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| Full Version of "In Search of the Big Five" Itinerary |
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Click Here to Download "In Search of the Big Five" Itinerary in Printable (PDF) Format January 1 – December 15, 2007
Day 1: DEPARTURE En route from JFK or Washington D.C. to Cape Town via Johannesburg. |
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Day 2: CAPE TOWN Upon your late afternoon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be greeted by your Heritage Tours guide and transferred to your hotel. Cape Town dates from the Dutch settlement of 1652, whose purpose was to furnish fresh produce and meats to the vast fleets of the Dutch East India Company as the rounded the tip of Africa en route to the Spice Islands of the East.Check into the 4* Portswood Hotel, located on some of Cape Town’s most cherished real estate at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront: the hub of Cape Town. From the front door of your hotel you can walk to the thriving V&A Waterfront, where all of Cape Town’s best restaurants and shopping are located (as well as the ferry to Robben Island). The hotel’s restaurant is a historic landmark and its Cape Malay cuisine is highly recommended. You may wish to upgrade to our Deluxe Package, which includes a luxury room at Cape Town’s finest - the famous Cape Grace (5*), also located at the bustling Waterfront. It has commanding views in all directions, an excellent spa and one of South Africa’s most highly-ranked restaurants. It is the proud winner of countless international awards.Evening at leisure to explore the Waterfront District on your own. We will supply you with a list of Cape Town’s best restaurants and are happy to make reservations for you. Overnight: Cape Town. |
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Day 3: CAPE TOWN Enjoy a plentiful buffet breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, you will be picked up by your expert Heritage Tours-qualified guide to begin your full day private tour of the Cape Point and Cape Peninsula: the southernmost point of Africa and subject of centuries of mariner lore. Highlights of this beautiful and dramatic landscape, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans abut, include:
At the end of the day, you will return to Cape Town via the eastern side of the Cape, along False Bay. Overnight: Cape Town. |
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Day 4: CAPE TOWN Enjoy a plentiful buffet breakfast at your hotel. Your driver-guide will pick you up after breakfast for a full day tour of Cape Town, driving you through areas of lovely period buildings, including Long Street, Greenmarket Square (which has an outdoor market) and (we like the name) Heritage Square. Please note that you may have to choose from the following activities as there may not be enough time to enjoy all of them in one day.Start your day at an area sadly often overlooked by visitors: the spectacular historic district which is centered about the grand architecture of Government Avenue. You will see the Company’s Gardens (established in 1652), the Houses of Parliament and De Tuynhuys – the official office of the President. At the end of Government Avenue is St. George’s Cathedral of Bishop Desmond Tutu. From here, explore the strides that South Africa has taken on behalf of all its citizens of all colors and religions with a visit to the District Six Museum, which pays tribute to a once-vibrant area which was completely emptied out by the Apartheid government. Over 60,000 Capetonian families were forcibly removed. Next, head to the colorful Bo Kaap Quarter: home of the Cape Malay population. You may also enjoy a visit to the historic Slave Lodge Museum, which chronicles slavery in South Africa through a series of thought-provoking exhibits, both historic and contemporary. Built in 1679 and one of the oldest colonial structures in the Cape Colony, the Slave Lodge originally housed slaves belonging to the Dutch East India Company. Through special arrangements, we are able to invite you into one of the townships to meet a resident family of Ocean View. Should you wish to visit to see another side of African life, this is a unique opportunity to meet a resident and learn a bit about life in the township. A Home Visit into Ocean View and the family that you visit is a direct result of the apartheid-era Forced Removals Act. This is one of the many families who were directly uprooted at that time. This gives you an unfiltered opportunity to look into today’s realities, to ask questions and to discuss things with local people in the comfort of their home. It also introduces you to traditional Cape Malay hospitality, culture and a unique sense of humor and zest for life that is always apparent even in adversity. Please let us know in advance if you would like us to arrange this for you. We do ask that clients who visit the Township make a donation to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund; which Heritage Tours is proud to support with a portion of our proceeds each year.Towards sunset (weather permitting), enjoy the cable car up Table Mountain for once-in-a-lifetime views of the city and the Cape of Good Hope. Bring a sweater Overnight: Cape Town. |
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Day 5: CAPE TOWN Enjoy a plentiful buffet breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, you will go to the jetty on the Waterfront and take the boat towards Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for the majority of his nearly 30 years in prison. This is a fascinating introduction to the recent history of South Africa and the dramatic changes within our own lifetimes. Upon arrival at Robben Island, you will be led through the complex by a former prisoner of Robben Island (this will be a small group tour, all other tours in your itinerary are private. Tour length, including the boat ride is approximately 3 ˝ hours). Return to your hotel in the early afternoon. Spend the afternoon at leisure. If you wish, enjoy an optional specialized optional private tour (at an additional cost): For those interested in Food and Wine: This afternoon, we have made very special arrangements for you to enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson with the chef who is responsible for the renaissance of Cape Malay cooking, a cuisine that is a hybrid of Indian and Indonesian cooking with a hint of Africa. You will learn about the rich culture of the Cape Malay people as you spend time with a fascinating woman whose life in many ways personifies the struggles and progress of South Africa over the last 50 years. At the end of your cooking lesson, enjoy the fruits of your labor, along with carefully-selected wines from the nearby Winelands. For those interested in the Arts:Over the last twelve years since the advent of Democracy, the art scene in Cape Town has earned a spot on the international scene. Visit a series of small, privately-owned galleries and see the work of a new generation of artists of all colors exploring themes in a variety of media. Your may also visit the Irma Stern Museum or the South Africa National Gallery, the country’s premier art museum. For those who love to shop: Spend the afternoon with your expert guide, who will take you to the best shopping spots in Cape Town, based on your specific interests. For those interested in Jewish Heritage:Spend the afternoon learning about South Africa’s Jewish community. Tour may include a visit to the Jewish Museum and Great Synagogue and a visit to the Irma Stern Museum dedicated to this very important early 20th century South African artist. For those interested in the Outdoors: The best way to explore Table Mountain, the icon of Cape Town, is on foot. Spend a morning hiking Table Mountain with an expert guide. For those of you in good shape, begin the day climbing uphill (about 2 hours), then explore the unique flora and fauna of the Cape on top of the mountain. The unique location of the Cape makes this area a tremendous draw for those interested in nature. Overnight: Cape Town. |
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Day 6: CAPE TOWN - CAPE WINELANDS Enjoy a plentiful buffet breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be picked up by your private Heritage Tours-qualified guide. Head out of town towards the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a lush complex of gardens dedicated to the indigenous plants of Southern Africa (in bloom year-round, but especially beautiful in the springtime). After a lovely morning in the gardens, spend the remainder of the day exploring the scenic Winelands. Winemaking in the Cape dates from the early settlements of the 1650’s; it was largely a fine craft of the French Huguenots who came to Africa in search of religious freedom. Your day includes wine tastings and cellar tours at a handful of some of the smaller, less-touristed Wine Estates as well as a walking tour of historic Stellenbosch, one of the oldest towns in Southern Africa. End your day at a very special place in the Franschhoek Valley. Check in at the charming Klein Genot, a small boutique hotel and wine estate. The focus here is on relaxation. You’ll enjoy strolling the beautiful grounds, relaxing in a hammock or by the pool, and snacking on sun-ripened fruit which you can pick right off the trees. Breakfast, high tea and snacks at Klein Genot are a treat, utilizing produce and herbs grown in the estate’s own gardens. Klein Genot also has a nice little spa. This evening you may wish to try one of the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Franschhoek, considered to be the culinary capital of South Africa. You may wish to upgrade to our Deluxe Package, which includes the elegant Relais & Chateaux 5* Dutch-Colonial Grand Roche. Set on a romantic estate just outside of Paarl, this boutique hotel (a historic landmark) is one of South Africa’s finest properties. It is home to the renowned Bosman’s, one of the finest restaurants in South Africa. Overnight: Cape Winelands. |
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Day 7: CAPE WINELANDS Enjoy breakfast in the dining room or on the terrace of your hotel. Day at leisure to relax and enjoy the lovely Winelands. Tonight, enjoy dinner at one of the fine restaurants in the Winelands. Overnight: Cape Winelands. |
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Day 8: CAPE WINELANDS – SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Enjoy breakfast in the dining room or on the terrace. Meet your driver for your transfer to the Cape Town Airport, where you will board your flight to KMI, a small airport in the bush. Upon your arrival at KMI Airport, you will board a small plane flight to your private safari lodge, located on some of the best real estate for game viewing in Africa: the renowned Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park. Notes about the private game reserve experience: In Sabi Sands your ranger has the freedom to head off-road in safari ready vehicles in search of the Big Five (they are not allowed to do this in national parks). You’ll have a great many more opportunities to see everyday life in the bush, maybe even mothers playing with cubs or playful cubs in trees. Due to the limited number of guests allowed in the private reserves, you have a special opportunity - when there is an animal find, there are few other vehicles there besides your own. And best of all, the vehicles in the private reserves of South Africa are open-roofed (and completely safe, as long as you stay inside them) unlike the school-bus type vehicles in many other African countries. The intimacies of the bush – from butterflies to elephants – will be brought to life by our game rangers (we have special ones for those of you traveling with pre-teens and teens) and trackers. The trackers are indigenous tribesmen whose fathers, grandfathers and all those before them have depended upon game tracking for their livelihood. Check in at the intimate and exclusive Elephant Plains Game Camp in Sabi Sands. Located on the bank of the Manyaleti River, you will be in the heart of Big Five Game Country. Endangered cheetah and the rarely seen wild dog have also been known to be seen in the vicinity. The lodge accommodates a maximum of 22 guests, guaranteeing an intimate experience. A swimming pool overlooks a water hole, where big game often comes to drink. In our Deluxe Package, we are pleased to offer the exclusive and upscale Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, awarded “Third Best Hotel in the World 2006” by Tatlers UK. Located on best piece of real estate in the legendary Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, Ivory Lodge has the privilege of being on the Sabi River and overlooking Kruger National Park itself. The highly skilled (and award-winning) game rangers at will ensure that you experience the best safari possible, and will make Africa come alive for you. Ivory Lodge has a maximum of 12 guests to ensure the highest level of service and intimacy. The food is excellent, and the deluxe Bush Spa is outstanding. Your air-conditioned suite features a private plunge pool overlooking the river as well as a private viewing deck and a fireplace. Food is outstanding, as is the deluxe Bush Spa. Heritage Tours was the first American company to partner with Ivory Lodge and they take extremely good care of our clients. Upon arrival at your lodge, enjoy your first lunch in the bush and early afternoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the lodge. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served on the veranda, where you will meet your professional rangers and be introduced to the safari experience. Depart on your afternoon game drive in your open 4 x 4 safari vehicles in search of Africa’s Big Five: Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo and Lion. Enjoy drinks in the bush as the sun sets over the savannah. You will then embark on a spotlight drive through the bush to explore the nocturnal life of the savannah. Return to camp for dinner at the lodge or in the open-air boma. Overnight: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. |
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Day 9: SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Wake up before sunrise. After an early morning tea or coffee, depart in your 4 x 4 vehicles with your ranger and tracker for a game drive in the bush. Return to the camp for a lovely breakfast. After breakfast, optional game walk with your expert ranger to learn about conservation and wildlife at a different scale. Remainder of the morning at leisure. Lunch in the main lodge or the deck. Early afternoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the lodge. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served on the veranda. Depart on your afternoon game drive in your open 4 x 4 safari vehicles in search of Africa’s Big Five: Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo and Lion. Enjoy drinks in the bush as the sun sets over the savannah. You will then embark on a spotlight drive through the bush to explore the nocturnal life of the savannah. Return to camp for dinner at the lodge or in the open-air boma. Overnight: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. |
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Day 10: SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Wake up before sunrise. After an early morning tea or coffee, enjoy your morning game drive. Return to the camp for a lovely breakfast. After breakfast, optional game walk. Remainder of the morning at leisure. Lunch in the lodge or on the deck. Early afternoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the lodge. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served on the veranda. Depart on your afternoon game drive. Enjoy drinks in the bush as the sun sets over the savannah. You will then embark on a spotlight drive through the bush to explore the nocturnal life of the savannah. Return to camp for dinner at the lodge or in the open-air boma. Overnight: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. |
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Day 11: SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE - JOHANNESBURG Wake up before sunrise. After an early morning tea or coffee, depart in your 4 x 4 vehicles with your ranger and tracker for a game drive in the bush. Return to the camp for a lovely breakfast. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the KMI Airport (driving time is approximately three hours). At KMI Airport, you will board your return flight to Johannesburg or direct to your island in the Indian Ocean. Upon arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport, check in for your return flight home or continue on with your extension to Victoria Falls. |
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Day 12: EN ROUTE Click Here to Download "In Search of the Big Five" Itinerary in Printable (PDF) Format |
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OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO VICTORIA FALLS 4 DAY POST-TRIP EXTENSION In 2005, Africa celebrated the 150th anniversary of David Livingstone (a Scottish missionary) stumbling across the "Mosi Oa Tunya" (The Smoke that Thunders). This was also the 100th anniversary of the founding of the important trading town that bears Livingstone’s name. The roar of the enormous Falls can be heard from miles away; rainbows and sunsets are magnificent. It is not uncommon for your Nationwide flight to fly over the Falls en route to Livingstone. |
Day 11: SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE - JOHANNESBURG After your final game drive, breakfast and transfer to KMI airport, you will board your return flight to Johannesburg. As the flights to Victoria Falls (Livingstone) only depart in the morning, you will spend one night in Johannesburg and check in at a comfortable airport hotel. For those of you opting for the Deluxe Package you will have the distinct pleasure of spending a night at the ultra-deluxe boutique Saxon. The Saxon is a former villa considered Johannesburg’s finest hotel. It was in this villa in the exclusive area of Sandton that Nelson Mandela penned his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom." This hotel certainly offers exceptional service, but one of our favorite things is the magnificent collection of African tribal artifacts that adorn its walls. You will be staying in an Egoli Suite. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing (The Saxon has an excellent spa) or, if you wish, touring some of Johannesburg’s notable sites with a private guide (at an additional cost). Recommended sites include the Apartheid Museum and the township of Alexandra. Overnight: Johannesburg. |
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Day 12: JOHANNESBURG - VICTORIA FALLS Breakfast at your hotel.
Transfer to the Johannesburg airport, where you will board your international flight to Livingstone, Zambia.
Upon your arrival in Livingstone, you will be met and transferred about 30 minutes to your hotel, located a stone’s throw away from the legendary Falls.
Check into the Zambesi Sun, a family-friendly resort on the banks of the majestic Zambesi River and adjacent to the Victoria Falls.
For those of you selecting the Deluxe Package, check into the five-star Royal Livingstone, majestically situated along the Zambesi amidst centuries-old oaks (and colonies of vervet monkeys!). The hotel also features a spectacular wooden deck built over the Zambesi. You are about a ten minute walk from Victoria Falls.
Admission to Victoria Falls National Park is included throughout your stay.
Your day will end on a sunset cruise on the Zambesi. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are included.
Overnight: Victoria Falls. |
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Day 13: VICTORIA FALLS Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy your entire day at leisure, to explore your surroundings (admissions to the Falls are included throughout your stay) or choose one of the many activities offered by your hotel.
If you are interested we can make arrangements (at an additional charge) for you to enjoy a private half day city tour of the town of Livingstone. Once a very important trading outpost, this city is well worth a short visit for its (pre-restoration) colonial architecture and its authentic 19th century ambience. If you are interested in Jewish heritage, Livingstone offers a fascinating Jewish past; you can still visit the former synagogue and see the legacy of the Jewish traders that made their home in this remote corner of Africa. Overnight: Victoria Falls. |
Day 14: VICTORIA FALLS - JOHANNESBURG Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. Please note that a $25 USD exit tax is payable at the airport. Upon your arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport, check in for your return flight home or continue with your extension to your Indian Ocean paradise. |
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Day 15: EN ROUTE Click Here to Download "In Search of the Big Five" Itinerary in Printable (PDF) Format |
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OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO THE BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO 5 DAY POST-TRIP EXTENSION Located within a large marine preserve, the Bazaruto Peninsula is a small string of islands not far off the coast of the mainland (in prehistoric times, they were connected). Long-valued for their prominence along Arabian trading routes, these islands were important trading centers for gold, slaves and especially pearls. For the stressed out and the overworked, these islands offer luxury and relaxation in an untouched island paradise. Here you will experience white sandy beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean resplendent brilliant coral reefs. The age-old rhythms of Africa meld with the legacy of Portuguese traders, tiny African dhows, African fishermen and legends that these islands were the source of the mysterious Ophir pearls of the Queen of Sheba. |
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Day 11: SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE – BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO After your morning game drive and breakfast, you will be transferred to KMI airport to board your nonstop 11:45 AM flight to Vilanculos aboard Pelican Air. (Please note this flight does not operate every day of the week). Upon your 1:15 PM arrival in Vilanculos, Mozambique, you will board your small plane flight to your lodge on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Check in at Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, situated on the north shore of the lovely Bazaruto Island. This is location is renowned for great diving and snorkeling and stunning beaches. In addition to diving, activities include on shore and deep sea fishing, dhow cruises, land rover excursion, bird watching, waterskiing (at an additional cost). Your air conditioned superior chalet features sea views, en-suite facilities and an indoor/outdoor shower (fun!). If you choose the Deluxe extension, you will fly to the exclusive Benguerra Lodge, situated along the beaches of the tranquil "Ilha de Benguerua." Your stylish African-inspired chalet is set within a milkwood forest in front of the beach and features sea views. Your stay at Benguerra Lodge includes a host of activities such as a sunset cruise in a traditional dhow, an island tour, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and diving (some at an additional cost). Enjoy a light lunch upon arrival. Afternoon at leisure. On your first night, you may choose to enjoy your sunset dhow cruise. One day during your stay, you will have an island excursion included for you. Dinner at the lodge. Overnight: Bazaruto Archipelago. |
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Day 12: BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO Full day at leisure to relax on the beach or enjoy activities offered at your lodge. Enjoy your time in paradise! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily. Overnight: Bazaruto Archipelago. |
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Day 13: BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO Day at leisure. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily. Overnight: Bazaruto Archipelago. |
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Day 14: BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO Day at leisure. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily. Overnight: Bazaruto Archipelago. |
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Day 15: BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO - JOHANNESBURG Breakfast at the lodge and perhaps a final dip in the Indian Ocean. You will be transferred back via vehicle and boat to Vilanculos to board your early afternoon flight back to JNB. Please note that a $20 USD exit tax is payable at the airport. Upon your late afternoon arrival at JNB, you will check in for your international flight home. |
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Day 16: EN ROUTE Click Here to Download "In Search of the Big Five" Itinerary in Printable (PDF) Format |
| LAND PRICES FOR THIS PRIVATE TOUR
PRIVATE SELECT LAND PACKAGE - CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY). ALL PRICES BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRIME GAME-VIEWING SEASON: SUMMER AND SPRING IN SOUTH AFRICA: CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR’S SUPPLEMENT: VICTORIA FALLS EXTENSION ISLAND PARADISE EXTENSION: OPTIONAL UPGRADES TO THE SELECT PACKAGE: ALL PRICES BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. PLEASE INQUIRE FOR SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGES. ALL ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. |
| 5* PRIVATE DELUXE LAND PACKAGE - CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY).
PRIME GAME-VIEWING SEASON: Please note that Grande Roche is closed from mid-may through July 31; you will be staying at Klein Genot during this period. SUMMER AND SPRING IN SOUTH AFRICA: CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR'S SUPPLEMENT: VICTORIA FALLS EXTENSION: ISLAND PARADISE EXTENSION: OPTIONAL UPGRADES TO THE DELUXE PACKAGE:
ALL PRICES BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. PLEASE INQUIRE FOR SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGES. ALL ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. |
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Drinks (excluding "premium brand" drinks) throughout while on safari. Laundry service while on safari (enjoy!) ALL ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. Included in your Victoria Falls Extension:
Included in your Mozambique Island Paradise Extension
NOT Included in the above packages:
We are pleased to arrange your air (subject to availability) aboard the United Airlines / South African Air codeshare departing from JFK or IAD. All prices are per person. Add-ons from other American cities are available. Please call Heritage Tours for details. Cost per person:
Air includes:
Supplements:
$350 supplement for trips starting:
$580 supplement for trips starting:
For business class fare, please call Heritage Tours. Air for Victoria Falls Extension:
Air for Mozambique Island Paradise Extension:
Please note that not all flights within Africa may operate every day of the week.
ALL ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. |
| Call us at 212 206 8400 or 800 378 4555 to make a reservation. |
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