time to the glorious age of steam on the historic Mulobezi Railway line, formerly one of the largest private railway networks in the world.  We will travel down to the Victoria Falls Bridge to witness the sunset before departing the bridge to have dinner at Palm Grove siding and then returning to Livingstone.  Past guests have enjoyed the opportunity to touch the foot on the Zimbabwe border of the bridge.

Accommodations: Royal Livingstone Hotel, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast and Dinner

Day Seven – Victoria Falls

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Optional whitewater rafting trip on the mighty Zambezi River Gorge, considered one of the world’s greatest whitewater rafting adventures.  Get ready for a very wet and adrenalin-filled day.  The rapids are all grade 4 and 5, making for big white water. Calm pools of water separate the rapids, perfect for catching your breath and admiring the spectacular scenery around and above you.   Alternatively, if you prefer to fly rather than raft, you may choose take a helicopter ride above the falls and rapids of the Zambezi River.  This is an experience to remember.

Optional Devil’s Pool Experience. Devil’s Pool is not for the faint of heart: Jump into a pool with hidden rock barrier that allows you to swim to the edge of Victoria Falls

Optional Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls and Zambezi River rapids. This is an experience to remember, as you view one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World from above. The flights might also give you an opportunity to spot wild game in the Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park. The park encompasses Victoria Falls and stretches some 12 kilometers along the riverbanks of the Upper Zambezi River

Tonight, we have prepared a special farewell dinner on the banks of the Zambezi River which blends African tradition, nature, and authentic cuisine in an ethereal atmosphere. A Zoom Signature Event, just for you, our guest! Note: this event is weather-dependent, and may be substituted for a different but equally magical event.

Accommodations: Royal Livingstone Hotel, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast and dinner

Day Eight – Victoria Falls to Kruger National Park

Buffet Breakfast at the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Morning: Airport transfer for flight to Kruger National Park.

Afternoon: Arrival in Kruger National Park and transfer to our incredible luxury safari lodge experience, which we have exclusively chartered for our group.  Silvan is grounded in the breathtaking natural elements around it, the inspirational trees, our beautiful bee-eater, the incredible wildlife and the charismatic people who bring her story to life. These are the distinctive ingredients which make Silvan tick and which brings that characteristic magic to the entire Silvan experience.

Late Afternoon: After check-in, relax in your luxurious villa-pod or by the swimming pool before afternoon tea.  You are also invited for a late afternoon game drive before dinner.

Accommodations: Silvan Safari Lodge, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and domestic open bar

Day Nine – Kruger National Park

Buffet Breakfast in hotel

Light Breakfast at the Lodge.

Morning: Wake up at dawn and depart for your second game drive to catch the animals you may have missed the day before. The morning is one of the best times to see animals as they wind down their nighttime hunting, as well as to understand the process of nature waking up – the grass is fresh and humid, the birds are singing and the impalas are grazing along the plain.

Buffet Breakfast at the Lodge. Return to the Lodge for Buffet Breakfast.  Rest of morning at leisure to enjoy a cat nap, the pool, and even game viewing from the comfort of the lodge!

Afternoon: A light lunch is served.  Relax by the swimming pool before the afternoon game drive.

This evening, enjoy a beautiful dinner al fresco at the lodge.

Accommodations: Silvan Safari Lodge, 5 Stars Meals Included: Afternoon tea, dinner, and domestic open bar

Day Ten – Kruger National Park

Light Breakfast at the Lodge.

Morning/Afternoon: Today, we will experience a range of game viewing, including an early “Bush Walk” with your professional game ranger.  Bush Walks include informative chats about grasses, trees, wildflowers, and animals.  You will return to the Lodge and are free relax by the swimming pool before the afternoon game drive in a Range Rover for a game drive and bush walk with your professional game ranger, in the late afternoon when the day cools down.   Before you depart, however, you will have time to enjoy some tea or coffee and local patisseries.   Perhaps you may want to enjoy a cocktail in the bush and you can enjoy the tranquility of nature while your professional game ranger helps you look for the animals.

Evening: Tonight we will offer an exclusive pre-dinner performance.  Bring your camera, and watch as the beauty of Africa unfolds before you.

Accommodations: Silvan Safari Lodge, 5 Stars Meals Included: Buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and domestic open bar

Day Eleven – Kruger National Park and Departure for flights home

Buffet Breakfast at the Lodge.

Late Morning: We depart for the airstrip which will take us to Johannesburg for our international flights home. Optional night stays in Johannesburg are available.

Meals Included: Buffet breakfast

Air: Airfare not included.

Passports: Your valid passport should have at least two blank visa pages and should be valid for at least six months after your planned departure from the country you are visiting. Note: Passport pages titled “Endorsement Pages” are not visa pages.

Visas: Please note that currently US citizens must have a Zambian Visa to enter Zambia, which you will get upon arrival. If you are not a US citizen, please contact your nearest Zambia Consulate to determine your visa requirements.

While Zoom Vacations will assist when possible, please note that passport, visa, and vaccination requirements vary from country to country and are the sole responsibility of the traveler. If you are a US resident, you may click here for more information on passport, visa, and vaccination requirements for various countries.

*Land only Introductory rate, based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change. Need a roommate? Zoom Vacations® is happy to match you with someone, at no additional charge. Or, you may pay a single supplement and go as a single.

Please read Terms and Conditions prior to booking.

For more information on entry and exit requirements, see here.