South Africa
South Africa & Victoria Falls [9 Days]
DAY 1: Arrive Cape Town, South Africa
Arrive in Cape Town, a breathtaking harbor city where old and new converge in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essence of its people, all overlooked by towering, flattopped Table Mountain, set on a peninsula of rocky heights and lush valleys. An A&K representative transfers you to your luxurious hotel, ideally located on the waterfront in the heart of the city.
DAY 2: Cape Town | Design Your Day
Ascend to the top of Table Mountain via cable car, as you Ride Like a Local to walk the summit and take in an inspiring, 360-degree panorama of the city and bay. Proceed to the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, to stroll cobblestone streets amid charming multi-colored buildings and spice shops. Listen as your expert guide explains the rich local history and sample some Cape Malay food as you go. Then, view other historical landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, St. George’s Cathedral and the Company Gardens. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities including: Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, followed by wine tasting at a vineyard in the Constantia Winelands; e-Bike Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade; or Explore Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was once imprisoned, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
DAY 3: Cape Town | Spectacular Views from Cape Point
Discover Cape Point, the scenic promontory at the southwestern tip of the continent. Journey past the “bikini beaches” at the base of the towering Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, along bucolic Hout Bay with its bustling fishing harbor and over the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive. Explore the stunning Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to rare bontebok and chacma baboon. Ride the “Flying Dutchman” funicular to the great pinnacle at blustery Cape Point, which presides over treacherous reefs and sandy beaches. At Boulders Beach, visit its colony of endangered African penguin; accustomed to humans, they provide endless photo opportunities. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps exploring the city’s harbor front or dining in one of Cape Town’s world-class restaurants.
DAY 4: Kruger National Park | Private Game Reserve
Fly to a privately owned, wildlife-rich game reserve that shares an open boundary with the renowned Kruger Enjoy breathtaking views of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain National Park, an area offering the very finest game-viewing safari experience. This afternoon, settle into your elegant accommodations, and then set off in search of the Big Five — elephant, lion, rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard — and other wildlife. To enhance your game-viewing experience, each game drive is led by two safari professionals: a driver/guide, trained to safely maneuver you up close to South Africa’s iconic wild residents as well as brief you on any given species’ characteristics, and a tracker, an expert at identifying animals, who follows their signs and predicts where they are likely to be found.
DAY 5: Kruger National Park | Sighting the Big Five
Begin two days of immersion in your private game reserve, embarking on game drives in open safari vehicles for optimal viewing and exploring on early morning game walks with your ranger. In between safari activities, participate in an A&K Chef ’s Table culinary experience, sampling traditional South African cuisine. This region of Africa is noted for its high density of wildlife, which often appear just steps in front of you.
DAY 6: Kruger National Park | Diverse Flora & Fauna
Head out for another full day of exploration that includes morning and afternoon game drives, learning fascinating details about the flora and fauna as well as basic tracking skills. At dusk, stop for a Scenic Sundowner, and then search for nocturnal animals. Return to your lodge for dinner.
DAY 7: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | Thunderous Cascades
Today, fly to Livingstone, Zambia, and then transfer to your hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Settle in and enjoy some time at leisure. This evening, set out on a cruise on the Zambezi River. View hippo, crocodile and exotic birdlife. Observe how, after an unforgettable African sunset, a magical charm settles over the river. The lanterns are lit and a delicious dinner is served on board. The raucous sounds of hippo calling, make for an unusual backdrop to this truly African experience.
DAY 8: Victoria Falls | Elephant Sanctuary Visit
Begin with a guided walk of breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, and explore the surrounding rainforest. See rainbows and clouds of spray as the mile-wide Upper Zambezi plummets into the Lower Zambezi. Experience an interactive animal adventure, when you privately visit an elephant sanctuary near Victoria falls to meet the gentle giants living there. View the elephant up close in the bush, and watch them eat and socialize, during an unforgettable hands-on encounter led by a naturalist. Return to the hotel for some time at leisure. Tonight, before your farewell dinner, enjoy hearing from a special guest speaker who shares tales of celebrated explorer David Livingstone — an A&K-exclusive experience.
DAY 9: Depart Johannesburg, South Africa
Fly to Johannesburg, where you enjoy access to the Premier Lounge before boarding your flight home.
Sample itinerary & photos courtesy Abercrombie & Kent.
DISCOVER SABI SAND NATURE RESERVE
&BEYOND
Kirkman's Kamp
The Sabi Sand Nature Reserve is one of the most prestigious wildlife sanctuaries in the world, with unfenced borders neighbouring the Kruger National Park, and is famed for its leopards and incredible wildlife. The uniqueness of the lodge is its ideal positioning on the Sand River with exclusive access to the riverbed.
In addition to incredible leopard viewing, and the famous Big Five, discover a vast variety of plant and animal species that share 2-million hectares of land with the Kruger National Park. Encounter a few of the over 500 bird species, 145 animal species, 110 reptile species and 45 fish species, that call this vast landscape home.
Kirkman’s Kamp has exclusive traversing rights on 10 500 hectares (26 000 acres) of wilderness land, which means our guests can explore the reserve on-foot, free from the constraints of roads and vehicles, go on a night drive, or sensitively go off-road enabling closer wildlife interactions.
Kirkman’s Kamp welcomes families and offers an incredible, fun-filled WILDchild experience, including croquet and cricket on the lawns, a game of tennis and cookie baking. The variety of children’s activities tie in with the particular environment, as well as the local heritage and culture of the region. The lodge's Family Cottage is ideal for safari-loving families.
Experience and images courtesy &BEYOND.
DISCOVER PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
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Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Vlei Lodge is an intimate six suited romantic safari lodge, overlooking a unique wetland on the edge of a rare sand forest.
Situated in the ideal location between two habitats, the forest and grasslands, this lodge consists of just six intimate suites. You can look forward to an incredibly secluded, quiet and peaceful African bush experience overlooking a magnificent landscape.
26,763 hectares (66,133 acres) of private traversing across seven distinct habitats allows for a great diversity of landscapes and exclusive game viewing. Limited number of vehicles at sightings and sensitive off-roading practices affords close-up sightings of Big Five and other rare and iconic wildlife.
Phinda is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino. The sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.
A variety of incredible adventures are available, including twice-daily game drives, nature walks, conservation and community experiences, sleep outs, village tours, night drives, specialist safaris, as well as nearby ocean activities.
Experience and images courtesy &BEYOND.
DISCOVER PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
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Phinda Rock Lodge
Dramatically set into a cliff face, Phinda Rock Lodge’s six intimate and private suites provide breathtaking views.
Unwind in this serene and tranquil haven in the heart of the bush. Be entranced by the dramatic views across the valley, heightened by the romance of intimate rooftop dining. Private plunge pools and outdoor showers boast mesmerising panoramas of the lush Phinda landscape.
Phinda is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino. The sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.
Weather permitting, you might be lucky enough to experience a very special bush dinner, where you can tuck into a delectable array of pan-African dishes, under the starry lanternlit skies in a secluded spot on the reserve.
While the lodge itself has no swimming pool, each suite boasts its own glorious private plunge pool for refreshing dips between game drives. Phinda Rock Lodge’s rooftop terrace provides a romantic venue for dining beneath the stars - the perfect setting for sundowners or al fresco dinners when weather permits. While Phinda Rock Lodge offers an intimate setting with just six suites, not only are you able to enjoy a full bar at your disposal at any time, your own suite also boasts a private bar with a selection of local drinks to enjoy at any time of the day or night.
Experience and images courtesy &BEYOND.
DISCOVER
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Ngala Treehouse
Live the romance, adventure and magic of Africa: Ngala Treehouse - a remote, overnight retreat – offers you a luxurious private sanctuary and the ultimate in sleep-underthe-stars experiences.
Cocooned in natural bush surrounds, this 4-level treehouse features two sleep areas: level 3 is covered and weatherproofed, with a king-size bed, and level 4, a sleep out platform under a retractable awning. Toast the sunset. Enjoy a starlit picnic dinner. You’re assured of an intimate wilderness experience, completely off the grid, themed in luxury and exclusivity.
Surrounded by home comforts, a stocked bar and a selection of midnight and breakfast snacks, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a lodge. However, your night at Ngala Treehouse is essentially an overnight wilderness experience that complements your stay either at &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge.
Set within the Ngala Private Game Reserve, 5 km from &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp: the reserve shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, home to the Big Five and more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve. Ngala (meaning lion) lives up to its namesake, with the reserve supporting several large prides.
Experience and images courtesy &BEYOND.
