South Africa: Kruger, Cape Town & Stellenbosch Vineyards

Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg is an exciting launch pad for adventures of all kinds. A thriving art and food scene tell the story of a city embracing its unique identity while honouring its complex history. Welcome to Johannesburg, and to South Africa, and we invite you to learn the past and the present South Africa. Join your CEO and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing. Head out for a delicious meal in Nelson Mandela Square-known for the iconic six metre statue of Mandela himself.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
• Dinner in Nelson Mandela Square: Enjoy your welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Nelson Mandela Square this evening. The square is the base of Johannesburg's finest dining options in the heart of Sandton. Home to the iconic statue of Nelson Mandela, the square is an example of African pride and an important symbol of freedom.

What does it take to be a guide in South Africa? How do you learn the way each animal leaves its mark on its surroundings? What is it like being on foot in the African bush at dusk and dawn? Ecotraining is the leading guide training company in Africa and your African journey starts with an exclusive two day experience learning what it takes to be a guide in these iconic national parks and conservancies. This is not just a safari-this is an opportunity to step into another life for a brief two days. Ecotraining promises to leave their guides "passionate guardians of nature" and we guarantee you will gain the same passion during your time in the Pridelands. A 4500-acre former buffalo hunting farm, Pridelands Conservancy is now your playground for the next two days. The conservancy lies just outside of the town of Hoedspruit, adjacent to Kruger National Park. After a short flight to Hoedspruit, embark on a search for wildlife with your guides, learning how to recognize animal patterns and behaviours.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Pridelands Conservancy Wildlife Safari: Sit back and take in your surroundings on an afternoon safari drive inside Pridelands Wildlife Estate after lunch. Your stay at the Raptors Lodge is hosted by Eco-training, the most well-known and accredited guide and ranger training facility in all of southern Africa. Jump into the 4x4 vehicle and keep your eyes open wide for some unforgettable wildlife encounters. Enjoy a sundowner at the perfect sunset spot before your bush braai dinner.

Begin the day at dawn, heading out on foot with your guides in search of elephant, buffalo and zebra. Breakfast is served out in the bush with wildlife free to move about while you dine. Safari drives in the afternoon focus on animal identification and behaviour with an extra focus on situational awareness when near large wildlife. After a full day exploring with your hosts, dinner is served al fresco at the Ndlovu Dam. Eating most of your meals in the bush maximizes the time you spend completely immersed in this special environment. Work on perfecting your bird calls over dinner with your fellow travellers.

Included Experiences

• Pridelands Morning Walking Safari: Travel once again, from the lodge into Pridelands and disembark from the vehicle. Participate in a morning walking safari with your expert guides and focus on tracking and trailing while learning the signs of the bush and how to identify animal prints.
• Afternoon Wildlife Safari In Pridelands: This late afternoon safari drive will have you experiencing the bush in a whole new light. Stop at the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon and enjoy light snacks and drinks together. Then after the sun has set, experience an evening in the African bush with a heavy focus from your guide on animal identification, behaviour, and situational awareness.
• Free Time: After your morning safari the group will transfer back to the lodge where you will have free time to unwind and relax after the immersive morning activity. Enjoy all of the wonderful amenities that the lodge has to offer before a group lunch on the property.

Kruger National Park is so vast and so full of wildlife, history and culture that travellers often return again and again, uncovering new discoveries each time. If this is your first or twenty-first time, safari drives and sundowners never get old. Your day begins with a safari drive en route to the lodge. Another afternoon safari drive makes for an incredible first day in the park. It's hard to improve upon morning and afternoon safari drives in Kruger park. But we think downtime for the pool and sundowners in the bush just might hit the spot.

Included Experiences

• Pridelands Morning Walking Safari: Traverse into the Pridelands once again this morning to track large game on foot while learning skills on how to safely operate in the bush.
• Free Time: Spend free time at the Mdluli Safari Lodge and enjoy the amenities on the property. The lodge is designed to make you feel as close and connected to nature as possible while also retaining a level of comfort uncommon in the bush. View wild animals walking by the lodge or cool down from the sweltering African sun in the infinity pool.
• Sunset Wildlife Safari Drive Through Kruger National Park: Climb into the 4x4 safari vehicle and take off from the lodge to spend the evening traversing Kruger National Park. Enjoy a sundowner drink and keep your attention sharp in case any elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, or other wildlife are nearby.
• Bush Braai Dinner: Settle in for an unforgettable braai dinner experience in the African bush. Drive in 4x4 vehicles out to Mdluli Dam and enjoy dinner together around the fire under the vast African sky. Your experienced guides will accompany you and make sure you are safe as you eat dinner in one of nature's most magnificent settings.

Kruger at dawn is unlike anything else on earth. Animals are waking and so must you, if you want to have the best chance to witness their behaviour first thing in the morning. Accompany your local guides on a walking safari through the national park. Set off on a morning walking safari through the Bush. Return to the lodge for breakfast followed by free time. Then, enjoy another safari drive in the afternoon to get out into the bush and spot wildlife. Time flies when you're having the adventure of a lifetime. Celebrate this evening with your fellow travellers during dinner at the lodge.

Included Experiences

• Kruger Wildlife Safari Drive: Jump into your safari vehicle and get ready for another chance to spot elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, lions, and many other species in one of Africa's greatest wildlife areas. The safari will be within the Mduli private roads and will finish off with sundowners for the group at the watering hole.
• Bush Walk in Kruger National Park: Rise early and set off on a guided bush walk through the wild terrain of Kruger National Park. Enjoy being as close to the bush as possible to the land and learn from your experienced guides all about the park as well as their own personal stories of past experiences while on safari.

Known for good food and wine, Stellenbosch offers a welcome contrast to the safari adventures thus far. Set amongst the verdant green vineyards and with the towering Drakenstein mountains in distance, its easy to imagine just sitting and just "being" in this peaceful of a place. But first things first-dig into a three course dinner at Mertia restaurant, known for their colourful plates inspired by what grows locally. Your hardest choice today is whether its wine or coffee after dinner. Walk to Granite Rock for an outdoor picnic breakfast. Then, a flight from Kruger brings you southbound to Cape Town. Before your Cape Town discoveries start, spend two days discovering the vineyards of Stellenbosch. Delicious food and wine await.

Included Experiences

• Picnic Breakfast at Granite Rock: The safari lodge has a unique granite rock formation on the property. It's a short walk from your tents and offers captivating 360-degree views of Kruger National Park from an elevated viewpoint. Climb up with the group and sit basking in the views as you enjoy a picnic breakfast.
• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Dinner at Mertia: Sit down for dinner at Mertia, one of the most renowned restaurants in Stellenbosch. The menu is always seasonal and the establishment is known for its warm, hospitable service, and picturesque dining views. There property also boasts an elegant lounge and a terrace bar which are both great locations to opt for a pre-or-post-dinner cocktail.

Stellenbosch is known for its beautiful vineyards. With an e-bike, you will be able to pedal as much-or as little-as you wish while exploring the wine lands and small towns between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Sample wine and gourmet snacks but don't worry about filling up, because there will be a picnic lunch on a green lawn overlooking the scenery. Biking through the countryside of Stellenbosch, it's easy to see why it has become an iconic destination for food and wine. The vineyards themselves are sprawled out as far as the eye can see, mountains rising as a backdrop against the rows of vines. While using your e-bike to get around, visit a number of vineyards and choose to sample the wine, the delicious coffee, or the gourmet food. Enjoy a picnic lunch before spending the afternoon at leisure.

Included Experiences

• E-bike Through the South African Winelands: This 3.5 hour e-bike ride through the vineyards is made a breeze by the use of electronic bikes. Pedal through the breathtaking wine land scenery that this part of South Africa is known for and see the Stellenbosch and Franschoek regions. This is your chance to meet some locals and taste the great cuisine of this region. Travel to two different vineyards and sit down for tastings at each, or choose to sample of the gourmet food and other delicacies produced locally.
• Picnic Lunch - Boschendal: Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch (weather dependent) on the lawns of Boschendal, and feast on one of their delicious seasonal baskets.
• Free Time: Free time to explore the beautiful town of Stellenbosch and choose one of the many restaurants to wine and dine.

Spend the day exploring the beauty and wildlife of the Cape Peninsula. Travel through the heart of the region, crossing the dramatic route of Ou Kaapse Weg with sweeping views across False Bay and the Cape Flats. The road winds back to the Atlantic coast at Hout Bay, a working harbour framed by rugged mountains. Enjoy a true taste of the natural beauty found here. With a very short distance between Stellenbosch and Cape Town, it's the perfect day for a bit of a late start. Once in Cape Town, set off on a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula. After a thrilling day join your fellow travellers for dinner on the iconic Cape waterfront.

Included Experiences

• Cape Peninsula Full-Day Tour: Experience the best of the Cape Peninsula beginning in St James and Kalk Bay, where colourful seaside charm meets working fishing harbours and tidal pools. Continue along the coast to Boulders Beach, home to the famous African penguin colony and the wooden boardwalks that bring you close to these remarkable birds. From here, travel through the heart of the Peninsula, crossing the dramatic route of Ou Kaapse Weg with sweeping views across False Bay and the Cape Flats. The road winds back to the Atlantic coast at Hout Bay, a working harbour framed by rugged mountains. Finish the day with a drive along Chapman’s Peak, one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world.
• Dinner at the V&A Waterfront: Set between views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Karibu Restaurant creates dishes using the vibrant flavours of South Africa. Enjoy dinner here amid the rugged setting and indulge in delicious cuisine.

Included Experiences

• Experience Table Mountain 1 of 2 Ways: Option 1: Start the morning with a hike up Platteklip Gorge with a local guide. This is Table Mountain's oldest and most frequented route. Hike to the upper cable station, navigating a steep and winding climb. Wander through groves of indigenous trees like, Wild Olive, Bladder Nut, Silky Bark, Water Blossom Pea, and Red Alder. Breathtaking views of Cape Town await you at the top. After reaching the top enjoy a scenic descent via cable car. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach the top and the distance is 3km along a trail rated as difficult. Elevation gain is 700m. Option 2: Hop aboard a cable car with your CEO and enjoy a much less strenuous, but no less scenic, ride up to the summit of Table Mountain. Experience a different perspective and marvel at the sweeping views of Cape Town below and the surrounding coastline. At the top you will have free time to enjoy the views, explore the walking trails, or simply bask in the mountain's serene ambience. Meet up with the hikers of the group and travel down the mountain together via cable car.
• Footsteps of Freedom Walking Tour & Cape Malay Cooking Class: This walking tour is a journey of Resistance, Resilience, and Remembering. See city highlights like Bo-Kaap, Grand Parade, Castle of Good Hope, Slave Lodge, Parliament building, St Georges Cathedral, Company Gardens, Apartheid benches, Berlin Wall, Green Market Square and the Old Slave Church. Then, participate in a cooking class learning to make a traditional curry, how to fold samosas, chili bites, and rotis. Together sit down and enjoy the dishes you worked hard to make.

Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today.