Under African Skies
Under African Skies
Under African Skies
14 Days Starting and ending in UK
Visiting: Victoria Falls, Hwange, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba, Cape Town, Franschhoek, Cape Peninsula, United Kingdom
Tour operator:
Tour code:
99197
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
16 - 24
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
21-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$6419
$5787 (USD)
including Flights from the UK
Operator discount: -$632
Tour Overview
This is southern Africa in a nutshell, from the tumult of Victoria Falls and the serenity of Lake Kariba, to the pristine landscapes of Hwange National Park and South Africa’s magnificent Winelands. Take in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, renowned for its elephant and African painted dog populations, then enjoy a blissful three-night cruise on Lake Kariba, famed for its striking red sunsets. Marvel at the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, before you fly to South Africa for a two-night stay in culinary Franschhoek, followed by two nights in Cape Town, where a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain provides a fitting finale to a wonderful adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Fly To Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Fly overnight to Victoria Falls via Nairobi.
Day 2 : Arrival
Location: Victoria Falls, Hwange
Meals Included: No Meals
Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, you’ll check in for the flight to Hwange, where you’ll meet your tour manager on arrival and make the transfer to your four-star tented safari camp. This afternoon, lunch and an included game drive will whet your appetite for a fantastic adventure ahead.
Day 3 : Hwange National Park
Location: Hwange National Park
Meals Included: No Meals
Join your guide for a full-day excursion into the park, with included picnic lunch. Hwange is Zimbabwe’s biggest national park, and is home to over 100 species of mammals, including the Big Five, African painted dogs and 45,000 elephants.
Day 4 : Travel To Lake Kariba
Location: Lake Kariba
Meals Included: No Meals
Rise and shine early this morning for a final morning game drive, arriving back at the lodge in time for breakfast.
Later you’ll be transferred back to Hwange airport for the short flight to Kariba, the embarkation point for your three-night cruise. Lake Kariba was created by damming the Zambezi River to flood the Kariba Gorge and is the largest manmade lake in the world!
Settle into your comfortable cabin before lunch is served onboard and you cruise across the lake towards Matusadona National Park, located on the southern shore of Lake Kariba.
Day 5 : Lake Kariba
Location: Lake Kariba
Meals Included: No Meals
After a light breakfast, a tender boat will take you out to explore the bays and flood plains of the Matusadona National Park. You’ll return to the main boat mid-morning and enjoy a breakfast brunch on board as you cruise to Gordon’s Bay.
On arrival in Gordon’s Bay you’ll once again have the chance to board a smaller boat for game viewing or fishing.
You’ll return to the houseboat in time for dinner.
Day 6 : Lake Kariba
Location: Lake Kariba
Meals Included: No Meals
Spend this morning either game viewing or fishing from a small tender boat.
Return to the houseboat once again for brunch served on board as you cruise to Sampakaruma. Here, you’ll have the chance to enjoy some fun fishing from a small tender. You’ll also have the chance to view a final Lake Kariba sunset from the middle of the lake.
The final night on the houseboat is celebrated with a beach braai dinner and the chance to do a spot of star gazing!
Day 7 : Travel To Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Meals Included: No Meals
Enjoy breakfast this morning as you cruise back into Kariba Harbour, where you'll disembark. Transfer to Kariba airport for the short flight to Victoria Falls. Check-in at your boutique hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure, perhaps exploring the historic town. Alternatively, choose from several optional activities locally, including a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River or a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls.
Day 8 : Victoria Falls
Location: Victoria Falls
Meals Included: No Meals
Today an undoubted highlight of your tour awaits: a visit to Victoria Falls. Wander the jungle-clad walkways to make the most of the different viewpoints. Explorer David Livingstone rightly said of the falls: “No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England.”
After the tour, return to town for lunch, followed by an afternoon at leisure.
Day 9 : Fly To South Africa
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: No Meals, No Meals
Rise and shine early this morning to catch your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Franschhoek, the culinary capital of South Africa. Unpack and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, exploring at your own pace.
Day 10 : Franschhoek Wine Tram Experience
Location: Franschhoek
Meals Included: No Meals
Enjoy a guided walk of the town, before you board the Franschhoek Wine Tram. This double-decker, open-air tram will take you through the rolling patchwork of vineyards that is the Franschhoek Valley, stopping at some of South Africa’s most distinguished wineries, including the Rickety Bridge Wine Estate, with wine-tasting and a two-course lunch.
This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure in Franschhoek.
Day 11 : Cape Town And Table Mountain
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: No Meals
Transfer to Cape Town, where an included orientation tour will bring this fascinating city to life, followed by a cable car ride to Table Mountain, for a simply unforgettable view. Perhaps you may wish to toast your trip to Table Mountain with the addition of the optional glass of sparkling wine?
After the tour, check-in at your new hotel. You can spend the afternoon at leisure.
Please note: the cable car ride to Table Mountain is weather dependent and may be offered on another day if required.
Day 12 : Cape Peninsula Tour
Location: Cape Peninsula
Meals Included: No Meals, No Meals
Join your tour manager for an included tour of the Cape Peninsula, a stunning stretch of coast dotted with picturesque villages. Call at the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, where you can choose to paddle with these wonderful animals, then make a photo stop at Llandudno lookout point, before (weather-permitting) continuing to Chapman’s Peak, on one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives.
This evening, enjoy an included farewell dinner at the renowned Quay Four Restaurant on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront – the perfect way to round off a marvellous adventure!
Day 13 : Departure
Location: Cape Town
Meals Included: No Meals
Enjoy a day at leisure, or opt to join the optional helicopter flight over Cape Town, before transfering to the airport for your overnight return flight, via Nairobi.
Day 14 : Arrive Back In The Uk
Location: United Kingdom
Meals Included: No Meals
Early morning arrival.
What's Included
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11 nights’ carefully chosen bed and bed breakfast accommodation, plus two on the aircraft
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Flights from London via Nairobi to Victoria Falls, returning from Cape Town via Nairobi, plus an internal flight from Victoria Falls to Cape Town
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25 meals (11 breakfasts, six lunches and eight evening meals, including farewell dinner on the last night at the renowned Quay Four Restaurant)
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Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
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Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour.
Passports and visas
A visa is not required for UK citizens travelling to South Africa, but your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry to the country and have two adjacent blank pages. A visit is required for entry to Zimbabwe, which you will be granted upon arrival. Special entry rules apply for children under 18 years.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.
Travel vaccinations
Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Road Conditions
In developing countries road networks are continually being improved and expanded, which can mean that, from time to time, roadworks and rough road surfaces can extend journey times. Some journeys are made on winding mountain roads and passes, which may also make for slow travelling - although the scenery is usually worth it! Many roads do not have separate pavements or safety barriers, and great care should be taken when crossing or walking alongside roads.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure. The order of the itinerary may vary, but the overall content and tour duration in Africa will always be maintained.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
A visa is not required for UK citizens travelling to South Africa, but your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry to the country and have two adjacent blank pages. A visit is required for entry to Zimbabwe, which you will be granted upon arrival. Special entry rules apply for children under 18 years.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1983
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Vaccination Requirements
Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our company’s mission is to enrich lives and improve wellbeing through travel. A big part of that is ‘Travel for Good’. Our ‘Travel for Good’ hub is our first step in a long journey to reduce carbon, offset anything we produce as a company and travel without harming the planet or the people of the destinations we go to.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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Fitness to Travel
We strive to give all our customers full care and attention, but we do need to know at the time of booking if there are any special needs or requirements. It is particularly important that we are advised of any disabilities and also if you intend to bring any specialist equipment such as a wheelchair with you. Please make sure that you make us aware of any requirements.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Saturday - Friday
Nov 09, 2024 - Nov 22, 2024Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Newmarket Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 35% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of newmarket holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 48 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Vaccination Requirements
Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. You can find the travel restrictions for different countries on www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.