Adventures By Disney Spotlight: South Africa
Photo Credit: Adventures By Disney
Adventures by Disney, South Africa is 1 of 33 destinations Disney is offering throughout the world for you and your family. From the delicious breakfast first thing in the morning, to all the entertainment throughout the day, this trip has so many memories waiting to be made.
Photo Credit: Adventures By Disney
There are 3 internal flights included with the package. Fly directly to Cape Town the first 4 days, Knysa for 2 days and Kapama Game Reserve for 4 days. Required documentation for this adventure is a valid passport. With a minimum age of 6 years old for this trip, children under 18 traveling will be required to have a birth certificate. Any child under the age of 18 traveling with one adult may also be required to show another form of I.D. for that child too. Weather in South Africa usually has a sunny climate all year. The average temperature is 63 degrees Fahrenheit with mid-winter falling in the months of June/July and mid-summer in December/January. With that being said, let’s talk about what to pack! Below is a list of proper items you may need during your trip but keep in mind to please limit to one check in item and one carry on item per person for luggage.
Clothing • T-shirts (short and long-sleeved) • Collared shirts • Light sweater • Jeans or long pants • Casual dress/skirt (optional) • Shorts • Lightweight rain jacket • Hat • Swimsuit • Close-toed shoes • Sturdy-soled walking shoes • Sandals • Stretch wool cap, scarf and gloves when traveling during May - August • Warm sweater when traveling during May - August Miscellaneous • Passport • Medication • Camera/video camera • Extra batteries or charger for camera • Electric adapter • Sunglasses • Sunscreen • Umbrella • Toiletries • Insect repellant
There are 3 accommodations you will be staying at during the duration of your trip that will include 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 6 dinners. Relax while you are greeted by an Adventure by Disney representative in Cape Town who will then escort you to your vehicle that has a driver to take care of luggage and safely get you to your hotel. First you will spend 4 days in Cape Town (Mother City of South Africa) at Table Bay Hotel. This spacious and full-service hotel is located on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you will be able to enjoy the white sandy beaches, cafés, Two Oceans Aquarium and so much more. Have your guide suggest places to explore in Cape Town for you are on your own that afternoon and dinner time. Goeie Môre (“good morning”) is what you will hear the following morning as you arrive to breakfast and orientation with your Adventure Guide. You will then explore the District Six Museum, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and Nature Walk (weather preludes, guests will visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens), City Walking Tour and Shopping at Greenmarket Square and followed with a three-course welcome meal in the heart of the city. Day 3 board a motor coach to Cape of Good Hope, take a scenic drive along Cape Point, walk to Boulders Beach (home of the African penguin) and end your day with the Celebration of Africa Dinner where you will interact with drums and listen to the mystical Malian puppeteers. The final day in Cape Town will allow your taste buds to experience some of South Africa’s finest wineries. Head over to award winning Spier Wine Farm to interact with eagles, owls, hawks and vultures at the rehabilitation and conservation center. Then surround yourself in wine country while gorging in a private lunch at the historic Manor House at the Boschendal Farm. Dinner time will be spent wondering around the university of Stellenbosch. Shop boutiques, get lost at the art galleries and take your pick of any casual café that offers a variety of tastes.
Photo Credit: Adventures By Disney
Take a short flight from Cape Town to George where you will begin day 5 at Monkeyland Primate Santuary. Walk through this safari high canopy forest that houses 18 species of primates including gibbons, lemurs and capuchins. Overlook the vineyards at Bramon Wine Estate while savoring a Mediterranean lunch. After lunch, enjoy a private tour back at Monkeyland to the Birds of Eden. Listen to the beautiful songs of the wildly colored birds as they fly free under a netted dome. After this exciting day, get settled in at the hotel and venture out for dinner in Knysna. On day 6, board a ferry and head across the Knysna Lagoon and marvel at the spectacular Featherbed Nature Reserve with its Knysna Heads (sandstone cliffs). Enjoy a buffet lunch of South African dishes before heading out solo back in Knysna Quays where you can go horseback riding, hike, shop and so much more! Dinner will be spent at the Knysna Elephant Park, an elephant orphanage where you will be able to catch a moment up close to these loving giants before devouring delicious food at the park restaurant.
Time to head to the safari country on day 7! Fly to Kapama and hop on a 4x4 vehicle to ride over to Kapama River Lodge near Kruger National Park. After lunch, take a safari trip to see lions, elephants, rhino, buffalo and leopards in the “Big Five” country. Shhhh, guests must be quiet while cruising through Game Drive. Afterwards, let’s have a braai! Braai is what the Afrikaans call a BBQ. Enjoy tender meats and grilled African vegetables, cooked to order. On day 8, begin with a morning Game Drive and embark on a first light safari tour where you may see an elephant herd or adult lion. Head back to the lodge to listen to the vervet monkeys talking while they surround the lodge. Take archery lessons before your buffet lunch. The evening Game Drive will take you back out to the Big Five country. For dinner, adults will enjoy a buffet-style dinner at the Siyatla Lounge all while the junior adventurers make their own “Bush Pizzas” with the chef. They will then head over to Disney Movie Night at the “Snake Pit”. Adults can join or head over to the lodge for a little peace and quiet. Day 9 will begin at 5:30 a.m. with another Game Drive to spot giraffes, baboons and birds. After breakfast, take part in the Snakes and Insects Presentation to learn about South Africa’s reptiles and creepy crawlies. Have some lunch shortly after before embarking on another evening Game Drive to watch the sun set on the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. Dance away the evening with Shangaan performers at the Farewell Dinner. The chefs have cooked up something special for you adventurers. Day 10 has officially arrived and it is almost time to go home. Enjoy one last Game Drive at 5:30 a.m. Return to the last breakfast at the lodge in South Africa before your trip home.
Photo Credit: Adventures By Disney
A few more important things you may want to know: currency, gratuities, transportation and language. Currency in South Africa is the rand. There are ATMs available if one is needed. Gratuities are included except for the gratuities for your guides. On average, $8.00-$11.00 USD per adult/child, per guide, per day. A 10 day adventure per guest, per guide would be $80.00-$100.00. For example, a family of 4 for a 10 day trip would be $320.00-$440.00 USD per guide. If you are wanting to venture out on your own outside of the planned itinerary, drivers and vehicles are available for hire. The main language of South Africa is Afrikaans but English is spoken often as well along with 10 other languages including South African, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
I chose to write about Adventures by Disney South Africa because not only am I an animal lover but I enjoy adventuring out to the great unknown to watch and learn about the beautiful world around us. And what better way to do so than hopping on a 4x4 and riding along with a running giraffe or lion!
Lindsay Kunz
