PLEASE NOTE: You will fly into Johannesburg and fly out of Cape Town. Passports must be valid at least 6 months beyond the departure date

Plan to arrive Johannesburg at 12noon and depart Cape Town at 3pm (This will help us plan ground transfers for the group)

On arrival at Johannesburg you will be met and transferred to the Southern Sun Sandton Hotel for overnight the next three nights in a standard room.

Accommodation:   Southern Sun Sandton Hotel or similar (3 Nights)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be taken on a tour of Soweto.  You know the name. It's a legend. SOWETO, acronym for South Western Township, is home to over 2 million people, who, despite living in crowded and chaotic conditions, have a tangible sense of community, one which ironically, the ordered, walled, elitist northern suburbs lack. 

Inside Soweto, you will visit the Hector Pieterson Museum and discover the cause of the tragic riots which led to his death.  Continue to Mandela House (entrance included), and onto Regina Mundi Church, site of many secret underground meetings of the then banned political parties. Soweto is unlike a suburb you've ever seen or been to, yet the history of struggle encapsulated here is a cornerstone of the South African story.

Lunch is included at Sakhumzi’s restaurant.  After lunch visit The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid.  The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience.  The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers. They include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid.  A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny.  For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental. The museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with its oppressive past and working towards a future that all South Africans can call their own.

Return to your hotel for overnight. 

Breakfast at the hotel.  Today you will have a full day excursion to Pilanesberg Game Reserve for an open vehicle game drive (2.5-3hrs). Pilanesberg Game Reserve hosts the Big 5 amongst many other mammals and bird species. 

It is situated in the North West Province and is in a malaria free area close to Sun City and approximately 2 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Lunch is included at Bakubung Bush Lodge. Return to your hotel for overnight. 

After breakfast transfer to Johannesburg airport in time for your flight to Cape Town.  On arrival at Cape Town airport you will be met and transferred to the President Hotel for overnight the next five nights, on a bed and breakfast basis in a classic room. 

With its majestic Table Mountain backdrop, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world; an eclectic mix of architectural styles reflects the tastes and dictates of the past and the more functional demands of the 20th Century. Cobblestone streets, mosques and the flat roofed pastel homes of the Malay quarter enhance a cosmopolitan ambience and in a recent development, the restoration of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront evokes images of the seafaring activities of the 19th century. 

Accommodation: President Hotel or similar (5 Nights)

On the morning of July 12, 2025, Cape Town will awaken to a day of inspiration and empowerment as a group of extraordinary women gather for a transformative workshop. The venue, bathed in the golden glow of the South African sun, will resonate with the voices of two dynamic speakers, each bringing a wealth of wisdom and experience. As the women settle into the welcoming atmosphere, they'll be greeted by an air of anticipation and excitement. The workshop promises to be a symphony of shared stories, vibrant discussions, and enlightening moments that will leave each attendee feeling uplifted and connected.

As the day gracefully transitions into evening, the women will find themselves in the elegant embrace of one of Cape Town's finest restaurants. Nestled amidst the city's stunning landscapes, this culinary haven will offer an exquisite dining experience. The ambiance, a harmonious blend of sophistication and warmth, will be complemented by a menu of delectable dishes, each a celebration of South Africa's rich culinary heritage. Laughter and conversation will flow as freely as the finest wines, creating an unforgettable night of camaraderie and joy, a perfect conclusion to a day dedicated to celebrating the strength and spirit of women.

Breakfast at the hotel

Half Day winelands tour.  What is the best feature of the Cape Winelands? It’s true that it is renowned for its crisp white and classic French-style red wines, but it also has a stunning wealth of natural rustic beauty with vast estates shaded from the African sunshine by giant oak trees and towering mountains overlooking lush valleys.

On this half day tour we will travel to Franschoek and Stellenbosch.  Enjoy an orientation tour of Franschoek town and a wine tasting at Rickety Bridge Winery.  Transfer to Stellenbosch for a orientation tour and a wine tasting at a local estate.    Return to Cape Town.

Breakfast at the hotel.  This morning you will have a guided walk through the community of Langa or Masiphumelele where you may see township markets, hostels, home grown businesses (smiley shops), hear vibrant music and much more… . This excursion offers fantastic insight into everyday township life while illustrating the entrepreneurial spirit and good humor the residents use to overcome day to day issues. We are made to feel part of their great sense of community! Ubuntu! 1.5 hours. Traditional Lunch is included and return to the hotel with the afternoon and evening at leisure.  

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a Robben Island tour.  This morning you will be transferred to the V&A waterfront and walk to the ferry terminal with a guide.  

Your Robben Island tour will start at 9:00am (weather dependent). The standard tour to Robben Island is 3.5 hours long, including the two half-hour ferry rides. Please note that Robben Island has implemented a new procedure for all passengers booked on the Robben Island tour. Guests are required to show proof of passport/ ID and fill out an indemnity form before boarding the vessel to Robben Island.  They may bring copies of Identification should they wish to rather keep the original at the hotel.

From the 17th to the 20th centuries, Robben Island served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment. Today it is a World Heritage Site and museum, a poignant reminder to the newly democratic South Africa of the price paid for freedom. It is important for all visitors to experience all phases of the Island, to realize that the Island is a place of pain and a place of triumph and victory. The island tour discusses these themes as well as the detention and isolation of insane females, people with leprosy and prisoners, including African chiefs in the 1800’s. The Prison tour depicts the lives of political prisoners detained from the 1960’s to 1991. Former Robben Island prisoners conduct the tour.

The Robben Island Tour includes:  A return boat trip across Table Bay, a visit to the infamous Maximum Security Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner, a 45-minute bus ride with a guide providing commentary, the opportunity to explore the Murray's Bay Harbour precinct attractions, such as the Muslim shrine, or kramat, and the Museum Shop.

Return to the Waterfront and drop off at your hotel.  Tonight you will be met and transfer for dinner at Golds Restaurant with interactive drumming.  

Return to your hotel for overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Cape Town airport in time for your flight home.