Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
South Africa - Cape Town - Johannesburg - Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls
100% customisable for you
Your safari adventure starts today, so head to the airport in time to board your overnight flight to Cape Town. Touching down on South African soil the next morning, you’ll be warmly welcomed and whisked through formalities before being transferred to your hotel for the next three nights.
Cape Town has plenty of cosmopolitan neighbourhoods to choose from for your short stay. The leafy Gardens and Tamboaerskloof areas sit on the slopes of Table Mountain – perfect for first-time visitors as they’re central, elegant and give easy access to the city’s sights. For a livelier stay, try the V&A Waterfront area down by the harbour.
Today, we’ve arranged a private guided tour of Cape Town with a local. Spend the day with someone who knows the city inside out; nothing is pre-planned, so feel free to mention what you'd like to see and your shared interests, and a route will soon start to materialise (that's planning done the South African way). It's the best way to tap into the city's rhythms and experience it from the inside – not just as a passing tourist, but as a true local – as well as a great opportunity to pick up some first-hand tips for the rest of your trip.
At the tip of Cape Town's rocky peninsula lies the Cape of Good Hope, one of the area's main attractions. Today, you’ll be discovering its delights with a private guide.
The rugged peninsula is protected as a designated national park, with the scenic Chapman's Peak Drive running along its west coast. Fynbos, a distinctive shrubland characteristic of the region, covers the soil, and a wide variety of birds take advantage of the area's flowers, including the graceful Cape sugarbird and southern double-collared sunbird. Common elands and blesboks are also often spotted here, so keep your eyes peeled.
On the coast at False Bay, walkways at Boulders Beach allow visitors to approach the colony of African penguins without disturbing them. Among other marine mammals, from June to November, southern right whales also frequent the bay.
This morning, take a private transfer to the airport for your two-hour flight to Johannesburg, where you’ll stay overnight at an elegant property in the Orchards suburb.
While in Johannesburg, discover the city of Nelson Mandela. Pass through Soweto, a township known for its role in the anti-apartheid struggle that today, is a vibrant cultural hub. Here, visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, dedicated to the memory of a black schoolboy killed by police in 1976. Another must-visit iis the Apartheid Museum, chronicling the rise and fall of apartheid in 20th-century South Africa. We also recommend enjoying a vegetarian lunch at Satyagraha House, Gandhi's former home.
Come evening, listen to jazz over dinner at the Marabi Club in the basement of one of the city's hotspots – Hallmark House in Maboneng.
Today, you’ll transfer to Pretoria train station and board the Rovos Rail for a three-night rail adventure to Victoria Falls, sweeping through some of southern Africa’s most famous beauty spots. The line climbs north to Limpopo, passing by Bela-Bela (also known as Warmbaths), Polokwane (Pietersburg) and Louis Trichardt. The route also cuts through the Tropic of Capricorn and winds between the heights of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and the Wolkberg mountain range. Between Messina and Beitbridge, catch your first glimpse of Zimbabwe through your panoramic window or from the train's observation car, both designed to allow passengers to get the most out of their journey and the spectacular views on offer.
Still onboard the Rovos Rail - but now in Zimbabwe - you’ll continue chugging towards Bulawayo, via Rutenga and Somabhula, and stay overnight in Mpopoma, a western suburb of Bulawayo. Make the most of the facilities on board (particularly the restaurant and bar), as you cross spectacular sweeping landscapes that are typical of southern Africa...
The railway line to Victoria Falls is long - over 70 miles - and straight. Along the way, traverse the gorgeous Hwange National Park, where you’ll stop off for a safari led by an expert ranger. Under their guidance, keep your eyes peeled for the iconic Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos. Other animals that can be seen roaming here include giraffes, warthogs, wildebeest and African wild dogs. Keep your binoculars handy and see how many you can spot…
Today, it’s time to disembark your trusty train as you arrive in Victoria Falls - home to one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls - locally known as ‘the Smoke that Thunders’, thanks to the mist and roaring noise of the water.
The best way to explore this famed section of the Zambezi River is with a private guide. Composed of five main waterfalls - the Main Falls, the Horseshoe Falls, the Devil’s Cataract, the Rainbow Falls and the Eastern Cataract - it’s a mighty force of nature to behold. Walkways have been designed to give visitors spectacular close-up views, so make sure to snap away to your heart’s content. Even better, the area's humidity means the surrounding fauna is abundant, with African mahogany trees, ebony trees, ivory palms and wild date palms dotted around the nearby savannah.
After an active day in nature,, rest up in your comfortable lodge or hotel this evening.
Kickstart your final day with a breakfast cruise on the Zambezi River. Float down the river on a Kalunda, a beautifully built boat consisting of a shaded platform with a double hull and discreet engine – a bit like a floating table. Once on board, take a seat and set sail along the banks, marvelling at the grazing animals over a cup of tea and delicious breakfast.
After your cruise, take a transfer to the airport for your return overnight flight home via Johannesburg. You’ll touch back down in the UK the following day, full of tales to tell from your trip...
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
