11D10N South Africa with Voluntourism

Exceptional Experiences:

• Discover the quintessentially Capetonian culture and South African hospitality in upmarket hotels and lodges around the country.

• Get involved and volunteer at a school for a day and make unforgettable moments to your adventure while giving back to the local community at the same time.

• Indulge in epicurean delights in South Africa’s food and wine capitals in the Winelands.

• Reconnect with nature in an opulent lodge that boasts an open-air concept in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

• Stay overnight at one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World™, Grootbos Forest Lodge

• Embark on a marine adventure and challenge yourself to one of the best shark cage diving experiences in the world

• Visit the prison where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid.

• Embark on a breathtaking journey through the Winelands of the South African Cape

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Cape Town

This morning, depart Singapore for Cape Town.

Arrive in Cape Town and your friendly local guide and driver will greet you at the airport.

Then, head to your accommodation, Ellerman House to spend the evening. Keep an eye on the journey as your accommodation is along the Cape’s stunning Atlantic coastline.

Situated in the heart of Bantry Bay, one of Cape Town’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, Ellerman House, Member of Relais & Châteaux, is an elegant mansion just ten minutes away from the city centre and within walking distance of Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.

Then, take a short rest in your accommodation and in the afternoon, seek out to the quaint little streets, mega shopping metropolises, old biscuit mills or chic boutiques lining a waterfront and delve into myriad magnificent shopping options.

Head to Green Market Square delighting in a festive ambience where you can pick up great African art and hand-crafted goods as well as colourful clothing.

Visit the Old Biscuit Mill complex, a dynamic market space offering sublime restaurants, exquisite clothing boutiques, decadent designers, gorgeously handcrafted products in studios, and an abundance of beautiful collaborators coming together in this space to showcase their wares.

Then, visit the Salt Circle arcade, a trendy alleyway displaying boutiques and designer shops.

After which, visit the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is prolific with high end shopping and up-market boutiques set at a bustling commercial harbour with a backdrop of stunning sea and majestic mountain views. In the heart of the city meander up Long Street, which becomes two-way Kloof Street as it clambers up the mountain slope, and colourful Bo Kaap also has a small but vibrant offering. This is just a taste of what is on offer and merely the tip of the memorable magnificent retail iceberg!

Return to your accommodation after dinner.

Accommodation: 5* Ellerman House

Day 2: Masiphumelele

Today after breakfast, volunteer at a school located in Masiphumelele, just 25 miles outside of Cape Town. Make unforgettable moments to your adventure while giving back to the local community at the same time.

Make your way to Masicorp Campus and meet their Voluntourism Coordinator, Shelley Tuck. Masicorp works for the people of Masiphumelele township, where we estimate more than 40,000 people live disadvantaged and poor by the legacy of apartheid. Since 1999, our work has made a proven difference in the lives of people in Masiphumelele.

Shelly will share an overview of the various social programmes and initiatives in Masiphumelele. After which, she will guide you to your volunteer session. Here, you will volunteer at Masi Educare, a Pre School. Then, meet Lindi, the school principal & staff. You will spend time and playing sports with primary students, assisting the teacher, and helping in the library on our education programs or other various activities that have been set for them on the day.

In the afternoon, Shelley will pick you up from Masi Educare and drive to Nonny’s Café. Enjoy a traditional lunch accompanied by Dolly– a permanent member of the Masicorp team. Dolly will share and give you an insider’s view of life in Masiphumelele over lunch as she lives in the township. Thereafter, Shelly will pick you up and drive through the streets of Masiphumelele to the library. Then, visit the Masiphumelele Library and one of Masicorp's business sponsorship projects.

Thereafter, make your way back to Cape Town to your accommodation and spend your evening at leisure.

Accommodation: 5* Ellerman House

Day 3: Cape Peninsula

This morning after breakfast, start your Cape Peninsula journey from your hotel and make your way towards picture-perfect Hout Bay. This destination, which sits halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point is a quiet fishing village that’s home to dozens of seals, small shops and lots of local charm. Enjoy leisure time to wander the streets and markets, or take an optional boat ride to Duiker Island at your own expense.

Then, enjoy a scenic ride through the southernmost edge of the Cape Peninsula as you make your way to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Enjoy some free time here to tuck into a local lunch or wander the path to Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Make a stop at Simon’s Town on the False Bay Coast as you make your way back to Cape Town and opt to visit Boulder’s Beach at your own expense where you find a friendly colony of African penguins wandering the sandy shores.

Afterwards, drive through Fish Hoek and Muizenberg, then onto Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Take some time to explore this diverse ecosystem at the foot of Table Mountain and enjoy the beauty of the Cape Floral Region that’s proudly displayed at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then, return to your hotel to rest for the night.

Accommodation: 5* Ellerman House

Day 3: Stellenbosch – Paarl - Franschoek

This morning after breakfast, get ready to embark on a breathtaking journey through the Winelands of the South African Cape. Enjoy three tastings of some of South Africa's finest wines, learn all about the process of making fine wines, from the vineyard to the bottle along with a cheese tasting today., and visit the historical towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl.

The Stellenbosch Winelands, a small and vibrant town is located just 20 minutes away from the city of Cape Town. It offers superb scenery, completely different from the landscape of the Cape peninsula. Numerous grapes are grown in the region, such as Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Pinotage, and the Méthode Cap Classique (local champagne). You will have the opportunity to purchase wines to bring back home to enjoy continue enjoying the region's wonderful vintages even after your visit.

Then, make your way to the town of Paarl, which offers a fascinating window into Afrikaner culture and tradition. As a former haven of the Huguenots pioneers who came from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century after the Edict of Nantes, the town boasts a monument dedicated to the Huguenots. You will also be able to visit the town's vineyards where you will taste the region's finest wines.

After this, make a visit to Drakenstein Prison. Drakenstein is a low-security prison between Paarl and Franschhoek. The prison is famous as the place where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid.

Then, visit the Franschoek and Marianne Wine Estate. Franschoek, also known as "the French Corner" is an old Huguenot village. With various streets and estates named after french names, the town will make you wonder whether you have been transported to France in another era. Be enchanted by the town's charm and its very peaceful environment. Taste the region's delicacies, cheeses, and its best wines. Then, experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram.

Check in to La Residence, a romantic and indulgent paradise stocked with exceptional artwork and ornate furniture. Set in South Africa’s wine country, amid tranquil vineyards and against a majestic mountain backdrop, La Residence is an extraordinary retreat designed in the style of a French country manor. Fine antiques, sumptuous Persian carpets and gleaming black-and-white marble flooring all bespeak luxury, and the staff goes to great lengths to ensure it. Swing open the terrace doors of your suite (one of only 11, each unique) and admire mountain views. Dine alfresco on the rose terrace or in the opulent dining room — there are no set times for breakfast, lunch or dinner; food of the highest order is prepared on demand.

Accommodation: 5* La Residence

Day 5: Whale Coast

This morning after breakfast, accompanied by your guide and driver, travel along South Africa’s rugged but extraordinary Whale Coast – a stretch of road that traces the Atlantic Ocean. The pristine Cape Whale Coast is flanked by majestic mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The entire route is renowned for its generous whale sightings, particularly in the Walker Bay area between Hermanus and Gansbaai. Whales swim into the bay to mate and give birth, and give onlookers a show with their breaching theatrics.

En route, you will see charming seaside villages like Hermanus. Nestled between lush green mountains and the turquoise ocean close to the southern tip of Africa lies the magnificent village of Hermanus. This is the wine and whales heartland of the beautiful Cape, home to migrating Southern Right Whales and where splendid wines are grown. Here breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class whale watching and the finest wines all combine to create lasting memories.

Then, visit the penguin colony at Betty’s Bay. Stony Point Nature Reserve is home to one of the largest successful breeding colonies of African Penguin in the world.

After which, check in to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, into the Forest Lodge. Nestled in ancient milkwood forest, the peaceful oasis that is Grootbos Forest Lodge is flanked by rolling hills of fynbos before spilling out into the sandy white dunes along the ocean-side. The lodge is stylish and elegant. Spacious wooden decks and an infinity pool offer the perfect point from which to enjoy the panoramic views.

Accommodation: 5* Grootbos Forest Lodge

Day 6: Gansbaai

This morning, embark on a marine adventure. Gansbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa offers the best shark cage diving in the world: attracting these awesome predators as they hunt for birds, penguins and seals. Look these hunters right in the eye and feel your adrenalin surge as you make memories you’ll keep for a lifetime.

No diving experience is needed and you’ll never be more than a metre below the surface, completely protected in a metal cage. We work in partnership with Marine Dynamics, conducting the tour on our luxury boat along with the help of a dedicated marine biologist. You can also view the sharks from an elevated viewing deck instead of a cage.

This thrilling encounter with one of nature’s most fearsome predators will stay with you for years to come. Venture into our underwater world with a tour company who prides itself on conducting responsible experiences – protecting both these creatures and the environment.

After which, suit up and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visit active beehives under the guidance of our experienced beekeeper and learn the important role bees play in our environment and how delicate their ecosystem is.

Look inside a beehive and bee amazed by the fractals in nature - the matrix of hexagonal cells. An insect society made up of individuals that come together to function as one.

Return to the farm and see how natural honey is spun and the many uses it has to offer. Conclude the Hive to Home experience with a delicious honey-inspired breakfast under the ancient Milkwood trees.

Accommodation: 5* Grootbos Forest Lodge

Day 7: Cape Town – Sabi Sands

This morning, make your way back to Cape Town and hop onto your domestic flight and arrive in South Africa’s premier wildlife viewing destination, Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Situated on Kruger National Park’s western corridor, Sabi Sands offers seclusion unfound in the rest of the park. Vehicle density in Sabi Sands is kept low, which in turn keeps wildlife density high. Leopard sightings here are legendary, as well as elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, and a myriad of antelope.

Then, check into your accommodation, Singita - Singita Sabi Sand. Set against an idyllic backdrop of classic bushveld within the game-rich Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Singita offers 30,000 acres of land in the heart of Big Five territory.

Accommodation:  5* Singita - Singita Sabi Sand

Day 8: Sabi Sands Game Drive

This morning after breakfast, start off your day bright and early with your early morning game drive followed by breakfast and some time for relaxation at camp before enjoying lunch followed by your afternoon game drive.

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is situated in the southwestern corner of the world-renowned Kruger National Park and consists of 65 000 hectares (160 620 acres). It is the most prestigious game reserve in South Africa and is famous for incredible leopard sightings.

With no fences between the farms (or, for that matter, between them and the Kruger Park), animals wander across vast stretches of grazing land as they did years and years ago. With one of the richest game populations in the country, the chances of seeing the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) are excellent.

Enjoy dinner back at your accommodation and exchange stories with your fellow guests of what you experienced during the day.

Accommodation:5* Singita - Singita Sabi Sand

Day 9:  Sabi Sands Game Drive – Cape Town

This morning after breakfast, set out in an open 4×4 safari vehicle in the company of a ranger and tracker team, who will attempt to track your favourite animals early with your early morning game drive followed by breakfast and some time for relaxation at camp before returning to Cape Town.

Arrive in Cape Town and check into your accommodation. Topping Cape Town’s new Museum of Contemporary African Art, the family-owned Silo Hotel hits all the high notes. This former grain elevator has been reimagined as a work of art in its own right, with 18-foot-high pillowed windows that glow like beacons over the V&A Waterfront. Watch the bustle below while soaking in the freestanding tub in one of 28 rooms, each a bold mix of colors, prints, textures and eras. Champagne and carving trolleys roll through the eclectic Granary Café, while the spa is sumptuously serene. Grab a glass of Pinotage and check out the write-home-about sunset on the wraparound rooftop terrace.

Spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Accommodation: 5* The Silo Hotel

Day 10:  Cape Town - Singapore

This morning after breakfast, if time permits, be at the helm of your retail therapy.

Depart for the airport for your flight back to Singapore.

Day 11: Singapore

Cross international dateline to Singapore

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Please note: This itinerary is designed to give you an idea of what to expect on the tour but is not set in stone. What we actually do on a given day is flexible and can be tailored based on the interests of the group.

This itinerary and its package inclusions might be changed later in time, subject to availability.

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