We've selected six of the best wildlife areas and exclusive tented camps and lodges in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Choose two or more and create the safari of your dreams!

A visit to Southern Africa would not be complete without a visit to Cape Town, the historic and scenic jewel of African cities. You can easily spend a few days absorbing its sophisticated atmosphere, with art galleries, the up-and-coming wine country, and the Cape of Good Hope within easy access. Guided excursions may include a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, a hike at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, viewing the African penguin colony at Simonstown, and a leisurely walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a stunning showcase of the indigenous flora of Southern Africa. Our two five-day programs—one with more active options and the other with a cultural focus—also include a visit to the world-renowned Winelands region, famous for its fine wines and Cape Dutch architecture. Choose from the classy Cape Grace Hotel, located on the waterfront and consistently ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as among the top 15 hotels in Africa, or the laid-back Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House, situated on the slopes of Table Mountain in the select residential suburb of Oranjezicht. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lions Head, and the city of Cape Town.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover Cape Town with active explorations or a more cultural focus—your choice!

Other "Build Your Own" Private Adventures:

• South Africa: Kruger National Park, "Big Five" Heaven!" Private Adventure
• Botswana: The Kalahari Desert Private Adventure
• Botswana: Okavango & Linyanti Flying Safari Private Adventure
• Namibia: Exploring the Sand Dunes of Sossusvlei Private Adventure
• Namibia: The Skeleton Coast Private Adventure
• Zambia: Kafue National Park Private Adventure
• Mozambique: Bazaruto Archipelago Private Adventure
• Malawi: Lake Malawi Private Adventure
• Overview: "Build Your Own Southern Africa Dream Trip!"

5-Day Cape Town "Active" Option

DAY 1 ~ Cape Town

Arrive in Cape Town. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your choice of hotel or bed and breakfast inn. Today is at leisure and meals are on your own.

Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 2 ~ Hiking Table Mountain

You will be picked up in the morning and driven to the Silvermine Nature Reserve near Constantia (part of Table Mountain National Park) for a moderate to strenuous hike of 5-6 hours on the southern flank of Table Mountain. Starting out on gravel roads with gentle slopes, you’ll hike up to Noordhoek Peak (2,475'), stop at the lookout point above Blackburn Ravine, and continue on to the top of Constantiaberg (3,045'). The walk is an ideal introduction to the indigenous “Fynbos” flora of the Cape floral kingdom, the smallest but the richest of the world’s six plant kingdoms, with some 8,600 flowering species. Besides plants like the protea, you may see sunbirds and even black eagle as well as rock hyrax and other small mammals.

A lunch stop on Constantiaberg affords ample time to absorb the vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, and the penisula south of the city, before continuing the walk down to Elephant’s Eye Cave. You’ll return to our vehicle, near the Silvermine Reservoir, via the jeep track. Return to your accommodation; the evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Note—you will need to carry your own picnic lunch and drinks (provided). Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, sunhat, and sun protection is necessary. A warm fleece sweater and rainproof jacket are also strongly advised.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 3 ~ Atlantic Coast, Sea Kayaking to the Penguins or Baboon Walk, Cape of Good Hope National Park

Weather permitting, you’ll be picked up in the morning and depart your hotel for the city of Simonstown. Here you’ll meet a sea kayaking guide for a safety briefing and gear up for a few hours’ easy paddling in twin kayaks along the False Bay Coast (these are safe, comfortable “sit on top” kayaks and require almost no balance or skill). You’ll paddle to the Boulders Beach’s colony of African penguins and view them from the ocean as they swim around this quaint cove. Lunch is at a local seafood restaurant.

After lunch, drive down the coast into the Cape of Good Hope National Park with its many endemic species, including bontebok, baboon, and Cape mountain zebra, as we make for the tip of the Peninsula at Cape Point, the south westernmost point of Africa. Walk up to the lighthouse for a photo op across the staggering vistas of False Bay.

You’ll leave the reserve, passing the beaches of Noordhoek and over Chapman’s Peak Drive (nearly 2,000 feet above the ocean and one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal passes). Take in the picturesque fishing hamlet of Hout Bay and then head toward the city along the Atlantic seaboard through Camps Bay and Bantry Bay. From June to November, southern right whales can often be seen just offshore from the road. The evening is free to spend at your leisure.

~OR~

In the morning you’ll be picked up and depart your hotel for the Southern Peninsula where you’ll meet a qualified baboon monitor for a guided encounter with a troop of Chacma baboons in their natural mountain environment. You’ll discover their habits as they eat, play, and socialize. Then, you’ll visit the historic naval village of Simonstown, stopping at famous Boulders Beach for another “creature close-up” with a colony of African penguins.

After lunch at one of False Bay’s typical seafood restaurants, drive along the rocky coast into the Cape of Good Hope National Park with its many endemic species, including bontebok, baboon, and Cape mountain zebra, as we make for the tip of the Peninsula at Cape Point, the south westernmost point of Africa. Walk up to the lighthouse for a photo op across the staggering vistas of False Bay.

You’ll leave the reserve, passing the beaches of Noordhoek and over Chapman’s Peak Drive (nearly 2,000 feet above the ocean and one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal passes). Take in the picturesque fishing hamlet of Hout Bay and then head toward the city along the Atlantic seaboard through Camps Bay and Bantry Bay. From June to November, southern right whales can often be seen just offshore from the road. The evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 4 ~ Winelands with Cycling

In the morning, you’ll be picked up and transferred to the Delvera Tourist Centre below Simonsberg Mountain near Stellenbosch. Here you’ll be met by your guide and gear up at the Dirtopia Train Centre for the Winelands Mountain Bike Trail, which visits up to four wine farms in the area. The area is justly famous for quality dry white and red wines from noble grape varieties. Our tour visits an interesting mix of historic estates and contemporary wineries.

We begin cycling and start with an optional cellar tour at Simonsig Estate and a tasting of their famous Cap Classique sparkling wine, the Kaapse Vonkel. Continue toward the mountains, with additional tastings at Knorhoek, Muratile, and Delheim Wine Estates. You’ll end your cycle tour and head back to Delvera.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll explore Stellenbosch town and its beautiful examples of Cape Dutch architecture, the university, shops, and galleries. The evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 5 ~ Depart

Depending on your ongoing flights, this morning is at leisure. In the afternoon we transfer you to the airport for your next flight.

Breakfast...

5-Day Cape Town "Cultural Touring" Option

DAY 1 ~ Cape Town

Arrive in Cape Town. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your choice of hotel or bed and breakfast inn. Today is at leisure and meals are on your own.

Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 2 ~ Peninsula with Table Mountain

In the morning you will be picked up and depart the city for the Lower Cableway Station to board the revolving cable car for a five-minute ride to the top of Table Mountain. At 3,339 feet above sea level, it affords a bird’s-eye view of both city and Peninsula as you explore its summit (weather permitting).

After descending Table Mountain you’ll head along the Atlantic seaboard past Camps Bay and Llandudno to the fishing village of Hout Bay, then climb over Chapmans’s Peak Drive, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring passes, 1,967 feet above the ocean. In the Noordhoek Valley, you’ll take in Long Beach and the coastal villages of Kommetjie and Scarborough, with the chance to see southern right whales (between June and November).

After lunch at a popular coastal restaurant, you’ll enter the Cape of Good Hope National Park for an off-road drive to untouched Olifants Bay and a chance to see a herd of bontebok antelope, one of the park’s many endemic animal species, as well as Cape mountain zebra, ostrich, and baboon. Then, continue to the tip of the Cape Peninsula and Africa’s south westernmost point for a walk (or funicular ride) to the Cape Point Lighthouse with its panoramic views of False Bay.

Return along the False Bay coast to Boulders Beach for a close-up with a colony of African penguins before heading back to the hotel through the naval village of Simonstown. The evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 3 ~ Robben Island & New Rest Township

Depart in the morning from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for a 25-minute ferry trip across Table Bay to the World Heritage Site of Robben Island, a prison for some 450 years for slaves, exiled eastern princes, lepers, the insane, and political prisoners, among them Nelson Mandela. The tour, led by guides (some of whom were political prisoners themselves), includes a visit to the prison block and the infamous limestone quarry.

After your tour of Robben Island, you’ll return to the waterfront where you’ll be met by your African guide and continue to District Six, once a vibrant city suburb that stands empty today (thanks to the forced removal of some 60,000 residents and the demolition of their homes during the height of the Apartheid era). You’ll drive across the Cape Flats where the non-white inhabitants of District Six were placed—segregated by color, religion, and ethnic background.

Lunch is at a local restaurant, and features a sampling typical African food and hospitality in an authentic setting. After lunch, you’ll visit the settlement of New Rest in Gugulethu, meeting people from its community who are involved in the New Rest/Kanana Community Development Trust. Enjoy a scenic drive back to your hotel and the rest of the evening is to spend at your leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 4 ~ Winelands

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and depart for the Winelands region in the nearby Boland Mountains for a leisurely exploration of historic Wine Route towns, their liquid delights, and famed hospitality.

The estates you’ll visit will depend upon your taste, but the tour includes the region’s major wine producing areas. There will be plenty of opportunities for tastings of high quality reds and whites as well as Cap Classique (South African sparking wine) in areas including Stellenbosch, Simonsberg, Paarl, and Franschhoek. Lunch will be served at one of the many classic restaurants in the area.

Natural and historic heritage abounds in this area. Your tour may take in sights like the Afrikaans Language Monument with its panoramic Boland views and the historic estate of Boschendal with its beautifully preserved Cape Dutch building, while idyllic Franschoek, nestled in the valley where the French Huguenots settled in 1688, is a delight for antique lovers and gastronomes. Enjoy a scenic drive back to your hotel and the rest of the evening is to spend at your leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch...Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel

DAY 5 ~ Depart

Depending on your ongoing flights, this morning is at leisure. In the afternoon we transfer you to the airport for your next flight.

Breakfast...

Stay a Little Longer

You may wish to combine this trip with one of our regular group departures in Africa, or other individual travel on your own. Please call us for the details.

Air Travel

Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their "frequent flyer" miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets, so we may verify your arrival and departure schedule.

Activity Level

Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active and intellectually involved, and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. These trips are all relatively easy in nature, and all the activities are optional.

If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you start a training program at least three months before departure, gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health is questionable or your physical stamina is limited, please discuss other trip options with us.

Your Guide

Each camp is staffed by local resident guides who possess an intimate knowledge of the region and the specific area. Their close familiarity with the wildlife, geography, history, and traditions are the key to a superb, informative experience—one you just can't get on your own. In their friendly company, you will truly learn, enjoy, and share their passion for the country they call home. You'll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

What's Included

• services of local guides
• accommodations
• private airport transfers
• ground transportation
• sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary
• entrance fees during guided portions (the Table Mountain entry/cable car fees are at additional cost as this is not always possible to do because of the weather)
• basic medical and evacuation insurance

What's Not

International airfare to Cape Town and return; optional tips to your guides and drivers; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); cost of medical immunizations; visas; and items of a personal nature (drinks in hotels, alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc.).

Payment & Cancellation Policy

(This differs from regular Mountain Travel Sobek trips.)

I. Payment
At time of reservation: $800
120 days prior to departure: 25% of Land Cost ($747.50)
90 days prior to departure: Balance of Land Cost

II. Cancellation
If written notice of cancellation is received:
Cancellation Fee will be:
From time of reservation until
90 days prior to departure $800
89 to 60 days prior to departure 50% of Land Cost ($1495)
59 days or fewer prior to departure 100% of Land Cost

Note on Itinerary

This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.

Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website.

Limitation of Liability

“Mountain Travel Sobek” is defined to include its owners, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives and affiliates (collectively “Mountain Travel”). Except for the Alaska Discovery Inn, some small craft and some vans in Alaska, Mountain Travel does not own or operate any entity that provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with animals, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of, access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form, which you can find on our website (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy).

Arbitration

Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law without regard to the California Arbitration Act.

Conditions of Participation

Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. Specific information on payment and cancellation policies is also contained within this document, as well as in our current catalog and on our website. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you have any questions.

Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure

Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.

References

Don't take our word for how great our trips are. We'll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers. Just give us a call at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235).

Questions?

Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We're here to help you.

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Please read the Limitations of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form.

This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.

Conditions of Participation

Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us if you have any questions.

Note on Services

We often use local suppliers who provide services that may include transportation, equipment, logistic support, and other services (hotels, restaurants, etc.). We do not own or operate these independent suppliers. We work with service providers who share our commitment to safety and quality, and work closely with them to develop itineraries unique to Mountain Travel Sobek.

Ready to go? Signing up is easy!

Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) or make a reservation request online. Immediately after we receive your deposit, we will request your preferred dates. Upon confirmation (usually within four business days), we will send you a packet with all the information you need to get ready for your trip, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, and other details.

Approximately 30 days before your departure, we'll send you detailed, step-by-step instructions, with emergency contact numbers, a detailed map, and other important information. Upon arrival at your destination, you will be met by your in-country host who will help orient you and describe what to expect in the week to come.