See the best in Africa ---
Join African Timeout for the highlights of the Southern African continent with its diverse heritage and culture. Our tour will consist of the most scenic and adventurous areas in this part of Africa giving you insight from the most rural to some of the most modern cities in Africa. Experience the wildlife as it’s been unchanged for ages in some of the most remote areas of Africa and stand in awe of some of the natural wonders of the world. The group size will be limited to 8 passengers, as the tour will be conducted in a chartered plane for your convenience.
16 Day African Fly Adventure
Routing:
Johannesburg-Kruger National park (South Africa)-Bazaruto islands (Mozambique) - Livingstone (Zambia)- Okavango (Botswana)- Sossusvlei (Namibia)- Fish River Canyon (Namibia) – Augrabies (South Africa) – Cape Town (South Africa)
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 (Johannesburg)
Arrival in Johannesburg where Johan Van Biljon, your tour manager and guide, will meet you and transfer you to our African village Lesedi for a rest, depending on the arrival time the afternoon is spent at leisure or a tour around Johannesburg the largest city in South Africa. At 16:00 our introduction to South African cultures. Lesedi is a cultural village where 5 tribes of SA is based and the walk-a-round of the villages, singing and dancing will be your introduction to SA .the evening is completed with the traditional Nyama Choma restaurant’s exquisite food. (Lesedi cultural village)
Day 2 (Johannesburg)
A leisurely city breakfast is the start of the day before we tackle the day and visit the Gold rush History of Johannesburg by going to Soweto the home of Mandela and where the fight for change in our beautiful country started. We visit Mandela’s house the street where the 1976 riots started and on to the Hector Peterson Museum. Having lunch at one of the Famous Shebeens completes our visit to Soweto. Proceeding through the western suburbs of Johannesburg we go back a million years in history as we proceed to The world heritage site of the Cradle of humankind, firstly we will visit the Sterkfontein caves and see where the oldest hominid fossil (Mrs. Ples, Little foot) was found. Our tour takes us 60m underground seeing one of the largest underground lakes. Before returning Maropeng and the Tumulus is our last stop for the day, the origin of mankind is explored here in a super modern technological museum. After been awed by the humankind history we walk over to the Maropeng boutique hotel for dinner and a great evening under the stars.(Maropeng Boutique Hotel)
Day 3 (Johannesburg to Hoedspruit)
This morning is the start of the greatest adventure. We complete our breakfast and then transferred to Wonderboom airport, we meet up with our pilot and transport for the next few days.
The flight of 2hrs is over the Highveld with its wide-open expanses going into the Mpumalanga area where we see the Blyde River Canyon (3rd largest in the world) Landing at Hoedspruit we are met by the rangers of Pondoro safari lodge and taken by road to this truly old fashioned Game lodge. Pondoro is situated in Balule, a part of the Greater Kruger Park. Rest or a swim is at the order of the day before your first wildlife experience starts that afternoon with our first truly African game drive in an open game drive vehicle. Our qualified ranger shares knowledge of the wildlife and bush. Watching the sunset while standing in the bush, sipping sundowners is one of the lasting memories of SA. Returning to this authentic bush camp with lanterns aflame a scrumptious meal is prepared and enjoyed in the Boma around the fire. (Pondoro safari lodge)
Day 4 (Hoedspruit Pondoro)
A 05: 30-morning call is the wakeup time to take to the bush and find all the nocturnal animals returning from there adventurous hunting night. Our 3 hr game drive will see the sun rise over the African plains. Leopard and big 5 sightings are definite in the Balule area. Returning to our camp where a warm shower and a great brunch awaits. Your choice of spending some time around the pool or talking a very exciting bushwalk is the most difficult decision to be made.
Afternoon tea and an evening game drive are completed before reminiscing about the day’s excitement around the fire and dinner. (Pondoro safari Lodge)
Day 5 ( Hoedspruit – Nelspruit- Vilanculos (Mozambique))
An early start with our final game drive and breakfast before we transfer back to Hoedspruit where our plane will be waiting. Our flight takes us over some of the most scenic areas of the Lowveld with the Drakensberg Escarpment in the west to the Kruger Mpumalanga international airport where we will clear customs before we travel over the border and the Lebombo Mountains to Vilanculos. After clearing customs we travel over the bluest of Indian oceans to the Bazaruto Archipelago and Anantara Bazaruto Island Lodge (Anantara Bazaruto Island Lodge)
Day 6 (Anantara Bazaruto Island Lodge)
Anantara Bazaruto Island Lodge is situated in the largest island of the Bazaruto Archipelago, approximately 600 km to the north of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. The island is 35 Km in length and 7 km across at the widest point, and is a little piece of paradise! Yours to explore or just relax on the beach. The clear blue Indian Ocean is renowned for its diving and snorkelling, so for the enthusiasts, the day is open to spend at your peril Dinner is served overlooking the Indian Ocean. (Anantara Bazaruto Island Lodge )
Day 7 (Bazaruto – Livingston Zambia)
Breakfast and an early departure for Livingston airport Zambia to experience one of the seven natural wonders of the world Mosi-Oa- Tunya- “The Smoke That Thunders” which stretches over 1,5 km as it plunges over 100m into the Zambezi gorge below. When David Livingston saw the falls for the first time in 1855, he wrote:” scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”.
We are met by the Taita Falcon lodge representative and transferred to this magnificent bush lodge perched on the side of the Batoka gorge overlooking the mighty Zambezi and rapid 17. Relaxing and exploring the fantastic views we enjoy dinner on the viewing deck with the awesome sunsets of Africa. (Taita Falcon Lodge)
Day 8 (Zambia – Taita Falcon)
Exploring the Falls and day activities are planned for today. This will occupy us until late afternoon when we board the riverboat for our sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Day Activities like white water rafting, bungee jumping, shopping in the market and high-speed boat excursions can be arranged. For those who would like to see the complete waterfalls, a trip over the border to Zimbabwe can also be arranged. Returning early evening dinner is served at Taita Falcon. (Taita Falcon lodge)
Day 9 (Livingston – Seronga, Botswana)
Bidding our farewell after breakfast we return to Livingston airport for our departure to Botswana and the Okavango Delta. Doing the customs thing in Kasane before landing at Seronga airstrip we are transferred to our riverboat, which will be our accommodation for the next 2 nights (Ngwesi Houseboat)
Day 10 (Botswana Ngwesi Houseboat)
"A houseboat holiday on the Okavango is the stuff that dreams are made of. You don't have to be an angler to enjoy it or even a wildlife enthusiast. As we all know, there is something about calm blue water that is conducive to serenity in the human soul. Well, imagine such serenity in the most idyllic setting in Africa- with tall palm trees and gently waving papyrus reeds forming an emerald green backdrop to crystal waters that mirror the clear blue sky. Tiny grassy islands float on their own reflections, and water lilies sway among green lily pads on ponds so clear you can see the sandy bottom ten feet below. That you are floating on this water, in opulent comfort, free to leisurely cruise where you will, enhances the magic. The hushed silence, save for the call of the wild, makes it all more peaceful, and yes, you do indeed hear the plaintive cry of the fish eagles- and see them in trees along the riverbanks as you glide by. And, of course, the knowledge that you truly are in deepest Africa, in one of the last primordial paradises on earth, freely roamed by all manner of exciting wild animals, makes the experience utterly compelling. Everyone who has the means should do this at least once in their lives. " (Gregor Woods)
Day 11 (Seronga –Sossusvlei Namibia)
Returning to Seronga our plane waits for a very scenic flight via Maun and Windhoek directly to Sossusvlei in Namibia. Our day is completed with a Sossusvlei Excursion. You will travel in one of the all-terrain URI Game viewer vehicles, custom-built in Namibia for the Lodge, with your own specially trained guide who will share all his knowledge of the area, the animals, the plant life and much more with you. Regular stops are made on the ±60 kilometre drive down to the Vlei to gain information or take in the vistas. At Dune 45, the more energetic have the opportunity to climb to the upper ridge of the world's most photographed dune. Dinner is taken on the restaurant terrace with a great buffet dinner. (Sossusvlei lodge)
Day 12 (Sossusvlei – Luderitz- Fish River Canyon, Namibia)
Flying over the oldest desert in the world with views that can only be imagined we fly to Luderitz where we will visit and tour the Kolmanskop ghost town and its rich diamond history. Lunch is enjoyed in Luderitz on the waterfront before we return and fly to Canyon lodge on the verge of the second largest canyon in the world, the Fish river canyon. A drive to the lookout point with the sun setting will be closure for the day Dinner and overnight is in the lodge an old farmhouse. (Canyon Lodge)
Day 13 (Fish river canyon – Upington South Africa)
After a relaxing breakfast, we take off with a flyover for the last picture or two of the Fish river canyon landing in Keetmanshoop to clear customs we proceed on to Upington in South Africa. We travel by vehicle through the rapid growing town of Upington Keimoes and Kakemas with its green vineyards and raisin factories to see the Augrabies waterfall. This incredible feat of nature is an inspiring sight to see the Gariep River (Orange River) fight its way through solid rock to get down to the Atlantic Ocean. We will dine and overnight in the Augrabies national park with a traditional braai and some local wine. ( Augrabies national park)
Day 14 (Augrabies falls – Capetown)
An early morning game drive will complete our game viewing activities for the trip before we return to Upington for our flight to Capetown.
The flight will take us over the very beautiful Namaqualand and its wildflowers that would be in bloom. This magnificent spectacle happens once a year in spring when the arid dry land comes to life with a myriad of colours Arriving in Capetown the legislative capital of South Africa we will be transferred into city bowl to our hotel opposite the company gardens and the parliament buildings. Depending on the weather a visit to the overpowering Table Mountain will be arranged before the evening is spent exploring the V&A Waterfront with a group dinner at a famous restaurant.(Cape Hollow hotel)
Day 15 (Capetown)
Today is, see Capetown in a one-day tour. With an early departure, we drive down the Atlantic seaboard with its scenic drives through Houtbay to the Cape peninsula national park and cape point, we move on, visiting the penguins of Boulders Beach in Simons Town. After lunch, our journey takes us past some of the townships of Capetown on to one of the very famous wine cellars where we will partake in some wine tasting. The evening is ended off with our farewell dinner at one of the wine estates. (Cape Hollow hotel)
Day 16 (Capetown – Johannesburg - end)
The final bit of souvenir shopping can be done before you are transferred back to the Capetown airport for your return flight to Johannesburg.
Tour will end on arrival at Johannesburg airport.
The Tour
The tour compromises of three sections
Johannesburg arrival
- Day 1 and 2 are set up for arrival and clients to make sure that their arrival in Johannesburg falls within these two days. Free transfers from the airport are available for clients to join the main group.
- Additional days can be added before the full tour starts. (contact office for planning and cost)
African flight.
- Day 3 to day 14 cannot be altered and is the main body of the tour
Capetown departure
- Day 15 and day 16 is for departure to meet up with scheduled flights back. Clients need only to organise return flights to Johannesburg as we have included a scheduled flight from Capetown to Johannesburg on the morning of Day 16.
- Additional days can be added if a longer stay is required in Capetown. (contact office for planning and cost)
Costing:
The costing of the trip is individually calculated on request. The tour can only depart if 8 people are confirmed.
Includes:
- All accommodation in superior lodges
- Guaranteed 2 meals a day (lunch included where possible otherwise snack packs will be available
- All costs for the charter flight
- All airport taxes for passengers and plane
- All transfers to and from landing strips and airports
- Registered tourist guides where required
- Tour leader/guide in attendance
- Entrance fees to all parks and venues
- Domestic airfare from Capetown to Johannesburg
Excludes
- International Airfare to and from Johannesburg
- All cross-border Visa costs
- All personal extras, drinks, laundry and gratuities.
Luggage constraints:
- As you are aware that we will be flying in a charter aircraft with limited luggage space, each passenger will be limited to 20 Kg of soft luggage and one carry-on piece for cameras etc.
| Day | Departure | Arrival | Flight Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 3 | Wonderboom airport Pretoria | Hoedspruit Eastgate airport | 01:14 | Transfer to lodge |
| Day 5 | Hoedspruit Eastgate airport | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport | 00:25 | Clear customs |
| Day 5 | Kruger Mpumalanga airport | Vilankulu Mozambique | 02:21 | Clear customs and transfer to the island |
| Day 7 | Vilankulu Mozambique | Livingstone Harry Nkumbula Intl | 04:03 | Clear customs and transfer to the lodge |
| Day 9 | Livingstone Harry Nkumbula Intl | Kasane Botswana | 00:15 | Clear customs |
| Day 9 | Kasane Botswana | Seronga Botswana | 01:09 | Transfer to Houseboat |
|
Day 11 |
Seronga Botswana | Maun Botswana | 00:37 | Clear customs |
| Day 11 | Maun Botswana | Hosea Kutako Intl.Namibia | 02:49 | Clear customs |
| Day 11 | Hosea Kutako Intl.Namibia | Sossusvlei Lodge | 01:07 | Transfer to lodge |
| Day 12 | Sossusvlei Lodge | Luderitz | 00:48 | Kolmanskop tour |
| Day 12 | Luderitz | Fish River Canyon Lodge | 01:01 | Transfer to lodge |
| Day 13 | Fish River Canyon Lodge | Keetmanshoop | 00:28 | Clear customs |
| Day 13 | Keetmanshoop | Upington SA | 01:22 | Clear customs and transfer to Augrabies |
| Day 14 | Upington | Capetown | 02:33 | Transfer to Hotel |
| Day 16 | Capetown | Johannesburg | 02:05 | Commercial domestic flight to suit return international flight |
