Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive in Africa and get settled into your hotel. Mid-afternoon check-in means you can drop your bags and start exploring the area if you're not too tired from travel, or just relax and adjust to the local time.
- Day 2
Cape Town
Start your morning with a cable-car ride up Table Mountain, where you'll get panoramic views across Cape Town and the surrounding landscape. From there, head to Boulders Beach to see the African Penguins up close. Later you'll drive to Cape Point Nature Reserve to explore the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point itself, then take the funicular up to the old lighthouse for more views of the coastline. On your way back, you'll drive Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the world's most scenic coastal routes. The evening is yours to relax and take it easy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Cable-car ride up Table Mountain
- Visit Boulders Beach to see African Penguins colony
- Cape Point Nature Reserve visit including Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point
- Funicular ride to old lighthouse at Cape Point
- Chapman's Peak Drive
Landmarks Table Mountain Boulders Beach Cape Point Nature Reserve Cape of Good Hope Chapman's Peak Drive - Day 3
Cape Town
This day is completely yours to spend however you'd like. Breakfast is included in the morning, and then you can choose from several optional activities. Consider wine tasting in the Cape Winelands if that interests you, or if it's the right season, a whale watching cruise in Hermanus can be incredible. Another option is a helicopter flightseeing tour that takes you over Cape Town's ocean and landmarks. You can do one of these or explore the area on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Cape Winelands wine tasting visit
- Whale watching cruise in Hermanus
- Helicopter flightseeing tour above Cape Town
Landmarks Cape Winelands Hermanus - Day 4
Cape Town to Karongwe Private Game Reserve
You'll fly to Hoedspruit and then transfer to Karongwe Private Game Reserve, which sits near Kruger National Park with views of the Drakensburg Mountains. After lunch at the lodge, you'll head out on your first game drive with a Shangaan tracker. This is when you'll start looking for wildlife, including the Big 5 - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. As the day winds down, you'll enjoy a sundowner drink out in the bush before heading back to the lodge for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight to Hoedspruit
- Transfer to Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- First game drive with Shangaan tracker
- Sundowner in the bush
Landmarks Karongwe Private Game Reserve Drakensburg Mountains Kruger National Park 
- Day 5
Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Start early with a game drive led by a Shangaan tracker and professional ranger who'll help you spot wildlife and explain the ecosystem. You could see the Big 5, along with kudu, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, and spotted hyena. Return around mid-morning for breakfast at the lodge, then spend time relaxing. Mid-afternoon brings tea, followed by another game drive. Later you'll have a sundowner drink while watching the sunset over the Drakensburg Mountains, then freshen up back at the lodge before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive with Shangaan tracker and professional ranger
- Afternoon game drive
- Sundowner drink in the bush at sunset
Landmarks Karongwe Private Game Reserve Drakensburg Mountains - Day 6
Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Another early start for the morning game drive with coffee and tea, and this one's particularly good for spotting big cats. You'll have mid-day free time to rest by the pool, get a spa treatment at the wellness center, or watch for animals from the lodge. The afternoon game drive wraps up with sunset drinks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning game drive
- Afternoon game drive
- Sundowner drinks at sunset
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the pool
- Spa treatments at wellness center
- Day 7
Karongwe to Johannesburg
You've got one last morning game drive before heading to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. The rest of your day is open, so you can explore Johannesburg at your own pace or just relax after travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final morning game drive
- Day 8
Johannesburg
You'll visit Soweto, South Africa's largest township, and tour the neighborhoods connected to Nobel Peace Prize winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. A key stop is Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived with his family from 1946 to around 1960. You'll also learn about Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's role in the anti-apartheid movement. After lunch, you'll spend time at the Apartheid Museum to understand South Africa's history from its founding through the apartheid era and into the 1994 democratic elections.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Soweto (South Western Township)
- Mandela House tour
- Apartheid Museum visit
Landmarks Soweto Mandela House Apartheid Museum - Day 9
Johannesburg to Victoria Falls
You're flying north from South Africa into Zimbabwe and meeting up with a Cosmos representative. Later this afternoon, there's a cruise on the Zambezi River where you can photograph wildlife and see the African sunset from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Zambezi River cruise
- Wildlife photography opportunity
- Sunset viewing
Landmarks Zambezi River 
- Day 10
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is the main event today. You'll do a guided walk to learn about the falls' history and the plants and animals in the area. After that, you have free time to explore on your own or book an optional helicopter tour if you want to see the falls from above.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk at Victoria Falls
- Historical and natural interpretation
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flightseeing tour above the falls
Landmarks Victoria Falls - Day 11
Victoria Falls
The day is unscheduled, so it's yours to do what you want. If you'd rather be active, there's an optional 4-wheel game drive through Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve where you can explore lake shores, basalt plains, and teak forests while looking for the Big 5 and other wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided 4-wheel game drive through Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve
Landmarks Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve - Day 12
Victoria Falls to Johannesburg
Your tour concludes with a flight back to Johannesburg. Just schedule your departure for after 7:30 pm so you have time to get to the airport without rushing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
