Lions & Gardens & Wine with Ciscoe Morris

South Africa orientation letter

Gardens of South Africa itinerary

Dubai Primer

October 30th to November 17th, 2022

Pricing | Itinerary | Reserve

Join Ciscoe Morris for a tour of South Africa in late Autumn 2022 (just before the Thanksgiving Holiday) on a fifteen-night tour of Cape Town, the Garden Route, the Eastern Cape, and the Cape Winelands.

This tour, limited to just 14 participants, will depart on Sunday, October 30th on Emirates Airways via Dubai. We’ll spend two nights and two full days in Dubai to break up the long travel day, get some sun,  and catch our breath.  The return flight will arrive in Seattle a little after noon on November 17th.  Additional nights are available at our Dubai hotel in either direction if more time is desired on the stopover.

  • Two nights in Dubai
  • Two nights in Cape Town
  • Two nights in Hermanus
  • Three all-inclusive nights at Settlers Drift, a luxury Safari camp in Kariega Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)
  • Three nights in Franschhoek, in the heart of the Cape Winelands
  • Most meals, including
    • All Breakfasts
    • Ten Dinners
    • Four Lunches
  • Multiple game drive experiences at Settlers Drift
  • Cape Point Tour
  • Robben Island Tour
  • Table Mountain Cableway
  • Wine touring and tasting at numerous estates in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Hermanus
  • Services of local guides
  • Domestic Air flights as indicated

Gardens on this itinerary include:

  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
  • Stellenberg Gardens
  • Babylonstoren Gardens
  • Karoo National Botanic Gardens
  • Harold Porter Botanical Garden
  • Rustenburg Gardens
  • Vergelegen Winery Gardens
  • The Cellars/Hohenhort Garden

What’s not included:

  • Some meals
  • Gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature

Pricing

International Airfare is not included. The fare for this itinerary is currently priced at under $1800 on Emirates Airlines. Assistance is available for booking these flights.  

Tour cost is $8200 per person. The initial deposit required to confirm your reservation is $2500 per person. Balance is due May 1, 2021. There is a discount available of $250 per person for participants paying for the tour by check.

Because of the limited number of accommodations at the safari camp, we are unable to accommodate single accommodations. We’ll do everything possible to room single travelers with other singles.

Flights:

We’re flying Emirates via Dubai on the following schedule. You can book this yourself or with Northwest Travel if you require assistance.

Flight Date From/To Departure Arrival
EK 230 30OCT SEA/DXB  5:05 PM 6:40  PM +1
EK 772 03NOV DXB/CPT 3:55 AM 11:45 AM
EK 771 16NOV CPT/DXB 6:25 PM 5:55 AM +1
EK 229 17NOV DXB/SEA 9:55 AM 12:35 PM

Itinerary

Sunday, October 30

7:20 PM        Depart Seattle late afternoon for Dubai

Monday, October 31

6:40 PM        Arrive Dubai. Transfer to our Emirates Hotel on Dubai Creek.  We’ll have a late, light dinner near the hotel.   Overnight Dubai (D)

Tuesday, November 1

9:00 AM        A full day of touring with a local guide that will include Burj Khalifa and a walk through the local market and historic fishing village.  Dinner will take place near the hotel this evening.  Overnight Dubai (BD)

Wednesday, November 2

9:00 AM        Another day of touring with a local guide with free time in the afternoon for shopping or to visit the many area beaches.  This evening we’ll enjoy a waterfront cruise with dinner. Overnight Dubai (BD)

Thursday, November 3

12:30  AM        You’ll have access to your room this evening until we depart for the airport and our flight to Cape Town at 12:30 AM.  We arrive in Cape Town shortly before noon.  After meeting our driver, we’ll proceed to our hotel near the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.  On the way we’ll enjoy a short driving orientation of the city.  You’ve got some free time to explore this water front area.  Dinner will be provided in the early evening near the hotel. Overnight Cape Town (BD)

Friday, November 4

We depart the hotel a little before 9:00 AM this morning to catch the first ferry to Robben Island for a guided tour of the island and its 500-year history, most notably the site of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment. We’ll break for lunch upon our return to the mainland, then arrange for our transportation to the Cable Car that ascends to the top of Table Mountain. The afternoon and  evening are free to explore the waterfront and downtown area. Overnight Cape Town (B)

Dung Beetle (hope we find some)

Saturday, November 5

We’re traveling by coach to wine country shortly after breakfast. Our destination is the town of Franschhoek, a French-founded village in the hear of the Cape Winelands.  On the way to the hotel, we’ll stop for a garden tour and wine tasting at the Rustenberg Wine Estate. Overnight Franschhoek (BD)

Sunday, November 6

Depart the hotel shortly after breakfast for a tour of the gardens and wine tasting at the Vergelegen Winery. We’ll break for lunch on your own in Stellenbosch, then we’re off to a tasting at the fabulous Kanoncop Wine Estate to sample the wines. Our last stop of the day with a visit to the Old Nectar Gardens for a guided tour. Return to Franschhoek for free time in the village. Overnight Franschhoek (B)

Monday, November 7

Depart the hotel shortly after breakfast for a tour of the gardens and wine tasting at the Vergelegen Winery. We’ll break for lunch on your own in Stellenbosch, then we’re off to a tasting at the fabulous Kanoncop Wine Estate to sample the wines. Our last stop of the day with a visit to the Old Nectar Gardens for a guided tour. Return to Franschhoek for free time in the village. (B)

Tuesday, November 8

We depart the hotel a little after 9:00 AM this morning, traveling the short distance to Cape Town Airport for a short flight to Port Elizabeth. We meet our transportation upon arrival, traveling about 90 minutes to Settlers Drift, in the heart of the Kariega Game Preserve. This evening we’ll take part in an evening game drive immediately following dinner. Overnight Settlers Drift (BD)

Wednesday, November 9

You are free to choose your activities today at the game reserve. Our group occupies the entire camp. Our accommodation includes 2 game drives, river cruise or walk per day in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner (local beverages, as well). Overnight Settlers Drift (BLD)

Thursday, November 10

If you took an afternoon game drive on Wednesday, I suggest you mix it up with a river cruise today. You can also canoe or fish in between dining at the camp. Overnight Settlers Drift (BLD)

Friday, November 11

Say goodbye to our luxurious accommodations this morning as we leave the preserve for the coast of the Garden Route. We’ll meet our local guide in Port Elizabeth and drive to our home base on Plettenberg Bay for the next three nights. En-route today we’ll stop for lunch on the water at Jeffreys Bay, then an opportunity to walk the Storms River Suspension Bridge. We’ll arrive at our beach front hotel late afternoon to provide some free time before we travel into town for dinner. Overnight Plettenberg Bay (BD)

Saturday, November 12

We drive along the coast today to Mossel Bay to tour the town and visit the Bartolomew Dias Explorers Museum. Returning, we’ll stop in Knysna for a sunset sightseeing cruise of the bay before returning to our beach front hotel.  Overnight Plettenberg Bay (B)

Sunset in Franschhoek

Sunday, November 13

Sightseeing today enjoying the majestic scenery of the Garden Route. We will spend the afternoon at the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary and the Birds of Eden Free flight Bird Sanctuary. Return to Robberg Beach late this afternoon for free time before dinner. Overnight Plettenberg Bay (BD)

Monday, November 14

We have a short flight scheduled this afternoon from the town of George back to Cape Town.  Upon arrival, we’ll drive the short distance to our final stop, the old fishing town of Hermanus.   Overnight Hermanus (BD)

Tuesday, November 15

9:00 AM        Depart the hotel this morning for a visit to the Stony Point Penguin Colony at Betty’s Bay. Next stop is the Harold Porter Botanical Garden located nearby. Break for lunch in Betty’s Bay.

Following lunch, we’ll visit the Hamilton Russell Winery, just a short drive away. Whale watching season along the coast runs from June to December. You’ll have free time in town this afternoon to relax, shop, or search for the Southern Right Whale just off the coast. Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight Hermanus (B)

Wednesday, November 16

Depart the hotel shortly after breakfast this morning. We have a garden tour arranged at The Cellars/Hohenhort Hotel. From there we’ll enjoy a wine lunch at the nearby Groot Constantia Winery. A final garden visit at Stellenbosch Botanical Garden before we arrive at Cape Town Airport to check in for our evening flight home at 9:20 PM.  Arrangements will be made for dinner prior to arrival at the airport.

Our route takes us through London on the return. Guests are welcome to stay over on their own to break up the flight time if they choose. Otherwise, we’ll arrive in Seattle on November 17th, in the late afternoon.

Links to visited sites and communities on this tour…

Hermanus
Harold Porter Botanic Gardens
Stony Point Penguins
Cape Point Drive
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Cape Town
Table Mountain
Robben Island
Settler’s Drift
Storms River Suspension Bridge
The Garden Route
Plettenberg Bay
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
Birds of Eden Avian Sanctuary
Mossel Bay
Knysna
Franschhoek
Groot Constantia
Stellenberg Gardens
Babylonstoren Garden
Rustenberg Wine Estate
Kanoncop Wine Estates
Karoo National Botanical Garden
Old Nectar Gardens
Vergelegen Wine Estate Gardens
The Cellars/Hohenhort Hotel

Make Your Reservation!

If you have any questions about this tour, please contact Brad Cilley at brad@nwtravel.com or by phone at 425 375 2676.

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