In the Footsteps of Mandela
© 2019 Copyright Soul of Africa Safari Company
Trip Duration - 10 days
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DAY 01 / The Peech Hotel, Johannesburg
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. Although not as famous as other South African destinations, there is plenty to do in Johannesburg and nearby Pretoria. The old city is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. The nearby township of Soweto is Johannesburg’s most popular tourist attraction.
Day Itinerary
Private road transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) to The Peech Hotel. Arrive at The Peech Hotel
Overnight: The Peech Hotel View iBrochure
The Peech Hotel is set amid two acres of lush landscaped gardens, located in the desirable residential neighbourhood of Melrose. Centrally located, yet a calm and tranquil escape from the busy nearby shopping hubs of Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose Arch. The Peech Hotel is a purposefully designed boutique hotel with 32 rooms. Our interior style is understated "Afri-chic", infused with locally inspired design and craftsmanship.
Our focus is on offering guests functional luxury and discreet personal service. Our full-service Bistro offers fresh, light, seasonal menus throughout the day. Our Chef uses locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients wherever possible. The Peech Hotel prides itself on ensuring fairness, respect for, and diversity among our employees. Proudly Fair Trade in Tourism certified (since 2010), The Peech continues to lead the way in sustainable urban hoteling and tourism.
Included - Breakfast, VAT and Tourism Levy.
DAY 02 / The Peech Hotel, Johannesburg
Day Itinerary: Wilro Tours
You will be collected from your hotel for your Full Day Soweto Tour Itinerary to include: Lilliesleaf, drive past Nelson Mandela's home in Houghton, visit the Apartheid museum and Soweto, including the Hector Peterson Museum & Nelson Mandela’s former home.
Drop off at 6pm (latest) at your hotel. Rate includes the vehicle & driver/guide for max 9 hours and all entrance fees. * ALL extras to be settled direct.
Activities
Full Day Soweto Tour
Included - Breakfast, VAT and Tourism Levy.
DAY 03 / Prana Lodge, Chintsa (EAST LONDON)
Day Itinerary
Depart from The Peech Hotel. Private road transfer from The Peech Hotel to O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg).
Day Itinerary
On arrival in East London, South Africa, guests will be met by their guide, Charles Foster. They depart the airport and visit the world famous East London Museum for a perspective of the region. Afterward transfer to the Wild Coast, to Prana Lodge.
Chintsa
Situated close to the city of East London in the beautiful Eastern Cape Province, Chintsa is a hidden treasure along the Wild Coast of South Africa. It is made up of two small villages: Chintsa East and Chintsa West, which are separated by the Chintsa River Mouth. It features a pristine, unspoilt long stretch of white-sand beach fringed by dense lush vegetation scattered with a variety of wonderful places to stay ranging from luxury to budget accommodation. Chintsa offers visitors the opportunity to surf the waves, kayak along the river, enjoy a fishing excursion and soak up the African sun on the spectacular beach.
Activities
East London
The Wild Coast
The Wild Coast
Stretching for over 200 kilometres along one of South Africa’s most pristine, wild and beautiful sections of shoreline, the Wild Coast is renowned for its hidden coves, secluded beaches, and rolling emerald hills. Those who love peace, quiet and the great outdoors would be hard-pressed to find a better holiday destination than this scenic wilderness, while it also provides plenty of activities to keep the active and adventurous amused, including fishing, diving, and swimming. Visitors can also look forward to exploring the traditional Xhosa villages that dot the hills, lazing in a hammock, and hiking along the breathtakingly beautiful coastline, which boasts secret swimming holes, rocky headlands, sheer cliffs, footprint-free beaches, and lazy lagoons.
Overnight: Prana Lodge View iBrochure
Prana Lodge is a small luxury Hotel situated in a pristine forest alongside the spectacular Chintsa Bay, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape. Your own private haven awaits: with only 8 individually designed suites, featuring select pieces from a private collection of famous South African artists, Persian carpets, luxury linens, and oversized bathrooms with garden views promising relaxation of the first order, all completely private and secure behind your own garden walls, with patio and your own plunge pool.
Prana Lodge is ideally situated for soul nurturing retreats, romantic getaways and honeymoons, yet close enough to get away from major South African centres with the least of effort. An easy 40-minute drive from the East London airport, Prana Lodge offers luxury accommodation and soul’s comfort. You are invited to experience ultimate relaxation and restoration for body and soul through highly personalized and unobtrusive service, total privacy, and exceptional cuisine.
Basis - Full Board
Included - Meet & Greet / Museum Visit / Dinner at Prana Lodge
DAY 04 / Prana Lodge, Chintsa
Day Itinerary
Today you will travel through the Transkei (the region where Mandela was born) to the small village of Qunu (where he grew up). Spend the rest of the day with your local guide "Zim" visiting the Mandela Museum, the famous sliding rocks that he played on as a boy, the village where he was born, the church he was baptized in, and his family grave yard. Enjoy a traditional Xhosa meal at Qunu before returning to Prana Lodge for sundowners (own account).
Activities
Qunu
Basis - Full Board
Included - Visit to Qunu / Local Tour Guide / Traditional Xhosa Lunch
DAY 05 / Morgan Bay Hotel, Eastern Cape Beaches
Day Itinerary
Today you will depart early for Morgan Bay on the Wild Coast, located at the mouth of the River Kei. Crossing the river, the tour travels along the Transkei absorbing the surrounding landscape, where not much has changed over the years. Next, guests will set off up the Kologha River with your Xhosa guide, before walking through the forest, where you will have a chance to learn about Xhosa traditions and medicines, all of which would have been common knowledge to Mandela. After a delicious sea food lunch at Trennery's Hotel, spend time with a traditional Sangoma healer and learn about Xhosa beliefs, which would have influenced Mandela during his life. Return to Morgan Bay Hotel for sundowners on the cliffs.
Eastern Cape Beaches
The Eastern Cape is endowed with some of the best beaches in South Africa – long stretches of fine white sand backed by hills blanketed with lush subtropical vegetation and, for the most part, blissfully uncrowded. The Indian Ocean waters that fringe this coast are mild throughout the year and support a myriad of marine life, including a wide array of fish species that make the region an angler’s mecca. South Africa’s most legendary surfing destination is located along the Eastern Cape coast: Jeffrey’s Bay, renowned for its long rides and world-class barrels.
Activities
Kei Mouth
Trennerys Hotel
Kei Mouth
Kei Mouth is a small village on the Wild Coast and a popular family holiday destination. With its ocean, river, sandy beaches and surrounding hills, it presents possibilities for a diverse array of outdoor pursuits, including hiking, horse riding, swimming, sun-bathing, bird watching, surfing, fishing, abseiling and rock climbing. Kei Mouth is home to the Pont, one of two remaining vehicle transportation pontoons in the country, and Wacky Point, a prime break and the site of an annual surf competition. It is also the starting point for the Strandloper Trail, a five day hike that winds along the pristine coast and ends at East London.
Trennerys Hotel
The scenic splendor of the rugged Wild Coast makes Trennerys Hotel the perfect destination for either the wild at heart or the nature lover who craves peace and tranquility, rolling hills and untouched beaches. Situated at Qolora Mouth Wild Coast, just a short drive north of East London, the hotel still maintains its old-world charm and its unique South African hospitality.
Trennerys is surrounded by green and lush, tropical vegetation and hills that go on for miles and miles.
Overnight: Morgan Bay Hotel
Our 34 rooms are designed to make you feel at home - your home away from home where you can relax, unwind, and just be yourself. Spacious and tastefully decorated with Indian Ocean and the rugged Wild Coast views that will leave you quite speechless.
Our rates are based on per person sharing per night and include dinner, bed and breakfast. Fully inclusive rates apply from 6th December - 12 January only.
Basis - Full Board
Included - Guided nature walk / Visit to a sangoma / Pond Crossing / Sundowners
DAY 06 / Bedford Cavers, Eastern Cape
Day Itinerary
This morning you will be depart for the Eastern Cape battlefields via Sutterheim, a Germanic colonial village, surrounded by mountains and indigenous forest. You will stop for breakfast at Eagles Ridge Hotel. Visit St Matthews Mission (learn about the role of the missionaries in Mandela's life and in the history of the Xhosa people. You will be driven down the valley in your vehicle before enjoying a delightful picnic at Hogsback, which is 2,000 metres high. The afternoon will be spent on a guided tour of the Thumie Valley battlefields before continuing to Fort Beaufort (Fort Hare was Mandela's alma mater). In the evening you will be driven to Cavers Country guest house, a colonial farm renowned for its spectacular gardens and delicious food.
Eastern Cape
As South Africa’s ‘wild’ province, the Eastern Cape features magnificent stretches of untouched beach, peaceful river estuaries, lush forests, breathtaking mountain vistas, and the arid Karoo Desert landscape. Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) serves as the province’s primary commercial and industrial centre as well as a gateway to the popular Garden Route where visitors can enjoy ancient forest walks, surfing in the world-renowned surf spot of Jeffrey's Bay, and even bungee jumping from the world's highest bridge bungy above the Bloukrans River. Beyond the Garden route lie some spectacular malaria-free wildlife reserves including the remarkable Addo Elephant National Park, now the only place in South Africa where you can see the Big Seven - elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, whale and shark. Further east, don’t miss the Wild Coast region which, as it is far less developed than the rest of South Africa, offers visitors a glimpse of rural African village life.
Activities
Stutterheim
Hogsback
Bedford
Stutterheim
On the slopes of the Kologha Mountains in the Eastern Cape, Stutterheim sits blessed by the profuse natural splendour of the surrounding dams, indigenous forests, farmland and rolling hills. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, and mountain biking, horse riding and even golf in this idyllic setting. Stutterheim has many craft centres and authentic Xhosa cultural villages to enhance your stay.
Hogsback
Situated high up on the Amathole mountains of the Eastern Cape Province, the tranquil town of Hogsback is famous for its stunning natural scenery, abundance of animal life, and variety of activities. Surrounded by centuries-old indigenous Afro-montane forests, backed by rugged purple mountains and run through by a multitude of rivers, streams and sparkling waterfalls, Hogsback draws nature lovers from near and far and offers fantastic opportunities for hiking, abseiling and fishing. The area is one of the last remaining habitats of the multicoloured, endangered Cape Parrot, and is also home to spectacular Knysna turacos or loeries, playful samango monkeys and hordes of singing cicadas. Animal lovers can also explore the mountain paths on horseback. Other activities include finding the way through the magnificent hedged Labyrinth, or meandering through the intriguing art at the Eco-Shrine Centre for Art and Ecology.
Overnight: Bedford Cavers
Set in the picturesque Cowie Valley, Cavers Country Guest House offers guests a unique opportunity to enjoy luxurious accommodation, warm hospitality and spectacular views of the tranquil surroundings. Cavers is a fifth generation family-owned farm with one of the most beautiful gardens in South Africa. A stone double storey homestead, built in 1850, is used exclusively for guests.
From the kitchen comes fine country cuisine. Farm lamb, beef and venison, prepared to your preference with a home grown selection of fresh farm vegetables. Candle-lit dinners are served in the dining room of the main stone double storey homestead. A traditional barbeque around the pool or in the veld under the African stars is also a favourite. English or Continental breakfasts are served on the patio or in the guest dining room. Home made bread, butter, preserves, cheese and yogurts are offered.
Basis - Full Board
Included - Battlefields of the Eastern Cape
DAY 07 /
Day Itinerary
Guests enjoy breakfast with some time to allow guests to explore the spectacular Gardens before transferring through to Port Elizabeth Airport, where their guide will drop clients off and bid farewell.
DAY 07 / Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town
Cape Town
Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and extraordinary architecture, while others boast breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary natural wonders. Cape Town is lucky enough to be blessed with all of these attractions and so much more. With its bustling harbour, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit.
Day Itinerary
Private road transfer from Cape Town International Airport to Victoria and Alfred Hotel. Arrive at Victoria and Alfred Hotel
Overnight: Victoria & Alfred Hotel View iBrochure
History and modern luxury merge to create ageless beauty at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, which was built in 1904 as the North Quay Warehouse. This iconic establishment was named after Queen Victoria and her son, Prince Alfred who played an intrinsic role in the establishment of the Breakwater Basin – now the V&A Waterfront.
The hotel is located in the very heart of this internationally acclaimed destination and is a sophisticated retreat amid the buzz. It offers some of the most enviable views of Cape Town Harbour, Table Mountain and the slick city that stretches out at the foot of this Natural Wonder. Timeless elegance and personalised luxury are found at the award-winning Victoria & Alfred Hotel.
Attention to detail, its elegance and an outstanding reputation have set this hotel apart as one of Cape Town’s finest establishments. A luxurious stay awaits at each of the 94 well-appointed, contemporary rooms, with views of the Alfred Basin, Table Mountain or the piazza. Warm personal service makes guests feel at home instantly.
Included - Breakfast, 15% VAT and 1% Tourism Levy included.
DAY 9/ Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town
Day Itinerary
Half Day Robben Island Tour (Accompanied by Wilderness Touring Guide)
Highlights
Visit the historic prison of Robben Island, which for some 450 years incarcerated convicts, slaves, exiled Eastern princes, lepers, the insane and political prisoners including Nelson Mandela.
Absorb the rich history and culture of the prison, now a World Heritage Site.
Experience a guided bus tour of the island with breathtaking views across the Bay.
Experience a guided walk through the prison, pausing at Nelson Mandela’s cell.
Wilderness Touring guide accompanies the guests for additional commentary and/or necessary translation.
Depart from Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront by ferry for a scenic 25-minute trip across Table Bay to Robben Island.
This World Heritage Site, which is one of South Africa’s most revered national monuments, was once a prison. Among its more famous inmates was the 19th century tribal chief, Makana, who lost his life attempting to escape by boat across the Bay, and South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela. He spent two decades of his life on the island, along with some 3 000 other political detainees, many of whom were icons of the resistance and became leaders of the new South Africa.
This stirring tour is led by experienced island guides (some of whom were once inmates) and includes a visit to the Prison Block and the infamous Limestone Quarry, where prisoners toiled, as well as a drive around the island
We are thrilled to offer you subject to availability, the warden who looked after Mandela himself.
We can also offer a private lunch or dinner with him to hear his story and share insights into his life with Nelson Mandela. We also offer private helicopter trips over Robben Island as well as a chartered yacht cruise around Robben Island. Itineraries and rates on request.
The Wilderness Touring guide will organize and facilitate alternate touring should the Robben Island tour be cancelled due to weather (regular occurrence) as the vehicle and guide remain at the disposal of the guests.
Activities
Wilderness Private Journeys - Robben Island - Accompanied, Pvt Transfers HD
Included - Breakfast, 15% VAT and 1% Tourism Levy included.
DAY 10/ Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town
Day Itinerary
Private Full Day Classic Peninsula Tour
Highlights
Travel through many famous coastal suburbs of the Cape and traverse one of the world’s most spectacular passes Chapmans Peak.
Visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach as well as the Cape fur seal colony on Duiker Island (weather dependent).
Catch a glimpse of Southern right whales (seasonal) off the Capes longest beach.
Spot wildlife in the Table Mountain National Park, and explore the rocky coastline, the Cape fynbos vegetation and the south-westernmost point of Africa Cape Point and its lighthouse.
Stroll through world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden at the foot of Table Mountain.
Lunch at an a la carte coastal restaurant (own account).
We make our way along the Atlantic seaboard passing Sea Point, Bantry Bay and Clifton. Bakoven and Llandudno, with their ghostly shipwrecks, are also fantastic sights on the way to the fishing village of Hout Bay, where we board a boat to view the Cape fur seal colony on Duiker Island (weather dependent).
From here we navigate the 114 curves of 600m high Chapmans Peak Drive. Enter the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park with its unique Cape fynbos vegetation and home to birds like African black oystercatchers and Cape sugarbirds as well as to very special fauna including Cape mountain zebra, bontebok (both endemic) and the charismatic Cape baboon.
Climb or ride the world’s first environmentally friendly funicular (own account) to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay.
After lunch (own account), we visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins, and then head home through the naval village of Simonstown and over scenic Boyes Drive, taking in the views of the fishing harbour at Kalk Bay and the seaside havens of St James and Muizenberg.
To round off your day you can take a stroll through Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on the slopes of Table Mountain.
Activities
Wilderness Private Journeys - Private Full Day Classic Peninsula
Included - Breakfast, 15% VAT and 1% Tourism Levy included.
DAY 11/ Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town
Day Itinerary
Private Full Day Classic Winelands Tour
Highlights
Taste some of South Africa’s finest wines in the beautiful Boland region.
Visit wine estates according to your preferences.
Lunch at one of the many classic award-winning restaurants (own account).
Explore the rich history and culture of towns such as Stellenbosch and gastronomic Franschhoek.
Depart the city for the Winelands in the nearby Boland Mountains for a leisurely exploration of historic towns, liquid delights, gastronomic wonders and home-grown hospitality. Wine estates visited will vary according to client preferences, but the tour generally includes the region’s major wine producing areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, and there are chances aplenty en route for tastings of world-renowned reds and whites, as well as Cap Classiques, South Africa’s answer to Champagne.
Lunch at one of the many classic award-winning restaurants in the area (own account).
Natural and historic heritage abounds in this area and your tour may take in sights like the Afrikaans Language Monument with its panoramic Boland views. Idyllic Franschhoek, nestled in a valley settled by French Huguenots in 1688, is a delight for antique lovers and gastronomes (the town boasts some world-famous eateries). Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second-oldest town, provides another glimpse of classic 17th-century Cape style, with a chance to browse quaint Dorp Street and the many museums, galleries and shops of this lovely university town.
Activities
Wilderness Private Journeys - Private Full Day Classic Winelands
Included - Breakfast, 15% VAT and 1% Tourism Levy included.
DAY 11/ End of Itinerary
Day Itinerary
Depart from Victoria and Alfred Hotel. Private road transfer from Victoria and Alfred Hotel to Cape Town International Airport.
