SOUTH AFRICA “National Parks and Reserves”

THIS IS A DRAFT ITINERARY PREPARED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SITE: IT IS THE FIRST STEP FROM WHICH TO CREATE A TAILOR-MADE TRIP TO MEET THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF EACH CUSTOMER.

A MORE SPECIFIC DRAFT CAN BE DRAFTED AND SENT UPON REQUEST.

ACCOMMODATIONS, DURATION OF THE TRIP, EXTENSIONS AND COMBINATIONS WITH OTHER PLACES (WITHIN THE SAME COUNTRY OR IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES) CAN BE DETERMINED TOGETHER WITH KALAHARI AND MODIFIED ACCORDING TO YOUR DESIRES.

ITINERARY

The place of arrival in will have to be booked according to the selected Reserve. In this case, we suggest two days in Cape Town before leaving for the parks or the selected Reserves.

Day 1 - 3 Arrival - Cape Town Beach

Upon arrival at the airport, you will meet the person in charge of the car rental. The lease of the car always includes unlimited mileage, base insurance and tax. Any extras are to be paid directly by credit card on arrival. The international driving license is required for at least one driver. There is no guide but you may request such service.

You will drive directly from the airport to the chosen hotel. Accommodation for three nights in a hotel with breakfast. There are several categories of mansions, each with its own charm: those in the area of the Waterfront or in the old part of Cape Town; large and luxurious hotels or small boutique hotels. Ask for the hotels recommended by Kalahari.

The days are dedicated to free visits: You can choose excursions with a private guide (not necessary) or you can rent a car for the whole period. If you want to drive yourself, you will need an international driving license or the new license in an id-card format with the description in English.

Here you will have included a vehicle for the days spent at Cape Town, on arrival at the airport until the next morning to Hermanus.

Kalahari recommends the west area of the large bay: the visit to the reserve of Cape of Good Hope: a splendid day dedicated to the great bay. This day will be exciting due to the immense landscapes overlooking the two stormy oceans and cliffs where; raptors, gulls, cormorants stand breath- taking flights. A vegetation, sometimes dense that protects a large variety of animals, baboons who come to the cars to find the little morsels left along the passageway. On the way back, a stop at The Boulder Beach and meeting with colonies of penguins that come ashore and do not stop even in the presence of man. An intense day!

The visit to the beautiful botanical garden Kirstenbosh is very interesting. Here one can find more than 20,000 species of plants. Emotions for all botanical names diligently placed on every tree, the immensity of the garden, the bushy and long plants with trunks one more different than the other is something that surely will not be forgotten. A great dive in the greenery and nature in full freedom.

The ride by the cable car to Table Mountain is very exciting. This mountain is a natural symbol of Cape Town.

If you want, you can get to Stellenbosch for a whole day or even sleep in a Wine –house. A wonderful day rich of taste and tradition.

Day 4 Hermanus You will continue with your trip to reach the town of Hermanus with accommodation at The Marine Hermanus, including breakfast. Hermanus is the best place in southern Africa for whale watching. A small rocky corner where the two oceans meet, and where the whales come to find refuge and protection. This is why it is even possible to watch them play their games and train their new-borns even from ashore. To see the giants of the sea that arrive from Antarctica, which reach up the height of 18 meters, just follow the footpath that climbs onto the rocks, and to hear them, you simply enter the sound hall at the Old Harbour Museum, in the old port. Here the sounds emitted by the whales are transmitted through a recording system by a submarine microphone at the bay.

Day 5 - 8 Shamwari Game Reserve

Return to the airport at Cape Town at the same time of the pick-up of the car of the first day. Volo aereo di linea da Cape Town a Port Elizabeth non è incluso perché dovrà essere inserito nel volo intercontinentale.

The airline flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is not included because it has to be inserted into the intercontinental flight. Upon arrival in Port Elizabeth, meet your guide for a pleasant transfer inland until you reach the reserve. Along the Garden Route, there are various reserves that could be interesting. Some less expensive than this choice, but always good. It is important to book well in advance because it is not easy to find availability.

Beautiful reserve located in the "malaria - free" area of Eastern Cape just 75 km from Port Elizabeth. Accommodation for four nights in elegant and distinct rooms. The appealing building (Edwardian Manor House) echoes the traditions of the past by offering accommodation in colonial style, very well preserved gardens, swimming pools and water holes, terraces and verandas - all with magnificent views of the plains filled with wildlife. This is one of the "jewel" Reserves of South Africa, winner of several awards including the World's Leading Safari, Game Reserve and Conservation Company. 4 nights, meals and base excursions with ranger.

NOTE : this reserve may be replaced with another reserve depending on the needs and demands of the customer. Below you will find a list of national parks and reserves selected by Kalahari in different areas of the country.

Day 9 Return Transfer back to the airport at Port Elizabeth. End of ground services.

SOUTH AFRICA RESERVES Suggested by Kalahari

Below you will find a selection of reserves located in different areas of the country, each one of them beautiful and unique. For this reason it is important to make a careful choice of the reserve at the time of the organisation of the trip, so that every need and taste can be fully satisfied.

THE RESERVES OF THE EASTERN CAPE:

- KWANDWE GAME RESERVE

Kwandwe Game Reserve is a "malaria - free" Reserve near Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape). Kwandwe offers beautiful safari in a historical area to see the ‘Big Five’. The reception of the Reserve is in fact a fortified farm of the Frontier War era. Kwandwe means ' the place of the Blue Cranes', and it is in fact home to a large population of these birds at high risk of extinction. Besides the blue crane, Kwandwe protects many other endangered species such as the Cape Grysbok, Black Wildebeest, black rhino, the Crowned Eagle and the Black - footed Cat. The area covers 22,000 hectares embracing both the northern and southern shores of the Great Fish River for 30 km. The vast landscape of Kwandwe is influenced by the sea: the slopes facing south capture moisture from the sea breezes and are covered with a thick and high vegetation as well as beautiful brightly coloured lichens. On the other hand the areas exposed to the north tend to be drier with vast open areas: during which in the austral winter months, you can admire the spectacular flowering of many aloe plants!

Guests of this wonderful reserve can experience the emotion of a safari in search of the Big Five, surrounded by nature in a beautiful area of South Africa, rich in history and culture.

- GREAT FISH RIVER NATURE RESERVE

The spectacular natural Reserve of the Great Fish River is situated in the malaria - free area of Eastern Cape, between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort and extends down to the river Kieskama. This destination has remained outside the major tourist routes, offering the chance to see a corner of Africa, which is still wild and intact.

The beautiful wooded and rocky savannah, typical of this area of South Africa, provides the perfect habitat for rhino, Cape buffalo, kudu and hippos and is a haven for many other wildlife species. The reserve is also home to several relevant historical sites related to the events of the Frontier War of Cape, fought between 1779 and 1879 among the settlers of the Cape and the Xhosa people. Visitors can choose different ways to visit these wild and fierce territories including hiking with picnic along the riverbanks, day and night safaris, bird watching and hiking to the magnificent viewpoint of Adam Krantz.

IN KWA ZULU-NATAL’S AREA

- PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Phinda Private Game Reserve is found in the subtropical northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, and enjoys the privilege of being close to the warm Indian Ocean. It is a natural reserve that has been awarded many international awards for; its great work aimed at land conservation, and for its involvement within the communities. In 1991, in a private reserve at Phinda occurred the largest transfer of wildlife ever experienced up to that year. The reserve now has a total of 56.830 acres of land - shrine dedicated to the conservation of land and wildlife. Also referred to as the "Seven Wonders of the World”, Phinda is home to seven unique ecosystems that can be viewed during great tours starting from one of the six luxury retreats that are located within the Reserve.

Wonderful day and night safaris to explore the "Big Five" with the chance to spot the shy and the rare black rhino; safari by boat and by canoe down the river Mzinene. Hiking and picnic on the wild coast of the Indian Ocean with the chance of spotting whales, not to mention the cage dives with the great white shark.

IN THE NATIONAL KRUGER PARK AREA

- SABI SAND GAME RESERVE

Sabi Sand Game Reserve is situated in the southwestern part of the Kruger National Park. It is full of animals, including the "Big Five" and is famous for the chance to encounter the . The Sabi Sand is part of this protected area that extends on more than two million hectares: there are no barriers or fences between the parks so the animals can move freely within them. The safari is across an area of 10,000 hectares and the rangers are always in contact with each other to communicate regarding any sightings.

IN THE KALAHARI AREA

- MADIKWE GAME RESERVE Madikwe, with its 75,000 hectares it is located on the border with the mountains in the province of Dwarsberg in the North West Province. It is one of the few reserves in the world established with the primary purpose of conservation and environmental sustainability of that specific area. The reserve consists mostly of bushy savannah, but consists also of sandy soils of the , and a number of higher biomes than that of the Krugher Park.

Madikwe has become famous thanks to Operation Phoenix, the largest displacement of wildlife ever attempted in the world. The project involved more than 8,000 animals belonging to 28 different species, which were released between 1992 and 1999, in the dense bush of the savannah in the reserve. As for the elephants, 200 specimens, from the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, were introduced in the reserve. Madikwe has an amazing variety of animals.

In addition to its " Big 7 " ( , elephants, buffalos, , rhinos, and wild dogs), the reserve is home to the , the brown hyena, eland, giraffe, kudu, the down, the crocodile, the warthog, hippo, the springbok and many others. There are also, quite rare, black and white rhinos. With 300 species of birds, Madikwe is a paradise for bird watching. Raptors, martial eagles, snakes, fish eagles, goshawks singers and many others join the melodious background of the savannah. The wildlife viewing is the best practice during the dry season, especially along the Marico River, which is the only perennial stream of the reserve. The sighting of animals is virtually guaranteed all year round and this is a ‘malaria free’ zone.

- TSWALU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Tswalu is located in the Northern Cape Province, at the foot of the Korannberg Mountains, 300 km north-west of Kimberley. Not far from the border with , the village of Tswalu overlooks the endless splendour and the stillness of the Kalahari. Tswalu is the Tswana word, meaning "new beginning ". It is an exclusive lodge located in the Kalahari Desert in a private reserve covering 90,000 hectares of land, covered with red dunes and endemic bushes. Although the reserve is now owned by the Oppenheimer family, the project area of protection of the desert fauna developed from Stephen Boler dream, an entrepreneur from Manchester who took the most important private commitment towards the environmental conservation. In four years, Boler created the reserve, abolished all barriers and farms in the area, reintroduced thousands of animals, including the rare desert rhino, roan antelope, the Cape buffalo and cheetah. In 1999, after Boler’s death, the Oppenheimer, a rich family owning mines, bought Tswalu and made it one of the most exclusive resorts on the continent, which is now part of the prestigious Relais et Châteaux.

Rooms at Tswalu are the symbol of style of rustic elegance, typical of luxurious lodges in a private reserve. Comfort has not been forgotten in this typical African residence. From indoor and outdoor showers overlooking the plains of the Kalahari, to private verandas and the library, all is the essence of modern luxury with an African touch. In the main residence, guests can dine in the elegant dining room or can be served in the privacy of their suite. The suites are all hand-built in stone and sand of the Kalahari with large thatched roofs. The private flight from Tswalu - you fly to the reserve with their plane. It is but not private for customers as there may be other guests who will go to Tswalu on the same day.

KALAHARI

Africa Headquarters: Namibia - P.O. Box 21508 [email protected] Europe branch: Malta [email protected] – www.africaxposure.com

PRIVATE: per viaggi stra-ordinari lungo rotte sconosciute al turismo dei più, all’insegna della privacy, del relax e di ogni più stravagante esigenza Kalahari “Haute Couture” (KHC): [email protected] Web: www.kalaharinafrica.com - www.kalaharihc.com