Cape Town, Kruger and Bushfire Festival

Hello and welcome to Africa! Your safari adventure starts right here - with some sumptuous scenery (yup, tonight’s hotel is within arm’s reach of the V&A Waterfront). Once you’ve taken your pics, dropped off your bags and heard all about what to expect from your Trip Manager, we’ll kick things off in style with a walkabout dinner.

Our time in Cape Town is dedicated to sightseeing and today is no exception! We'll start at the very top with a cable car ride up Table Mountain, followed by a city tour of Cape Town’s key sights and historical attractions. After that, the rest of the day is yours. We recommend the V&A Waterfront (SA’s most visited attraction). You’ll also have the option to join our Township Tour & Amy Foundation Lunch, which gives you a locally guided insight into life during Apartheid. Tonight, you can get to know your new pals in the best way possible – an optional MasterChef-style cooking class with food, drinks and music.

This is your day to take advantage of Cape Town’s myriad local excursions – after breakfast of course. Our fav is a scenic drive along the cliffs of Chapman's Peak and down to Cape Point – the South-Western tip of Africa. In the afternoon, we’ll stop off at Boulders Beach to admire a colony of adorable African penguins - with a chance to go kayaking with them too! What next? Well, you can't go wrong with wine tasting (and a view) to round off an incredible day touring the "fairest Cape in all the world." So, join us if you like!

Rise and shine. Today, we have a (very early) flight to Johannesburg, the city of Gold, where our first port of call will be the Kruger National Park. The Savannah is calling. We've got no time to waste! We'll hop straight onto our coach and begin our journey through South Africa's country side to Kruger. Yup, it’s safari time! We arrive at the gates to Kruger National Park this afternoon with binoculars at the ready. Rolling through this wildlife haven (the size of a small country) for a sunset game drive as we make our way to our exclusive Contiki Safari Camp. Set on the banks of the Sabie River, in the middle of Kruger, this Special Stay has us camping in canvas tents (the kind with mattresses and linen). All dotted around a roaring bonfire, listening to lions off in the distance, and under the African stars. That's right, its not 5 star accommodation...its 5000 star camping.

Today we're up bright and early for our first taste of the fresh morning air. We'll start with an optional sunrise safari – just in time to catch Africa’s elusive predators finishing off their nocturnal hunt. At midday, you’ll have the chance to relax back at the camp: you can visit the local shop, take a dip in the pool or visit the nearby restaurant where you can look out over the Sabie River and watch as the animals come to quench their thirst (yup, it's preddy special.) This afternoon, it’s back to the safari vehicles for an optional sunset game drive and another chance to see the Big Five and more. Tonight back at camp, you can choose to join us for a traditional South African braai or BBQ, complete with local sides and desserts.

Rise & shine, explorers! Especially if you wanna choose to take the sunrise game drive (more game drives = more chances of ticking everything off that list). Or you could always choose to sleep in and catch a late brekkie. The game of hide and seek then continues one last time as we head back into the park, keeping our eyes open for any wildlife that's evaded us so far (come on cheetah... where are you) and bid farewell to Kruger. This morning, we'll roll into Crocodile Bridge. Then it’s all aboard the All Out Africa bus as we cross into Eswatini. Our base for the next few is a luxe camping site in Malandela’s Farm (the iconic home of the MTN Bushfire Festival). So, get your wristbands, settle into your glamping tents, and get ready to experience one of Africa's most epic festivals. Night one? Let’s go.

You’ve got a full day to dive headfirst into the festival madness. Start with your included brekkie at the campsite cafe, then hit the ground running. We’re talking market stalls, theatre shows, live music, inspiring talks, and an international food fair - all from 10am to 3am. Non. Stop.

One day wasn’t enough to soak up all the festival vibes? Thought so. Good thing you've got another round today. And when the sun sets? Head to the campsite cafe, grab a drink, and kick back with your crew (plus a whole lot of new friends from across the globe).

Nawww, it's the last day already?! Grab your final breakfast of the trip and jump on for a transfer back into where it all began - South Africa.  Time to swap socials, squeeze in those final hugs, and say goodbye to the crew. Your trip wraps up at OR Tambo International Airport. But the memories? They’re coming with you.