DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA! from Kruger National Park to Capetown & More! August 16-27, 2009
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DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA! From Kruger National Park to Capetown & More! August 16 - 27, 2009 Betchart Expeditions Inc. DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA! From Kruger National Park to Capetown & More! August 16-27, 2009 Join us! . .as we explore South Africa, from Johannesburg, to Kruger National Park, Cape Town, and more! Our Itinerary will include the following: o Sterkfontein Cave, a short distance northwest of Johannesburg, the site of some of the most important discoveries concerning human evolution. The Palaeo-Anthropological Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand has been excavating at Sterkfontein continuously since 1968, and more than 550 hominid fossil specimens have been found. Towards the end of 1998, Dr. Ron Clarke made the most important fossil find since the Taung skull. o Lesedi Cultural Village - set amongst the pristine bushveld and rocky hills less than an hour’s drive north of Johannesburg. Here we will experience the vibrant and colorful traditions of the Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu peoples in a festive setting. o Kruger National Park where we will discover the wildlife of South Africa for several days. Kruger was founded by the government in 1926. Today, it encompasses nearly 12,000 square miles of wildlife safari country and supports more than 800 species of animals living in their natural habitats. The park is rich in biodiversity and stretches for 350 km from south to north along the Mozambique border and is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. Among the species we will look for are elephants, lions, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, kudu, impala, and colorful birdlife. o Cape Town, on South Africa’s southwest coast - tucked into the arms of a broad bay, with white sand beaches, and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Cape Town was the first place of settlement for many Europeans, entrepreneurs and religious refugees as well as for Indian, Madagascar, and Southeast Asian slaves. It reflects the wealth of South Africa’s history and heritage of cultures, religions, styles and flavors. o Table Mountain -- the international symbol of Cape Town. We will take the revolving aerial cable car to the summit where you can see the entire Cape Peninsula, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, beaches, harbor, city and suburbs from various stunning vantage points. o Cape Peninsula in Table Mountain National Park, which features Cape Point, the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans merge. You will also visit Simons Town, the South African navy's main port, and Boulders Beach that is home to a land-based breeding colony of the rare African penguins. This scenic route also takes you through the Atlantic seaboard, Kalk Bay and Groot Constantia - one of the oldest wine estates in the country. o Also visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden which is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Here we will visit the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and see the unique Fynbos flora and natural forest. We will also explore the Cape Winelands with quaint Dutch homesteads and award-winning vineyards. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHONE TAUNYA, (800) 252-4910 or Email: [email protected] Betchart Expeditions, 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014 ITINERARY DAY 1 WASHINGTON DC TO JOHANNESBURG Sun Aug 16 Depart Washington DC Dulles International Airport on a late afternoon South African Airways flight for Johannesburg. DAY 2 JOHANNESBURG Mon Aug 17 Arrive Johannesburg in the late afternoon and transfer to our Hotel (3 nights). Welcome briefing. DAY 3 JOHANNESBURG - SOWETO - APARTHEID MUSEUM Tues Aug 18 Our adventure in South Africa will begin with an introduction to Johannesburg today, including Soweto, the biggest Township in South Africa. Johannesburg is currently the largest city in Southern Africa with more than six million people. It is a city of contrasts with wealthy suburbs and commercial centers alongside informal settlements, Indian bazaars and African muti (medicine) shops, where traditional healers dispense advice and traditional medicine. Johannesburg is in Gauteng Province. “Gauteng” is a Sotho word meaning Place of Gold. It is the smallest of the South Africa’s nine provinces, but is the center for commercial business and governance. South Africa’s wealth is based primarily in the Golden Reef that makes up the Witwatersrand (Ridge of White Waters), of which Johannesburg is the centre. The city’s history dates back to 1886, when gold was discovered in this area. Our morning will include a Soweto Tour for an introduction to the biggest Township in South Africa. The massive South Western Township (SO-WE-TO )of Johannesburg is the biggest city in South Africa, heart of the Freedom Struggle and home to a dichotomy of people's, languages, economic groups, traditions and modernity. Afternoon visit to the Apartheid Museum. A striking and impressive multi-media experience of Apartheid South Africa. Likened to the Holocaust Museum in D.C., this museum takes you into the beating heart of the Freedom Struggle, the grip of the National Party's Apartheid, and the giddy days of liberation. Dinner. (B,L,D) DAY 4 STERKFONTEIN CAVES & LESEDI CULTURAL VILLAGE Wed Aug 19 This morning we will visit Sterkfontein Caves (of early man significance). The Sterkfontien cave system, about 45minutes drive northwest of Johanneburg is the site of some of the most important discoveries concerning human evolution. The limestone deposit at the surface, from which the first fossils were recovered, was formed by the collapse and infilling of a cavern as it became exposed by erosion. Underlying the old quarry is an extensive system of younger caves containing an underground lake and many limestone formations, part of which is open to visitors. The Palaeo-Anthropological Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand has been excavating at Sterkfontein continuously since 1968, and more than 550 hominid fossil specimens have been found. For the year 'Mrs Ples' was the best specimen of A. africanus. However, towards the end of 1998, an entire australopithecine skull together with its skeleton was discovered by Dr Ron Clarke, in an underground cavern beneath the surface excavations. Owing to its great age (between about 3.2 and 3.5 million years) and completeness, this is regarded as the most important fossil find in South Africa since the Taung skull. Afternoon visit to Lesedi cultural village (for a great introduction to African cultures. Lesedi is a multi cultural village set amongst the pristine bushveld and rocky hills less than an hour’s drive north of Johannesburg. We’ll experience the vibrant and colorful traditions of the Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu peoples. Be part of traditional Africa for just a short while as your guide brings the culture of each tribe alive to you. Dinner at Lesedi. (B,L,D) DAY 5 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Thu Aug 20 This morning, we will transfer to the airport for our flight from Jo'berg to Kruger National Park (11:30am - 12:20 pm). The Kruger National Park was founded by the government in 1926, thanks to the dedication of people who, in the face of a society that was of a very different mind, believed that the eastern part of South Africa needed to be preserved in its glorious, untouched state. Today, Kruger National Park encompasses nearly 12,000 square miles of wildlife safari country and supports more than 800 species of animals living in their natural habitats. The park, rich in biodiversity, stretches for 350 km from south to north along the Mozambican border before meeting up with the Zimbabwean border in the north. This is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast and is a world leader in dynamic environmental management techniques and policies based on experience gained over more than a century. Transfer to our Lodge(3 nights). Boma dinner at hotel. (B,L,D) DAY 6 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Fri/Sat Aug 21/22 For the next two days, we will enjoy morning and afternoon animal-viewing drives in this spectacular national park. Escape into the tranquillity and magnificence of the African bushveld, where the only sounds are natural and the sights are of magnificent animals and the bright night sky. Open vehicle game drives will bring you up close and personal with the Big Five and all the other inhabitants of the bush. (B,D) DAY 7 KRUGER TO CAPETOWN Sun Aug 23 Breakfast at your lodge. Then check out and transfer to Kruger's Mpumalanga International Airport. Fly to Capetown on 4Z 8664 1:05 pm/3:45 pm. Arrive in Capetown and begin with a brief city tour. Cape Town, on South Africa’s southwest coast, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is tucked into the arms of a broad bay, surrounded by white-sand beaches with the magnificent table mountain rising as a backdrop to the city. It is has a Mediterranean look and feel and attracts visitors and locals from all over who make use of the numerous outdoor and cultural activities. It is home to South Africa’s parliament and is the country’s biggest tourist attraction. Being the first place of settlement for many European settlers, entrepreneurs and religious refugees as well as for Indian, Madagascan and South-East Asian slaves, it reflects the wealth of South Africa’s history and heritage of cultures, religions, styles and flavours. Check in at Hotel (3 nights). (B,D) DAY 8 CAPETOWN & KIRSTENBOSCH GARDENS Mon Aug 24 Morning at leisure in Capetown to explore the historic waterfront and other sites on your own. Depart for Kirstenbosch Gardens. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.