Please note: A visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Zambia, on this tour's extension.

Take the journey of a lifetime on this tour through South Africa and Swaziland. Explore the region’s rich culture and its vast nature and gaming preserves, catch a glimpse inside one of Cape Town’s most notorious prisons, and stand at the edge of the world where two oceans meet.

Trip costs include:

Round-trip and internal air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers and escorts
The services of a bilingual Go Ahead Tour Director
Guided sightseeing of Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town
13 nights accommodations in comfortable, well-located hotels with twin beds and private bath or shower
All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling and local taxes
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 7 three-course dinners
Guided sightseeing and entrance fees to select sights and game parks as described
Go Ahead travel bag and membership in our World Traveler Club, which includes credit toward your next tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Johannesburg

Begin your adventure with an overnight flight to Johannesburg.

Day 2 - Johannesburg

Welcome to South Africa! A Go Ahead representative greets you as you clear customs and assists you with check-in at your hotel. If you took the pre-tour extension, join the rest of your tour today. Become acquainted with your fellow travelers at this evening’s included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Kruger National Park

This morning, travel across the open savannah of Gauteng Highveld. This afternoon, venture on your first game drive to see buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions and rhinos at Kruger National Park, which, at two million hectares, is the largest game reserve in South Africa.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 4 - Kruger National Park

Continue your game drive in Kruger National Park, where there’s plenty to do and see. All the Big Five game animals are found at Kruger National Park, which has more species of mammals than any other African Game Reserve. Here, you’ll also spot the mighty baobab tree, the “tree of life” that may just be the oldest life form on the African continent.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 5 - Mbabane

Today you’ll enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, one of Africa’s smallest countries. Thanks to its rigorous attitude towards wildlife and environmental conservation, Swaziland is also one of Africa’s most lush and beautiful. En route, drive through Mbabane, its capital city, to visit a local market.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 6 - St. Lucia

This morning, venture to the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve. Upon arrival, embark on a game drive. Situated in the heart of Zululand, Umfolozi is Africa’s oldest game reserve and was where Zulu kings hunted and enacted the first conservation laws. In the 1950s and 60s, Umfolozi was the home of Operation Rhino and became world renowned for its white rhino conservation. Today, it is one of the best reserves thanks to its many watering holes which attract a plethora of game.

Leaving Umfolozi behind, you’ll make your way to St. Lucia, the southernmost entrance to the world-renowned Wetlands Park, known for its relaxed atmosphere and its integration with local wildlife.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 7 - St. Lucia

Today, depart for the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park for an ECO cruise tour exploring the St. Lucia Estuary for hippos, bush bucks, crocodiles, fish-eagles, mangroves, monkeys, kingfishers and mudskippers. Return to your hotel in St. Lucia (Tonight may instead be spent in Durban, depending on flight schedules.)
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: St. Lucia Estuary

Day 8 - Port Elizabeth

Today, travel to Durban and board your flight to the sun-drenched shores of Port Elizabeth, where your tour director introduces you to this major seaport and vacation destination set on the shores of the beautiful Algoa Bay. With 40 km of unspoiled coastline, it is the ideal spot for a bit of relaxation. Later, enjoy an included dinner with your group.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 9 - Port Elizabeth

On today’s excursion, visit the Pumba Private Game Reserve, where you’ll enjoy a game drive and included lunch. This evening, opt for our Township Tour & Dinner excursion.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Included entrances: Pumba Private Game Reserve

$69 USD

Township Tour & Dinner

Discover the history of the people of Port Elizabeth, as you visit this township to discover the integral part it has played in South African history. Later, enjoy dinner in a local sheeban.

Day 10 - Knysna

Continue on to Knysna, heading through the Garden Route to Tsitsikamma National Park, where forests, rivers and fynbos roll down verdant slopes and rocky shores to the sea. Enjoy lunch then ready yourself for spectacular scenery on a guided, tractor- drawn wagon tour through the Garden Route forests (weather permitting).
Included meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 11 - Knysna

Embark on a ferry ride to Featherbed Nature Reserve, a pristine piece of paradise only accessible by boat. Enjoy an included lunch beneath the milkwood trees. Take 4-by-4’s up to an impressive viewpoint and enjoy a guided nature walk along the coast. Tonight, opt to visit an Elephant Sanctuary, where you’ll interact with these gentle giants and enjoy dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Included entrances: Featherbed Nature Reserve

$119 USD

Elephant Sanctuary

Visit the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary and spend an evening interacting with these gentle giants. Dinner is included.

Please note: An elephant ride is not included in the price of this excursion and must be arranged on your own when you reach the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary.

Day 12 - Cape Town

Leave Knysna as for Cape Town this morning, stopping in the majestic and mountain-ringed Oudtshoorn valley, where you’ll enjoy a tour of an Ostrich Ranch. This afternoon, you’ll visit a local wine estate for lunch. Celebrate your arrival in Cape Town with an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Included entrances: Ostrich Ranch

Day 13 - Cape Town

Enjoy a tour of the beautiful city of Cape Town, the “Mother City”, with a cable car ride up Table Mountain (weather permitting) and a visit to the South Africa Museum. Catch glimpses of the National Gallery and the Houses of Parliament as you drive through the city and stop in the Malay District. This afternoon, take a tour of Robben Island (weather permitting), the historic symbol of apartheid and South Africa’s struggle for freedom.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Table Mountain, South African Museum

Day 14 - Cape Town

Travel to Hout Bay and enjoy lunch with your group at Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Southern Oceans meet. To conclude your South African journey, opt for a Wine Tour & Dinner excursion this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch

$69 USD

Wine Tour & Dinner

The South African wine industry dates back to the 1600’s, though over the past 20 years it’s experienced tremendous growth and has fully established itself as a key player in the world of fine wines. On this excursion, you’ll venture to Groot Constantia wine estate for a wine tasting, followed by a delicious dinner.

Day 15 - Cape Town

Transfer to the airport to board your overnight flight home.
Included meals: breakfast

Day 16 - Cape Town

Arrive home.

Extend Your Stay

Add 3 nights in Victoria Falls for only $729 USD (Single room: add $150 USD)

The 'Vic Falls' are the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa, if not the world. Located about 1000km from the source of the Zambezi River in western Zambia, the falls' towering column of spray when the river is high can be seen from over 20 km away, and the thunder of the falling water will take your breath away. Politically speaking, Victoria Falls is on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can visit the falls on both sides, but the Zimbabwean side is considered by many to be the more beautiful, with a direct sightline to the "Devil's Cataract" and "Rainbow Falls."

Please note: A visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter South Africa (and Zambia, on extension).

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

Trip cancellation & interruption protection
Medical & accident protection
Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
- Medical & Accident: $70 USD
- Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

Passport Information:
In order to enter South Africa and Swaziland (and Zambia, on extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home.

Visa Information:
A visa is also required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Zambia, on the tour extension. Though it is possible to obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival, we recommend that you obtain an individual visa prior to departure through our recommended provider, Zierer Visa Service. They can be reached by either calling 1-866-788-1100 or visiting www.zvs.com/tourkits. (If you get to a page requiring a log in, please use code 73041 to access Go Ahead's visa kits).

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the relevant embassies as soon as possible for your specific entry requirements.

Health

Visitors should be in good health. Please contact your family doctor well in advance of your departure for information regarding immunization and personal travel requirements.

While on safari, you are assured the services of emergency medical evacuation to Johannesburg, which has been designed to bring first-rate medical care by superbly qualified personnel to outlying areas.

Important Health Tips
In order for you to stay healthy on your South African tour, we recommend the following:

Drink bottled water. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing teeth.
Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication and any prescription medications.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in and depart from Johannesburg with a stop in London on both outbound and departure flights.

On safari, you will be traveling in a specially equipped safari van. The vehicle is open at the top, allowing for a panoramic view during game drives.

Please keep in mind that transfers between the different parks are long and roads are not always of the best quality. The vans are roomy and comfortable, but some bouncing is to be expected.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Safaris are informal, and casual dress in comfortable lightweight cottons is appropriate.

Since the temperature varies significantly from midday to evening, clothing that can be layered is a good idea, as are comfortable shoes such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots. Sandals or other shoes that expose your skin are discouraged.

We advise that you wear a hat during the day, and make sure you use a strong sunblock. For game drives, we recommend you choose muted colors, as bright clothing can scare away the animals.

Currency

The currency you will be using on your tour is the South African rand (and the Zambian kwacha, on extension). All African countries have stringent exchange regulations. Their currencies are not interchangeable.

We recommend that you carry as little local cash as possible, and small amounts of the U.S. dollar for small purchases. (Please make sure that you only bring U.S. dollars printed in 1997 or later.)

Otherwise, carry traveler’s checks. It is important to keep a receipt whenever you convert foreign currency. No local currency can be taken in or out of the country. Major American credit cards are accepted in South Africa.

We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.

Tipping

All porterage gratuities are included on safaris. However, at the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity.

We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalency of $3USD/ CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/ CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalency of $2USD/CAD per local guide.

Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.

South Africa Discovery

15 Days from $4,299 USD