Explore Southern Africa

On this extraordinary adventure through southern Africa, journey from glittering Cape Town to the vast wilderness of Kruger National Park—home of the legendary "big five". Visit Soweto township, where Nelson Mandela once lived; enjoy a homemade dinner with a local family in a Zimbabwean village; and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Trip Overview
Trip Overview

Accommodation
Family run lodge (2 nts), hotel (5 nts), lodge (2 nts), comfortable tent or chalet (2 nts).
Changeover Communication
New - Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
Stop and smell the flowers on a tour specially designed for National Geographic travellers. Walk with a botanist through the incredible Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, named one of the “10 most magnificent gardens in the world” by National Geographic.

New - Carnivore Conservation Game Drive
A researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Programme will join us on a wildlife safari drive to share insights into the behaviour of cheetahs and other carnivores – and efforts to protect them. This National Geographic-sponsored project is part of the Big Cats Initiative.

New - Zimbabwean Family Dinner
Visit Flatter Ncube’s home and meet her extended family. On her homestead, you’ll sit down to a traditional Zimbabwean dinner made with produce fresh from the gardens. Hear what daily life is like for Ncube and her family over a delicious meal.

Checklist
Cold Weather:
- Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
- Scarf
- Warm gloves
- Warm hat
- Warm layers

Documents:
- Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
- Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
- Passport (required) (With photocopies)
- Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
- Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)

Essentials:
- Binoculars (optional)
- Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
- Cash, credit and debit cards
- Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
- Ear plugs
- First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
- Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
- Fleece top/sweater
- Footwear
- Hat
- Locks for bags
- Long pants/jeans
- Moneybelt
- Outlet adapter
- Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
- Reusable water bottle
- Shirts/t-shirts
- Sleepwear
- Small travel towel
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
- Watch and alarm clock
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
- Hand sanitizer (required)
- Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
- Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
- Quick Covid Test/Antigen Test

Smart Dress:
- Smart outfit (For evenings out)

Warm Weather:
- Sandals/flip-flops
- Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
- Sun hat/bandana
- Swimwear

Note: Seasons in Southern Africa are quite extreme. Winters (May to October) can be really cold and summers will be really hot. It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a warm jacket for early morning wildlife safari drives.
Group Leader
Local CEO (Chief Experience Officer) in Cape Town and Victoria Falls, CEO (Chief Experience Officer) for the Kruger portion, local guides/rangers.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, Avg 12.
Highlights
Go for a wildlife safari drive with a researcher and expert on carnivores, enjoy a traditional South African barbecue, visit the Kirstenbosch botanical garden with an expert botanist, help prepare a traditional Zimbabwean meal with a family in their home, spot wildlife in world-famous Kruger National Park
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Introduction
On this extraordinary adventure through southern Africa, journey from glittering Cape Town to the vast wilderness of Kruger National Park—home of the legendary "big five". Visit Soweto township, where Nelson Mandela once lived; enjoy a homemade dinner with a local family in a Zimbabwean village; and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meal Budget
Allow USD245-320 for meals not included.
Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Optional Activities
Cape Town
- Cape Winelands Tour (1295ZAR per person)
- Two Oceans Aquarium (220ZAR per person)
- Optional Welcome Meeting for Travellers on Combos

Table Mountain
- Table Mountain Cable Car (300-390ZAR per person)

Dyer Island
- Whale and Bird Watching at Dyer Island (1450ZAR per person)

Victoria Falls
- Canoeing the Zambezi (160USD per person)
- Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park
- River Song Sunset Cruise (75USD per person)

Packing Note
Seasons in Southern Africa are quite extreme. Winters (May to October) can be really cold and summers will be really hot. It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a warm jacket for early morning wildlife safari drives.
Start / Finish
Cape Town to Victoria Falls
Transport
Air-conditioned touring vehicle, open safari vehicle, walking, plane.
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Kirstenbosch Entrance fees, Cape Town
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Carnivore Conservation Experience, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Zimbabwean Family Dinner, Victoria Falls
Your Foodie Moment: Traditional South Africa Braai (Barbecue), Johannesburg. Arrival transfer. Orientation tour of Cape Town. Excursion to Cape Point including the penguins at Boulders Beach. Soweto tour. Panorama Route scenic drive. Kruger National Park wildlife safari drive in open vehicle. Private nature reserve wildlife safari drive in open safari vehicles. Tour of Victoria Falls. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Itinerary

Route Overview

Day 1: Cape Town
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
TRANSPORT
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
ACTIVITY
Meet your Cape Town G Adventures representative at the hotel - please have a look at the information board in the hotel for the meeting time. Your rep will go through your tour details, help you with booking optional activities, and be your contact person for the next few days.
ACCOMMODATION
The Portswood Hotel
Day 2: Cape Town
Begin the day with an exploration of vibrant Cape Town, wandering through the multicultural Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Then enjoy an exclusive guided tour of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, named by National Geographic Travel as one of the world’s 10 most magnificent gardens. Later, stop by Boulders Beach to see the resident population of African penguins, and continue to the Cape Point lighthouse and the Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost point in Africa.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Stop and smell the flowers on a tour specially designed for National Geographic travellers. Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, led by an expert who will talk about the history of the gardens, its exhibits and a behind the scenes look at the mother beds. The garden is administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) who have received funding from National Geographic and the site has been named one of the Top 10 gardens in the world by National Geographic Traveler.
ACTIVITY
Enjoy a guided orientation tour of vibrant Cape Town. Continue on to Cape Point to enjoy a stunning vista and visit the penguins at Boulders Beach.
ACCOMMODATION
The Portswood Hotel
Day 3: Cape Town
Enjoy a day of leisure in Cape Town, choosing from a variety of optional activities. Hop on a cable car to the summit, taking in extraordinary views of the city and the Atlantic seaboard. Or explore the Cape Winelands, visiting the historical city of Stellenbosch, touring wine estates with expert guides, and indulging in a variety of tastings and pairings.
FREE_TIME
Enjoy a day of your leisure in this cosmopolitan and charming city.
ACCOMMODATION
The Portswood Hotel
Day 4: Cape Town/Johannesburg
Fly to Johannesburg, then take a guided tour of Soweto township. Soweto was an important center of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and home to its leader, Nelson Mandela. Visit the Mandela House Museum and learn about this painful chapter in the country’s history. In the evening, enjoy a traditional South African braai (barbecue) with your fellow travellers.
TRANSPORT
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
ACTIVITY
Take a guided tour of bustling Soweto and learn more about its important history. The residential area was created under apartheid and played a significant role in bringing the issues of segregation to the forefront. The anti-apartheid movement was launched here by its most famous resident, Nelson Mandela.
ACTIVITY
Enjoy a spread of grilled meats, vegetables and homemade salads, and talk with your friendly hosts about life in South Africa.
ACCOMMODATION
Nkanga Lodge
Day 5: Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Area
Set out towards Kruger National Park via the magnificent Panorama Route, one of the world’s most picturesque drives. Make stops at the dramatic Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, and take in panoramic views of the forest-covered valley from the God's Window viewpoint. Continue to our lodge near Kruger National park, savour a delicious South African Dinner in this picturesque location.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed Panorama Route. You’ll see magnificent mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, and waterfalls. There will also be stops at Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's Window.
ACCOMMODATION
Umbhaba Eco Lodge
Day 6: Kruger National Park
Rise early and climb aboard an open jeep for a full-day safari in Kruger National Park—home to an extraordinary array of large mammals. Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and perhaps elusive leopards as we explore this breathtaking wilderness of savanna and scrubland. Return to our lodge in the evening, where you can take some time to relax and enjoy the nocturnal sounds of the bush.
ACTIVITY
Hop in a 4x4 safari vehicle and get yourself one step closer to the surrounding nature. Be ready to spot elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, and many other species in this impressive South African national park.
ACCOMMODATION
Umbhaba Eco Lodge
Day 7: Greater Kruger Area/Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Travel to the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, a pristine wildlife sanctuary located in the Greater Kruger area. Meet with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Metapopulation Project—a program funded in part by National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative—and learn about efforts to protect the region’s cheetahs and other carnivores. The researcher then joins us for a wildlife-viewing excursion through the reserve.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Meet with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cheetah Metapopulation Project, a project managed by National Geographic grantee Vincent van der Merwe. A member of Vincent's team will give a talk about cheetahs in South Africa and the important research CMP is doing. We will also discuss conservation within parks and reserves in South Africa and National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative. You will then be accompanied by the researcher on a wildlife safari drive to give you more insight into cheetahs and other carnivores.
ACCOMMODATION
Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Lodges
Day 8: Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Spend the day exploring Karongwe on morning and afternoon safaris with our local guides. Search for Africa's famed "big five" as we drive through the shrublands of the bushveld. Back at camp, relax on deck or take a walk around the grounds.
ACTIVITY
Jump into a safari 4x4 and keep your eyes open for fantastic wildlife encounters. Wildlife safari drives are conducted with qualified wildlife rangers and local expert trackers; both will share their vast experience of the African bush.
FREE_TIME
Relax and enjoy some down time between wildlife safari drives.
ACCOMMODATION
Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Lodges
Day 9: Karongwe Private Game Reserve/Johannesburg
Embark on one last safari this morning, keeping a lookout for Karongwe’s iconic inhabitants. Then head back to the city, where you’ll enjoy dinner in our family run lodge.
ACTIVITY
Jump into a safari 4x4 and keep your eyes open for fantastic wildlife encounters. Wildlife safari drives are conducted with qualified wildlife rangers and local expert trackers; both will share their vast experience of the African bush.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACCOMMODATION
Nkanga Lodge
Day 10: Johannesburg/Victoria Falls
Catch a flight to the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, named after one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth. Visit a nearby village and go grocery shopping in the bustling market. Then sit down with a local family for dinner, helping your hosts prepare a traditional Zimbabwean meal using the ingredients you picked out, and hear stories about local life and culture.
TRANSPORT
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
ACTIVITY
Flatter Ncube is the head of her family which includes two sisters and numerous children. She’s the youngest of a family of 10 and, now in her early 40s, lives in the village she was raised in near Victoria Falls. There she takes care of her extended family on their homestead, which she and they have been proudly building by hand, brick by brick, for years. Flatter’s story highlights that life isn’t easy in Africa, but despite its challenges, there is much love and laughter and a strong sense of family here.

Visit Flatter’s homestead in her rural village; meet her and some of her family, and walk with some of them throughout the property, among the fruit and vegetable plants the family grows for consumption. (They even plant hot chillies among the vegetables to discourage nosy elephants.) Then help the family prepare a traditional Zimbabwean dinner, which we'll all eat together outside on the property, weather permitting. Ingredients for the meal will have been hand-selected earlier in the day, at the bustling and friendly local village market.

This experience offers great insight into typical African life, and ultimately reinforce how we all really want and need the same things in life: a stable home full of love, a good education, and plenty of opportunity for our children.
ACCOMMODATION
Explorers Village Lodge
Day 11: Victoria Falls
Set out for a tour of magnificent Victoria Falls. Scottish explorer David Livingstone named them after Britain’s Queen Victoria, while their older, indigenous name is Mosi-oa-Tunya—“the smoke that thunders.” Opt for a scenic sunset cruise on the Zambezi River; and much more.
ACTIVITY
Join a knowledgeable guide for an unforgettable experience at Victoria Falls. Explore the rainforest and learn about the geology, history, and local legends of this world wonder. After your immersion, get up close to the falls and discover the beauty of “the smoke that thunders.” Be sure to have your camera ready!
ACCOMMODATION
Explorers Village Lodge
Day 12: Victoria Falls
Depart at any time.
ACTIVITY
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.
Pricing & Availability

Date From Date To Price
Photos

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