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Trip Inspiration

17 Days: South Africa + Zimbabwe

Safari + Cape Town + Victoria Falls

Mix safari and city life as you hop from MalaMala Game Reserve to Cape Town, South Africa, then visit two of Zimbabwe's distinct national parks and the world-famous Victoria Falls. Every stop is a new adventure, from floating down the Zambezi river to shark cage diving in Cape Town.

Trip Highlights

Locations

  • 1 night at the Intercontinental OR Tambo Airport Hotel in Johannesburg
  • 3 nights at MalaMala Main Camp on MalaMala Game Reserve
  • 4 nights at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town
  • 3 nights at Ruckomechi Camp in the Mana Pools National Park
  • 3 nights at Linkwasha Camp in Hwange National Park
  • 2 nights at Victoria Falls River Lodge in Victoria Falls

Activities

  • Safari game drives in wildlife-dense national parks
  • Private tour of Victoria Falls
  • Wine tasting and shark diving in Cape Town
What does “Trip Inspiration” mean?

At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!

Day 1

Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

Welcome to Africa! Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative who will assist you with the short walk to the Intercontinental OR Tambo Airport Hotel, where you will spend one night.

Intercontinental OR Tambo Airport HotelMeals: N/A

Day 2

Johannesburg to MalaMala Game Reserve

This morning you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative who will assist with the walk to the Johannesburg Airport for your commercial flight to Skukuza. South Africa’s oldest private game reserve, MalaMala was designed to appreciate the surrounding landscape and wilderness. Upon arrival in Skukuza, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your transfer to MalaMala Main Camp, where you will spend three nights. After settling in, meet with your guide and other guests for an afternoon game drive, then return to the camp for dinner.

MalaMala Main CampMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

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Days 3-4

MalaMala Game Reserve

On safari! Each day, be ready for an early-morning wakeup call, followed by breakfast. Meet your guide and other guests for your first morning game drive. Enjoy waking up with the animals, watching their activity before they seek shade when the afternoon heat hits. At this point, return to the lodge for lunch and rest before your early evening game drive and dinner. You may even see the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant – in one drive!

MalaMala Main CampMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

Day 5

MalaMala Game Reserve to Cape Town

This morning you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your shared transfer to the Skukuza Airport for your commercial flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in Cape Town, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your transfer to the Cape Grace Hotel, where you will spend four nights. Feel free to enjoy the gym and hot spa areas and a Cape Wine experience at the bar at Signal Restaurant (mini-tasting and introduction to wines of the Cape). Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Cape Grace HotelMeals: BREAKFAST

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Day 6

Cape Town

Today after breakfast, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your transfer to the Great White House where you will prepare for your dive and learn about Great White Sharks. After a boat ride to Dyer Island, you will submerge in a specially designed shark cage to view the magnificent creatures, then take a trip through the infamous Shark Alley. Upon completion of the dive, you will be transferred back to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Cape Grace HotelMeals: BREAKFAST

Courtesy of Juan Carlos Coppel

Day 7

Cape Town

Today you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your full-day Winelands Tour with a private guide.

Depart the city for the Winelands in the nearby Boland Mountains for a leisurely exploration of historic towns, liquid delights, gastronomic wonders and home-grown hospitality. Enjoy lunch at one of the many classic, award-winning restaurants in the area. Take in sights like the Afrikaans Language Monument with its panoramic Boland views. Idyllic Franschhoek is a delight for both antique lovers and gastronomes alike. Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second-oldest town, provides a glimpse of classic 17th-century Cape style, with a chance to browse quaint Dorp Street and the many museums, galleries and shops of this lovely university town.

Following your tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Cape Grace HotelMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH

Day 8

Cape Town

Today after breakfast, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your private full-day Peninsula Tour.

Make your way along the Atlantic seaboard passing Sea Point, Bantry Bay and Clifton. Bakoven and Llandudno, with their ghostly shipwrecks, are also fantastic sights on the way to the fishing village of Hout Bay, where you will board a boat to view the Cape Fur Seal colony on Duiker Island. From here, you will navigate Chapman’s Peak Drive. Explore the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park, home to fabulous birds and very special fauna, such as Cape mountain zebra, bontebok and the charismatic Cape baboon.

Climb to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay. After lunch, you will visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins, and then head home through the naval village of Simonstown and over scenic Boyes Drive. To round off your day you can take a stroll through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on the slopes of Table Mountain.

Upon completion of the tour, you will be escorted back to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Cape Grace HotelMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH

Day 9

Cape Town, South Africa to the Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

Today you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your private transfer to the Cape Town Airport for your connecting flights to Ruckomechi Camp through Johannesburg and Harare, Zimbabwe. Upon arrival in Harare, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative who will assist you with check-in for your shared light aircraft flight to Ruckomechi Camp, where you will spend three nights. This afternoon, meet your guide and other guests for a game drive throughout the floodplains.

Ruckomechi CampMeals: BREAKFAST / DINNER

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Days 10-11

Mana Pools National Park

On safari! Between your morning and afternoon shared safari activities, which may include a boat safari down the Zambezi if you wish, enjoy some mid-day relaxation around the property. Get to know the staff and hear stories of growing up in Africa, see what animals you’re able to spot from the comfort of the camp and enjoy being unplugged from reality.

Ruckomechi CampMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

Day 12

Mana Pools National Park to Hwange National Park

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your shared light aircraft flight to Linkwasha Camp, where you will spend three nights. This afternoon, meet your guide and other guests for your afternoon game drive and sundowners overlooking the water.

Linkwasha CampMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

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Days 13-14

Hwange National Park

On safari! Enjoy your morning and afternoon shared camp activities. After many days of socializing, you may choose to opt for a private candlelit dinner amid the plains as the sun goes down.

Linkwasha CampMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

Day 15

Hwange National Park to Victoria Falls

This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for your shared light aircraft flight to Victoria Falls Airport. Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, you will be transferred to the Victoria Falls River Lodge, where you will spend two nights. After settling in, meet your guide and other guests for your afternoon lodge activity. In addition to game drives and walking safaris, the lodge also offers river cruises, canoe safaris and more activities at the Falls nearby!

Victoria Falls River LodgeMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

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Day 16

Victoria Falls

Today you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your tour of the Falls with a private guide. Wear some splash-ready clothing, as you never know if you will return soaked! Following your tour, return to the lodge for the remainder of your day at leisure. Tonight after dinner, enjoy your last night in Africa with a classic campfire. You may find yourself staying up later than anticipated as you reminisce on your trip and chat with friends both old and new.

Victoria Falls River LodgeMeals: BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER

Day 17

Depart Africa

This morning you will be transferred to the Victoria Falls Airport for your commercial flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will board your connecting commercial flight home. Safe travels!

Overnight FlightMeals: BREAKFAST

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