15 day VIP luxury hassle-free Safari lodge - Shark cage diving - Cape Town
On this 15 day Safari you will experience two of South Africa’s best Private Game Reserves – The Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve and the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve – both bordering the Kruger National Park and both offering the thrill of an authentic Big Five Safari experience.
Both Safari Lodges offer eight suites which are secluded and private, with a maximum occupancy of 16 people at any time. Your stay includes three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, scheduled safari activities (two game drives per day and an optional game walk), refreshments on game drives together with snacks, WiFi, laundry, and transfers to and from the lodge airstrip.
The Safari then takes you to beautiful Cape Town, taking in all the City has to offer – from Table Mountain and the Winelands, to the Waterfront and Shark-Cage Diving!
This itinerary is sure to appeal to travelers looking for a VIP, luxury Safari experience, complete with Five-Star accommodation, exclusive-use Safari Lodge, outstanding wildlife sightings, spa treatments, fine dining, award-winning wines and the excitement of Great White sharks at Seal Island, famous for the unique breaching of Great White shark hunting behavior.
RATES TORO RIVER LODGES TO THE END OF 2023 – Full catering with Hosts Brad and Cindy Philipps
NEW RIVER FAMILY SUITE- 2 UNITS
RIVER FAMILY SUITES – 3 UNITS
BUSH FAMILY SUITES – 3 UNITS
Exclusive-Use
Rates per night:
Per Person Sharing US$ 960
Per Person Single US$ 1050
Sleeper Couch Available for kids under 12 years old
Room configuration – SHARING/SINGLE king size beds
Sleeper Couch Available for kids under 12 years old
Room configuration – SHARING/SINGLE king size beds
KIDS SHARING
Sleeper Couch On request
6-12 years old
50% off rate
2-5 years old
75% off rate
THE RATES INCLUDE:
Accommodation
All meals, teas, coffees & snacks
Dawn and dusk safaris in open ford vehicles and Guide Walks
All Local drinks at Toro River Lodges
‘Colmant’ Champagne for June – Aug Rates
Daily Laundry
Tourism Tax is included in the rate per night per room
THE ABOVE RATES EXCLUDES:
R 380.00 per person per booking for conservation levies
Curio & telephone
Massages, anything of a personal nature / anything not specified
Cigars, cigarettes
Reservation
If you would like us to confirm the reservation, please provide the following information for each person:
Surname and First names as they appear in the passport with copies, this is needed when you book the internal flights with us
Nationality
Arrival and departure methods
Any special dietary requirements or special requests
Mobile contact number
Important information
Check in time is after 13:00 and check out time is at 11:00am.
Brunch is served at Toro ‘lapa’
In the event of premature departure guests will be liable for the full extent of the pre-booked stay.
Spa treatments are available at Toro River Lodges – previous arrangement.
Children 2-5 years of age are not permitted on game drive
CANCELLATION POLICY
Upon confirmation of reservation, TRL reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee unless the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the original confirmation of the reservation. Applicable cancellation fee equivalent to:
60 to 31 days prior to arrival at the lodge = 25% Cancellation fees (Non-refundable deposit to apply)
30 to 00 days prior to arrival at the lodge = 100% Cancellation fees, unless the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the original confirmation of the reservation.
All deposits of 25 % received on confirmation are Non-Refundable and will apply as cancellation fees.
TRAVEL CANCELLATION INSURANCE
The Guest is obliged to ensure that they have taken out adequate travel insurance to cover the financial implications of The Toro River Lodges Cancellation Terms and Conditions. The Guest will bear the sole and absolute responsibility therefore.
HEALTH MATTERS
As the group’s lodges border endemic Malaria areas we recommend that guests take necessary precautions by consulting with their Doctor or Pharmacy prior to visiting any of our Lodges, particularly in the Summer periods. Whilst Malaria cases in guests at our lodges are rare, it is the absolute responsibility of all who visit Malaria endemic regions to take recognized precautions. Guests are to be reminded that most of these precautions require the ingestion of medication sometime prior to arrival in the endemic area.
All visits to the Lodges are subject to The Toro River Lodges Exclusion of Liability and Indemnity, a copy of which is available on the website.
TAILOR-MAKE
Tailor-make your very own Safari – take the basic package or ‘add on’ extras to make your experience the one of your dreams. Our specialty is catering for private and family groups, in the most spectacular of intimate of settings. Your game viewing experience is not confined to main roads as our guides are able to navigate through dense bush following our trackers who go up front leading you to sights otherwise unseen. With the number of vehicles limited on each property and strict criteria governing sightings, guests are able to spend extended periods of time watching wildlife in its natural habitat. Your morning, late afternoon drives or guided bush walks, all take advantage of prime viewing and game movement hours, giving you the very best of Safari experiences.
Link to tailor – make (we need to fix the booking system for 14 suggested trip so guest is able to see the total cost of what he chooses)
SOUTH AFRICAN LOCAL PAYMENTS
Banking details
Account name: IDADA TRADING 289 (PTY) LTD
Bank: Nedbank
Branch Code: 198765
Branch Name: Universal
Account number: 1092668802
Proof of payment to be sent to
reservations@tororiverlodges.dnn4less.net
For International Wires to be sent in US dollars to South Africa
Account Name: IDADA TRADING 289 (PTY) LTD
Account No.: 7927704591
Branch Code: 146805 or Universal Code 198765
Branch Name: Business Mpumalanga
Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ
Address:
15 Accordion Street
Nelspruit 1201, South Africa
Type of account: CFC
Bank Name: Nedbank Limited
Reg No. 1951/000009/06
Business Mpumalanga
Bank Address:
BoE bank Building 3 Ferreira Street Nelspruit 1200
PO Box 1940 Nelspruit 1200, South Africa
Tel. 013 759 4910 / Fax 013 759 4901
Proof of wire transfer to be sent to
reservations@tororiverlodges.dnn4less.net
Days 1 – 2
Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (depending on your international arrival time), spend your 1st night at a Guest House only 10 km from International Airport.
Days 3 – 8/9
GREATER MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GMPGR) – Toro River Lodges
We begin our classic African Safari with a private ground transfer from OR Tambo International Airport or African Guest House in Johannesburg and make our way to Toro River Lodges.
When spending the night at African Guest House in Johannesburg, we will collect you at 8am with a sight-seeing along the way and a stop for lunch. Arrive at Toro mid to late afternoon. Includes Panoramic en-route Guide for the Blyde River Canyon – lunch is not included.
Days 9/10 – 11
THORNYBUSH PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE – Simbambili Lodge – After your morning game drive and breakfast, you will transfer to Simbambili Lodge (by road), located in the North Eastern of the acclaimed Sabi Sand Game Reserve, home to the highest concentration of leopard in the world.
Days 11/12 – 14
CAPE TOWN – Table Bay Hotel – We transfer from Simbambili Lodge to East Gate Airport via private ground transfer and from here make your way to Cape Town and the Five Star Table Bay Hotel.
Day 12, early in the morning, our private guide will be picking you up at 5am to drive to Simonstown to do your Shark cage diving. With a +/- 1 hour driving to start your tour scheduled at 6:30am.
Day 13, we can do Table Mountain excursion – weather permitting, and then head out to Franschoek for wine-tastings and lunch.
Day 14
CAPE TOWN – SAFARI ENDS
Our safari ends on day 14 with a half day vehicle disposal for shopping and more wine-tastes or whatever if needed.
1st night of accommodation at African Sky Guest House
This 4 star Guest Lodge is owner run and epitomizes warm hospitality and service excellence. Is a luxury country lodge set in a beautiful large garden, the perfect stop en-route your African Safari.
$185.00 – Per person sharing and includes: Airport transfers, Accommodation, Dinner, Soft drinks, Beers, Breakfast, WIFI Internet.
Add $85.00 more for a VIP meet and greet at the aircraft door. Assistance through the fast lane to immigration. Assistance to collect luggage.
Please note that the night at African Sky Guest House, together with VIP meet and greet at the Aircraft door is not included – as it all depends on your arrival time.
Simbambili Lodge lies adjacent to the meandering Manyeleti River and overlooks a popular water hole which attracts a wide variety of game. Unusually, a Moroccan theme prevails throughout the lodge and the emphasis is firmly on romance and seclusion. Designed and decorated to blend in with the surrounding knobthorn and jackalberry woodlands. Organic materials, textiles and fibres are used in the décor, fittings and soft furnishings of the suites to complement this natural feel and reduce the ecological footprint of the lodge. Splashes of rust-coloured and gold finishes add depth to the elegantly muted styling of the luxurious rooms.
Super-king size beds and the finest cotton linen will ensure that you arise refreshed for your day’s adventures. The Waterhole Suite offers extra luxury with a private lounge and dining area in addition to the usual features and a preferential view of the waterhole.
Guests at Simbambili have the added delight of an onsite spa offering the latest beauty treatments with a range of luxuriant products and the added novelty of massages with a view over the rolling plains.
Staying at Table Bay Hotel is an experience in itself, melding the modern comforts of a Cape Town luxury hotel with traditional Cape culture. Considered to be the best address in Cape Town, this sophisticated Hotel was opened in May 1997 by former South African president, Nelson Mandela.
Situated on the historic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, The Table Bay hotel is perfectly positioned against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean and provides easy access to the top places to visit in Cape Town.
Top reasons why you’ll love The Table Bay hotel:
1. Award-winning 5-star luxury hotel accommodation in Cape Town
2. Beautiful views of the working harbour and Table Mountain or across the Atlantic Ocean to Robben Island
3. Direct access to Cape Town’s renowned shopping destination, the V&A Waterfront
4. Tailor-made tours at The Table Bay’s travel desk
5. Complimentary for in-house guests is a hop-on hop-off luxury shuttle service route to and from Table Mountain
6. Airport transfers in luxury WiFi-enabled vehicles available
7. Complimentary WiFi access throughout the hotel
8. Best breakfast buffet in Cape Town served daily
9. Stay at the Water Front
The Table Bay Hotel offers the perfect base from which to explore all Cape Town has to offer – from glorious beaches / Coastal, Flora and forests to Shark Cage Diving / Fishing, hiking and mountain climbing, excellent fine dining, world renowned wine farms, markets and art galleries, History & Culture, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Shopping and cosmopolitan nightlife.
Seasons
The season for Great White sharks at Seal Island are usually February to the end of September.
August is usually peak season for Great White shark activity at Seal Island. As well as offering guests the opportunity to cage dive, this period see’s heightened levels of breaching and predation. All of this is possible in one trip, and this is what makes Seal Island famous. Nowhere in the world will you see this behavior as frequently and consistently than at Seal Island.
Location
Our area, Seal Island, False Bay is famous for the unique breaching (Great White shark hunting behavior) that takes place on Cape Fur seals. The area and this behavior have been featured on many documentaries including Air Jaws on the Discovery Channel with Chris Fallows, our owner, as co–host.
You will also have close views of the 65 000 strong Cape Fur seal colony on Seal Island as well as various sea birds (Cape cormorant, Bank cormorant, African penguins & Black Backed kelp gull).
Education and Environment
False Bay truly is a very special place and it is a privilege to do what we do. Based on this, it is our aim that above all, your shark cage diving trip is one in which you will come away with an appreciation for the wildlife we are fortunate to encounter.
Whilst the sharks are our primary focus we adopt an eco-system style of approach to our trips much like an African safari, so all marine wildlife is observed and appreciated to give you a more complete experience.
Seeing the Great White shark is and should be a highlight in anyone’s life. As such we believe that this experience should not be rushed and you should have the opportunity to really take in the majesty of the animal.
All trips depart from Simon’s Town which is only 45 minutes from Cape Town and include dive gear (sizes S to XXXL) light breakfast, light lunch, snacks, fruit and refreshments on board.
The Morning Trip departs at 6.30am. The trip is 3 – 4 hours long (shark activity and weather dependent).
Please note: Great White sharks are completely wild animals and as such sightings and behaviour cannot be guaranteed. We will use our best knowledge in order to give you the most realistic expectations before making a booking.
Child Policy
Children need to be 10 years to board the boat and 12 years to cage dive. It is a long day out at sea and children are prone to seasickness. If a child has experience at sea, we will reconsider our policy.
Our Boat
Our vessel is a 36foot catamaran, specifically built for cage diving and the viewing of sharks from the surface. A dry cabin, soft cushioned seats and a flush toilet ensure your comfort at sea. She complies with all safety requirements and Great White shark permit conditions. We send the boat for annual safety inspections at the South African Maritime Safety Authority. Safety equipment includes life jackets, first aid kit, radio and cellular phone. View our boat and cage.
Cage Diving
A small group of guests on board allows for better viewing opportunities and a longer cage dive. The cage is big enough to take five guests comfortably and is fixed to the boat. Guests snorkel or breath– hold in the cage. In view of this, a diving certification is not necessary. For those who are scuba certified, air is available upon request using a hookah system. However, we do advise against this as the noise and bubbles tend to scare away the already cautious sharks. We’re also not able to communicate with guests as to where the shark is coming from and in which direction to look. This is however your decision. Please request this when booking your trip.
Safety is a priority. All shark cage diving is done under the auspices of experienced crew who have first aid and oxygen management, scuba and commercial skippers’ qualifications and have expert knowledge of the behavior of sharks around the cage.
Prices – Surface viewers and cage divers pay the same rate
Morning Trips
15th June to 31st August
R4,200.00 (US$350.00 approx.) per person
An exclusive trip is R50,400,00. (US$4,200.00 approx)
Should the trip be cancelled due to weather, there is no payment taken.
Please note that “Shark-Cage” Diving is not included in this package as this is optional. If you would like to make a booking, please click on this secure link for scheduled trips. Package and expeditions can email here for booking procedures.
Why to book with Apex
We specialize in small groups and take a maximum of 12 guests per trip. The smallest group of guests in the South African cage diving industry. As the groups are small we provide an intimate educational experience.