12-Night Itinerary

Arrive in Cape Town and depart from Johannesburg, with internal flights to Hoedspruit and Victoria Falls, Sep 13 – 25, 2027.

Day by Day

Itinerary and timings are subject to change by Tourcan Vacations and local suppliers.

What's Included

Hotels & Meals

• 5 nights at The Commodore, Cape Town, in a Standard Room with breakfast
• 3 nights at Karongwe River Lodge in a Luxury Suite, full board: all meals, tea, coffee, snacks and reserve fees
• 2 nights at Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls, in a Classic Room with breakfast
• 2 nights at Protea Hotel Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton in a Guest Room with breakfast
• Welcome dinner in Cape Town and The Boma Dinner & Drum Show in Victoria Falls
• Lunches at Seaforth Restaurant, a Winelands farm, the Lookout Cafe and Sakhumzi Restaurant

Sightseeing

• Table Mountain cableway (weather permitting) and the half-day city tour
• Seal Island, Chapman's Peak Drive (weather permitting), Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point funicular and Boulders Beach
• Robben Island Museum including the ferry (weather permitting)
• Full-day Winelands tour
• Dawn and dusk safaris in an open game vehicle at Karongwe. Drinks on dusk safaris are limited to one per person (local beer, wine or soft drink)
• Private tour of Victoria Falls with park fees, and the sunset cruise
• Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House

Flights & Transfers

• Internal flights with air taxes: Cape Town to Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga to Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls to Johannesburg
• Group meet and greet on arrival in Cape Town
• All airport and hotel transfers, and transportation as per the itinerary

What's Not Included

A few things fall outside the tour price and are worth budgeting for as you plan:

• International airfare, air reservations and airport taxes
• Zimbabwe visa
• Hotel nights before or after the tour
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Drinks with meals (alcoholic and other beverages)
• Gratuities for restaurants, guides, drivers, game rangers and trackers
• Personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, spa, mini bar and curio purchases
• Travel insurance

Where You'll Stay

The Commodore Hotel, Cape Town

Sep 13 – 18 · 5 nights · V&A Waterfront, close to the Table Mountain cableway.

Karongwe River Lodge

Sep 18 – 21 · 3 nights · On the river in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger.

Ilala Lodge Hotel, Victoria Falls

Sep 21 – 23 · 2 nights · In the heart of Victoria Falls town.

Protea Hotel Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton

Sep 23 – 25 · 2 nights · Set in landscaped gardens in Sandton.

Arrival

Your local guide meets you at Cape Town International Airport on Mon, Sep 13 and transfers you to The Commodore.

Departure

On Sat, Sep 25, after breakfast and check-out, you'll be transferred to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for your flight home.

Hotels are confirmed by Tourcan Vacations and subject to change.

Insider Tips

• Bring ID for Robben Island. You'll need a passport, driver's licence, birth certificate or ID document (copies are accepted) to get your ferry ticket.
• Table Mountain, Chapman's Peak and the Robben Island ferry all depend on the weather. Your guide will adjust the day if the wind picks up.
• Game drives start early. The morning drive runs 6:00 – 9:00 am, and mornings in the open vehicle are cool, so bring a warm layer.
• Pack binoculars for safari. They make a big difference for birds and animals at a distance.
• Carry small US dollar bills for tips. See the tipping guide under Money & Tipping.
• Apply for your Zimbabwe e-visa well before you leave.

Cancellation Penalties

Tourcan Vacations' terms, based on days before departure (Sep 13, 2027):

• Up to 90 days prior (through June 15, 2027): loss of deposits
• 89 to 0 days prior: 100% penalty

Penalties are plus any unrecoverable deposits paid to airlines or suppliers. No refunds are made for unused services. Any change to a reservation is subject to a $50 change fee outside of 65 days of departure.

Please confirm the exact terms for our group with Mel before the final payment date.

Flights

Getting to Cape Town

Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). From Toronto it's a long overnight journey with at least one connection, so you'll likely leave home a day or two before you land.

Returning Home

Your tour ends in Johannesburg on Saturday, September 25. After breakfast you'll be transferred to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) for your flight home.

Flights During the Tour

Your internal flights are included: Cape Town to Hoedspruit, Kruger Mpumalanga to Victoria Falls, and Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. Ask Mel about the baggage allowance on these flights before you pack.

Where to Stay

During the Tour

All 12 nights are included, from The Commodore in Cape Town to the Protea Hotel Balalaika in Johannesburg. See Where You'll Stay for details.

Pre-Tour

Arriving before September 13? Ask Mel about adding a night at The Commodore so you don't have to change hotels. Be sure to tell your hotel your arrival time, especially with an early-morning arrival.

Post-Tour

Staying on after September 25? We can add nights in Johannesburg or build an extension. See Trip Extension Ideas.

Travel Insurance

Before you travel, take a few minutes to review the coverage you may already have through your work benefits, a credit card, or an existing policy.

Check what's included for out-of-country medical, trip cancellation, and trip interruption, and note any limits or exclusions.

Where your current coverage falls short, we recommend topping it up so you're fully protected for the trip.

Get a Quote

Explore Manulife options and get a quote here.

Questions?

Email Mel at malles@expediacruises.com and we'll be happy to help.

Trip Extension Ideas

More Time in Cape Town

• Arrive early to settle in and beat the jet lag
• Explore the V&A Waterfront at your own pace

The Garden Route

• South Africa's famous coastal drive east of Cape Town
• Seaside towns, forests and lagoons

Chobe, Botswana

• Close to Victoria Falls
• River safaris known for large herds of elephants

Ask us to build your perfect extension.

Included Sightseeing

Tour Highlights

• Cape Town: Table Mountain cableway, city tour, welcome dinner
• Cape Peninsula: Seal Island, Chapman's Peak, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point funicular, Boulders Beach
• Robben Island: museum visit by ferry
• Winelands: full-day tour with lunch at a local farm
• Karongwe: night safari on arrival, then morning and afternoon game drives
• Victoria Falls: The Boma Dinner & Drum Show, private tour of the Falls, sunset cruise
• Johannesburg: Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum, Mandela House

Extra Activities

Free time is built in, including the afternoon of Robben Island day and your arrival afternoon in Victoria Falls. Ask Mel about adding optional activities.

Table Mountain

On Tuesday, September 14, you'll ride the revolving cable car to the top of Table Mountain for views high above Cape Town, followed by a half-day city tour past landmarks like the Castle of Good Hope and City Hall. The day ends with a welcome dinner together.

The cableway is weather permitting.

Cape Point & Penguins

A full day on the Cape Peninsula on Wednesday, September 15. Start with a boat trip to Seal Island, drive the cliffside Chapman's Peak road, and stand at the Cape of Good Hope. Ride the Flying Dutchman funicular at Cape Point, enjoy lunch at Seaforth Restaurant, and finish with the penguins at Boulders Beach.

Chapman's Peak Drive is weather permitting.

Dawn & Dusk Safaris

Karongwe sits in South Africa's Kruger Lowveld, part of the Greater Kruger region and the UNESCO-recognized Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. You'll stay three nights at Karongwe River Lodge, heading out with an experienced ranger and tracker in open vehicles.

• Night safari on arrival, Saturday, September 18
• Morning drive: 6:00 – 9:00 am
• Afternoon drive: 3:30 – 6:30 pm

Victoria Falls

On Wednesday, September 22, meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a private tour of the Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Lunch is at the Lookout Cafe, perched above the Zambezi. In the evening, sip a sundowner on a sunset cruise above the Falls, watching for hippos and crocodiles.

Packing List

Clothing

Layers are key. Cape Town and early safari mornings can be cool, while Victoria Falls is warm. Pack a warm fleece or jacket, light long sleeves, and breathable tops. For safari, neutral colours like khaki, olive and beige are best.

Footwear

Comfortable walking shoes for city tours and the Falls, and sandals for the lodge.

Sun & Rain

Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light rain jacket. You may get misty near the Falls.

Extras

Binoculars, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, small US dollar bills for tips, and travel adapters. South Africa uses type M and N plugs (230V). Zimbabwe uses type G and D plugs (220V).

Weather Tips

September in Southern Africa

September is early spring and the end of the dry season, a great time for game viewing.

Temperatures

• Cape Town: mild, highs around 19°C, lows around 9°C, and it can be windy
• Karongwe (Greater Kruger): warm days near 28°C, cool early mornings near 12°C
• Victoria Falls: hot and dry, highs near 30°C
• Johannesburg: sunny, highs around 24°C, cool nights

Sun Protection

The sun is strong, even on cooler days. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are a must.

Money & Tipping

Local Currency

South Africa uses the South African rand (ZAR). In Zimbabwe, US dollars are widely used. For today's rate, check a live converter such as XE.

Cards vs. Cash

Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Bring small US dollar bills for tips and for Victoria Falls.

Tipping Guidelines

Gratuities aren't included. Tourcan suggests:

• Transfer driver: $3 USD per person per transfer
• Tour guide: $5 USD per person per half day, $10 USD per full day
• Driver: $3 USD per person per half day, $8 USD per full day
• Game ranger: $10 USD per person per day
• Tracker: $5 USD per person per day
• Safari lodge staff: $3 USD per person per day
• Porterage and hotel staff: $1 USD per person
• Restaurants: 12 – 15%

Documents

Passport

We recommend your passport be valid until at least March 2028, six months past your return, with at least two blank pages. If yours expires before then, please renew it well ahead of the trip.

Zimbabwe Visa

Canadian passport holders need a visa to enter Zimbabwe. Apply online at evisa.gov.zw. The visa is not included in the tour price.

Robben Island

Bring a passport, driver's licence, birth certificate or ID document (copies are accepted) to get your ferry ticket.

Health

Book a visit with a travel clinic or your doctor well before you go, and ask about recommended vaccines and malaria prevention for the Kruger area and Victoria Falls.

Entry Requirements

Check the latest rules before you travel at travel.gc.ca (South Africa), travel.gc.ca (Zimbabwe) and joinsherpa.com.

Have questions or need help?

Mel Alles at Expedia Cruises on Fairway Rd in Kitchener can help with flights, hotels, insurance, visas, or anything else for this tour.

malles@expediacruises.com  ·  519.896.0315 x 131  ·  Agency office 519-896-0018

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Send Mel a Message

Questions about flights, hotels, insurance, visas or anything else? Send a note and we'll get back to you.

Prefer to reach out directly? malles@expediacruises.com · 519.896.0315 x 131 · Agency office 519-896-0018