Experience the highlights of Southern Africa in style with other like minded female travellers! Exclusive to Eclipse Travel, the Ladies Only: Best of Southern Africa is an unescorted small group departure covering some of the region's most exciting destinations in 16 days during the peak season for wildlife viewing. Encounter exciting wildlife on two luxury Big 5 safaris in private reserves near Kruger and Chobe National Parks, immerse yourself in the vibrant city of Cape Town and its scenic surrounds, witness the awesome splendour of Victoria Falls, and soak in the beauty of the Chobe River from the deck of your private villa suspended right over the water's edge. Sharing a twin room with another female in the group, you will stay in upmarket accommodation in a variety of styles - from artist inspired city hotels, to lodges with amazing views, to a luxury tented bush camp offering the ultimate 'glamping' experience. Don't miss this trip of a lifetime!
Duration: 16 Days
Welcome to South Africa! On arrival into Johannesburg Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
At the scheduled time this morning you will be collected from your hotel by our representative and transferred back to Johannesburg Airport for your onward flight to Hoedspruit. On arrival into Hoedspruit Airport you will be met and transferred to Moditlo River Lodge to get settled into your room and enjoy lunch (time permitting). This afternoon you will head out on your first afternoon game drive on the reserve before returning to the lodge for a delicious dinner.
Enjoy two full days going on morning and evening game drives to see nature at its finest. No safari is the same, each morning and evening brings with it new encounters and, depending on the weather, time of year, herd behaviour and various other factors, you could encounter lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles and the increasingly elusive rhino. Awake early to the dawn chorus of bird song and witness the bush come alive with the rising of the sun as you venture into the veld on a morning safari. Over a cup of tea of coffee, and a snack, our guides will answer all questions, whilst describing the terrain and the possible sightings that you might witness. Once completed, guests are driven back to the lodge to enjoy a hearty breakfast that includes everything from fresh, seasonal fruit and creamy yogurt to full English or Continental fare. Evening Safaris begin in the late afternoon and provide guests with the opportunity to watch day-roaming animals prepare to settle in for the night, whilst our nocturnal friends emerge to stalk the plains. Guests will be driven into the veld as the sun begins to set turning the sky brilliant shades of rose, amberand gold, before ushering in a velvet sky brimming with twinkling diamond-shaped stars. Whilst enjoying the sunset, guests are offered delicious cocktails before setting out to find night-time predators stalking their prey. After the excitement, guests are transported back to the lodge to freshen up for dinner which is served at the thatched dining area or beneath the stars at our open-air boma.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Today, enjoy a final early morning game drive before breakfast at the lodge and a transfer back to Hoedspruit Airport for your onward flight to Cape Town. On arrival into Cape Town Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel at the V&A Waterfront. Cape Town's most distinctive feature is its stunning setting: it lies on a dramatic coastline of pristine white beaches and ice waters, overlooked by the iconic flat-topped Table Mountain. Its attractions cover the natural world and the country's fascinating history in equal measure.
Breakfast included.
The tour commences with a pick up at your hotel at approximately 08:30. Few places in the world possess the beauty and style of the historic and culturally vibrant city of Cape Town and today you will explore its historical beginnings to the colourful and vibrant melting pot it is today. The city shelters beneath the majestic backdrop of Table Mountain, which is flanked by the landmarks of Devils Peak, Lions Head and Signal Hill. Every visit to Cape Town should commence with a journey to Table Mountain as the breathtaking views across the region are a superb way to familiarise yourself with your new surroundings. You will have the opportunity to take an optional cable car to the summit (cable car fee not included) before we return to the city and explore sights such as the impressive Company Gardens, the S. A. Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, Greenmarket Square and the picturesque Bo-Kaap district. Return to the hotel in the early afternoon and the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast included.
Today, you will embark on a spectacular journey to the towering headland known as Cape Point, taking in all the highlights and breath-taking beauty of this scenic peninsula. Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. You may have the option of doing a Seal Island boat trip (seasonal, weather permitting) (not included in cost). On through Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included in cost), go on to historic Simon's Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders Penguin Colony is home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information centre. You then make your way to visit the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The Garden is one of eight National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes. When Kirstenbosch, the most famous of the gardens, was founded in 1913 to preserve the country's unique flora, it was the first botanical garden in the world with this ethos. The garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. You will be returned to your hotel at approximately 17:30.
Breakfast included.
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a lover of natural beauty you'll be sure to enjoy today's tour into the heart of the Cape Winelands. This delightful drive takes you through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads and of course allows time to try the local produce. The tour commences with a pick up at your hotel at approximately 08:30. Our first stop is the town of Stellenbosch, the centre of the South Africa's wine industry. The city boasts great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our first wine tasting of the day at the Waterford Estate or similar. Travel over the Helshoogte Pass to the picturesque town of Franschhoek, historically dating back to the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. We enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of its many award winning restaurants (lunch not included). After lunch we continue onward to Paarl, one of the Cape's first farming districts. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. Time permitting we enjoy another wine tasting before returning to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Breakfast included.
At the scheduled time this morning you will be picked up at your hotel by our representative and transferred to Cape Town Airport for your onward flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival to Victoria Falls Airport you will be met and transferred to the lodge to get settled into your room. Depending on your arrival time, you might have the opportunity to join in a shared activity offered at the lodge this afternoon before dinner.
Gorges and Little Gorges is a mere 30 minute drive from Victoria Falls town and offers a unique Victoria Falls experience from a peaceful and idyllic base on the edge of the Batoka Gorge. At Gorges you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls town - our peaceful guest accommodation is nestled in a landscaped garden that makes walking to your room a joy, and our staff are renowned for their warm hospitality. Gorges is famous for its spectacular views, described by some as the best in southern Africa; whether you are enjoying a cup of coffee at sunrise on your private veranda or a cool refreshment by the pool at sunset, you will be constantly drawn to the stunning vistas provided by the Batoka Gorge and the rushing waters of the Zambezi River below. Guests can enjoy two in-house activities each day. Choose from a guided tour of the Victoria Falls (including the park entrance fee), a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River, curio shopping at the craft village, a visit to the local village, a school tour (not available in school holidays), traditional dancing display, gorge walks with snacks, and black eagle viewing with sundowners and snacks (weather permitting). Guests also receive one free return transfer to Victoria Falls town each day. All other Victoria Falls based activities can be organised on request for additional cost.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
At the scheduled time this morning you will be collected from your lodge at Victoria Falls and transferred through the Botswana border (ensure you have your passport ready for immigration) and on to your safari camp located in a private reserve bordering Chobe National Park. On arrival at Camp Kuzuma you will get settled into your room. Depending on your arrival time, you should have the opportunity to head out on your first game viewing activity this afternoon before returning to the camp for a delicious dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner included.
Enjoy two full days on safari where you will have the choice to participate in a wide range of excursions available.
GAME DRIVES
Camp Kuzuma's game drive is a luxurious safari experience and the ideal occasion to spot the wild animals of Botswana, but it is so much more. During game drives guests are treated to drinks and snacks whilst on the lookout for Botswana's beautiful wildlife. A spectacular diversity of wildlife moves through this immense wilderness, including breeding herds of elephant, leopard, lion, spotted hyena, giraffe, large buffalo herds, roan antelope and sable to name a few. The game drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, as wildlife is more active during the cooler hours of the day. All game drives are included in your stay and are conducted at 7:00 and 16:30.
GUIDED BUSH WALKS
There is no better way to learn more about nature than get up close and personal. Soak in the African scenery and enjoy the sunny climate. Hiking trails are available for our guests to experience wildlife on foot and get closer to nature. A walking tour through the bush with an experienced guide offers guests the opportunity to experience the wilderness from a new and exciting perspective. We all focus on the Big Five but it is fascinating to come across the Small Five: The elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, rhinoceros beetle, ant lion and buffalo weaver! These bush walks are safe and you are accompanied by qualified safari guides who make sure that the hiking trails are safe and informative.
SUNSETS & NIGHT DRIVES
The days are full but relaxed. As the sun slips rapidly off the edge of the African bush you know it is not the end of a day but merely the first of a 24hour shift and an almost imperceptible change over into the second. The bush once again is alive with the stirrings of the nocturnal hunters, the vigilance of the prey and the cycle of life. Nature never sleeps. Elephants are believed to only sleep about four hours. So even at night time one can expect to come across these majestic animals. Exciting night game drives before dinner offer the perfect tour to encounter nocturnal animals as well as the possibility of observing predators such as lion, leopard and hyena who hunt after sunset. Camp Kuzuma also has several optional activities at additional cost including a full day excursion into Chobe National Park, Chobe river cruises, fishing expeditions, and golfing.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Time permitting you may have time to enjoy a final early morning game drive before breakfast at the camp and a transfer to Kasane Airport for your onward arrangements. On arrival at Kasane Airport you will be met by a lodge representative who will transfer you the short distance by road and then boat to Chobe Water Villas where you will get settled into your villa. (Note: You will pass through immigration during this transfer to enter Namibia). Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for lunch before heading out on your first afternoon boat safari on the Chobe River. Return to the lodge for a delicious dinner.
Enjoy a leisurely safari experience along the Chobe River with your choice of two activities per day.
MORNING GAME DRIVE (4-5 hours) Experience Africa at the crack of dawn as Mother Nature yawns awake and shakes her feathers, tails and scales. Herds of elephants, the gentle giants of this land, make their way to the Chobe River for the first drink of the day. Join us for a safari in our open-air vehicles as we drive through the lush Chobe National Park (Botswana), coming across a myriad of shy and elusive animals that inhabit the Chobe National
Park.
CHOBE RIVER LUNCH CRUISE (2-3 hours) Float down the Chobe River in near silence, with the only sound the water lapping against the hull of the boat and the surrounding noises of Africa. Follow the twists and turns of the Chobe River as it meanders through the wildlife-rich Chobe National Park, While enjoying a light lunch and keeping an eye out for elephants as they splash about in mud pools, crocodiles sleeping lazily on the river banks, and the flicking ears of hippos congregating under the water.
AFTERNOON CHOBE RIVER SAFARI (3-4 hours) During the final hours of an African day, the wind settles down and a golden sheen of light covers the Chobe and Kasika landscape. Sink into a deep relaxation and enjoy the wildlife on the river bank as the current pulls your boat into the heart of the Chobe. End off with a toast to Namibia's stunning sunset as it falls in vibrant ruby marvellousness.
MORNING OR AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE ON THE CHOBE AND ZAMBEZI RIVERS (3-4 hours) Touch down in two countries in one day. Passing Impalila Island which sits on the riverine border between Namibia and Zambia. Experience the meandering of Kasai channel by boat, exploring the wild banks of the Zambezi River as it winds through this lush, wet landscape.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
After breakfast and check out this morning you will be transferred by boat and then road to Kasane Airport for your onward flight to Johannesburg. (Note: You will pass through immigration during this transfer to enter Botswana). On arrival into Johannesburg Airport you will collect your luggage and check in for your international departure flight home. We hope you had a wonderful time in Africa!
Breakfast included.
| Dates | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2020 - 09 Oct 2020 | AUD $9995pp | Contact us |
| City | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Holiday Inn Johannesburg Airport |
| Kruger | Moditlo River Lodge |
| Cape Town | Radisson Red V&A Waterfront |
| Victoria Falls | Gorges Lodge |
| Kazuma Forest Reserve | Camp Kuzuma |
| Caprivi | Chobe Water Villas |
