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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
12 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  •  Get close to the “Big Five” and a host of game as our private safari Expedition Leader take us into South Africa’s best wildlife reserves
  •  Enjoy exclusive safari camps and lodges chosen for their superb natural settings far from  tourist crowds
  •  Encounter great white sharks up close in their natural environment on an amazing boat safari from Cape Town
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Safari, Wildlife
Other: national parks, Camping
$11395USD
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
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Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
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From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Secluded South Africa

To many, South Africa’s wealth is synonymous with its diamonds. But we think its greatest riches lie in another of its natural treasures: its wildlife. Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand, Mashatu and other bushveld reserves protect an astounding diversity of big game.
To many, South Africa’s wealth is synonymous with its diamonds. But we think its greatest riches lie in another of its natural treasures: its wildlife. Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand, Mashatu and other bushveld reserves protect an astounding diversity of big game, much of which has recovered from earlier threats to its survival. From the massive-tusked African elephant to the sleek leopard, from squat rhinos to regal lions, they are all here in healthy numbers that provide one of Africa’s greatest safari experiences. And when it’s over, one thing is certain: You’ll go home richer than when you arrived.

On this adventure, we use open 4 x 4 Land Rovers or Land Cruisers, with a unique suspension system and an open-top, open-sided, tiered seating arrangement, specially-designed to maximize game viewing opportunities and comfort. Each vehicle has 10 cushioned passenger seats, one in front next to the driver, followed by three rows of three seats each, though we limit our capacity to just seven travelers on this safari. Each row is raised slightly higher than the one in front of it, allowing for unobstructed views of scenery and wildlife. A mini-fridge stocked with cold drinks and a small library with reference books and field guides enhance game drives. Each custom-built vehicle sports front bull bars and runner boards, as well as a full recovery kit, including spare tires and a high lift jack. Vehicles are updated or replaced as needed and meticulously maintained to provide our guests with an unmatched safari experience.

Our Secluded South Africa trip combines three spectacular wildlife camps (one in Botswana) and a visit to Cape Town, where we will have opportunities to spend some time in the city and witness the hunting behavior of great white sharks. There is quite a bit of travel - both by safari vehicle and by private aircraft on this itinerary, but, in the company of our professional safari Expedition Leader, it is the best way to explore this remote and diverse region. On these trips changes to the itinerary may occur in order to take advantage of conditions unique to the season and/or accommodate unexpected changes in flight schedules; therefore, itineraries may need to be rerouted or redesigned without notice.
Day 1: Johannesburg, South Africa
Arrive in Johannesburg, where we gather for a welcome dinner.
Days 2-3: Mashatu Game Reserve
We fly and drive to Mashatu Game Reserve in the remote eastern corner of Botswana. The Limpopo River, which Rudyard Kipling made famous in his “Just-So Stories,” crosses into South Africa near here. More than 700 elephants live on this reserve, the largest single population on privately owned land in Africa, as well as impressive numbers of lions and cheetahs. Along the river, huge Mashatu trees provide shade for wildebeest, giraffes and zebras, while at night, bat-eared foxes, African wildcats and leopards search for prey. We stay in the center of it all at Mashatu Tent Camp, an intimate accommodation offering unexpected amenities.
Lodging Mashatu Tented Camp
Description Mashatu Tent Camp blends in so perfectly with its natural surroundings that you might miss it if you blink. It is the perfect choice for those who seek an intimate and authentic safari experience close to the animals and far from the crowds. Eight private comfortable and spacious tents are tucked under the branches of enormous trees. Each tent includes an outdoor, yet very private, bathroom with shower. Guests love Mashatu for its casual, low-key atmosphere, which is conducive to camaraderie and relaxation. Meals are served in the open-air thatched gazebo, or in the ‘boma’ overlooking a floodlit waterhole, where a variety of different species can be spotted on a regular basis. A refreshing plunge pool provides welcome relief from the afternoon heat, especially during the summer months. An afternoon spent in the hide near the waterhole, enjoying some truly close encounters with the local wildlife, is an experience not to be missed.
Days 4-6: Kruger National Park Private Concession
Our first stop this morning is a cultural visit with the Makuleke. Our destination, Pafuri Camp, is in the northern sector of Kruger National Park, one of the last tracts of true wilderness left in South Africa. This remote region, the ancestral home of the Makuleke people, is the most ecologically diverse in Kruger, with 75 percent of the park’s flora and fauna found here. The game viewing and birding are excellent, with large herds of elephant and buffalo, and more elusive leopard and lion. The Luvuvhu River sustains massive baobab and ebony trees and many animals not found in the drier southern reaches of the park, such as eland, nyala and Sharpe’s grysboks. Our tented camp overlooks the Luvuvhu River, where elephant and bushbuck drink. The area is rich in human prehistory, boasting ancient fossils, rock engravings and stone tools.
Lodging Pafuri Camp
Description Pafuri Camp is situated between the Limpopo and the Luvuvhu Rivers in the northern sector of Kruger National Park. This vast area is the ancestral home of the Makuleke people and is one of the most diverse and scenically attractive areas in the national park. This far-north region of the park is considered one of Kruger's biodiversity hotspots, with some of the largest herds of elephant and buffalo that concentrate around the permanent waters of the Luvuvhu River in the dry winter months. Leopard and lion are also prevalent, and birdlife is incredibly prolific. Accommodations consist of 20 tented rooms, each with en-suite facilities. Each of these spacious, light tented rooms look onto the Luvuvhu River, where guests can sit on their own private deck and watch for elephant, nyala, waterbuck or bushbuck coming down to drink.
Days 7-9: Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Fly to Sabi Sand, South Africa’s premier safari destination. This private reserve is renowned for some of the best “Big Five” viewing in Africa. These famous five – elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard – were once favorite hunting targets. While many were hunted nearly to extinction, reserves like this one have made exciting strides in bringing them back. Sabi Sand is famed for its leopards, which we often see quite close, making for extraordinary photography opportunities. We stay at Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp on the shady banks of the Msuthlu River. This consummate safari camp epitomizes the essence of safari.
Lodging Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp
Description Sabi Sabi is an original architect of the fine balance of tourism and conservation; and Little Bush Lodge is a testament to that commitment. Set among grand indigenous trees on the banks of the Msuthlu river, a seasonal tributary to the great Sabi River, the lodge is an oasis for those who appreciate remote, yet luxurious locales. It blends wild Africa with the finest of accommodation. Each of the six suites is impeccably appointed with every amenity and but done so with a contemporary African flair and safari mystique. Indoor/outdoor showers, en-suite facilities, private decks and thatched roofs make a stay here an true respite. After early morning wake-up with hot tea, adventures continue into the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, a contiguous private concession adjacent to Kruger National Park. Upon return to camp, enjoy the swimming pool, a private drink on your verandah or a relaxing read in the lounge. Most of all, make yourself at home in this truly magnificent camp, under the guidance of some of South Africa’s finest wildlife conservationists.
Day 10: Cape Town
Fly via Johannesburg this morning to connect with scheduled flights to Cape Town. On arrival we transfer to the Victoria & Alfred Hotel located in the heart of the bustling Waterfront district of Cape Town. The hotel is a redevelopment of the historic 1904 North Quay Warehouse with views of Table Mountain and the working harbor.
Lodging Victoria & Alfred Hotel
Description The Victoria & Alfred Hotel is located in the heart of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of the country’s top destinations. Built in 1904 as the North Quay Warehouse and converted in 1990 to a luxury hotel, it is named in honor of the Queen of England and her son, who visited the Cape in 1870 when Prince Alfred officially opened the breakwater basin, today’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Guests can feel the ambience of colonial Cape Town as you step into the foyer, sense the past of shipwrecks and storms that color every corner of this world-famous working harbor, then relax in the elegant, contemporary rooms. The hotel offers 94 spacious, air-conditioned en-suite rooms on three floors, with all the luxury amenities one would expect at a renowned, world-class hotel.
Day 11: Shark Safari / Seal Island
Depart before daybreak for a boat trip in search of the super-predator of the oceans, the great white shark. Accompanied by onboard shark experts, we learn about this impressive creature’s behavior near one of its typical haunts, Seal Island, home to some 60,000 seals as well as a host of seabird species. Our focus is on natural interaction with the sharks, observing predatory behavior with a tow using a carpet cut-out “seal” decoy. We also have the opportunity to marvel at close-up views of sharks under water via a cage placed for observation purposes. After lunch aboard, we return to Cape Town for an afternoon at leisure and a chance to further explore the Waterfront, followed by a farewell dinner.
Lodging Victoria & Alfred Hotel
Description The Victoria & Alfred Hotel is located in the heart of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of the country’s top destinations. Built in 1904 as the North Quay Warehouse and converted in 1990 to a luxury hotel, it is named in honor of the Queen of England and her son, who visited the Cape in 1870 when Prince Alfred officially opened the breakwater basin, today’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Guests can feel the ambience of colonial Cape Town as you step into the foyer, sense the past of shipwrecks and storms that color every corner of this world-famous working harbor, then relax in the elegant, contemporary rooms. The hotel offers 94 spacious, air-conditioned en-suite rooms on three floors, with all the luxury amenities one would expect at a renowned, world-class hotel.
Day 12: Cape Town / Home
A transfer is provided to the airport this morning for flights home or to onward destinations.
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K. Taylor
“Simon was a joy to be with, passionate about his work, and able to convey that warmly. My wife (who is standing behind me as I write) is tearing up thinking about the trip and how lucky we were to have Simon as our guide.”
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R. Hestand
"This was the trip of a lifetime, my lifelong dream since I was a small child. Cheetahs on the hunt at Mashatu, elephants all over and lions just 10 feet away. It was all unreal!"
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C. Ivanick
“What I enjoyed the most was the chance to really see the animals leading their everyday lives from up close. John, our guide, was incredibly informative, enthusiastic and devoted to his job. He's first rate! What I enjoyed the most was the chance to really see the animals leading their everyday lives from up close and John did a fabulous job showing us this.”
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TRIP INCLUDES
  •  Internal scheduled light aircraft flights (but not scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town)
  •  accommodations
  •  meals from dinner Day 1 to breakfast final day, non-alcoholic drinks at camps, with meals, and in vehicles, services of NHA Expedition Leaders, local guides and lodge staff, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, permits & entrance fees, and all taxes.


TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  •  Travel to and from start and end point of trip
  •  flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Day 10
  •  alcoholic beverages
  •  some gratuities
  •  passport and visa fees
  •  optional activities
  •  items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc.)
  •  airline baggage fees
  •  airport and departure taxes
  •  optional travel insurance
  •  required medical evacuation insurance
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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