Compare Road Scholar World Academy Segment 1: Indian Ocean to Cape Town by Road Scholar vs Cape Town & Safari with Mauritius by Great Value Vacations

Day 1: Depart for overnight flight to Port Louis

Meals: Dinner

Depart From: Depart from home for overnight flight to Port Louis, Mauritius

Day 2: Arrival in Port Louis / Embark the mv Voyager 

Arrive To: Arrive to Port Louis, Mauritius. Transfer to embark the MV Voyager.

Afternoon: Meet your group leader for a brief program introduction.

Dinner: Welcome dinner on board the ship

Day 3: Port Louis, Mauritius   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Transfer time is approximately 1 hour.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship

Morning: Explore the city of Port Louis. visit to Marie Reine de la Paix, Champ de Mars, the only race course, and the Citadel with a panoramic view of Port Louis and finally visit a pagoda. Then discover Caudan Waterfront and the Oriental Market, situated in the heart of the city, it is a colorful and diversified shopping experience: exotic fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, local crafts, Indian silks and oriental pastries.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship

Afternoon: Your afternoon is at leisure to continue to explore Port Louis independently or relax on the ship and advantage of the onboard amenities. Before dinner, join your group for a welcome party and introductions.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 4: Pointe des Galeis, Reunion, Mauritius

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Depart from the northern part of the island, taking the coastal road to Saint Denis, the capital, to discover the east coast. This is an area of intensive sugar cane farming, the majority of the population descending from Tamil Indians, who came in the thousands as indentured servents after the Abolition of Slavery in 1848. One of the evocative signs of the Tamil culture is the number of colorful temples you will see built around the area. You will see the outside architecture of "Temple du Petit Bazar" in Saint Andrew, and you will discover the fantastic story of the famous "Bourbon Vanilla" with a visit to a vanilla plantation. On your way to Salazie, you will stop at the Niagara Cascade, a real open air theater, where the star is a 180 foot waterfall. Salazie is situated in the wettest and greenest part of the island. It is an imposing garden with towering cascades - the most impressive of which is the Voile de la Mariee" (wedding veil). Continue on to the village of Hell-Bourg. Hell-Bourg is a small community in the Salazie, founded in the mid-1800's as a spa town, built up around thermal hot springs that were discovered in the area. European colonists from as far as South Africa ventured to Hell-Bourg, believing the hot springs to be a cure for numerous diseases and health problems that afflicted Europeans living in the colonial tropics.

Lunch: Enjoy a creole lunch in Hell-Bourg.

Afternoon: After lunch, explore the "Folio House" museum. This beautiful home and garden will give you a glimpse of life as a 19th century French colonist.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 5: At Sea  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Join your study leader for an exclusive Road Scholar lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board or on your own in town.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the ship's amenities and activities.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 6: Port D'Ehoala, Madagascar    

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: The road leading to Nahampoana Reserve is in poor condition, but the drive will be well worth it. Located approximately 7 km from Fort Dauphin, this well maintained garden, formerly named Garden of Acclimatisation, covers an area of 50 hectares. Here you will find a variety of plant species endemic to southern Madagascar, picture plants, ferns, palm-trees and exotic plants. You will also see endemic birds and reptiles, and every species of Lemur found in Madagascar, can be found at Nahampoana.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 7: At Sea            

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Join your study leader for an exclusive Road Scholar lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship.

Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the ship's amenities.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 8: At Sea     

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Join your study leader for an exclusive Road Scholar lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the ship's amenities and activities.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 9: Richard's Bay, South Africa / Overnight in St. Lucia      

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Please note you will disembark the ship for an overnight excursion to St. Lucia National Park. Please bring an overnight bag, plus any medications or items you will need while you are away from the ship.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship with an overnight bag, for an extended overnight excursion to St. Lucia National Park. Depart by coach for the Veyane Cultural Village. This location will give you the opportunity to study the customs and rites of traditional Zulu life, from the lobola (bride's price) to the fortune telling and magic of the Sangoma (witch doctor). You will also have the opportunity to see the creation of the amazing Zulu handicrafts, like their bead work, grass baskets, mats, walking sticks and much more.

Lunch: Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the St. Lucia Ski Boat Club situated on the banks of the St. Lucia Estuary with views over the Indian Ocean and Mapelane. Look for hippos and crocodiles, which are commonly found in the estuary.

Afternoon: Return to the lodge, where you will have some time to relax before an sunset boat safari. During this 2 hour boat cruise, you will have the opportunity to get up close to the resident Hippos and Nile Crocodiles of the St. Lucia Estuary. The total length of the estuary is 85km and one of the largest in Africa. It is estimated that more than 800 hippos and 1200 crocodiles reside in the area. The bird-life in the area is a magnificent with an amount of 450 species witnessed during the year. Hear the calls of African Fish Eagles, watch newly born hippos display child-like tendencies.

Dinner: Dinner at the lodge.

Lodging: Elephant Lake Hotel

Day 10: St. Lucia National Park / Richard's Bay, South Af...              

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the lodge after sunrise game drive.

Morning: After breakfast, depart for the eastern shores of iSimangaliso. iSimangaliso Wetland Park (or St. Lucia as many of the residents affectionately refer to this ecological paradise), was declared as South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site. The declaration was by UNESCO protocol and the official ceremony took place on December 1, 1999. The large size of iSimangaliso Wetland Park includes five major ecosystems. This 328,000 ha (3,280 sq km) Natural World Heritage Site stretches for 280 km along the northern part of South Africa's east coast. The park plays a vital role in the survival of migratory animals and is home to an incredible variety and populations of birds, mammals, plants, insects, fish, reptiles, and scenic beauty. Historically the birthplace of the famous Huberta (the hippo that traveled from St. Lucia to King William's Town) and base for missionaries and Second World War Catalina Flying Boats - even an ancient burial lake of a local tribe - there is much more here than meets the eye!

Morning: Rise before the sun for an early morning game drive. This is when the wildlife is most active. The western shores are part of the iSimangaliso wetland park. As the name suggests it is on the western side of the St. Lucia estuary. The gate into the iSimangaliso western shores is only 2km from the town of St. Lucia. There are two species of animals that one can see on the western shores of iSimangaliso that you will not see on the eastern shores, namely Nyala antelope and the giraffe. The elephant of iSimangaliso wetland park spend 90 percent of their time on the western shores of the park. So this is where you have the best chance of seeing the elephant when staying in St. Lucia. Other special animals that we see there are the hippo, hyena, side stripe jackal, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Then all the other general game of the area are also there. The only animal of the Big Five that can not be found in the park are lions.

Lunch: Picnic lunch enroute.

Afternoon: In the afternoon you will coach back to the ship to re-embark the MV Voyager. The ship will be in port until 10:00 pm.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 11: Durban, South Africa               

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Durban is an intriguing blend of East, West and Africa. With it's endless summer climate, effervescent and lukewarm ocean lined with golden beaches, it offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere all year round. Today you will set off on a full day exploration of this vibrant and diverse city. With a local guide, you will explore the Durban City Center, learn about the city's troubled past at the KwaMhule Museum, the Juma Mosque (said to be the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere), KwaMashu Township, the Home of Mahatma Ghandi and John Dube High School.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the city of Durban with your expert guide.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 12: At Sea            

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Join your study leader for an exclusive Road Scholar lecture.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the ship's amenities and activities.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 13: Port Elizabeth, South Africa      

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Addo Elephant Park: Now the third largest park in South Africa, Addo Elephant Park has expanded to conserve a wide range of biodiversity, landscapes, flora and fauna. Stretching from the semi-arid karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sunday's River valley and south to the coast between Sunday's River and Bushman's River mouth, addo covers about 180,000 hectares (444,700 acres) and includes the Bird and St. Croix island groups. The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only sixteen elephants remained in the area. Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 550 elephants, lions, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopards, a variety of antelope and zebra species as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship.

Afternoon: At leisure.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 14: At Sea      

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Join your study leader for an exclusive Road Scholar lecture

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the ship's activities and amenities.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship

Day 15: Cape Town, South Africa           

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: A visit to Cape Town would not be complete without a cable-car trip up Table Mountain. The cable-car rotates 360 degrees during the ascent, giving you a fantatic view over the city. Once at the top, you may catch a flimps of the resident dassies, an animal that resembles a large adn fluffy hamster, although it is in fact related to the elephant.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ship (included) or on your own in town.

Afternoon: Your afternoon is free to explore Cape Town independently. The ship will be docked just steps away from the Victoria & Alfred waterfront. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with Table Mountain in the distance, is a focal point of Cape Town and is home to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, as well as markets, restaurants, hotels, the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Iziko South African Maritime Museum. You will find plenty of ATM's and Internet cafes in the V&A Waterfront, as well as two information centers, found on Dock Road (alongside Ferryman's Pub) and at the Waterfront information kiosk in Victoria Wharf.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.

Day 16: Cape Town, South Africa     

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for flights returning to North America.

Day 17: Flights Arrive in North America    

Arrive To: Overnight flights from Cape Town arrive in North America.

Day 1: Welcome to Cape Town!

Accommodation: Commodore Hotel

Greetings from the Mother City! Arrive in Cape Town and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel, located near the city's scenic waterfront.

Spend your first night in South Africa dining on local cuisine. Grilled meat known as braaivleis is king here, as are other culturally rich dishes with unique (and sometimes hard-to-pronounce) names.

Transfer to Cape Town hotel

Check In - Commodore Hotel

Cape Town, South Africa      4 Out Of 5 Stars

Sit in the center of five stars in this stylish hotel that offers top tier service and a decadent atmosphere to unwind in. Experience the Mother City with the Commodore Hotel as your home base. Offering massages, beauty services in their full-service spa, and an outdoor pool, there are plenty of ways to relax when you're not sitting at the bar, either inside or by the pool.

Dine in at the Commodore's restaurant, enjoy tours through Cape Town, and find adventure in a city that had everything from harbor excitement to spectacular views from Table Mountain.

Day 2: Cape Town

On your first full day in Cape Town, enjoy a scenic tour of the Cape Peninsula led by an English-speaking guide. Visit Cape Point, Chapman's Peak and Boulders Beach!

Return to your hotel in late afternoon and enjoy a sunset stroll on the historic V&A Waterfront just a few minutes walk from your hotel.

Cape Peninsula Tour (Full-Day)

Make the most of this one-day tour through the Cape Peninsula where you'll have the opportunity to visit Chapman's Peak, the Cape Point Nature Reserve where a beautiful old lighthouse stands over beautiful greenery, zebras, baboons, and birds, and Boulders Beach, which is known for its penguins!

Day 3: Cape Town

Taste incredible wine and see beautiful landscapes on a full-day tour in South Africa's Winelands. Stops include the Paarl Wine Region, Franschhoek Valley, and the town of Stellenbosch.

Winelands Tour (Full-Day)

Tour through South Africa's Winelands by starting with a brief tour of Paarl, home to wine producers such as Laborie, Nederburg, Fairview, KWV, Plaisir de Merle, and more. Work your way through to Franschhoek, a cozy little town home to some of the country's top restaurants and where Nelson Mandela was released in 1990: Groot Drakenstein Prison.

Continue on to Stellenbosch where student life, oak-liked avenues, food to delight any foodie, and architecture blend together harmoniously to create an atmosphere rich in art galleries, chic eateries, and charming boutiques.

Day 4: Cape Town

Begin your last day in Cape Town with a half-day tour taking you to the top of the iconic Table Mountain and the lush Company Gardens.

After the tour, consider a visit to District Six Museum which celebrates the multi-racial area of Cape Town that was destroyed by apartheid in the 1960s and 1970s.

Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour (Half-Day)

Take a trip up one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature: the legendary Table Mountain. Accompanied by a scenic coastal drive and a walk through the Company Gardens, this tour was designed with the nature-lover in mind.

As you walk through the gardens, you'll find yourself surrounded with stunning buildings and museums, such as St. Georges Cathedral, the National Art Gallery, the Jewish Museum, the Salve Museum, and more!

Day 5: Cape Town - Kruger National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Hoedspruit Airport. Then enjoy a transfer to your lodge in the Thornybush Game Reserve. Adjacent to Kruger National Park, Thornybush is a private nature reserve that has scooped numerous world firsts, both for conservation and hospitality.

It's also home to the Big 5, so keep your eyes peeled on your first safari game drive!

Transfer to Cape Town airport (CPT)

Fly to Kruger National Park!

Check In - Thornybush Waterside Lodge

Kruger, South Africa 5 Out Of 5 Stars

Experience tranquility on the shores of a serene lake while staying at the Thornybush Waterside Lodge. Instant relaxation greets all who spend their nights here. With amazing safari adventures led by skilled rangers and trackers working to provide plenty of opportunities to see the Big Five, you can choose to safari at dawn or dusk, or go on the more adventurous bushwalk.

Get a close brush with the wild nature of the surrounding areas, with the opportunity to return to the Lodge to lounge at the pool, relax in your suite, enjoy food and drink at the restaurant and bar, and spend your downtime in outdoor lounged along the lake.

Day 6: Kruger National Park

Enjoy your first full day in the African savannah. Situated within thousands of acres of pristine wilderness, Thornybush Game Reserve is truly a nature lover's dream come true.

Enjoy safari games in the morning and afternoon and get up close to some of your favorite wild animals. Rest assured that you'll see countless mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.

Day 7: Kruger National Park

On your second and last full day at Thornybush, explore more of the facilities at the lodge. Dine on fresh and delicious cuisine at the restaurant and enjoy a relaxing spa treatment.

Sip a glass of 'Cap Classique' sparkling wine as you watch the golden sun dip over the savannah.

Day 8: Kruger National Park - Johannesburg - Mauritius

Leave Thornybush this morning and transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight to Johannesburg, where you will connect with your flight to Mauritius. Once you arrive in Mauritius, you will be met and transferred to the Tamassa All Inclusive Resort, situated at Bel Ombre in the southwest of Mauritius.

Toast to your first night in Mauritius as you watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Transfer to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS)

Fly to Mauritius!

Fly to Johannesburg (JNB), then catch your connecting flight to Mauritius (MRU)

Transfer to Mauritius resort

Check In - Tamassa

Bel Ombre, Mauritius      4 Out Of 5 Stars

Located in Bel Ombre in the southwest of Mauritius, Tamassa is an all-inclusive 4-star resort providing contemporary accommodations in an incredible beachfront setting. A standard room, housed in a set of villas, features deep bathtubs, separate showers, private balconies, and ocean views. Island Light scented lotions and potions are provided to care for your skin and hair.

Common areas at Tamassa are grouped together in village style, with a view of the sea to one side and a view of sugarcane fields on another. On-site services include multiple restaurants and bars (even an ice cream parlor and food truck serving hamburgers!), a dance club, swimming pools, and beach access. You may also arrange to do water and land activities while you're there, like snorkeling, golfing, bike riding and more.

Day 9: Mauritius

Enjoy a relaxing morning at your resort, either lounging on the white sandy beach or snorkeling in the turquoise lagoon rich in wildlife. With so much to see and do, you may never want to leave the resort!

In the afternoon, head to the bustling capital of Port Louis with its lively local markets. Taste exotic fruit and hear many languages as you walk the colonial streets. After all, Mauritius is one of the most multicultural islands in the world, having been settled by the Dutch, French and British.

Day 10: Mauritius

Release endorphins on a morning hike up Le Morne Brabant mountain, towering over Le Morne Peninsula. Take in the incredible views once you reach the top of the mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then head to Chamarel to see the waterfall and the Terres de Sept Couleurs (the Seven Coloured Earths). The single-drop waterfall is a sight to behold as it gushes more than 300 ft into a beautiful ravine. After you've snapped enough photos, walk to the Coloured Earths, a natural phenomenon consisting of sand dunes in various colors, ranging from violet to yellow.

Day 11: Mauritius

Begin your last day in Mauritius at Eureka, a historical plantation mansion that's now a museum offering a glimpse into the island's colonial past.

Then enjoy an afternoon on the beach in the charmingly-named seaside town of Flic-en-Flac. The public white sandy beach is one of the longest on the island, giving you ample space to spread out as you please.

At night, savor local Mauritian food at your resort like lentil soup with leg of goat, venison curry with jackfruit and lilva bean or papaya and carrot salad.

Day 12: Depart Mauritius

Say au revoir to Mauritius as you transfer to the aiport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg. From there, you will catch your flight home. On the plane, take one last look at the impossibly blue Indian ocean! Fly home!