Luxury Overland Tours

We fly direct to Cape Town, South Africa, on an overnight flight.

Arrive this morning and transfer to the deluxe Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town. Your room is booked from the previous night to ensure a prompt check in, enabling you to relax after your flight. You may like to explore the shops and cafés of the restored Victoria and Alfred Waterfront District. Lunch is at our hotel..

This afternoon relax at your hotel; or visit the District Six Museum for an insight into South Africa’s apartheid history.

This evening we get together for a Welcome Reception and Dinner at our hotel.

This morning we will ride the famous rotating cable car up Table Mountain for one of the world’s most stunning views. We then visit the Cape Winelands and the lovely old university town of Stellenbosch, which abounds in Cape-Dutch style architecture. We enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at a top vineyard. We return to Cape Town mid afternoon with time for shopping and further exploration. We enjoy dinner at one of Cape Town’s finest restaurants in the Constantia Valley.

This morning we take a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 19 years. We see the former President’s cell and tour the jail on this eerie prison island. The trip back to Cape Town offers magnificent views of the city and Table Mountain. This afternoon we tour Cape Peninsula, travelling via the scenic villages of Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Simonstown. We stop to view a penguin colony enroute. We ride the funicular to the top of Cape Point for the spectacular view over the Cape of Good Hope. After a breathtaking scenic coastal drive we return to our hotel.

Tonight is a dine-around evening; choose to dine with your Tour Manager or independently at one of a selection of restaurants on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

This morning we join the most luxurious train in the world for our overland trip to Pretoria. Settle into your cabin and experience what will be an unforgettable train journey with old world charm. We enjoy lunch and afternoon tea as we travel north through Cape Province. The railway follows a route with diverse scenery and several spectacular highlights including the Hex River Pass and the snow capped mountains around Worcester. Late this afternoon we spend a few hours at the quaint village of Matjiesfontein, a place that has been restored to its former Victorian glory. After departure, a formal dinner is served and enjoyed amid the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining car, complemented by excellent South African wines.

Breakfast is served as we pass through Perdevleis and Houtkraal and continue across the great Karoo to the diamond centre of Kimberley. We stop to visit the ‘big hole’ and Mining Museum. Enjoy a drink in the Observation or Lounge Car before our second formal dinner. Perhaps complete the day with a nightcap in the Lounge Car.

A steam locomotive powers the last part of our journey to Pretoria. Here we take a short drive to join our aircraft for our private charter flight to Livingstone, on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. We are staying at the opulent Royal Livingstone Hotel beside the falls.

An optional helicopter flight over the falls is available (additional cost).

Dinner is at our hotel this evening.

We take a walking tour around the edge of the thundering Victoria Falls for magnificent views of this natural wonder and cross a bridge to an island in the middle of the falls. This afternoon we travel to Chobe National Park in Botswana. We stay beside the Chobe River at Chobe Game Lodge for two nights. Enjoy a game viewing cruise late this afternoon. Chobe is renowned for the sight of elephants and hippos drinking and bathing in the river.

Take an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park by open 4WD vehicle. Chobe abounds in a rich variety of African wildlife. We return to the lodge for a relaxing day.

Later today choose from an afternoon game drive; or take a late afternoon game viewing cruise.

This morning we transfer to the airport for our private charter flight across Africa to Zanzibar, a legendary tropical spice island. Zanzibar has a fascinating history and a unique romantic atmosphere. The harbour is still filled with the trading dhows of the former Omani rulers. The influence of Portuguese, Persian, Indian and Arabian cultures is evident in the architecture. The Serena Inn provides excellent accommodation on this remote island.

Enjoy relaxing in our lovely island hotel before joining a walking tour around Zanzibar’s Stone Town, where the Arabs built whitewashed stone houses with wooden balconies and ornate doors. We visit the Arab Fort, the former Sultan’s Palace and the great Beit el Ajaib (House of Wonders). We will hear about the huge slave market, the site of which is now the Anglican Cathedral. We have time for shopping in the bustling narrow streets before returning to our hotel for lunch.

This afternoon continue to explore the island and visit one of its exotic spice farms; or enjoy time to further explore Stone Town.

Late this afternoon enjoy a sunset Dhow cruise before dinner at our hotel.

After a relaxing morning we fly across Tanzania, hopefully viewing Mt Kilimanjaro enroute to Masai Mara National Park. The airstrip is a short drive from our unique tented accommodation, Sarova Mara Game Camp, in the heart of prime viewing country. It is one of Africa’s greatest game reserves and forms part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Tonight you will be lulled to sleep by the distant sounds of African wildlife.

On our game drive today you may be treated to the sights of prides of lion, cheetah stalking their prey, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and hippo cavorting in the Mara River. We also hope to see the spectacular wildebeest and zebra migration from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti. Dinner features Kenyan specialities and Masai dancers.

After an early breakfast and some game viewing we take a six hour drive across the rolling grasslands of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for a late lunch.

Should you prefer to fly you can do so at additional cost.

We take an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its White Rhino (one of the few places in Africa where this vanishing species is likely to be seen) and its incredible flocks of flamingos. We stay at the comfortable Lion Hill Game Lodge.

Following a morning game drive we fly by private aircraft to Nairobi and join a Kenya Airways scheduled flight to Cairo, arriving late this evening. We enjoy two nights in Giza at Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa in a Deluxe Pyramid View Room.

This morning is free to relax and settle in after our late arrival last night. After lunch at our hotel we depart for a visit to two of the world’s great sights – the mighty Pyramids of Giza and the illustrious Sphinx. This evening we attend the Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids, followed by dinner at our hotel.

Early this morning we fly to Luxor. Upon arrival we visit both sides of the Nile including the Valley of the Kings, site of the tomb of Tutankhamen, Hatshepsut’s Funerary Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. We then transfer to our hotel for lunch and a free afternoon. We overnight at the luxurious Sofitel Winter Palace.

This evening choose from a selection of our hotel’s restaurants.

Nile Cruise Post Tour Option guests join their vessel for lunch.

A pre breakfast hot air balloon flight over Luxor city, often referred to as the ‘world’s greatest open air museum’, is available (additional cost).

This morning we tour Luxor and Karnak Temples, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we return to Cairo and enjoy two nights at the luxurious Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel. Dinner will be at our sumptuous hotel.

This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and tour Cairo before returning to our hotel for lunch.

This afternoon you can visit Khan el Khalili Bazaar or enjoy the facilities of our luxurious hotel.

Depart in the morning and arrive back in the UK the same day.

Nile Cruise Option

Extend your visit to Egypt with our three night Nile Cruise including fascinating Luxor, Edfu and Aswan. All meals and sightseeing are included aboard the ship.

Day 17: Saturday, Cairo – Luxor
Early this morning we fly to Luxor. Upon arrival we visit both sides of the Nile including the Valley of the Kings, site of the tomb of Tutankhamen, Hatshepsut’s Funerary Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. We then transfer to our cruise ship, the Sonesta Moon Goddess, for lunch. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Day 18: Sunday, Luxor – Edfu

A pre breakfast hot air balloon flight over Luxor city, often referred to as the ‘world’s greatest open air museum’, is available (additional cost).

This morning we tour Luxor and Karnak Temples. We then sail to Edfu, with lunch onboard.

Day 19: Monday, Edfu – Aswan
We visit Edfu Temple and sail on to Kom Ombo. We reach Aswan this evening.

Day 20: Tuesday, Aswan – Cairo
Upon disembarkation we fly to Abu Simbel to visit the magnificent monuments of Temple of Ramses II and Temple of Nefertari that were saved from the rising waters of the Nile. We return to Aswan and continue our tour with a visit to the High Dam and Temple of Philae. Late this afternoon we return to Cairo and enjoy two nights at the luxurious Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel. Dinner will be at our hotel.

Day 21: Wednesday, Cairo
This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and tour Cairo before returning to our hotel for lunch.

This afternoon you can visit Khan el Khalili Bazaar; or enjoy the facilities of our luxurious hotel.

Day 22: Thursday, Egypt - UK
Depart in the morning and arrive back in the UK the same day.

Sun City Option

Depart from the UK three nights early and enjoy two nights at the Palace of the Lost City, Sun City, as well as an additional night at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town. Please enquire for further details.