11 Day Luxury Safari - South Africa

In this 11-Day Luxury Safari of South Africa, we stitch together the ocean, mountains, and an eclectic city with two safari experiences so different from each other that you wouldn’t believe they are in the same country. We begin with time in Cape Town, the mother city of the country and take in its historical & natural assets, along with its offerings of vineyards, mountains and coastal drives. From there we travel to the greater Kruger Park in the northeast, for a classic safari at a premier luxury tented safari camp, where lions and elephants are the iconic species. Lastly, we visit the vast and arid Tswalu Kalahari, for a desert experience that offers in addition to some exciting predators, a unique chance to see some of the rarer mammals that sometimes elude those with even a lifetime in the bush.

11 Day Luxury Safari - South Africa

Itinerary at a Glance:

  • Day 01

    Arrival in Cape Town

  • Day 02

    Private Full-Day Excursion to the Cape Peninsula

  • Day 03

    Full Day Excursion to the Cape Winelands

  • Day 04

    Travel to Greater Kruger Park in the northeast part of South Africa

  • Day 05 – 06

    On Safari at Saseka Tented Camp, Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa

  • Day 07

    Travel from Great Kruger Park to the Tswalu Kalahari, north-central South Africa

  • Day 08 to 10

    On Safari at Tswalu Kalahari

  • Day 11

    Travel from Tswalu Kalahari to Johannesburg

Day 01

Arrival in Cape Town

On arrival at the Cape Town International Airport, South Africa, you will make your way through customs and immigration, collect your luggage and be met by your driver who will transfer you to The Clarendon Bantry Bay, where you check in for (3) nights on a bed and breakfast basis.  The afternoon is yours to rest after your long flight or take a walk on one of the nearby beaches.

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

The Clarendon Bantry Bay is situated on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  The hotel has breathtaking views over the ocean and is only a stone’s throw away from some of Cape Town’s best beaches and the V&A Waterfront.  You will be staying in one of their superior suites on a bed and breakfast basis, furnished with all the amenities you would need, panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, and 5-star service from the hotel staff

Day 02

Private Full-Day Excursion to the Cape Peninsula

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, your private guide will collect you for a full day’s adventure to explore the Cape Peninsula, including entry fees and a delightful picnic lunch.

Aerial view of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

The focus of today is to embrace the natural wonders and beauty that the Cape Peninsula offers. Your guide will assess your interests and energy and suggest what activities and destinations to aim for. Your day could include some or all of the following:

• The village of Kalk Bay and its antique shops & working harbour complete with fishing boats, seal gulls and colourful people.
• Visit the colony of African penguins and take a Stand Up Paddle, Kayak or Conservation Walk near Boulders Beach at the naval town of Simon’s Town
• Enjoy a walk in the exceptionally scenic Cape Point Nature Reserve along with a private picnic lunch with the possibility of seeing some of the local wildlife such as ostrich, baboons, mountain zebra, bontebok and tortoise.
• Drive the Chapmans Peak coastal road, easily one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives and visit the local Noordhoek Farm Village at the pass’s end.

Day 03

Full Day Excursion to the Cape Winelands

After breakfast, you will once again be collected by your guide who will discuss the exciting opportunities of the day ahead, which entails a visit to the picturesque Cape Winelands.

Wine Cellar, Cape Winelands, South Africa
Cape Winelands, South Africa

The day aims to expose you to the beauty, history and architecture of this wine-farming region that is responsible for many of the world’s finest wines. The day’s highlights can include:
• A visit to the small town of Stellenbosch, known for its Cape Dutch architecture, oak-lined avenues and vibrant student life on account of the Stellebosch University, and of course a wine tasting at one of the well-known estates
• A visit to the Oldenburg Vineyards, an award-winning vineyard just outside Stellenbosch surrounded by the craggy mountains that characterize the Winelands in South Africa
• We enjoy a fine dining lunch experience and then head to the charming town of Franschhoek which dates back to 1688 when it was established by the French Huguenots. We do some more tasting at one of the lesser-known family-owned wine farms, before having a chance to explore the tree-lined streets of the town centre known for its range of art galleries, boutique shops and fine restaurants
• The Huguenot Chocolate Shop is one such attraction at Franschhoek that often proves to be a strong diversion.
• Apart from the traditional wine tasting, we also do a barrel tasting … here you get to meet winemakers and gain a more unique insight into the process. In a barrel tasting you taste the wines that are still in the secondary fermentation which gives the winemaker (and you) an idea of what the wine will become
• A private guided walk through the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden. Dylan Lewis’ work explores the male & female forms in nature and humans.

Day 04

Travel to Greater Kruger Park in the northeast part of South Africa

After your early breakfast, you will be transferred to the Airport to board your flight to Johannesburg. Here you connect with your flight to the Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Thornybush Game Reserve, where you will spend the next (3) nights on a fully inclusive basis at the Saseka Tented Camp.

At Saseka Tented Camp you will enjoy twice daily open vehicle safaris (locally known as game drives). After a late lunch, you will embark on your first safari. The safaris are punctuated with a ‘sundowner’ stop in the bush we you enjoy drinks & snacks, and after dark the drive continues as a night safari with a spotlight.

Day 05 – 06

On Safari at Saseka Tented Camp, Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa

The Thornybush Reserve spans 12000 hectares and shares an open boundary with the Timbavati Nature Reserve & Kruger National Park. The area is classic safari country and home to the ‘big 5’ (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) among a rich diversity of other iconic African wildlife species like wild dog, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, kudu and the list goes on.

Male lion drinking, near Saseka Tented Camp
Elephant calf seen on  game drive at Saseka Tented Camp
Each suite at Saseka has its own pool
Tent interior, Saseka Tented Camp

In between safaris in the middle of the day, you get to enjoy the luxury and serene surroundings of the camp. Don’t get misled by the word ‘tented’ in the name Saseka Tented Camp. Saseka has taken the tented experience to a new realm altogether. Equipped with air conditioning and full-length glass sliding doors, these spacious tented suites are more akin to some of the best hotel suites you can imagine. Each suite is secluded and private with its own plunge pool and a view that gazes over a treelined dry riverbed that game can often be seen from.

Day 07

Travel from Great Kruger Park to the Tswalu Kalahari, north-central South Africa

After an early morning safari and breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip where you head off on your Federal Air flight to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. From Johannesburg, you will board your next flight to Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve. Here you will spend 4 nights at The Motse on a fully inclusive basis. You will arrive in time for mid-afternoon lunch before heading out with your private safari guide for a desert safari experience that most people don’t even know exists.

Kalahari lion, Tswalu Game Reserve
Room interior, Motse, Tswalu
The Kalahari offers a deep sense of solitude

The Kalahari is a vast semi-desert (about. 900,000 sq km) spanning parts of Nambia, Botswana and South Africa. It’s big blue sky country and home to red sands, rugged mountains and vistas that reach as far as the eye can see. It’s a place that changes from a green wonderland in the summer months to a harsh, dry colour fest in the winter months, and home to many interesting (and sometimes rare) mammals including lion, cheetah, wild dog, pangolin, antbear and sable antelope.

Day 08 to 10

On Safari at Tswalu Kalahari

Your day at Tswalu is governed by both nature’s rhythms and your interests. Your guide will discuss what your options are and based on other factors will suggest what course to follow.

Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa

Your safari experiences can include:
• A private game drive on this vast tract of wilderness
• A guided nature walk experience
• A visit to a habituated meerkat colony where you get to witness these fascinating creatures up close as they get ready for the day’s foraging
• A visit to old Bushman rock engravings. The Bushmen are Southern Africa’s aboriginal people, that have a connection with nature transcending modern understanding.
• A visit to the local community projects
• A chance to get involved with conservation work that may be ongoing at the time of your visit

Day 11

Travel from Tswalu Kalahari to Johannesburg

After your early morning safari and breakfast, you will board your scheduled charter flight back to the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, in time for your late afternoon/evening outbound flight back home.

Tour Costs

2024
R265,840 per person sharing - (May - Sep 2024)
R270,795 per person sharing - (Oct - 19 Dec 2024)
R273,595 per person sharing - (20 - 31 Dec 2024)

2025
R318,805 per person sharing - (Jan - April 2025)
R316,005 per person sharing - (May - Sep 2025)
R321,760 per person sharing - (Oct - 19 Dec 2025)
R324,210 per person sharing - (20 - 31 Dec 2025)

 

Cost Includes

03 Night’s accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis: The Clarendon Bantry Bay: Inclusive of a full English breakfast and complimentary Afternoon Tea and Cakes

03 Nights accommodation on a fully inclusive basis at Saseka Tented Camp, Thornybush, which entails:
All meals, teas/coffees, mini bar in room and selected snacks, bar accounts (excluding premium imports), twice daily game viewing activities and bushveld walks, Wi-Fi, Conservation fee and the services of professional ranger and camp staff.

04 Nights of accommodation on a fully inclusive basis at Tswalu Motse Legae which entails:
A private game-viewing vehicle with a dedicated guide and tracker for all bookings
Walking-safaris
Nature walks, including traditional plant use interpretation
Habituated meerkats experience; Horse riding; Bird watching
Short hike to view some of the oldest bushman rock engravings in Africa
A visit to our community clinic and preschool
A visit and/or introduction to The Tswalu Foundation research projects
Involvement in wildlife project work on the property, when available
Luxury full-board accommodation
All meals include a variety of dining experiences from boma dinners to dune picnics
All beverages and a full selection from our award-winning wine list
In-suite tea and coffee-making facilities
In-suite private bar and gourmet pantry
Laundry and valet services
Wireless internet access and National telephone calls
Children’s Junior Ranger programme and babysitting

All road transfers & day touring on a private basis as per itinerary
A Cape Peninsula Tour including entry fees and a wild picnic
A Cape Winelands Tour with a fine dining lunch experience

Flights:
Cape Town - Hoedspruit one-way excl. taxes (Economy)
Thornybush - Johannesburg one-way excl. taxes (Federal Air)
Johannesburg - Tswalu return excl. taxes (Fireblade Aviation)
Airport taxes are subject to change

Costs Exclude

Visas if required
Meals not specified
Bar accounts / beverages not specified and premium imports
Laundry not specified
Flights not specified
Additional activities/sightseeing/entry fees/park fees not specified
Travel Insurance
Table Mountain Tickets (weather dependent)
Personal items & gratuities

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Jim Campbell
Jim Campbell
01 May 2025
We asked for a holiday of a lifetime for my wife's birthday ... and Lize Enderstein and ATG certainly delivered!!! We could not have experienced such a magnificent trip without all Lize's organisation and planning. It was an absolute dream! So much so, we're looking to visit again and will certainly be using Lize for our next adventure. Nothing was too much trouble and all the planning made everything work so very smoothly. We felt like royalty throughout our trip with all sorts of birthday surprises already booked at every location. Incredible!!! We are so very grateful for everything Lize arranged and can't thank her enough and would heartily recommend Lize and ATG. Jim and Melanie xxx
Teresa Harrison
Teresa Harrison
29 January 2025
I have been using African Travel Gateway for about 30 years and not once have they let me down. My travels have been varied, visiting different countries and cultures in Africa, but with their help, it is always a magic carpet ride. Lize has been my contact for many years, and the intineries devised have been spectacular. She really understands our requirements and goes the extra mile to ensure all is OK. This time, we visited South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Everything was amazing. Our highlights, however, were La Fontaine in Franshoek and Camp Xakanaxa in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. We HIGHLY recommend African Travel Gateway
Debbie Isaacs
Debbie Isaacs
21 January 2025
We used African Travel again for the second time over Xmas and New Year. Once again, every little bit of our trip ran smoothly and without a hitch. Their communication was great throughout and we will, no doubt, be returning to them in the future too. Thanks Petru.
Daniel Stewart
Daniel Stewart
08 January 2025
We had the most amazing time on our self drive tour of Namibia organised through African Travel Gateway. Everything from the planning and booking process, to the arrival and welcome in Windhoek, to the app with the itinerary and directions made for a really relaxed and well organised holiday. But the most important part was getting to experience Namibia - what a spectacular country! The only negative was that we should have booked for longer!
Hilda Stanfliet
Hilda Stanfliet
27 December 2024
Amazing hotel booked by Lize of African Travel Gateway, the most attentive service leading up to holiday
Zoe Heelas
Zoe Heelas
27 November 2024
ATG were fantastic from start to finish organising our trip 3 week trip in South Africa.Communication with Debbie was excellent before and during our trip. All accommodation and trips chosen by ATG was fantastic. This is our third trip with ATG and we are already thinking about our next.
Harrison Shore
Harrison Shore
09 November 2024
We used African Travel Gateway to plan our honeymoon, and it was incredible! Putting together the itinerary was really smooth and fun - Lize sent us a few options, and was really quick to make the changes we wanted and let us know what made the most sense. The planning portal had a lot of really useful information so we knew what to expect and made the whole thing very comfortable (this was our first trip to Africa!) The itinerary we ended up with was spectacular, and very well structured. We spent most of our trip in the greater Kruger area (Kapama River Lodge then Walkers Plains Camp) and then finished in Victoria Falls (Vic Falls River Lodge) - each stop was both nicer and more wild than the last, which made for a very cool trip. Some real gems - Walkers and the camp at Victoria Falls had both been open less than a year, and were super luxurious, no way we would have found places like that on our own! And starting at Kapama, which is a bigger operation and a little more controlled (fully fenced, very close to the Hoedspruit airport) was a great way to ease into the trip. The animal viewing at all three locations was amazing - we saw the Big 5 at both camps in South Africa, plus wild dogs and a cheetah at Walkers, and not just from a distance - we were able to get up pretty close at several of the viewings. The guides were excellent at all three, same with the staff, and the other guests! Logistics were seamless - all of our transfers were easy, the lodges knew our schedule and drivers were where they needed to be exactly on time. I would absolutely recommend African Travel Gateway, and hope to work with Lize on our next safari!
Hamdan nazarudin
Hamdan nazarudin
28 September 2024
Contacted Lize to get assistance with our trip. Her help has been really great! Enquiries are replied within a short period. Even asking for last minute arrangement of extra baggage and early hotel check-in. Itinerary are also seamless at every transition of camps and location.
Archie B
Archie B
16 August 2024
Travelled across South Africa with ATG. They picked the most amazing places to stay where we felt like royalty. The planning was efficient and there was regular communication during the booking process. The knowledge of Lize was excellent and so we knew what to expect at each stage. Would we use them again? YES, of course, and we are!!! - Already planning our next trip across Namibia for next year!
yvonne omer
yvonne omer
07 August 2024
We chose African Travel Gateway because of their awesome reviews and they did not disappoint! Bianca created a fabulous itinerary combining a luxury private reserve experience, a trip to Victoria Falls, a riverboat stay viewing the animals from a different perspective, ( and BTW the best scrambled eggs we have ever tasted) and a stay at a lodge where we saw different animals and a ride on a bush plane landing in what seemed the middle of nowhere! Every connection was seamless, no stress traveling at its best.Our hosts and guides were excellent, and lovely people. The food was wonderful and of course loved the sundowner drinks and our first” Bush Bar! Would definitely go back for more adventure, thank you ATG for a lovely experience!
Jennifer Morawiecki
Jennifer Morawiecki
06 August 2024
We've just returned from an incredible two-week holiday across Botswana and Zimbabwe with African Travel Gateway. The arrangements made by Bianca were perfect, the documentation provided was extremely thorough, and every detail of our journey was meticulously planned. Communication was excellent throughout. Coming from North America, we felt it best to work with a travel agent located in Southern Africa and it was absolutely the right choice. Highly recommended!
Maria Lohan
Maria Lohan
01 August 2024
Lize helped us find accommodation in Kruger when there was practically none to be got - and t was the best place. The tours she booked were tremendous and the people she booked were great and we are very grateful and glad we had the opportunity to book with Lize. Maria & family form Belfast
Arishana Riek
Arishana Riek
03 July 2024
Tailormade itinerary with knowledgeable guides (Apartheid Museum and Cradle of Humankind).
Sivan Debeljakovic
Sivan Debeljakovic
03 July 2024
Petru, of African Travel Gateway, planned our 12-day South Africa-Zimbabwe itinerary for three of us (arriving from two continents). Her expertise, keen insights, and care in arranging the most perfect accommodation for us, prompt and efficient transfers/drivers, and booking all internal flights, meant this was the smoothest, most enjoyable holiday experience, ever! We covered a lot of ground in a short time, but the precision-timing with transfers, and Petru's choice of such knowledgeable and personable tour guides really made all the difference. Huge thanks to Natasha (Afrifriends) and Chris (Paradise)! Highlights were: The Peech Hotel in J'burg (delightful boutique hotel with a fabulous breakfast - thank you, Oliver!); Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe; Nkorho Bush Lodge in Sabi Sand (if you want up close & personal experiences with the wildlife, this is where you need to go!); Rickety Bridge Manor House in Franschhoek (perfectly appointed and beautiful accommodation); Boschendal Winery (try the pinotage; farm shop is a must!); Woodstock Markets in Cape Town (so much to see and buy here!). We had the most exceptional holiday – we will definitely return to SA in the future, and will be utilising the expert services of Petru at ATG. Thank you again, Petru.
Sergio Santini
Sergio Santini
03 June 2024
Petru has been our reference person at African Travel Gateway: she organised our self-drive travel through South Africa during April 2024. The itinerary has been tailored according to our wishes and her suggestions. She did a great job , fully meeting our requirements and tacking care about us in real time even during the trip. We really enjoyed the safaris she proposed and we saw what has to be seen in this beautiful country for a 3 weeks visit. The TravelKey App was new for us; it is an efficient tool and has been a very positive experience, having everything filed in the HP.
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