AUG 28-SEPT 9, 2019: Bucket List South Africa!

South Africa

AE
Annie Emanuelli
  • Email address verified
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24 reviews
Aug 28 - Sep 9, 2019
Group size: 2 - 12
AUG 28-SEPT 9, 2019: Bucket List South Africa!
South Africa

Annie Emanuelli
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
  • LinkedIn verified
24 reviews

Aug 28 - Sep 9, 2019
Group size: 2 - 12

About this trip

Is South Africa on YOUR Bucket List?

 

Bucket List Travel is excited to announce its 2019 tours to South Africa!


I'm leading a group of friends - old and new - on this very special trip of a lifetime, and you’re invited!


August 28-September 9, 2019


The 12-day, 11-night adventure is priced $2,999 per person double occupancy (not including airfare to and from South Africa).


There is a limit of 12 guests on this tour to give each guest a chance to best see the wildlife from an outside seat in the safari vehicles.


We are only traveling in malaria-free areas!


Your space will be secured when we receive a 25% deposit ($750.) 

Half of this deposit ($375) is non-refundable.

The balance is due by two months before your departure (June 28, 2019). Three more payments of $750 are due at two-month intervals: on February 28, 2019, April 28, 2019, and June 28, 2019.


Stop dreaming; start packing!!

Cancellations and Refunds


In the event that you need to cancel your trip, these fees will be applied:

Half of the deposit ($375) is non-refundable.

• Between 100-61 days before your arrival date, entire refundable amount of deposit ($375).

• Between 60 and 46 days before your arrival date, 50% of the entire tour price.

• Between 45 and 31 days before your arrival date, 75% of the entire tour price.

• Between 30 and 1 days before your arrival date, 100% of the entire tour price.

Optional: Hot Air Balloon

On day 3, you have the option of taking a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the savannah. Pickup will be at 5 a.m. and take off at 6 a.m. to see the sunrise. After a one hour flight, we'll have champagne on landing then a full breakfast. We will be back at our lodge by 10 a.m. to leave for the rest of the day's tour.

What’s included

  • 1 night stay
    Lesedi Cultural Village
  • 1 night stay
    Glenafric Lodge
  • 3 nights stay
    Mziki Lodge
  • 3 nights stay
    Cradle Moon Lodge
  • 3 nights stay
    Villa Rosa
  • Tours
    All safaris and tours escorted by a private driver and a private guide
  • Entrance Fees
    Entrance fees to all sights in the itinerary
  • Domestic Flight
    Domestic flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town
  • All airport transfers
  • Meals
    11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 9 dinners

What’s not included

  • International Airfare
    Airfare between the United States and South Africa is NOT included
  • Meals
    Meals not listed in itinerary
  • Beverages with meals
  • Tips
    Customary tips to tour guide, driver, etc.

Available Packages

Trip Price
$2,999
Deposit: $750

Available options

Itinerary

Day 1 - August 29, 2019
Welcome to South Africa!

Arrive in Johannesburg at O.R. Tambo International Airport. A Bucket List Travel agent will meet you and help you claim your luggage. Transfer to your accommodations at Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village.

Cultural show: Lesedi reflects the diversity of South Africa’s original inhabitants, and contains elements of Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho, Nguni and Ndebele cultures. 

Traditional song and dance and a feast fit for a king top off an unforgettable day and night.

Buffet dinner: variety of meats (crocodile, ostrich, beef, lamb), assorted vegetables, pap (grits), salads and desserts.

Overnight at Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village in a traditional hut that offers the comforts of home. Wake to the sounds of the maskanda Zulu guitar and African melodies before being treated to a full English breakfast.

Your Organizer


AE
Annie Emanuelli
24 reviews
Hi - I'm Annie, the founder of Bucket List Travel! Travel is my life! I left a 30+ year career as a corporate marketing exec to start my own travel business, taking people to Bucket List locations! I'd like to take you somewhere you've always dreamed of going. Stop dreaming, start packing!

Reviews

VD
Annie is a wonderful agent, met our every need on this amazing adventure in Finland. Hotel arrangements while visiting Helsinki were beyond my expectation, definitely 5 star accomodations. Then off to Ivalo, where again Aurora Holidays treated us like stars! Tina and all her staff, again went above and beyond. Food, accomodations and all our ventures out were amazing. Would highly recommend both if you have plans to see the Northern Lights!
By Valarie D for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 05, 2023
Valarie - I'm so happy you enjoyed our trip to Finland! It was a pleasure to meet you, and to travel with you. Oh, the wonders we saw! Hope to travel with you again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
BM
The trip was incredible and unforgettable. Annie has a passion for her work as trip organizer--she's knowledgeable, organized, and focused on each individual within the group that she leads. She makes the right connections with local hosts, in this case Tiina at Aurora Holidays, to make sure that the accommodations and meals were excellent. Daily activities were varied and fun, giving guests the option of taking part or having a day of rest. Highly, highly recommended!
By Bill M for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 04, 2023
Bill - it was such a joy to share Lapland with you! It delighted me to watch you discover the unique beauty of this very special place. I hope we can travel together again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
I don't even know where to start! This trip was jam packed with events, either included with the trip or optional, very affordable add-ons, and each was just an excellent, well managed experience! I arrived a few days early because I was coming in from a different direction; I was met at the airport by Mike Smith, who also accompanied me on some optional trips prior to the official trip beginning (Voortrekker Museum, Cullinan Diamond Mine, etc). Mike is an excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable! During the initial days I was based at the Protea Hotel, which is extremely well managed by Louise and her staff, so that too was a fantastic experience. The first phase of the trip was a flight to Zimbabwe, where we were met by Moses. I really enjoyed meeting Moses, especially since it was only a few days after the Zim elections. Our other guides were Profit and Tich, and they were also a joy to meet and hold conversations with. We were based in a lovely "lodge" which was more like a giant Air BnB in a residential neighborhood of "lodges;" it was an extremely safe environment although I'll admit I was a bit surprised as I'm more of a bush girl. We had an individual room which was gorgeous! Following a long walking tour of Victoria Falls (thrilling!), I did the optional helicopter ride of the falls. It was just 15 minutes but gave a brilliant perspective of what we had just walked. I also did the infamous "Devil's Fall," which is right where the Falls go over. It's not for the faint of heart, but I'm SO glad I did it!!! I was truly sorry to leave Zimbabwe, and would have gladly stayed a few more days. We flew out of Zimbabwe and went straight to a true bush lodge called Mziki, and it was true heaven! There were all kinds of events planned and late afternoon/evening safaris with sundowners. Morning safaris included hot coffee and/or tea plus some of the most delicious snacks I've ever had. Definitely did not want to leave Mziki; it was heaven! The staff was primarily Zola and Nathan, with Devon coming in towards the end. It was a very laid back existence, yet it also seemed like we had events planned all day, every day. I thought about planting my feet in cement when it came time to leave! From Mziki, we went to a new lodge called Candlewood, where "wild" animals roam freely. We had individual units which were simply huge, including a second bedroom for storing luggage, as well as a large veranda for sitting out and watching the wildlife. Zebra even roamed up to the guest pool to catch a quick drink of water, to the delight of children who were there! The food was fantastic, with one of the most delicious made to order omelets I've ever had. From Candlewood, we flew to Cape Town, where Amaan met us and because of the weather, reorganized the trip to something more amenable. We did wine tastings, and me, who hates red wine, ended up buying some of the most gorgeous red wine I've ever tasted! The properties we visited were very historic and Amaan was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the areas we toured. We saw two of the three baboon trips in one refuge, which was quite thrilling; another highlight was taking the funicular up to the top of Table Mountain which felt like being on top of the world! We also visited the Apartheid Museum which was very well done in terms of explaining the history of Nelson Mandela and the various political relationships he encountered in his life. I have left out so many things we did on this trip but it's already a very long review! I obviously highly recommend the trip; there was nothing that wasn't well planned and well thought out, and even if there was a hiccup (which is going to happen because "This is Africa," it was immediately correctly, seamlessly. I can't say enough good things about Annie Emmanuelli of Bucket List Travel, as well as Tim and Mike Smith of Wildside Tours and Safaris. Mike Smith was the one we primarily were with on the ground, and he was the most chillaxed person...which was the perfect personality for a trip to Africa!
By Donna M for Sept 3-14, 2023: South Africa! on Sep 24, 2023
This trip was A LIFE CHANGER! I have dreamed of going to Africa for years and thanks to Annie, it became a reality. From start to finish, she answered every question I had and prepped us all for what we needed for this trip. I felt completely safe and taken care of the whole time. Our guides along the trip were amazing and felt like friends by the end! Every day was planned to the fullest experience and you truly get the bang for your buck! The food, culture, animals, lodges were all amazing. Going on game rides is an experience I’ll never forget. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat is a true gift. I 1000% will come back to Africa with Annie and can not recommend this trip enough.
By Ximena G for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 07, 2023
Thank you, Annie for this wonder-filled adventure! From Victoria Falls to Johannesburg and Cape Town, the thrills never stopped. The trip was well-organized, and details managed so we just had to show up and enjoy the safaris and game drives, hikes, boat rides, helicopter and hot air balloon rides, wine-tastings, meals…. It was truly a glorious three weeks that exceeded my expectations and left me with wonderful memories and photos.
By Dena S for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 04, 2023
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References

NG
I just returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Cairo organized by Bucket List Travel. Annie took care of every detail of planning, and it really showed when I got off the plane and was taken care of from start to finish with the greatest care. Our guide Yasser was kind, professional, knowledgeable, and funny! He went above and beyond to ensure every need was met and we got the most out of each day in Egypt. I always felt safe and loved experiencing local life and culture. I plan to grab my friends and book again with Bucket List Travel!
By Noel G on 05 Feb, 2020