Cape Town – 4 Days Pre/Post

Overview

Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to Cape Town to enjoy this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle. Whether you are a serious tourist or just want to lie on the beach and enjoy life, Cape Town will satisfy your needs.

Inclusions

  • Accommodations, private airport transfers and meals as listed in the day-to-day itinerary.

Exclusions

  • Private optional tours as follows: Cape Point tour; City & Robben Island Tour including Table Mountain entrance fees and Robben Island roundtrip ticket
  • International and domestic flights
  • Any meals and services not mentioned in the day-to-day itinerary
  • Any items of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, laundry, etc
  • Gratuities for drivers, guides
  • Entrance fees on Cape Peninsula tour to Seal Island cruise and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Accommodation

Cape Town La Residence 5*
Victoria and Alfred 4*
Cape Grace 5*
The Silo Hotel 5*
Ellerman House 5*
One&Only Cape Town 5*
12 Apostles 5*
Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa, Stellenbosch 5*

Itinerary

Day 1

Cape Town

Upon arrival in Cape Town you will be met and transferred to your choice of accommodations. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 2

Cape Town

After breakfast, we recommend that you embark on the OPTIONAL private full-day Cape Point Tour. This tour departs you're your hotel and flanks the colder Atlantic ocean en route to Hout Bay. Once a fishing community, and now one of the most popular residential areas, the harbor still has a charm of days gone by. For the not so adventurous, the fish market "Mariners Wharf" is a must. The tour now continues over the famous Chapman's Peak drive - if open, with a 200 meter drop on one side and a 200 meter rise on the other, as we make our way south, following the Atlantic Ocean until we reach Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Said to be the romantic meeting place of the two mighty oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, Sir Francis Drake the Explorer once called it "the fairest Cape that we saw in the whole circumference of the Globe". And rightly so, it must be the highlight of any visit to the Mother City, if not South Africa. Our optional lunch stop today is at the Fish Hoek Galley. We pass the naval base of Simonstown as we continue along the Indian Ocean, en route to see the Jackass penguin colony which has become well established at Boulders Beach near Simonstown. Our last stop of the day is at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (optional), home of some 3500 species of Southern African fauna and flora. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon, having seen some of the best the Cape has to offer.

Breakfast is provided.

Day 3

Cape Town

After breakfast, we recommend that you embark on the OPTIONAL full-day city tour including visits to Table Mountain and Robben Island. On a clear day from the summit of Table Mountain you get spectacular views of the City, its Waterfront, Camps Bay, the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains to the East and the mountains of the Cape Peninsula all the way down to Cape Point to the south. The Table Mountain cableway, a must for all visitors to the Cape, boasts revolving floors, giving passengers a 360 degree view. After descending the mountain, you will depart on a tour of the “Mother City” taking in Signal Hill - where the Noon Day Gun is fired at midday, every day except Sunday - through the colourful Bo-Kaap or Cape Malay Quarter, past the Grand Parade, City Hall and the Castle of Good Hope and South African Cultural History Museum. Robben Island Ferry This is where the ferry for Robben Island leaves from. The ticket office also has a little museum and a curio shop.

Breakfast is provided.

Day 4

Cape Town

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Cape Town airport.

Breakfast is provided.

Offers valid on new bookings only. Prices shown are per-person, land only based upon double occupancy, except if expressly noted otherwise on the offer. Offers are subject to availability at time of booking and may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice. Blackout dates, minimum night stays, minimum stay requirements on air, seasonal surcharges, resort fees (if any), and other restrictions may also apply. Individual offers may require purchase of Travel Smart Plan or travel waiver. Offers are not valid for Group Travel. Some booking and travel dates may vary. Other promotions and departure dates available which may result in a different rate and/or hotel inclusion. Customer may be responsible for hotel taxes and fees on free nights and other offers, where applicable. Ask your Travel Specialist for details.

CST# 2079429-20

WHY BOOK

Preferred agreement with Singita Lodges in Kruger National Park and Royal Livingstone by Anantara offering full commission and extending consortia amenities.

Preset packages with full suggested itineraries throughout Kruger National Park, Botswana, Cape Town and Victoria Falls including touring and a variety of accommodations.

Private touring, VIP meet and greets in Cape Town and Johannesburg and Private touring in luxury vehicles.

HOW TO BOOK

Please complete our form and one of our Travel Sales Specialist will get back to you within 2-4 hours for more details. Africa4U (smartsheet.com); If you work directly with one of our reservations agents, please feel free to ask them about our new programs.

TRAVEL SMART PLAN

Due to the advance number of days required for cancellations of safari lodges and hotels we recommend that guest purchase Classic Vacations retail travel insurance or via their Advisor for optimal coverage.

COMMISSION LEVELS

All of our packages, tours and transfers, Singita Lodges, Royal Livingstone by Anantara pay full commissions. Belmond Safaris, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town and One&Only Cape Town are capped at 12%.

CONSORTIA

All of our partners pass full amenities when booked via Classic Vacations.

TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

We have a range of private tours offered in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Victoria Falls. Please speak with one of our specialists for more details.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visitors to Africa (all countries) must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended departure date with atleast 2 consecutive side by side blank pages for each country you will be visiting in Africa for stamps. A return ticket and adequatefunds are required to enter.

USA and CAN passport holders visiting South Africa for ninety (90) days or less for tourism / business purposes do not need visas.

USA and CAN passport holders visiting Botswana for ninety (90) days or less for tourism / business purposes do not need visas.

USA and CAN passport holders visiting Zimbabwe may obtain a 30 day visa at the airport or border ports of entry.

USA and CAN passport holders visiting Zambia for ninety (90) days or less for tourism / business purposes do not need visas.

VACCINATIONS

Please refer to https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ for the most up to date information.

SEASONS, CLIMATE AND WEATHER

South Africa seasons are opposite of the USA with winter months May-September and summer months November-March.Temperatures are measured in centigrade with average highs of 28°C (82°F) to average lows of 8°C (46°F) in the summer monthswhile winter temperatures range from 1°C (34°F) at night to around 18°C (64°F) in the day. Much of the rain falls in the Western Capein the winter, differing from the rest of the country, which experiences summer rainfall. The South African climate boasts more thanits fair share of sunshine, recording an average of 8.5 hours a day.

Botswana generally only has two seasons, summer and winter. Summer is rainy season, November through April with January and February being the wettest months. Dry season is winter, May through October. We recommend going during dry season when animal viewing will be at its best.

Zambia and Zimbabwe generally have three seasons, hot and dry mid August-mid November; rainy season mid-November-April;and cool and dry season May-mid August.

ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDS

Current is 220/240 volts at 50 cycles per second. A three-point round-pin adapter plug should be brought for your electrical appliances.

CLOTHING AND DRESS RECOMMENDATIONS

General: Always bring a hat, sunglasses and sunblock as the sun can be strong even in the winter months. Walking shoes are a good idea all year-round, with warm socks in the winter. For game viewing, a couple of neutral-toned items will be useful, but there’s no need to go overboard. A good pair of walking shoes is advisable. For the evening, if you are dining at an upmarket restaurant or seeing ashow, smart-casual attire is recommended. Don’t forget a bathing suit as most safari lodges offer private pools with accommodations.

Summer: Bring clothes that are cool, light and comfortable as summer temperatures can get to 30-40 degree Celsius range. Anumbrella or raincoat during summer is recommended as this is when most of the country gets its rain.

Winters: Are generally mild, there are days when temperatures do dive, so be prepared with a jacket. Cape Town gets its rain duringthe winter season so it’s advisable to bring rain gear along.

FOR SAFARI, WE RECOMMEND LAYERING YOUR CLOTHING

Game drives take place early morning and evenings, and it is quite cold before the sun rises and after it sets. The day-time temperatures can be warm and sunny, and it can get quite hot. Light, natural fabrics like cotton and linen are recommended forduring the day (shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses) and in the evenings, layer up with long trousers, long sleeve vests and a warmjacket. Formal wear is not required, most lodges allow you to come straight from game drive into dinner. We recommend neutraltones and light colors. Certain colors, like black and navy blue attract Tsetse flies in East Africa and dark colors attract the heat.Brightly colored clothing can also be distracting on safari. If you plan to do a bush walk, neutral colors are advised. Avoidwhite/bright colors for bush walks.

SUGGESTED SAFARI PACKING LIST

  • Long trousers or denim jeans
  • Long sleeve vests/t-shirts
  • Shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses
  • A warm jacket, fleece, or windbreaker
  • Wool hat or beanie, gloves, and scarf
  • A good pair of walking shoes
  • Socks to wear with walking shoes – especially if you plan ongoing on Bush Walks
  • Sandals or flip-flops for during the day at the lodge and some closed shoes or sneakers for evenings
  • Wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses, and a good sunscreen
  • Swimming costume/bathing suit
  • Camera, video camera binoculars, spare memory cards andcharging equipment. Most lodges do provide spare sets of binoculars on game vehicles and at the lodges if you don’thave your own.

TRAVEL, TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND

Travelling around South Africa is relatively easy by air, road and rail. An extensive tarred road system makes travelling in South Africa by vehicle convenient and easy. You will find gravel roads in rural areas. Please do note: A valid international driver’s license is required. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Wearing seat belts is compulsory and mobile phones can only be used ‘hands free’. Speed limits are generally set at 120km on freeways, 100km on secondary roads and 60km in urban areas. Toll fees apply on certain national roads. Petrol stations are widespread.

You can easily get across the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia but you will need your passport If you are crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge by foot please remember to bring your passport with you. You may need to pay for a multiple entry visa so please have some cash on hand.

Road travel in Botswana often involves driving long distances in sparsely populated harsh environments. Please ensure you have hired an experiences local driver or are in the safari camp vehicles.

FOOD, DRINK AND CUISINE ADVICE

Standards of hygiene in relation to food health and safety in South Africa, are generally high in hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightspots. Tap water in South Africa is safe to drink and cook with when taken from taps in urban areas. Not all tap water in rural areas is safe for consumption, so take precautions if necessary. It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and salads, and have ice in drinks. South Africa’s fish, meat and chicken are of excellent quality. Restaurants are subject to South Africa’s food safety control legislation which is implemented by local government. Street food is not as common in South Africa as it is in other countries, although vendors selling traditional snacks and meals can be found in city centres and townships. Food safety in such instances cannot always be guaranteed.

While the tap water is generally safe to drink in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe we recommend drinking bottled water to avoid any unwelcomed issues.