On Safari in South Africa - Elephant Lodge
10 Days Starting and ending in Johannesburg, South Africa
Visiting: Johannesburg, Sebatana Private Reserve, Welgevonden Game Reserve
Tour operator:
Tour code:
99194
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
15 - 25
Age range:
21-99
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Savour South Africa’s magnificent wildlife on this once-in-a-lifetime, full-board safari holiday, based in the locally-rated four-star Elephant Lodge, with its own sweeping private game reserve.
On this unique small-group tour, you’ll get the chance to really settle into your breathtaking surroundings as you spend a week at South Africa’s distinguished Sebatana Elephant Lodge.
Set amongst the malaria-free UNESCO-listed Waterberg Biosphere, the Sebatana Private Reserve covers almost 100,000 acres and is home to over 75 mammals, 300 species of bird and hundreds of different flowers and trees – the perfect place to connect with South Africa’s wildlife!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day One – Fly To Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg
Overnight direct flight to Johannesburg.
Day Two – Arrival
Location: Johannesburg
Meet your local tour manager at Johannesburg airport for the scenic transfer to the Sebatana Elephant Lodge. Upon arrival, lunch will be served.
Afterwards, rest, relax and settle into your new surroundings, perhaps by taking a refreshing dip in the one of the pools. This evening, enjoy an included welcome drink, followed by dinner and a short briefing about the week ahead.
Day Three – Sebatana Private Reserve Introduction And Game Drive
Location: Sebatana Private Reserve
This morning you'll venture out in 4x4s into the reserve with your guides, who will tell you about the different animals and plants that inhabit the area.
After lunch, head out on the first of many wonderful wildlife-spotting game drives. All game drives at Sebatana are done in open-air vehicles for maximum visibility. Access to the reserve is subject to extensive restrictions, so it’ll feel like you have the whole place to yourself! Keep an eye out – and have your camera at the ready – for zebras, meerkats, giraffes, wildebeest and impalas.
Tonight, enjoy a complimentary wine-tasting before dinner.
Day Four – Included Welgevonden Big Five Game Drive And Optional Tribal Evening
Location: Welgevonden Game Reserve
After breakfast, venture out on a game drive to the nearby Welgevonden Reserve in search of the fabled Big Five – the lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant.
This evening, you have the option to join the tribal evening to learn more about South Africa’s indigenous cultures.
Day Five – Included Bush Walk And Christina’S Wallow Game Drive
Location: Sebatana Private Reserve
This morning, join your guide for a gentle included bush walk into the Sebatana Private Reserve. Listen intently as your guide points out animal breeding areas and local plant life. After the walk, return to the lodge for some well-earned lunch.
After lunch, set out on your second game drive into the Sebatana Private Reserve for the chance to spot some spectacular wildlife, armed with the knowledge gained this morning. You’ll head to Christina’s Wallow, a hide with wonderful views of a waterhole. For a truly authentic wildlife-spotting experience, you’ll complete the journey on foot.
Day Six – Optional Pilanesberg National Park Excursion
Location: Sebatana Private Reserve
Today you have the choice of joining the optional excursion to Pilanesberg National Park, the third-largest national park in South Africa. The park covers over 135,000 acres and presents further opportunities to spot the Big Five as well as the endangered white rhino, along with giraffes and hippopotami.
Dinner will be served back at Sebatana, with a complimentary wine tasting beforehand.
Day Seven – Game Drive With Included Champagne Brunch And Optional Night Safari
Location: Sebatana Private Reserve
Rise and shine early this morning for a very special game drive, and the chance to spot herds of antelopes moving in the open. Antelopes and other prey animals tend to move around in the morning, to find the best protection from predators.
Around mid-morning, you’ll stop at Kudu Rock for a magnificent, traditional African brunch with champagne. Enjoy a well-earned meal as you soak up the fantastic views of the African bush.
Return to the lodge to rest and relax. If you want to carry on exploring, the guides will point out some gentle trails through the reserve. This evening, enjoy a complimentary wine-tasting before dinner. Later on, why not join the fascinating optional night safari?
Day Eight – Optional Game Drive In The Kaingo Game Reserve And Included Sunset Rock Game Drive
Location: Sebatana Private Reserve
This morning, you’ll have the chance to join one last optional Big Five game drive to nearby Kaingo Game Reserve.
Later, in the mid-afternoon, enjoy a fitting finale to your South African adventure, as you join the included safari to Sunset Rock. Sip champagne from this magnificent vantage point, looking out over the Waterberg Mountains as the sky turns a cascade of red and orange.
Return to the lodge for a farewell feast, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful break in the African wilderness.
Day Nine – Johannesburg And Soweto Tour, Followed By Departure
Location: Johannesburg
Say goodbye to your wonderful hosts as you depart for an included tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. Visit Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum, which documents South Africa’s troubled past and racial segregation, before exploring fascinating Soweto, home to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Winne Mandela.
After the tour, continue to Johannesburg airport for your overnight flight.
Day 10 – Arrive In The Uk
Location: Johannesburg
Early morning arrival.
What's Included
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Seven nights’ carefully chosen full-board accommodation at the four-star Sebatana Elephant Lodge, Lephalale, plus two nights on the aircraft
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Return flights to Johannesburg
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Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager and wildlife specialist
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Any other items not mentioned or listed as optional
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 2.5 hours.
Passports and visas
A visa is not required for UK citizens travelling to South Africa, but your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry to the country and have two adjacent blank pages. Special entry rules apply for children under 18 years.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Luggage allowance
You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.
Travel vaccinations
Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Payments at the lodge
Please note that the lodge is cashless. The payment of the final bill in the resort will be in euros with a Visa/MasterCard credit or debit card. Only a small amount of local currency is required for purchases on the road and for tips to staff members (at your discretion) at the end of your stay.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 2.5 hours.
Passports and visas
A visa is not required for UK citizens travelling to South Africa, but your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry to the country and have two adjacent blank pages. Special entry rules apply for children under 18 years.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Luggage allowance
You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.
Travel vaccinations
Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Payments at the lodge
Please note that the lodge is cashless. The payment of the final bill in the resort will be in euros with a Visa/MasterCard credit or debit card. Only a small amount of local currency is required for purchases on the road and for tips to staff members (at your discretion) at the end of your stay.
2024 departures
From 2024 onwards, accommodation in Sebatana Reserve will also include Rhino East Lodge.
Optional Excursions
The following optional excursions are available on this tour and are only bookable in resort and cannot be prebooked. Prices quoted are 'from' prices and subject to change without notice.
Pilanesberg National Park – from 160 Euros
Night safari – from 75 Euros
Tribal evening – from 65 Euros
Welgevonden Reserve game drive – from 135 Euros
A package with all four tours is available in resort from 349 Euros. Children aged 0 – 11 are half price.
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1983
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Vaccination Requirements
Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our company’s mission is to enrich lives and improve wellbeing through travel. A big part of that is ‘Travel for Good’. Our ‘Travel for Good’ hub is our first step in a long journey to reduce carbon, offset anything we produce as a company and travel without harming the planet or the people of the destinations we go to.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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Fitness to Travel
We strive to give all our customers full care and attention, but we do need to know at the time of booking if there are any special needs or requirements. It is particularly important that we are advised of any disabilities and also if you intend to bring any specialist equipment such as a wheelchair with you. Please make sure that you make us aware of any requirements.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Newmarket Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 35% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of newmarket holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 48 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Vaccination Requirements
Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. You can find the travel restrictions for different countries on www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.