Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Depart from New York or Washington, DC for your flight to Cape Town, South Africa via Johannesburg on South African Airways.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
On arrival in Johannesburg Oliver Tambo International Airport you will proceed through customs and immigration and then make your way to the domestic terminal for your flight to Cape Town.

You will be met and assisted in Cape Town by a South African Airways Vacations representative and transferred to your hotel.

The Commodore Hotel is a 5-star hotel situated in the heart of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s center of activity, with a variety of stores, restaurants and bars. The Hotel offers superb service and excellent cuisine in a friendly environment, and most rooms have wonderful views of Table Mountain, Table Bay and Signal Hill. The Clipper Restaurant offers superb dining in a tranquil setting, from a mouth-watering buffet breakfast to a diverse à la carte menu and devilish desserts! And to delight the palate further, indulge in a large selection of sherries, brandies and fine cognacs, or explore The Commodore House Wine Collection. Alternatively, relax to the nostalgic melodies played by the piano man over a light meal or high tea at The Admiralty Bar & Lounge.  

Overnight: The Commodore Hotel

Thursday, August 21, 2008
After breakfast this morning you will be transferred from your hotel by road to Grootbos. Grootbos, meaning 'Big Tree', is a 13-villa retreat in a private nature reserve. The elegant glass/wood villas with large sun decks nestled in an 800-year-old milkwood forest will make you think you have entered paradise. You can sit in a bathtub and gaze at the tree tops to the beaches below, luxuriate in a four-poster bed or warm your toes by the fire. Or, if you feel more active, take one of the daily half-dozen guided wildlife tours, such as a coastal rock and marine walk, milkwood forest trek or boat trip to see whales and a 6,000-strong colony of seals.
Six nature conservationists are stationed at the property in a room where activities for the day are displayed on large posters - you just scribble your name under those you want to do. In November, the whale-watching is the number-one lure. One of the conservationists will drive you down to the seashore where you will watch from the rocks, before going to Grootbos's own beach villa with a huge deck where you can watch more whales with binoculars in hand.

Overnight: Grootbos (B, L, D)

Friday, August 22, 2008
Today, spend the morning visiting with the special “Green Future” school at Grootbos and exploring the gardens.

The story of Green Futures is one of good news and hope in which unemployed people can find a new and exciting future in the field of fynbos landscaping and conservation. It all started as a dream of the Lutzeyer family, owners of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, to train unskilled people from local communities and to find work for them in fynbos landscaping and horticulture. What started as a dream has become a reality through a public/private partnership project. The education center has been built on Grootbos, a team of lecturers employed, a training curriculum developed and the first intake of twelve unemployed students chosen. The first year’s intake of eager ‘gardeners in the making’ began their training in June 2003.

From the perspective of the long-term conservation of the Cape’s unique flora, gardening with indigenous plants is a must. There is a growing trend in the Cape to grow water-wise gardens using indigenous plants. Not only does this make practical sense in a hot, dry region, but also indigenous plants are exceptionally varied, very beautiful and attract a wide variety of birds and other wildlife into gardens. But who is going to do this gardening? There is a severe shortage of knowledgeable people with the practical and theoretical experience to develop indigenous private or public gardens. Green Futures has now expanded its courses offered to include training in ecotourism, hospitality and nature conservation.

Overnight: Grootbos (B, L, D)

Saturday, August 23, 2008
Grootbos takes special care to keep the children visiting the Lodge happy! At Grootbos, families enjoy a combination of education and fun in a wonderful nature setting. The tailor-made children’s programs are about inspiring, educating and exhilarating.
Specialized guides accompany the children during exciting treasure hunts, excursions to the beach and rock pools, abseiling and trips through the Reserve. Children help feed the farm animals and enjoy riding lessons and outrides through the fynbos. While exploring their immediate and natural environment they can collect shells, porcupine quills or insects, which will be brought back to their own activities rooms for exciting identification.

Sunday, August 24, 2008
You will be transferred back to Cape Town for your flight to Kruger Mpumalanga. On arrival at Kruger Mpumalanga Airport you will be transferred by road to Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.

Sabi Sabi is situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. The 160 acre Sabi Sands Game Reserve is located on the south-western corner of Kruger National Park. There are no restricting fences between Kruger Park and Sabi Sands, and the wildlife roams freely between the two game reserves. The area is home to more species of wildlife than any other game sanctuary on the continent, and is one of Africa's few remaining havens for big cats.

Hundreds of lions, and large populations of leopard and cheetah, roam freely here, along with substantial numbers of elephant, zebra, rhino, giraffe, hippopotamus, impala, and kudu--more than enough to satisfy even the most shutter-happy photographer. It is also an outstanding destination for birdwatchers, offering a scarcely believable diversity and abundance of species.

Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge is set in the heart of the Sabi Sabi bushveld overlooking a water-hole and an African plain. You will luxuriate in uncompromising high standards of service, efficiency and personalised attention - all in an informal atmosphere of warmth and hospitality.

Each air-conditioned, thatched suite features exquisite ethnic décor in keeping with the bushveld environment. The Lodge features artistically designed open courtyards with spectacular wooden carvings by renowned South African sculptors, created from wood salvaged from the bushveld.

Later this afternoon the group will be taken out on an open vehicle safari game drive and participate in an Animal Spotting Competition.

Accommodation: Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge (B, D)

Monday, August 25, 2008
After an early morning wake-up call and some refreshments, you will depart on a morning game drive. Return to the lodge for breakfast and a day of relaxing at the pool. Renowned for luxury safaris, Sabi Sabi isn't all about relaxing game drives and outdoor dining.

Today there will be a Community Tour which offers opportunities for education and adventure. Also you may choose to do a morning safari walk where you will be part of a small group that sets out on foot after breakfast. The walk is an opportunity to experience wildlife at close quarters.

In the late afternoon, you will depart on your evening game drive where you will have the opportunity to view the nocturnal animals and activities in the bush. Prior to your game drive there will be a demonstration and talk given to the group by a Sabi Sabi Ranger on the bush in general as well as other animals such as reptiles.

When you return to the Lodge after your evening game drive, you will enjoy a scrumptious meal.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Today you will have another day of tracking any game that may have previously eluded you so far on a morning and afternoon game drive.

You will also have an opportunity to go on another walking safari after breakfast with a Sabi Sabi Ranger to learn more about the various aspects of the fauna and flora.

Overnight: Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge (B, L, D)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
This morning you will return from your game drive for breakfast, and before the group checks out, there will be an announcement of the winner of the Animal Spotting Competition.

You will then be transferred back to Mpumalanga Airport for your flight to Johannesburg and your onward international flight back to the USA. (B)

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Arrive in New York or Washington, DC with a lifetime of memories!

Please Note:
USD $5500 + Fuel Surcharge + Taxes
(Rate per person based on double occupancy)

USD $5,100 + Fuel Surcharge + Taxes
(Rate per child 12 – 16 yrs sharing with 2 adults – max 1 child per room)

USD $3,700 + Fuel Surcharge + Taxes
(Rate per child under 12 yrs sharing with 2 adults – max 2 children per room)

Call us to customize your own travel dates for this tour for groups of 10 or more.