THE GREAT JOURNEY – SOUTH AFRICA

Meeting of Participants at Milan Malpensa Airport (for those who wish Bus from Inzago to Airport)
Departure by Scheduled Flight with meals and overnight stay on board

Arrive in the morning in Cape Town. Clearance of entry formalities. Meet with local, Italian-speaking guide and transfer by reserved vehicle to hotel. 4*** hotel located within the Cape Town International Convention Centre area.
An interesting tour of the city is planned for the afternoon. There are few cities in the world that present such a distinctive and striking setting. In fact, it stretches at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain, the undisputed symbol of the city. On April 6, 1652, Jan van Riebeeck landed in this bay and from here began the whole modern history of South Africa as the first European settlement. After the Dutch came the EnglishI, in 1806 and remained here until 1910. This makes it the oldest city in South Africa and in some places it has retained its basic colonial character. Weather permitting we will attempt the ascent to the summit of Table Mountain, from the top of which during the clearest days it is possible to admire scenery of rare beauty. In case the gondola is not open and during the period of its annual closure for maintenance, we will travel to Signal Hill, another vantage point that although lower down offers a nice view of the city below.
Upon completion, transfer to the hotel and room assignment. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet with your Italian-speaking guide and depart for a wonderful day dedicated to visiting the Cape Peninsula, a strip of land of rare beauty that ideally separates the cold and tumultuous waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the warmer and milder waters of the Indian Ocean. Passing through the residential areas of Cape Town such as Sea Point, Camps Bay and Llandudno, one arrives at the beautiful Hout Bay. Here there is a stop for a short boat trip (about 30 minutes) to view a large colony of sea lions that have effectively monopolized a series of reefs just outside the bay. This visit can be made only if sea conditions are favorable. Possibility to buy some souvenirs at one of the many stalls in the harbor before continuing to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve in a succession of grandiose landscapes up to the top of "Cape Point" to admire the virtual meeting place of the two oceans. Upon completion, continue to Simons Town, home of the South African Navy, not before stopping at a renowned local restaurant for a tasty seafood lunch. On Boulder Beach (so named for the huge granite boulders), among seaside cottages and beautiful beaches, a friendly colony of penguins can be seen from a few steps away. Return to the hotel, via Muizenberg.
Free dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel
Full-day excursion to explore the coastline leading to the pretty village of Hermanus on Walker Bay, facing the Ocean. This location is considered one of the most suitable for whale watching (observable from both land and sea). These huge mammals, during the winter period, travel from Antarctica to the South African coast in search of milder waters to give birth to their young before migrating south again in the summer. The road to Hermanus is one of the most beautiful in South Africa, and you won't want to miss a stop at Stony Point Nature Reserve to see a colony of penguins. On the way back to the city we make one last stop at Signal Hill from where to admire a beautiful panoramic view of Cape Town and the sunset over the Ocean. Lunch is included on the excursion.
Free dinner and overnight stay

Wake up early in the morning and private transfer to the airport and departure by flight to Johannesburg. Arriving after about a 2-hour flight. Lunch and afternoon devoted to visiting the famous and immense "township," suburb, of Soweto. It was here that the first steps were taken to the struggle against apartheid, the regime of racial segregation, in fact one of the darkest chapters in modern South African history. We will visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Church and Mandela House. At the end of the tours transfer to hotel 4**** located within the Hyde Park Corner shopping center.
Dinner and overnight stay

Breakfast. We set off for the famous Kruger Park, one of the most popular and renowned protected areas on the African continent. Entering through the entrance of Numbi, we reach Mdluli Safari Lodge, where we plan to stay overnight in luxury tents. The central area of the lodge is developed all around a tree, the Jackalberry, which has a long story to tell. It was in the shade of this tree that village chief Inkhosi MZ Mdluli, of the royal Swazi tribe, tried to impress upon his grandchildren more than 12 years ago the importance of preserving the land and developing a hospitality project that could somehow benefit the entire Mdluli community. Tourism as a positive impact and contribution to raising the employment level of the local population with consequent benefits on the youngest children through a serious education project. The current head of the community, grandson of the enlightened Inkhosi, has fully embraced this vision, and today Mdluli is finally a dream come true. The local community is not only involved in running the camp but also in monitoring the surrounding area to prevent intrusion by poachers. This is why we always say that Mdluli is an integral part of Your journey and at the same time the Future of the community and the territory. Lunch in the very early afternoon followed by first photo safari, in open 4x4 vehicles, accompanied by an experienced English-speaking ranger within the Mdluli private concession within Kruger Park. We return to camp at sunset.
Dinner and overnight stay in luxury tent.

Waking up early in the morning. After breakfast we will have a beautiful day exploring this immense National Park, the largest nature reserve in South Africa. The park covers nearly 20,000 square kilometers (an area equivalent to the State of Israel) and from north to south records nearly 350 kilometers, almost 70 kilometers at its widest point. Officially opened to the public in 1927, it boasts 147 different species of mammals, 507 species of birds, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 227 species of butterflies, and 336 different species of trees. However, tourists are mainly attracted to the "Big Five," a term originally used by hunters to refer to the largest wild animals most dangerous to bring down. Fortunately for them today, they are considered only the most difficult to unearth and photograph. Being able to spot them all during your stay at Kruger always requires a good dose of luck. Our safari today is practically an entire day totally devoted not only to sightings but also to exploring the park itself. In fact, we will travel along several trails giving you the opportunity to admire many different types of landscapes. Lunch is included and provided at one of the park's Rest Camps (Skukuza or Lower Sabie or similar). Return to the camp is scheduled shortly before sunset, which can be admired from the top of Kopje, which stands beside the camp and from the top of which there is a 360-degree view of Kruger Park.
Dinner and overnight stay in luxury tent.

Breakfast. The day will be devoted to discovering the Panorama Route. This entire region is left to be appreciated for its landscapes, and undoubtedly the highlight of this day is the Blyde River Canyon, the largest canyon in South Africa and the only one in the world that is totally vegetated, thus with green walls. Many consider it the third largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. No doubt it is as spectacular as the other two. We stop to take some nice photos at the Three Rondavels viewpoint and then continue on to the fascinating geological formations of Bourke's Luck Potholes, created by river erosion. A stop at Graskop, famous for its gorge and a beautiful waterfall, will not be missed. Packed lunch along the visits. Continue to Dullstroom, where we plan to stay overnight in hotel 4**** . Accommodation in the reserved rooms.
Dinner and overnight stay

Breakfast. Back to Johannesburg today with a stop along the way for lunch. Arrive in good time at the airport to clear entry formalities. Departure on scheduled flights with meals and overnight stay on board

Arrival at the destination in the day.