March 3 - Vancouver – Frankfurt
Our great adventure begins with an overnight Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt. Dinner, breakfast and drinks on board.

March 4 - Frankfurt – Cape Town
On arrival at Frankfurt International Airport we will transfer to a convenient and comfortable hotel where day rooms have been booked for our convenience.  The remainder of the day at leisure to relax or take public transport into Frankfurt for an optional tour. This evening we will transfer back to Frankfurt International Airport for our overnight Lufthansa flight to Cape Town. Dinner, breakfast and drinks on board.

March 5 - Cape Town
Early morning arrival in the beautiful city of Cape Town. En route to the hotel we will enjoy a panorama Cape Town City tour. Drive through the cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap with their delightful old buildings and the first mosque in South Africa, followed by a general tour of Cape Town City Centre. Take a stroll down the Company’s Gardens, the oldest garden in South Africa, established in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck as a vegetable garden to supply fresh produce to passing ships.

No visit to Cape Town would be complete without a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain (weather permitting), from where we will have a true reflection of the beauty of the Cape Peninsula and the Mother City at our feet. Table Mountain, with its dramatic setting at watch over the city, is a proclaimed World Heritage Site and a world famous landmark.
  
Located on the Platinum Mile of trendy Bantry Bay, where the ocean, mountains and Mother City blend, are the Bantry Bay Luxury Suites. In all the luxury suites or semi-suites you can expect to find a five-star leisure base with a contemporary self-contained option. The on-site Atlantic Café serves traditional breakfasts.  Each luxury hotel suite and semi suite has an en suite bathroom complete with separate bath and shower, seating and dining area, business work station, fully equipped kitchenette and mini-bar. All sea-facing suites enjoy majestic views of the Atlantic Ocean from their sun-filled balcony.

Remainder of the day at leisure.   Overnight at Bantry Bay Luxury Suites on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 6 - Cape Town
Our day is at leisure to explore this beautiful city or just relax in the Waterfront area which includes some of the finest restaurants and shopping in Cape Town.  Recommended optional excursions include a tour of the harbour by launch or a trip by catamaran to infamous Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 19 years).  Overnight at Bantry Bay Luxury Suites on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 7 - Cape Town
After breakfast we will take the Cape Peninsula Tour in our comfortable coach.  The tour will visit the World of Birds at Hout Bay before travelling along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where we will have a chance to see the point where, by tradition, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. 

En route we should see small herds of bontebok, mountain zebra and eland as well as ostriches and baboons.  After lunch at Bertha’s Restaurant our route takes us through the town of Simonstown, where we will stop at Boulders Beach to see African penguins up close in their natural environment.  From there we travel back towards Cape Town along the False Bay coastline, passing through the colourful fishing harbour of Kalk Bay and picturesque suburb of St James, the sleepy villages of Fish Hoek and Muizenberg, Hout Bay and Seapoint back to the city.  

Overnight at Bantry Bay Luxury Suites on a bed & breakfast basis.

March 8 - Cape Town
This morning we leave for an all day tour of the Cape Winelands stopping for wine tasting at historic and scenic estates.  En route we will visit the interesting towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch with their famous Cape Dutch architecture and historical monuments, and enjoy lunch at one of the premier estates, Spier’s Jonkerhuis Restaurant.  We will return to Cape Town late in the afternoon.

 Overnight at Bantry Bay Luxury Suites on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 9 - Cape Town - Durban
Today we bid farewell to the Cape.  After a leisurely morning we will be transferred to Cape Town Airport where we will board our flight to Durban.  

Durban is South Africa's premier beach resort and principal city of the Kwa Zulu-Natal province.  On arrival we will be transferred to Garden Court North Beach which is located on Durban’s Golden Mile opposite the world-renowned surfers’ paradise, North Beach.  Overnight at the Southern Sun North Beach on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 10 - Zululand
This morning we will depart Durban in a comfortable coach and travel to Eshowe and the authentic Zulu Kraal of Shakaland. Feel the pulsating rhythm of Africa as you re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulus. Experience the sight of assegaai-wielding warriors, share the fascinating secrets of Sangomas and witness traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear-making and the beer-making ceremony.  A traditional Zulu lunch will be served.

We will then continue to a Zululand Tree Lodge in Ubizane Private Game Reserve. Set in the cool, whispering tranquility of a fever tree forest, the Tree Lodge is a truly special retreat where you will be accommodated in luxurious stilted chalets. Enjoy the quiet lounge, observation deck and a sunny pool area where you might be visited by a family of warthog, a shy red duiker or a pair of purple-crested turacos.

Time permitting we will enjoy a sundowner game drive in an open vehicle in the Ubizane Wildlife Reserve which boasts a variety of game, including white rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, most species of antelope, and over 350 species of birdlife.

We will return to the lodge for a hearty dinner served under an African sky (weather permitting). Overnight at Zululand Tree Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

March 11 - Zululand – Swaziland
After breakfast, we will enjoy an early morning game drive in famous Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest in Africa, where the Big-5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard) roam the bush.

After the game drive we will continue through Northern Zululand and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland at Golela border post.  We will drive through the lush verdant hills and valleys of Swaziland to the beautiful Ezulwini Valley – the valley of heaven.
The Royal Swazi Sun, the flagship hotel of the Kingdom of Swaziland, is situated in the Ezulwini Valley. The 147 room hotel has been regularly refurbished over the past 31 years to maintain it in right royal style.  Overnight at Royal Swazi Sun on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

March 12 - Swaziland – Kruger National Park  
We will continue via the Lebombo Mountains through eastern Swaziland and exit at Jeppe's Reef border. Travel via Malelane to our private game lodge.

Jock Safari Lodge is the first private lodge set in South Africa's and Africa's premier wildlife reserve, the Kruger National Park. The Lodge incorporates the romance and elegance of the past colonial era, and reflects in its unique style the indigenous Zulu and Shangaan cultures. Animals, including the Big Five, can be seen while relaxing around the rock pool or from the comfort and privacy of your own room. The Safari Lodge has twelve luxury air-conditioned suites, each with their own private sala that overlook the river, as do the romantic bathrooms and outdoor showers.

We will arrive in time for a late afternoon game-viewing drive in an open safari vehicle with a professional team of game rangers and trackers.  Experience the thrill of close encounters with Africa's wildlife.  Return to the lodge where an African feast awaits us. Overnight at Jock Safari Lodge on a full board basis.

March 13 - Kruger National Park
Kruger is South Africa's finest national park and acknowledged as one of the best in the world.  It has all the "Big Five" as well as a huge variety of other animals and exotic birds.  This morning and afternoon we will enjoy game drives in open safari vehicles in Kruger National Park.  

Overnight at Jock Safari Lodge on a full board basis.

March 14 - Kruger National Park
After breakfast we will drive through Kruger National Park game-viewing en route to our safari lodge. Umbhaba lies on a hillside overlooking the Sabie River valley. Umbhaba provides stylish accommodation which consists of 13 individually-decorated luxury suites under thatch. Each exclusive bedroom includes an open log fireplace, en suite bathroom, mini bar and satellite television – comforts for a home away from home.  Overnight at Umbhaba on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
     
March 15 - Mpumalanga
After breakfast at Umbhaba we will travel in our coach along the famous Panorama Route via Kowyn’s Pass to Graskop.  We will visit God’s Window, Three Rondavels, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Pilgrim’s Rest and the Blyde River Canyon.  Our tour ends at Critchley Hackle.

It is probably the cosiest, most intimate country house around. Stone buildings, log fires and beautiful, romantic interiors give Critchley Hackle Lodge this wonderful reputation.  Friendliness, fine cuisine and wines are a speciality. Accommodation comprises 23 rooms of the highest standard, situated around a trout filled lake edged with beautiful gardens.

A superb meal complements and completes the day. Overnight at Critchley Hackle on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

March 16 - Mpumalanga - Johannesburg
After breakfast we will begin our journey to Johannesburg and travel via Middleburg and Witbank to Pretoria.  We will tour through Pretoria visiting some of the many sights such as the Union Buildings and Voortrekker Monument.  Continuing on we will arrive in Johannesburg mid-afternoon.  
The Southern Sun Grayston is a fine, luxury hotel set in beautifully landscaped gardens, within close proximity to the Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square Shopping Complexes. The hotel offers 346 elegantly appointed bedrooms offering every convenience, with special focus on the business traveller.  Other facilities include a variety of conference venues, Business Centre, Wireless internet hotspots in public areas, outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre with limited equipment.

Overnight at Southern Sun Grayston on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 17 - Johannesburg - Victoria Falls (Livingstone)
After breakfast we will be transferred to Johannesburg International Airport for our flight to Livingstone in Zambia. Lunch will be served on board.  As our flight comes in to land we will catch our first glimpse of the huge columns of spray which rise up above the magnificent Victoria Falls, sometimes as high as 500m above the Falls.
 
On arrival at Livingstone Airport we will be met and transferred to the Zambezi Sun Hotel.  Zambezi Sun, part of Sun International's Falls Resort, is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, adjacent to the spectacular Eastern Cataract of the mighty Victoria Falls.  The area encompasses approximately 46 hectares of World Heritage Site and is located in the south-eastern corner of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.  The Zambezi Sun captures the soul of Africa. Simple, rustic, fun and welcoming, the architecture of this hotel was inspired by the timeless African tradition - its unique styling offers visitors the experience of truly being in the heart of Africa.  All 212 en suite rooms have private balconies that welcome the morning sun and are tastefully decorated with an African flavour.  Rooms are comfortable and offer every convenience including individual air-conditioning, satellite television, fold-out couch and telephone.  The hotel's central reception area houses a high-quality buffet restaurant, pool bar next to the large pool and a lively al fresco grill and entertainment area.

In the late afternoon we will relax on board a luxury cruise up the mighty Zambezi River and watch the flaming brilliance of an African sunset whilst sipping on an ice-cold gin and tonic or beer. Overnight at Zambezi Sun on a bed and breakfast basis.

March 18 - Victoria Falls (Livingstone)
After breakfast we will be collected from our hotel for a walking tour of the majestic Falls.  The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the many activities available including a cultural visit to a local village or a game drive in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.  We will have a Farewell Dinner this evening at our hotel.

Overnight at Zambezi Sun on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

March 19 - Livingstone – Johannesburg – Frankfurt
After a morning at leisure we will be transferred to Livingstone Airport in time for our flight back to Johannesburg.  Lunch will be served on board the flight.  On arrival we will have use of a Premier Lounge where we can relax, have a shower or enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks. Later we will check in at O R Tambo International Airport for our overnight Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt.

March 20 - Frankfurt – Vancouver
At Frankfurt International Airport, hotel day-rooms have been reserved for a few hours until our onward Lufthansa flight to Vancouver.