Day 1 Monday : Johannesburg
Arrive at OR Thambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg on a flight from USA. Transfer to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay. LIFE AIRPORT HOTEL – STUDIO SUITE
Day 2 Tuesday : Johannesburg – Victoria Falls
Transfer back to ORTIA for a flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL – STANDARD ROOMS
Day 3 Wednesday : Victoria Falls
Full day tour to Chobe National Park. Transfer across the Botswana border via short ferry, completing immigration and customs formalities before continuing to the Chobe National Park. Cruise on the Chobe River with a chance of spotting elephant, crocodiles, pods of hippos and other game species coming to drink and bathe in the river, as well as many bird species. Lunch at a lodge. The afternoon continues with a game drive in open vehicles into the Chobe National Park, with a chance of spotting lion and buffalo as well as numerous plains game species. Transfer back across the Zimbabwean border late afternoon.
Day 4 Thursday : Victoria Falls – Johannesburg
Morning – optional activities not done on day of arrival. Late morning : You will be collected at your hotel and transferred back to Victoria Falls Airport for a flight to Johannesburg. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in the northern suburbs for a 3 –night stay. FALSTAFF HOTEL – DELUXE ROOM
Day 5 Friday : Johannesburg
This morning you’ll be collected early for a tour to De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre. This centre is renowned for its breeding success of rare and endangered species including the very rare king cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena and various species of vultures and owls. The 3-hour tours are conducted in open 4 wheel drive vehicles where visitors have the opportunity of close encounter with wild dog and cheetah. OR Depart Johannesburg early this morning for a tour of the Pilansberg Game reserve with an optional short visit to nearby Sun City. The 59000 hectare Pilansberg Game Reserve is home to vast numbers of game and birdlife, including the “Big 5”. Enjoy a full day of game viewing in this reserve that is situated on the eroded remains of a 1.2 billion year old volcanic crater, one of only 3 such craters in the world.
Day 6 Saturday : Johannesburg
Shabbat – at leisure.
Day 7 Sunday : Johannesburg – game lodge (safari)
Transfer this morning to ORTIA for a flight to Hoedspruit. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Kapama Private Game Lodge situated in the Thornybush Game reserve. Check in for a 3-night stay. KAPAMA GAME LODGE – CHALET
There are a number of ways to view the wildlife, from the unparalleled panorama from the viewing deck of your lodge, to the guided game walks and drives The area is marked by its diversity, from the leopards and lion that own the open spaces to the herds engaged in the ebb and flow of an archaic migration. Each creature is an intrinsic part of a precarious cycle, from the hundreds of species of birds to the flora and intriguing insect life. The days and nights here are shared with the animals, the sounds and smells of the African bush Game drives in open 4×4 vehicles with an experienced ranger and tracker, offer exciting sightings of Africa’s “Big 5” plus a host of other animals and magnificent birdlife. The afternoon game drive starts immediately after tea, and clients will return to the lodge after dark in time for drinks and dinner. During the drive a stop is made for refreshments and the drive continues using lights to spot the nocturnal animals. The activities at the lodge include late afternoon game drives, early morning game drives and an optional bush walk after breakfast. The game drives are all conducted in open Land Rover game drives accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers, ensuring an informative and stimulating safari experience. These drives are undertaken at times best suited for game viewing at the particular time of the year. The rangers advise of an early morning wake up call followed by a game drive, returning for breakfast. The afternoon game drive departs at approximately 4.30pm and returns at approximately 7.30pm.
Day 8 Monday : Game Lodge
It’s an early start for the morning game drive. As the early morning sun rises over the horizon, rangers and trackers head out with guests into the African bushveld. One can sense the excitement… who knows what to expect? A herd of ever-cautious impala huddled together, a leopard in the branches of a knobthorn tree with a kill from the last hours of darkness, a herd of elephant feeding in the lush vegetation or a pride of lion in the shade of an acacia. Tea/coffee are served prior to departing the lodge, and again there will be refreshments about mid-way through the drive. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Now clients have the option of a bush walk, accompanied by an armed ranger. A wonderful way to learn about the flora and fauna of the area. Afternoon/evening program as per previous day.
Day 9 Tuesday: Game lodge
Another day to enjoy the thrill of game watching and the tranquillity of the bush.
Day 10 Wednesday : Game lodge – Johannesburg – USA
After early morning game drive and breakfast, it’s time to pack up for a transfer back to Hoedspruit Airport and a flight to Johannesburg. Check in for return Trans-Atlantic flight.
PRICES on request – depend on dates, number of people sharing and hotels. Breakfasts will be cold items from the hotel or lodge buffet with the addition of kosher juice, yoghurt and bakery products.
INCLUDES: Meet/greet at ORTIA on arrivalReturn transfers ORTIA – Life Airport Hotel – ORTIA1 night in a studio suite at Life Hotel – bed/breakfastDinner delivered to above hotelReturn flights Johannesburg/Victoria Falls/JohannesburgReturn road transfers Victoria Falls Airport – hotel – airport2 nights in a standard double rooms at The Victoria Falls Hotel – bed/breakfastGuided walking tour of the FallsFull day tour to Chobe National Park in BotswanaReturn transfers ORTIA/The Falstaff/ORTIA3 nights in a double deluxe room at The Falstaff – bed/breakfastShabbat dinner and lunch in Johannesburg (Falstaff)Return flights Johannesburg/Hoedspruit/JohannesburgReturn transfers Hoedspruit Airport/Kapama lodge/Hoedspruit Airport3 nights in a standard chalet at Kapama Lodge. Includes accommodation, all meals, teas/coffees, game activities as per lodge program.TaxEXCLUDES: Trans-Atlantic flightsVisas as will be requiredAll porteragesAll tipsAll drinks and other bar purchasesAll items of a personal nature including telephone calls, laundry, excess baggage, anti-malaria medication etcAll meals not detailed above (Thursday/Saturday dinners in Johannesburg)Optional activity at Victoria Falls on morning of departure thereInsurances. We strongly recommend that all travellers take out comprehensive insurance to cover medical, personal, baggage, cancellation.