South Africa
Join us on a 9-day Journey to South Africa on your private small group journey. Visit sites such as Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Robin Island, Langa Township, and much more!
What’s Included
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The Itinerary
Day 1 – Depart The USA
Depart the USA on your international flight. (Note: Those making their own arrangements will start with EOX on Day 2.)
Day 2 – Arrive in Cape Town
Welcome to Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest colonized city! Her streets hold fascinating stories. From the earliest San people, the colonizers, slaves brought from the East to the likes of Nelson Mandela, it boasts a multicultural diversity. Different languages and accents, both local and foreign, ring through her streets. Hailed for its natural beauty, Cape Town is home to awe-inspiring natural wonders - the world’s smallest but most diverse floral kingdom, the famous Winelands, Blue Flag beaches, and more! Transfer to your hotel.*(D)
*(Transfer included if air purchased through EOX or if you provide EOX with your flight information at least one month prior to your departure.)
Day 3 – Cape Town
Take a short jaunt down to Cape Peninsula, home to spectacular wildlife and landscapes. While on the peninsula, you’ll explore several points of interest. Hout Bay was originally a small fishing village. Now, it’s a vibrant beach with many highlights, such as World of Birds, Imizamo Yethu, and Seal Island. Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular marine drives anywhere in the world. At the southernmost tip of the peninsula, Cape Point is a spectacular sight, home to breathtaking bays, beaches, and hills and valleys. Boulders Penguin Beach is home to the unique and endangered land-based colony of African Penguins. Those visiting this beach get the chance to observe these penguins up close, either on land or swimming in the water with them. Kalk Bay Theatre is all about the atmosphere, vibe, and heart of South Africa. Most staged performances at the theatre are created by FollowSpot Productions, a multi-award-winning, in-house production company. Combining their talents in music, dance, comedy, and cirque, they bring to life shows that captivate you from beginning to end. (B)
Day 4 – Cape Penisula
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, the notorious Robben Island Prison is where Africa’s political prisoners, including former President Nelson Mandela, were kept during the colonial and Apartheid years of South Africa. Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain in the heart of Cape Town harbor, the V & A Waterfront has become South Africa’s most visited destination. Exciting shopping and entertainment venues are intermingled with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels, and luxury apartments. Then, spend the evening with Lionel Davis, a former political prisoner who served several years alongside Nelson Mandela on Robben Island. Lionel tells the story of how he and his colleagues ended up on the island, and you will have a rare insider’s look at life in the prison. (B, D)
Day 5 – Robben Island
Perhaps the most compelling reason to visit a township is the people who live there - their humanity, hospitality, and warmth. This locally guided experience gives you access to the streets and neighborhoods of Langa Township, which officially opened in 1927. Once, it was a horrific vehicle of apartheid. Now, 20+ years after the end of apartheid, optimism has taken root, and these people, though not removed from hard circumstances, have an aura of positivity and a deep connection to each other. See their homes, schools, and street food. Engage with the locals. Conversations with strangers is highly encouraged. This is your chance to learn about the hopes, fears, dreams, and challenges of an entirely different people group. Experience South African art in musical form with a private house concert by local folk musician Jennifer Eaves. Jenny is a much-loved musician, and her melodic storytelling will introduce you to real characters, experiences, and issues in South Africa from an artist’s perspective. (B, L)
Day 6 – Langa Township
Streetwires is a FairTrade organization known for the finest wire and bead craft art in the world. All craft is hand-made by permanently employed artists that work full time from the studios in Cape Town. You’ll get to tour the studios and meet these artists. You can also participate in a beading workshop facilitated by one of the local artists to learn the intricacies of this traditionally African art form. Explore the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. This location is a favorite among visitors and locals. In 1913, the venture began, and a rundown farm began to transform into this spectacular paradise. The Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most distinct neighborhoods and home to the colored people of Malay heritage, many of whom are descendants of the first slaves ever brought to the Cape. Rainbow-hued homes proclaim the vibrance and cultural wealth of Bo Kaap. Indulge in an authentic Cape Malay Cooking Experience. Jasmina, a local Cape Malayan woman, will invite you into her kitchen and guide you through a traditional recipe. Try your hand at mixing the right amount of spices and perfectly folding a samosa. At the end, you’ll enjoy a 3-course home-cooked meal as she shares her life story and experiences living in Cape Town through Apartheid and the new Democracy. (B, D)
Day 7 – Cape Town
Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. It was inspired by the Dutch East India Company that was supplied with fresh vegetables and fruit during the days when the Cape was a halfway station between Europe and Asia. But the name Babylonstoren also links back to ancient Nebuchadnezzar’s mythical hanging gardens. Pick, taste, smell, touch, plant, harvest, prune, and mulch. This paradise welcomes your involvement. It is a place of community for gardeners, horticulturists, botanists, and lovers of nature from anywhere on earth. GOLD Restaurant is a vibrant, eclectic Pan-African experience in the heart of Cape Town. A typical evening at GOLD Restaurant starts off with an interactive drum circle, teaching participants how to play the djembe to the rhythms and sounds of Africa. After a traditional hand-washing ceremony, participants are led on a culinary adventure through Africa. (B, D)
Day 8 – Cape Town
Continue your journey with an optional safari experience (for an additional fee), or return home with a keen appreciation for the cultural depth and majestic beauty of South Africa. (B)
Day 9 – Return home
Return home with life-changing memories.*
*(Transfer to airport included if air purchased through EOX or if you provide EOX with your flight information at least one month prior to your departure. Those not providing this information may have to make their own transfer arrangements to return to the airport.)
B=Breakfast Included
D=Dinner Included
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