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Holidays to Cape Town Tours Safaris in South Africa Stellenbosch Hermanus

History & Culture: South Africa, Safari Holiday - Soweto + Johannesburg + Cape Town

South Africa: Johannesburg + Waterberg Safari + Cape Town
History Culture South Africa Safari Holiday Soweto Johannesburg Cape Town
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,642
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
SPK12J
• History & Culture of South Africa
• Soweto & Johannesburg
• Apartheid Museum & Soweto
• Cradle of Humankind & Lesedi
• Art, Music, Fashion & Design
• Safari Holiday, Entabeni
• Cape Town
• Table Mountain
• Robben Island & District Six
• Cape Point

Explore the history & culture of South Africa - both ancient & modern - on this privately guided safari holiday that will allow you to experience the art, music & fashions of Soweto, Johannesburg & Cape Town. Visit the Sterkfontein Caves, Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela's home in Soweto, District Six & Robben Island. Also enjoy a Big Five safari. All transfers, game drives & sightseeing included.

Day 1
You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred to your hotel in this thriving city.
    
Check in and relax under warm blue South African skies in the city of gold.
Day 2
Today enjoy a privately guided tour of Johannesburg and Pretoria (now called Tshwane), following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela on his 'Long Walk to Freedom'.
 
We start with a brief drive through Johannesburg, with its complex history of gold mining and conflict. View Nelson Mandela Bridge and visit Constitution Hill, home of the Constitutional Court and site of the notorious Old Fort Prison. There is an interesting small museum here.
 
We continue to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton, which is dedicated to keeping his memory alive. Its archives contain documents, awards and photographic records that chronicle his amazing life. We then visit Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, where you can view his statue whilst enjoying lunch (own account).
 
In the afternoon we visit Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa renowned for its jacaranda trees that flower from September to November. We visit the Voortrekker Monument and historic Church Square, where we visit the home of Paul Kruger who was the president of the old Transvaal Republic at the time of the Anglo Boer War. We also drive past the City Hall and stop for photos at the beautiful Union Buildings - the official residence of the South African president, designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Here there is an impressive statue of Nelson Mandela. At the end of the day we return to Johannesburg.
Day 3
Today enjoy a full day private tour, starting with a visit to Soweto. With a population of well over one million people, this sprawling township was made famous by the apartheid laws.
 
We drive past the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere and down Vilikazi Street, which was once home to two Nobel Peace laureates - Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Nelson Mandela. Here we visit Mandela's house, which is now a small museum.
 
After lunch (own account) we continue to the Apartheid Museum, which is a living memorial to racial segregation.
 
Time permitting, complete your day with a visit to Gold Reef City - a reconstruction of the early Johannesburg gold rush days. Here you can see gold being poured, watch gumboot dancing and enjoy shopping in the many quaint stores. There is also the optional opportunity to go down a gold mine.
 
Note: The Apartheid Museum is only open Wednesday to Sunday. Gold Reef City is closed Mondays. Children < 5 and pregnant women are not allowed underground.Note: The Apartheid Museum is only open Wednesday to Sunday. Gold Reef City is closed Mondays. Children < 5 and pregnant women are not allowed underground.
Day 4
Today your guide will introduce you to some of South Africa’s greatest archaeological treasures, on a visit to the Maropeng Visitor Centre near the Sterkfontein Caves - a World Heritage site dating back billions of years. Dr Broom found the skull of 'Mrs Ples' in these caves, the most complete skull of an Australopithecus africanus ever found in South Africa.
 
In the afternoon we continue to Lesedi, an authentically reconstructed African village showcasing the culture, arts and crafts of South Africa’s five main tribes. Enjoy an included meal at Lesedi, a visit to a sangoma (traditional healer) and traditional African dancing before returning to Johannesburg.
 
Note: The Sterkfontein Caves are currently closed, but when open you need to squat or crawl through two short sections, so are not suitable for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia or has mobility issues.
Day 5
This morning transfer 3.5-hours from Johannesburg to the beautiful malaria-free Waterberg Mountains, a UNESCO biosphere renowned for its wildlife as well as the diversity of its plants and birdlife.
 
After checking into your safari lodge, enjoy an open-top game drive where game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately. Hope to see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe as well as several of the Big Five, before dining under clear African skies.
Days 6 To 7
Rise early to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, and enjoy a thrilling shared open top safari with a lodge ranger in your malaria free private game reserve, with its many beautiful sandstone monoliths, ravines and waterfalls.
 
With numerous different species of mammals and reptiles in the park, you can hope to see several of the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard - as well as many other interesting species such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthog, baboon and much more. Bird watching is outstanding and you can see hippo and crocodiles in the dam.
  
Return to the lodge for breakfast and in the late afternoon enjoy another thrilling game drive with a lodge ranger. After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.
 
Note: Most lodges do not allow children < 6 on open top game drives.
Day 8
Today transfer 3.5-hours to Johannesburg Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.
 
Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.
Day 9
Today is free for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.
 
To orientate yourself, we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus, but we recommend buying a Fast Track ticket online to avoid the queues). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.
 
Continue to trendy Camps Bay beach and the many attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (pay all entrance fees locally).
 
Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.
Day 10
This morning learn more about history of Cape Town on a half day private tour, starting with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope built by Jan Van Riebeeck, the Dutch governor who first colonised the area in 1652.
 
We continue to the nearby District Six Museum, which tells the story of human suffering caused by the forced removals of the apartheid era (closed on Sundays).
 
We then visit the Mandela Legacy Exhibition in the City Hall, from where Nelson Mandela first addressed the nation after his release from prison and drive past the Company Gardens and Houses of Parliament, where he served as South Africa's first black president.
 
Afterwards you will be dropped off at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you need to make your way to the Clock Tower in good time for the ferry to Robben Island, the infamous prison home of Nelson Mandela.
 
On your return look out for the bronze statutes of the four Nobel Laureates that grace the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - founding ANC president Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and former apartheid president FW De Klerk, each of whom played a significant role in South Africa's transition to democracy. At the end of the day, make your own way back to your hotel.
 
Note: You will need to take your passport for identification, when visiting Robben Island.
Day 11
At leisure to relax and explore more of the beautiful city of Cape Town independently.
 
Many optional activities are available in this beautiful city. You can visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned (advance booking essential in season) and explore the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
 
You can also take the Hop Off bus (Blue Route) to visit world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens or simply relax on golden Camps Bay Beach.
Day 12
Today enjoy a full day private tour around the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula.
 
We travel to Hout Bay, where we take a short boat trip to view Cape Fur seals at Seal Island and continue along Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point, where you may see baboons, ostriches and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November). The funicular up to the Old Lighthouse is included.
 
On the return journey we pass through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
 
Note: Lunch is for your own account today.
Day 13
Transfer to Cape Town Airport for your flight home.