Download - South african splendor
SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaann SSpplleennddoorr Featuring: Johannesburg, Shamwari Game Reserve, Knysna, Hermanus and Cape Town
Anne Johnston, International Travel Consultant
6703 Highway Blvd – Katy, TX 77494
Toll Free: (800) 423-4236 ext. 24; Local Telephone: (281) 371-2500; Fax: (281) 371-2514
[email protected] – www.kerdowney.com
Your journey at a glance:
Day Itinerary Accommodation Meals
Day 1 Arrive Johannesburg Westcliff Hotel
Day 2 Johannesburg/Port Eliz/Shamwari Game Reserve Long Lee Manor B,L,D
Day 3 Shamwari Game Reserve Long Lee Manor B,L,D
Day 4 Shamwari Game Reserve Long Lee Manor B,L,D
Day 5 Shamwari Game Reserve/Port Elizabeth/Knysna Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa B
Day 6 Knysna Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa B
Day 7 Knysna/Hermanus The Marine B
Day 8 Hermanus The Marine B
Day 9 Hermanus/Cape Town The Constantia B
Day 10 Cape Town The Constantia B
Day 11 Cape Town The Constantia B,L
Day 12 Cape Town/Depart In Transit B
~Itinerary~
Day 1
Johannesburg
Westcliff Hotel
Welcome to Africa! South Africa is a land of luxurious hideaways, legendary scenic wonders, home
to the Big 5 of wild game, rugged bush, metropolitan sprawl and world famous wine. This is a trip
for couples, from pampering spas and unique shopping to spectacular whale watching. We will
sample perhaps the last frontier of undiscovered golf courses and discover South Africa together.
Upon arrival, Ker & Downey’s exclusive
Meet & Greet service will assist you
through Customs and Immigration,
then transfer you to your hotel. Here
you’ll relax from your flight and spend
your first night surrounded by luxury.
Situated in Johannesburg's most
exclusive residential suburb, The
Westcliff's hillside setting with
cascading, sculpted gardens and
elegantly opulent accommodation evoke
a bygone era of leisure and refinement
in one of the world's most vibrant and
cosmopolitan cities. The Westcliff is a
charming and romantic retreat - and its accommodations are both ergonomic and unashamedly
indulgent. The extravagantly sized rooms and suites all feature gorgeous over-sized marble
bathrooms and most have a private balcony overlooking the zoological gardens or one of the estate’s
charming cobbled courtyards. Others feature sunny patios and the majority have glorious views of
the estate’s tumbling gardens or the leafy northern suburbs, complete with lush greenery and
soothing water features.
Day 2
Johannesburg/Port Elizabeth/Shamwari Game Reserve
Long Lee Manor
After breakfast, you will be met then transferred to the airport for your flight to Port Elizabeth.
Upon arrival into Port Elizabeth you will be met for your transfer to Shamwari.
The Shamwari Game Reserve, a 61,000 acre malaria free, private game reserve situated in the Eastern
Cape of South Africa, has received numerous international awards, including the World's Leading
Conservation Company and Game Reserve for five consecutive years. It is situated in verdant bush
along the Bushman’s River, halfway between Port Elizabeth (45 minutes drive outside the city) and
Grahamstown, on the Eastern Cape and forming a natural extension to the famous Garden Route.
Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life and is the realization of one man's dream, and
the success of many people's passion.
Steeped in settler history, and dating back to the time when a multitude of game roamed wild and
free, the reserve boasts five eco-systems, thus enabling the support of many forms of plant, animal
and bird life. This is the ultimate African adventure and conservation effort coupled with responsible
tourism.
Long Lee Manor, originally built in 1910, offers a distinctive Colonial experience. This splendidly
restored Edwardian Manor House offers guests refined comfort, congenial service and enticing
cuisine in the African bush. Long Lee Manor is a reminder of an era of gracious living - positioned as
the flagship of Shamwari - it overlooks the sweeping plains leading down to the Bushmans River.
Long Lee Manor accommodates 38 guests in elegant en-suite rooms, all with air-conditioning and
heating, as well as family suites for the children. Sumptuously prepared meals are enjoyed in the
main dining room or around the open blazing fire at the Barn. Between game drives guests can laze
around one of the two pools, relax in the beautifully appointed garden lounge, or experience a
rejuvenating treatment in the spa.
Early morning and evening game
viewing drives in open Land
Rovers over the rolling hills and
valleys as well as guided nature
walks and bird watching are all
part of this magnificent experience.
These hikes can often be the
highlight of your African trip, for it
is really only then that you gain a
perspective of this great continent.
The heat of the day is usually spent
in the shade, playing tennis,
swimming, reading and, of course,
enjoying a delicious lunch.
Day 3 & 4
Port Elizabeth/Shamwari Game Reserve
Long Lee Manor
Game viewing is carried out this
morning and in the evening on
game drives, when you are driven in
your open vehicle (which seats up to
6) over the rolling hills and valleys.
If you have a particular species you
would like to see, please mention it
to your ranger; he will be happy to
merge your plans into the group. In
the early morning (if you are keen)
you will leave before dawn,
spending up to 3-4 hours spotting
before returning to your lodge for a
hearty breakfast. Blankets are
supplied for those cold morning starts!
Between 4:00 - 5:00pm, you assemble again for the evening drive. As the animals emerge from their
midday cover, you may see elephants browsing, rhino drinking at a waterhole, or perhaps the shy
bushbuck motionless in the dense bushveld. At dusk, the Land Rover stops at some panoramic spot
for a sundowner (from the icebox) and snacks.
Then, as the light fades, your ranger will plug in a powerful hand-held light. With its help, you can
sweep the veld, seeing first the eyes and then the forms of a variety of nocturnal animals. By 8:00pm
you are back at your lodge where a drink in the bar with your ranger, amid cheerful recollections of
the day's discoveries is followed either by another great meal expertly prepared by the chefs, or a
barbecue next to a roaring fire. End the day with a hot shower and a well-earned sleep.
Day 5
Shamwari Game Reserve / Port Elizabeth / Knysna
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
A Ker & Downey
representative will meet
you for your transfer to
George and to the fabulous
Pezula Resort.
Sophisticated African
hospitality, ultra-luxury
accommodations,
magnificent vistas and
scenery, outstanding
gourmet food, a multi-
award winning spa, a secluded Indian Ocean beach and numerous on-site activities await you for
two nights. Canoeing the Noetzie River, walking or horseback riding the forest trails, and shopping
in the nearby village will occupy your time, as will a spa treatment and a round of golf on the Pezula
Championship Golf Course.
Soaring above the glittering Knysna lagoon and offering breathtaking mountain and ocean views,
Pezula enjoys a setting that has to be seen to be believed. It nestles in its own golf estate on an
exclusive cliff-top retreat. It is surrounded by an aromatic mantle of Cape coastal fynbos - bushes,
trees and wild flowers teeming with birds and insects. And it overlooks a nature reserve while also
encompassing the exquisite sheltered beach at nearby Noetzie. And that's merely the setting.
Each of the 82 magnificent suites (20 junior,
60 luxury and 2 executive) is a cocoon of
comfort and sensuous seclusion. Luxuriate
in a massage or aromatherapy session on
your private balcony. Linger over a romantic
dinner for two in your room while you enjoy
the warmth of a genuine log fire. Or put
your feet up in front of the television - there
are 24-hour satellite channels for your
pleasure and relaxation. However you
choose to spend your time, amenities such as
an in-room refreshment center and
individual climate control insure supreme
comfort. After a game of golf or a walk on a
spectacular nature trail, here is the perfect haven to welcome you home, with all the style and luxury
that epitomize this exceptional hotel.
While the non-golfers are pampered at the resort, this afternoon our golfers will play golf at Pezula’s
breathtaking, award-winning
18-hole golf course, designed
by David Dale and Ronald
Fream of GolfPlan USA. The
course offers visitors who
wish to play the ultimate golf
course in Knysna an
unsurpassed golf experience
and rates amongst the best
and the most scenic golf
courses in the world. In 2001,
just a few months after it
opened, the course was
awarded Best New Golf
Course in South Africa. In
February 2005 Complete Golfer
rated it a Five Star Golf Experience. Today, you will enjoy the 18 hole golf course at the Pezula Resort.
The Pezula Golf Club offers clubhouse facilities that are in keeping with the overall five-star
experience, and includes a terrace with spectacular views, restaurant, bar, golf shop, short game
practice area and putting green. The Shareholders' Lounge houses a library, private lounge, dining
area and bar. Golf carts are obligatory and the resort's carts are fully equipped with GPS systems and
computerized scoring.
Day 6
Knysna
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa
This morning, enjoy a second round
of golf at nearby Simola Golf Estate.
If this is what you choose, a Ker &
Downey representative will meet you
for your transfer to Simola Golf Estate.
Keeping your head down at Simola
can be a challenge, simply because the
views around the course are awe-
inspiring, and with this, it is clear to
see why Simola takes its place as one
of South Africa’s premier golfing
destinations. It’s also the first Jack
Nicklaus Signature course on the
Garden Route, reflecting the maestro’s philosophy of attuning the layout and design to the natural
lay of the land. Upon completion of your round, you will be met by a Ker & Downey representative
who will transfer you back to Pezula.
South Africa is a haven of rest, relaxation and revitalization, an
oasis of calm. Some may choose to forego golf today and rather
spend some time in the nearby village of Knysna, one of the
southern Cape Coast’s most popular holiday destinations.
Visiting the quaint local shops, lunch along the beach or quay, a
stop at the overlook with commanding views of the lagoon and
the heads, two great sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the
lagoon and connecting the estuary with the sea, or a hike or
canoe trip along the lagoon offers you the chance to enjoy the
wonderful people and scenic relaxation of one of South Africa’s
most picturesque towns.
Evenings may be spent in the award-winning Zachary’s
Restaurant or under the stars at Zachary’s Terrace. Pezula
cannot adequately be described and offers an unrivalled
lifestyle destination.
Day 7
Knysna / Hermanus
The Marine
Today you will drive down the lovely Garden Route to Hermanus.
The Marine Hermanus is unique in its position, perched atop the cliffs on one of the most beautiful
landscapes in Africa. Enjoy coastal walks with exquisite views across Walker Bay, where there is
nothing between you and the Antarctic other than a few thousand miles of ocean. Spend the day at
the heated swimming pool with a glass of champagne or pamper yourself in the beauty spa. With its
understated luxury and sophisticated décor, the hotel boasts 45 air-conditioned luxury rooms and
suites, each individually decorated.
Hermanus is the undeniable heart of South
Africa’s whale route and home to the
world’s only Whale Crier, who blows his
kelp horn when whales are sited. The
Hermanus Whale Festival takes place every
September when whale watching is at its
peak. The well-known cliff path and
baordwalk hugs the shoreline for over 7
miles and presents both spectacular views
as well as the opportunity for a romantic
stroll. Great White Shark cage diving,
cooking classes in many of the world
famous area restaurants or simply drinking
in the champagne air (the name given to the
air between South Africa and the Antarctic
Coast), you’ll fall in love with this beautiful
seaside town.
Day 8
Hermanus
The Marine
Today golfers will drive to Arabella for a round of golf at this world renowned course.
The Arabella golf course in South
Africa is ranked by Compleat
Golfer Magazine as the number
one golf course in the Western
Cape. It was also featured in Golf
Digest’s USA’s Top 60 courses
outside of America in 2007.
Designed and built in 1999 by
celebrated South African golf
course architect Peter Matkovich,
this classic parkland course has
spectacular views across the Bot
River lagoon and across the
Kogelberg mountain range. The pristine fairways are kikuyu, while the greens, which frequently
receive high praise from professionals in the game, are Dominant Bent. The golf course has been
refined in the past six years with the addition of several bunkers and the revamp of the par-four 6th
hole in order to rid it of its blind tee shot.
There is no doubt that a round of golf here ranks with the best experiences anywhere in the world.
Following golf, return to Hermanus to share stories of the round with those who have spent the day
shopping in Hermanus or relaxing at The Marine. Tonight may be spent under the stars at any of the
area restaurants, relaxing in your suite or falling asleep to the sounds of the Indian Ocean against the
shoreline.
Day 9
Hermanus / Cape Town
The Constantia
Today, you will transfer to Cape
Town, enjoying an afternoon wine
tour en route.
The cool maritime climate and the
just-right soil composition combine
to make the Hemel-en-Aarde
Valley the ideal location for the
fussy Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
and Chardonnay vines. In this
picturesque valley wine lovers can treat themselves to a unique wine tour among the southernmost
vineyards in Africa. Your guide and host will explain the unique talents of the South African
winemakers, take you into the vineyards, and offer you a taste of some of the world’s finest wines.
Following your tour of the Winelands you will continue into Cape Town. Situated in the heart of the
Cape's oldest wine region and close to five of South Africa’s top wine estates, The Constantia is an
elegant and luxurious boutique
hotel offering a unique and special
holiday experience. This five-star
Boutique Hotel is conveniently
positioned in close proximity to
many of the celebrated Cape
restaurants as well as just minutes
from the chic and fashionable Cape
Town shops. Great attention to
detail has been placed on privacy
and security. Even the luxury
swimming pool and surrounding
tanning deck has been landscaped
and sunk below ground level, to
ensure complete privacy. All six
suites include air conditioning, under floor heating, heated towel racks, satellite TV and private safes.
Day 10
Cape Town
The Constantia
This morning, tee
times have been
arranged at Pearl
Valley.
The master plan was
shaped by the vision
of golf legend Jack
Nicklaus and his
unique touch is
evident throughout
the course at Pearl
Valley Golf Estates.
Nicklaus, who has
been named ‘the most
influential man in golf’, has used his wealth of knowledge and experience in the game to develop a
truly stunning golf course. Officially opened at the beginning of November 2003 by Nicklaus and
South African great Gary Player, Pearl Valley Golf Estates was named ‘best new golf course of the
year’ by Golf Digest magazine in 2005 and is currently ranked the ‘5th best course in South Africa’ and
2nd best conditioned by Golf Digest.
Those who choose not to play golf today may relax at The Constantia, visit the area shops, tour the
nearby wine estates, or simply relax in the sun.
Day 11
Cape Town
The Constantia
This morning meet your guide
in the hotel lobby for your
private tour of Cape Point and
the Peninsula, often referred to
as one of the world’s most
scenic areas. Sit back and relax
as you travel along the Atlantic
Seaboard past Sea Point,
Clifton and Camps Bay. Stop at
the granite boulders where you
have the most magnificent
views of the Twelve Apostles,
Table Mountain and the beach
of Camps Bay. Continue along
Victoria Drive past Bakoven
and Llandudno to Hout Bay – an incredibly charming small village and fishing harbor.
Onward, as you leave the beach, you will wind your way up over 1,970 feet above the ocean to
Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s
most breathtaking coastal drives. Here
you will have a bird’s eye view of Cape
Point and the Good Hope Nature
Reserve. During the migration season
(June-December) you have the
opportunity to witness the Southern
Right Whales as they swim with their
mate and pod members near the
shoreline of this magnificent coast.
Whales come here to calve and mate
and there is a good possibility to see
breeching whales in the surf and just
beyond. Next, visit the Cape of Good
Hope Nature Reserve and explore the flora and fauna of the region as well as the rocky coastline of
Cape Point, perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Stop at the tip of the Cape Peninsula
and either walk or take the funicular
to the lighthouse at Cape Point with
its beautiful views overlooking False
Bay, so named as the early navigators
thought they had arrived at Table
Bay. Our drive will take us to the
Cape of Good Hope, the south
western most point of the African
continent. Leave the Reserve and
drive along the False Bay coastline
through historic Simonstown to Fish
Hoek. You will head back to Cape
Town over Boyes drive with views of
the fishing village of Kalk Bay and the seaside towns of St. James and Muizenberg.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens situated on the slopes of Table Mountain is your next stop. Cecil
John Rhodes bought Kirstenbosch in
1895 and, when he died seven years
later, he left it to the people of South
Africa. It contains a unique
collection of southern African
plants, and the garden is one of the
few in the world devoted to
indigenous plants. In springtime,
between July and September, large
areas of the gardens are ablaze with
color. Time is spent in this
magnificent garden before returning
to your hotel at approximately 6
pm. The tour includes entrance fees
to the Cape of Good Hope, the funicular, Boulders Beach, Kirstenbosch Gardens as well as lunch
along the way.
Day 12
Cape Town
Today, you will transfer to the airport for your flight home.
~End of Ker & Downey Services~
Land Only: $ 7,995.00 per person - x 12 travelers Day 5 - Pezula - green fees including cart, half-way house and club hire
Day 6 - Simola - green fees including cart, half-way house snack and club hire (hollow tining 1st week
of September)
Day 8 - Arabella - green fees including cart and club hire
Day 10 - Pearl Valley - green fees including cart and club hire
Prices subject to change pending agreement to terms and conditions
An advance payment of 20% is required to confirm services * Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure
Booking Reference - KHFI110337 - Consultant - Anne Johnston
Land Only Includes:
Day 1 - Transfer - JNB to Rosebank/Sandton
Day 1 - 1 night in Johannesburg at The Westcliff Hotel - Luxury Room - B&B - 1 x Room
- Includes breakfast
Day 2 - Transfer - Rosebank/Sandton to JNB
Day 2 - Transfer - PLZ to Shamwari
Day 2 - 3 nights in Shamwari Game Reserve at Long Lee Manor - Luxury Room - Full Board - 1 x
Room
- Includes all meals, local beverages and house wines, and game drives and walks
Day 5 - Transfer - Shamwari to Knysna
Day 5 - 2 nights in Knysna at Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa - Studio Suite - 1 x Room
- Includes breakfast
Day 6 - Transfer - Pezula to Simola Golf Course
Day 6 - Transfer - Simola Golf Course to Pezula
Day 7 - Transfer - Knysna to Hermanus / Grootbos
Day 7 - 2 nights in Hermanus at The Marine - Luxury Double - Bed and Breakfast - 1 x Room
- Includes breakfast
Day 8 - Transfer - Hermanus to Arabella
Day 8 - Transfer - Arabella to Hermanus
Day 8 - Excursion - Wine tasting at Hemel en Aarde Valley
Day 9 - Transfer - Hermanus to Cape Town with Guide
Day 9 - 3 nights in Winelands at The Constantia - Superior Room - Bed & Breakfast - 1 x Room
- Includes breakfast, local beverages, and house wines
Day 10 - Transfer - Cape Town to Paarl
Day 10 - Transfer - Paarl to Cape Town
Day 11 - Excursion - Private Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour
Day 11 - Excursion - Lunch including tips
Day 12 - Transfer - Cape Town Hotels to CPT with Guide
Regional Flights:
Flight - Johannesburg (JNB) to Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
Excludes:
Porterage
Insurance not mentioned above
All accommodation not mentioned above
All meals not mentioned above
All international and domestic flights and airport taxes not mentioned above
All transport not mentioned above
All expenses of a personal nature i.e. telephone calls, laundry, etc.
Tips and gratuities
Beverages not mentioned above
Entrance Fees not mentioned above
All other services not mentioned above
This is a proposal only – no space is being held. All prices are based on tariffs and exchange rates
prevailing as of the date of this proposal and are subject to change without notice. Itinerary sequence is subject
to change without notice based on accommodation availability. Similar accommodations may be substituted
based on availability. Air schedules, quoted rates, and space are always subject to change by the airline without
notice, and airline seats cannot be reserved until we receive passport copies for each traveler. To avoid airfare
changes, upon your advance payment, please purchase your airline tickets in full. If schedule changes result in
an itinerary modification, any additional costs incurred will be passed on to the passenger.