Absorbed in the African South
Landing in the vibrant cultural melting pot of Johannesburg in South Africa, we begin our 16-day trip through Southern Africa by extensively touring the township of Soweto, where we see affluent neighborhoods, shanty-towns, the world's largest hospital and the former residences of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. A region with a fascinating, and at times dubious, history, Soweto was the location of some of the more infamous events during the struggle against apartheid and is today brimming with sites of archaeological and historic interest. Crossing the border into Zambia, we head for one of the world's most magnificent natural sights at Victoria Falls, named after the then-reigning Queen of England by Scottish missionary David Livingstone, and we spend some time sauntering down the colonial streets of the town of Livingstone on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.
We visit traditional Zambian villages, wherein locals are more than happy to let you explore the insides of their huts and explain how and why they are built and decorated as they are, and get closer to nature by rambling through dense rainforest around the Falls. We return to South Africa for yet more exploration of this abundant natural wonderland by admire exotic flora and teeming fauna -- like leopards, cheetahs, elephants and zebras -- in the country's largest nature reserve; Kruger National Park. Using South Africa as a jump-off point, we cross into Botswana for a water safari adventure, where we see waterfowl, hippos and crocodiles, and into Swaziland, one of the last remaining kingdoms in Africa to get a taste of the rural life of the inhabitants of this country that was once dominated by colonialism. Back in South Africa, we see the region that is the traditional home of the Zulu nation, gaze in awe at the 'Big Five' in the oldest conservation area in Africa and explore the many attractions in and around Cape Town, one of the world's most spectacularly located cities.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner daily, one lunch.
- All accommodation, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary.
- Gratuities for drivers, local guides, restaurant staff, porters.
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities, most lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international (if applicable) and domestic air and airport taxes, visa fees, and any excursions referenced as 'optional'.
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers.
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on shopping, visas, an locally paid departure taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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