African Full Monty Tour

11 Nights, 12 days.
Discover the magic of the Victoria Falls and the might of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. Then experience a true African safari with a day of game viewing in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Your tour continues as we introduce you to the beauty of Cape Town and the Garden Route with its spectacular beaches and majestic mountains, ending in the Eastern Cape at your malaria-free safari destination.

Day 1:

• Depart from O.R. International Airport (Johannesburg) to Victoria Falls International Airport (Zimbabwe).
• You will be transferred from the airport to the 4 star Victoria Safari Lodge (3 nights’ stay), where you will check in to your luxury room.
• The 4 star Victoria Safari Lodge is constructed of timber and thatch. Rising seven levels, the lodge gives the impression of a vast, open-plan treehouse.
• Guests may enjoy the spectacular setting by cooling off in the two-tiered swimming pool, over sundowners at the Buffalo Bar – one of Heineken’s Great Bars of the World, or while dining at the award winning MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant.

Day 2:

• Spend the day relaxing at the lodge before boarding the 40-seater fiberglass pontoon-type boat for an unforgettable sunset cruise.
• Float along the mighty Zambezi and view an incredible array of animals and birds that visit the river at sunset. And, of course, marvel at the African sun as it sets on the river.
• A full bar with South African wines and finger canapés complete this memorable African river experience.
• Please note that park entry fees are not included and payable directly in cash (approximately USD10).

Day 3:

• Depart for the Chobe National Park in Botswana after breakfast. You will be transferred to the Kazungula border where your Botswana guide will meet you.
• Spend the morning viewing game along the Chobe River while enjoying tea, coffee and biscuits.
• At the end of this morning cruise you will be transferred to the Chobe Safari Lodge for lunch on the riverbank.
• After lunch you will board safari vehicles for an afternoon game drive within Chobe National Park. Enjoy an abundance of wildlife on this truly African safari.
• At the end of this magical day you will be transferred back to the border and your hotel, which you should reach in time for a relaxing dinner.

Day 4:

• You will be transferred to the Victoria Falls International Airport, from where you will travel to the Cape Town International airport.
• Meet & greet our Gecko Tours representative at Cape Town International Airport where your friendly guide will escort you to your SUV or bigger vehicle and transfer you to your 4-star hotel at the V&A Waterfront where you will stay for 3 nights on a bed & breakfast basis.
• After checking in, the tour begins with an exhilarating cable car trip to the top of Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain with its breath-taking panoramic views of the city and beyond. (Weather permitting, cost of cable car not included.)

Day 5:

• Your day starts with a scenic drive along the Atlantic Seaboard. Travel via Sea Point and Camps Bay to the fishing village of Hout Bay for an exciting boat trip to Seal Island (weather permitting).
• Continue to Cape Point through Chapman's peak (if open), where the romantic notion that this is where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet draws thousands of visitors every year. The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve is recognised globally for its spectacular beauty, rich biodiversity, animal and bird life, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks.
• Enjoy lunch (for your own account) at a nearby restaurant before moving on to the historic naval base of Simon's Town. This is a village rich in history and character, with its penguin and seal colonies, fishing and bird life, and quaint architecture.
• Drive back to Cape Town along the coastline passing many seaside towns, then visit the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden which boasts only indigenous South African plants and is set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
• Return to your Hotel.

Day 6:

• Head off to wine country with the first stop in Paarl, named for the "pearl" formed by three rounded rocky outcrops. Enjoy a cheese and wine tasting at a wine estate established in 1699 and known for its handcrafted wines, goat shed and cheese making.
• Continue to Franschhoek, where we will indulge at the boutique chocolatier. The Huguenot Fine Chocolates programme outlines the story of chocolate and includes a chocolate tasting and a demonstration of how chocolates are made. (Guests receive a two-pack of chocolates.)
• Continue in Franschhoek, once home of the French Huguenots and today known as the Gourmet Capital of the Western Cape. Nestling in a picturesque valley, it is home to many famous wine estates and award-winning restaurants. Here you will enjoy a wine tasting and a cellar tour followed by lunch at one of the top restaurants in the area.
• The tour continues with a scenic drive through the breathtakingly beautiful Helshoogte Pass to Stellenbosch, the centre of the wine industry in South Africa, where we will end our glorious day with another wine tasting.
• This university town is steeped in history with its stunning oak-lined avenues and historical buildings. Here we will walk amidst the galleries, coffee shops and wine bars and enjoy a final wine tasting before returning to Cape Town.

Day 7:

• Travel over the Klein Drakenstein Mountains to Worcester in the Breede River Valley enjoying the wonderful scenery which changes from lush orchards to dramatic mountain views.
• Stop at Van Loveren Wine Estate. In their tasting room you can enjoy an informal tasting at the pods, or treat yourself to a relaxed food & wine pairing with a platter on the deck overlooking the garden. Platters include chocolate and wine, cheese and wine, charcuterie and wine, nougat, nuts and wine, a Four Cousins fan pairing as well as non-alcoholic pairings for both adults and children.
• Continue along Route 62 towards the Little Karoo, passing through Barrydale and Calitzdorp, famous for their wine and quality port respectively.
• Lunch (for your own account) at a lovely restaurant in the semi-desert area where we will enjoy truly South African cuisine.
• Continue along Route 62 to the picturesque valley of Schoemanshoek.
• Overnight at the luxury 4 star guest house in Oudtshoorn on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 8:

• Leave at sunrise for a Meerkat tour. Upon arrival at the Meerkat burrows you will be treated to coffee, after which you are issued with a lightweight aluminium chair to sit in while observing the Meerkats as they come out of the burrow and into the sunshine. Meerkats are part of the so-called “Shy 5”.
• After breakfast we visit the Cango Caves, one of the world's great natural wonders sculpted by nature through the ages.
• Lunch (for your own account) at award winning Jemima's Restaurant, Oudtshoorn.
• Head towards Knysna on the Garden Route coast, via a scenic drive that takes you over the breathtakingly beautiful Outeniqua Mountain pass.
• Stop at the picturesque Victoria Bay for a stroll on the beach.
• Overnight at a 4-star guesthouse, in Knysna on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 9:

• In Knysna, take a ferry across the Knysna Lagoon to Featherbed, a private nature reserve and National Heritage Site, for an exhilarating 4x4 trailer ride and a guided walk followed by a drink in the Milkwood Forest.
• Lunch (for your own account) in Knysna at a popular waterfront restaurant, 34 Degrees South.
• Leisure time at the Knysna Waterfront with its boutiques and souvenir shops.
• Overnight in a 4-star luxury guest house on a bed and breakfast basis in Knysna.

Day 10:

• After breakfast we continue to Bloukrans, the world's highest commercial bungee jump at a whopping 216 m high! A proud record for South Africa and particularly, Tsitsikamma, where we will see the brave hearted jump (cost of the jump for your own account).
• At the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve we'll take you on a boat trip on Storms River into the breathtakingly beautiful gorge (dependent on sea conditions, for your own account). Enjoy a walk through the forest to the suspension bridge followed by lunch (for own account) at the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve.
• Drive to Lalibela Private Game Reserve, Tree Top Safari Lodge where you will stay for 2 x nights on full board, including 2 x game drives daily and all meals.

Day 11:

• Lalibela Game Reserve and Safari Lodge is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, close to Port Elizabeth and Addo, which means it is not only malaria free, but spans 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breath-taking diversity of flora and fauna.
• Lalibela consists of 7,500 hectares (approximately 18,500 acres) and is home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo & leopard) as well as other predators like cheetah, hyena, jackal and lynx. We are blessed with vast African plains and this is why we have multitudes of zebra, giraffe, warthog, impala, wildebeest, blesbuck and various other antelope species.
  Only an hour away from Port Elizabeth and Addo, Lalibela is unique in the Eastern Cape in that they have no public roads running through their property. This means that only Lalibela guests have access to the wildlife area and you will never encounter a member of public whilst on safari as there are no public roads on Lalibela. In addition, all of the animals at Lalibela, including the predators, are free-roaming throughout the entire game reserve – there are no different areas for different species.
  Lalibela brings you the charm of authentic Africa and is a perfect blend of the formal and informal.
  The 3 main aspects of any African safari are the game-viewing, the accommodation and the food - at Lalibela they take special care to ensure that heartfelt service combines with these three "ingredients" to make your Big 5 African safari experience a memorable one.

Day 11:

• Transfer you to Port Elizabeth Airport where you will fly to your next destination

• Return flights from O.R. International Airport (Johannesburg) to Victoria Falls International Airport (Zimbabwe).
• Victoria Falls transfers – Wilderness Touring.
• Transfers to and from the Victoria Falls International Airport and the hotel.
• 3 Nights’ accommodation at the 4 star Victoria Safari Lodge or similar.

• Items of a personal nature.
• Drinks, entrance fees, porterage, tours/excursions and transfers not specified above.
• Cancellation, baggage or medical insurance.
• Staff gratuities.
• Any new Government taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
• Visa fees where relevant.

• Luxury air-conditioned SUV or larger vehicle with your own personal, highly qualified guide.
• Accommodation on a shared basis.
• Accommodation and meals of the driver and/or guide.
• Meals as specified (including full board at Lalibela).
• Excursions and transfers as shown in the itinerary (usually twice daily game activities at safari lodges and camps unless otherwise indicated in quotation).
• Services of the lodge guides and staff.
• Relevant park fees.
• All activities and entrance fees as mentioned and underlined.

• Items of a personal nature.
• Drinks, entrance fees, porterage, tours/excursions and transfers not specified above.
• Cancellation, baggage or medical insurance.
• Staff gratuities.
• Any new Government taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
• Visa fees where relevant.