Cape Town

Today we arrive in Cape Town, a bustling and beautiful cosmopolitan city. The city center itself lies at the foot of the famous and imperious Table Mountain, and is flanked by three mountain peaks - Devil's Peak, Lion's Head and Signal Hill. Its ocean-front setting, featuring a bustling harbor, provides a gorgeous base for a trip to the southern tip of the African continent.

We'll start the morning with a short orientation tour of the city en route to Table Mountain. You'll take the scenic cable car ride to the top, then stroll along various trails to enjoy the 360 degree view of the oceans and city below. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant before taking the cable car back down. The rest of the day we'll retrace 350 years of dramatic history on a unique walking tour.

This morning we'll visit one of the most important sites in this area; Robben Island Prison, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 19 out of 27 years. The ferry leaves the Victoria & Alfred pier near your hotel, crossing to the island in less than an hour. The unique element of this tour is to hear its history directly from ex-prisoners who act as your tour guides. A walking and driving tour of this political prison helps you learn more about the turbulent history of this amazing country, showing the conditions people endured to fight for their beliefs. Afternoon free.

Enjoy the scenic 2-3 hour drive along the ocean, through the suburbs of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay before continuing along the spectacular Chapman's Peak Drive to Kommetjie, where we enter the Cape Point Nature Reserve. As we drive, you may even catch a glimpse of some of the wild monkeys and/or ostriches that roam the park freely. Take a short walk to the best vantage point to view what is erroneously said to be the "meeting place of two mighty oceans". You'll have about an hour to relax over lunch at the cliff-top restaurant and take a modest hike along the dramatic cliffs. Our tour continues to a Jackass penguin colony and World of Birds, the largest bird park in Africa and one of the few large bird parks in the world.

Today we take part in an African game drive with qualified field rangers in open 4x4 vehicles. The "Big 5" roams free: Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and rare Mountain Leopard in addition to Giraffe and Hippo, Black Wildebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Springbok, Caracal (lynx), Baboon, and more. Game drives range between 2-3 hours and include sparkling wine, grape juice, water and snacks. The conservation efforts include a complimentary educational introduction to the cheetahs, highlighting their critically diminishing numbers. They were captive bred and the experience is strictly controlled. Guests are not allowed to directly interact with the cheetahs but are given a comprehensive talk on the plight of these beautiful cats.

You're in for a special treat: a performance from local children who have been trained through the Amy Biehl Foundation. Amy believed it was her duty, as a person afforded opportunity and education, to actively seek social change for those not so fortunate. Your donation supports the after school art & music programs that help keep the black youth off the streets and out of trouble, giving hope to a new generation. This is also a unique opportunity to dig into the local culture as we enjoy a light dinner together.

This afternoon we transfer to Cape Town International Airport with ample time to check your luggage and board your flight back to the USA.