JUN 03 SUN
MPUMULANGA / TIMBAVATI / NGALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
After breakfast
depart by road through the scenic countryside to the Cheetah Research
Center near Hoedspruit. After a visit there, you are transferred to
your safari accommodations at Ngala Lodge in the Timbavati Private
Nature Reserve. Situated at the junction of Mopane forests and the
Timbavati flood plain, you will discover a paradise in the African
wilderness.
Ngala Game Reserve is
the only private lodge within the Krueger National Park. Ngala, meaning
“lion” in Shangaan, is renowned for its breeding herds of elephant and
great pride of lion. Ngala also boast leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo
and a proliferation of general game and bird life.
Arrive and relax
before setting-out on an afternoon game drive. Return to camp for
dinner and overnight. NGALA LODGE (B,D)
JUN 04 MON & JUN 05
TUES
TIMBAVATI NATURE RESERVE
Morning and afternoon
game viewing in this spectacular wildlife kingdom. You will have the
opportunity to spot lion, elephant, giraffe, rhino, leopard, hippo,
wildebeest, warthog, hyena, and the elusive cheetah – to name just a
few!
NGALA LODGE (B,L,D)
JUN 06 WED
TIMBAVATI RESERVE / HOEDSPRUIT /
JOHANNESBURG
An early morning
wake-up call and out into the bush on the morning safari in search of
animals not seen the day before. Return to camp for a hearty breakfast,
relax and spot game en-route to the airport for your flight to
Johannesburg. You are met and transferred by hotel shuttle to your
hotel for overnight. EMPEROR HOTEL at
Caesars Gauteng (B)
JUN 07 THU
JOHANNESBURG / LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA
Transfer to the
airport for your flight to Livingstone. You are met on arrival and
transferred to your hotel.
Later in the
afternoon you are transferred to the Zambezi River above the Falls for
the “sundowner” cruise. Livingstone first wrote about this “Crimson
Heart of Africa bleeding over the Kandahar Rapids” and sunset on the
Zambezi has captivated travelers since. To add to your enjoyment,
refreshments are provided on board for that famous African “sundowner.”
ROYAL LIVINGSTONE HOTEL (B)
JUN 08 FRI
LIVINGSTONE – VICTORIA FALLS
During your
sightseeing excursion this morning, you will have time for some shopping
for local crafts and artifacts, before continuing on a conducted tour of
Victoria Falls. Your guide will lead you through the natural rain
forest to selected vantage points from which you will see the main
cataracts that comprise the Falls.
Join your excursion this
afternoon, to Makuni Village, home to the Leya people. This is a unique
opportunity to see how local people live in a working village, not one
built for tourists. Approximately 6,000 people live here and a visit is
fascinating insight into their life style. A member of the village
shows visitors around and they can see how traditional huts are built
and decorated, take a look inside, meet the residents and see the locals
at work. Curios made in the village are for sale so visitors should
take some local currency. ROYAL LIVINGSTONE HOTEL
(B)
JUN 09 SAT THROUGH JUN 14 THU
LIVINGSTONE / KASANE, BOTSWANA
Your safari adventure
continues today as you transfer by boat and road to Kasane.
After clearing Customs, meet with your pilot and board the aircraft for
the flight to your first safari camp.
Seven days will be spent
game viewing in the beautiful and incomparable wilderness and
surrounding areas of the Okavango
Delta.
Four-wheel drive open
vehicles, which take a maximum of 6 people, are used for game viewing.
Canoe excursions and guided walks are available in several camps. You
will be afforded a look at the minutiae of nature and be presented with
the most unbelievable big game photographic opportunities. The guides
will maneuver the vehicles into the best possible position for you to
take that “close-up” photograph that you will treasure the rest of your
life.
The impressions formed
here will stay with you forever – driving through the bush into a herd
of elephant, the sound of lion roaring in the distance, a family of
baboons squabbling across the river, the “lullaby” of nesting birds as
you sit contemplating the day’s activities.
All staff are skilled in
their own particular function, whether it is pouring cocktails, teaching
you to identify the spoor of an eland, or interpreting the warning call
of the Grey Lourie – the “Go Away” bird. The comfort of the camps and
the friendliness of the staff all contribute to an unforgettable
experience. Most of all, you will feel the special relaxation that
freedom “away from it all” brings, and will benefit from being part of
the wilderness and touching the wild.
Your safari in Botswana
will be six nights, staying at three different Safari Camps. Transfers
between camps are by light aircraft.
2 NIGHTS SAVUTE ELEPHANT
CAMP (B,L,D)
2 NIGHTS EAGLE ISLAND
CAMP AT XAXABA (B,L,D)
2 NIGHTS KHWAI RIVER
LODGE (B,L,D)
JUN 15 FRI
BOTSWANA
/ JOHANNESBURG / USA (via London)
After a morning of game
viewing, reluctantly bid farewell to your newfound “bush friends” as
you board the flight to Maun, and connect with your flight to
Johannesburg. Continue on via British Airways flight to the USA via
London. (B)
JUN 16 SAT
USA
Arrive home with
memories to last a lifetime!
$8,995.00 per
person/double occupancy with airfare from Los Angeles
$7,495.00 per
person/double occupancy without International Airfare
SAN SIMEON TRAVEL
1253 Knollwood Circle, Suite 102
Cambria, CA 93428
Tel:
805-927-4696 / 800-266-3359
Web: http://.sansimeontravel.com
ACCOMMODATIONS
CASA DO SOL HOTEL
This 5-star hotel is
a private, owner-run hotel set in a 500-hectare nature reserve in the
Sabi Valley near Hazyview. Only 15 minutes from the Kruger National
Park, Casa do Sol is an ideal base from which to tour the scenic areas
of lowveld.
Each of the charming
guest rooms has all the amenities of home including, air-conditioning,
private bathrooms, radio and TV.
Additional amenities
of the hotel include a la carte restaurant serving international
cuisine, a lounge and bar, and swimming pool. For those who might like
to explore the area, horseback riding and hiking trails through its own
nature reserve are offered. Bird watching, bass fishing and tennis are
free to all guests.
NGALA LODGE
The Ngala Lodge has a quality seldom found in
the African bush of unashamed luxury, beauty and sophistication.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the wonderfully spacious central
lounge and dining facility where cool green slate floors combine with
high thatch. Flowering shrubs decorate the banks of the swimming pool
and water from the pool cascades over natural
rock into a waterhole
where Africa’s big game frequently come down to drink. Dinner is served
in the romantic candle lit courtyard, a unique bush setting under the
stars and a lacy canopy of indigenous trees. Experienced game rangers
and skilled Shangann trackers conduct game drivers and walks.
EMPEROR HOTEL at Caesars Gauteng
The five-star
Emperor Hotel embraces grand luxury on an intimate scale. Surrounded by
palatial buildings and set in a display of gardens, fountains and
statues, the experience is breathtaking while the art of personal
service is practiced with efficiency and aplomb. Pamper yourself at
Octavia’s Sensorium Health & Beauty spa, enjoy a game of tennis, relax
on the pool deck or stroll through the Gardens of Vespasian. Whether it
is business or pleasure, The Emperor is undoubtedly Africa’s premier
hotel destination.
The deluxe Emperor
Hotel features 196 beautifully appointed rooms and suites that provide
the optimum in convenience and regal comfort. All rooms include 24-hour
room service, fully adjustable air-conditioning, an interactive PAY-TV
with Internet access, SABC TV, M-Net, e-TV and selected DSTV channels,
radio, a personal keypad safe, a mini-bar fridge, hairdryer, bathroom
telephones, laundry service and valet services.
Relish the
spectacular African sunset whilst enjoying a cocktail at Neptune’s Pool
Bar, listening to the magnificent Roman fountain spilling into the
heated swimming pool.
ROYAL LIVINGSTONE HOTEL
The magnificent new Sun International resort in
Zambia is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, close to the
spectacular Cataract of the mighty Victoria Falls. The area encompasses
approximately 46 hectares and is located in the southeastern corner of
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, within the Victoria Falls World Heritage
Sites.
Every detail has been
lovingly crafted to create the impression of being in another place in
time, a time of romance and adventure. The bedrooms are two-story
clusters inspired by the grand estate houses of a bygone era. Each
room offers en-suite air conditioning, private balconies and terraces
that offer spectacular views of the great river and beyond.
SAVUTE ELEPHANT CAMP
Spacious, state of the art luxury tents are
fitted with en suite bathrooms with double hand basin, roomy shower
toilet and dressing area with two full-length mirrors, overhead fans and
mosquito nets for summer, and heater and down quilts for winter. The
tents are perched on its own wooden platforms, cantilevered over the Savute Channel. This raised aspect enhances the vista and excellent
game viewing is possible from the camp environs. The furniture has been
built in Zimbabwe, made exclusively of the local kiaat (mukwa) timber.
Hairdryer, shaving,
and video-charger plugs have been installed in each tent and the 32 and
220-bilt system provides more than sufficient lighting 24 hours a day if
required. Gas has replaced wood for heating water, which makes Sauté an
environment leader in Botswana.
EAGLE ISLAND CAMP AT XAXABA
An island paradise on the edge of a tranquil
lagoon, this exclusive lodge accommodates a maximum of 24 guests. The
12 twin bedded tents (canvas walls and thatched roof) with en-suite
facilities are built on teak platforms. Shaded by tall trees, the lodge
includes The Fish Eagle Bar built over the Xaxaba lagoon, laundry
service, swimming pool, curio shop, VHS video & monitor, book and video
library and provides gourmet cuisine.
Eagle Island Camp at Xaxaba offers prolific bird life on the island and surrounding delta.
All one hears is the
“swish” of the paddle and the “plop” of the fish eagle as you take a
tranquil mokor (dugout canoe) trip through the delta. Over 1100 species
exist in the varied ecosystem that comprises the Okavango Delta. Wise
use of natural resources is the watchword here and the area is a
treasure house to satisfy even the most ardent enthusiast.
KHWAI RIVER LODGE
Khwai is situated on the shady banks of the
Khwai River, a tributary of the Okavango on the northern boundary of the Moremi Reserve. The Okavango’s unpredictable waterways find their way
over the thirstlands of north-western Botswana, creating a lush delta of
tree-fringed islands and secret channels. From these lush waterways are
formed the wetlands and riverine forests of the Moremi.
Whether exploring the
region in an open safari vehicle or on foot, you will be witness to the
private lives of the ostrich, antelope, crocodile and hippo. Some of
the spectacular birdlife includes
ground hornbills, giant eagle owls and
lilac breasted rollers. The adjoining mopane woodlands are home to
elephant, giraffe, impala, buffalo and an assortment of predators
including lions, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog.
Accommodations are in
twin bedded thatched luxury tents, each with a shaded deck facing
magnificent views of the Khwai River and its abundant wildlife. Each
tent is fitted with all the modern conveniences, including en-suite
facilities, air conditioning and 24 hour DC lighting.
The public areas
feature some 1500 indigenous tress and plants, a heated swimming pool,
inside and outside fireplaces, and a secluded viewing hide just off the
public area.
Daily activities
include excellent bird watching and game drives in open Land Rovers.
For those so inclined a swimming pool looks inviting for a swim or you
may choose to spend time at the secluded “blind” watching the elephants,
hippo and other wildlife which come to drink at the riverbank. Your
lodge site affords a front row seat for the parade of African wildlife
taking place around you.
Trip notes
The order of hotels, camps and lodges on
this itinerary is subject to change and the right is reserved to substitute camps,
hotels and lodges when necessary.
For travel to South Africa, please ensure that your passport has a minimum of two blank pages to enable entry visas to be
issued.
Hard sided and/or overweight luggage cannot be
accepted.
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