E-mail: Travlgrrl@aol.com or Call Toll-Free 1-800-842-4753

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

"To say that our trip was unbelievable is an understatement. Hermes Tours made our dream vacation a reality. As an avid traveler, I appreciate the thought and planning that Hermes gave to the small details and amenities to make sure that my holiday was a complete delight.
I highly recommend anyone to choose Hermes Tours for a dream of a lifetime holiday. I am sure to again use their services in the near future."Kip Anderson, West Bloomfield, MI
OVERVIEW

SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI Dates:
Februay 18 - February 27, 2010
October 1 - October 10, 2010 Price:
Land Only Price: $3895 USD plus domestic airfare. Domestic Airfare is currently around $300 USD. Book at least 5 months before departure and save $100
 Please contact us for low fares to South Africa.
Single Supplement:
$1100 USD, Not Required. Hermes Tours can match you with another traveler should you wish at no cost. Deposit due at time of registration: $500 USD per person.
International Airfare must be paid in full at time of ticketing (usually within 30 days) EXTENSIONS Post-Tour
Victoria Falls (2 Nights)

3 * Hotel Zambezi Sun:
Price: $TBD USD
Single Supplement: $TBD USD
*Includes roundtrip airfare from Johannesburg to Livingston

5 * Hotel: Royal Livingston
Price: $TBD USD
Single Supplement: $TBD USD
*Includes roundtrip airfare from Johannesburg to Livingston

Contact us about extensions to Botswana, the Garden Route and other great destinations!

E-mail: info@gaytravelpros.com 
 
 


south african tours gay travel to victoria falls

All Gay South Africa Luxury Tour

February 18-27, 2010

and

October 1-10, 2010

 

Where can you witness the dramatic, primitive cycles of life and death … sample some of the finest vintages on earth … stand in awe at magnificent scenery … and lose yourself in the progressive rhythms of one of the world’s most progressive cities. South Africa! And Hermes has the perfectly paced, activity-packed itinerary for you and your small group, with first-class and luxury lodges making us feel right at home. Join us, and see just what makes a Rainbow Nation.

HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Kruger National Park Safaris, including 2 half-day safaris, 1 full-day safari, and a rare opportunity for a walking safari
  • 3 Wine Tours and Tastings, in Franschhoek, Paarl, and Stellenbosch
  • Cape Town Tour, including Table Mountain and Robben Island
  • Cape of Good Hope Tour, including Hout Bay, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, and Boulders Penguin Colony
  • Ample free time to explore Cape Town’s gay life on your own
  • Accommodations for 9 nights in first-class and luxury hotels
  • Services of a Hermes Tours escort
  • Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
  • Entrance fees to all sites visited
  • $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!
  • Extension to Victoria Falls, Zambia: Marvel at one of world’s most spectacular natural wonders.
 gay travel to South Africa

ITINERARY
Date
Itinerary
Meals
Day 1- Feb 18 / Oct 1 Arrive in Johannesburg, Welcome dinner D
Day 2 - Feb 19 / Oct 2 Flight to Kruger National Park, afternoon game drive B, L, D
Day 3 - Feb 20 / Oct 3 Kruger National Park, Morning + mid-day game walk + Afternoon game drive B,L, D
Day 4 - Feb 21 / Oct 4 Morning + afternoon game drive + mid-day game walk B, L, D
Day 5 - Feb 22 / Oct 5 Morning Safari, afternoon flight to Cape Town, transfer to Stellenbosh B
Day 6 - Feb 23 / Oct 6 Full day tour of the wine region including tastings B, L
Day 7 - Feb 24 / Oct 7 Cape Town tour including Table Mountain & Robben Island B, L
Day 8 - Feb 25 / Oct 8 Full day tour of Cape Peninsula B, L
Day 9 - Feb 26 / Oct 9 Free Day Cape Town - Cape Town Pride, Farewell dinner B, L , D
Day 10 - Feb 27 / Oct 10 End of Main Tour B
Optional Extension to Victoria Falls
Day 10 - Feb 27 / Oct 10 Early AM flight to Victoria Falls B
Day 11 - Feb 28 / Oct 11 Free Day at Victoria Falls B
Day 12 - March 1 / Oct 12 Flight to Johannesburg for your connecting international flight home B


 

HOTELS:
Johannesburg: The Peech Hotel 4*- A boutique hotel located in the north of the city. Conde Nast reviewed the Peech as "Contemporary, edgy and Afrocentric" and the Peech is currently the 2nd most popular hotel on Trip Advisor.

Kruger: Lukimbi Safari Lodge 5 stars
Lukimbi is a luxury safari lodge situated in the southern section of Kruger National Park. The lodge has exclusive use of 15000 ha of prime bushveld where no other vehicles are permitted.  The Lukimbi lodge offers the supreme comfort of 16 luxury suites overlooking the Lwakahle River. This river is a favorite drinking place for elephants and buffalo and the adjacent plains are host to a variety of antelope.   Each suite has a private deck where guests can relax in privacy, apart from the variety of other decks built around the lodge.  Each suite features handcrafted marbled baths as well as spacious showers both inside and outside. Other facilities in the lodge include a swimming pool and a fully equipped g

Franschoek: Mont Rochelle, Merlot Rooms 5 stars
Mont Rochelle Hotel invites you to relax in one of the luxurious bedrooms and suites, most of which offer spectacular views across the valleys and vines of Franschhoek. 

Each of the 16 bedrooms and 6 suites is individually decorated, creating a unique ambiance.  En suite bathrooms, telephones, televisions, safes, under-floor heating, air-conditioning and in-room refreshment facilities are amongst the facilities of each roo

Cape Town:
Harbour Bridge Hotel 5 Stars (Feb Departure)
Ideally positioned on the fringe of the V&A Waterfront within the Cape Town International Convention Centre precinct, this state-of-the-art hotel offers no less than 360 degree views of the best the Mother City has to offer.

Set against a backdrop of mesmerizing ocean and mountain views with a fresh water canal running through the hotel’s bridge wing and water taxis ultimately completing the scene, Harbour Bridge Hotel & Suites links the city to the sea.

Bantry Bay Luxury Suites - 5 star (Oct Departure)
An exquisite blend of sea, the mountain and the city of Cape Town. 4 and 5 star luxury in the heart of Cape Town’s Platinum Mile, for the pleasure-seeking tourist and the business executive.
.

PRE/POST TOUR HOTELS

Victoria Falls:
The Royal Livingstone 5 stars
Offers every facility for a deluxe holiday including a personalized butler service.  For guests with an appreciation for adventure, the Royal Livingstone is Africa’s playground.  Guests may view the Big Five on a cruise up the river, up close from a private land rover or from an elephant back.

The Zambezi Sun, 3 stars
Along the verdant banks of one of the mightiest rivers in Africa is a three star favorite for fun-loving adventure.  All 212 en-suite rooms have private balconies that welcome the morning sun and are tastefully decorated with an African flavor.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Visas: Canadian and American passport holders are not required to have visas to enter South Africa.  You must have a valid passport.  Visas are required for travel to Zambia which may be obtained upon arrival at the airport. 

Shots and Immunizations:
There are no shots that are required for travel to South Africa but the government does recommend vaccination against yellow fever and Cholera as well as taking Anti-Malaria pills. Hermes Tours also recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines. Also we recommend that your tetanus booster be up to date. Please contact your health care provider as soon as you have registered for this tour.   You should check with your doctor to determine which vaccines you will need. 

Currency and Money Issues:
The currency is the South Africa Rand (ZAR). Many banks and hotels exchange foreign currency. Credit cards (Visa and Master Card) are accepted, as are traveler's checks, preferably in U.S. dollars which may be exchanged at banks, some hotels, and foreign exchange offices. Do not rely on your American Express Card or Diners Card as many establishments do not accept this card. We recommended a combination of US Dollars in Cash, some small bills for tips at restaurants etc... and the rest in $50 or $100 bills and your credit card which you would be able to withdraw cash from ATM machines if you needed to.

What is Included:
All activities outlined in the itinerary, all ground transportation, services of a specialized local guide. Services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip with a minimum participation of 6. All hotels and meals mentioned.

Not Included:
Round-trip international air transportation to and from South Africa/Zambia. Meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; insurance; alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes and any other expenses of a personal nature as well as customary tips to drivers and guides. Domestic Airfare: approx $300 US, Hermes Tours can book this for you. 

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit will be considered to be consent to the following conditions: Hermes Tours reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 2 participants.
Hermes Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure. Travel cancellation insurance would cover these costs should the tour be cancelled.

Hermes Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrival Johannesburg (D)

Arrive in Johannesburg for an overnight stay at an airport hotel. Get to know your fellow travelers over our Hermes welcome dinner tonight

Day 2 - Johannesburg to Kruger National Park (B, L, D)

We board our short flight to Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most renowned national parks and Africa’s oldest. More than 147 species of mammals roam these plains and woodlands, including the sought-after Big Five—rhino, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, and lion. Keep your eyes peeled as we set off on first game drive today. This evening, feast on a traditional Boma dinner.
Day 3 - Kruger National Park (B, L, D)

After breakfast join your safari guide for a walk in the bush. This is a unique safari experience that’s sure to reveal local flora and maybe even a game sighting or two. This afternoon we drive further into the park, concluding our day with another “Sundowner.”  
Day 4 - Kruger National Park (B, L, D)

Spend another thrilling day in the bush taking in Kruger’s incredible wildlife. Or, join our optional tour of the Panorama Route, which highlights the region’s breathtaking beauty. We’ll visit God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and Blyde River Canyon. This evening we gather for traditional dinner. 

Day 5 - Kruger National Park to Stellenbosh (B)

Today we fly to Cape Town. Upon arrival, we drive to Franschhoek, a classic wine territory of the Western Cape set in a valley with a strong French Huguenot heritage. We’ll sample some favored vintages at a local farm
Day 6 - Cape Winelands Tour—Cape Town (B, L)

Today we visit Paarl, the third oldest European settlement in South Africa and a region known for its award-winning reds such as Roodeberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and even port. They all earned this area the title of the first “Red Route” in the world.  We’ll taste some of these superb reds, perhaps learning a bit about the full-bodied character of some winemakers, too!

We’ll admire Paarl’s architectural heritage of lovely Cape Dutch houses and breathtaking scenery. It made headlines when President Mandela was freed from the Victor Verster Prison on the outskirts of the town, heralding the new South Africa.
We’ll also stop to admire the Taal Monument, or Afrikaans Language Monument, then continue to Stellenbosch.  Many award winning wines originate from this superb growing area. We’ll enjoy lunch and a wine tasting here.
Day 7 - Cape Town (B, L)

We drive to Cape Town today, one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world, nestled between a dramatic bay and the flat-top Table Mountain. This is where the Rainbow Nation was born, a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, rich as it is in cultural diversity. 
We board a cable car for a ride to the top of Table Mountain, where we’re greeted by spectacular views. Afterwards we take a boat to Robben Island, the infamous site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Day 8 - Cape Town (B, L)

Today we discover more of Cape Town’s natural beauty as we drive along the scenic Chapmans Peak Drive to the Cape Peninsula, visiting Hout Bay. Our drive culminates at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where we’ll ascend Cape Point by funicular to view the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian oceans.  After our included lunch we visit the Boulders Penguin Colony and return to Cape Town for a free evening.
Day 9 - Free Day (B, L, D)

You have the whole day to yourself to explore Cape Town on your own. You might browse the shops at the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, linger in the gay village at Green Point, or catch some sun at Clifton Beach. Share your memories at tonight’s Hermes farewell dinner in the African bush on the cape.
Day 10 - Depart for Home or Extend to  Victoria Falls (B) Your African discoveries don’t have to end. Join us for our post-tour extension to Victoria Falls, Zambia. Otherwise, your Hermes tour ends today.
EXTEND YOUR VACATION IN VICTORIA FALLS!

 
Day 10 - Sunday — Fly to Victoria Falls (B )

Transfer north to Victoria Falls today. We’ll stay on the Zambian side of this magnificent natural wonder.

Day 11 – Monday – Victoria  Falls (B)

High as Niagara Falls and 1.5 times as wide, “Vic Falls” were discovered by Stanley Livingstone, who proclaimed that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” They are truly astonishing to behold. We’ll see them up close today, then have free time at our lodge.

Day 12 - Tuesday  — Depart for Home (B)

 Flight from Livingstone to Johannesburg connecting to your international flight home.

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