Experience the dramatic and rugged coastline and the unique vegetation of the native fynbos ecosystem as well as the rest of the marine “Big Five”: great white sharks, African penguins, Cape fur seals and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
Main land package only double occupancy (per person) $8,295 Main land package only single occupancy $11,590
Highlights
Experience stunningly beautiful Cape Town, including Table Mountain,
the dramatic landscape of the Cape Peninsula and breathtaking botanical
gardens.
Get up close to the marine “Big Five”: great white sharks,
southern right whales, African penguins, Cape fur seals and Indo-Pacific
bottlenose dolphins.
Visit the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of
Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), a seabird rehabilitation center Shedd has
worked with since 2014.
Venture inland to the magnificent mountain ranges around
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to enjoy the winelands of South Africa in
this ideal microclimate for vineyards.
Fly to Madikwe conservation area and look for the ”Big Five” of
land—lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, elephants and rhinos—on a luxury
safari adventure.
“Shedd is excited to partner with Brookfield Zoo, blending our organizations’ expertise of sea and land for the ultimate wildlife experience in South Africa.”
Cheryl Mell, Senior Vice President of Conservation
Your expert hosts
You’ll have experts of sea and land on this ultimate South Africa wildlife experience led jointly by Shedd Aquarium and Brookfield Zoo. Cheryl Mell, Shedd’s senior vice president of conservation, is a marine biologist and educator. Cheryl includes travel as a way to inspire conservation advocacy. Among the 100-plus countries on seven continents that she has visited, her favorite city is Cape Town. Christopher Panek, Brookfield’s vice president of membership, leads the zoo’s travel program and has been to Africa three times.
Start in South Africa’s “Mother City,” Cape Town, with staggering views from the top of Table Mountain, a wealth of wildlife, sprawling botanical gardens and the rugged beauty of the Cape Peninsula. In Grootbos, discover the “Big Five of the sea—southern right whales, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, African penguins, Cape fur seals and great white sharks. Immerse yourself in the culture and history of the winelands and visit award-winning vineyards. Jump into the wilds, away from the bustle of humanity, and uncover the world of the”Big Five” of land—lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, rhinos and leopards.
Included
Superior accommodations throughout at hotels and lodges as listed in the itinerary or similar.
Breakfasts daily, all meals while on safari and other meals as indicated in itinerary.
Transportation in luxury air-conditioned motorcoach. Wildlife viewing in open land cruisers.
Complimentary bottled water in vehicles.
Round-trip light aircraft flights between Johannesburg and Madikwe Game Reserve.
Round-trip flight Johannesburg/Victoria Falls on the post-extension.
All applicable hotel/lodge gratuities and taxes.
Local naturalist guide on the main program and the extension.
A trip host from Shedd Aquarium and Brookfield Zoo.
All park entry fees.
Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.
Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
Not Included
Round-trip air from Chicago to Cape Town, returning from Johannesburg, including U.S. and foreign airport taxes (quoted separately).
Passport and visa fees and service charges for obtaining visas. No visas are required for South Africa. Visas are required for Zimbabwe.
Gratuities to driver/guides and other conveyance attendants. Gratuities should only be given as a reward for exceptional service and is at your discretion.
Meals and beverages, other than specified.
Laundry and other items of a personal nature.
Personal and baggage insurance.
Cost for anything not specifically mentioned in the listing above. Please note the itinerary sequence is correct at the time of writing, but is subject to change.
Getting there and home
Classic Escapes works with participants to book international airfare for this trip. If you prefer to purchase your own international air, please feel free to choose the “land-only” rate for this program. The start city for this program is Cape Town and the end city is Johannesburg.
