Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Cape Town
Cape Grace Hotel
Arrive in Cape Town, where you will be picked up at the airport and escorted by private vehicle to your hotel, the Cape Grace. Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to Cape Town to enjoy this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award-winning wines, and laidback lifestyle. Whether you are a serious tourist or just want to lie on the beach and enjoy life, Cape Town will satisfy your needs.
Nestled on a private quay in Cape Town’s bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, between a working harbor and the serenity of an international yacht marina, Cape Grace showcases the essence of the Cape with designs that reveal local creativity, whilst staying true to the warm atmosphere and personalized levels of service that have for years defined the hotel.
From the globally-inspired offerings of the hotel’s restaurant, Signal, to the drinks that await below deck at the popular Bascule Whisky, Wine and Cocktail Bar, to the African delights that surprise at The Spa at Cape Grace, the hotel is dedicated to surpassing expectations and making your stay the most memorable ever.
Day 2: Cape Town City and Table Mountain
Cape Grace Hotel
You will be picked up at your hotel for a full-day private tour of Cape Town and Table Mountain. This is a day of contrasts, exploring on foot the fascinating stories that tell Cape Town’s history and modern times. You’ll also visit the top of Table Mountain to get your bearings of the city from its highest point.
Your adventure will start on foot as we take an urban ramble via the more fascinating waterfront landmarks.
Weather permitting, you will then have the option of paddle boarding – gliding up the canals between the most expensive apartments in the city as the sun shines over a beautiful backdrop of Table Mountain. Afterwards, take a stop and walk along the promenade. Explore the 11 art installations that cover subjects ranging from rhino conservation to the 18 years Nelson Mandela spent on Robben Island.
After exploring the Atlantic Seaboard, head to Table Mountain and take a cable car to the top. One thing that strikes people about Table Mountain when on top is that it’s not a singular flat mountain but part of a mountain range, so up top there is a whole other world to explore above Cape Town. Take a short hike away from the crowds and enjoy an afternoon picnic and a unique African blend of orange juice, baobab, bashu and Cap Classique – our own ‘African Bucks Fizz.’
Day 3: Cape Peninsular
Cape Grace Hotel
Today enjoy another full-day private tour of Cape Peninsular. This “escape and explore” tour starts with a hike of Lions Head Peak, which is next to Table Mountain. It’s a relatively easy hike, and we’ll stop halfway, after approximately 30-40 minutes, for a coffee and to take in the views.
Afterwards, explore the working fishing harbor of Kalk Bay. At this point, you can stop for lunch at Harbour House, which offers stunning panoramic sea views from Muizenberg right across to Cape Point. If you would prefer a more rustic lunch, pop into Salt Seadogs – a local fish and chips shop with a lot of history within Simons Town Harbour itself.
No visit to the Peninsula is complete without visiting penguins. Leave the main colony of penguins on the busy walkways to find your own rogue penguins on one of two secret beaches that the locals have helpfully removed the signs for to keep the masses away. Weather permitting, you’ll snorkel in swimming-pool-sized rock pools, paddle SUP’s, and get a unique perspective of the penguins.In the peninsula reserve itself, be on the hunt for the Cape 5 (ostrich, baboons, mountain zebra, Bonta buck, and tortoise). Your time in the reserve will be spent exploring, paddling, and hiking on deserted and sheltered beaches.
Return to Cape Grace Hotel for a rest and a change.
Day 4: Half-Day tour by Uthando (Love) South Africa
Cape Grace Hotel
You will be picked up at your hotel by Uthando (Love) South Africa – an internationally-award-winning non-profit and Fair-Trade-in-Tourism-certified company. Uthando creates a link between tourism and development with the goal of assisting innovative community development projects in Cape Town.
Enjoy a shared half-day tour visiting community and township projects: www.uthandosa.org.
Please note that as a result of your trip to South Africa, Elevate Destinations will work with Uthando to sponsor a 2016 excursion for local youth to get to see life outside the township and visit sites usually reserved for tourists through our Buy A Trip, Give A Trip program.
Afternoon at leisure to explore the waterfront on your own.
Day 5: Full Day Marine Big 5 Safari
Grootbos Nature Reserve Garden Lodge
9:00 AM: Today you will be transferred to the Whale Coast. This rugged stretch of South African coastline snakes along the Atlantic Ocean, with magnificent mountains rising up on the other side. The spectacular scenery is made up of charming seaside villages, farms, rivers, coves and valleys, and during the right season, the region’s namesake – whales – can be seen cruising and wallowing in the coastal waters.
Join a purpose-built, eco-friendly tour vessel led by experienced marine biologists and guides who will share their knowledge with you, with an emphasis on the welfare and conservation of marine life. Witness thousands of Cape fur seals basking in the sun on Geyser Rock; trawl along the infamous Shark Alley on the lookout for the magnificent great white shark; float alongside curious and enormous Southern right whales; admire the colonies of endangered African penguins on Dyer Island and watch spellbound as bottlenose dolphins surf and breach in the wake of the boat. Besides the Big 5, you will also see an incredible variety of sea birds and breathtaking unspoiled scenery!
At the end of the day, you will be transferred to your hotel, Grootbos Nature Reserve Garden Lodge.
Nestled between mountain and sea, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is a five-star eco-paradise showcasing the incredible flora and marine life of the Southern tip of Africa. Home of the “Marine Big 5” – whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, and penguins – and with unparalleled floral diversity, Grootbos offers you a one-of-a-kind, luxury African experience.
Grootbos is about more than just luxury accommodation and eco adventures. Your visit directly contributes to the conservation efforts of the Grootbos Foundation, as well as the development of sustainable nature-based livelihoods amongst local communities. It is this core philosophy of conservation linked with social development that has made Grootbos an award-winning world leader in responsible tourism.
Days 6-8: Volunteering with Grootbos Foundation
Grootbos Nature Reserve Garden Lodge
Two full days of volunteering with the Grootbos Foundation, which engages in a wide range of projects to support local communities. Your volunteering schedule will be finalized close to your departure, to ensure it fits well with current community needs and projects.
Day 9: Free Day
Grootbos Nature Reserve Garden Lodge
Free day to enjoy the reserve.
Day 10: Kruger Private Reserve
Camp Jabulani
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kruger. All along the world-renowned Kruger National Park’s western boundary are private game reserves, which combine with the Kruger to create one of the world’s largest game reserves and a truly remarkable destination. These reserves offer excellent game-viewing opportunities with the advantages of smaller, hosted accommodation and game drives. A trip to the Kruger is an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience.
Camp Jabulani, proud member of the Relais & Chateaux Association, situated on Kapama Big 5 Private Game Reserve, was conceptualized to sustain twelve orphaned and abandoned elephants. The intimate environment is designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding bush, including the wooden deck, which lies in the shade of gigantic leadwood tree, and the impressive hanging bridge that connects the living areas with the suites. The Camp has only six suites, and never more than 12 guests, whilst the exclusive Zindoga Villa is suited to the family traveler or the client who prefers the more exclusive experience.
Some of Camp Jabulani’s notable offerings include daily elephant back safaris, safari drives in the Kapama Big 5 Private Game Reserve, visits to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, indulgent treatments in the outdoor Therapy Lapa, gastronomic delights at the hands of the masterful culinary team, and hot air balloon excursions over the reserve.
Day 11: Kruger Private Reserve
Camp Jabulani
Day at leisure to explore wildlife in the reserve with morning and afternoon game drives.
Day 12: Volunteering at HESC
Camp Jabulani
Full day of volunteering at Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable, or endangered animals. Cheetah conservation is one of their core disciplines.
The Centre is actively involved in:
- Breeding of endangered, vulnerable or rare animal species
- Release and establishment of captive-bred cheetahs to the wild
- Treatment and rehabilitation of orphaned or injured animals that are brought to the Centre
- Education of learners, students, and the general public in conservation and conservation activities
- Eco-tourism
- Student conservation programs
The HESC presents a fascinating insight into rare and vulnerable animal species and animal conservation efforts at large, while offering fun and interactive tours, drives, and excursions.
Day 13: Kruger Private Reserve
Camp Jabulani
Enjoy a further day to explore the reserve through morning and afternoon game drives.
Day 14: Departure
Transfer to Johannesburg for your international flight home or onward travel.
