Splendors of South Africa & Victoria Falls ( QS)

12 Day Tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg

2025 Tour Details 2026 Tour Details »

Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Africa with a lion’s share of captivating cities, private game reserves, natural wonders, and wondrous wildlife? Point your compass south for the diverse and enchanting sights of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The glorious panoramas from Cape Town’s Table Mountain and the candy-hued streets of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood set the stage for the sweet sights to come. Six open-air private game reserve drives near Kruger National Park offer a fascinating glimpse of up to 42 mammal species and 350 bird species. Keep your eyes peeled for the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo—before branching out in Johannesburg. Here, you’ll explore Soweto, the city’s largest township, including the former home of Nelson Mandela and the significant sites of the anti-apartheid movement. Your South Africa vacation crescendos at Victoria Falls, called Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) on the Zambezi River. Twice the height of Niagara Falls, this breathtaking waterfall spanning the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia offers twice the photo ops. A Small Group Discovery tour for the wild mannered!

To know more about the visas for this vacation, click here

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Notes:

For approximately one month each year (typically late July to mid-September), Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is closed for annual maintenance. In these instances, a private tour of Kirstenbosch National Garden will be included in its place. During the dry season (September-December) and particularly dry years, water flow to Victoria Falls may be low. All game viewing is done at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver prior to travel. Due to rough driving on/off road and in/between game parks, this vacation is not recommended for guests with serious back problems or mobility issues.

 Meals & Itinerary

 Meals

Breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1

ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Your Small Group Discovery Tour begins!
Welcome to Cape Town, commonly referred to as the “Mother City” by locals, as it was home to the first European settlement in South Africa. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.

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Day 2

CAPE TOWN City Sights & Soaring Heights
Start at the Grand Parade to see the Castle of Good Hope and City Hall. Walk to see more of Cape Town’s landmarks including St. George’s Cathedral, Parliament, and The Company’s Garden. Then, explore the LF Bo-Kaap neighborhood, also known as the Malay Quarter, including a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum. After a traditional Malay lunch, enjoy a scenic cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain for stunning 360-degree views over the city. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant!


Breakfast Breakfast Lunch Lunch Dinner Dinner

LOCAL FAVORITE
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore Cape Town’s neighborhood that was founded by former slaves in the 1750s. Today, Bo-Kaap is a melting pot of cultures within its National Heritage sites. Stroll past vibrantly hued houses ranging from lime-green and pink to orange, reflective of Dutch and British architecture. Your Local Guide shares fascinating stories of this lively neighborhood where the aromas of fragrant spices waft from local restaurants and spice shops. Enjoy lunch with your small group, followed by a cable-car ride to take in the 360-degree views from the top of Table Mountain.


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Day 3

CAPE TOWN–CAPE PENINSULA EXCURSION Rocky Coast & Beach Life
Take a scenic drive along stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope before arriving at Cape Point. Ride a funicular to the steps of the old lighthouse with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of endangered African penguins. Free time this evening.


Breakfast Breakfast Lunch Lunch

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
TUXEDO JUNCTION Jackets aren’t required on Boulders Beach, even though the residents look dressed to the hilt. The only penguins found on the continent, African penguins are known for the unique sound they make. Colonies can be found from southern Namibia all the way around the South African coast, and Boulders Beach is the premiere viewing spot.


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Day 4

CAPE TOWN Free to Wander
Full day at leisure for your own discoveries in this beautiful city.


Breakfast Breakfast

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE Today, consider exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, take an excursion to the stunning Cape Winelands for wine tasting, or go whale watching in nearby Hermanus (Jun.-Nov.). Optional excursions are available for purchase with MyGlobus.


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Day 5

CAPE TOWN–HOEDSPRUIT–MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) Operation Safari
Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Makalali Private Game Reserve. Arrive in the home to an abundance of wildlife including the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger. Sip sundowner drinks before returning to your lodge for dinner.


Breakfast Breakfast Dinner Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger who share fascinating facts about this wildlife paradise, while helping to spot the majestic creatures who call Makalali Private Game Reserve their home. Quench your thirst after today’s safari with a traditional sundowner experience with cocktails in true safari tradition with your small group.


TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Staying in a private game reserve is the ultimate safari experience in South Africa. Go off-road to get close to the wildlife at Makalali Main Lodge, a stylish lodge featuring regional African cuisine, bar/lounge, pool, and spa facilities. Each spacious room features views from a private balcony, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, safe, and a large ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers!


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Day 6

MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) Makalali Magic
Rise early for coffee and tea before your morning game drive. Keep an eye out for big cats after their night of hunting. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more. Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax at your lodge. Afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks.


Breakfast Breakfast Lunch Lunch Dinner Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE As the sun sets over the majestic Drakensburg Mountains, enjoy a memorable happy hour in the bush in the nostalgic tradition of early safari explorers.


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Day 7

MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA) Spotting Skills Sharpen your game-spotting skills on your morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for African buffalo, reintroduced to the area after an absence of more than 50 years, reuniting the “Big Five” to roam freely in the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve.
Breakfast Breakfast Lunch Lunch Dinner Dinner

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE When not on a game drive, do as the lions do with a rest in the heat of the day. Enjoy your lodge amenities, swim in the pool, pamper yourself with a wellness treatment, kick back on a viewing deck or your private balcony to watch nearby wildlife.


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Day 8

MAKALALI–HOEDSPRUIT–JOHANNESBURG A Jaunt to Joburg
Enjoy a final game drive this morning before boarding your flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. Free time late afternoon and evening.


Breakfast Breakfast

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Day 9

JOHANNESBURG From the Dark Enters Light
Guided sightseeing includes a visit to LF Soweto (Southwestern Township), Nelson Mandela's House, and Constitution Hill, a museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy.


Breakfast Breakfast Lunch Lunch

LOCAL FAVORITE
A BEACON OF LIGHT Soweto, the largest township in the country, is a part of South Africa’s turbulent past, but this multicultural area is also a reflection of today and hope for tomorrow. Your Local Guide shares insightful stories as you see the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the former neighborhoods of Nobel Peace Prize winners, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela, featuring the Mandela House—former home of the legendary human rights leader.




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Day 10

JOHANNESBURG–VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE Zoom to Zimbabwe & Sunset Sensations
Fly to Zimbabwe and transfer to your hotel. Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.


Breakfast Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE RIVER WILD Transfer to the Zambezi River’s edge and board the cruise boat. You’ll be treated like royalty as you take in the scenery and watch for wildlife while sipping and sampling from a selection of included drinks and canapés. Your cruise culminates in a spectacular African sunset!


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Day 11

VICTORIA FALLS Smoke on the Water
Take a guided walk at Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), as the locals call it, due to the clouds of mist produced by the cascading cataracts. Learn about the history of the falls and fascinating facts about the local flora and fauna with plentiful photo opportunities. Free time late morning and early afternoon. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a riverside farewell dinner with live entertainment.


Breakfast Breakfast Dinner Dinner

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE Soar high above the falls on an optional helicopter ride or visit a nearby village to experience the local culture. Optional excursions are available for purchase at MyGlobus.


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Day 12

VICTORIA FALLS–JOHANNESBURG Safe travels until we meet again!
Fly to Johannesburg. Schedule departing flights after 7:30 pm.


Breakfast Breakfast

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 Tour Director

With Globus, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

WENDY ATKINSON

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

" I am a proud South African who loves the nature, history, and culture of this beautiful land. As a Tour Director, it is my privilege to combine and share two of my passions-a love of the wilderness and of travel with you!"

Tour Director -  WENDY ATKINSON

LINDA LIEBENBERG

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

" Most people know about Cape Town and great safari experiences, but South Africa has so much more to offer. From great wine and food to its fascinating history and people, I look forward to guiding you on a vacation you won't soon forget."

Tour Director -  LINDA LIEBENBERG

 Accommodations

CAPE TOWN

SOUTHERN SUN THE CULLINAN

Hotel as shown or similar
Superior First-Class
  Free Wifi

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA

MAKALALI MAIN LODGE

Hotel as shown or similar
Superior First-Class
  Free Wifi

JOHANNESBURG

SANDTON SUN

Hotel as shown or similar
Moderate Deluxe
  Free Wifi

VICTORIA FALLS

PALM RIVER HOTEL

Hotel as shown or similar
Moderate Deluxe
  Free Wifi

 Optional Excursions

Contact your Travel Consultant for more information.
Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)



* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).
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