South African Ultimate Lighthouse Tour

Depart USA from New York (JFK) via South African Airways (a Delta Airlines Partner), or from Atlanta.

Arrive Johannesburg International Airport ex flight: , meeting and transfer to hotel.

The Rosebank Hotel **** is situated in the suburb of the same name in Johannesburg, only a few metres from the Rosebank Mall Shopping Centre. The hotel consists of 294 rooms and 24 suites. All rooms offer ensuite bathrooms, colour TV, room safe, air-conditioning, tea-/coffee station and modem plug. Facilities at the hotel include a swimming pool, conference rooms, a gym, 2 bars and 2 restaurants.

Rosebank

Johannesburg – the tent and tin shantytown, which sprang up hot on the heels of the discovery of gold in 1886, has developed into South Africa’s largest city, a bustling metropolis with a diverse cultural society.

19h00: Depart from Hotel and travel to Melrose Square to Moyo Restaurant for Welcome Dinner, a traditional African Feast.

Moyo – “soul” in Swahili – comprises five storeys of eclectic African design, copper-clad columns, intricately carved wood, cowrie shells and traditional mud and straw walls. All of the waiters are from African countries, and every item of furniture and decoration has been designed and sourced in Africa using local materials and techniques.

The riot of different textures and inspirations is reflected in the menu, which, like the décor, is deliberately pan-African, incorporating influences, recipes and spices from all over the continent. The most popular dishes are lamb or chicken tagines from the north, fish curry with coconut, pineapple and ginger from Zanzibar, peanut and chilli soup from Nigeria, Senegalese chicken “yassa”, with lemons, sesame paste and paprika, “cig cig wat”, a fiery meat dish from Ethiopia and venison “bobotie”, minced meat with raisins and spices baked with egg custard from South Africa.

AT LEISURE – FREE FOR OPTIONAL SIGHTSEEING TOURS:

Enjoy a tour of Gold Reef City, which is a replica of Johannesburg as it was at the turn of the century when gold was discovered here. Enjoy a tour of the complex including an exciting ride underground! and in the late afternoon return to the hotel.

SOWETO

This tour with a difference takes you through Soweto and its adjoining townships. See the bustling neighbourhood life. Those who venture there come back enlightened, and fascinated by the glimpse of this side of South Africa. Enjoy a drink in a local Shebeen (tavern); see the Hector Peterson museum commemorating the turbulent days of youth protest against apartheid. See the former houses of Nelson and Winnie Mandela and Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world where two Nobel peace prizewinners used to live. (Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu)

PRETORIA

Depart on a city tour of Pretoria, the Administrative Capital of South Africa. Visit Kruger House, the Union Buildings, Melrose House where the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed, ending the Anglo-Boer War. During October, Pretoria bursts with colour from the Jacaranda trees lining the streets, and if often referred to as “Jacaranda City”.

ROSEBANK HOTEL: BED & BREAKFAST

After breakfast, transfer from Rosebank Hotel to Johannesburg International Airport to connect with flight SA 471, departing at 10h35 to East London.

The Hemingway’s Hotel **** is a charming new hotel in East London, which is linked to the Hemingways Casino Complex. The architecture and decor of the Hotel is inspired by the "Key West" home of author Ernest Hemingway. The hotel consists of 70 rooms in total (some suites included), and all rooms offer ensuite bathrooms with separate shower, colour TV, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities and bay windows that overlook the gardens. Facilities in the hotel include conference rooms, a lounge, a restaurant and various food outlets in the casino, outdoor swimming pool, gym, mini golf, mountain bike trail, supervised outdoor activities for children, supervised crèche, 3 cinemas, an ethnic market, and an entertainment area.

HOOD POINT – was the first navigational aid erected in the vicinity of East London, comprising a fixed white light of the sixth order atop a wooden structure, sited on a reef near the extreme Castle Point on the south-west side of the Buffalo River and was lit for the first time in 1895.

On arrival at Great Fish Lighthouse, smaller vehicles will transfer you from the coach to the lighthouse, as the coach cannot drive all the way to the Lighthouse.

GREAT FISH LIGHTHOUSE: the establishment of a lighthouse at Great Fish Point arose out of a recommendation from the Lighthouse Commission, appointed by the Governor of the Cape Colonial Government in 1890. Due to financial restraints the lighthouse was only switched on for the first time in July 1898. The masonry tower is situated 76metres above sea level and 800 metres from the shoreline.

CAPE RECIFE: Situated on the southern point of Algoa Bay, approximately seven miles from Port Elizabeth, Cape Recife is the turning point into this bay and warns navigators of the danger of Thunderbolt Reef and other hazards which have to be given a wide berth. The lighthouse was brought into operation in 1851, the original lighting apparatus installed gave a range of 12 miles and was a white flashing light with a red sector showing over Roman Rock.

DEAL LIGHTHOUSE: Situated near the mouth of the Papenkuils River, this lighthouse was commissioned in 1973 to replace the Hill Lighthouse. Deal Light was named after one of the parties of British Settlers who came from Deal in Kent and settled on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth and endeavoured to make a living from fishing.

On arrival at Addo Elephant Park you will be transferred to open landrovers to enjoy game drives in the park.

Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black-backed jackal, and the francolins call heralds each new dawn. Safe from relentless persecution in the past, the grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace. The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area - today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 350 elephants, 280 Cape buffalo, black rhino, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. But the Addo story has only just begun. Plans to expand the 125 000 ha (309 000 acre) Addo National Elephant Park into a 492 000 ha (1,2 million acre) "Greater Addo" park are moving forward at an exciting pace. This expansion is transforming Addo into the ultimate tourism destination. Some of its unique features will include:

· Unrivalled natural diversity, with five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones (biomes).

· The Big 7 (Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, whales and great white sharks in their natural habitat. Only lions still have to be reintroduced to the "Greater Addo" area and could be as soon as 2003.

· A 120 000 ha (296 500 acre) marine reserve that includes islands that are home to the world's largest African penguins and gannets.

THE HILL LIGHTHOUSE: Situated in the Donkin Reserve, almost in the centre of the city of Port Elizabeth and lit for the first time in 1861. The Governor Sir George Grey commissioned the lighthouse to be built on the Hill. This lighthouse operated for the last time in 1973.

LUNCH: Walskipper Restaurant – situated on Clapptons Beach at the Marina Martinique Harbour in Jeffreys Bay. This is a beach restaurant, with protection against the elements.

SEAL POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Situated at Cape St. Francis, some 30km from the town of Humansdorp, this lighthouse has the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast. It is 27,75 metres high and the focal plane is 36 metres above sea level giving it a range of 28 sea miles. Construction was started by a civil engineer, Joseph Flack, who came from Maidstone, Kent, England and died at the lighthouse in 1876. W.B. Hays took over the work and the lamp was lit for the first time in 1878. This lighthouse was declared a national monument in 1984, and is monitored from Port Elizabeth.

KNYSNA: Founded by George Rex, the son of King George 111 of England, is situated on the northern side of the Knysna Lagoon. At one time a flourishing port, it is now a restful holiday resort. The “Heads” are an impressive rocky outcrop where the lagoon enters the sea.

The Knysna Log Inn **** is the largest log structure in the Southern Hemisphere, and situated only 250m from the Knysna waterfront development Knysna Quays. The hotel consists of 57 twin-bedded rooms, equipped with an ensuite bathroom, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, heater, hair dryer, tea/coffee station, telephone, electronic safe and satellite TV with German channels. The rooms on the first floor additionally offer a balcony. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, a bar, a hairdresser and curio shop, internet access, laundry and dry cleaning service, limited room service, heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna and conference facilities.

Sundowner Cruise with commentary and music on board and full bar facilities available, oysters and champagne.

KNYSNA – WILDERNESS – OUDTSHOORN

This magnificent steam train journey runs along the elemental stretch of coastal country between George and Knysna, on South Africa's internationally celebrated Garden Route, reflecting, as it does, much of South Africa's railway history.

The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe is one of several preserved railway lines today that, thanks to Transnet Heritage Foundation, bear testimony to an age when people lived close to the land.

On arrival Sedgefield, you will be met by the coach and transported via George, which was established in 1811, and is the centre of the Garden Route. Travel over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, the “Feather Capital of the World” to visit and ostrich show farm, where you will see the incubators and also a demonstration of this strange bird and its husbandry.

Visit the Cango caves, one of the greatest natural wonders, where the mysterious limestone formations have been sculpted by nature through the ages.

De Opstal Country Lodge **** is situated in the picturesque Schoemanshoek Valley on the road to the Cango Caves. Accommodation is in 6 luxuriously restored farm buildings, totalling 18 rooms, each offering ensuite bathroom, colour TV, air-conditioning and fire place, a ceiling fan, a hair dryer, tea/coffee station and a mini bar. Facilities in the lodge include a conference facility, a restaurant and ladies bar, a saltwater swimming pool and numerous hiking trails.

MOSSEL BAY: The Portuguese explorer Bartholomeus Diaz was the first European to land at Mossel Bay in 1488. However, he was not received well by the Hottentots who lived there and he had to sail on without having been able to replenish his meat provisions, as he would have hoped for. A few years later, in 1497, Vasco da Gama found much better conditions. Following his successful landing, the place became an important port of call for many Portuguese ships to fill up their fresh water and stock up their provisions. The sailors even developed a working communication system: There was a boot hanging in an old milkwood tree, in, which the sailors deposited, messages for other ships. A stone shoe above the beach of Mossel Bay still reminds of this "Post-Office-Tree". In the Diaz Museum one can see the replica of a sailing ship, which Diaz used on his journey in 1488. The caravelle was built in Portugal and sailed in 1988, at the 500th birthday of the seafarer, to Mossel Bay.

CAPE ST BLAIZE: Installed in March 1864, the 20.5 metre high square white tower is situated 52 metres above sea level on a prominent headland at Mossel Bay. The original light was a fixed red light visible for 15 miles.

The Point Hotel **** is positioned on the rocks at Mossel Bay's famous lighthouse. Accommodation is in 48 sea-facing ensuite rooms with private balconies overlooking the Indian Ocean. Amenities in the room include telephones, satellite TV, ceiling fans, panel heaters, lock-up safes and Internet access. A huge tidal pool right in front of the hotel offers safe bathing, whilst surfers can enjoy one of the best surfing venues on the coastline. A 15km walking trail along the coast starts at the hotel. The Lighthouse Restaurant and bar cater for all tastes and appetites. Winner: AA Travel Guides 2002: Full Service Hotel.

Mossel Bay

MOSSEL BAY – CAPE AGULHAS – HERMANUS

CAPE AGULHAS LIGHTHOUSE: Situated on the most southerly cape on the continent of Africa, named by the Portuguese as the “Cape Needle”, being the compass needle which behaved strangely when their ships rounded this cape. In clear weather this lighthouse is visible for a distance of 30 nautical miles, the coast is fringed with dangerous reefs, on which more ships have been wrecked than other parts of the South African coast.

DANGER POINT: Forty three years before the establishment of the lighthouse at Danger Point, on 1 January 1895, the British Troopship H.M.S. “Birkenhead” carrying troops and their families to Port Elizabeth was wrecked off the reef off Danger Point – February 1852. A commemorative plaque recording this tragic event has been set in the lighthouse tower.

Continue to Hermanus for overnight. A fashionable, affluent town with historical buildings, craft markets and excellent restaurants. A whale crier walks the streets of Hermanus, giving information about viewing sites. Walker Bay is one of the best spots on the Southern Cape Coast for whale watching.

The Windsor Hotel Hermanus *** is a seafront hotel in the heart of Hermanus, situated on a cliff edge with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. The hotel consists of 59 bedrooms, of which 55% are sea facing, but all offer ensuite bathroom, colour TV, telephone, ceiling fan and tea/coffee station. Facilities at the hotel include a bar, a restaurant and a games room.

STELLENBOSCH: The heart of South Africa's wine industry, Stellenbosch is a place of great beauty and culture that's steeped in South African tradition.

The heart of the town lies somewhere near the oak-lined Dorp Street. With its venerable old buildings, this is the University's main thoroughfare, where modern student life sits comfortably side by side with our history and architectural heritage.

FRANSCHHOEK: Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley. This is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and our top chefs create international cuisine.

Breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine and the finest wines. This is the beautiful Franschhoek Valley in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

PAARL: The town is situated on the west bank of the Berg river, some 400 ft. above the sea. It stands on the coast plain near the foot of the Drakenstein Mountains. West of the town the Paarl Berg rises from the plain. The berg is crowned by three great granite boulders, known as the Paarl, Britannia and Gordon Rock. The town is beautifully situated amid gardens, orange groves and vineyards. The chief public buildings are the two Dutch Reformed churches, the old church being a good specimen of colonial Dutch architecture, with gables, curves and thatched roof.

TOUR OF FAIRVIEW WINERARY WITH WINETASTING

The first European settlers arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 to set up a harbour and garden for Dutch East Indian Company whose ships passed around the Cape on the way to the Spice Colonies in the East. Retired employees of the company who were issued grants of land by the governor settled the Cape colony. In 1693, Simon van der Stel the second governor of the Cape of Good Hope allocated the original land at Fairview to Steven Vervey, who was almost certainly a French Huguenot. Archival records show that the first wine was made on Fairview in 1699. The farm passed through numerous owners until 1937 when Charles Back, an immigrant from Lithuania bought Fairview. Charles Back passed away in 1955 and the running of the farm was taken over by his son Cyril who replanted the whole farm. In the early days, Fairview vinified its grapes and delivered the wine to the large merchants and co-operatives that controlled the South African industry at that time. Cyril, a man ahead of the times saw the need to break free from this restrictive grip and decided to go it alone, with Fairview's estate bottling occurring in 1974. In order to circumvent the stranglehold held by the large merchants, Fairview decided to auction its first bottled wines in 1974, which was the first wine auction in this country pre dating the now famous Nederburg Auctions. Cyril introduced milking goats in 1980, which led to the development of cheese production at Fairview.

De Oude Paarl Boutique Hotel **** is situated in the historic heart of Paarl. All the buildings of this hotel complex are national monuments, dating back to the late 1700s. 25 individually decorated suites reflect the Cape's Cape Dutch, Indian, Indonesian and Malay cultural heritage. All rooms offer ensuite bathrooms with separate showers and colour TV. Facilities at the hotel include a formal restaurant, a wine boutique and terrace restaurant, a food and Belgian chocolate deli, conference facilities, an old slave-church for wedding ceremonies, a beauty salon and a swimming pool.

At dinner a local winemaker, will be invited to join the Group for dinner and to introduce them to the various local wines. The hotel also has a wine shop with a selection from the various estates and these can be shipped home for you.

After breakfast depart and travel along the West Coast to Yzerfontein to visit Dassen Island.

On reaching Yzerfontein, you will be ferried across to Dassen Island in 12-seater Rubber Inflatables, which are used by the Lighthouse Commission to service this lighthouse.

Situated 55km from Cape Town's Table Bay, Dassen Island is arguably one of the most isolated and bleakest manned lighthouses. This barren outcrop of rock and sand is a mere 220 hectares and was first visited and noted by European seafarers in the early 1600s.
Established on the island in 1893, the lighthouse itself is an impressive cast iron structure that stands some 28 metres tall and is manned (since its existence) by a single senior lightkeeper. Due to the islands submerged reefs, kelp beds and icy blue Atlantic ocean which produces a thick rolling fog, the lighthouse is one of the principle beacons on the Cape shipping route and has to be manned at all times. The island derives its name - from the numerous "rock" rabbits or Dassies, as they are more commonly known who inhabit the island.
The island is also home to numerous bird species such as the endangered African penguins, who flock to the island in their thousands every year to breed on the rocky sands, and the rare White pelican.

Transfer back to the mainland and then continue to Cape Town for overnight, en-route you will drive past the Milnerton Lighthouse, situated in the suburb of Milnerton on the West Coast. It stands guard over one of the most famous views in South Africa with the panorama of Table Mountain and Table Bay in the foreground, but this small stretch of coastline from Green Point to Milnerton has wrecked more ships than any other coastline in South Africa. Over 150 ships have met their demise in the last few centuries.

Cape Town – known as the “Mother City” of South Africa, where visitors are stunned by the natural beauty of Mountains and sea. Add graceful historical buildings, a wealth of tradition such as Table Mountain, Signal Hill, fresh seafood, fine wines and fascinating shops. One of the most foremost attractions for visitors is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with it’s charmingly refurbished historical buildings, museums, waterfront walks, boat trips, restaurants, pubs, theatre, arts and crafts market and exciting shopping 7 days a week.

The City Lodge V&A Waterfront *** is a centrally located hotel at the gateway to the V&A Waterfront. The hotel consists of 207 rooms on 2 floors, all with ensuite bathrooms with separate shower, air-conditioning, telephone, colour TV with satellite channels and radio, hair dryer, digital safe and a tea/coffee station. Laundry and dry cleaning is available on weekdays. Facilities at the hotel include a swimming pool, gym, Internet access points, conference facilities, a breakfast room, a lounge and a bar.

Robben Island Tour

Drive to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to board the Macana for a 20-minute transfer to Robben Island.

Robben Island is a tiny island, which lies 9 km to the North of the City of Cape Town. It was the site of South Africa's original light beacon; pitch rings burning on top of a pole, which was established in 1657 by none other than Jan van Riebeeck. This island was however known to Europeans before. Portuguese explorers had landed here in 1575 and discovered an unspoilt natural paradise teaming with birds seals and penguins. In fact the island derives its name from the Dutch word for seals - robben.

During the early European settlement, Robben Island was valued for its security. In 1658 van Riebeeck established a penal colony on the island and it was declared a maximum-security prison.

This little island is steeped in history. It has a leper church and many historic buildings that were built over the centuries. There are bunkers and large guns built by the British during World War II.
Along the coast of this tiny island one can find many shipwrecks, some which have started to decay beyond all recognition. Robben Island is synonymous with the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. It is now no longer a prison but a museum and is fast becoming a popular tourist destination.

On your return to Cape Town, you will be met by the coach and taken on a city tour of CapeTown, which will include an ascent up Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting) for a panoramic view over the city. Today’s tour will also include visits to the Malay Quarter, and the Castle of Good Hope. Return to the Waterfront for overnight.

Depart on a full day tour of Cape the Cape Peninsula, possibly travelling along Chapman’s Peak, considered to be one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world.

Normally in clear weather, the light could be seen from a distance of 36 miles, however because of its height above sea level it was often enveloped in mist and cloud. The new one was built lower down. The foundation stone laid by Sir Thomas Prince on 25 April 1914. The light was lit by Miss Thurl Cooper, daughter of H C Cooper, the designer and builder of the lighthouse. This is the most powerful light on the South African coast.

EVENING: FAREWELL DINNER/YACHT CLUB OR WATERFRONT VENUE

The coach will transfer you to Greenpoint Lighthouse en-route to Cape Town International Airport.

Green Point lighthouse was the first solidly constructed lighthouse, built on the South African coast. Built on the north west point of the promontory bounding Table Bay, Greenpoint has seen its fair share of shipwrecks, the most recent being the S.A Seafarer that was lost in 1966. One of the most famous wrecks to take place here was that of the Indiaman Jonge Thomas which was driven ashore near the Salt River mouth in 1773.

Depart Cape Town South Africa, on South African Airways flight to New York or Atlanta.

DAY 01: Sunday: 20 February 2005