Jun 21 — Jun 29, 2025

Bucket List: South Africa

$2995 / person

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Trip Type

Land Only

Deposit

$150 / person

Occupancy

Double Only

The Faraway Travels Bucket List Group is at it again! Join us as we jetset to South Africa!

This price is for Land Only! The air may be added once prices become available.

Initial deposit is $150.00 per person based on double occupancy only!

Trip insurance is not included but is highly recommended. Contact me for an insurance quote. Please be aware that this trip non-refundable!

There is absolutely no doubt that South Africa is blessed with spectacular natural beauty, a fantastic climate and diverse regions with diverse cultures. To say that South Africa is a virtual paradise is an understatement.

The country geographically consists of an unspoiled coastline stretching for 2800 kilometers/1740 miles, dramatic mountains and cliffs, extensive subtropical forest and outstanding wetlands. Although a comparatively large country, South Africa is easy to get around due to its excellent air and rail services.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Commodore Hotel

Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA, 7806

The Commodore is decorated with nautical motifs and offers panoramic views of Table Bay and Table Mountain. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, sauna, and fitness and massage facilities.

The rooms at The Commodore include air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, satellite TV and a private bathroom with a bathtub. There is a 24-hour reception and 24-hour room service. Some rooms have a balcony with views of the Atlantic Ocean or Table Mountain.

There is a business center with free internet access, a gym and a spa with relaxing massages. When the weather is nice, the terrace with shaded areas is perfect for a drink or a snack.

The Clipper restaurant offers buffet breakfast and à la carte menus with seafood dishes and local wines. The Admiralty Lounge Bar serves cocktails 24 hours a day.

Hazyview Sun Hotel

R40 Road, Hazyview, South Africa

Located in Hazyview, this rural hotel is ideal for nature lovers and those seeking peace and quiet.

Guests can enjoy the pleasant ambiance of one of the 87 non-smoking rooms. The reception desk is open around the clock. Amenities include a baggage storage service, a safe and a currency exchange service. Wireless internet access (no extra charge) is provided in public areas.

The tour desk offers assistance with booking excursions. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. A garden provides extra space for rest and relaxation in the open air. Additional amenities include a TV room and a playroom.

Guests arriving by car can park their vehicles in the parking lot. Further services and facilities include a babysitting service, a transfer service, room service, a laundry service and a hotel shuttle bus. Complimentary newspapers are available.

Garden Court Sandton City

Corner West & Maude Streets, Johannesburg, South Africa

This urban hotel is located in the heart of Johannesburg. There are a number of bars, shops and restaurants just ouside the door. The nearest airport is Johannesburg – Jan Smuts (JNB), 20 miles.

444 rooms, including 270 single rooms and 171 double rooms, are located on 9 stories and can be reached by elevator. The 24-hour reception desk makes arrival and departure effortless. Amenities include a baggage storage service, a safe and a currency exchange service. Wireless internet access allows guests to stay connected while on vacation. The tour desk offers assistance with booking excursions.

The hotel has wheelchair-accessible facilities. There are a number of shops as well. A garden provides extra space for rest and relaxation in the open air. Parking spaces are available to guests traveling by car. Further services include a babysitting service (for a fee), medical assistance, a transfer service, room service, a laundry service and a coin-operated laundry. Daily newspapers are available for purchase.

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Trip Itinerary

DAY 1
June 21
After your overnight flight, welcome to Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, strategically situated at the southwestern tip of Africa. The city lies about 60km north of Cape Point, in a natural bowl with the magnificent Table Mountain to the rear and the vast Atlantic Ocean to the front. It has the reputation as being the most laid-back city in the Southern Hemisphere with Capetonians adhering to Africa time, which is somewhat slower than most other major cities.
This relaxed atmosphere is attributed to Table Mountain, known to be amongst the most spiritual places on earth. People are drawn towards the mountain and every visitor feels the need to climb up or take the revolving Cable Car to the top. At 1086 metres above sea level, you will see the most dramatic views of the Cape Peninsula. The city is safer than most of any continents with a bustling street life of shops, cafes and market stalls, as well as street artists.
Upon arrival, your group will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-In and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Check in time: 2pm and after. Early check in will be subject to availability and at the discretion of the hotel.
Note: Arrival transfer is a group transfer for all guests arriving on the same flight and at the same time. Any travelers arriving at a different time must pay extra for a private transfer.
Meals included today: None
Check in at Commodore hotel
DAY 2
June 22
After breakfast you will enjoy a half-day orientation tour of Cape Town. You will see iconic buildings, snatches of history, and experience the uniqueness of this city. Drive past the country’s oldest building, the Castle, and a short distance away, the Company Gardens, both historically fascinating and well conserved.
Our drive continues past the Parliament Buildings, City Hall and the Slave Lodge; you will sense the depth of history via their distinctive architecture. Colonial then changes to colourful, as you move up the cobblestoned hills to the Malay Quarter, and marvel at the ice-cream colors of the quaint Bo-Kaap homes.
Take the cable car up to the summit of the legendary Table Mountain from where you will be able to see to the end of the world, including the city and surrounding layout of this southernmost tip of Africa.
Then transfer to Stellenbosch and the surrounding wine lands. Historical, glorious Stellenbosch with its Cape Dutch architecture, is the warm and wonderful heart of the Cape Winelands, and is surrounded by stunning wine estates. It’s truly the prettiest town, home to one of the country’s prestigious universities, and you’ll love exploring the fine art galleries, the architecture, the history, and the curious and quaint shops on your orientation tour of this small town.
We then take a leisurely drive to acquaint you with the beauty of this world-renowned wine region, before inducting you into the wine-making process in a fascinating cellar tour. And when the wine’s made, it needs to be tasted! Included are two wine tastings at Stellenbosch wine estates.… and no doubt, you’ll leave with a favorite bottle or two under your arm.
Return to your hotel after the tour.
Meals included today: Breakfast
DAY 3
June 23
After breakfast, take a full day “Walk to Freedom” tour, including Robben Island. Transfer to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Situated in the heart of Cape Town’s working harbor, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the city’s most visited destination, offering a range of exciting activities, diverse cuisine and shopping for the discerning traveler.
First visit Robben Island. Board your boat cruise from the Waterfront to the famous Robben Island – a cruel home of our Nelson Mandela for so many years, it’s a highly charged and emotional moment when you visit the site of this suffering, and realize how far South Africa has come from those days. For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, about 12 kilometers from Cape Town, was a place of exile and imprisonment where rulers sent those they regarded as outcasts and troublemakers. Since 1997 Robben Island has been a museum acting as a focal point of South African heritage.
Return to the V & A Waterfront where you will have some free time to enjoy lunch (at own expense) Then drive past the Slave Lodge and City Hall to view Mandela’s Statue, site of the first ever public speech Nelson Mandela delivered after his release from prison.
Visit the riveting District Six Museum for a guided tour and travel through the District Six Site (Museum closed Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays) for a sharp reminder of the past.
We proceed to tour Langa Township, the oldest apartheid housing scheme in the Cape, visiting the local market – Gugu Sthebe, where the community showcase their skills and various projects including arts & crafts and a traditional healer.
Return to the hotel after the tour.
Meals included today: Breakfast
DAY 4
June 24
Check out at Commodore Hotel
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Cape Town airport for your flight to Kruger. (This Flight is included in your package) On arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Meals included today: Breakfast
Check in at Hazyview Sun Hotel
DAY 5
June 25
Today you will enjoy a full day of game-viewing in the park in an open vehicle. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa.
There are approximately 147 mammal species here, including the `Big 5′: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino (black & white). A safari in an open vehicle at Kruger National Park isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s a privilege beyond imagination, for this, one of the world’s most famous game reserves, is not only vast with a glorious diversity of wildlife and birdlife, it’s also renowned for its ever-changing African landscapes. For photographers, it’s a dream destination, with no fewer than 147 mammals and over 500 species of birds, waiting for the click of your camera.
Our qualified, experienced field guides know the terrain and the protocol intimately, and their skills, combined with the superb visibility afforded by our specially modified safari vehicles, guarantee a wonderful wild experience. Kruger is teaming with game, big and small. You may be lucky and spot Africa’s ‘Big Five’ – the exhilaration of seeing wildlife at close range is a truly unforgettable experience!
Return to the hotel after the game drive.
Meals included today: None
DAY 6
June 26
Check out from Hazyview Sun Hotel
Enjoy breakfast and then check out. Transfer to Johannesburg and traverse the glorious Panorama route taking in the spectacular scenery. Gasp at the glory of the never-ending Lowveld landscape from the ledge of God’s Window, a boundless view of forested mountains and fertile plains, explore the extraordinary rock formations of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, one of nature’s most intriguing creations and 3 Rondavels at the legendary Blyde River Canyon, third largest in the world.
Later this afternoon, arrive in Johannesburg. Johannesburg, often referred to as Jo’burg, is South Africa’s largest city, the centre of South African commerce and industry as well as the financial capital of Gauteng. Renowned as the City of Gold, Johannesburg is a vibrant city with a vast web of suburbs and townships, with a wealth of things to see and do. Transfer to the hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Meals Included Today: Breakfast
Check in at Garden Court Sandton City
DAY 7
June 27
After breakfast take a tour to Soweto with a township lunch at Sakhumzi’s Restaurant. SOWETO an acronym for South Western Township, is the largest Black residential area in South Africa that has a population of more than 3.5 Million, who despite living in crowded and chaotic conditions, have a tangible sense of community.
This tour gives you an opportunity to interact with local residents of the township and ask questions that have been on your mind — such as how life was under apartheid, how life is now, or questions about the economy or current events.
Visit the Kliptown Open Air Museum, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Church and have a photo stop outside of the Mandela House. Township food, although simple, is delicious. There’s something about its simplicity and communal serving that makes you feel like you are not just experiencing good food, but you are a part of the community too.
You will have lunch at Sakhumzi’s Restaurant. Brimming with good cheer, Sakhumzi is popular for its daily lunch buffets. Patrons spill onto the street tables and mingle joyfully with passersby. Expect African staples such as mutton stew, umleqwa (traditional-style steamed chicken) and mealie pap — as well as more conventional burgers and steaks.
Visit the Apartheid Museum. This is a must-see for anyone wanting to really understand and experience what apartheid felt like. The exhibits include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human experiences that are part of the epic saga known as apartheid.
Return to the hotel after the tour and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Meals Included Today: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 8
June 27
Check out from Garden Court Sandton City
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Johannesburg airport for your flight.
Check out time: 11am. Late check out is not included.
Note: Departure transfer is a group transfer for all guests departing on the same flight and at the same time. Any travelers departing at a different time must pay extra for a private transfer.
Meals Included Today: Breakfast

Important Information

Triple and Quad occupancy is not allowed for this destination. Hotels are subject to change based on the number of rooms requested. Passports are required. Passports must not expire within 6 months after the trip is complete. Neither immunizations nor Visa’s are required. The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR), and US dollars are not widely accepted, but are allowed. More information will follow as we get closer to the time of travel.

Don’t forget Travel Insurance!

Why buy a Travel Insurance plan?
Travel mishaps occur every day. No matter how hard you try, there are some things you just can’t plan for:

If a family member gets sick.
If your baggage is lost.
If your trip is delayed.
Your passport is lost or stolen.
If weather prevents your travel.
You need to see a doctor for a sudden injury.
If you miss a flight connection.

In addition to trip cancellation and interruption, most travel insurance plans include coverage for trip delay, missed connection, lost or delayed baggage, medical expenses, and emergency evacuation with repatriation of remains.

24-hour assistance services are included to help the traveler with challenges such as emergency medical assistance, lost baggage tracking, emergency cash transfer, emergency or last-minute travel arrangements, assistance with replacing lost travel documents, and much more.

Our recommended provider:

Travel Insured