South Africa and Namibia by Sea: Around the Cape of Good Hope – with Smithsonian Journeys

This program offers the opportunity to experience the abundant wildlife of South Africa's Eastern Cape from the comfort of a 5-star lodge. Participate in four game drives through the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park area, punctuated by gourmet meals and time at leisure in the luxury surroundings of the Lion Sands River Lodge.

Day 1 – Johannesburg, South Africa

Arrive at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where you will be met and transferred to the 5-star 54 on Bath Hotel, located in the Rosebank Mall. After check in, the afternoon is at leisure, perhaps for browsing the shops in the mall or making use of the hotel's amenities. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception.

Day 2 – Johannesburg | Skukuza | Lion Sands River Lodge

Following an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your mid-morning flight to Skukuza, where a representative of the lodge will meet you and transfer you to the Lion Sands Lodge, your home for the next two nights.

Check in and enjoy lunch, followed by a late afternoon game drive, the first of four such drives during your time at the Lodge. Set out in a custom open safari vehicle, accompanied by an experienced ranger and a Shangaan tracker, who serves as a wildlife spotter as you spend three hours in search of sightings.

Lion Sands lies along the Sabie River and encompasses more than 25,000 acres of protected habitat—riverine forest, bushveld, and open savanna—that shelters one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the southern hemisphere. It is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) as well as cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, and over 450 species of birds. At the end of the safari, return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - Lion Sands River Lodge

Today begins with an early morning wakeup call, followed by coffee and tea and a morning game drive. The route will vary depending on what the rangers have learned about the location of wildlife, and you will be surprised at how different the landscape appears as the sun rises.

Return to the camp for a hearty breakfast and some time at leisure in your room or at the pool or in the lounge—perhaps a nap before lunch and another game drive in late afternoon.

Dinner will be served in the early evening, on your return to the lodge.

Day 4 - Lion Sands River Lodge | Durban

Another early wakeup call and morning safari are followed by a late breakfast and check-out, as you say farewell to the Lions Sands Lodge and fly to Durban. On arrival at Durban's King Shaka Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Oyster Box Hotel, where the balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 5 - Durban | Embark

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, meet your guide for a day of exploring Durban, a city whose culture is a blend of African, Indian, and colonial influence.

Begin with a guided tour of Victoria Market, also known as the "Indian Market," where vendors hawk wares from spices to saris to Zulu handicrafts. Enjoy time at leisure browsing the stalls here before taking lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visits to the Durban Botanic Gardens (the oldest in Africa) and the Phansi Museum, showcasing traditional beadwork, masks and other Zulu art and crafts, are followed by a transfer to the pier and embarkation.

Your hotels:

54 on Bath is a five-star boutique hotel located in the upscale suburb of Rosebank in Johannesburg. The interior features plush furnishings and curated art pieces that reflect the city’s cosmopolitan flair. Rooms are appointed with luxurious bedding, floor-to-ceiling windows, and all the amenities you’d expect in a luxury property. It is equipped with a pool and a fitness center, and it has direct access to the Rosebank Mall.

Nestled along the Sabie River within South Africa’s renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Lion Sands River Lodge features 20 thatched suites, each designed in a contemporary African style and equipped with modern amenities. Exclusive accommodations, sensory comforts, intuitive service, good food and fine South African wine come together to create a safari in style.

The Oyster Box is an iconic hotel on the beachfront just north of Durban. Established in 1947 and restored in 2009, it blends old world elegance with contemporary amenities, including an award-winning spa, two heated swimming pools, and a well-equipped gym. Three onsite restaurants offer a variety of cuisines.

Your program includes:

·        One night at 54 on Bath; two nights at Lion Sands River Lodge; one night at the Oyster Box.

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day in Johannesburg

·        Transfer and luggage handling during the program

·        Welcome cocktail reception on Day 1

·        Breakfast on Days 2, 3, 4, and 5

·        Lunch on Days 2, 3, 4, and 5

·        Dinner on Days 2, 3 and 4

·        Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary

·        Local English-speaking guide

·        Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

·        Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day

·        Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

·        It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.

·        Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.

·        Luggage taken to Lion Sands River Lodge will be limited; the remainder of luggage will be stored and brought to the hotel in Durban.

·        The official currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

·        This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

·        Program is offered on a space available basis.

·        Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

54 on Bath        

54 Bath Avenue

Rosebank, Gauteng

South Africa

Telephone: +27 11 344 8500

Lion Sands River Lodge

2GHF+3F

Sabie Park, 2160

South Africa

+27 13 735 5000

Oyster Box Hotel

2 Lighthouse Road

Umhlanga Rocks

Umhlanga 4319

South Africa

Telephone: +27 31 514 5000

This program, based in a luxury lodge in the middle of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, provides an experience unlike any other. Surrounded by 500,000 acres of desert wilderness, nestled among red-tinged sand dunes, beneath an almost always cloudless sky, you encounter a stillness and awe that is unavailable elsewhere in the world. As you explore the area on scenic drives, or on foot, or atop a quad bike, you come to appreciate the extraordinary diversity of the planet and of the plants and animals that eke out a living on it.

Day 1 – Walvis Bay | Kwessi Dunes

Disembark and transfer to the Walvis Bay Airport for your charter flight to Kwessi Dunes, located deep in the Namib Desert. The flight itself is an experience you will not soon forget, as your light aircraft affords stunning aerial views of Sossusvlei and the desert. When you arrive at the Kwessi airstrip, you will be met and driven aboard 4-wheel drive vehicles to Kwessi Dunes Lodge, your home for the next three nights.

Enjoy lunch at the Lodge followed by check-in formalities. Then, once settled in your room, join fellow guests for tea and your choice of a late afternoon activity. You may choose from:

Scenic Drives: Aboard 4-wheel drive vehicles, venture into a realm of red sand dunes, expansive golden plains, and solitary mountains as you meander through the vast desert wilderness of the half-million-acre NamibRand Nature Reserve. The wildlife here is not like the Big Five of East Africa's savanna, but there are intriguing desert-adapted species, including gemsbok, springbok, and oryx (Namibia's national animal), as well some foxes and jackals. But the special beauty of this special place is the extreme aridity that produces crystal clear skies above sandscapes that are everchanging in the play of light and shadow.

Nature Walks: Covering less territory than the drives, but providing more detail about the flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem. Experienced naturalists explain the delicate balance among the species that live here and describe how life thrives in such an extreme climate.

Quad Biking: Another way to experience the desert—and at the same time get a bit of an adrenaline rush. Note that quad bike excursions are accompanied by experienced staff and that the Lodge insists that all biking activities are conducted responsibly to minimize impact on the desert ecosystem.

In addition to these included excursions, the Lodge offers a number of optional activities at additional cost—Hot Air Ballooning; Horse Riding; Scenic Helicopter Flights, Spa Treatments — all of which can be scheduled instead of the included activities.

Dinner is included at the lodge.

Day 2 - Kwessi Dunes

Today you will have a choice of morning and late afternoon activities. Plan your day by mixing and matching these various excursions to suit your preferences.

All meals, including afternoon tea, will be at the lodge.

Your exact schedule today will depend on which activities you choose from a menu that includes the following:

Scenic Drives: Aboard 4-wheel drive vehicles, venture into a realm of red sand dunes, expansive golden plains, and solitary mountains as you meander through the vast desert wilderness of the half-million-acre NamibRand Nature Reserve. The wildlife here is not like the Big Five of East Africa's savanna, but there are intriguing desert-adapted species, including gemsbok, springbok, and oryx (Namibia's national animal), as well some foxes and jackals. But the special beauty of this special place is the extreme aridity that produces crystal clear skies above sandscapes that are everchanging in the play of light and shadow.

Nature Walks: Covering less territory than the drives, but providing more detail about the flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem. Experienced naturalists explain the delicate balance among the species that live here and describe how life thrives in such an extreme climate.

Quad Biking: Another way to experience the desert—and at the same time get a bit of an adrenaline rush. Note that quad bike excursions are accompanied by experienced staff and that the Lodge insists that all biking activities are conducted responsibly to minimize impact on the desert ecosystem.

In addition to these included excursions, the Lodge offers a number of optional activities at additional cost—Hot Air Ballooning; Horse Riding; Scenic Helicopter Flights, Spa Treatments — all of which can be scheduled instead of the included activities.

Day 3 - Kwessi Dunes

Today begins at about 5:00am, as you drive from the Lodge to Sossusvlei, taking advantage of the morning cool. Your guide will begin an explanation of the geological history of these world-famous dunes. Arrive at the park gate after an hour’s drive. As you explore Sossusvlei, stop from time to time take in the beauty as the morning sun rises over the dunes and casts shadows. After another hour you will arrive at Big Daddy, one of the tallest dunes in the world, rising over 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. You will have the opportunity to climb to the top, which is quite challenging, but if you make it, the view is amazing—and the run or slide back down is thrilling. At the base of Big Daddy is Dead vlei, a white clay depression dotted with dead camelthorn trees. The contrast between the white pan, the red dunes, the dead trees, and a bright blue sky makes this one of the most-photographed spots on the African continent.

Return to the Lodge just about lunch time, where the balance of the day follows the schedule for Day 2.

Day 4 - Kwessi Dunes Lodge | Windhoek

Following breakfast, transfer back to the airstrip for a charter flight to Windhoek, where you will be met and assisted with your luggage, as you continue your travels homeward.

Your hotel:

Kwessi Dunes is a luxurious lodge located in the vast and remote NamibRand Nature Reserve. The lodge consists of twelve luxurious chalets with canvas sides and thatched roofs, designed to blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. Each chalet is air-conditioned, has an ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, and private outdoor "star beds" that are open to sky to take advantage of clear nights and no ambient light. This is desert luxury at its finest.

Your program includes:

·        3 nights at Kwessi Dunes Lodge

·        Transfer and luggage handling and storage from the ship to the airport and to the hotel

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to airport on the day of departure

·        Charter flights to and from the Lodge

·        All meals during the stay at the Lodge

·        Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary

·        Local English-speaking guide

·        Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

·        Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled day of departure

·        Activities at the Lodge designated "optional and at additional cost"

·        Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

·        The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), which is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR), which is also accepted as legal tender throughout Namibia. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

·        This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

·        Program is offered on a space available basis.

·        Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

Kwessi Dunes

4WF2+HQ8 NamibRand Nature Reserve

Sesriem

Namibia

Telephone: +27 87 151 0771