Five-star luxury, exceptional experiences and unmatched wildlife safaris await you.
DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Depart New York or Washington, D.C. on your international South African Airways flight to Cape Town, South Africa via Johannesburg. From the moment you board your South African Airways flight you feel the warm and welcoming African hospitality in every detail of the world class service you are about to experience.
DAY 2 – JOHANNESBURG/CAPE TOWN
On arrival at Cape Town Airport, you will be met by a Lion World Travel representative and transferred to the luxurious Table Bay Hotel. The airport is approximately 13 miles from the city centre. The cosmopolitan city of Cape Town is the most popular tourist destination in South Africa due to its good climate, rich history, culture and scenic beauty, world class restaurants, nightlife and shopping.
The Table Bay Hotel offers the ultimate in 5-star luxury accommodation in Cape Town. One of the Leading Hotels, The Table Bay continues to set its own standards in international service, cuisine and luxury. This property is synonymous with friendly service, and environmental sustainability awareness. You will soon see that every detail has been taken care of to make your experience uniquely and luxuriously South African.
The rooms at the Table Bay Hotel are fully air-conditioned and all furnished with the amenities and services you would expect from a property of this standard including 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi access and universal plug adaptor sockets. The hotel offers a number of restaurants and bars as well as an onsite spa and a heated swimming pool.
ACCOMMODATION: THE TABLE BAY HOTEL – LUXURY KING ROOM
DAY 3 – CAPE TOWN
Enjoy a day at leisure in the fascinating city of Cape Town or choose to join our Franschhoek Tour, exclusively for our Lion World Travel guests, at a special price of $150 per person – please let us know if you would like to join this excursion which runs as follows:
After an early breakfast you will be met by your guide for today’s tour to the exquisite Franschhoek Valley in the beautiful mountains of the Cape Winelands. The first stop is at La Bourgogne Wine Farm which was among the first Huguenot farms proclaimed in 1694, where you will enjoy tasting Olive Oil, Olives and Fruit Preserves ending with a wine tasting and cellar tour.
Lunch will be at Paulina’s Restaurant at Rickety Bridge Winery. Take a seat overlooking the Rickety Bridge vineyards. Sip a glass of crisp estate wine and enjoy a delicious lunch while drinking in the splendor of the magnificent setting and stunning views of the Franschhoek mountains.
After lunch you will participate in an hour Wine Blending Experience. This interactive blending experience offers something to both wine novices and enthusiasts alike. The wine blending session will give you a chance to experience a crucial part of the wine making process, and you can leave with a bottle of wine to drink that day!
You will then have some free time to explore the quaint little town of Franschhoek before returning to Cape Town.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, located in Gansbaai, is a leading example of sustainable eco-tourism and 5-star luxury in the Western Cape. This relaxing and beautiful place overlooks Walker Bay and is surrounded by indigenous Fynbos (shrubs) and forest clad hills. Home of the “Marine Big 5” – whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins; and with unparalleled floral diversity.
While staying at The Table Bay Hotel you will enjoy a dinner at the Camissa Brasserie. Camissa Brasserie is named after the Khoisan word for Cape Town, offering diners a relaxing and sensory experience while overlooking the harbour inside the scenic Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. All the innovative meals are made with the freshest and finest ingredients.
ACCOMMODATION: THE TABLE BAY HOTEL – LUXURY KING ROOM
DAY 4 – CAPE TOWN/GANSBAAI
After breakfast take a scenic drive to Stony Point, located in the quaint coastal town of Betty’s Bay and home to one of the largest successful colonies of African Penguin in the world. Then it’s time to taste some wine with a visit to Bouchard Finlayson, before you proceed to the five-star Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, a luxury eco-reserve close to the Southern tip of Africa.
Bouchard Finlayson is one of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates that lies in a scenic valley, just an hour and a half from Cape Town, called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by beautiful mountains and breath-taking ocean views, it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape.
The 5-star luxury accommodation at Grootbos is stylishly furnished with luxurious canopy beds, spacious ensuite bathrooms, and separate lounges with cozy fireplaces and private wooden decks with spectacular panoramic views.
On a clear day, it’s possible to see all the way to Cape Point! Orientated towards the setting sun, evenings offer a grand spectacle of light and color.
ACCOMMODATION: GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE – FOREST LODGE – LUXURY SUITE
DAY 5 – GANSBAAI / CAPE TOWN
The list of activities to choose from at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is endless. Appreciate ocean and mountain views as you see the reserve on horseback. Get into better rhythm with nature as you traverse this landscape in a very natural way. With their own stables on the reserve, you can see Grootbos as either a beginner or expert rider, as you trot slowly through the fynbos or ride on the beach.
Enjoy guided walks and a nature tour through the Milkwood Forests. Walks or hikes in and around Grootbos are one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in the Cape Floral Kingdom, as you breathe the fresh air and drink in the crystal-clear views.
At Walker Bay you can observe Southern Right Whales from land from June to December. Whale watching in this unspoilt natural environment is an almost spiritual experience, which is why people from around the world flock to Walker Bay every year to do so.
Take an unforgettable bird-watching experience, to see and hear a great variety of bird species on the reserve. The rich chorus of birdsong that surrounds you at Grootbos tells you immediately that bird watching here will be extraordinary. Glimpse rare sightings on special guided walks or simply spot the beauty and color as you walk around the lodge.
You may want to have a thrilling Shark Cage Diving encounter today (not included), with one of nature’s most fearsome predators. This is an experience that will stay with you for years to come. Face up to these graceful predators as you learn more about the local underwater world in a safe and environmentally responsible way.
Return to Cape Town later today.
ACCOMMODATION: THE TABLE BAY HOTEL – LUXURY KING ROOM
DAY 6 – CAPE TOWN
Today is a day of leisure to enjoy your surroundings. Today you have the option of joining a Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain Tour, exclusively for our Lion World Travel guests, at a special price of $150 per person – please let us know if you would like to join this excursion.
Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views of the city (weather dependent). The world-famous landmark is 3,258 feet above sea level, and the mountain itself is a national monument. From the summit you can marvel at the awe-inspiring 360-degree view of the city. Ride the cable car down the mountain and depart on the cape Peninsula Tour.
On this tour you will see why the area earned the name of The Fairest Cape. Sit back and relax, as you drive along the exquisite stretch of coastline known as Millionaire’s Paradise – from Clifton to Camps Bay, to the exclusive beach hamlet of Llandudno – towards the charming working harbour of Hout Bay.
The tour then winds its way along the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive, hugging the cliffs with breathtaking ocean views. After a stop for lunch (your own account), visit the wild and beautiful Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park, an integral part of the world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom. You will have the opportunity to ride the Flying Dutchman funicular (optional and own account) to the old lighthouse for awe-inspiring views!
Finally, the tour makes its way back along the coast towards the City, visiting the historic naval port of Simon’s Town and the endearing African penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
Did you know that the African Penguin used to be called a “jackass” penguin because its call is similar to that of a braying donkey!
ACCOMMODATION: THE TABLE BAY HOTEL – LUXURY KING ROOM (B)
DAY 7 – CAPE TOWN/SKUKUZA
It is time to say goodbye to beautiful Cape Town as you transfer from your hotel to Cape Town Airport in time for your scheduled flight to Skukuza to begin your 5-star safari, with exceptional game viewing at one of Africa’s most extraordinary private reserves. Depending on your trip date, you will stay at either Tinga or Narina Lodge.
Lion Sands Kruger National Park Tinga is located on a private concession within the world-famous Kruger National Park, right on the Sabie River, so watching the animals and being surrounded entirely by bush and sky, really makes you feel like you’re suspended in time and removed from the world as you know it. Lion Sands Tinga is also about slowing down. You can do so after a thrilling safari beside the large infinity pool, in the privacy of your own suite’s plunge pool, or be pampered in the wellness centre.
Lion Sands Kruger National Park Narina has achieved a perfect blend of style and the wild bush experience. When you’re right on the Sabie River, watching the animals, surrounded by bush and sky, you really feel like you’ve escaped from the world.
With 5000 hectares of wild bush in this private concession within the world-renowned Kruger National Park, you can go exploring off-road and follow the footsteps of the leopard, track down a herd of elephant or simply wait for them to come to you.
During your stay you will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy a half-hour back, neck and shoulder massage at the lodge.
On one of your game drives you will stop at a truly luxurious treehouse built in a majestic old Leadwood Tree and set above the African bush for an exciting treehouse experience viewing the uninhibited wildlife at its best.
ACCOMMODATION: LION SANDS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK -NARINA/TINGA – SUITE
DAY 8 – LION SANDS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Your day begins early, with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Outside, the sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon, showing off a spectacular landscape. Game drives in open safari vehicles offer you the opportunity to see the Big Five and a large variety of smaller wildlife. Halfway through the game drive, there’s a stop for hot drinks and snacks, before returning to the lodge for a full breakfast.
Relax, cool off and refresh yourself in the pool, just perfect for those warm summer days after an exciting safari through the bush. Make sure your binoculars are on hand to watch the jewelled coloured birds flying around or the animals in the nearby bush.
There has to be a reason why this area is known as one of the finest safari areas in Africa and this can be attributed to the fact that it has one of the highest densities of wildlife per square hectare and this, coupled with the fact that through sound environmental practices the wildlife doesn’t feel threatened by visitors, and this results in regular sightings, of some Africa’s most elusive predators and big game. The game viewing is consistently good all year round.
Take a visit to Henna Pre-School in the Sabi Sands area. Lion World Travels’ sponsorship began in September 2007. To further our involvement with the school, Lion World Travel donates a portion of every booking to this pre-school. The objective of Henna Pre-School is to provide schooling and education for children under the age of five and to provide disadvantaged children who live within the Huntington Community, with two meals a day while at school.
ACCOMMODATION: LION SANDS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – NARINA/TINGA – SUITE
DAY 9 – LION SANDS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK LODGE
Enjoy another bright and early start to the day as another day of wilderness experience begins. You are accompanied by highly skilled game rangers, who provide interesting information and anecdotes about the inhabitants of the bush. While seeing big game is always exhilarating, there are many other smaller species that are just as captivating.
In the later afternoon take a game drive in this wilderness paradise. As darkness falls, the nocturnal animals of the bush come out. The skilled tracker will scan the landscape using a spotlight, which illuminates animals’ eyes. A variety of completely different species can be seen on the night drive back to the lodge.
ACCOMMODATION: LION SANDS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – NARINA/TINGA – SUITE
DAY 10 – SKUKUZA/JOHANNESBURG
After an early morning game drive to track the animals that may have eluded you so far, followed by breakfast, you will be transferred to Skukuza for your flight back to Johannesburg. Bid farewell to the place that has given you unforgettable wildlife encounters in the African bush.
On arrival at Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport connect with your international South African Airways flight back to the USA.
DAY 11 – ARRIVE USA
Return home with a lifetime of memories to share with your family and friends.