Journey deep into the heart of Southern African and discover its diverse array of natural treasures. Spot elephants and big cats on the floodplains of Chobe National Park, observe wildlife from the water on a Zambezi River cruise, gaze in awe at the thundering Victoria Falls, before exploring Cape Town's dramatic coastline and stunning Winelands region.
Renowned for being one of the most beautiful cities in the world extend your stay in Cape Town and chose how to spend your free time; visit Robben Island, the nearby towns of Hout Bay and Hermanus or simply indulge yourself at one of the many restaurants, shops and craft markets at the famous 'V&A' Waterfront.
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Victoria Falls Airport.
Dinner
On arrival, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today is your chance to experience one of Earth’s greatest spectacles in all its wonder. At 1.7km wide Victoria Falls empties 550 million litres a minute during high season between March and May – in an immense curtain of water to the chasm below. The spray can be seen for miles around, prompting the local Kololo tribe to name it ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Enjoy a cruise on the mighty Zambezi River to watch the stunning sunset. Later, enjoy a delicious dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
Nestled along the banks of the Chobe River and just moments from Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park—the country’s first wildlife reserve—you’ll be ideally situated to witness the region’s incredible biodiversity.
After your arrival, take time to settle into your accommodations, soak in the breathtaking river views over a leisurely lunch, or unwind with a refreshing swim in the lodge’s inviting pool.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy a morning safari in Chobe National Park. Famous for a staggeringly large elephant population, your chances of experiencing these majestic giants up close are extremely high. Large herds of buffalo can also be seen, as well as giraffes, zebra and a variety of antelope, making this a prime hunting spot for big cats which stalk their prey across the Botswana plains. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along the Chobe River where you'll observe the national park and its fauna from a different vantage point.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, set out on your second exhilarating safari through Chobe National Park, renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and spectacular landscapes. With the guidance of an expert quide, you'll venture deeper into the park, tracking herds of elephants, lions, leopards, and a variety of other wildlife. The park's dense vegetation and wide-open plains offer a perfect blend of scenery and wildlife encounters. Later, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Chobe River, where you can witness crocodiles sunning themselves and hippos surfacing for air. Keep an eye out for majestic elephants, buffalo, and predators as they approach the riverbanks to drink, creating a dynamic display of nature’s finest moments.
Breakfast
Today you will be travelling to Cape Town, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight. Upon arrival, your hotel awaits where you can check in and relax for the evening.
Breakfast & Lunch
Explore the Cape Peninsula today as you journey along the breathtaking Chapman’s Peak Drive. A visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve – which boasts lush vegetation, ragged sea cliffs and a rich bio-diversity – isn’t complete without witnessing Cape Point, the farthest tip of the Cape Peninsula, where you can witness the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean currents. Pay a visit to nearby Boulders Beach, home to a large colony of African penguins. Lastly, witness colourful and unique flora as you wander through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, set dramatically on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, before returning to Cape Town.
Breakfast
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Cape Town, giving you the freedom to explore this city at your own pace. Take a stroll along the lively V&A Waterfront, discover the city's rich history at one of its many museums, or venture to the top of Table Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views. If you prefer a more relaxed day, unwind on one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches or indulge in world-class cuisine at a local restaurant.
Breakfast & Lunch
Set out on a scenic journey into South Africa’s breathtaking Winelands region, where you will see rolling vineyards and historic estates. Your first stop is the charming town of Stellenbosch, renowned for its Cape Dutch architecture and world-class wineries. Here, enjoy a delightful wine-tasting session, sampling some of the region’s finest vintages. Continue to Franschhoek, a picturesque village nestled at the head of a scenic valley, known as the country’s gourmet capital. Surrounded by towering mountains and lush vineyards, Franschhoek’s beauty and rich heritage provide the perfect setting for a truly memorable afternoon.
Breakfast
Spend time exploring the city of Cape Town at your leisure; take in the sites, do some shopping or just relax, the choice is yours.
Breakfast
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight back to the UK.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
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Everything was amazing. Very diverse itinerary. Safaris ticked all my expectations. The guide was great and very versatile and changed the time of safaris and river cruises when asked, so giving us a lot of chances to see the wildlife.
Jacqueline Hales
20 May 24An excellent trip, a well-devised itinerary, and fabulous value for money. In every location, the guides were extremely helpful and welcoming. Felt as if I saw so much over less than two weeks. Hotel standards and food were great with additional meals, wine tasting, and drinks on one of the river cruises all included. Can't speak highly enough of Mercury - especially since a lot of the escorted tours do not incur a single supplement which can be crippling for single travellers.
Dawn Goudge
23 May 22The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least 3 blank pages.
South Africa visa requirements
British passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa to travel to South Africa. This will be granted on arrival.
Botswana visa requirements
British passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa to travel to Botswana.
Zimbabwe visa requirements
British passport holders are required to obtain a visa to travel to Zimbabwe. You can apply for an e-visa online prior to travel or you can purchase one upon arrival. If you wish to do online check in for your flight, you may be required to have your Visa details, so we suggest you then do the Visa prior to departure to avoid any issues when checking in. If purchasing a visa upon arrival, please ensure you have the correct amount of cash as change isn't always available. On this tour, you will require a double-entry visa for Zimbabwe (*subject to change).
We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company, they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy before departure for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding these.
For clients travelling with children under the age of 18: Children travelling with both biological parents must travel with:
• Valid passport of travelling parent and child • Visa, if required • Birth certificate listing both parents (note: these must be the original documents or certified copies of the originals)
A child travelling with just one of the parents listed on his or her birth certificate must also present:
• Parental consent affidavit not older than 4 months or • Letter of special circumstances issued by the director-general of home affairs if a parent or parents are incapacitated or deceased, and no legal guardian has been appointed as yet.
For full details of requirements please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, or your General Practitioner.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, early mornings, long days of driving, some days with lots of walking and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR). Credit cards are widely accepted and ATM’s are available in most town/cities.
The currency in Botswana is the Botswana Pula (BWP) but US Dollars are also accepted in most hotels/lodges and big shops. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATM’s are available in most cities.
The Zimbabwean dollar is no longer valid currency, with all transactions are currently conducted in US dollars ($). We recommend having cash before you travel as credit card machines and ATM’s are available but unreliable.
We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. Some local banks will not change money back into Pound Sterling, so do not exchange too much. It is advisable to carry smaller note denominations as some outlets and vendors may not accept the larger notes.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200-£400 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour. Please bear in mind that there will be several shopping opportunities throughout your tour.
Tipping
It is customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend tipping your guide and driver approximately £6 per person per day in total and £6 (150ZAR) per person per day for the ranger. It is customary to tip your guides/rangers/drivers at the end of your time with them. Tipping for restaurants (recommended 10%) and the porters at your hotels will be at your discretion and done on-site. Tips are accepted in the local currency, US dollars, Euros and British pounds for the guides/rangers/drivers however for waiters, porters etc, please tip in local currency.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum is 30. In the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is an escorted tour, meaning the you will have the services of an English speaking guide during each excursion ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times. In Botswana you may also have a local guide during your activities but your tour guide will be on hand to assist.
Your extended stay in Cape Town is not escorted by a tour guide. All transfers are included.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels or lodges. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. Scheduled power outages, commonly referred to as load shedding, can be a common occurrence in South Africa. While most hotels and lodges are equipped to mitigate the effects of load shedding, ensuring that your comfort and convenience are maintained to the best of our ability, it's important to acknowledge that not all establishments may be fully functional during these times. As a result, you may experience temporary disruptions to certain amenities such as air-conditioning, television services, the operation of electric kettles, etc. The hotels/lodges and your guide however, will do their utmost to minimize any impact on your stay. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs
Western and international food will be served however some establishments will serve traditional meals giving you a chance to experience local flavours. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels/lodges.
On your arrival you will be met by a representative from our local agent, African Eagle, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/African Eagle representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:
African Eagle: 72 Bevan Road, Rivonia Johannesburg, South Africa Telephone Number 0027 82 325 0201 E-mail duty@ae.co.za
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for African Eagle: 24 hour: 0027 82 325 0201 or 00278 1039 2847
