Who comes on these tours?

We typically attract travelers who don’t like typical tourist tours — people who want more time in each location to take pictures and really get to know a place.

We use local travel writers, bloggers, and photographers to create our itineraries. And on the ground we stay flexible so we can take advantage of spur-of-the-moment opportunities.

Our guides on this trip have a background in photography and they take us to the most photogenic places off the beaten tourist path. This is why professional and amateur photographers are also attracted to our tours. We’re a nice mix of photography, food and culture as well as relaxation without the go-go-go of typical tourist travel or up-at-every-sunrise photography tour.

Participants are typically mid-forties to mid-sixties, fun and healthy with an interest in mid-range to luxury accommodations, unique experiences and taking good photos (even if all they bring is a smart phone).

Who Will Love This Trip?

This adventure is perfect for travelers who have never been to South Africa… who want to get the most bang for their buck on their flight... and for those who want to see all the best places without spending 3-4 weeks in this area and without a hop on, hop off bus tour and 5-7 hours of driving every day.

It’s not a quintessential photography destination. It’s more culture, food, wine and history. But still, we’ve added in some photography elements to be sure you come home with good photos.

Keep in mind that South Africa has an intense history of slavery and that’s still incredibly relevant and evolving today. We have an afternoon dedicated to this because we believe it’s an important part of understanding this country.

Animal and nature lovers will love this trip, too. We’ve added on a safari day in nearby Botswana and awe-inspiring Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This trip includes a domestic flight from Cape Town to reduce driving time.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, animal lover, nature lover, photographer, or a luxury traveler, this trip offers something extraordinary for everyone.

Here’s what you can expect…*

*always subject to change based on weather and other circumstances

The airport code for your arrival is CPT (Cape Town). Departure is: VFA (Victoria Falls Airport).

Please be sure to book your flight in and out of the right airports. You will most likely need to leave the U.S. on November 16, 2024 en route to CPT (arriving on Nov 17), then depart on November 27, 2024 from VFA (after 12pm).

November 17, 2024 - Arrival in Cape Town, Rest Day

You can schedule your arrival anytime on this day but check in at the hotel isn’t until 2pm.

It’s a rest day/arrival day and airport transfers are included.

If you’re not tired, there’s plenty to do nearby.  We recommend taking a walk along the V&A Waterfront, one of Cape Town's famous tourist attractions with pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets, theatres, and movies.

Meals and activities are not included on this day as everyone arrives at different times.  But we’re all connected via What’sApp so it’s likely groups will form to take most meals together.

Flights typically arrive between noon and 4pm. But some arrive earlier and some later. If you arrive significantly before 2pm, let us know and we’ll try and arrange an early check-in.

November 18, 2024 - Cape Town

Today you’ll have the morning to rest and stave off jet lag. If you’re up early, enjoy walking the hotel grounds or take a visit to the nearby Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Today we’ll also have booked a few experiences you can choose to join or not depending on how you’re feeling. The best way to see the full expanse of this city and it’s beautiful coastline is by helicopter. It’s not a photography helicopter so no hanging out the doors/windows. But it is a thrilling ride people love.

From there, if you’re interested, we have an optional tour of the city through the lens of Apartheid history. You’ll walk past city hall and go into Bo-Kaap where segregation of people based on skin color will be explained. (Also great for photography because the houses are painted individually in bright colors.) Then, you’ll go into the District 6 museum which shows how people were forcefully removed from their homes because the area was seen as prime real estate and therefore people of color were removed so not to generate wealth for the next generation.

For dinner, we’ll share a delicious meal at Upper Union, one of Cape Town’s most popular new restaurants in the Kloof Street neighborhood.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner are included. Lunch is on your own based on the optional activities you choose.

November 19, 2024 - Peninsula Tour

Travelling on one of the most beautiful and scenic routes on the planet - we’ll drive along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean under the shade of a unique mountain range of the 12 Apostles (breathtaking).

After passing along the pristine white beaches of Camps Bay, we’ll stop in Hout Bay, a historic fishing suburb for local fish and chips (so good). 

There’s a hidden gem here called the Legacy Collection — a wonderful studio hidden in a little industrial area on the fringe or the city. The studio has jewelry inspired by the original fence from Robben Island prison, each piece reflecting South Africa’s journey to democracy.  It’s worth a stop.

Departing Hout Bay, the drive is along the famous Chapman's Peak Drive, arriving at the legendary Cape of Good Hope. With a two-hundred-meter-high lighthouse, this is the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans collide.

Departing Cape Point, we will pass through Simon's Town and visit the penguin colony, where the African penguins are protected at Boulders Beach.  We’ll aim to be here in good photography light for better photos.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.

November 20, 2024 - Full Day Winelands tour

Traveling through lush valleys and mountain ranges, the landscape is as much an attraction as the fine wines and delicious foods. 

Franschhoek is first up and famously French.  The Huguenots settled here more than 300 years ago, bringing their vines with them.  It bills itself as the country’s gastronomic capital, and you’ll certainly have a delicious time. 

The town has world-famous wine farms, art galleries, guesthouses and hotels. It is considered to be one of the loveliest towns in the Cape.

We’ll start our tour with a visit to the Warwick Wine Estate to enjoy a tasting and picnic lunch. We’ll also visit 1-2 additional wineries for tastings in the afternoon as well as having time to explore the town of Franschhoek on your own before retuning to Cape Town in the early evening.

Dinner this evening at a delicious steakhouse that features non-traditional but local South African meats as well as plenty of other options.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.

November 21, 2024 — Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve.

Far away from the city lights, in the vast open space where rock formations frame the horizon is the Kagga Kamma Nature reserve. 

Kagga Kamma offers a rustic, remote, back-to-nature retreat that provides peace, tranquility, and relaxation. 

We’ll stop in the town of Tulbagh for an olive tasting at Oakhurst Olive Far and a wine tasting at Rijks Wine Estate (with snacks!)

On arrival, we’ll have lunch at the lodge and indulge in a complimentary welcome hand or foot massage. There are different activities available here including two pools and full spa facilities. We’ll also have a gin-tasting session for anyone that would like to join otherwise it’s a relaxation and leisurely afternoon enjoying the essence of this area.

Dinner will be at the lodge under the stars (dependent on weather).  And after dinner, there’s a stargazing experience for those who would like to participate along with a late-night, evening nature reserve drive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.

November 22, 2024

The original tribes of this area are the San and Khoi. We’ll take a walk and learn about these cultures and the rock art that can be found here including cave drawings dating back 6,000 years!

The afternoon is for relaxing before a sundowner tour which includes an evening drive to a picturesque viewing point over the nature reserve.

For dinner, we’ll have a traditional South African braai in a private boma setting. Braai is the South African version of a barbeque cooked over a coal fire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.

November 23, 2024

Breakfast will be at the hotel and then we’ll drive back to Cape Town stopping first at the V&A Waterfront.

This is a popular part of town offering a mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll have time to visit some shops, enjoy a diverse range of cuisines at waterfront restaurants, or head to the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Lunch will be on your own today (we’ll give you some suggestions).

In the late afternoon, we’ll check in to our hotel.

Optional sunset shoot on Table Mountain: The view from the top of Table Mountain is breathtaking but it’s often covered in clouds. We’ll do our best to monitor the weather and if the conditions look right, we’ll arrange for a sunset photo shoot at the top before dinner.

We’ll have a light dinner tonight at the hotel as we prepare for our flight departure the next morning.

Meals: Breakfast and light dinner are included. Lunch is on your own.

November 24, 2024

Breakfast at the hotel followed by checkout and our international flight to Victoria Falls (included in your fee).

On arrival, we’ll have lunch at a nearby restaurant then hop on a Zambezi River cruise where the likelihood of seeing hippos and crocodiles is high.

In the evening, you’ll enjoy the amenities of the hotel, which has spa services, a swimming pool, and a beautiful garden area with view of the Zambezi River. Or we can help you arrange another activity if you’re not tired from your flight and cruise.

For dinner we’ll go to a spot with a great view of Victoria Falls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.

November 25, 2024

Depart for Private Victoria Falls Tour after breakfast where you’ll have the opportunity to explore Victoria Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides.

Also known as ‘Mosi Oa Tunya’ by locals (meaning “The Smoke that Thunders”), Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Lunch after the tour is on your own (we’ll provide suggestions).

Then the afternoon and evening are free to explore for more photos or get a good night’s rest before our departure in the morning.

Dinner tonight will not be a set group meal. If you’d rather eat on your own or skip dinner you’re welcome to do this. If you’d rather join others for a meal we’ll set a time to get together.

Meals: Lunch and dinner are on your own. We’ve found that most people are tired by this part of the tour so only breakfast is included today.

November 26, 2024

The drive to Botswana from here is around 90 minutes. After breakfast, we’ll head straight to Chobe National Park in northern Botswana near the vast Okavango Delta.

This area is most known for its large herds of elephants and Cape buffalo, which converge along the Chobe Riverfront in the dry months.

Lions, antelopes and hippos inhabit the woods and lagoons around Linyanti Marsh. The floodable grasslands of the Savuti Marsh attract numerous bird species, plus migrating zebras. 

Lunch will be served on our safari.  Then, we’ll transfer back to the hotel for leisure and relaxation.

Tonight, we’ll have our farewell dinner with a traditional Boma dinner with drumming.

November 27, 2024

Enjoy one last breakfast before our departure back to the airport.

Your return flight should depart from Victoria Falls airport. Most flights connect through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Doha, or Dubai before going back to the U.S. or Canada.

 Price:

This trip is a great value for your money.

It includes gorgeous bed and breakfast properties, delicious food and wine, a wide variety of experiences, and is a unique way to see this part of Africa.

The total cost is $7,497 and there are no single supplement fees. Each guest gets their own room.

But you can save even more by inviting a friend or spouse. The cost goes down to $6,897 per person in a shared a room.

Couples sometimes ask why there’s not a bigger discount for shared occupancy and this is because a lot of African properties charge per person and not per room. It just is what it is.

Your fee includes nearly all your meals, drinks (often including wine and/or spirits), an internal flight to Zimbabwe, a helicopter ride, a private safari, a river cruise, all your guides and drivers, as well as all your accommodations and entrance fees. We also manage and pay all of your gratuities so you don’t have to hand out cash at every stop. It’s an incredible deal!

There may be a meal or two that you need to cover during your stay. Other items not included are any incidentals such as laundry or mini-bar charges.

A deposit is due at the time of registration.  The balance is due in two equal payments 30 and 60 days after your deposit.