Day-by-day itinerary

• Day

  01

  Cape Town, South Africa

  Welcome!

  Touch down in Cape Town, South Africa! Once through customs and immigration you'll receive a warm welcome from Born Free Safaris' VIP host. Most international flights arrive in the evening, you will be escorted directly to your hotel and assisted with check-in.
  
  Cape Town is a fabulously diverse and vibrant city, from its beautiful natural scenery to its colorful Cape Malay arts district. With Table Mountain rising behind the city skyline, Cape Town is undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is surrounded by verdant valleys, magnificent coastlines and stunning granite mountains.
  
  The city is abundantly endowed with rich historical "Old World" ambience, heightened by Victorian buildings, cobble-stoned squares, mosques, and Cape Dutch architecture. Visit Robben Island and District Six Museum to learn more about the heart wrenching time of apartheid.
• Day

  02

  Cape Town

  Table Mountain & City Sites

  Breakfast in the hotel and then you're off on your introduction to the Cape region with your guide. Head up to the top of Table Mountain on a slowly rotating cable car. Weather permitting, you can see unsurpassed views of both sides of the city, as well as Robben Island and the surrounding mountains.
  
  Continue on to the Cape Malay arts district where you will visit several artisan houses including the world-famous Streetwire. Then on to Greenmarket Square, the House of Parliament, and City Hall.
  
  Dinner and entertainment included tonight.

  Breakfast / Dinner
• Day

  03

  Cape Peninsula & Historic Towns

  Penguin Beach, Stellenbosch

  Spend a full day touring and discovering the Cape Point region. The drive is the most spectacular in South Africa with granite peaks that go to the ocean, magnificent bays and sleeping fishing villages. At the Cape of Good Hope you may wish to walk out to the point or take the funicular to views of the rugged coastline.
  
  Continue to what most consider a highlight of the day -- a beach where thousands of penguins make their home. Your up-close encounter will take you along a boardwalk where you will see them frolicking in the waters and making new nests. Then, journey on through the scenic fishing villages and Hout Bay.
  
  Lunch at one of the fresh seaside restaurants. In season, visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with many of the endemic plants such as Fynbos and Protea.
  
  Tonight, there will be time to try one of the fabulous local restaurants. Cape Town is a foodie's dream. Top restaurants require reservations months in advance. Born Free Safaris' Concierge service can assist with your reservations.

  Breakfast
• Day

  04

  Cape Region

  À La Carte Touring

  Spend today on your choice of "À la carte" touring. Select from a wide range of excursions that are already included in the price of the trip. Discuss your interests with a Born Free Safaris Specialist who will then create your personalized private tour.
  
  Ideas for Ala Carte Touring:
  
  1) New Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African art.
  It exhibits cutting-edge 21st century art from featured artists from all of Africa.
  
  2) Full Day Historic Stellenbosch & Franschhoek featuring the wine country. Spend the day with your professional guide roaming through the regal granite peaks, small towns and wine estates. The area is dotted with Cape Dutch architecture. Stops will be made as you please at art galleries, for wine or brandy tastings, and if you wish, time to stroll through the historic towns.
  
  3) Half Day ferry trip and touring of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
  
  4) Visit the philanthropic Uthando Community Project, an amazing collection of innovative, inspiring and fun community development projects and charitable organizations across a broad spectrum of sectors.

  Breakfast

  Special Activity:
  Shark Cage Diving
  Get safely and exhilaratingly up close to these beautiful creatures of the sea. Cost from $245 per person.
• Day

  05

  On Safari - Greater Kruger

  Private Game Reserve

  Fly from Cape Town to the Greater Kruger regional airport. Bordering Kruger are exciting private reserves such as Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Thornybush. They are all game rich, especially in "Big Five" sightings. The wildlife runs freely between the reserves and the main park areas.
  
  What makes this region different than what you will experience in the Mara in Kenya, is the variety of individual species. Keep a look out for leopard and rhino, both are easier to see here than in East Africa. In the Mara, you have the opportunity of seeing big herds of the plains game, giraffes, elephants and large prides of lions.
  
  Activities at each lodge will vary but always include game drives in open vehicles. Other experiences may be night drives, bush walks and community visits. Let us know what you are interested in and we will be sure you are booked into a lodge that offers your selection.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Days

  06-07

  On Safari - Greater Kruger

  Private Game Reserve

  When on safari, don't miss the early morning game drives! This is when the game is most active and predators are on the hunt.
  
  After lunch, you may want to take a bush walk, listen to a wildlife lecture on conservation efforts or visit a local community.
  
  Night drives are a highlight of any visit to the Sabi Sands area. They are especially fun and a chance to see nocturnal species. Vehicles are equipped with special headlights that will search the bush to find a civet cat, big eyed Bush Babies, a lioness on the move with her cubs, or the elusive leopard.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day

  08

  Victoria Falls

  Early three hour intercontinental flight to Victoria Falls, one of the world's great natural wonders. This afternoon get your first views of Victoria Falls.
  
  At sunset, take a Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi with hopes of seeing soaring fish eagles, hippos or elephants, all while sipping delicious cocktails.

  Breakfast / Dinner
• Day

  09

  Victoria Falls to Nairobi, Kenya

  On a morning guided walk, stroll down the path as it winds it's way past various viewing points of the Vic Falls. Rainbows can be seen from time to time as the Upper Zambezi plummets into the Lower Zambezi.
  
  Afterward, you may want to visit the local market and see the artisans creating magnificent traditional stone "Shona" soap stone carvings.
  
  There is plenty of time to see all the area has to offer but high on our recommended list is the 13 minute helicopter flight seeing. It is the best way to really get the impact of the size of Victoria Falls.
  
  Board your flight to Nairobi, where you are met by a Born Free representative and escorted to your hotel.
  
  Born Free Safaris Consultant Note: The best routing to combine Southern Africa and Kenya will be to take the early evening flight to Kenya.
  
  If you wish, you can request more time in Victoria Falls. We would then suggest to indulge in a stay in one of the specialty properties such as Tongabezi, Gorges, Victoria Falls River Lodge, Elephant Camp.

  Breakfast / Dinner

  Special Activity:
  Scenic 13-minute Helicopter Tour
  The best way to get the full impact of Victoria Falls. Cost from $155 per person.
• Day

  10

  Maasai Mara Game Reserve

  On Safari

  From Nairobi, fly on an easy 40 minute flight over the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara, the northern extension of the Serengeti Plains.
  
  The extraordinary awaits. The Mara warrants three days or even more. In one sweep of binoculars across the Mara you can see a hundred elephants, hippo, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. Become a part of life in the Mara – birth, hunting, death, feeding – an incredible experience that you will never forget.
  
  To optimize game viewing, accommodations will be selected according to the date of your travels.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Days

  11-12

  Maasai Mara Game Reserve

  Wake up to the sounds of the bush. Coffee or tea await before heading out on your dawn game drive. This is the best time to see the wildlife most active, predators on the hunt, cubs romping through the grasses, giraffes galloping to the next acacia trees.
  
  The area promises exceptional game-viewing and surprises around every turn. Keep a look out for the large concentration of big cats, such as leopard, cheetah and large prides of lion.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

  Special Activity:
  Hot Air Balloon Safari:
  We highly suggest the balloon safari at dawn over the Maasai Mara with a champagne bush breakfast, from $500 per person.
• Day

  13

  Your Journey Onwards

  Flight to Nairobi

  Bid a fond farewell to the fabulous African bush as you board your flight back to Nairobi. Here a Born Free Safaris guide will meet you and take you to your choice of activities: Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center, shopping or just a dayroom until your departing flight.

  Breakfast