Best of South Africa with Victoria Falls

Visit Africa

Day 1

Welcome to Johannesburg

Your seamless South African journey begins with an airport transfer from O.

R. Tambo International Airport to your hotel. Settle in to the pace of Africa’s most energetic city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.

Day 2

Journey to the Kruger National Park Area

The golden Highveld gives way to rolling green hills as we travel to South Africa's Lowveld.

We admire the iconic sights along Mpumalanga's Panorama Route – the Blyde River Canyon, the heavenly landscapes of God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Before evening falls, we venture to our hotel near the famous Kruger National Park, our home for two nights.

Day 3

Safari in Kruger National Park

Connect with nature and explore South Africa's oldest and most iconic national park in the company of a Local Specialist.

Uncover the secrets of the bushveld and keep a look out for the magnificent 'Big 5', the Little 5 and everything in between. See the glistening yellow Golden-orb spider waiting on her web, smell the damp scent of acacia trees in the early morning and keep your head down in search of animal spoor. Spend your afternoon at leisure.

Day 4

Onwards to Eswatini Dive Into Culture

Travel to landlocked Eswatini.

Dive Into Culture during a visit to a Swazi Chief’s village and gain insights into the community’s way of life, sampling some of the local pap and stew, and admiring their striking crimson traditional dress.

Day 5

Head to Hluhluwe

We venture to 'garden of province' of KwaZulu-Natal and its northern wilderness.

Traversing rolling sugarcane fields and lush valleys, we arrive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park where there is an opportunity to embark on an optional 4x4 game drive. This evening enjoy a delicious South African braai – a perfect way to end the day.

Day 6

Venture to Durban (Umhlanga Rocks) Stays With Stories

Board an optional morning cruise on Lake St.

Lucia and get up close to the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife residing in the estuary. Alternatively, explore the town of St. Lucia. We continue south to Durban for an effortless encounter with this tropical east coast hub, which begins with a delicious Curry Buffet at the Oyster Box Hotel, one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a seaside hotel that captures the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Day 7

Make Tracks for the Drakensberg Mountains

Venture through the scenic Valley of 1000 Hills bound for the spectacular escarpment that winds north from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga.

The Underberg’s vibrant arts and crafts scene and stunning setting provide a beautiful backdrop for a morning drive. You’ll continue to the foothills of the iconic Sani Pass where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and stay overnight .

Day 8

A Day in the Drakensberg

Indulge in the freedom of a day spent exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your terms.

Consider joining an optional 4x4 Sani Pass drive, ascending to a heavenly height of 2,876 metres for lunch at Africa’s highest pub in Lesotho, or alternatively relax down here on earth amidst the Drakensberg’s lofty peaks.

Day 9

On the Road to the Eastern Cape Beaches

From enigmatic mountain landscapes to South Africa’s untamed coastline, we venture through the Eastern Cape and the green hills of the Transkei, dotted with Xhosa kraals and homesteads.

Discover the legacy of Nelson Mandela, at his birthplace in Xunu, then enjoy the unspoiled Wild Coast beaches of Chintsa, where the only footprints in the sand will be yours.

Day 10

Travel to Gqeberha

Wake to the sound of the ocean and spend time admiring pristine natural surrounds before we begin our journey to Gqeberha.

Once a British settlement known as Port Elizabeth, this port city holds the distinction of being South Africa’s friendliest city, which you’ll encounter first-hand as you explore it on your own terms this evening.

Day 11

On to Tsitsikamma National Park and Knysna Connect with Locals

Walk beneath the tranquil canopy of Tsitsikamma's giant and ancient Yellowwoods, arriving at Storms River Mouth to peer into the depths of the gorge.

Connect with locals during a Be My Guest experience in Knysna, where you’ll learn a few key Xhosa phrases and gain insights into Xhosa culture. Host Ella will share her life story and reveal the meaning behind some of the local songs that will accompany your traditional Xhosa meal. The visit also contributes towards supporting Ella's work in the local community and is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Our final stop today is the picturesque lagoon setting of Knysna, known as South Africa’s own Garden of Eden. Famed for its indigenous forests, fresh oysters and the two landmark Knysna Heads that stand as sentinels at the edge of the lagoon which shield the town from the Indian Ocean.

Day 12

Knysna Your Way

You’ll have a free day to explore the jewel of the Garden Route.

Start your day with a leisurely coffee in the Knysna Quays overlooking the lagoon, then consider an Optional Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve including a drive through the reserve to the top of the lagoon’s Western Head.

Day 13

Continue to Cape Town

Leave the Garden Route behind bound for the Mother City.

You’ll wind your way through vibrant coastal towns and the Cape Winelands before arriving in Cape Town later this afternoon. Head straight to the most iconic site in the city and visit Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting).

Day 14

Cape Town Your Way

Capture the cosmopolitan energy of South Africa’s Mother City.

Spend the day exploring its streets and squares in search of a tucked-away restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences to tour around the scenic Cape Peninsula, sample the Cape’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands or visit infamous Robben Island. Spend your final evening at a Farewell Dinner with your travelling companions indulging in delicious Cape Malay speciality dishes.

Day 15

Welcome to Victoria Falls

Welcome to Zimbabwe! Meet your Trafalgar representative on arrival at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to your accommodation.

Buckle up for an exhilarating small group encounter with Victoria Falls, an untamed natural wonder that has captured the imagination of explorers and adventurers since David Livingstone declared it the most wonderful sight he had seen in Africa. Board a cruise and navigate one of Africa’s mightiest rivers, cruising past islands of basking crocodile and hippo pods lazing in the waning African sun, before returning to your lodge for dinner.

Day 16

Discover Majestic Victoria Falls

Join a Local Specialist on a guided tour of the world's largest waterfall.

Admire the powerful curtain of water from various vantage points in Zimbabwe – feel the fine spray and hear the thunderous roar as water crashes over a hundred metres into a swirling mass in the gorge below. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure with the sound of the 'Smoke that Thunders' never far from your ears. Tonight you may choose to join an Optional Experience Boma dinner and interactive drum show.

Day 17

Explore Botswana's Chobe National Park

Cross the Botswana border for a day-trip into Chobe National Park, where large herds of African elephant roam.

Board your Chobe River cruise, watching herds of elephant and buffalo come to the edge of the river to drink. See the flash of a kingfisher hovering over the water to catch its next meal, then enjoy an included lunch at Chobe Safari Lodge on the banks of the mighty Chobe River. Later return to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for your last night in Zimbabwe.

Day 18

Farewell Victoria Falls

We bid farewell to the 'Smoke that Thunders' and return to Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls Airport for your onward journey.

Dining Summary

11 Dinner (D)

17 Breakfast (B)

3 Lunch (L)

1 Be My Guest (BMG)

1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

Be My Guest

Knysna: Join host Ella and friends for a traditional meal and insights into the local Xhosa culture, including traditional dress, language and songs.

Dive Into Culture

Eswatini: Connect with Swazi culture during a visit to a local Chief's village.

Iconic Experience

Hazyview: Take in the magnificent sights of Kruger National Park Area on your scenic drive. 

Kruger National Park: Travel to the most iconic national park in South Africa and marvel at its wildlife.  

Durban: Enjoy the views of the tropical east coast hub in Durban.

Mpumalanga: Bask in the beautiful views of the Valley of 1000 Hills on your scenic drive. 

Chintsa: Venture along the beautiful coast of Xunu and discover its rich historic roots. 

Gqeberha: Spend the day exploring Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, and all of its wonders.

Cape Town: Discover the iconic sights in Cape Town. 

Victoria Falls: Experience the beauty of Africa's islands on your Zambezi River Cruise. 

Victoria Falls: Admire the cascading waters at Victoria Falls. 

Chobe National Park: Have the experience of a lifetime as you explore Botswana's Chobe National Park. 

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Knysna: Emzini is a not-for-profit organisation supporting the local community providing education, food, clothing and a safe place to live. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 & 4: No Poverty & Quality Education.

Must-see Highlights

Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, Kruger National Park, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna and Table Mountain by Cable Car

View Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, the Drakensberg mountains and Storms River Mouth, South Africa's wildlife and birds on safari

See South Africa's wildlife and birds on safari

Explore Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park with a Local Specialist

Trafalgar Difference

Durban: Durban’s award-winning, five-star Oyster Box Hotel is one of South Africa’s finest. Enjoy unmatched service, elegant charm, a garden terrace, and stunning ocean views over Umhlanga Beach and Lighthouse.

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