Ever dreamed of taking a “bucket list” vacation to South Africa? We’d love to take Micato Safaris’13-day “Jewels of Southern Africa.” Travelers will explore both Cape Townand Johannesburg, plus head out to view wildlife on safari in the Phinda Private Game Reserveand Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
Also, they’ll travel to the mesmerizing Victoria Falls in Zambia. Best of all, this vacation is a small-group Micato escorted, luxury tour.
Micato is a highly experienced luxury tour operator with more than six decades of Africa experience. During the entire trip in Africa, travelers will see incredible sights, be pampered with luxurious accommodations, head out on safari experiences, and enjoy wine tasting and urban exploration.
Bottom line? It’s clearly the trip of a lifetime. (See photo above of a rhinoceros, one of South Africa’s “Big Five” wild animals. Photo courtesy of Tourism South Africa).
Micato’s Southern Africa
Day One is spent traveling to South Africa, and then guests spend three full days in Cape Town. “Get ready for the city’s spectacular 131-accommodations One&Only, an urban chic resort,” says Shelby Steudle, president, Pavlus Travel. “Our clients can expect large, luxurious, view-rich rooms with fashionable furnishings and contemporary amenities.”
The setting is priceless. How so? The resort is nestled beneath the Table Mountain escarpment and other peaks. “Another top facet of One&Only is its two signature restaurants,” emphasizes Steudle.
One is by the acclaimed, legendary Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa. “Many of our clients know and love Nobu’s cuisine from his other land-based eateries as well as seagoing specialty restaurants on Crystal,” she adds. The other top restaurant is by newcomer Ochre, with cuisine that infuses South African recipes with contemporary flair.
During their Cape Town stay, guests will visit Table Mountain, the Malay Quarter, the Micato-AmericaShare’s Red Hill Library and Community Centre, and the city’s many other shopping, historical, and cultural hot spots.
Love wine tasting? On this Micato escorted journey, travelers will mix and mingle with elite vintners in the gorgeous Cape Winelands.
South Africa: Phinda Private Game Reserve
On Days 5-6, Micato’s tour goers will fly northeast across South Africa to the private Phinda Private Game Reserve. Habitats include everything from grasslands to woodlands, rolling hills, rivers, seasonal marshes and pans. Most notably, it’s home to Africa’s last sand forest, a hauntingly gorgeous spot.
Of course, all Phinda’s habitats have a superb mix of wildlife. Yes, that includes South Africa’s “Big Five” — the lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard.
That term was coined in the 19th century. It referred to the most dangerous wild animals that hunters on foot might encounter. Today, though, shooting of wild animals is strictly photographic in nature — done only through a camera lens!
Bird lovers will enjoy this area too as it’s home to hundreds of avian species.
At Phinda, Micato’s guests will stay at one of two unique game preserve lodges. One is the Phinda Forest Lodge, situated in that marvelous sand forest. What’s special is that “glass bubble” suites will bring guests into cozy contact with that sand forest.
Or they’ll stay at Phinda Mountain Lodge, set on a hilltop with wraparound views of the Lebombo foothills. The lodges have infinity pools and festive outdoor dining.
South Africa: Sabi Sands Game Reserve
On Days 7-9, guests will journey to the private, gorgeous Sabi Sands Game Reserve. For many guests, this 240-square-mile reserve is the highlight of their Micato trip.
First, it’s adjacent to Kruger National Park, so Micato’s guests can encounter all of Kruger’s wildlife species, which wander between the two protected reserves. But Sabi Sands has fewer human visitors, creating the most authentic natural experience.
Yes, the Big Five live here too, but Sabi Sands also has 140 or so other animal species. So, Micato’s guests heading out by safari vehicle can often spot cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras and Cape wild dogs.
Based on her own on-site experiences, “a safari at Sabi Sands is just incredible,” emphasizes Megan Stewart, director, cruise marketing, Pavlus Travel. “You get to see all the amazing wildlife up close, but still come back to luxury — beautiful accommodations, delicious food and some really cool cultural experiences.”
Stewart describes her firsthand experience as “the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.”
Micato’s guests will spend three nights at the Tengile River Lodge, set in a riverside forest. It’s along a serene bend in the reserve’s Sand River.
“Micato’s guests can anticipate a soothing, luxurious experience,” explains Pavlus’ Steudle. “This intimate lodge has only nine suites, and each of these lovely solar-power accommodations has a private plunge pool.”
All in all, Tengile River Lodge is a relaxing, enticing spot from which to explore the wilds of Africa.
Travel to Victoria Falls
On Days 10-11, Micato’s guests will travel to Zambia. There, they’ll gaze at the magnificent Victoria Falls, best described as the greatest curtain of water on Earth.
Spanning the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it covers a width of 5,604 feet — more than a mile — and soars to a height of 354 feet. And in case you’re wondering, it’s 60 feet higher than Iguazu Falls in South America, and much higher than Niagara Falls.
During their two days in Zambia, Micato’s guests will stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel. They’ll get to know the falls from the magnificent views from their rooms and watching its mist rise more than 1,000 feet.
The highlight? Micato’s guests will enjoy an included “Flight of Angels” helicopter ride over the magnificent falls.
Johannesburg, South Africa
On Day 12, the Micato group will take a flight from Livingstone, Zambia, to Johannesburg, South Africa. There guests will stay in a day room in the airport area’s InterContinental Hotel Johannesburg.
Guests will then connect with Micato’s international flight home, arriving on Day 13.
Does any of this sound interesting to you? If so, talk to a personal travel planner about all the details related to this fabulous bucket-list journey. At press time, this journey started at $31,300 per person, double occupancy.
This itinerary is offered on multiple dates in 2025 and 2026.
Optional Namibia Extension
To create an even longer Africa vacation, guests also might book the optional Namibia extension, with one night in Windhoek at the Olive Exclusive boutique hotel, and two nights at Sossusvlei, known for its salt pans and sand mountains.
There, guests can stay in an elegant stone-and-glass villa at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Or they can choose a comfortably chic Kwessi Dunes with high thatched roofs and fine cuisine.
During this extension to Namibia, Micato travelers will enjoy daily nature drives, visiting remote, tranquil dunes and waterholes. The region has a broad wildlife mix — so guests might see oryx, springboks, ostriches, foxes and leopards, among other wildlife.
Then, guests will take a flight back to Windhoek and head home. Rates vary based on accommodations.
Parting Thoughts
Here’s more information about Micato’s “Jewels of Southern Africa” itinerary. Plus, here’s a link to information about the Namibia extension.
But why not give your Pavlus Travel personal travel planner a call today? It’s never too early to begin planning your Africa “bucket list” vacation for 2025 or 2026.
In addition to this South Africa trip, Micato has many other options. Among those is Micato’s “Grand Africa Safari” to Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa; check out our recent blog.
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