Beginners Safari to Luxury South Africa

Experience some of the best destinations that South Africa has to offer during this all-in-one Big 5, city and coastal safari, including the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Timbavati Private Game Reserve, Hermanus and Cape Town.

Safari & Tour Overview

From $10305
/ Starting from / per person sharing
Experience the best destinations that South Africa has to offer during this 12 Day Luxury Safari. The exclusive Sabi Sand and Timbavati Private Game Reserves offer you access to 5-star accommodation, high levels of service and hospitality and incredible wildlife experiences, including the Big 5. Hermanus is the world’s foremost land-based whale watching destination with a special fisherman’s village charm. The popular resort town of Hermanus is situated between mountain and sea and offers travelers access to a range of exciting outdoor activities, including hiking trails, beaches, shark-cage diving, boating, horse rides, whale cruises and flights and the Hermanus Wine Route just a short drive away. Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world offering an all-in-one adventure with beautiful beaches, breath-taking landscapes, award-winning wineries and mouth-watering cuisine. Here you’ll also find the renowned Table Mountain, one of the newly proclaimed natural wonders of the world.

Safari Summary

Tour Duration: 12 Days 11 Nights

Departure/Return Location:  Johannesburg, South Africa

Destinations on Tour

  • Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
  • Timbavati Private Game Reserve
  • Hermanus
  • Cape Town

Included

  • All Transfers
  • Drinks
  • Local Flights
  • Luxury Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Other Activities
  • Safari Activities

Highlights & Activities

During your safari you can look forward to the following highlights, activities and experiences to ensure an unforgettable time spent in Africa.
  • Visit the most exclusive wildlife areas in Kruger
  • Exhilarating game-viewing every day
  • Top sightings of predators and their prey
  • Cape Town – the Mother City
  • Privately guided tour in Cape Town
  • Hermanus Whale Watching Cruise
  • Table Mountain Cableway
  • The Cape Winelands
  • Cape Peninsula Tour
  • Any other activities in the Cape Town area

Map & Destinations

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
Timbavati Private Game Reserve
Hermanus
Cape Town

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s premium safari reserves offering the ultimate safari experience in the Greater Kruger National Park. With no fences between the reserve and the Kruger National Park, all species of wildlife, including the Big 5 move through here freely. This area is especially renowned for its incredible leopard sightings.

Timbavati Private Game Reserve

The exclusive Timbavati Private Game Reserve lies in the western region of the Kruger National Park, north of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. The large tracts of land that make up the Timbavati Game Reserve remain largely unspoiled and wild. This reserve is renowned for the population of white lions that roam this area. These genetically rare specimens are not albino lions but are listed as a sub-species of lion. Here you can also hope to see elephant, cheetah, lion, buffalo, rhino, over 360 bird species, 79 reptiles and over 80 species of trees.

Hermanus

Hermanus is the world's foremost land-based whale watching destination with a special fisherman’s village charm. The popular resort town of Hermanus is situated between mountain and sea and offers travelers access to a range of exciting outdoor activities, including hiking trails, beaches, shark-cage diving, boating, horse rides, whale cruises and flights and the Hermanus Wine Route just a short drive away.

Cape Town

Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world offering an all-in-one adventure with beautiful beaches, breath-taking landscapes, award-winning wineries and mouth-watering cuisine. Here you’ll also find the renowned Table Mountain, one of the newly proclaimed natural wonders of the world.

Day to Day Itinerary

Excitement awaits as you depart OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and fly to Skukuza Airport inside the Kruger National Park.

On arrival, your ranger from your lodge will meet you and transfer you with open 4x4 safari vehicle to Kirkman’s Kamp where you will spend the next 3 nights.

On arrival at the lodge, you have time to check in and freshen before lunch is served and after lunch you will go on your first afternoon safari drive.

Day turns to dusk where you will stop for a sundowner drink and snacks. Spotlights are turned on and the search for nocturnal predators begins in all earnest. Return to camp well after dark where you are spoilt with a scented facecloth upon arrival. Enjoy a glass of superb South African wine, while your ranger points out the Southern Cross star constellation.

Lull yourself to sleep with the sound of roaring lions or the relaxing night sounds only the African bush can provide.

The early morning and afternoon game drives led by expert rangers and trackers are the perfect way to view the wildlife in comfort. You can also enjoy interesting guided bush walks which are a great way to learn about the fascinating flora and fauna in the region. This area of the Sabi Sands is known for its high concentration of leopard, and you are sure to see these shy animals.

A typical day might look something like this:

Early morning

An early start means an equally early wake-up call. Tea and biscuits are served at about 6am and at sunrise you head off on your early-morning game-drive. This is generally the best time to spot the wildlife, as the temperature is cool, and the animals are still very active, including the big cats, which will be returning from a night of hunting.

Late morning

After a few hours, you will either return to your camp for a hearty breakfast or have a bush breakfast out on the plains and then return just before the heat of the day.

Lunch and afternoon

You usually have lunch in the camp and spend the main part of the day either relaxing or using the amenities, such as an outdoor pool. Your ranger is always on standby for and educational bush walk. Afternoon tea is served at around 3pm before heading out for another safari drive.

Late afternoon/evening

As with early morning, the evening game drive is often the best time to see the wildlife. The predatory animals begin to stir from their heat-of-the-day slumber, and similarly, their prey become ever more active and alert as darkness falls. Vehicles usually return just before dark in time for a shower, pre-dinner drinks and then dinner. The evenings are often rounded off with a few drinks around the campfire, warming toes and swapping safari stories.

Enjoy another full day of safari activities in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve offering you access to incredible wildlife sightings and so much more!

Up early for coffee and embark on your last, but amazing safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Ngala Safari Lodge located in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve where you will be staying for the next 2 nights.

The exclusive Timbavati Private Game Reserve lies in the western region of the Kruger National Park, north of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. The large tracts of land that make up the Timbavati Game Reserve remain largely unspoiled and wild. This reserve is renowned for the population of white lions that roam this area. Here you can also hope to see elephant, cheetah, lion, buffalo, rhino, over 360 bird species, 79 reptiles and over 80 species of trees.

Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. There is enough time to relax after lunch, before afternoon tea is served and then off to your first afternoon safari in the Timbavati.

Morning and afternoon game drives and mid-morning bush walks offer you the chance to experience the beauty of the Timbavati Private Game Reserve with incredible wildlife, bird life and so much more!

After your last morning safari drive and breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your direct flight to Cape Town.

Your Jewel of Africa Safaris tour guide will meet you at Cape Town Airport and drive you to the beautiful town of Hermanus.

The beautiful coastal town of Hermanus is famous for whale watching. Wedged between the mountain and the sea, Hermanus has been rated by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the twelve best whale watching locations in the world, and it is often regarded as the heart of the whale route.

The best time to enjoy whale watching in Hermanus is between June and November either from land, by boat or from the air via a scenic flight.

On arrival in Hermanus, check in to your hotel, Harbour House Hotel. Relax, settle in and enjoy the amazing scenery and views of the town before heading out to dinner at one of the fine restaurants in town.

After breakfast, we head down to the harbour for your 1 – 3 hours whale-watching cruise with Southern Right Charters.

The whale watching trip begins with an on-land briefing led by a whale specialist guide before heading down the jetty to our catamaran. We then set off from the Hermanus New Harbour in search of the ‘gentle giants.’ The purpose-built catamaran provides superior viewing and comfort and during the Hermanus whale tour the friendly, knowledgeable crew add that personal touch allowing for an all-round great experience, from ensuring the perfect photo opportunities are not missed to serving complimentary light refreshments.

The Whale Specialist guide will interpret the marine life encountered en route and provide insight into the behaviour of the whales while you are watching them in action.

After the cruise, head back to your hotel to freshen up. Lunch can be enjoyed in town.

The rest of the day can be spent at leisure, with a range of activities on offer in this area. Your guide will be on standby for any additional transfers or tours.

*Optional shark cage diving is available

After breakfast, we leave Hermanus behind and drive to the Cape Winelands.

The Cape Winelands of the Western Cape are one of the big draw cards to South Africa that manage to effortlessly combine the beauty of ripening vineyards, Cape Dutch manor homes and excellent cuisine (and of course award-winning wine) in valleys surrounded by indigo mountains. The iconic towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are within easy reach of Cape Town and are some of the oldest towns in the country with a rich history and culture.

First, we devote some time to exploring the town of Franschhoek.

The French Huguenots brought their knowledge of viticulture with them and, upon receiving land from the Dutch East India Company; many vineyards were established and are today still producing some of the world's finest wines.

After lunch, we will visit one of the local wine estates, where we will sample the fine wines they produce. From here we head to Stellenbosch and the local wine route.

Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, became known as "the City of Oaks" due to the large number of oak trees that were planted to line the streets.

Spend some time to explore this uniquely beautiful town before visiting one of the famous wine estates situated in the area.

We will visit a total of 3 wine estates before making our way to Cape Town. Your luxury hotel, The Commodore Hotel, is situated at the V&A Waterfront.

Dinner can be enjoyed at the Waterfront which offers a wide variety of excellent restaurants.

The day will be devoted to exploring the City of Cape Town.

Planned stops will include the Company Gardens, Castle of Good Hope, Signal Hill and Camps Bay.

After enjoying a fine lunch in Camps Bay, you will make your way to the summit of Table Mountain by cable car. This ride takes approximately 5 minutes.

From Table Mountain, spectacular views of the city, the Cape Peninsula and Robben Island will leave you in awe.

Late afternoon we head back to your hotel.

Dinner will be enjoyed either at the V&A Waterfront or at one of the other fine restaurants in town. Please ask your guide for suggestions.

Experience the scenic beauty and natural landscapes of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula on this full-day tour from Cape Town.

See two oceans in one day and enjoy one of the most beautiful drives in the Cape. The Cape Peninsula is a diverse mix of city life and spectacular natural beauty.

Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast and depart for Hout Bay. The views in this sociable village are mesmerizing as Hout Bay is set in a fold of sea-lapped mountains that look out across the Atlantic Ocean.

From the harbor, you will embark on a 45-minute boat cruise to Seal Island to view a large fur seal colony. The extremely skilled skipper will guide the boat to almost touching distance of the thousands of seals feeding and playing in the stunning turquoise waters.

Leaving Hout Bay behind, embark on a breath-taking drive, known as the Chapman's Peak Drive; arguably the most scenic drive in the world, with photographic stops found all along the way.

The road leads to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Inside the nature reserve we visit Cape Point, where the stormy waters of the Atlantic are met by the calming influence of the Indian Ocean.

On our way back to Cape Town a visit is also made to Boulders Beach, an ideal vantage point to watch the local colony of African penguins that call this beach their home.

Day 11 :
Leisure Day

Today you will have the day at leisure to spend as you wish. Your guide will be on stand-by for any extra transfers and tours.

Below are some suggested activities and sightseeing to do today (excluded from tour price):

✓ Helicopter Flights: Get a bird’s eye view of Cape Town and take in the sights from a different perspective.

✓ Travel with a Purpose: Philanthropic tailor-made visits focused on your own interests be it art, history, education, nature, wildlife, etc.

✓ Robben Island Prison: Robben Island, the home of ex-President Nelson Mandela during the apartheid years and now a national monument, is not to be missed.

✓ Township Cultural Tours: An excellent opportunity to be guided around the townships, interacting with the locals and even having a drink or meal at a shebeen (tavern) or restaurant.

✓ District Six Museum: The museum gives you a further glimpse into apartheid and the forceful removal of a people from their land.

✓ Bo-Kaap Area: The Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most distinct neighbourhoods and there’s so much to see, taste and explore. Situated at the foot of Signal Hill, on the fringe of the city centre, and formerly known as the Malay Quarter, the Bo-Kaap’s origins date back to the 1760s when numerous “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) were built and leased to slaves. To this day, the houses are a mix of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, in distinctive multi-coloured rows on steeply cobbled roads. This is also the best place to find true Cape Malay cuisine.

✓ Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden: Regarded as the most beautiful botanical garden in the world, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is located on the slopes of Table Mountain and boasts with large indigenous gardens, incredible views of the city and mountain and the unmissable Centenary Walkway which elevates you even further.

✓ Sunset cruise in the V&A Waterfront Harbor: Enjoy a relaxed and beautiful sunset cruise from the harbor towards Green Point Stadium, with beautiful views of the city from the ocean-side.

Day 12 :
Departure

After breakfast and the morning at leisure, you will have time for some last-minute shopping at the V&A Waterfront.

Hereafter your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Johannesburg or home.

Let Jewel of Africa Safaris Help You with Your Next Safari

The expert team at Jewel of Africa Safaris is here to help you to plan your tailormade Beginners Safari to Luxury South Africa. Whether you prefer desert sand, sea or bush experiences, we make sure you travel in luxury.