12 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

Eating is a big part of travelling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in southern Africa. On this tour, we provide only a few meals for you and your group members, so as to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility in you choices. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though – while in the larger centres, your group leader will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip.

For the included meals, vegetarian meal requests and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

1. TRANSPORTATION

This is not a physically demanding journey; however, travelling can be difficult, with long drives and poor road conditions at times. Despite this, most clients feel that the diversity of the African landscape, countries, culture and wildlife are all well worth the experience. We use a comfortable and safe air-conditioned touring vehicle for the long drives.

2. YELLOW FEVER: COUNTRY DETAIL

There is no risk of Yellow Fever transmission in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe. However, all of these countries require proof of vaccination under International Health Regulations to prevent importation of the virus. It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are travelling to any of the above countries from a Yellow Fever endemic country, or have recently transited through one (12 hours or more in airport). Endemic countries include: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela.

We advise all travellers on Southern and East Africa itineraries to carry a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate regardless of their country of origin. Given the multi-country nature of these itineraries, travellers will cross borders into countries that require the certificate as a condition of entry from preceding destinations. A traveller entering the itinerary from a non-endemic country may not require the certificate to enter the first country, but will almost certainly require it by the time they cross into a subsequent one. Yellow Fever vaccinations must be administered at least 10 days prior to entry into the first country visited. Under WHO regulations (effective 11 July 2016), certificates are valid for the lifetime of the person vaccinated, there is no 10-year expiry on the certificate itself, though some border officials may be unaware of this. Travellers should carry their original International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (yellow card) at all times during the tour. Travellers without a valid certificate run the risk of being denied entry and will not be able to continue with the tour. Any additional travel expenses incurred will be at the traveller’s own account.

3. COMBO TRIP

Please note that this tour is a combination of several G Adventures tours. As such, your group CEO, fellow passengers, or vehicle may change between the individual tour sections.

4. EXTRAS

Looking to add to your experience? Check out our Extras! Specially designed for travellers with unique interests, Extras are optional add-ons to your G adventures trip that make your adventure more you-centric. Extras must be booked prior to departure, please see details in our optional activities field and ask your sales GCO or travel agent about booking.

5. Water-wise tips when visiting Cape Town:

– Bring a reusable water bottle, that you can fill with Cape Town’s tasty tap water.

– Reuse your towels in the hotel, for at least two days, before getting new ones.

– Keep your laundry until you have a full load to do, rather than just doing a handful of items.

– Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, or shaving.

– Keep your showers to two minutes or less, and don’t use the bath.

– Use hand sanitizer, instead of washing hands.

6. MONEY EXCHANGE

We strongly advise that you bring ZAR or USD from your home country or exchange money before the start of the tour, to avoid delays on tour.

7. DRONES

The use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

8. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) & driver throughout, local guides

Hotels

5 nights in comfortable twin rooms with ensuite bathrooms

Lodges

5 nights in comfortable twin lodge rooms with ensuite bathrooms

Tented Lodge

2 nights in permanent tents with ensuite bathroom

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase (please avoid a hard-top case), or sports bag, maximum 20 kg, plus a daypack. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles is limited. Porters are not often available, so be prepared to carry your own bags. During the winter months (May to October), the temperatures can get quite cold. It is wise to bring plenty of layers for cool mornings and evenings. A set of smart casual clothes is also advisable.

Please be advised that if you plan to bring a drone with you, the use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Experience a guided nature walk among Matobo’s balancing granite kopjes, where wind-rounded domes shelter klipspringer, rock hyrax, and an array of raptors. Feel the textures of lichen-streaked rock and acacia shade.

Hear stories of Ndebele heritage and the park’s singular geology, a landscape long linked to spiritual traditions. Walking reveals intimate details—sun-warmed stone, bird calls, and subtle scents—that vehicles glide past.

Explore heritage-rich Stellenbosch on a winelands outing featuring guided wine tastings amid vineyard slopes and mountain backdrops. Learn about varietals that thrive here, including Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.

Between estates, admire Cape Dutch architecture and oak-shaded streets in the historic town center. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; responsible tasting and ample water encouraged.

Join a guided bush walk in Timbavati to seek the fascinating Small Five—ant-lion, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, buffalo weaver, and rhino beetle. Move quietly, noticing spoor, bird calls, and the intricate life of termite mounds.

Handle seedpods, examine beetle tracks, and learn about medicinal plants used in the Lowveld. This sensory-rich experience shifts focus from megafauna to the delicate web that supports the whole ecosystem.

Visit Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side to follow rainforest paths to Main Falls, with spray drifting like fine rain. Stand amid lush “spray forest” and listen to the thundering cataracts that have awed travellers for generations.

Encounter the indigenous name Mosi-oa-Tunya—“the Smoke that Thunders”—and pause for photos and reflection at classic viewpoints such as Devil’s Cataract and Danger Point, where the Zambezi plunges into its basalt gorge.

Share a G for Good lunch with the Lusumpuko Women’s Club, a community cooperative serving a seasonal farm-to-table meal. Taste staples of Zimbabwean cuisine—sadza, stewed greens, groundnut sauces, and free-range chicken—prepared with pride.

Hear how this initiative creates income and skills for local families, and enjoy warm hospitality that turns a meal into cultural exchange. Your visit helps sustain community-led development in Victoria Falls.

Ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to the sandstone plateau for sweeping views of the Twelve Apostles, city bowl, and Robben Island. Stroll easy paths through fynbos alive with sunbirds and proteas.

This weather-dependent outing invites unhurried photography and fresh mountain air within the Cape Floral Kingdom. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; timing coordinated locally for best conditions.

Follow coastal curves along Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point lighthouse, where two great ocean currents meet. Expect cliff-top views, wind-swept fynbos, and crashing Atlantic swells.

Visit the Boulders Beach penguin colony to observe African penguins at close range. Optional full-day tour at additional cost, bookable on tour, with time for photos and seaside pauses.

Cruise across Table Bay to the Robben Island Museum, center of memory for the country’s democratic journey. Walk cell blocks with guides who share lived history, including Nelson Mandela’s cell in the Maximum Security Prison.

Insights from former political prisoners illuminate courage and resilience. Optional experience at additional cost; availability is limited and must be pre-booked before travel.

Opt for an open-top game drive with a ranger-guided crew for elevated views and expert tracking in prime wildlife areas. The open vehicle heightens senses—wind, birdsong, distant alarm calls.

Ideal for golden-hour sightings when predators stir and colors deepen. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; complements the included full-day safari.

Venture on a Hwange National Park game drive to scan open plains and waterholes for vast elephant families, sable antelope, and big cats. The park’s Kalahari sands nurture a mosaic of habitats.

Travel through acacia and mopane woodland with a ranger who reads tracks and behavior. Optional daytime or evening departures at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering distinct moods and wildlife rhythms.

Hike over granite domes to view ancient San rock art tucked in caves and overhangs, a moving window onto hunter-gatherer lifeways. The granite kopjes frame wide horizons and echo with raptors’ calls.

This exploration of a World Heritage landscape blends archaeology and scenery in equal measure. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; sturdy shoes and water recommended.

Meet your fellow travellers and meet your CEO and group in a relaxed welcome session. Share introductions, align expectations, and enjoy a concise tour briefing covering safety, local customs, and how to make the most of optional activities throughout Southern Africa.

Use the session to gather insider dining suggestions, compare interests, and fine-tune plans for free time. This friendly start builds connection and confidence so you begin the adventure informed and at ease.

Explore South Africa’s largest township on a guided bicycle tour, rolling past street art, shebeens, and community hubs. Stop to reflect at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, a poignant tribute to the 1976 youth uprising that helped galvanize global resistance to apartheid.

Pedal along Vilakazi Street, the only road once home to two Nobel laureates, and, where available, taste a local home-brewed beer in a convivial shebeen. Insightful local guides bring Soweto’s resilience and creativity to life.

Trace the famed Panorama Route through dramatic escarpment country, pausing for sweeping views over the Blyde River Canyon and the lush Lowveld from God’s Window. Camera-worthy stops showcase tumbling waterfalls and red quartzite cliffs.

Marvel at the sculpted whirlpools of Bourke’s Luck Potholes and nearby cascades like Lisbon and Berlin Falls. This route blends geology, botany, and gold-rush lore with misty escarpment views that reveal the scale of Mpumalanga’s landscapes.

Savour a traditional dinner of regional favourites as performers share local dance, drumming, and storytelling from Lowveld communities. Rhythms and song animate the night, inviting claps and smiles around the fire.

Discover how movement and melody preserve heritage and celebrate milestones. The Shangaan rhythms and call-and-response create a joyful exchange that complements hearty dishes and a warm community welcome.

Set out on a full-day safari drive across Kruger’s savanna and riverine bush, scanning for the Big Five, giraffe, zebra, and prolific birdlife. Learn to read tracks, alarm calls, and the subtle patterns of life along the roads.

Pause at seasonal waterholes where elephants bathe and antelope gather, while your guide shares Kruger’s conservation story—one of Africa’s oldest protected areas—and how habitats shift from thornveld to mopane scrub.