Cape Town, Safari and Community Development

Arrive at Cape Town airport and meet with our driver for the road transfer to the hotel. Welcome to Cape Town !

Built in between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town stands as a glittering metropolis juxtaposed with one of the world's most breathtaking natural landscapes. There is so much to fall in love with, like the city's beaches, rolling vineyards, sizzling cuisine, thriving nightlife, and, of course, the spectacular Table Mountain. You can decide to be super active, paragliding from Lions Head, kayaking with dolphins, hiking, cycling, or experience day trips to nearby attractions, not forgetting the history and culture with Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and the townships.

Situated at the Sea Point Promenade facing the Atlantic coastline, The Winchester Hotel features a pool and an Italian-style courtyard surrounded by palm trees and a fountain. With original Cape Dutch décor, all air-conditioned rooms and suites at The Winchester Hotel come with satellite TV and tea/coffee facilities.

This morning you will be met by your tour guide for a tour of the City and to meet with our partner at Uthando.

The breath-taking natural beauty and diverse cultures aside, South Africa suffers many acute social challenges. Millions of her citizens live in extreme poverty and face daily struggles to survive, let alone thrive. Motivated by love, compassion, and respect for our common humanity, Uthando (Love) South Africa seeks to form part of the solution to meet these challenges. Uthando is drawing on an extensive network of cherished partnerships in tourism and community development, with the ultimate goal of linking these two sectors by a myriad of innovative, sincere and meaningful ways. You will visit a project, that has been chosen as per your preferences and meet with the project leaders.

Time for a guided tour of the Peninsula - today your guide will take you to Cape Point, via the scenic route.

Cape Point Nature Reserve is a beautiful place with green hills, a rocky coastline and stunning views. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife including baboons, Cape fur seals and birds.

Lunch (your own expense) can be enjoyed along the way and you are back at the hotel on time for sundowner.

After breakfast, you will meet with your guide for the transfer to the NGO project in order to get hands-on and participate along the remarkable and courageous community activists driving social change in their communities. Your vehicle and guide is at disposal for the rest of the day and you will return at the hotel late afternoon.

Today is at leisure, you can hop unto the Open deck bus, book a tour to the winelands, or take this opportunity to enjoy a local beach. Chat to us if you wish to book an additional day excursion.

Breakfast and check out before the transfer to the airport on time for the flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, transit to the local scheduled charter flight to Marataba airport and the lodge will transfer you to camp.

This is your home away from home for the next 3 nights including wonderful game viewing activities. Marakele National Park (a place of sanctuary, as its Tswana name suggests), holds its own among South Africa’s reserves for the ultimate African luxury safari. Beyond game drives and bush walks, enhanced with unique surprises, there's ample opportunity for relaxation. Whether it's pool lounging, an in-room spa session, or simply soaking in the tranquil environment.

Reawaken your senses with a walk on the wild side. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the bush, rather than just observing it. Your expert field guide will position you downwind of bigger game so as not to disturb them, while also highlighting the smaller creatures, insects, plants, and geology often missed on drives. The bush walks are suitable for children sixteen years and older.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and today you will take part in a special community excursion. You will experience an educational drive to visit some of the most-in-need projects, such as Heuningvley Primary School and Itsoseng Daycare Centre. Both schools are doing their best to provide a good education to the children of local farm workers and reserve staff. You can meet some of the teachers and children and get some insight into the work that is being done, and the daily life of locals.

Back to the camp and relax before the afternoon game viewing activity, dinner and night.

Today is all about game viewing with the game drives and if weather permit a boat sunset cruise.

With minimal vehicles traversing the reserve, sightings feel incredibly intimate. Your safari guide will show you impressive wildlife, enriching encounters and close-up sightings for extraordinary photographs. Track black rhino through dense bush, glimpse one of the largest colonies of endangered Cape vultures circling mountain thermals, rare brown hyena, aardwolf and critically endangered pangolin and witness elephants gathering at the river’s edge.

Glide down the winding Matlabas River on the Miss Mara flat-bottomed river boat. You’ll witness countless game, from hippos in the river to foraging elephants at the water’s edge and a myriad of birds. Sit back and enjoy a cool beverage and snack as your field guide shares stories about life on the river.

Marataba protects a rich tapestry of habitats that overlap uniquely in this transition zone of river, mountain, forest and savannah.

Last morning in the bush before the transfer to the airstrip and the scheduled charter flight back to Johannesburg airport..

Time at leisure until your own flight back home or chat to us to extend your trip with a visit to Victoria Falls for example.