19 Days | African Safari and the Ottomans | With Flights

Cape Town, South Africa

Welcome to South Africa! On arrival clear customs, immigration and collect your bag. Make your way to your hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is yours at leisure to explore the amazing coastal city of Cape Town.

Meals: None

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Cape Town

After an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager, depart on a city tour. Pass famous landmarks including the Castle of Good Hope, City Hall, the Grand Parade, St. George's Cathedral, Company Gardens, and the Malay Quarter. The route then leads to Kloof Nek and Table Mountain. Perhaps ascend to the summit by cable car (ticket not included) for a bird's eye view of the city and its beaches. Continue to the V & A Waterfront where you will have the opportunity to learn the three billion-year-old story of diamonds while touring prominent Shimansky Jewelers & Museum. Following the tour (or for those who do not wish to participate) stroll through the adjacent V & A Waterfront with its endless shopping and dining opportunities before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Cape Town

Today is a FREE DAY! While in Cape Town, don't miss the optional tour to Cape Peninsula, known for its steep mountains, secluded coves, and pristine beaches. The Cape of Good Hope, within Table Mountain National Park, is home to at least 250 species of birds as well as antelope, ostrich, and baboons. Walk the rugged cliffs, or take the famous Flying Dutchman funicular that climbs uphill to the old lighthouse. Afterward, visit Boulders Beach to see the unique spectacle of penguins waddling freely, and walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Tonight, attend the optional Traditional African Dinner Experience for a memorable evening of live performances and African gastronomy before returning to the hotel.

Optional: Full-Day Cape Peninsula Tour
Optional: Traditional African Dinner Experience

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Cape Town

Spend the day at leisure in Cape Town. Perhaps join the optional South African Wine Tour* which takes you along the country's principal wine route to the scenic towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch with tastings along the way. Alternatively, thrill seekers will not want to miss the optional excursion to "Shark Alley" to experience shark cage diving*.

*The South African Wine Tour and Full Day Shark Cage Diving operate simultaneously. Passengers may opt to participate in only one of these tours.

Optional: South African Wine Tour
Optional: Full Day Shark Cage Diving

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Cape Town Johannesburg Limpopo Province

This morning, fly to Johannesburg, known as "Gauteng: the City of Gold." Upon arrival, drive to Limpopo Province located just three hours outside of Johannesburg. Your stay will be at a game reserve where the varied habitats provide ideal conditions for a selection of large mammals including the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino). After lunch at the lodge, take a late afternoon game drive accompanied by a ranger to uncover the magic of the African bush. This evening, dinner is at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Limpopo Province

Depart early for a morning game drive, or participate in the optional Balloon Safari.* Drift above the beautiful landscape, watching for the wild game below. A glass of sparkling wine awaits you at the end of the journey. Join the rest of your group on the morning game drive in open safari vehicles where you may have a chance to see not only the large beasts but also the smaller mammals, birds and insects. After lunch, relax at the lodge before setting out for your afternoon game drive. Return in time for dinner and toast to your final night in South Africa.

*The Mabula Balloon Safari optional is only available when staying at Mabula Game Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: TBA on Booking Confirmation

Limpopo Province  Johannesburg Istanbul, Turkey

Awake early this morning and set out on your final game drive. After the game drive, bid farewell to the bush and travel east toward Johannesburg. Arrive at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for your departure flight.  You will take an overnight flight to Istanbul in Turkey.

Meals: Breakfast and Inflight Menu

Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey! At the Istanbul airport terminal keep your eyes peeled for the guide for your transfer to the hotel. Meet in the hotel lobby at 7PM for an informal meeting with your group and guide. Until then, you can start to explore Istanbul by climbing to the top of the Galata Tower for epic views or splash some cash at the Grand Bazaar. After the meeting, join in a group dinner at a local restaurant to get to know your new travel mates.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Ottoman Legacy Hotel or similar

Istanbul

After breakfast, we begin to explore the magical old town of Istanbul. Stroll through the historical heart of the old city, making stops along the way to the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, majestic Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia. In the afternoon take an optional cruise down the Bosphorus river and see the epic skyline.

Included Activities
Sightseeing of Blue Mosque
Sightseeing of Hagia Sophia
Sightseeing of Topkapi Palace Museum

Optional Activities
Bosphorus Boat Cruise – EUR 10

Entrance Fees:
Blue Mosque – Free
Hagia Sophia – Free
Topkapi Palace Museum – 1500 TL

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Ottoman Legacy Hotel or similar

Istanbul Cappadocia

Today we sit back and relax in the coach. Watch the amazing Turkish scenery unfold before us and see small towns and villages as we pass on by. We will drive through the capital city of Ankara before we reach Cappadocia. In the afternoon, we will visit Derinkuyu Underground City, a city complete with a church, wells, food stores, and even stables which are all located 60m under the ground. End the day with an optional traditional Hamman (Turkish bath).

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Derinkuyu Underground City

Optional Activities
Turkish Bath Experience – 30 EUR

Entrance Fees:
Derinkuyu Underground City – 300 TL

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Avrasya Hotel or similar

Cappadocia

Rise and shine, it will be an early start for our optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over the stunning landscapes and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Or if preferred enjoy a leisurely start to the morning before we all fill up on breakfast. We will explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed Göreme, and tick off bucket list sights along the way including Göreme Museum, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar and Cavusin. Tonight, get your dancing shoes on for our optional Turkish Night.

Included Activities:
Goreme Open Air Museum Visit
Sightseeing of Cavusin
Sightseeing of Pigeon Valley
Sightseeing of Uchisar

Optional Activities:
Turkish Night Show – 35 EUR
Hot Air Balooning – 290 EUR

Entrance Fees:
Goreme Open Air Museum – 480 TL

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Avrasya Hotel or similar

Cappadocia Konya

It’s time to hit the road to Konya, home of the famous whirling dervishes – members of the Sufism order. Along the way we will stop at Ihlara Valley, a unique honeycombed canyon with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period. You can relax and replay cherished moments of discovery during our overnight stay in Konya.

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Ihlara Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Novotel Konya Hotel or similar

Konya Pamukkale

Meet the diverse Turkish culture and its various facades today. Starting with an 8-century-old center of education and architectural beauty, Karatay Madrasa, continue to the Museum and Mausoleum of Mevlana, also globally known as Rumi. Explore the ideas and works of the famous scholar, poet and theologist of the 13th century, whose teachings of understanding and acceptance have lived on to this day. From cultural to natural wonders, we travel towards the Cotton Castle of Turkey, Pamukkale. Your seat for dinner is already reserved at the hotel restaurant.

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Karatay Madrasa 
Mevlana Museum Visit

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hierapark Hotel or similar

Pamukkale Ephesus Kusadasi

Get your cameras ready, as it is time to visit Pamukkale, or ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish. Pamukkale is a natural site that contains hot springs and travertine, giving the appearance of terraces made by carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white castle and people have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. Our next stop is the spectacular, well-preserved ancient city of Ephesus. Ephesus was cited in the book of Revelations, and historians believe the Gospel of John was written here. Famed for the Temple of Artemis which was completed around 550 BC and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We will sleep overnight in the seaside town of Kusadasi.

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Pamukkale White Terraces
Sightseeing of Ephesus Ancient City

Entrance Fees:
Pamukkale White Terraces – 700 TL
Ephesus Ancient City – 700 TL

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Signature Blue Resort or similar

Kusadasi Pergamum Troy Canakkale

After breakfast, we will depart for the ancient city of Troy. You may have heard of Troy from Greek mythology or maybe just watched the Brad Pitt movie, but now you will visit the ruins and archaeological site of the city of Troy and of course the famous wooden horse. We will stay overnight in Canakkale. You will have the evening to relax and discover the town.

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Troy Ancient City

Entrance Fees:
Troy Ancient City – 600 TL

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Kolin Hotel or similar

Canakkale Gallipoli Istanbul

Today we depart for the shores of Gallipoli. A place of important significance for Aussies and Kiwis, we will visit the beach and cemeteries at ANZAC Cove, before paying our respects at memorial sites Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine. In the afternoon, we will drive back to where our adventure began, Istanbul.

Included Activities:
Sightseeing of Anzac Cove
Sightseeing of Beach Cemetery
Sightseeing of Lone Pine
Sightseeing of Chunuk Bair
Sightseeing of War Trenches

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Legacy Ottoman Hotel or similar

Istanbul Australia

Our trip will end in Istanbul after we say goodbye to our new friends over breakfast and check out of the hotel by 11AM. Make your way to the airport and check-in for your return flight home. 

Meals: Breakfast and Inflight Menu

Australia

Welcome Home! We trust you have enjoyed this amazing experience on safari in Africa and immersing yourself in the ever amazing Turkey! We look forward to helping you booking your next Traveldream!