Tour Summary: This itinerary is designed to provide a wildlife experience on the South African Highveld. On this tour you will begin in Johannesburg, one of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. We begin at luxurious Monte Casino where you will find a multitude of entertainment choices for your first evening. Then we transfer to Dinokeng Game reserve where we will experience 4 game drives, a traditional South African Braai, a day trip to Mystic Monkey & Feathers Wildlife Park and we visit world heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind. During our stay for 4 nights at Tamboti Bush Lodge in Dinokeng Game Reserve, we will take 4 game drives in a reserve that features the Big 5 as well as Hyena, Giraffe, Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Crocodile and many more. Dinokeng reserve also boasts the 2nd highest number of bird species of any game reserve in southern African with more than 400. With a mixture of grass and wetlands, this habitat suits a wide variety of flora and fauna. This is also the location where 2 bull elephants were captured, tranquilized and transported in a rehabilitation program to rebuild elephant herds in Mozambique as featured on National Geographic. Despite its proximity to urban development, this is wild Africa at its wildest. So join us for this South African adventure & safari.

Where We Go:

JOHANNESBURG: CITY LODGE FOURWAYS – MONTECASINO Situated on the Highveld at 2000m above sea level, Johannesburg is high and dry. Although not known as a tourist destination, there is plenty to do in Johannesburg. The home of Nelson Mandela, Sandton is Johannesburg’s new metro center with ultra-modern skyscrapers and the shopping is Africa’s best. Scattered amongst the shops are high quality restaurants that cater for all tastes. On the northern fringes of Sandton is Tuscan themed Monte Casino, complete with a piazza, a multitude of world class restaurants and shops.

DINOKENG NATIONAL PARK: The newest game reserve in South Africa and the largest in Gauteng, conceived in 2004 and opened in 2011, it is the only Big 5 reserve in Gauteng. Featured on National Geographic and with abundant wildlife and easy access it is becoming extremely popular with locals and tourists alike. Originally the area was comprised of cattle, walnut and fruit farms before becoming a game reserve. With many African wildlife species already resident within the area, it was a simple task to reintroduce lions, elephants and buffalo which made the park an Big 5 reserve and returned it to its natural ecological state

DAY 1 – Monte Casino On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met by our Escorted Tours Africa Dual National Tour Host and transferred to City Lodge at Monte Casino Resort where we will spend the night. Featuring cobble streets and a Piazza, over 40 restaurants, both movie and live theatres, bars and a casino, you will enjoy the sights and sounds of this amazing complex. Overnight City Lodge Monte Casino Resort

Visit Johannesburg, the Highveld, Dinokeng Game Reserve, Mystic Monkey and Feathers & the

Cradle of Humankind

Sensational South Africa

DAY 2 – Transfer to Dinokeng Game Reserve Today, after a leisurely breakfast, we will drive north through the Highveld to Tamboti Bush Lodge in the Dinokeng Game reserve. A converted farm this property features a pool, a pond, a lounge & bar as well as a restaurant. The converted homestead has rooms that are spacious with comfortable beds. With abundant wildlife at your doorstep, this area is home to a herd of elephants and a pride of lions as well as rhino, zebra, impala, buffalo, giraffe, warthog and many more species. Owner Derrick Cochran loves to mingle with the guests and has countless tales of his life in the African bush so be sure to have a chat with him in the lounge or in the restaurant. Also located in the restaurant is a large screen TV showing hours of quality wildlife footage produced by his grandson who also happens to be South African Drone operating champion. Needless to say the video is breathtaking with some of the filming techniques being totally unique in the world and exclusive to Tamboti. Overnight Tamboti Bush Lodge

DAY 3 – Tamboti Bush Lodge Today you will join an early morning game drive. Not only is every drive different but morning drives are different to evening drives so you should have a unique experience every time.

Morning drives are especially great for viewing water fowl in the ponds and lakes of Dinokeng. After the morning drive we return to the lodge for breakfast. Following this you can remain in the reserve and go for bush walks which allow visitors to see the smaller wildlife missed when viewing from a moving vehicle or enjoy one of the other activities in the area such as hot air ballooning across the game reserve or riding a quad bike through the reserve or flying in a microlight over the reserve. In addition you can indulge in a spa treatment in a lodge nearby or have a spa treatment in the comfort of your own room. And if that is not enough you can practice archery, clay pigeon shooting or horseback riding. But be back in time for a traditional South African Braai in the afternoon. At the braai you will enjoy rump steaks, South African sausage called Boerewors, BBQ chicken, salad and the staple of the land, Pap. At a braai, alcohol is not mandatory but a beer or glass of wine with dinner is encouraged by the locals.

(B) Overnight Tamboti Bush Lodge

DAY 4 – Excursion to Cradle of Humankind On the 4th day of your African adventure we will first visit a world heritage site, a place with a connection to our ancient past. Following breakfast we will drive through a region known as The Cradle of Humankind. Here, the landscape is dotted with subterranean limestone caves that have turned up a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies, which lend credence to the 'Out of Africa' theory. Here you’ll find the places that tell the story of what the world was like when our Human ancestors were evolving some two to three million years ago. We visit the large underground Maropeng exhibition center where you will see the fossil record of creatures that roamed the Highveld millions of years ago, including one of the earliest hominid species ever found, Australopithecine. Upon our return to Tamboti Bush Lodge we will

dine at lodge restaurant. (B) Overnight Tamboti Bush Lodge

DAY 5 – Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wild Life Park Today we will visit the biggest collection of monkeys and parrot species in South Africa. Spend a morning with these amazing animals, see the baby chimps, lions or tigers and then visit their moms and dads. Located approx. 20 km from Tamboti, we will travel to the Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wild Life Park where we will be able to view and even interact with species native to South Africa as well as other African countries. South Africa has long provided safe haven to orphaned and injured wildlife from all over the African continent in conservation establishments like this which is why it is possible to encounter species like Chimpanzees here. And let’s not forget the parrots! The birdlife in Dinokeng and here should satisfy the ornithologist in most of us and knowledgeable staff are available to answer all of your questions. Then we return to Tamboti in time for the afternoon game drive followed by dinner in the Bush Lodge restaurant. (B) Overnight Tamboti Bush Lodge

DAY 6 – The Lion Whisperer Today we will visit a corner of the reserve which the home of the Lion Whisperer. Featured on Discovery and National Geographic, this is the location where Mankind comes closest to the King of Beasts through the amazing work of Kevin Richardson, the Lion Whisperer. If you truly wonder about the life of lions, this the place to find out. (B) Overnight Tamboti Bush Lodge

DAY 7 – Return to Johannesburg

They say that all good things come to an end and after the morning game drive and breakfast we transfer back to Johannesburg. From here you may be returning home or you may be going on one of our excursions to another destination in Africa so we will transport you to OR Tambo Airport or your next hotel. Where ever you go next, you are sure to take some wonderful wildlife experience memories with you.

7 Days $1595 PP Twin Share, Single add $359*

Add return flights Australia – South Africa from $1595*

Weekly Departures: February – November 2018 info@escortedtoursafrica.com.au Mobile +61411150462

Affiliated with Tourvest (Azure Travel & Tours, Merit Travel & Tours) * Prices subject to availability

*Tour Conditions : Tour is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances and seats are subject to availability. A $500 (refundable up to 90 days prior to departure less 30% cancellation fee) deposit is due upon booking with the remainder payable 60 days prior to departure. Full payment is non refundable within 45 days of departure. We highly recommend taking Travel Insurance. Please contact our office if you require assistance with travel insurance.