CAPE TOWN, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, ESWATINI, ZULULAND, SOWETO AND HLUHLUWE NATIONAL PARK
South Africa is truly a study in contrasts, and you’ll see its amazing diversity for yourself on our expertly curated South Africa tour from the U.S. Experience the cosmopolitan flavors of Cape Town and the uplifting legacy of Nelson Mandela. View the meek and the mighty at both the oldest and largest nature preserves in Africa. Discover enduring traditions and expansive landscapes in Zululand and eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). And gain a better understanding of South Africa’s struggle through history and the remarkable, big-hearted spirit of its people. The only way to enhance this tour is by extending it with a specially priced excursion to Victoria Falls, the “Smoke That Thunders.” Breathtaking!
Itinerary at
a Glance
- 4 nights in Cape Town
- 2 nights in Hluhluwe/Zululand
- 1 night in eSwatini (Swaziland)
- 2 nights in Kruger Park
- 2 nights in Johannesburg
- 3-night optional extension to Victoria Falls
Tour
Highlights
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from the U.S.
- Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-South Africa flight and ground transportation
- Accommodations at superior first-class hotels
- 18 meals: 11 buffet breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), 5 dinners (D)
- Comprehensive touring and safaris
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
Your extension includes:
- Round-trip airfare
- Three nights at the luxurious lodge with buffet breakfast daily
- Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi River
- A tour of Victoria Falls
Tour Itinerary
Cape Town
Today’s all about exploring (and savoring!) this unique city. Join a local expert to see the highlights and charms of Cape Town. We’ll ascend via cable car to the top of Cape Town’s iconic landmark, Table Mountain, for incredible city and bay views. Then you’ll have a chance to view and photograph Table Mountain from a distance from the historic, colorful neighborhood known as Bo-Kaap (the Malay Quarter). Our tour ends at the vibrant V&A Waterfront, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Relax at a café, sip a glass of South Africa’s renowned wine or browse…
Cape Town
Stunning seascapes, delicious seafood, spectacular gardens—and penguins? Our day on Cape Peninsula is truly extraordinary, as we pass steep mountains, secluded coves and sweeping beaches before a stop at a Hout Bay fishing village. Then it’s on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to baboons, rheboks and Cape Mountain zebras. At Cape Point, soak up the majestic views at the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a famous seafood restaurant, we’ll head to the most remarkable of the mainland African penguin colonies, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town,…
Cape Town/Durban/Zululand/Hluhluwe
Say farewell to Cape Town and board a morning flight to King Shaka International Airport on the Kwazulu-Natal North Coast, just outside the bustling port city of Durban. Our first stop is Westbrooke, a pretty beachside village where you can stroll golden sands along the Indian Ocean. We’ll continue north through cane fields and timber plantations to Zululand, home to one of the most famous of African tribal peoples. Our hotel tonight is set near the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and best known for saving the white rhinoceros from extinction….
Guided Tour Pricing
Price includes land and round-trip airfare from the U.S. (Land-only pricing available upon request.)
| Depart | Return | Depart - Return | Best Value Pricing - Reserve by Mar 29, 2019 | Reserve after Mar 29, 2019 | Select Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 | w/ eCheck Discount | Sale | After Sale | ||
| May 21 | June 3 | May 21 - Jun 3 | $3,699 | $3,799 | $4,199 | Book Now:  Selling Fast! |
| May 28 | June 10 | May 28 - Jun 10 | $3,399 | $3,499 | $3,899 | Book Now: |
| June 18 | July 1 | Jun 18 - Jul 1 | $3,699 | $3,799 | $4,199 | Book Now: |
| July 2 | July 15 | Jul 2 - Jul 15 | $3,699 | $3,799 | $4,199 | Book Now: Selling Fast! |
| July 9 | July 22 | Jul 9 - Jul 22 | $3,699 | $3,799 | $4,199 | Book Now: |
| August 20 | September 2 | Aug 20 - Sep 2 | $3,299 | $3,399 | $3,799 | Book Now: |
| September 10 | September 23 | Sep 10 - Sep 23 | $3,199 | $3,299 | $3,699 | Book Now: |
| September 12 | September 25 | Sep 12 - Sep 25 | $3,199 | $3,299 | $3,699 | Book Now: Selling Fast! |
| October 3 | October 16 | Oct 3 - Oct 16 | $3,299 | $3,399 | $3,799 | Book Now: |
| October 8 | October 21 | Oct 8 - Oct 21 | $3,299 | $3,399 | $3,799 | Book Now: |
| October 22 | November 4 | Oct 22 - Nov 4 | $3,299 | $3,399 | $3,799 | Book Now: |
| October 29 | November 11 | Oct 29 - Nov 11 | $3,299 | $3,399 | $3,799 | Book Now: |
| November 12 | November 25 | Nov 12 - Nov 25 | $3,199 | $3,299 | $3,699 | Book Now: Selling Fast! |
| November 26 | December 9 | Nov 26 - Dec 9 | $2,999 | $3,099 | $3,499 | Book Now: |
| December 3 | December 16 | Dec 3 - Dec 16 | $2,999 | $3,099 | $3,499 | Book Now: |
| 2020 | 2020 | w/ eCheck Discount | Sale | After Sale | ||
| January 14 | January 27 | Jan 14 - Jan 27 | $2,999 | $3,099 | $3,499 | Book Now: |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single room supplement is $449.
Note: Table Mountain has scheduled its annual maintenance closure for 7/8/2019-8/19/2019. During this time, the Cat Project Tour at Emdoneni will be offered as an alternative.
Business Class upgrade supplement is $5,700. (For JFK-Johannesburg-JFK flights only)
VICTORIA FALLS EXTENSION: Add $1289 per person double occupancy / $1489 single
If taking the Victoria Falls extension, a visa is required for Zimbabwe. US and Canada passport holders can obtain it upon arrival
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00-5:30 EST) at 800-337-7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made by phone 1 800 337 7773 and will be confirmed upon receipt of $300 per person non-refundable, non-transferable deposit which must be received within 48 hours of reservation. Full payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Baggage fees may apply. Space and prices subject to availability. For complete booking information and terms & conditions click here.
Extended Tours
Zambezi River/Victoria Falls
Begin the day with The Life of David Livingston, an inspirational story that offers insights into Africa’s tumultuous past. You’ll have time to see the traditional way of life before returning to the Zambezi River and the magnificent Victoria Falls, the largest curtain of water in the world. Twice as wide and deep as Niagara Falls, it looks much the same as it did to David Livingston in the 1860s. In the afternoon, you can return for more mesmerizing views of the 355-foot-high falls. B Ilala Lodge Hotel or Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (or…
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Pricing is subject to change. Payment (non-refundable) should be made by cash or credit card (VISA, MasterCard or AmEx, subject to service charge).
Half-Day Cultural Heritage Tour & Township Tour
- Cape Town
- From approx. $40 Per Person
Time-travel through the history of “The Three South Africas”—from the monumental turning point in the Birth of South Africa to the now-decaying ruins of Apartheid South Africa to the townships of the New South Africa—on this can’t-miss tour. Gain insight into the greatness of Nelson Mandela and what South Africa has achieved ever since taking up his challenge to rise above pain and bitterness. Experience eye-opening encounters, especially when visiting Langa, the oldest black township, and Khayelitsha, the largest township, where cultural values and personal…
Robben Island Tour**
- Cape Town
- From approx. $23 Per Person
Catch the ferry to Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the infamous maximum-security prison where Nelson Mandela and others were jailed. Adding to the realism of this tour: guides on the island were once political prisoners! Important tour details:
- Ferries depart several times daily, weather permitting, from V&A Waterfront. Transfers from your hotel to the pier and back are not included.
- The Robben Island excursions are operated by a non-profit foundation, and tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis. smarTours® does…
Full Day Great White Shark Cage Diving***
- Cape Town
- From approx. $159 Per Person, including breakfast, packed lunch and transfers
Truly a once-in-a-lifetime outing! Rise early for the trip to the coastal fishing town Gansbaai. Here you’ll meet your crew, review the day’s outing and safety instructions, and have breakfast. Then it’s off to open waters, where you’ll don your “shark gear” and climb into the secure cage for a wildlife viewing experience you’ll never forget. You’ll also enjoy watching the great whites from the comfort of the boat while your fellow divers are underwater.
***This tour operates on the last day in Cape Town, and it is not possible to do Robben Island or Winelands…
Featured Accommodations
Before You Depart
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Your departure flights from the U.S. to South Africa and back are on South African Airways. We recommend that you check in three-and-a-half hours before departure.
Depart: 10:30AM
Return: 8:00AM
ADVANCE SEAT ASSIGNMENT
South African Airlines does not assign seats in advance. Seat assignment can only be arranged when you check-in at the airport.
LAND-ONLY TRAVELERS
International flights to/from the U.S. are not included. Land-only travelers are responsible for arranging entry and exit flights, as well as their arrival and departure transfers. smarTours cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by air schedule changes and delays. Unused land services are non-refundable.
Main Tour Only: Land-only services start upon independent check-in at the hotel in Cape Town on Day 2 of the itinerary listed on the tour page. Land-only services end after breakfast at the Johannesburg hotel on Day 13 of the itinerary listed on the tour page.
Main Tour + Extension: Land-only services start upon independent check-in at the hotel in Cape Town on Day 2 of the itinerary listed on the tour page. Land-only services end upon arrival at the Johannesburg airport on Day 16 of the itinerary on the tour page. Flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and back are included.
PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION
You must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. All visitors are required by the South African immigration authorities to have a minimum of two consecutive blank visa entry pages in their passport. Insufficient pages in the passport normally results in denied boarding or denial of entry upon arrival, and the person is likely to be detained pending return to their country of origin. Visa is not required for U.S. passport holders. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the respective consulates as to the most current visa requirements to all their travel destinations. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.
If you are taking the Victoria Falls extension, you will need a Zimbabwe visa. U.S. and Canadian citizens can obtain the visa on arrival at the Victoria Falls airport. U.S. citizens will pay a fee of $30 in U.S. dollars (cash) for single entry visa. If you are planning to join the Chobe optional excursion to Botswana, you’ll need a double entry visa, which is $45. Canadian passport holders’ single-entry visa fee to Zimbabwe is $75 and if taking the full-day Chobe optional trip, an additional fee of $75 applies to reenter Zimbabwe. Passport holders of other countries need to check with the Zimbabwe embassy before departure about visa requirements. Visa fees & regulations are subject to change.
ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR CHILDREN
Effective June 1, 2015, children younger than 18 years who enter South Africa will be required to present a certified copy of a full birth certificate. Copies are not acceptable. If the child is not traveling with both parents, additional documentation is required. For more information about children’s requirements, please visit the consulate website at http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/index.htm
TICKETS AND FINAL DOCUMENTS
Your airline tickets, along with final instructions and additional travel tips, will be sent to you 7–10 days before the scheduled departure of your tour. Please make sure to advise us in case your address changes.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Please consult your personal physician or local public health authorities regarding taking anti-malaria pills, as well as other recommendations.
CLIMATE
South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere and has the reverse seasons to those of the U.S. The weather is temperate, even in the winter. Overnight temperatures are 10-20 degrees lower. Here’s what you can expect:
- April–September: Highs in the 60s and 70s.
- October–March: Highs in the 70s and 80s.
NON-INCLUDED MEALS
Food costs in South Africa are quite reasonable compared to the U.S. In Cape Town, you may dine at either of the hotels used on this tour or in a nearby restaurant recommended by your guide. The V&A Waterfront also offers a fantastic range of dining options. Your hotel will accept credit cards for your non-included meals.
CREDIT CARDS AND LOCAL CURRENCY
Hotels and some stores accept major credit cards. For “street shopping” you will need local currency or U.S. Dollars. Your hotels will be able to exchange cash to local currency. It is recommended that you bring along cash in small denominations.
BAGGAGE
Each passenger may bring one piece of checked-in luggage (suitcase) max. 44 pounds, and one carry-on not exceeding 18”x10”x8”. We recommend that you do not overpack and that you take a variety of casual separates with climate and comfort in mind.