Highlights of South Africa

20 days
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5/5 Excellent
35 reviews  
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USTOA

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Group Tour
When you take a South Africa tour with Grand Circle Travel, you’ll discover cultural and natural wonders at a relaxed and leisurely pace. You’ll follow exotic wildlife on game-viewing drives through Kruger National Park and the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve ... enjoy visits to charming coastal towns along the famed Garden Route ... and explore cosmopolitan C...
From$4,495
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Explore Cape Town
    • Explore Kruger National Park
    • Embark on a full-day Intimate African Safari game drive
    • Get an opportunity to visit George, Drostdy Museum and Stellenbosch
    • Visit the fascinating Apartheid Museum, where the history of nearly 50 years of unequal rights
    • Learn about Swazi Cultural
    • Set off for a game-viewing drive through the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve

What's this trip about?

    When you take a South Africa tour with Grand Circle Travel, you’ll discover cultural and natural wonders at a relaxed and leisurely pace. You’ll follow exotic wildlife on game-viewing drives through Kruger National Park and the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve ... enjoy visits to charming coastal towns along the famed Garden Route ... and explore cosmopolitan Cape Town, South Africa’s “Mother City.” You’ll marvel at the country's diverse landscape rife with verdant, grassy savannahs, balmy, white-sand beaches, and tranquil, flower-ringed lagoons. And in 2017, you'll experience our newly enhanced itinerary, featuring a new two-night stay in the lush Stellenbosch wine region, and new opportunities to engage in local culture in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityJohannesburg
End CityCape Town

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Safari
  • Transformative

Destinations

  • Africa
  • South Africa

Attractions

  • Cape of Good Hope
  • Johannesburg
  • Kruger National Park
  • Table Mountain

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Game drive
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • Safari
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Choose to purchase Grand Circle's airfare, and your airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements
    • All flights within South Africa
    • Accommodations for 18 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths
    • 35 meals: 18 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 10 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)
    • 18 included features: 11 guided tours and 7 exclusive Discovery Series events: Scars of Apartheid Experience • Swazi Cultural Experience • An Afternoon With the Zulu • Knysna Rastafarian community visit • Stellenbosch wine estate visit & tasting • Home-Hosted Dinner • Cape Town District 6 experience
    • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides, driver-guides, and motorcoach drivers
    • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip
    • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers)
    • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next Grand Circle trip—an average of $305
    • Private motorcoach land travel
    • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Depart U.S.

Board your overnight flight to Johannesburg to begin your South Africa tour.

Day 2: Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

Accommodations: Protea Hotel Wanderers or similar

A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and help you transfer to your hotel, where you'll meet the Grand Circle Program Director who will accompany you throughout your trip, and fellow travele...

Day 3: Johannesburg

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Protea Hotel Wanderers or similar

This morning, tour South Africa's thriving metropolis of Johannesburg. You'll see the city skyscrapers, including the Carlton Centre, which is the tallest office block in Afric...

Day 4: Johannesburg • Soweto • Scars of Apartheid Experience

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Protea Hotel Wanderers or similar

This morning, you'll tour Soweto, a former shantytown on the city's outskirts. Today, Soweto is both a bustling center of black South African life and a poignant symbol of the s...

Day 5: Johannesburg • Mpumalanga • Kruger National Park

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Nkambeni Safari Camp or similar

After breakfast, set off for Kruger National Park. Along the way, marvel at breathtaking views of the Klein Drakensburg escarpment, with its densely wooded canyons, sheer sandsto...

Day 6: Kruger National Park • Intimate African Safari

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Nkambeni Safari Camp or similar

Embark on a full-day Intimate African Safari game drive, during which you will explore Kruger National Park aboard a small, open-air vehicle. Perhaps you'll see one of the elusiv...

Day 7: Kruger National Park • Full-day game drive • Optional Intimate African Safari  (Optional Tour)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinnet

Accommodations: Nkambeni Safari Camp or similar

After breakfast, you'll board a coach for a full-day game-viewing drive, with a break to purchase lunch at one of the park's rest camps.

Or, choose to take advantage of a ...

Day 8: Kruger National Park • School visit • Mbabane, Swaziland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Mountain Inn or similar This morning, spend time with the children of George Mhaule Primary School (when in session), supported by Grand Circle Foundation as part of the World Classroom initiative. After your ...

Day 9: Mbabane • Swazi Cultural Experience

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Mountain Inn or similar

Today you'll enjoy a full day of a Swazi Cultural Experience. First, peruse the produce, local crafts, and wares of the Swazi people at the Mbabane Craft Market. Continue on to a ...

Day 10: Mbabane • Hluhluwe, South Africa • Afternoon With the Zulu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Bushlands Game Lodge or similar

As you cross the border back into South Africa today, you'll enter Hluhluwe, a small town within the Kwazulu-Natal province. Here the great warrior-king Shaka unified many...

Day 11: Hluhluwe • Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve • Optional Hluhluwe-Umfolozi afternoon game-viewing drive  (Optional Tour)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Bushlands Game Lodge or similar

After breakfast, set off for a game-viewing drive through the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve—the oldest park in all of Africa.

Thanks to the efforts of conservationists, t...

Day 12: Hluhluwe • George

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Protea Hotel King George or similar

This morning, after an early wake-up and breakfast, you'll drive to Durban. From here, you'll fly to George (transferring flights in Johannesburg)—the largest town on South Africa’s Garden route, and your base of exploration for this beautiful part of the world. Lunch and dinner are on your own today.

Day 13: George • Knysna Lagoon & Featherbed Bay • Knysna Rastafarian community visit

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Protea Hotel King George or similar

After breakfast this morning, begin your exploration of South Africa's famous Garden Route, the magnificent stretch of coastline that has served as an inspiration for artists ...

Day 14: George • Drostdy Museum • Stellenbosch

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Protea Hotel Stellenbosch or similar

Depart George after breakfast this morning to begin your journey to Stellenbosch, the next stop on your tour of the Garden Route. Along the way, you’ll stop in Swellendam for...

Day 15 :Stellenbosch • Stellenbosch wine estate visit & tasting

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Protea Hotel Stellenbosch or similar

Today you will explore Stellenbosch, South Africa's wine-producing region, a scenic river valley of rolling hills, quaint farms, and mountain vistas, this area is also the heart of Cap...

Day 16: Stellenbosch • Cape Town • Home-Hosted Dinner

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Protea Hotel President

Depart Stellenbosch today for your final destination: Cape Town, South Africa’s “Mother City” on the southern edge of the continent. After a short drive, you’ll arrive at Cape Town in the...

Day 17: Cape Town

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Protea Hotel President

The whole of the day is yours to make your own discoveries in Cape Town. Perhaps you’ll revisit a site from yesterday’s city tour for a closer look, or you can set out for new discoveries among the ...

Day 18: Cape Town • Table Mountain & Cape Peninsula

Meals: Breakafst and Lunch

Accommodations: Protea Hotel President

Today, you’ll take in the breathtaking scenery of the Cape Peninsula, starting with a cable car ride up to the top of Table Mountain (weather permitting), a 3,563-foot sandstone mountain t...

Day 19: Cape Town • Cape Town District 6 experience

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Protea Hotel President

After breakfast today, you’ll participate in an exclusive Discovery Series event to take another look at South Africa’s tragic apartheid history. In the 1970s, more than 60,000 residents ...

Day 20: Return to U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you'll have the morning at leisure to do a little more exploring in Cape Town, or to simply relax before you begin your journey back to the U.S. this afternoon. Or begin your optional extension in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,495
Price per day$225
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Grand Circle Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Grand Circle Travel Reviews & Ratings

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Andrea

Apr 2020

value and service outstanding

I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. We got an inc...

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Virginia

Apr 2020

each one has been wonderful

Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful.

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Charlotte

Apr 2020

Excellent service

Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips.

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Grand Circle Travel

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Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Established in 1958 by Ethel Andrus, educator and founder of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), we view world travel as a powerful lever for lifelong learning. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value.

Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress.

Teamwork: We believe in groups of people who work together to create excellent results, solve difficult problems, support each other personally and professionally, and recognize their success. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Every member must be fully accountable for the team’s and one’s own personal results.

Thriving in Change: In these times of rapid change, global competition, and high volatility in the travel industry, we must be prepared to change course and move forward. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment.

Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance.

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Logistics

Cancellation policy

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, please call us as soon as possible, and follow up in writing. You are also required to return any airline tickets that may have been issued to you. Cancellation refunds will be calculated as of the date we receive your written cancellation. We will issue your refund in the manner in which we received your payment. If you paid your deposit by credit card and your balance by check, your refund will be divided accordingly. Refunds are generated manually by our accounting department to ensure accuracy. Please allow for a 30-day processing period before receiving your refund

 

Cancellation Charges for Land Tours

Prior to departure and Charge

90 days or more will be charged $300

89-60 days will be 10% of selling price or $300—whichever is greater

59-30 days is of 65% of selling price

29 days–departure is of 100% of selling price

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

18 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 10 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
While we specialize in vacations for travellers over 50, you can bring children aged 13 and older on Grand Circle trips. Please note, however, that our land-based programs often include lengthy motor coach sightseeing tours that may not be enjoyable for younger travellers.
Optional Activities

Post-trip: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

 

3 nights from: $1295

Extend your discoveries of Africa's wonders with this optional extension to thundering Victoria Falls. You'll have ample time to view the Falls, twice as high as Niagara and one-and-a-half times as wide, perhaps taking an optional helicopter flight to witness its full grandeur. You'll also experience local culture at a traditional boma dinner and cultural show. During this extension, you'll have a variety of optional tours to choose from, including an all-day excursion to Botswana's celebrated Chobe National Park.

 

It's Included:

  • Air transportation from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls
  • Accommodations for 3 nights
  • 4 meals: 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • Included tour: Victoria Falls walking tour
  • Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your extension and all optional tours
  • Exclusive services of a Grand Circle Program Director
  • All transfers
Additional Information

Physical Requirements

  • Walk 1-2 miles unassisted and participate in 2-3 hours of physical activities daily, including stairs
  • Balance and agility are required for boarding 4x4 vehicles
  • Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters
  • Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids must travel with a companion who can assist them
  • Program Directors reserve the right to modify participation or send travelers home if their limitations impact the group’s experience

 

Terrain & Transportation

  • Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and cobblestones
  • Travel by 45- to 48-seat motorcoach, 4x4 vehicle, ferry, and cable car

 

Climate

  • Daytime temperatures range from 62-80°F during touring season
  • December-March are the warmest months
Trip ID
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