Africa

Southern Africa Essentials

11 Days, Departs – Daily. From NZD $6,091pp.
Details

Overview

Discover the iconic highlights of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, perfectly packed in this 11-day itinerary. Start your stay in the renowned Kruger National Park and encounter spectacular wildlife including the famous Big Five species. Your journey to Cape Town will showcase dramatic landscapes that surround the city and shortly followed by the magnificent Victoria Falls. Complete your tour with safari drives in Chobe National Park, known for its large herds of elephants and buffalos!

Itinerary Highlights

  • Experience the magnificent Victoria Falls with a tour and a sunset cruise
  • Explore the beautiful city of Cape Town and its breathtaking views
  • Visit Kruger National Park and Chobe National Park to meet the "Big Five" wildlife species

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Arrive to Johannesburg, overnight at airport hotel
  • Day 2: Fly to Kruger & Afternoon Game Activity
  • Day 3: Kruger Game Viewing Activities
  • Day 4: Fly to Cape Town
  • Day 5: Cape Town City Tour
  • Day 6: Cape Point & Peninsula Tour
  • Day 7: Fly to Victoria Falls & Sunset Zambezi River Cruise
  • Day 8: Victoria Falls Tour
  • Day 9: Transfer to Chobe, Botswana & Afternoon Game Viewing Activity
  • Day 10: Chobe Game Viewing Activities
  • Day 11: Depart Chobe to Kasane airport

Tailor-made suggestions

  • Cross the border into the unique, rugged and soulful land of Namibia and view magnificent wildlife that inhabit Etosha National Park.
  • Extend your stay in Cape Town and enjoy wine-tasting tours.
  • Spend a few extra days in Botswana and explore the majestic Okavango Delta.

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1 - Johannesburg: Arrive to Johannesburg, overnight at airport hotel

Arrive to Johannesburg, overnight at airport hotel
On arrival into Johannesburg Airport you will make your way outside of the arrivals hall and take the complimentary shuttle service to your airport hotel.

Depending on your selected hotel, you could opt for walking from the terminal to your hotel.


Day 2 - 4 - Johannesburg: Transfer from the airport to hotel / 3 Day Kruger Lodge Stay

Transfer from the airport to hotel
At the appropriate time today you will take the complimentary airport shuttle from your airport hotel back to Johannesburg Airport for your onward flight.


Transfer to Game Lodge
Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative who will transfer you into the game reserve and on to your safari lodge.


3 Day Kruger Lodge Stay
You will stay in one of the following depending on option chosen:

Comfort - Chacma Bush Camp
Superior - Garonga Safari Lodge
Deluxe - Little Garonga Safari Lodge

Arrival Day
Upon arrival at your camp you will be greeted by the friendly staff who will show you to your room. Take some time to settle in and, depending on your arrival time, you may have the chance to head out on your first game drive this afternoon before returning to camp for a delicious dinner.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Lodge Activities
During your stay you will have the opportunity to enjoy twice daily game drives, sundowner sessions and secret viewing spots. Each full day you will head out on early morning and late afternoon game drives with your experienced, knowledgeable guide, searching for the fascinating and beautiful wildlife that are lucky enough to call this beautiful part of the world home. Each drive is about 3-4 hours long.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Departure Day
Today you will bid farewell to your lodge as you are transferred by our representative to the airport.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.


Day 4 - Kruger: Depart / Arrive in Cape Town

Depart
At the scheduled time today you will be collected from your safari lodge by our representative and transferred back to the airport for your departing flight.


Arrive in Cape Town
On arrival into Cape Town Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Cape Town's most distinctive feature is its stunning setting: it lies on a dramatic coastline of pristine white beaches and ice waters, overlooked by the iconic flat-topped Table Mountain. Its attractions cover the natural world and the country's fascinating history in equal measure.


Day 5 - Cape Town: Cape Town City Tour

Cape Town City Tour
Departing between 8 and 8.30am, experience the highlights of the city as your drive through the city centre takes you past famous landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, City Hall and the Grand Parade. As your guide follows the city’s main thoroughfare of Adderley Street, you will see St. George’s Cathedral, before passing the Company Gardens and then the Malay Quarter (also known as the Bo-Kaap).

Continue to join a sparkling tour, during which you’ll witness the art of diamond cutting while discovering the history of the diamond and gold trade in South Africa. You will then be offered the option of continuing to Table Mountain, where you can ascend to the top (weather permitting) by revolving cable car (cost excluded and for your own account). See wildflowers, the famous silver tree, and marvel at a birds-eye view of the city and its beaches. On a clear day it is even possible to see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on one side and Cape Point on the other.

*Please note that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will be closed for its annual maintenance from Monday, 28th July 2025 to Sunday, 3rd August 2025. Weather permitting, the cableway is scheduled to re-open on Monday, 4th August 2025.


Day 6 - Cape Town: Cape Point & Peninsula Tour

Cape Point & Peninsula Tour
The tour commences with a pick up at your hotel between approximately 8:00am and 8:30am. Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. On through Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included in cost), go on to historic Simon's Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders Penguin Colony is home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information centre.

You then make your way to visit the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The Garden is one of eight National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes. When Kirstenbosch, the most famous of the gardens, was founded in 1913 to preserve the country's unique flora, it was the first botanical garden in the world with this ethos. The garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. You will be returned to your hotel at approximately 17:30.


Day 7 - Cape Town: Depart Cape Town / Arrive in Victoria Falls / Zambezi Sundowner Cruise

Depart Cape Town
At the scheduled time this morning our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Cape Town Airport for your departure flight.


Arrive in Victoria Falls
On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Words frequently fail to capture the grandeur of Victoria Falls, located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Spanning nearly two kilometres and dropping about 108 metres, this UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site is the largest waterfall in the world—thanks to the sheer volume of water cascading over its crags every minute.


Zambezi Sundowner Cruise
This evening you will enjoy a 2-hour sunset cruise on the Zambezi River which is a superb way to relax and enjoy the beauty of the river. Known as the fourth longest river in Africa, the Zambezi River also offers opportunities for activities such as kayaking, canoe trips, river cruises and daily floats on both the Zimbabwe and Zambian sides. Throughout your cruise you will have the opportunity to see a variety of game including hippo, crocodile, elephant and sometimes even rhino as well as a range of bird species. Included in your cruise are finger snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks. Upgrade to a smaller boat for a small supplement.


Day 8 - Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls Tour

Victoria Falls Tour
Today you will be collected from your hotel for your 2-hour guided tour of Victoria Falls. Throughout your tour, you will be accompanied by a guide who will be sure to point out all of the interesting flora, fauna, bird and wildlife as well as an interesting history of the falls. You will be provided with a raincoat when necessary and at the end of the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.


Day 9 - 11 - Victoria Falls: Depart for Chobe / 3 Day Chobe Lodge Stay

Depart for Chobe
At the scheduled time this morning you will be met at your hotel in Victoria Falls and transferred through the Botswana border (ensure you have your passport ready) and on to your safari camp at Chobe National Park.

Famed for its enormous herds of elephant and buffalo, Chobe is a diverse and wildlife rich National Park within easy reach of the mighty Victoria Falls. The river and woodland that line its banks are undoubtedly the biggest draw with animals dependent on the permanent water, lions and crocodiles are not unaware of this, and wait in anticipation of their next meal.


3 Day Chobe Lodge Stay
Chobe is not just a great introduction to Botswana. It also makes a rewarding repeat journey once you’ve ticked off the big stuff. It’s a place to search for the rare sable antelope, to spot that gem from the birders’ bucket list and to explore the remoter corners.

Arrival Day
Today you will arrive at your Chobe lodge where you will get settled in to your accommodation and, if time permitting, you will have the opportunity to head out on an afternoon game activity. If not, you will simple have time to relax and enjoy the grounds of the lodge.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Chobe Lodge Activities
Today you will have the opportunity to head out on two activities, one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon. Lodges have a range of activities on offer including game drives, boat cruises on the Chobe River, cycling and village visits.

Chobe will leave you feeling tiny as giant elephant bulls stroll up next to your vehicle or snorkel alongside your boat. It will make you feel lost as hundreds of hippos and buffaloes crowd you out on the floodplains. It will put your heart in your throat as prides of lions stalk antelopes by the water’s edge, and it will leave you alone with your thoughts while the classic red sunsets melt over the river to a soundtrack of whistling fish eagles.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Departure Day
After breakfast you will be transferred back through the park to Kasane airport for your onward flight.

Breakfast included.


Departs - Daily

SeasonTypeFromSpecial Offer
06 Jan 2025 - 31 Mar 2025 NZD$6091ppExpand to view offers
ComfortNZD$6091ppContact us
SuperiorNZD$8453ppContact us
DeluxeNZD$12939ppContact us
01 Apr 2025 - 30 Jun 2025 NZD$6166ppExpand to view offers
01 Jul 2025 - 31 Oct 2025 NZD$6182ppExpand to view offers
01 Nov 2025 - 30 Nov 2025 NZD$6199ppExpand to view offers
01 Dec 2025 - 18 Dec 2025 NZD$6109ppExpand to view offers

**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply

Comfort

Johannesburg, South Africa - City Lodge OR Tambo International Airport Hotel

Kruger, South Africa - Moditlo River Lodge

Cape Town, South Africa - La Splendida

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Phezulu Lodge

Chobe National Park, Botswana - River View Lodge

Superior

Johannesburg, South Africa - Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport

Kruger, South Africa - Garonga Safari Camp

Cape Town, South Africa - The Portswood Hotel

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Ilala Lodge

Chobe National Park, Botswana - Muchenje Safari Lodge

Deluxe

Johannesburg, South Africa - Peermont D'Oreale Grande Hotel

Kruger, South Africa - Garonga MCH Private Tented Camp

Cape Town, South Africa - Dock House Boutique Hotel

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Chobe National Park, Botswana - Ngoma Safari Lodge

Whats included?

  • Internal airfares starting and ending in Johannesburg
  • Accommodation with private facilities
  • Hotel taxes
  • Transfers
  • Entrance fees
  • English speaking guided tours
  • Meals as specified

What’s not included?

  • International airfares
  • Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities
  • Any items not mentioned as included

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Africa

From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

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Southern Africa Essentials

11 Days, Departs – Daily. From NZD $6,091pp.