On Safari In South Africa – Elephant Lodge With Three-Night Cape Town Extension

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Johannesburg - Overnight direct flight to Johannesburg.

Day 2

Arrival - Meet your local tour manager at Johannesburg airport for the scenic transfer to the Sebatana Elephant Lodge. Upon arrival, lunch will be served. Afterwards, rest, relax and settle into your new surroundings, perhaps by taking a refreshing dip in the one of the pools. This evening, enjoy an included welcome drink, followed by dinner and a short briefing about the week ahead.

Day 3

Sebatana Private Reserve introduction and game drive - This morning you'll venture out in 4x4s into the reserve with your guides, who will tell you about the different animals and plants that inhabit the area. After lunch, head out on the first of many wonderful wildlife-spotting game drives. All game drives at Sebatana are done in open-air vehicles for maximum visibility. Access to the reserve is subject to extensive restrictions, so it’ll feel like you have the whole place to yourself! Keep an eye out – and have your camera at the ready – for zebras, meerkats, giraffes, wildebeest and impalas. Tonight, enjoy a complimentary wine-tasting before dinner.

Day 4

Included Welgevonden Big Five game drive and optional tribal evening - After breakfast, venture out on a game drive to the nearby Welgevonden Reserve in search of the fabled Big Five – the lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. This evening, you have the option to join the tribal evening to learn more about South Africa’s indigenous cultures.

Day 5

Included bush walk and Christina's Wallow game drive - This morning, join your guide for a gentle included bush walk into the Sebatana Private Reserve. Listen intently as your guide points out animal breeding areas and local plant life. After the walk, return to the lodge for some well-earned lunch. After lunch, set out on your second game drive into the Sebatana Private Reserve for the chance to spot some spectacular wildlife, armed with the knowledge gained this morning. You’ll head to Christina’s Wallow, a hide with wonderful views of a waterhole. For a truly authentic wildlife-spotting experience, you’ll complete the journey on foot.

Day 6

Optional 'Echoes of Past, Hope for the Future' excursion - Today you have the choice of joining the 'Echoes of the Past, Hope for the Future' excursion. Rise early and head back into Kaingo Private Reserve under the morning light for another game-viewing experience. With the lower temperatures, the wildlife you spot across the bushveld will be more active, making for even more dramatic animal encounters. Kaingo isn’t only famous for its resident creatures, though, and your expert guide will introduce you to a series of world-famous archaeological sites which chart humanity’s evolution across millions of years. You’ll see ancient stone tools, delicate Bushman paintings, and cave shelters which were once used by the earliest homo sapiens.   After a fascinating glimpse of the region’s history, you’ll learn about the initiatives in place to give hope to vulnerable local children with a visit to The Fold, a part of the New Roads Mission. This non-profit centre provides food, housing, and education to over 30 local children, and you can learn about their invaluable efforts with a guided tour.  

Day 7

Game drive with included champagne brunch and optional night safari - Rise and shine early this morning for a very special game drive, and the chance to spot herds of antelopes moving in the open. Antelopes and other prey animals tend to move around in the morning, to find the best protection from predators. Around mid-morning, you’ll stop at Kudu Rock for a magnificent, traditional African brunch with champagne. Enjoy a well-earned meal as you soak up the fantastic views of the African bush. Return to the lodge to rest and relax. If you want to carry on exploring, the guides will point out some gentle trails through the reserve. This evening, enjoy a complimentary wine-tasting before dinner. Later on, why not join the fascinating optional night safari?

Day 8

Optional game drive in the Kaingo Game Reserve and included Sunset Rock game drive - This morning, you’ll have the chance to join one last optional Big Five game drive to nearby Kaingo Game Reserve. Later, in the mid-afternoon, enjoy a fitting finale to your South African adventure, as you join the included safari to Sunset Rock. Sip champagne from this magnificent vantage point, looking out over the Waterberg Mountains as the sky turns a cascade of red and orange. Return to the lodge for a farewell feast, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful break in the African wilderness.

Day 9

Travel to Johannesburg and fly to Cape Town - Have your last breakfast at the lodge and say goodbye to your hosts as you depart for Johannesburg for a flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your charming, centrally located hotel ahead of the rest of the day at leisure.  

Day 10

Day at leisure or optional Cape Peninsula drive - Enjoy breakfast and get ready for a full day at leisure in Cape Town, perhaps venturing out into the city for some self-guided exploration.   If you’d prefer a more structured day, why not join an optional drive around the Cape Peninsula? The first stop on this unmissable excursion will be breath-taking Chapman’s Peak (weather permitting), famous for its idyllic picnic spots and glorious 180-degree views of the Cape’s rugged coastline. This legendary route encompasses nine kilometres of mountainous seafront and promises some of the region’s finest natural landscapes from Hout Bay to Noordhoek.     After an extraordinary time on the road, you’ll visit the Cape of Good Hope, a stretch of flower-strewn headland leading onto the Atlantic Coast. Here, you’ll have time to admire the fields of native fynbos in the heart of the Cape Floral region, which is home to a fifth of Africa’s total floral species. Reconnect with the natural world, or perhaps search for the perfect photo spot, amongst the colourful wildflowers and imposing clifftops overlooking the open ocean. If you visit between early August and late September, you’ll experience the region’s flora at their most vivid as the Cape enters the height of its flowering season.     Another wildlife encounter awaits on the return leg of the day’s journey as you make a stop at Boulders’ Beach, home to flocks of free-roaming native penguins. Though their species is endangered, this group of African penguins, numbering around 3000, often nest along the bay’s craggy rock faces and make for a perfect picture stop. Please note: this optional excursion can only be booked locally while in South Africa.

Day 11

Day at leisure - Those in favour of a more laid-back day will be spoilt for choice of coastal gems to enjoy in Cape Town, with Clifton Beach and Bloubergstrand Beach amongst the most popular options. Table Mountain is another must-see landmark and promises a relaxing, scenic ride to its summit onboard its dedicated cable car service.    Later, enjoy a final evening in Cape Town ahead of the return journey.  

Day 12

Morning at leisure and return flight - Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning, check out of the hotel and head to the airport later in the afternoon for your flight back to the UK.   

Day 13

Land in the UK - Touch down in the UK at the end of an unforgettable safari adventure.     Back to top

Further Information

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure. Given that certain activities are weather-dependent, in rare circumstances the order of the itinerary may need to be altered. 

Passports and visas

A visa is not required for UK citizens travelling to South Africa, but your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry to the country and have two adjacent blank pages. Special entry rules apply for children under 18 years.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 3.5-4 hours.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.

Changes to your hotel

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Optional Excursions

The following optional excursions are available on this tour and are only bookable in resort and cannot be prebooked. Prices quoted are 'from' prices and subject to change without notice. Echoes of the Past, Hope for the Future excursion – from 160 Euros Night safari – from 75 Euros Tribal evening – from 65 Euros Kaingo Reserve game drive – from 135 Euros A package with all four tours is available in resort from 349 Euros. Children aged 0 – 11 are half price. The optional excursions offered in resort are subject to change without notice.

Travel vaccinations

Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.

Payments at the lodge

Please note that the lodge is cashless. The payment of the final bill in the resort will be in euros with a Visa/MasterCard credit or debit card. Only a small amount of local currency is required for purchases on the road and for tips to staff members (at your discretion) at the end of your stay.

Terms and conditions

Offer Terms & Conditions Save up to 15% offer discount applies to new bookings only booked between 23 December 2025 to 13 March 2026 and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to child pricing. The offer does not apply to departure dates with late availability pricing. Maximum 15% discount is not valid on Premier Collection, Festive, River Cruise, André Rieu events, Edinburgh Tattoo, or Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to the original tour price (excluding any discounts already applied, extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays, are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316. Back to top