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Those of you who know me, know that Africa is not only my favorite destination in the world, it has also become a passion, and I love to share it with everyone. I have put this trip together using what I feel are the "best of the best" safari lodges (but still affordable). Michaelangelo, Thornybush, Phinda and the Twelve Apostles are all 5 star and all, my favorite places in South Africa. I have to be very careful when talking about S.A. because I know that we don't all feel the same about everything, do we? But. I can say without reservation that communing with the animals is an experience you will never forget. It really changes your life! No question, there are less expensive places to go on safari, but I have decided that this time, we will experience luxury in the wild. We can take 36 people so I urge you to book as soon as possible. It you want a roommate, we'll do our best to find one for you.
Sharon Carr

To book this trip, call 1-800-648-4856 or 972-233-3300

DATES

Sept 12 - 19, 2012

PRICE

$6114 + $385 tax = $6499 = per person DOUBLE occupancy
$7549 + $385 tax = $7934 – per person single occupancy – (2 maximum)
Taxes are subject to change

CAPE TOWN POST TOUR - Sept 19 - 24, 2012
$984 + 209 tax = $1193 per person double occupancy
$1785 + $209 tax = $1994 per person single occupancy

PRICE INCLUDES:

• International flights: DFW/Washington/Johannesburg/ Washington/DFW
• South Africa domestic flights
• All services as specified
• All transfers as specified
• Accommodation in standard rooms
• Local brand drinks on sundowners only at Thornybush
• Local brand spirits, wines and beers at Phinda
• Meals as specified - including one Dinner at Azure Restaurant at Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
• Transportation in luxury air-conditioned vehicles including qualified drivers
• Sight-seeing as per itinerary led by qualified English speaking guide
• Entrance fees for sightseeing as indicated
• Game drives as specified
• Lion World Tours representative Meet and Greet upon arrival

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, etc.
• All other services not mentioned
• Drinks and Beverages other than specified above
• Gratuities/tips for game rangers, tour guides and drivers
• Costs of obtaining passports and/or visas
• Trip cancellation insurance

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.

ITINERARY

September 12, 2012
Depart Dallas to Washington (Dulles) and connect on our South African Airways flight for Johannesburg.

September 13, 2012
Upon arrival at Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo International Airport we will collect our luggage, clear customs/immigration and be met and transferred to our hotel.
Forming an integral part of Renaissance-styled Nelson Mandela Square, the 5-star Michelangelo Hotel reflects the architecture and design of the Square and is strategically positioned to overlook the cosmopolitan piazza of Nelson Mandela Square. At the Michelangelo, luxury, elegance and service excellence offers guests a high standard of accommodation and amenities, which is why the hotel is a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World". The rooms and suites have been tastefully decorated and have all the necessary amenities to ensure luxurious comfort. A majestic dome in glass and steel tops the entrance lobby atrium rising eight stories. Scenic elevators overlook the atrium with its arches, columns, and decorative balustrades.
Accommodation: Michelangelo Hotel

September 14, 2012
After breakfast this morning we will be transferred from our hotel to Johannesburg Airport in time for our scheduled flight to Hoedspruit. Upon arrival at Hoedspruit Airport we will be met and transferred to our lodge where we will spend 2-nights including all meals and game drives. Thornybush Main Lodge is situated in the heart of Thornybush Game Reserve, adjacent to the Great Kruger National Park. The reserve offers a huge diversity of mammal and bird species with over 11 500 hectares/28 000 acres of pristine African Bushveld. The Lodge is elegant and exclusive and offers guests unrivalled game viewing, complemented by superb cuisine. The lodge consists of 18 stylish suites, each with full en-suite facilities, outdoor shower and private decks. Luxury suites line the banks of the seasonal Monwana River; all suites have spectacular views of the active waterhole. Spaciously appointed, each glass fronted suite has a mini bar fridge, telephones, in and outdoor showers, air conditioners and generous decks. The lodge has a swimming pool, a spa, library, boma area and a curio shop.
Accommodation: Thornybush Main Lodge (BLD)

September 15, 2012
Game viewing at Thornybush Main Lodge compares with the best in the world and guests can expect to see the 'Big Five' - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard - as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and other general game. Bird watching in the area is superb. The day begins with a game drive of approximately four hours, accompanied by a qualified ranger and tracker. The night game viewing is an experience of its own. Nocturnal sightings might include bush babies, the elusive genet, or predators hunting and stalking their prey. Between exciting safaris take a moment to browse in the intimate library or simply relax at the pool with your favorite cocktail as you bask in Africa's glorious sunshine. Thornybush Main Lodge awaits discovery by the discerning traveller where attention to detail and highly personalized service makes for a memorable stay. Daily outings on foot or in open game-viewing vehicles, informal talks and presentations concerning the environment and its creatures, are conducted by dedicated, expertly trained game rangers. An airy lounge, rustic bar and patio overlook the Monwana River bed. Excellent cuisine can be savored in the bush or air-conditioned dining room, or at the fireside in the "boma" under a canopy of stars.
Accommodation: Thornybush Main Lodge (BLD)

September 16, 2012
Today we will take a private charter to Phinda Mountain Lodge. On arrival we will be met and transferred to Phinda Mountain Lodge where we will spend 3-nights on a full board basis including game drives.
With wraparound views of the spectacular Ubombo mountain range and the surrounding Zululand bushveld, Mountain Lodge is a dramatic safari destination. 25 split-level suites crest the mountain’s edge, offering breathtaking raptor's-eye views of the Reserve below. This much-loved lodge has recently been rebuilt and refurbished, and each luxurious suite now boasts a romantic ensuite bathroom, private sitting area, and spacious veranda complete with private plunge pool and outdoor shower. The guest area is a magnificent u-shaped building with central al fresco courtyard, which provides seductive comfort between exciting game drives. The intimate sitting areas are filled with sunlight, and the dining area overlooks the Reserve with the Ubombo Mountains in the distance. Delicious Pan African meals can be enjoyed in the remarkable stone and reed boma, romantically illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns, or savored in a spectacular clearing in the bush under an umbrella of twinkling stars.
Accommodation: Phinda Mountain Lodge (BLD)

September 17 & 18, 2012
Phinda is home to an abundance of wildlife, from the largest mammals to the smallest antelope. However, it is the faster of predators that has a special place here. Having reintroduced cheetah to the area after an absence of over 50 years, Phinda has quickly established a reputation as one of the best places to view and photograph these rare cats. Along with cheetah, lion and leopard are tracked on the reserve on a daily basis and guests have a high likelihood of encountering these magnificent animals. Another success story at Phinda is that of both the white and the more endangered black rhino. Brought back from the brink of extinction, both the grass-eating white rhino and the shrub-grazing black rhino are thriving at Phinda. The elegant nyala antelope is a frequent sight, with the Reserve boasting one of the highest densities of the species. With its dark brown coat, yellow legs, shaggy mane and bushy tail, the male nyala is particularly spectacular, while the female contents itself with a less flashy chestnut coat. The rare sand forest in the northern parts of Phinda is the perfect environment for some of the rarer smaller species. The shy red duiker is found grazing on fallen leaves and fruit, and the tiny suni, one of the smallest antelope species, may also be seen.
Phinda is described as "Seven Worlds of Wonder", with its seven distinct habitats - a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, river courses, marshes and pans. Phinda is a wilderness sanctuary where intimate encounters and rare discoveries can be experienced firsthand. With unspoiled beaches and spectacular reefs nearby, and an abundance of wildlife, Phinda offers the perfect bush and beach adventure. After an early morning wake-up call and some refreshments, we will depart on a morning game drive. Return to the lodge for breakfast and a day relaxing at the pool, or perhaps take a siesta. In the late afternoon, we will be taken on another unforgettable safari where we will have the opportunity to view the nocturnal animals and activities in the bush. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Accommodation: Phinda Mountain Lodge (BLD)

September 19, 2012
Today we will take a private charter flight to Johannesburg. Those not connecting to Cape Town will connect on their evening overnight international flight to Washington(Dulles) and onward to DFW (arriving in the afternoon of September 20).
For those who have chosen the post tour, we will connect with our scheduled flight to Cape Town.
On arrival at Cape Town Airport we will be met by a Lion World Tours representative and transferred to our hotel.
The luxurious Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa lies where earth, sea and sky meet poised above Atlantic rollers and flanked by the majestic Table Mountain and her Twelve Apostles mountain range in glorious Cape Town. This intimate 5-star hotel fully lives up to its stunning location, with exceptional standards of service and relaxed Cape hospitality providing the perfect counterpoint to its dramatic backdrop. The hotel's rooms are either mountain or sea-facing, decorated with understated elegance, and have a wide range of amenities. The hotel's two breathtaking pool gardens are magically perched above the ocean, and the Azure Restaurant serves exquisite cuisine with endlessly seductive sea views. All barely ten minutes from the bustling heart of the city, with nearby attractions including prime diving spots and nature trails. Twelve Apostles are extremely proud to have the prestigious honor of being named Southern Africa's only 'Leading Spa 2005' by The Leading Hotels of the World for providing guests with an exceptional spa experience!
Accommodation: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)

September 20, 2012
Enjoy your first day at leisure in the fascinating city of Cape Town. Cape Town is a city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities to offer and it has something for everyone. From the landmark beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to the vibrant V&A Waterfront and Cape Town city center, the award-winning wine farms of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek - time spent in Cape Town will not be forgotten. Cape Town is a sophisticated city at the gateway to a majestic continent. The Mother City is a place where old and new harmoniously converge - in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essence of its people. The city is dominated by a towering, table-shaped mountain, set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush valleys, where two oceans converge - Indian and Atlantic. Firmly positioned on the international map, Cape Town offers a myriad things to do and places to see, whatever your tastes, inclinations or budget.
Accommodation: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)

September 21, 2012
A superb full day tour to celebrate the exceptional Winelands region and heavenly scenery. Stop at the "Taal Monument" which gives a cultural background to some of the languages of this country, and being situated on the summit of Paarl rock, it offers the most fantastic view of the surrounding area. Enjoy a brief city tour of Paarl with its range of architectural styles dating back to the 18th century and visit one of the wineries in the area. We make our way to Franschhoek with its cultural and historical heritage of the French Huguenots who settled there in 1688. This little village nestled amongst the mountains, can easily be mistaken as being in Switzerland. After lunch (under own account) continue the tour on to Stellenbosch. It is easy to understand why Simon van der Stel decided to settle a village amongst the mountains. The backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads and the oak lined streets and lanes all blend in to give this place a charm that will not be quickly forgotten. We have left ample time to stroll around the town and absorb its quaintness or sneak into a shop or two. Enjoy another wine tasting before heading back to Cape Town.
Accommodation: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)

September 22, 2012
Spend your last day in Cape Town perhaps doing some last minute shopping or visit one of the many places of interest. Cape Town is a fabulously diverse and vibrant city; from its beautiful natural attributes to its colorful culture, stunning wine farms and captivating history - it's a tourist heaven. Cape Town offers historic and cultural sites, world-class museums and bustling markets, inviting beaches and lush gardens, as well as great restaurants and wonderful shopping. While South Africa is perhaps best known for its game parks and natural splendours; it is also a land whose cities exude urban sophistication, rich in history, the arts, entertainment and other cosmopolitan delights.
Accommodation: Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (B)

September 23, 2012
Today we will be transferred from our Hotel to Cape Town Airport in time for our scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport’s Central Terminal Building, connect with our scheduled international South African Airways flight back to the USA.

September 24, 2012
Arrive in Washington, DC with a lifetime of memories! Connect with our scheduled flight from Washington (Dulles) to Dallas.

AIR SCHEDULE

FLIGHT SCHEDULES WILL BE GIVEN IN THE FINAL DOCUMENTS. Prices are based on coach class travel. If you wish to upgrade please call for current prices and availability.

ABBREVIATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Sharon Carr Travel is not responsible for weather-related or mechanical delays.

A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR AND MUST BE VALID 6 MONTHS AFTER YOU RETURN FROM SOUTH AFRICA

A deposit of $1700 per person is due with booking, 2nd payment of $2500 is due Dec 1, 2011 and final payment is due no later than May 1, 2012.

If cancelled before Dec 1, 2011, a $1100 per person fee is assessed. If cancelled before May 1,2012, a $2600 fee per person is assessed. If cancelled on or after May 1, 2012, trip is non refundable.

Prices represent a 5% discount for payment by check or money order. Rates are 5% higher if using a credit card and require an authorized signature. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, & Discover.

Legal first and last names (NO NICKNAMES) must be given as shown on your passport. Name changes are $100 per name change and may be made up to 30 days prior to departure.

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.