BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE!
PLEASE NOTE: Rotary SOUTH AFRICA is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Haliburton. The program is very similar to TravelMaven's Best of SOUTH AFRICA tour, but has a few additional Rotary activities and a Haliburton Rotary Escort during this four-stop tour.
VICTORIA FALLS: Over the years, we've learned that half of South Africa clients also want to visit Victoria Falls. In order to accommodate both halves, we have made our Rotary VICTORIA FALLS offering an optional add-on (rather than including it for everyone). Click here for details.
Who hasn't dreamt of riding across the African savannah in an open vehicle, checking out the elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and a few big cats? I think everyone had this dream when they were young, but for many Canadians, an African safari has always seemed too far, too expensive, too dangerous, or just too much to seriously contemplate. But that's not true! An African safari is within your reach, and TravelMaven can make your dream a reality!
South Africa is a huge place, bigger than Germany, France and Italy combined. While many tours set an aggressive pace based on lots of stops and multiple short stays, TravelMaven takes a different approach. We simply cherrypick the 'best of the best'.
A few years ago we spent a lot of time figuring out how to assemble a top-notch program that covers the best in the Western Cape and Kruger regions with just two domestic flights and three hotels in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and at Kruger National Park.
CAPE TOWN
If you see any list of 'Most Spectacular Cities', Cape Town will be on it. We will spend 5 nights in the heart of this amazing place. During this time, guests will receive a City Pass which includes unlimited access to the hop-on hop-off bus and entry to dozens of attractions. Guests will also be able to create their own program for one day using their City Pass.
STELLENBOSCH
Our second stop is in South Africa's most famed wine region. We will spend 5 nights at the historic Stellenbosch Hotel and visit multiple wineries and refined restaurants. Guests will also have a free day to take a bike tour, play golf and visit more wineries.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Our final stop is one week at the Rio Vista Lodge overlooking the Crocodile River and Kruger National Park. While in the Lodge, guests will enjoy all meals and relaxing in the infinity pool at the end of each day. We'll take 3 safaris and visit many other spectacular places in the area, including a day in eSwatini (aka Swaziland).
Another important feature of TravelMaven tours is that we limit our group to 15 guests. That means we can walk city streets together and blend into crowds in restaurants. With small groups and only 3 hotels, we avoid the wasted time of constantly packing and unpacking, and waiting around for others in the hotel lobby or on a big tour bus.
In terms of trans-Atlantic flights, we don't include them with our Land Package because there are many ways to get from Canada to South Africa, and many people want to add a pit-stop somewhere or use their loyalty points. In most cases, overnight flights arrive in Cape Town the day after departing Toronto. Whatever your time of arrival, Barry will be at Cape Town Airport to take you to our hotel in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Given the length of the journey and the potential for jet-lag, we also start with a few days in Cape Town and a flexible program so guests don't need to arrive a day early to "rest up". In fact, we encourage guests to arrive on the designated day so we can look after them properly right from the start. If you haven't been to Africa before, it's probably best if you start your visit with someone familiar with the area. (However, adding an extra few days at the end of your tour is always an idea worth considering.)
In terms of meals, we've included those that make sense, while leaving the rest for guests to choose on their own. Fortunately, South African prices are very reasonable. Lunch can be found for $10-20, dinner for $20-30 and a beer or glass of wine is $3-8. As a result, guests should budget about $400 for meals not included over the 18 days.
TOUR DETAILS
LAND PACKAGE: C$8,480
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: C$1,860
HOTELS: 4 star & 3 star
GROUP: Max 15 guests
DURATION: 18 days (17 hotel nights)
BEGINS IN CAPE TOWN: February 1, 2026
(Guests depart Toronto the previous day.)
Tours begin in Cape Town & end in Johannesburg
DAILY AGENDA (2026)
DAY 0 (Sat Jan 31): Depart Toronto
There are multiple flight options from Toronto to Cape Town, all requiring a connection somewhere.
DAY 1 (Sun Feb 1): Arrive in Cape Town
Whatever your time of arrival, Barry will meet you at Cape Town Airport and bring you to the hotel in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront tourist district. For those arriving early in the day, the hotel offers a pool and in-house restaurant.
TravelMaven guests before Table Mountain.
DAY 2 (Mon Feb 2): Orientation Walk; Robben Island; Welcome Dinner (B,D)
After breakfast, we will take a a walking tour of the Waterfront District, ending with lunch at the TIME OUT food building. After lunch, we'll catch the ferry to Robben Island to see the place Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. In the evening, we will have our Welcome Dinner at KARIBU, a famed South African eatery overlooking the harbour.
DAY 3 (Tue Feb 3): Two Oceans Aquarium; Rotary Service Day; Hout Bay Rotary Mtg (B,D)
We start this day with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium to see the fish and marine creatures from this region. Afterwards, we'll head south to the Hout Bay area to meet up with members of the Hout Bay Rotary Club for an activity and their weekly meeting. (A detailed agenda will be available in March, after we have operated the 2025 tour and made refinements.)
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
DAY 4 (Wed Feb 4): Walking Tour of Historic Downtown; Table Mountain; Camp's Bay (B)
We start this day with a walking tour of historic Cape Town. Afterwards, we will head to Table Mountain to catch the gondola to the top. Afterwards, we will make a pit stop along the Camp's Bay beachfront before returning to the Waterfront for a free evening.
DAY 5 (Thu Feb 5): FREE DAY in Cape Town (B)
There are so many things to do and see in Cape Town that there's never enough time. During this Free Day, guests can use their City Pass to do and see what they want, whether that's visiting the District Six Museum or an art gallery, or taking a sightseeing boat tour of Table Bay.
Cape of Good Hope walkway.
DAY 6 (Fri Feb 6): Rotary Breakfast; Cape Point Tour; Transfer to Stellenbosch (B,L,D)
This day begins with breakfast at the Waterfront Rotary Club. Afterwards, we will head to the Cape of Good Hope along Chapman's Peak Drive. After checking out the Lighthouse, we will stop at Boulder Beach to see the penguins. In the late afternoon, we'll arrive at the Stellenbosch Hotel for a group dinner.
DAY 7 (Sat Feb 7); Winery Tour (B,L)
On this day we will enjoy the best the Stellenbosch area has to offer with a winery tour that also includes a visit to the village of Franschoek and lunch at La Pommerie. In the evening, guests are free to chose from a score of great eateries within walking distance of our hotel.
One of many Stellenbosch wine tastings.
DAY 8 (Sun Feb 8):Stellenbosch Day (B)
After a relaxing breakfast, Barry will lead the group on an orientation walking tour of downtown Stellenbosch, including some lovely residential streets and the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden. After lunch, guests have time to explore the Dorp Street Sunday Market.
DAY 9 (Mon Feb 9): HermanusTour (B,L)
After breakfast, we will head to the Indian Ocean coast to explore the region around Hermanus, one of South Africa's most popular coastal cities for sail-surfing and whale watching. This full day tour includes lunch and a visit to the less-touristy village of Betty's Bay to see the penguin colony.
Hermanus on the Indian Ocean.
DAY 10 (Tue Feb 10): A-LA-CARTE DAY in Stellenbosch (B,D)
There are many things to do in Stellenbosch, and Barry will help guests plan their own day. Options include bike & ebike tours, golf, more wineries and even the local Wine Tram. In the evening, guests will enjoy an unforgettable dinner at Helena's in the 5-star Coopmanhuis Hotel.
DAY 11 (Wed Feb 11): Fly Cape Town to Kruger (B,D)
After breakfast and check out, the group will be transferred to Cape Town airport for a two-hour direct flight to Mpumalanga Kruger Airport. Upon arrival, Debbie from CD Tours (our local host for the week) will take everyone to the nearby Rio Vista Lodge for check-in and dinner.
On safari in Kruger National Park.
DAY 12 (Thu Feb 12): Kruger Safari (10 hr) (B,D)
This is the day many guests have been waiting a lifetime to experience - a true African safari in an open vehicle. You'll leave the hotel very early to catch sunrise in the Park. Mid morning you'll stop for breakfast at a rest area and later for lunch at Skukuza, Kruger's largest rest station.
DAY 13 (Fri Feb 13): Panorama Ridge & Blyde River Canyon (B,L,D)
This will be a long day as the group heads north by private minibus to see the spectacular Panorama Ridge and Blyde River Canyon. Guests will also have the chance to experience Harrie's Pancake House for lunch, and visit the spectacular Graskop Gorge before returning to Rio Vista for dinner.
Blyde River Canyon
DAY 14 (Sat Feb 14): Free Time / Sunset Safari & Bush Braai (4 hr) (B,L,D)
After an easy day around the pool at the Lodge, we will head back to Kruger for a sunset safari and bush braai (bbq) with National Park staff deep within the park. Those interested can also book a massage at the Lodge in the morning, or go into town to see some local stores.
DAY 15: (Sun Feb 15) Swaziland Tour (B,L,D)
Right next door to Kruger National Park is the independent nation of eSwatini (aka Swaziland). This full day tour will take you to many sights, including an artisanal glass-blowing facility and cultural village. After a long day, we will return to the Rio Vista for dinner.
eSwatini Traditional Festival
DAY 16 (Mon Feb 16): Kruger Safari (6 hr) (B,D)
This day features our third safari, a chance to find whatever has eluded us on the first two days. After returning to the Rio Vista mid afternoon, guests will enjoy our Farewell Dinner at the Deck Restaurant (a night early due to our Rotary meeting on Tuesday).
DAY 17 (Tue Feb 17): Chimp Eden; Sudwala Caves; Rotary Mtg (B,L,D)
In the morning you will visit the Sudwala Caves, followed by lunch. Afterwards, we will go to Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden, a facility for abused chimpanzees. In the evening, we will join the Barberton Rotary Club for their weekly meeting.
Elephants in Kruger National Park.
DAY 18: (Wed Feb 18) Transfer to Airport; fly to Toronto (B,L)
This will be our final morning at Rio Vista, with some guests headed home to Canada and others continuing with Ursula and the group to Victoria Falls for 4 nights. In both cases, guests will fly out of Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. (Details will be finalized when flight schedules are available.)
DAY 19 (Thu Feb 19): Arrive in Toronto/Enjoy Victoria Falls
Those flying home will land in Toronto. Those who continued to Victoria Falls will already be there!
Relaxing in the Rio Vista Lodge pool.