Arrive in Johannesburg for an overnight stay at an airport hotel. Get to know your fellow travelers over our Hermes welcome dinner tonight

Day 2 - Johannesburg to Kruger National Park (B, L, D)

We board our short flight to Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most renowned national parks and Africa’s oldest. More than 147 species of mammals roam these plains and woodlands, including the sought-after Big Five—rhino, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, and lion. Keep your eyes peeled as we set off on first game drive today. This evening, feast on a traditional Boma dinner.

After breakfast join your safari guide for a walk in the bush. This is a unique safari experience that’s sure to reveal local flora and maybe even a game sighting or two. This afternoon we drive further into the park, concluding our day with another “Sundowner.”  

Spend another thrilling day in the bush taking in Kruger’s incredible wildlife. Or, join our optional tour of the Panorama Route, which highlights the region’s breathtaking beauty. We’ll visit God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and Blyde River Canyon. This evening we gather for traditional dinner. 

Day 5 - Kruger National Park to Stellenbosh (B)

Today we fly to Cape Town. Upon arrival, we drive to Franschhoek, a classic wine territory of the Western Cape set in a valley with a strong French Huguenot heritage. We’ll sample some favored vintages at a local farm

Today we visit Paarl, the third oldest European settlement in South Africa and a region known for its award-winning reds such as Roodeberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and even port. They all earned this area the title of the first “Red Route” in the world.  We’ll taste some of these superb reds, perhaps learning a bit about the full-bodied character of some winemakers, too!

We’ll admire Paarl’s architectural heritage of lovely Cape Dutch houses and breathtaking scenery. It made headlines when President Mandela was freed from the Victor Verster Prison on the outskirts of the town, heralding the new South Africa.
We’ll also stop to admire the Taal Monument, or Afrikaans Language Monument, then continue to Stellenbosch.  Many award winning wines originate from this superb growing area. We’ll enjoy lunch and a wine tasting here.

We drive to Cape Town today, one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world, nestled between a dramatic bay and the flat-top Table Mountain. This is where the Rainbow Nation was born, a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, rich as it is in cultural diversity. 
We board a cable car for a ride to the top of Table Mountain, where we’re greeted by spectacular views. Afterwards we take a boat to Robben Island, the infamous site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Day 8 - Cape Town (B, L)

Today we discover more of Cape Town’s natural beauty as we drive along the scenic Chapmans Peak Drive to the Cape Peninsula, visiting Hout Bay. Our drive culminates at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where we’ll ascend Cape Point by funicular to view the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian oceans.  After our included lunch we visit the Boulders Penguin Colony and return to Cape Town for a free evening.

You have the whole day to yourself to explore Cape Town on your own. You might browse the shops at the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, linger in the gay village at Green Point, or catch some sun at Clifton Beach. Share your memories at tonight’s Hermes farewell dinner in the African bush on the cape.

Transfer north to Victoria Falls today. We’ll stay on the Zambian side of this magnificent natural wonder.

Day 11 – Monday – Victoria  Falls (B)

High as Niagara Falls and 1.5 times as wide, “Vic Falls” were discovered by Stanley Livingstone, who proclaimed that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” They are truly astonishing to behold. We’ll see them up close today, then have free time at our lodge.

Day 12 - Tuesday  — Depart for Home (B)