CAPE TOWN, ZULULAND-HLUHLUWE NATIONAL PARK, ESWATINI, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, AND SOWETO
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! 4.5/5 stars on Tripadvisor
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our 17-day South Africa Highlights & Safari with Victoria Falls tour which includes 3 nights at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe with an optional excursion to Chobe National Park in Botswana!
For COVID-19 updates, please scroll down to our Before You Depart section.
Did you know that you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options for groups of 10 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
- 4 nights in Cape Town
- 2 nights in Hluhluwe/Zululand
- 1 night in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- 2 nights in Kruger Park
- 2 nights in Johannesburg
Tour
Highlights
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from the NY Area (EWR or JFK) (passengers may also book this tour without flights)
- 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 (Meet one of our guides!)
Tour Itinerary
Map
Click the Day-by-Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.
Day 1: Depart from the U.S.
Day 2: Arrive in Cape Town
Day 3: Cape Town
Day 4: Cape Town
Day 5: Cape Town
Day 6: Cape Town/Durban/Zululand/Hluhluwe
Day 7: Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park/Zululand
Day 8: Hluhluwe/Eswatini
Day 9: Eswatini/Kruger National Park
Day 10: Kruger National Park
Day 11: Kruger Park/Mpumalanga/Sandton
Day 12: Soweto Excursion/Apartheid Museum
Day 13: Depart South Africa
Day 14: Arrive in the U.S.
Guided Tour Pricing
Prices listed as “with flights” below include round-trip airfare from the New York area (EWR or JFK) for 2022 departures. Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only, and arrange their own arrival in destination. Please note this may change your tour start date.
Because we can’t secure airline pricing more than a year in advance, 2023 dates and prices listed below are for the tour only. Once flights are available, we’ll notify you of your options.
| 2022 Tours | Tour Only | With Flights | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday
October 3 Sunday
October 16 |
From
$3,449
$2,949
|
Flights not available | Select |
|
Monday
October 17 Sunday
October 30 |
From
$2,899
$2,399
|
Flights not available |
Call to book |
|
Thursday
December 1 Wednesday
December 14 |
From
$3,249
$2,749
|
From
$4,049
$3,549
|
Call to book |
| 2023 Tours | Tour Only | With Flights | |
|
Monday
January 9 Sunday
January 22 |
From
$3,149
$2,649
|
From
$4,149
$3,649
|
Select Only 2 spots left |
|
Monday
January 23 Sunday
February 5 |
From
$3,099
$2,599
|
From
$4,099
$3,599
|
Select |
|
Monday
February 6 Sunday
February 19 |
From
$3,249
$2,749
|
From
$4,249
$3,749
|
Call to book |
|
Monday
February 20 Sunday
March 5 |
From
$3,099
$2,599
|
From
$4,099
$3,599
|
Select |
|
Monday
March 6 Sunday
March 19 |
From
$2,999
$2,499
|
From
$3,999
$3,499
|
Select |
|
Monday
March 6 Sunday
March 19 |
From
$2,999
$2,499
|
From
$3,999
$3,499
|
Select |
|
Monday
March 27 Sunday
April 9 |
From
$3,149
$2,649
|
From
$4,149
$3,649
|
Call to book |
|
Monday
April 10 Sunday
April 23 |
From
$2,999
$2,499
|
From
$3,999
$3,499
|
Select |
|
Monday
May 1 Sunday
May 14 |
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
From
$4,399
$3,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
May 15 Sunday
May 28 |
From
$2,999
$2,499
|
From
$3,999
$3,499
|
Select |
|
Monday
June 19 Sunday
July 2 |
From
$3,399
$2,899
|
From
$4,399
$3,899
|
Select |
|
Monday
September 18 Sunday
October 1 |
From
$3,149
$2,649
|
From
$4,149
$3,649
|
Select |
|
Monday
October 23 Sunday
November 5 |
From
$3,149
$2,649
|
From
$4,149
$3,649
|
Select |
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms & Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
Note: Table Mountain has scheduled its annual maintenance closure every July. Dates to be announced. During this time, we will offer an alternative.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5:30pm EST) at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Half-Day Cultural Heritage Tour & Township Tour
Robben Island Tour**
Winelands Tour
Gold Dinner
Full Day Great White Shark Cage Diving***
Featured Accommodations
President Hotel
Emdoneni Lodge
Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino
Sabi River Sun Resort
Garden Court Sandton City
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Before You Depart
COVID-19 UPDATE
Departing the U.S.: For the safety of everyone in the group, smarTours has implemented COVID-19 travel requirements which apply to all tours regardless of destination. To learn more, click here.
Please note destination entry requirements are changing rapidly. smarTours will communicate entry requirements in your Tour Documents 10-14 days prior to departure. For up-to-date information, please click the links below.
- Entry requirements
- State Department Travel Advisory Updates (South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana)
- Center for Disease Control Updates & Information (South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana)
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Your departure flights from the U.S. to South Africa and back are on the below airlines. We recommend that you check in three-and-a-half hours before departure.
| Departure Date | Airline | Airport | Depart | Return (Main Tour) |
| 2022: Sep. 5, Sep. 15, Sep. 22, Oct. 3, Oct. 17 | United Airlines | Newark (EWR) | 8:45 PM | 5:45 AM |
| 2022: Nov. 7, Dec. 1 2023: Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, Mar. 6 |
United Airlines | Newark (EWR) | 8:45 PM | 7:00 AM |
| 2023: 2023: Mar. 27, Apr. 10 | United Airlines | Newark (EWR) | 8:45 PM | 5:50 AM |
| 2023: May 1, May 15, Jun. 19, Sep. 18, Oct.23 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
ADVANCE SEAT ASSIGNMENT
The above airlines do 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.
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-US citizens should check with the South Africa and Kingdom of Eswatini consulates as to the most current visa requirements. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.
TICKETS AND FINAL DOCUMENTS
Final instructions and additional travel tips will be sent to you 14-21 days before the scheduled start of your tour via email. If you have not received your final documents, please check your spam folder or contact smarTours.
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
As of July 23, 2019, the Zimbabwe Dollar (ZIM) is the official currency in Zimbabwe, in both cash and electronic format. The Zimbabwe government has banned trading foreign currencies. Credit cards are the preferred method of payment and it is readily accepted everywhere in Zimbabwe (Visa & MasterCard), so we advise that you prepare to use your credit card here. Street vendors require cash and the government has advised you must pay in ZIM. You may find that ATMs do not have any cash in them and hotels will be reluctant to exchange monies. You can pay in USD at all airports, immigration offices, and many other vendors/shops, but they will only accept newer, crisp US Dollar notes with the “large heads” printed on them. These are the US Dollar notes printed after 2001. If USD is used and change is owed, the cash will be returned in Zimbabwe Dollar, which will be very difficult to exchange back in both Zimbabwe and the U.S. If you’d like to use USD, we recommend bringing cash in small denominations to avoid large amounts of change being returned to you in ZIM.
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.