AMAZING AND SPECTACULAR!
PLEASE NOTE: TravelMaven has modified its regular Best of SOUTH AFRICA offering to create Rotary SOUTH AFRICA by adding several Rotary meetings and activities (during some of the free time in the regular tour). Rotary SOUTH AFRICA is a fundraiser for the Haliburton Club, who also include a Rotary Escort for the entire tour.
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, spending 5 nights in Cape Town, 5 nights in Stellenbosch and 7 nights at Kruger.
Second, we limit each group to 15 guests. That means we can walk down city streets together and blend into crowds in restaurants. We also avoid the wasted time of constantly packing and unpacking, and waiting around for others in the hotel lobby.
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 the Portswood Hotel.
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 $300 for meals not included over the 16 days.
TOUR DETAILS
LAND PACKAGE: $8,480 (US$5,760)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1,860 (US$1,020)
TYPE: Walking Tour & Safari
HOTELS: 4 star
GROUP: Max 15 guests
DURATION: 18 days (17 hotel nights)
BEGINS IN CAPE TOWN: Feb 16, 2025
(Guests depart Toronto the previous day.)
The Rotary Tour Team
Haliburton Rotary Tours are a combined effort of the Rotary Club of Haliburton and TravelMaven Tours. Ursula Devolin, a former club president who works for an international water charity, leads a club committee that decides when and where the Convention and Service tours will go. Barry Devolin (Ursula's husband), who owns and operates TravelMaven, plans and manages the tours.
Ursula & Barry Devolin
DAILY AGENDA
DAY 0 (Saturday): Depart Toronto
There are multiple flight options from Toronto to Cape Town, all requiring a connection somewhere.
DAY 1 (Sunday): Arrive in Cape Town
Whatever your time of arrival, Barry will meet you at Cape Town Airport and bring you to the Portswood Hotel in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront tourist district. For those arriving early enough, the Portswood offers a lovely pool and in-house restaurant.
TravelMaven guests before Table Mountain.
DAY 2 (Monday): 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 upscale TIME OUT food building. At 1 pm, 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 (Tuesday): Western Cape Sightseeing Tour; Hout Bay Rotary Mtg (B,D)
On this day we will explore beyond the city centre using City Sightseeing's excellent hop-on hop-off bus network. Stops may include Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Seal Island glass-bottom boat tour. In the evening, the group will attend the weekly meeting of the Hout Bay Rotary Club.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
DAY 4 (Wednesday): Aquarium; Walking Tour of Historic Downtown; Table Mountain (B,L)
We start this day with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Afterwards, we'll head downtown for lunch and a walking tour of historic Cape Town. Mid-afternoon, we will head to Table Mountain to catch the gondola to the top. Afterwards, we will be free to make their way back to the Waterfront.
DAY 5 (Thursday): 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 Sightseeing bus pass and City Pass to do and see what they want, whether that's the District Six Museum or an art gallery or a sightseeing boat tour of Table Bay.
Cape of Good Hope walkway.
DAY 6 (Friday): Waterfront Rotary Club, Cape Point Tour & Transfer to Stellenbosch (B,D)
The day will begin with a visit to the Waterfront Rotary Club breakfast, Afterwards, we will head south the the Cape of Good Hope along the famous Chapman's Peak Drive. After checking out the Cape Llighthouse, we will stop at Boulder Beach to see the penguins. In the late afternoon, we'll get stopped off at the Stellenbosch Hotel.
DAY 7 (Saturday): 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 your hotel.
One of many Stellenbosch wine tastings.
DAY 8 (Sunday): 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 (Monday): A-LA-CARTE DAY; Stellenbosch Rotary Mtg (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, we will attend the regular weekly meeting of the Stellenbosch Rotary Club..
Hermanus on the Indian Ocean.
DAY 10 (Tuesday): HermanusTour; Farewell Dinner (B,L)
After breakfast, we will head to the Indian Ocean coast to explore the region around Hermanus. This full day tour includes lunch and a visit to another penguin colony in Betty's Bay. Our "Farewell to the Western Cape" dinner will be at Helena's Restaurant in the Coopmanhuis Hotel.
DAY 11 (Wednesday): 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, your local Tour Director (Debbie from CD Tours) will take everyone to the nearby Rio Vista Lodge for check-in and dinner.
On safari in Kruger National Park.
DAY 12 (Thursday): 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 (Friday): Panorama Ridge & Blyde River Canyon (B,L,D)
This will be a long day as the group heads north to see the spectacular Panorama Ridge and Blyde River Canyon. Guests will also have the chance to experience The Drop Zone and micro-rainforest at Graskop Gorge.
Blyde River Canyon
DAY 14 (Saturday): Free Time / Sunset Safari & Bush Braai (4 hr) (B,L,D)
After an easy day around the pool, we will head back to Kruger for a sunset safari and bush braai (bbq) with National Park staff deep within the park.
DAY 15 (Sunday): 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.
eSwatini Traditional Festival
DAY 16 (Monday): Kruger Safari (B,D)
If you didn't see everything on your first two safaris, you will have a third chance to view the wildlife and birds in the Kruger National Park. Finally, guests will have a last chance to try something special from The Deck restaurant's extensive menu.
DAY 17 (Tuesday): Sudwala Caves, Chimp Eden & Barberton Rotary Mtg (B,L,D)
In the morning you will visit the Sudwala Caves for a tour underground. After lunch at i'langa Mall, we'll visit Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden, a facility for abused chimpanzees. Afterwards, you will drive to Barberton to see the view and to join the local Rotary Club for their regular weekly meeting.
Elephants in Kruger National Park.
DAY 18 (Wednesday): Transfer to Airport; fly to Toronto (B,L)
On this day, after breakfast and check out, guests will be transferred to Kruger airport for the short flight to Johannesburg. Departure time from Rio Vista Lodge will depend on flight schedules.
DAY 19 (Thursday): Arrive in Toronto
Depending on their flight plan, travellers arrive back in Toronto in the morning, afternoon or evening.
Relaxing in the Rio Vista Lodge pool.