On this 16 day Safari Vacation Package, 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 for those adventurer ones.
This itinerary is sure to appeal to travelers looking for a VIP exclusive and private 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.
Full board with Private Hosts Brad and Cindy Philipps
Per Person per Night Sharing US$ 960.00 Per Person per Night Single US$ 1050.00
Suite configuration – SHARING/SINGLE king size beds
Sleeper Couch Available for kids under 12 years old
KIDS SHARING with parents Sleeper Couch On request
THE RATES INCLUDE: Accommodation All meals, teas, coffees & snacks Dawn and dusk safaris in open ford vehicles and Guided Walks All Local drinks at Toro River Lodges ‘Colmant’ Bubbly Daily Laundry
THE ABOVE RATES EXCLUDES: R 380.00 per person per night for Private Reserve Conservation levies Curio & telephone 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 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 Guided walks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Private Tour Guide for your stay in Cape Town
Cape Town has SO many sightseeing options to choose from. We would highly recommend a Wine-land’s tour. Depending on how much time you want to spend doing this: shorter tour in the Constantia wine-lands (which is literally IN Cape Town) or Franschoek/Stellenbosch day trip or overnight either on your first or last night in Cape Town (to stay with our friend Jen and Maarten who own cottages in town, dining out is a must with some of the best cuisine in South Africa).
If you have the time in beautiful Franschhoek valley, please do not hesitate to come visit at our farm. Their tasting room is cozy and personal and they also have a terrace with magnificent views of the mountains. Their full Cap Classique collection (while stocks last) is available for tasting, as well as a selected range of imported Champagnes.
For the second time, their CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT CHARDONNAY was awarded THE TOP RATING OF FIVE STARS.
Out of over 8000 South African wines tasted, only 111 wines received this supreme distinction rewarding the wines scoring minimum 95/100.
In the meantime, their CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT RESERVE scored a whopping 94/100, making Colmant the best rated Cap Classique producer of the 2018 Edition.
Their tasting room is open from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 13:00 and Saturdays from 11:00 to 13:00
Going up Table Mountain is a treat – but is weather dependent – so often – when you are visiting for a few days – we swop things round to work with the weather.
Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned – so very much part of South African history, also weather dependent.
A Peninsular Tour would pick you up in your Waterfront Hotel and you would drive through the scenic coastal beach-suburbs of Clifton/Camps Bay/Hout Bay – over well known Chaps Peak Drive and head towards Cape Point (here you can see where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet – we have cold Atlantic water on your drive there – and warmer Indian Ocean water as you drive back through the historic Naval town of Simons-town and past Boulders Beach (well known for its penguins). This is usually a full day tour. Your guide would choose a great spot to stop for lunch. Depending on your interests – you could make the coastal tour shorter and end up in the Constantia wine-lands for a late lunch.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are well known, also weather dependent.