Trip Overview
Full Itinerary
Home

Exotic, wild and wonderful

An illustrated itinerary of one of our many gay travel adventures. This information supplements our
shorter Overview of South African Adventure.

From the excitement of Cape Town to the beauty of the coast, our African adventure offers a tantalizing sampler of the best the region has to offer. Experience the thrill of a real safari at the MalaMala Game Reserve, see history come alive in Soweto Township, then explore Victoria Falls, one of the greatest wonders of the world.

Our tour begins in Cape Town, the charming and scenic city on the coast, close to where the Indian Ocean meets the South Atlantic. We will spend four nights in Cape Town, exploring the city and the surrounding area including Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope and the Winelands, and of course we'll also have time to relax in the city itself. Then we are off to the MalaMala Game Reserve for one of South Africa's finest safari adventure. Twice a day we will go out into the bush in search of lions, rhinoceros, water buffalo and elephants. Our next stop is Johannesburg, including a tour of the suburban township of Soweto. We complete our taste of southern Africa with a visit to Victoria Falls, and two nights at Zambia's luxurious riverside Royal Livingstone Hotel.

1: Arrival day

Most passengers from North America will connect through Johannesburg, then arrive in Cape Town mid-evening. Our South African hosts will provide a transfer to our hotel so you can relax and rest up for the exciting tour ahead.

Our home for the next four nights is the Cape Heritage Hotel, a privately owned, intimate, informal, 15-bedroom, 4-star hotel occupying carefully restored buildings dating back to 1771. Each of the rooms is unique, featuring high-beamed ceilings and burnished wooden floors, and is individually decorated to showcase the original workmanship and architecture.

The hotel is well-situated in historic Heritage Square in the city center, with several renowned independent restaurants on their doorstep. Some of the restaurants are located around the lively 18th century courtyard, which features al fresco dining and the oldest living grapevine in South Africa. Heritage Square also houses a virtual museum of one of the oldest operational blacksmiths in South Africa, a resident masseuse, a hairdresser and various craft shops.

2: Run the Table (Mountain)

Today we'll enjoy a visit to Table Mountain and a half day introductory tour of Cape Town.

We depart the city for the Lower Cableway Station to board the revolving cable car for a 5 minute ride to the top of Table Mountain. 1036 meters above sea level, it affords bird's-eye view of both city and Peninsula as you walk its summit.

Return to the city via the old Cape Malay Quarter, for a walk through the Company Gardens, the fresh produce gardens for shops and locals from the min 17th Century and today, home to the SA Museum, Cultural History Museum, Houses of Parliament, National Gallery and St George's Cathedral. Stroll through the city to Greenmarket Square to browse African mementos at its bustling market stalls.

Drive to the Castle, the oldest building in South Africa with its collection of old Cape paintings and take in the Grand Parade where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation on his release in 1990.

Move on to the District Six Museum to view a moving collection of stories, pictures and memorabilia highlighting the colorful life of this suburb which now stands empty, thanks to the destruction of homes and forced removal or residents during the height of the Apartheid era.

Enjoy lunch at one of the city's popular restaurants before returning to your hotel.

3-4: Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town

We’ll continue our drive along the Atlantic seaboard passing the seaside suburbs of Bantry Bay and Clifton. We’ll also have magnificent views of the Twelve Apostles rock formations off the coast and the beach of Camps Bay. Our route takes us on Victoria Drive past Bakoven and Llandudno to Hout Bay, a charming little village and fishing harbor. From there we can board a boat to see the mass of Cape Fur Seals on Duiker Island (weather dependent). After we leave Hout Bay, we’ll drive along the Chapmans Peak drive, perched high above the ocean. It is considered to be one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.

Next we’ll visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and head off the main road to the untouched area of Olifants Bay. There we’ll see a herd of endemic bontebok (antelope) and the magnificent indigenous floral vegetation called "fynbos" that flowers throughout the year.

We will have lunch along the way in a seaside village and explore the rocky coastline keeping an eye out for the African black oystercatchers and avocets. We’ll drive to the tip of the Cape Peninsula and either walk or take the funicular to the lighthouse at Cape Point with its beautiful views overlooking False Bay, so named because the early navigators thought they had arrived at Table Bay. We’ll drive to the Cape of Good Hope, the southwestern-most point of the African continent, and continue along the False Bay coastline to Boulders Beach for an opportunity to see the only penguins to be found on the continent of Africa, the African Penguin.

Tonight we’ll have dinner in one of Cape Town's finest restaurants: Emily's. The following day is free to enjoy Cape Town on your own.

5-6: Safari

This morning we will fly via Johannesburg to the MalaMala Game Reserve, the first private photographic safari destination in South Africa. Situated on the largest tract of land within the Sabi Sand Reserve and sharing a common boundary with the world famous Kruger National Park, MalaMala offers the most reliable sightings of Africa's wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). In addition, there is a multitude of smaller creatures, in an environment that remains reflective of pre-modern times.

We will be guided by the MalaMala rangers who are employed for their knowledge of the African bush and their ability to communicate their love of the land with their guests. They are highly qualified, formally trained men who are thoroughly conversant with all aspects of ecology. Along with conducting informative game drives, the ranger is the guests' host for the duration of their stay and he will share his knowledge of Africa to enthral, enlighten and entertain.

The MalaMala magic is not only the bush experience. Superb service is the focus for all staff. Understated luxury and tranquility are the goal for each of the 18 rooms at MalaMala Main Camp. Each room is furnished with modern private bathrooms, 24-hour temperature control, a mini bar, a room safe and a private deck with panoramic views of the surrounding bush. Guests can relax in the Buffalo Lounge, which leads onto a large wooden deck providing elevated views of animals watering in the Sand River. There is a swimming pool, room service, a complimentary laundry service, wine cellar, bush gym, bar, library and safari boutique. So although we will be camping in the wild, our camp will be one of finest available in all of South Africa.

7-8: Johannesburg and Soweto

After a final early morning game drive, we will transfer to the MalaMala airport for our one-hour flight to Johannesburg. For the next two nights we will stay at The Grace Hotel, located in the heart of Rosebank and surrounded by boutiques, art galleries, art cinemas, high quality craft markets and a mix of restaurants and clubs. With classical architecture, intriguing artwork reflecting South Africa's history, and superb amenities, The Grace provides an excellent blend of personalized hospitality and devotion to detail.

The following day we will take a tour of Johannesburg and Soweto to get an overall impression of "Egoli" - the City of Gold. We'll get a taste of South Africa's commercial and financial capital by first passing through the northern suburbs, then going on to the hustle and bustle of Hillbrow and the downtown area, where we can view a "mini-Manhattan" from the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre.

We will continue to Soweto (South Western Township), the largest black residential area in South Africa. Here we will see a fascinating contrast to the northern communities of Sandton and Rosebank. This sprawling "city within a city" essentially acts as a labor reservoir for the greater metropolitan area of the Witwatersrand. Our tour includes several points of interest, including Freedom Square and Nelson Mandela's former home.

9-10: Victoria Falls!

Today we will transfer to Johannesburg Airport for a morning flight to Livingstone Airport. The town of Livingstone is on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River, which form the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Upon arrival we will check into our home for the next two nights, the Royal Livingstone, a 5-star, 173-room luxury hotel. Only footsteps from the Zambezi River, the rooms and suites offer a tranquil retreat. The rooms are two-story clusters offering private balconies or terraces with views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. Interior furnishings accentuate the influences of Africa.

Inspired by the gracious homes in Livingstone, The Royal Livingstone offers the majesties of Africa with all the charms of a bygone era, and an unparalleled level of luxury, service and sophistication in the region. The central reception area offers a dramatic view of the river. The bar and lounge are under an open-thatch roof, cooled by the swish of punkahs. With its comfortable armchairs and low ottomans the lounge is the place to enjoy graciously served high tea or to linger over a cocktail.

In the afternoon, we will take a walking tour through the rainforest along a one-mile ramble. Our guide will accompany us along the scenic pathways, stopping at numerous view-points to gaze at the Falls.

Victoria Falls is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Falls span a width of 1700 meters (5577 feet) and plunge 108 meters (354 feet) down the sheer rock face, creating an awesome spectacle. When the Zambezi River is in flood, a towering veil of mist rises over 300 meters (over 900 feet) into the air and can be seen more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) away. As a result the Lozi people named the Falls the Mosi-Oa-Tunya or 'the smoke that thunders'. By the time British explorer David Livingstone first saw the Falls in 1855, and named them after Queen Victoria, the Zambian side of the river was heavily populated. Major tribes living in the area today include the Tonga, the Toka-Leya, the Lozi and the Subia, all of whom regard the Falls as sacred.

The Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa after the Nile, Zaire (Congo) and Niger respectively. From its source in northwestern Zambia, it flows approximately 2800 km (1750 miles) to the mouth in Mozambique then into the warm Indian Ocean. It is a wide, attractive river dotted with islands and sandbanks. The stretch of river preceding the Falls is bordered on the Zimbabwean side by the Zambezi National Park. We will relax and enjoy the scenery including the Mulala Palm, a tall attractive palm tree that produces an ivory fruit that grows to the size of a cricket ball. The bird watching is also excellent. Don’t be surprised to see hippopotamus bathing and the occasional crocodile. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. And that's just the first day!

During our full day at the Falls, local conditions permitting, we will take the short ride from the Royal Livingstone Hotel across the Zambezi River bridge to tour the Falls on the Zimbabwean side, including a stop at the elegant Victoria Falls Hotel.

Then after we have seen the Falls up close from the other side, we will return to the hotel, then take a Sunset Cruise along the mighty Zambezi River on the African Queen. The African Queen is a triple deck, 70 foot catamaran furnished with Zimbabwean Teak, beech wood and brass finishes. In the fading twilight hours, heed the call of Africa while sipping traditional cocktails and enjoying legendary snacks. Our Farewell Dinner will be at our hotel, as we celebrate the memories of our southern African journey together.

11: Departure Day from Victoria Falls

After a morning at leisure we will transfer to the Livingstone Airport for our flights back to Johannesburg, where we will connect to our overnight flights home.

For anyone with additional time, we also have very limited space available on a week-long tour of Namibia by small plane. This tour includes stays at rustic lodges in the mountains, the dunes and the plains of Namibia (formerly the South African colony of South-West Africa), and close-up encounters with the wildlife of each habitat. Contact us for more information about this unique adventure.

Trip calendar   |   HOME   |   Reserve a trip

Copyright © 2003-2007 by Hanns Ebensten Travel, Inc.