Description
A truly unique and magical tour designed to ensure this fabulous country can be experienced and enjoyed by everyone. This tour will give you the true meaning of safari and will take you back to nature with animal interaction and the chance to view the 'Big Five' close up. A 5-night stay in Cape Town completes this excellent tour.
Virgin Holidays has teamed up with Epic Enabled to offer an overland tour that is committed to opening up Southern Africa to everyone, specialising in providing facilities for the disabled traveller. This trip is a camping safari where you get actively involved and experience first-hand amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, friendly local cultures, traditional specialities and picturesque sunsets.
Accommodation and Meals
A range of fully equipped accommodation is used, consisting of tented camps, bungalows and cottages in main and private camps. The tented camps have public-accessible shower and toilet facilities; the bungalows and cottages have their own en-suite facilities, and both offer solid off-the-ground beds. All meals are provided and cooked for you by Epic's crew. Meals will be healthy, home cooked and plentiful. Evening meals will be served around the campfire.
Vehicle and Equipment
A Mercedes-Benz overland safari truck is used for the tours, which offers a hydraulic passenger lift and removable seating to provide purpose-built tie-down facilities for wheelchairs. Please note, a fully accessible Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus may be used for smaller groups. These vehicles are used to enhance game viewing and the important all-round views of the spectacular scenery. Epic supplies quality camping and cooking equipment, such as crockery, cutlery, tables, stools, camp lighting, stove, axe, shovel, spares and tools. Numbers on this tour are restricted due to the size of the vehicle used. For further detailed information on the facilities available, please liaise with the Customer Care department on 0870 990 8350.
Hints and Tips
What to Take/Know:
- Warm/long-sleeved jumper or fleece for the mornings/evenings
- Towel, water bottle, binoculars
- Camera
- Torch and batteries
- Insect repellent
- Medication (to be carried in hand luggage)
- Medical kit recommended
- The size of wheelchair wheels in South Africa may differ to those in the UK, so we recommend a spare inner tube is taken as a precaution.
- Baggage should be kept to a min as space is limited. 1 holdall or small suitcase per person.
- South Africa has a unique round 3-pin plug. Adaptors for electrical items can be purchased upon arrival.
- Should you have any special meal requirements, please notify Customer Care at time of booking.
Day 1: London Heathrow Johannesburg
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Johannesburg with Virgin Atlantic.
Day 2: Johannesburg Kruger National Park
On arrival into Johannesburg you will be met by your guide from Epic Enabled and transferred to Kruger National Park. The journey takes us east through the rolling hills of the Highveld, stopping for lunch en route before arriving at the southern section of the Kruger National Park. Overnight: Crocodile Bridge. (L/D)
Days 3-5: Kruger National Park
The next 3 days are spent exploring the Kruger National Park. This 2-million hectare park is the size of Wales and is home to the Big Five (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo), as well as many other species of animal, bird and plant life. Whilst in the park, most of the time will be spent game viewing on early morning and evening drives through both dense bush and dry scrubland, discovering the inner beauty of this memorable park. This is the ideal opportunity to test your photographic skills, as the opportunities will be endless. Theres also the chance to see the animals after dark on an optional night game drive (payable locally). Nights are spent at various main and private tented camps throughout the park, with 2 and 3 in 1 camp. (B/L/D)
Days 6-8: Tshukudu Private Game Reserve
After breakfast and an early morning game drive, its time to depart Kruger National Park and head to a magnificent private game reserve near Hoedspruit, renowned for reintroducing animals to the wild and its lion-breeding project. En route to the game reserve, a stop will be madeat a local tribal village for a traditional Shangaan lunch. At the game reserve you can get to know and get up close to lions and maybe even touch a wild cheetah (named Savannah). Other activities will include morning and evening game drives, and walks and a visit to the Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Centre for endangered species (cheetah and wild dogs). Dinner is served in a traditional boma around a blazing fire. 3 nights at Tshukudu Game Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 9: Kruger National Park Cape Town
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic journey along the Blyde River Canyon en route to Johannesburg. On arrival at Johannesburg airport, you will catch a late afternoon flight to Cape Town. On arrival into Cape Town, you will be transferred to the Holiday Inn Waterfront where you will spend the next 5 nights. (B)
Days 10-13: Cape Town
Enjoy 4 full days in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. We have included 3 excursions in order to help you get the most out of your time in this fabulous city. On our Cape Point tour you will see the spectacular natural beauty of the Cape Peninsula as the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. See millionaires paradise as you drive through the trendy resorts of Camps Bay and Clifton Beach, and visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. On the Cape Town city tour, highlights include Table Mountain, the historic Malay quarter and colourful Bo Kaap, and finally a full day tour of the nearby Winelands. (B)
Day 14: Cape Town London Heathrow
Transfer to the airport for your return flight with either Virgin Atlantic or South African Airways.
Tour Notes
- Tour departs from the UK on the following dates: 16 Jan, 06 Feb, 05 Mar, 09 Apr, 14 May, 11 Jun, 09 Jul, 06 Aug, 10 Sep, 08 Oct, 05 Nov and 10 Dec 08.
- Tours in air-conditioned Mercedes -Benz Sprinter bus to and from Kruger and micro/minibuses in Cape Town. Special adapted Mercedes-Benz 1617 overland truck in Kruger.
- Professional driver and guide throughout your Epic Enabled tour during days 2-8. Days 9-14 are an addition to the tour and, as such, are not escorted. However, transfers and excursions included in Cape Town are fully accessible.
- Within the above itinerary, days 2-8 could run in reverse, or other changes may occur due to accommodation availability or other unforeseen circumstances.
- Price includes accommodation and meals as stated, all entrance fees and excursions (unless otherwise stipulated) and Kruger National Park conservation levy.