On Safari in South Africa – Mabula Lodge with Three-night Cape Town Extension

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Fly to South Africa

  Fly overnight to Johannesburg.

• Day 2 • Arrival in Johannesburg

  Meet your transfer representative at the airport for the transfer to Mabula Game Lodge. Upon arrival at the lodge, unwind and settle in, perhaps making use of the wellness and spa facilities. This evening, dinner is served at the lodge, as you enjoy a first night under the starry African sky, looking forward to a wonderful, all-inclusive break ahead.

• Day 3 • Morning game drive and wildlife talk

  Rise and shine early this morning, grab a tea or coffee and perhaps some rusks then head out into the Mabula Private Game Reserve on the first of many wonderful safaris. All safari drives are in open-air 4x4 vehicles for maximum visibility. Keep your eyes open for the fabled Big Five, hyena, jackal, antelope, the elusive cheetah and adorable honey badger. Upon your return to the lodge, enjoy a well-earned, leisurely breakfast. This afternoon, you’ll enjoy a fascinating wildlife talk. Delivered by the resident ecologist and reserve manager, the talk will introduce you to some of the 60 mammals and the 300-plus species of birds and reptiles that inhabit the reserve, arming you with some interesting knowledge for forthcoming week. This evening, after your first full day in your wonderful new surroundings, enjoy dinner at the lodge.

• Day 4 • Hornbill Project visit and afternoon game drive

  This morning you’ll visit the Hornbill Project, located within the boundaries of the reserve. Founded in 1999, the award-winning Hornbill Project aims to change the fortunes of this iconic, endangered species through a number of different evidence-based conservation techniques. The southern hornbill is a focal point in South African culture, and you’ll learn all about them this morning. This afternoon, you’ll head out into the reserve on a safari, equipped with the knowledge from this morning’s visit and yesterday’s wildlife talk, before dinner is served under the stars at the lodge this evening.

• Day 5 • Morning game drive and afternoon at leisure

  Rise and shine early this morning for an included morning safari, giving you the chance to spot herds of antelopes and other pretty moving in the open as they tend to move around more early in the day, to find the best protection from predators. Return to the lodge and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps making use of the wellness and spa facilities or the leisure area, including tennis and cricket, before dinner is served at the lodge this evening.

• Day 6 • Morning bush walk, game drive and sundowners

  After breakfast, join your guide for a gentle guided bush walk into the reserve. Enjoying the fresh air as you stretch your legs, giving you a different more intimate perspective of the reserve. Being closer to the ground also allows you to track the paths of animals including kudu, zebra and maybe even lions that have followed the same path just a few hours before you. This afternoon, embark on another open-air safari into the reserve, keeping your eyes open for the Big Five. After the safari, you’ll stop at a picturesque spot to enjoy a refreshing sundowner and some snacks as the sun slips behind the horizon and the sky turns a vibrant patchwork of red, purple, orange and yellow – a fitting end to a wonderful day. Please note: Children aged under 16 cannot participate in the bush walk for safety reasons.

• Day 7 • Morning game drive and stargazing experience

  Rise and shine early this morning as you head out into the reserve on your penultimate safari, hopefully spotting something new to tick off your list. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge upon your return. This evening, you’ll spend an unforgettable night stargazing. As the sun goes down, thousands of twinkling stars, including the Milky Way, reveal themselves to you, completely free of any light pollution. Your guide will point out the different constellations visible as you spend a wonderful evening beneath the starry South African night sky.

• Day 8 • Morning game drive and bush lunch

  Today, your last full day at the lodge, brings the chance to take one last safari out into the Mabula Private Game Reserve, giving you a final opportunity to tick animals off your list. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning before setting off into the reserve. After the safari you’ll stop at a scenic spot in the bush to enjoy a delicious traditional lunch – a fitting finale to an exceptional week on safari.

• Days 9 • Travel to Johannesburg and fly to Cape Town

  Have your last breakfast at the lodge and say goodbye to your hosts as you depart for Johannesburg for a flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your charming, centrally located hotel ahead of the rest of the day at leisure. If you’re feeling up to it this evening, why not take a stroll along the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront?

• Day 10 • Day at leisure or optional Cape Peninsula drive

  Enjoy breakfast and get ready for a full day at leisure in Cape Town, perhaps venturing out into the city for some self-guided exploration. If you’d prefer a more structured day, why not join an optional drive around the Cape Peninsula? The first stop on this unmissable excursion will be breath-taking Chapman’s Peak (weather permitting), famous for its idyllic picnic spots and glorious 180-degree views of the Cape’s rugged coastline. This legendary route encompasses nine kilometres of mountainous seafront and promises some of the region’s finest natural landscapes from Hout Bay to Noordhoek.    After an extraordinary time on the road, you’ll visit the Cape of Good Hope, a stretch of flower-strewn headland leading onto the Atlantic Coast. Here, you’ll have time to admire the fields of native fynbos in the heart of the Cape Floral region, which is home to a fifth of Africa’s total floral species. Reconnect with the natural world, or perhaps search for the perfect photo spot, amongst the colourful wildflowers and imposing clifftops overlooking the open ocean. If you visit between early August and late September, you’ll experience the region’s flora at their most vivid as the Cape enters the height of its flowering season.    Another wildlife encounter awaits on the return leg of the day’s journey as you make a stop at Boulders’ Beach, home to flocks of free-roaming native penguins. Though their species is endangered, this group of African penguins, numbering around 3000, often nest along the bay’s craggy rockfaces and make for a perfect picture stop. Please note: this optional excursion can only be booked locally while in South Africa.

• Day 11 • Day at leisure

  Those in favour of a more laid-back day will be spoilt for choice of coastal gems to enjoy in Cape Town, with Clifton Beach and Bloubergstrand Beach amongst the most popular options. Table Mountain is another must-see landmark and promises a relaxing, scenic ride to its summit onboard its dedicated cable car service.   Later, enjoy a final evening in Cape Town ahead of the return journey. 

• Day 12 • Morning at leisure and return flight

  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning, check out of the hotel and head to the airport later in the afternoon for your flight back to the UK.  

• Day 13 • Land in the UK

  Touch down in the UK at the end of an unforgettable safari adventure.   

• Day 14 • Drive to Chattanooga and Atlanta

  Take a scenic drive south to Chattanooga, a pivotal city throughout the American Civil War thanks to the sprawl of railroads that pass through it. This quintessential southern trading town, beautifully set on the Tennessee River, still retains a strong connection with its military history and is teeming with fascinating museums to explore. You’ll stop at the town’s Terminal Station, affectionately named the Chattanooga Choo Choo, which put the town on the map throughout the golden age of rail. Here, you can see the original building and tracks which has connected Chattanooga to the rest of the US for over a century. Afterwards, head to Atlanta airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

• Day 15 • Arrive back in the UK

  Arrive back in the UK, after a wonderful journey through America's fascinating Southern heartland.