AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017

SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS 15 January to 27 January 2017

Locations: Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa, Victoria Fall The Rainbow Nation has it all: flamboyant cultures including Jewish, dramatic scenery, diverse wildlife and an easy-going atmosphere. From exhilarating “Big-5” game drives, to the incredible coastline along the Garden Route to stunning and cosmopolitan Cape Town, South Africa is a perennial favorite. This trip includes awe-inspiring Victoria Falls and the wild game in neighboring Chobe National Park.

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017 Day 1, Sunday 15 & 16 Jan: Tel Aviv – Johannesburg Depart Tel Aviv at 22:25 Day 2, Monday Jan 16: Johannesburg – Port Elizabeth – Tsitsikamma – Knysna On arrival in Johannesburg at 07:35, proceed through customs to the Domestic Terminal for our flight to Port Elizabeth where we will be met by our local English-speaking guide. Travel from Port Elizabeth to Tsitsikamma, stopping at Storms River Bridge, the entrance to the Garden Route. Here one can stroll alongside the bridge for spectacular views. Continue to the Tsitsikamma National Park, situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region known as the Garden Route, found in the Southern Cape of South Africa. Tsitsikamma is a Khoisan word meaning, “place of clear water”. The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos, and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. The forest nature trail to the river mouth and across the suspension bridge is a must. Spectacular! Continue to Knysna for an early evening arrival and on to a delicious kosher dinner. Overnight: Knysna Premier Hotel Day 3, Tuesday, Jan 17: Knysna – Oudtshoorn Travel to Oudtshoorn via Sedgefield, Wilderness and George. Oudtshoorn, is known as “little Jerusalem” due to the large Jewish Community living there the turn of the 20th century. Visit the C.P. Nel Museum, with the only Synagogue to be situated in a museum; it has an Ark that is extremely tall. What makes the Synagogue and various ceremonial objects so amazing is the fact that they are still being used. Visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch, an endangered species breeding facility. The oldest and biggest cheetah contact center worldwide offers visitors the rare opportunity of interacting with hand-reared cheetahs and getting actively involved in saving this species and others from extinction. On arrival in Oudtshoorn visit the Safari Ostrich Farm for a tour, learning every aspect of ostrich farming, from breeding to rearing. Visitors will get the opportunity to test the strength of the eggs by standing on them – a great photo opportunity. Visitors get to sit on an ostrich and those who are brave enough can even try their hand at riding one. Every tour (weather permitting) ends with an “Ostrich Derby” where local jockeys display their riding skills. A highly entertaining tour is guaranteed. Overnight: Outdshoorn Hotel

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017 Day 4, Wednesday Jan 18: Oudtshoorn Garden Route Game Lodge Early tour of the Cango Caves to view the beautiful chambers of stalactite and stalagmite formations created many thousands of years ago. The Cango Caves are a series of dripstone caverns that open into vast halls of towering stalagmite formations with names like ‘the bridal couple’, ‘glass flower fantasy’, ‘weird cango candle’ and ‘the hanging shawl’. Depart from Oudsthoorn via the Robinson Pass to Mossel Bay. Visit the Dias Museum Complex, where we will find the Post Office Tree and a replica of the Dias Caravel. The hotel marks the spot where the first explorers to South Africa made contact with the local indigenous people. From here we continue to the deluxe Garden Route Game Lodge. This private game reserve is home to an abundance of animal and bird life including the BIG 5. Enjoy game viewing in open Landrovers as well as deluxe accommodations. Sightings of the BIG 5 (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) are frequent. Herds of zebra, wildebeest, springbok, eland, impala and other antelope species are also abundant. Late afternoon depart for an afternoon/evening game drive with a ranger, enjoying a sunset stop at a lookout point on the reserve. Return to the Lodge for dinner. Overnight: Garden Route Game Lodge Day 5, Thursday Jan 19 : Garden Route Game Lodge – Cape Town Depart on a sunrise game drive in an open Landrover with our experienced game ranger who will bring us sightings of lion, elephant, white rhino, buffalo and cheetah, as well as giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species such as bontebok, red hartebeest, kudu, eland, impala, springbuck and many more. Return to the Lodge for a full kosher buffet breakfast. Continue to Cape Town with stops in Swellendam and Du Toits Kloof Pass Dinner at the Avrons. Overnight: Hyde Hotel Day 6, Friday Jan 20: Cape Town Start the day with a visit to Table Mountain. Often described as magical and mystical, Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most prominent feature and a world famous landmark. This majestic mountain is visible from almost everywhere in Cape Town and is often used as a beacon by which to find direction. The mountain is sculpted from sandstone and provides breath-taking views over the city and its beaches.

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017 Continue on a panoramic city tour of Cape Town, passing the houses of Parliament, City Hall and the Castle of Good Hope. Visit the South African Museum, the Jewish Museum, the “Bo Kaap”, also known as the Malay quarter & Green Market Square. Return to hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Services at Synagogue, followed by Shabbat dinner at hotel. Overnight: Hyde Hotel

Day 7, Saturday Jan 21 : Cape Town Day at Leisure – walk around the beautiful beach front near our hotel. After services, Shabbat lunch at hotel. Overnight: Hyde Hotel Day 8, Sunday Jan 22: Cape Peninsula Travel through Clifton and Camps Bay to Hout Bay – take a short boat trip to Seal Island to view the Seals in their natural environment (weather permitting). Continue via Chapman’s Peak to the nature reserve of Cape of Good Hope. This is where the famous Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope can be viewed as well as the legendary meeting of the cold Atlantic and warm Indian currents. Return to Cape Town driving along the coastline through small towns such Simonstown, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenburg. En-route visit Boulders – the Penguin Colony. Return to Cape Town driving along the coastline through small towns such Simonstown, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenburg. Visit Boulders – the Penguin Colony. Continue onto Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, home of some 3500 species of Southern African fauna and flora Continue to the V & A Waterfront (time permitting). The wide variety of leisure activities and attractions on offer at the V&A Waterfront makes this unique destination the first choice for both local and foreign visitors. The V&A Waterfront is a treasure trove of fun and exciting experiences, to be discovered…new journeys await around every corner. Overnight: Hyde Hotel Day 9, Monday Jan 23: Cape Town – Johannesburg – Victoria Falls Transfer to Cape Town Airport for our flight to Johannesburg, connecting to our flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival we will be met by our representatives to transfer to our hotel.

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017 Victoria Falls, described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oaTunya’ – ‘the Smoke that Thunders’, and in more modern terms as ‘the greatest known curtain of falling water’. Victoria Falls are a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the afternoon we depart for our Zambezi River Sunset Cruise, a superb way to relax and enjoy the beauty of the River. We hopefully will see a variety of game; including hippo, crocodile, and elephant and sometimes even rhino in their home environment, as well as enjoy the many different bird species. This very popular cruise includes, beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks. There are great photo opportunities against oftenspectacular African sunsets! Victoria Falls is a Malaria Area – please consult with your doctor. Overnight: Kingdom Hotel Day 10, Tuesday Jan 24: Victoria Falls – Chobe – Victoria Falls Early morning departure to Chobe National Park where we will have the opportunity to enjoy an abundance of wildlife on our game drives. Botswana is Africa at its very best – untamed, vast expanses of pristine wilderness, teeming with wildlife, alive with expectancy and an ultimate safari destination. The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana, undisputedly boasts one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region, offers a safari experience of a lifetime. Spend the morning game viewing while cruising along the Chobe River. Tea, coffee & biscuits are provided. The cruise ends at around 12.30hrs and then we have time for lunch before our afternoon game drive. After lunch, we board our vehicles for an afternoon safari. After the afternoon game drive, we return to Victoria Falls. Overnight: Kingdom Hotel Day 11, Wednesday Jan 25: Victoria Falls – Johannesburg After breakfast we will have a Guided Tour of the Falls. It’s a truly awe-inspiring experience – the sight, the sound, the smell; the humbling feeling that here indeed is Nature’s Supreme Masterpiece. No photograph can begin to depict the reality…and nothing prepares you for your first sight. En-route, we may be taken past the ‘Big Tree’ where we may stop and take photos. We will be accompanied through the Rainforest by one of our qualified Guides who will give a brief history of the Falls themselves as well as detailing the flora, fauna, bird & wildlife and other points of interest. Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for our flight to Johannesburg. Overnight: Holiday Inn Sandton

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017 Day 12 Thursday Jan 26: Johannesburg Depart on a panoramic tour of Johannesburg’s affluent suburbs and business district. Continue to Soweto. Soweto is the very symbol of the African’s struggle for freedom in South Africa. During the last troubled decades of the twentieth century Soweto represented the struggle against apartheid. This tour also offers insight into the daily lives of the people of Soweto, the origins of “Matchbox City” and its complex relationship with greater Johannesburg. Dinner at a Kosher Restaurant. Drop off at the airport for our flight back home. Flight Schedule: EL AL 051 Jan 15 from Israel at 22:25 arrival Johannesburg 07:35 (Jan 16) EL AL 052 Jan 26 from Johannesburg at 21:45 arrival in Israel 07:00 (Jan 27) Price: AACI members $5590 per person in a double Non members $5640 / single supplement $550

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This deluxe trip includes:            

Accomodations at Hotels mentioned above or similar Entrance Fees to all sites 2 Game Drives in Garden Route Game Lodge Zambezi Sunset Cruise 1 River Game Cruise and 1 Game Drive in Chobe National Park Victoria Falls Visit Kosher Full Board with packed lunches International Flight with ELAL Local Flights with SA Airlines Water on bus (2 per day) Tips to driver/guide, hotel and restaurant staff AACI Staff Escort

Not included:     

Expenses of a personal nature Any activity not included in above itinerary Visa for Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) $55 (double entry) Deposit of $400 due at time of registration, Final payment due November 10, 2015 Cancellation from time of registration until November 10, 2015: $200 per person

AACI Kosher & Friendly Tours 2017  

Cancellation between November 11-December 12, 2016: $1200 per person Cancellation from December 13 to day of departure: 100%

South Africa Registration Form 2017 Insurance South Africa 2017

For more information and registration please contact: Sharon Bergman at Ophir Tours, 15 Smilanski, Netanya 03 5261725 E-mail: [email protected]