Cape Town, Blue Train & Kruger Safari Honeymoon Tour
Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town – The Mount Nelson
You are met at Cape Town International Airport and transferred to the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town's oldest and most distinguished hotel, occupying a breathtaking site on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. Enjoy a complimentary Passion Flower Cocktail on arrival, served in your room. There will be an arrangement of elegant red roses and a bottle of internationally celebrated South African sparkling wine on ice in your room. Other special arrangements included in the honeymoon package are delicately scattered rose petals on turn down, floating candles, aromatherapy oils and a loofah. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the unique Mount Nelson ambience. We suggest you enjoy dinner in the Mount Nelson's award-winning Cape Colony Restaurant.
Mount Nelson
Day 2 – Cape Point
This morning a romantic breakfast with sparkling wine is served in your room. Your group B hire car (VW Polo or similar) is delivered to the hotel. We take a drive along the Atlantic seaboard via glamorous Clifton to the quaint seaside village of Hout Bay. Here you can take a boat ride from the fishing harbour out to the seal colony on Seal Island. Continue via the scenic Chapman's Peak Drive to Cape Point. Looking at this dramatic promontory jutting into the sea gives one an idea why early sailors nicknamed it the Cape of Storms. You can then follow the coastline northwards via Simonstown, where you can visit the penguin colony of Boulders Beach. A leisurely drive through the leafy southern suburbs will bring you back to the hotel in the late afternoon. You may like to finish up the day with a ride up the Table Mountain Cable Car to enjoy the spectacular views over the Mother City and across Table Bay to Robben Island.
Day 3 – At leisure
This morning you enjoy breakfast in the Mount Nelson's Oasis Restaurant before checking out. You drive down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and check into the Radisson Waterfront Hotel. The Radisson Waterfront Hotel is spectacularly situated right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean overlooking its own private marina and famous Robben Island. We suggest you spend this day at leisure exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You can take a ferry from the Waterfront across Table Bay to Robben Island. An ex-prisoner takes you on an extensive tour of the prison, which includes a visit to Nelson Mandela's cell, the limestone quarry and the old leper colony. This afternoon you could visit the Waterfront's Two Oceans Aquarium, which is highly recommended for the insight it gives into life in the two oceans off the southern tip of Africa – the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warm Indian Ocean. This evening would be a good time to go up Table Mountain if the weather was inclement yesterday.
The Radisson Waterfront Hotel
Day 4 – At leisure
Today you might like to soak up the sun on the white sands at fashionable Clifton Beach or Camps Bay. Shopaholics can return to the shops at the Waterfront. The Waterfront is South Africa's trendiest shopping precinct and is a great place to look for gifts or that honeymoon souvenir. Museum lovers can wander through the South African Museum and the National Art Gallery.
Day 5 – The Winelands
This morning you depart Cape Town and drive to the Cape Winelands, with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges and lush valleys and vineyards. We suggest you stop for a wine tasting at Fairview and Boschendal Estates. You check in at the exclusive Lanzerac Manor & Winery, a 300 year old Cape Dutch Manor House set on a working wine estate near Stellenbosch and surrounded by vineyards.
Lanzerac Manor & Winery
Day 6 – The Winelands
I suggest you spend today following the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek Wine Routes. You can stop for tastings at wine estates along the way and you will have the chance to purchase some of the wines you have tasted. Other sights worth seeing in the Winelands are Stellenbosch, the “town of oaks” and South Africa's second oldest town. A scenic drive over the Helshoogte Pass (Hell's Heights) takes you from Stellenbosch to the Franschhoek Valley where you can visit the memorial to the French Huguenots, who sought refuge from religious persecution in Europe and settled here in the late seventeenth century. Paarl, with its three imposing granite domes and monument to the Afrikaans language, is also an interesting stop.
Day 7 – Blue Train
After checking out of the Lanzerac, you drive to Cape Town station, where you will be met by a representative of the car hire company. You will return your hire car to him/her and then check in at the Blue Train departure lounge at 10h00. After pre-departure drinks and snacks, you board the train. A butler ushers you to your luxury suite before the train eases out of Cape Town station and begins its journey north. This is rail travel in the grand old tradition. Since the 1920's the Blue Train name has been synonymous with the ultimate in luxury rail travel and personal service, and kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. The route followed by The Blue Train offers some of the most breathtaking countryside, from Cape Town in the Southern tip to Pretoria in the heartland, and travels through scenic splendours as diverse as the winelands and mountains of the Western Cape and the stark beauty of the Karoo. In the early evening, the train will stop at Matjiesfontein for a short excursion tour of this quaint Victorian village. You return to the train for an elegant formal dinner.
The Blue Train
Day 8 – Arrival in Pretoria – Dullstroom
After a sumptuous breakfast, spend the morning watching the world go by as the Blue Train snakes across the African veld. You arrive in Pretoria, South Africa's capital city, shortly before 14h00. You will be met by a representative of the car hire company, who will have another Group B car waiting for you. You depart Pretoria and head east to the Highlands town of Dullstroom, approximately two hours away. Dullstroom, with its sprawling farms, trout rivers and dams, has a distinctly Scottish flavour. Critchley Hackle is your home in these highlands. Built in pointed stone and set around a beautiful garden lake, Critchley Hackle's setting is unique and breathtaking.
Critchley Hackle
Day 9 – Dullstroom to Lion Sands
After breakfast you depart Critchley Hackle and drive towards the Kruger National Park via the Panorama Route, stopping at the historical gold rush town of Pilgrim's Rest and the extraordinary example of river erosion found at Bourke's Luck Potholes. You can also stop at Blyde River Canyon to view the 800 metre drop into the gorge. You check into Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in the southern portion of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sand Reserve is an area well known for its spectacular Big Five game viewing. Lion Sands enjoys 10 kilometres of exclusive Sabie River frontage, where perennial water ensures a high concentration of game. You will enjoy a late afternoon/evening game drive, returning after dark in time for a safari cuisine dinner.
Lions Sands Private Game Reserve
Day 10 – Lion Sands
This morning you are taken on an early game drive as this time of day is one of the best times for game viewing. The Lion Sands ranger and tracker teams are carefully selected and trained to ensure that your bush experience exceeds your highest expectations. Lion Sands takes a holistic approach and you will encounter all spheres of the eco-system, from the smallest insect to the mighty African elephant. After the game drive you return to the lodge to relax by the pool or in one of the private hammocks. There is also a bird hide and gymnasium. Once again, you are taken on a late afternoon/evening game drive, which will give you the opportunity of seeing nocturnal animals.
Day 11 – Lion Sands to Tanda Tula
You are woken this morning by the sun rising over the Sabie River. You are taken on your last game drive at Lion Sands before you check out. You drive northwards to the world-famous Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, also part of Greater Kruger. Tanda Tula is a Big Five game-viewing haven and the seclusion of the camp allows traversing on thousands of hectares of pristine African Wilderness. In the late afternoon you will be taken on a game drive in an open landrover with a highly qualified game ranger. You return to the lodge after dark for a safari cuisine dinner.
Accommodation:
Tanda Tula -more info
Tanda Tula
Situated in the world-famous Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger, Tanda Tula is a Big Five game-viewing haven. The seclusion of the camp allows traversing on thousands of hectares of pristine African Wilderness. The Timbavati is home to the world-famous white lions.
Tanda Tula’s magnificent thatched, East African style tents, with their spacious wooden decks overlooking the dry river bed, are the epitome of luxury and seclusion with sumptuous Victorian style baths and outdoor showers. This intimate camp is renowned for its charming service and passionately well-informed staff. Delicious meals are served in a variety of venues, from private dinners on your deck to convivial evenings in the boma.
Tanda Tula is graded 5-star.
Basis:
Full Board (accommodation, meals and game activities)
Day 12 – Tanda Tula
Today is spent experiencing unsurpassed game viewing by day and by night. Watch Africa's wild animals stalking, drinking, fighting and feeding, whilst prolific birdlife soar the open skies. Between the morning and evening game drives, relax around the sunny swimming pool, game watch from your deck or relax in the comfort of your tent.
Accommodation:
Tanda Tula -
Situated in the world-famous Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger, Tanda Tula is a Big Five game-viewing haven. The seclusion of the camp allows traversing on thousands of hectares of pristine African Wilderness. The Timbavati is home to the world-famous white lions.
Tanda Tula’s magnificent thatched, East African style tents, with their spacious wooden decks overlooking the dry river bed, are the epitome of luxury and seclusion with sumptuous Victorian style baths and outdoor showers. This intimate camp is renowned for its charming service and passionately well-informed staff. Delicious meals are served in a variety of venues, from private dinners on your deck to convivial evenings in the boma.
Tanda Tula is graded 5-star.
Basis:
Full Board (accommodation, meals and game activities)
Day 13 – Tanda Tula and departure
This morning you are taken on your last game drive at Tanda Tula so keep your eyes peeled for any animals you may not have seen yet. After the game drive, you check out of Tanda Tula and drive back to Johannesburg. Return your hire car at Johannesburg Airport before checking in for your flights home.