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The
SOUTH AFRICA
trip
2023 DATES
*Trip availabilities change throughout the day and may not be accurately reflected here. To see if space is available for the date you are interested in, please click through to the booking form.
Sept 28 - Oct 8, 2023
SOLD OUT - Waitlist Only
Oct 12 - 22, 2023
SOLD OUT - Waitlist only
Oct 26 - Nov 5, 2023
Gal spots SOLD OUT + 1 Guy spot left
Nov 2 - 12, 2023
SOLD OUT - Waitlist only
Nov 16 - 26, 2023
Thanksgiving trip - likely to sell out
2 spots left
Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2024
New Years trip - likely to sell out
Gal spots SOLD OUT + 1 Guy spot left
Dec 27 - Jan 6, 2024
New Years trip
This trip runs backwards (Cape Town first)
1 Gal spot left + 1 Guy spot left
Dec 29 - Jan 8, 2024
New Years trip
This trip runs backwards (Cape Town first)
Gal spots SOLD OUT + 1 Guy spot left
11 days/10 nights
Starting at $5,299 USD
P.S. All payments can be broken up into a
$975 deposit + 3 additional installments.
2024 DATES
$200 ofF with code "EB2024SAF"
Feb 1 - 11, 2024
Feb 15 - 25, 2024
2 Gal spots + 2 Guy spots left
March 7 - 17, 2024
March 21 - 31, 2024
2 Gal spots + 2 Guy spots left
April 4 - 14, 2024
April 18 - 28, 2024
2 Gal spots + 1 Guy spot left
May 2 - 12, 2024
May 16 - 26, 2024
A few Gal spots + 1 Guy spot left
Sept 26 - Oct 6, 2024
2 Gal spots + 2 Guy spots left
Oct 10 - 20, 2024
Oct 24 - Nov 3, 2024
Oct 31 , Nov 10, 2024
Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2024
Dec 22 - Jan 1, 2025
New Years trip - likely to sell out
This trip runs backwards (Cape Town first)
Dec 28 - Jan 7, 2025
New Years trip - likely to sell out
This trip runs backwards (Cape Town first)
11 days/10 nights
Starting at $5,599 USD
P.S. All payments can be broken up into a
$975 deposit + 3 additional installments.
Page Menu
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our South Africa trip caters to travelers in their 20s and 30s looking for wildlife in Kruger National Park, incredible scenery and nightlife in Cape Town, and fantastic wines in Stellenbosch.
Spend 11 days discovering South Africa on one of our most adventurous trips. You’ll wind your way from untouched national parks in the nation’s interior down to the exhilarating coastal city of Cape Town.
In the bush, you’ll find a mix of early morning animal treks as we head out in search of the big five and laid-back afternoons as you get to know your travel crew. As you head south, you’ll explore beaches, vineyards, and even more parks on route to lively Cape Town. You’ll have a local guide with you throughout the trip to help you understand this complex and beautiful place.
For the love of
THE WILD
SUNSETS
BUSH WALKS
ADVENTURE
ELEPHANTS + LIONS
NATURAL BEAUTY
THE BIG FIVE
REMEMBERING
GOING OFFLINE
SOUTH AFRICA
Included
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All accommodation in "bush camp" or centrally-located hotels (boutique when possible, shared twin/double room)
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In-country ground transportation
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Domestic flight from Hoedspruit to Cape Town
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All entrance fees to private Game Reserves and the Kruger National Park
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10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
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2 game drives
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Guided bush walk
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Full day Kruger National Park tour
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Blyde River Canyon sightseeing tour
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Tour of the Cape Malay Quarter
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Full day Cape Peninsula tour
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Visit to Africa’s penguin colony
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Full day winelands tour including wine tasting
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Lion's Head hike
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Cultural city tour with a Cape Malay native
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Insider knowledge
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Local Trip Leader throughout
*All activities are weather dependent; in the unlikely event that we are unable to run an activity, we will have a suitable alternative in place.
not included
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Flights in and out of South Africa (hot tip: for cheaper flights, fly round trip to Johannesburg and get a cheap domestic flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg)
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Airport transportation
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Alcohol (except for the wine tastings)
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Mandatory trip insurance
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Meals not mentioned (budget around $150)
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Tips for guides, hotel staff, and waiters
day by day
*Itinerary is indicative and is subject to change
Day 1 - Johannesburg
Hello jo'burg
After your arrive in Johannesburg, we'll all meet up in our cozy guest house around 6pm. Grab a drink, then sit down for a welcome dinner with your new travel crew, and get ready for one amazing African adventure.
We'll plan to call it early tonight in preparation for an early am wake up call to begin our excursion across this spectacular country. Your South Africa trip is just getting started!
arrive
Day 2 - Greater Kruger
PArks & REC
Wake up early; we've got a long journey to Greater Kruger National Park ahead. Take in those wild, rugged views and get to know your new travel buddies.
On the way, we’ll stop to check out some of the most amazing viewpoints you can imagine and enjoy a traditional South African lunch (ostrich steak!) in an old gold mining town.
That evening, we will arrive at our first camp in a quiet nature reserve, deep in South Africa’s bushlands. We'll have an African dinner under the stars, followed by some much needed R&R.
GLAMP
Day 3 - Greater Kruger
NATURE CALLS
Today, we'll enter the Kruger National Park and begin scouting the more secluded roads of the park. You'll explore a variety of habitats, and come face to face with some absolutely mind-blowing local wildlife.
We'll stop for lunch at one of the park’s largest rest camps, before continuing on to our more private Kruger camp at around 3pm.
In the evening, we'll head to our second camp on a private reserve known for having some of the best game viewing in the area. After sunset, we’ll gather together in the camp’s boma for some “braai” or mouthwatering South African BBQ.
TRACK
Day 4 - Greater Kruger
game TIME
We'll get up bright and early and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a “rusk” (a typical South African cookie) before heading out on our morning game drive. If you'd like, you're welcome to sleep in and listen to the hyenas cackle from the comfort of your warm bed.
Return to camp at around 9:30am for breakfast, followed by a morning of leisure. You can swim in the pool, lounge in the sun, or keep an eye out for new visitors to the waterhole in front of the camp.
After a late lunch, we'll head out on another afternoon game drive. Then its one more breathtaking African sunset and sundowner session, before you return to camp for dinner under the stars, and late-night laughs around the campfire.
ASCEND
Day 5 - Greater Kruger
YEah BRAA
Start the day early and head out on a bush walk or game drive (your choice!). Early morning is when the wild animals are most active, so keep your eyes peeled for giraffe, zebra, warthog, and buffalo!
While this is certainly one of the most exciting and action-packed national parks in the entire world, there are also countless chances to see more of the nation’s hidden and elusive creatures here; your odds are best if you trek quietly.
By mid-afternoon, we will check into our final camp and end the day with a delicious dinner around the camp fire in the traditional "boma."
rest
Day 6 - Kruger, Cape Town
ONTO CAPE TOWN
As we spend our last morning on the safari, we'll go on a bush walk to get up close and personal with zebra and giraffe. You'll also learn more about the plants and smaller creatures of the ecosystem. We'll share a breakfast in the camp's boma before we head to the airport to catch our flight to Cape Town.
We will arrive in Cape Town and check into our hotel in a cozy little neighborhood just walking distance from the town center. Take some time to settle in, and feel free to visit the hotel's rooftop for a drink and breathtaking view of the city and Table Mountain.
The rest of the evening if free to explore Cape Town a bit on your own.
DISCOVER
Day 7 - Cape Town
Past & present
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a history tour. After breakfast, you’ll walk through the city’s most iconic sights, guided by a Cape Malay man who knows them intimately.
You’ll discover a history that’s both fascinating and, at times, tragic. It’s an important story and one that covers the first inhabitants (San or “bushmen”), the arrival of the Dutch and then the British, slavery, apartheid, Nelson Mandela, and Robben Island. After the tour, we'll be invited into the home of a Bo Kaap resident for a homemade lunch of traditional Malay cuisine.
In the afternoon, if you’re up for it, you’ll have the chance to hike Lion’s Head for some of the best views of Cape Town (we’ll even hike the secret, less crowded path for the ultimate adventure).
PLAY
Day 8 - Stellenbosch
Land of wine
Today we’ll take a day trip out of the city to visit South Africa's stunning wine country. We avoid the tourist hotspots and visit smaller, more intimate wine farms that focus on just one thing: wine-making excellence.
We’ll start our morning off with some South African sparkling wines paired with macaroons in one of the most scenic locations you can imagine before we move on to a 6-wine experience beneath towering mountains. Soak up some of that vino on a picnic lunch, and then get back to it with one final stop on this epic vineyard tour.
The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy. Grab some dinner with friends and check out the nightlife if you’re up for it.
REFRESH
Day 9 - Cape Town
Cruising the cape
After breakfast, we’ll leave for a full-day Cape peninsula tour. The scenic drive will wind through beautiful mountains, cliffsides, and historic fishing villages. We'll even explore untouched “fynbos” expanses and visit Africa’s only penguin colony.
In the afternoon, we'll stop to enjoy a delicious seafood lunch overlooking the sea in trendy and beautiful Kalk Bay. The drive will end back at the hotel, where we will have the rest of the evening to explore Cape Town’s restaurants and nightlife.
SIP
Day 10 - Cape Town
TOP OF THE TOWN
The morning is free to explore with friends. If you missed the hike to Lion’s Head a few days back, make sure to check it out. We can’t stress enough how mind-blowing these views are.
You'll have the rest of the afternoon to wander the streets of Cape Town or take on one of the many adventurous optional activities.
In the evening, we'll meet up at one of the prettiest beaches in Cape Town for our last sundowner session together. We will head over to a fun restaurant for our farewell dinner, and see where the night takes us from there!
Day 11 - Cape Town
Baai
Today is our last day in South Africa. We will have one last group breakfast before we say our goodbyes. Hopefully, you'll be able to take a later flight, allowing you to explore more of this incredible city before you head out.
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
-NELSON MANDELA
FAST FACTS
Just for fun
There are eleven official languages of South Africa.
The Kruger National Park is home to over 12,000 elephants, 27,000 African Buffalo, 1,000 leopards and lots of other beautiful wildlife.
Drivers use the left-hand side of the road in South Africa.
Trip notes
Being on safari means early mornings. Animals are most active in the few hours after sunrise and before sunset, and the game drives follow this schedule. You do not have to do any drives you do not wish to do, but we really recommend you do – being in the African bush and so close to real, wild animals in their natural habitat is an incredible experience!
Also, being on safari, or in a lodge or “bush camp” also means you are in the wild, far away from civilization. This means you are confined to an area (the camp) and cannot go wandering on your own. Any “free time” will still be spent in the confines of the camp, but it is incredibly relaxing, and you will probably not want to leave. The sounds of the birds and monkeys all around you, and the sights at the waterhole will keep you more entertained than any Netflix series!
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While we can’t guarantee private rooms, you should book your trip earlier if you prefer one, as they usually fill up.
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For more information on vaccines required for South Africa, see CDC website HERE.
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For information regarding visa requirements and Covid restrictions can be found HERE.
*The South Africa Trip follows a 91-Day Cancellation Policy, different from other FTLO Trips
About south africa
As the southernmost country in Africa, the Republic of South Africa is a multiethnic society filled with a variety of languages, cultures, and religions. The country is known for its natural scenic wonders, from the mountains and forests, to the coasts and deserts, making it a perfect destination for endless adventures.
GOOD TO KNOW
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The most common national languages are English and Afrikaans
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The national currency is South African Rand (ZAR)
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In restaurants and hotels you may add a 10-20% tip in ZAR if there is no service charge
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The closest airport for arrival is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT).
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Double check your passport is valid for 6-months after your return date
flights
Fly into OR Tambo (JNB)
You'll need to be in Johannesburg by 2pm on Day 1, however with the recent amount of flight delays we recommend planning to arrive a day early just to be safe. You can spend the day to relax or explore the neighborhood!
Fly out of Cape Town (CPT)
We recommend flying out of Cape Town on day 11 or extending your trip and enjoying a few more days in South Africa.
*Please note that you will fly into Cape Town and out of OR Tambo for trips running in the reverse.
Want to check out flights for your trip?
Feel free to also set up flight alerts to South Africa so you can grab the best deal!
*FTLO is not responsible for any fees or costs related to flights. We strongly suggest that all travelers wait until they receive the official FTLO Greenlight Email to book flights. This will be sent 3-4 months prior to the start date of your trip.
Alumni Reviews
We know how much you'll love the South Africa trip...
but don't take our word for it! Check out some of our alumni reviews.
LEARN MORE
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