Best Of Many Worlds

21 July / 07 August 2009 Other Start Dates : 01 December 2009 23 July 2010 To Be Arranged Price: ZAR 37075.00 ( Per Person    Sharing ) |Currency Converter Back to Group Tours

Tour Overview

Please see end of Itinerary for new season prices starting 1 September 2009.

Once in a lifetime, have a holiday that recaptures the essence of life. Only in South Africa, will you experience the Best of Many Worlds in just one enriching tour. Engage with nature in all its untamed African splendour in the Kruger National Park, iMfolozi and Hluhluwe game reserves. Time to sharpen your Big 5 spotting skills and listen to the primordial roar of lions across the expansive, wilderness, the slipper footed passage of elephants to their favourite watering hole at sunset, and the maniacal cackling of hyenas.

But, perish the thought of discomfort in untamed surroundings! We have chosen lodges with an eye to your creature comforts – whether you are accompanied by your partner only, or traveling with children as well. This escorted tour has been designed so that more than half of the prime destinations included are in the sub tropical areas of South Africa, which are warmer in the July/August months than elsewhere in the country.

More fun can be had at a sub tropical paradise, the Greater St Lucia Wetlands, one of South Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites - whale watching and hippo and crocodile viewing from boats, or simply lazing on the beach of the warm Indian Ocean. For a “Jaws” adventure, why not experience a shark cage dive in Gansbaai, when in the Cape?

Ah, but this land is so beautiful, and we take you to some of its most treasured gifts from nature. In sub tropical Mpumalanga, you will be captivated by the beauty of Blyde River Canyon on the Drakensberg Escarpment, one of the world’s deepest gorges. Gaze through God’s Window, so named by early settlers overwhelmed by the exquisite vista of endless savannah and deep river canyons. Experience the exhilaration of catching a cable car ride up iconic Table Mountain.

The itinerary enables you to connect with our traditional, isiZulu and Ndebele cultural heritage and the subculture of the Cape Malay people in Bo-kaap. The Ndebele people are particularly noted for their vibrant, geometric, mural decoration which is now evident in their pottery and beadwork Mmilo Tours also takes you into a Late Stone Age cultural landscape of ancient San rock art compositions in the Clanwilliam mountains, which is uniquely different from rock art elsewhere in the world. You will also see where our early ancestors ape and man dwelt and visit the mysterious caverns of the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Mankind.

You will be exposed to significant historical aspects of South Africa’s battle for democracy, and resistance to a racially based society, at Nelson Mandela’s previous home, the infamous Robben Island, where he and other forefathers of our democracy were incarcerated for many decades, as well as the famous 1976 Soweto student uprising, which proved to be a defining moment in the fight for democracy.

Then of course there is all the fun that you could ask for hiking in the Cape mountains, shark cage diving swimming and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, boat based whale watching, mountain biking, horse riding, abseiling under the supervision of experts at some of the most scenic venues in the world!

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Itinerary for This Tour

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Day 1   (Tue - 21-July-2009 )

Morning transfer to Centurion Lake Hotel Pretoria (or similiar) where the tour starts. We can transfer you free of charge to this hotel from  Oliver R Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport, or you may choose to arrive here by making your own arrangements. Pretoria is South Africa’s capital city and also called the “Garden City”, because of its all year round mild climate and many flowering trees. After enjoying lunch at this hotel and meeting your tour guide for a pre-tour briefing, we will visit some sights in Pretoria. We will climb to the top of the impressive Voortrekker Monument, which is of great cultural and historical significance to the Afrikaaner people, and from which there is a tremendous view of the city. Then to the centre of Pretoria, Church Square, and the commanding Union Buildings high on a “koppie”( Afrikaans for hill).  Our  fully trained and experienced tour guide will explain a little of the city's history, the significance of the various monuments and buildings, and about the various peoples and their cultures that make up the population of Pretoria. Lunch included.

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Day 2   (Tue - 22-July-2008 )

The day starts with a hearty South African breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and then we will drive via the scenic Hartebeespoort Dam, which lies at the foot of the majestic 3,000 million year old Magaliesberg mountains, to the "Cradle of Mankind". This is an area where the fossil record shows th earliest traces of mankind and its apelike relatives. We will descend in to the Sterkfontein Caves where many of these fossils were found, and visit other sites of interest in the area. After lunch we will drive through to the “Ndebele Mapoch Village” to meet members of one of South Africa’s most artistically gifted peoples. Our visit here includes an evening meal and traditional entertainment and the income from our visit will contribute directly to the local community . This village is not a make believe tribal experience, but shows how people live now in South Africa, and how their traditions have adapted to modern life. Breakfast included.

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Day 3   (Wed - 23-July-2008 )

An early breakfast and then we leave the Hotel for Johannesburg ( Egoli),  the “City Of Gold”. Our first stop will be Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the famous township. This street is notable for the two Nobel Peace prize winners who dwelt here, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu - both great heroes of the struggle against apartheid. We will visit Nelson Mandela’s house which is now a museum, and then the nearby the Hector Petersen Memorial and Museum and learn all about the 1976 Soweto student uprising. We will go from here to Gold Reef City where you will gain insight into Johannesburg’s history, built on the largest and richest gold bearing reef ever found anywhere in the world. Besides being an educational representation of how Johannesburg originated, this is also a theme and amusement park and there is a wide range of restaurants and other attractions. Breakfast included.

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Day 4   (Thu - 24-July-2008 )

Breakfast and another early start! Depart hotel for Mpumalanga, the province of the “rising sun” in a luxury, air conditioned vehicle.  The drive down the escarpment to the lowveld,  is beautifully scenic. Arrive at  the  4 Star  Kruger Park Lodge in the greater Kruger National Park area , in time for lunch.  At leisure for the rest of the day. Breakfast & Dinner included.

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Day 5   (Fri - 25-July-2008 )

Depart for game drive in the Kruger National Park. Most of the day will be spent driving in South Africa's premier game park. We will be taken by an experienced game ranger, who knows where to find the best  game viewing.  We will return to the lodge in the late afternoon , wher you will be at leisure until dinne. Breakfast  & Dinner included.

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Day 6   (Sat - 26-July-2008 )

A day for astounding views and scenery! Following breakfast we depart for a drive through the “Panorama Route”. This route along the edge of the high escarpment affords astounding views of the "lowveld" and is a place of waterfalls,forests, plunging canyons, thrilling mountain passes and old gold mining villages. Don’t forget your camera! We will stop for lunch along the way, which is for your own account, but will be back for one last dinner at the lodge. Breakfast  & Dinner included.

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Day 7   (Sun - 27-July-2008 )

Today we head for the Kingdom of the Zulu, South Africa’s famed warrior people. Enjoy one more breakfast in the beautiful, lowveld setting and we depart for the province of KwaZulu-Natal. After lunch in Barberton (for your own account), a historic gold mining town which had a stock exchange before Johannesburg existed, we journey on through a beautiful terrain of forests and mountains. After passing through Amsterdam, we reach Paulpietersburg a small town founded by the Afrikaaner farmers in the hills of Zululand. Relax here at the spa resort, where we will be staying, in the nine, hot and cold mineral spring pools and enjoy the wonderful, natural setting with exceptional birdlife. Breakfast and dinner included.

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Day 8   (Tue - 28-July-2009 )

After breakfast we will depart a little later than usual, so that you can extend your enjoyment in the lovely Natal Spa Hot Springs Resort. Today, we journey to a coastal subtropical region,  and your  4 Star Lodge in the village of St Lucia on the edge of the St Lucia (iSimangaliso) Wetlands a World Heritage site. Here you will enjoy an African bush experience with a difference. As an optional activity before dinner, you can go kayaking on the lagoon with an experienced guide to introduce you to the wetland close up. Days 8 9,10,11 will be spent here in the St Lucia Wetlands area. Among the activities that are available here are whale watching and marine mammal spotting boat trips, Hippo and Crocodile viewing from a flat bottomed boat on the Lagoon, game drives, walks and horse riding in the coastal forest, snorkeling and swimming and surfing in the sea, and a visit to a Zulu cultural village. At this time of the year, the weather is generally dry and pleasantly warm but with no humidity, and therefore comfort is optimal. Breakfast  included.

Optional Activities:

Evening kayaking on the lagoon with experienced guide 2 1/2 hrs R250

Day 9   (Tue - 29-July-2008 )

Down to the seas, the always warm Indian Ocean. As an optional activity this morning, you can go on a boat launched from the beach with our well experienced crew out past the breakers, to see one of the world’s largest living creatures, the Southern Right Whale. At this time of the year they are to be seen in great numbers off our coasts. Our fully experienced boatsman is legally licenced by the authorities to approach these giant creatures. As you have to help launch the boat through the breakers you have to be reasonably fit. Those of you who do not wish to go on the whale watching boat can take the option of going on a more gently moving, flat bottomed boat on the lagoon and in to the mangroves, to see the hippos and the crocodiles and numerous other creatures and birdlife. Meanwhile ,those of you not going on either boat trip can remain on the beach relaxing, or exploring the village.There is a large crocodile park with lovely walks in the sub tropical greenery and trees. ( Don't worry the crocodiles are fenced in). Around noon we all travel to Dumazulu Village for lunch, and a truly unforgettable experience of Zulu culture. There is also a snake and crocodile park at Dumazulu. Breakfast included today.

Optional Activities:

Day 10   (Wed - 30-July-2008 )

To the seas again after breakfast for a picnic lunch and day on the beach at beautiful Cape Vidal further up the coast, in the unique, forested coastal dune area of the St Lucia Wetlands Park. This secluded beach is in a game reserve, so we will be game spotting as we drive along. We will be hosted for the day by an experienced snorkelling and diving instructor  who knows the marine and lagoon habitats. After a gorgeous day in the sun and at the sea, we will return to the lodge in time for dinner. Breakfast, picnic lunch included.

Day 11   (Thu - 31-July-2008 )

After breakfast we depart south along the coast for the city of Durban, stopping for lunch (which will be for your own account). At Durban airport we will board an afternoon flight to Cape Town, arriving there early evening. We will transfer to the four star Cape Hollow Boutique Hotel. Our stay here is on a bed and breakfast basis only. Cape Town is fortunate to have the best range of restaurants in the country, so you can take your pick and enjoy a little of Cape Town's nightlife.

Days 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are spent in and around Cape Town where there is plenty to see and do. The activities here, some of which of course will be influenced by the weather, will include visits to top of Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Point , the Cape Winelands, The V&A Waterfront, historic sites in Cape Town such as The Slave Lodge, Company Gardens, educational walks at one or more venues to see the Cape Floral Kingdom, another World Heritage site, and finally a visit to one of the richest rock art sites on the continent. Breakfast included.

Day 12   (Fri - 01-August-2008 )

“Jaws” day for those who want to go shark cage diving, as an additional optional activity. You will be collected at 6.00am (sorry about the early start but it's necessary) by an experienced shark diving company. It’s a full day program of shark cage diving and whale watching and starts with breakfast (that is yours, not the shark's). The rest of the group will visit the very beautiful Harold Porter or Fernkloof Nature Reserve and also do some land based whale watching from Hermanus, or other suitable venue along the seashore. Breakfast included.

Optional Activities:

Day 13   (Sat - 02-August-2008 )

After breakfast we leave to ascend Table Mountain by cable car. This is one of those things on many peoples' “ To Do Before I Die Lists”. It is truly impossible to overrate the experience. The views of sea, city and mountainscape are magnificent. Here we can also offer you an interesting option. Ascend the mountain on foot with an experienced guide who has been taking tourists up for many years. You will leave a little earlier than your colleagues, who are ascending by cable car, and may have to take a packed breakfast (the hotel supplies). The trip requires some effort, but the feeling of achievement on getting to the top is tremendous and life affirming. The guide will supply small backpacks and water for the trip and is intimately informed about the mountain, its history and wildlife. You will meet the rest of the group on top and descend with them in the cable car. You need to be reasonably fit, (but not an athlete), and the guide is understanding and won’t rush you. After coming down and lunch, we will go and visit some of Cape Town’s central city sights, including Slave Lodge, which largely concerns the Dutch East India Company’s ( VOC’s) activities in South Africa and their involvement in the early European slave trade. Then, the SA National Museum which has many exhibits, but of particular interest are those of the the Middle and Late Stone Age, which includes the earliest known decorative items or jewelery ever found, and therefore represent the origins of human art. The Museum and the Houses of Parliament are situated in the Company Gardens. Breakfast included.

Optional Activities:

Day 14   (Sun - 03-August-2008 )

After breakfast,we leave for Cape Town’s Waterfront and the Robben Island Ferry to see the infamous island prison, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is picturesquely positioned with unequalled views of the Cape Town coast. We should be back to the Waterfront by lunchtime and spend sometime at this venue, which has many attractions, including the world famous aquarium. Breakfast included.

Day 15   (Mon - 04-August-2008 )

After breakfast we will depart on a trip for wine lovers and adventure seekers, visiting first the town of Stellenbosch and the Spier award winning wine estate, and then the Rhebokskloof Wine Estate in Paarl. Both of these are situated in the Cape Winelands region and are immediately adjacent to Cape Town. At Rhebokskloof, there is horseriding, quad biking and mountain biking into the surrounding Nature Reserve. Lunch for your own account. Breakfast included.

Optional Activities:

Day 16   (Tue - 05-August-2008 )

After breakfast we shall start the day by visiting the Castle of Good Hope built by the VOC on Cape Town’s foreshore, and then walk to the Bo-Kaap with a local guide to visit Cape Town's oldest sub-culture, the Cape Malays, who live here in colourful,historical, turn of the eighteenth century dwellings, perched high on the mountainside overlooking Cape Town. We shall then drive south to Cape Point, stopping on the way at the picturesque fishing town of Hout Bay for fish, straight off the boats in the harbour, freshly fried with chips for lunch (your own account). Then, on to the dramatic cliff top coastal drive of Chapman’s Peak to Cape Point. After stopping at Cape Point, we will  drive back along the other side of the Peninsula, past the naval port of Simonstown and then to Boulders Beach, for a stroll amongst its famous colony of African Penguins. Breakfast included

Day 17   (Wed - 06-August-2008 )

After breakfast we depart for the Pakhuis Pass in the Cedarberg Mountains for what is an unusual highlight of this tour. We will spend the afternoon on the Sevilla Trail, one of the best venues for viewing San Rock Art in South Africa. San Rock Art is a unique and remarkable feature of the South African landscape, and we will be visiting an area where some of these prehistoric Van Gogh’s and Monet’s adorned rock faces with their compositions. If we are lucky, we will also see another phenomenon, which is not usually seen by overseas visitors; the colourful and often astounding mass display of spring flowers, that occurs in this particular area at this time of the year. You must be prepared for a longish drive, but it is through a magnificent landscape. Packed lunch and breakfast included.

Day 18   (Thu - 07-August-2008 )

After seeing " the best of so many worlds" we think you will be feeling relaxed and fulfilled. Depart Hotel mid morning today for a drive to Cape Town International Airport and end of tour. If you wish to prolong your stay consult  your Mmilo Tour Guide or our Tailormade Tours pages on our website. Breakfast included.

Tour Notes

 Accommodation Note: All the hotels and lodges are as reflected in this itinerary, but if for reasons beyond the control of Mmilo Tours this is not possible, they will be replaced with establishments of the same star grading.

Important: Please read the itinerary carefully, noting any optional activities you or some members in your group may want to take part in. You do not have to take part in any of the optional activities if you do not wish to. It helps us in our planning to know if you are interested and number of participants. These additional optional activities are not costed into this scheduled tour, and if you choose them, you pay the extra amount involved either directly to Mmilo Tours in advance, or on arrival at the venue. You will be informed accordingly by Mmilo Tours, and they are extra to the basic cost of the tour. This tour ends officially at Cape Town Airport on the 7th August, arriving there at around 1400hrs (traffic conditions permitting).  Please work out your arrangements from here with this time in mind. That is, do not arrange any flight departing from Cape Town earlier than 1530 hrs. This should be in time to get to Johannesburg for connecting flights to Europe, which are mostly later than 1930 hrs. If you wish to stay on in Cape Town please consult our Mmilo Tour Guide or see the"Tailormade Tours" pages.

New Season Price:  From 1 September 2009 onwards    ZAR  38,594.00

Accommodation for this Tour

	Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel   Region: Western Cape - Greater Cape Town and Peninsula
Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel, offers four star refined holiday accommodation.
Full Hotel Details

	Centurion Lake Hotel   Region: Gauteng and North West - Gauteng (Joburg and Pretoria), Sun City, Magaliesberg
The newly renovated Four Star Centurion Lake Hotel is situated in one of the more prosperous areas of Pretoria, and overlooks the Centurion Lake. Despite its tranquil setting, it is within a relaxed, walking distance of the Centurion Shopping Mall.
Full Hotel Details

	Kruger Park Lodge   Region: Limpopo and Mpumalanga - Mpumalanga and Southern Kruger National Park
Kruger Park Lodge in Hazyview is a luxury four star establishment situated in lush surroundings on the banks of the Sabie River, and located a mere 13 kms from South Africa?s prime tourist destination, the world renowned Kruger National Park.
Full Hotel Details

	Seasands Lodge   Region: KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) - Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and Region
Seasands Lodge and Conference Centre is a four star establishment in St Lucia, gateway to the Greater St Lucia Wetland World Heritage Site.
Full Hotel Details

	The Natal Spa Hot Springs Resort and Conference Centre   Region: KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) - Midlands
The Natal Spa Hot Springs Resort and Conference Centre , is distinguished by its hot, natural, mineral water springs; nature's balm for weary bodies and flagging spirits.
Full Hotel Details