DAY 1: ARRIVE CAPE TOWN
On arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon is at your leisure to unwind after your flight. You may like to take an optional tour of Robben Island or explore the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Original buildings have been kept and renovated and new ones have been developed - all in a beautiful Victorian style. Much of its charm lies in the fact that this busy commercial harbor is set in the midst of a huge entertainment venue with pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets, and movie theatres. Spend the next four nights in Cape Town.

DAY 2: CAPE TOWN
Today, explore this bustling city, spectacularly situated at the foot of Table Mountain. Cape Town's geographical location has allowed it to absorb a wide range of cultures who were drawn to the city for its key position on the trade routes between Europe and Asia. A trip to the top of Table Mountain is a splendid highlight on a clear day: the mountain is part of a nature reserve, and boasts a wide range of plants and animals unique to the surrounding area. Tour the museums, browse at the market at Green Market Square, and stroll past the curio sellers who line the pavements with their wares. Visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you can waste away the afternoon at the shops, cafés, market, bars or take a short cruise on one of the many boats waiting at the quays. (B)

DAY 3: CAPE TOWN
This morning visit the Constantia wine estates - Constantia was one of the first wine producing areas of the Western Cape, and Groot Constantia is one of the first and finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture. The homestead is exquisitely furnished with antiques, and the wine museum has a number of interesting exhibits, including stoneware dating from 500 BC to the present day. Wine can be sampled and purchased on the estate. In the afternoon take a tour of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Sprawled over 560 hectares on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, these world-renowned gardens are dedicated to the preservation of the indigenous plants of Southern Africa. Some 6000 different species are grown here, including ancient cycads and ferns. Return to your accommodations later this afternoon. (B)

DAY 4: CAPE POINT TOUR
This morning head off on a tour of Cape Point, a scenic trip with many enticing villages en route. Head straight to the sea and follow the coastal road through Muizenberg with its long stretch of sandy beach, Simon's Town, and on to Boulders Beach, home to the Jackass penguins. From here onwards, keep your eyes peeled for baboons on or beside the road, and finally enter the Cape Peninsula National Park. Here you will find Cape Point, traditionally considered the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Before heading home, make a stop at Hout Bay harbor for a quick boat trip to Seal Island. Return to your hotel later this afternoon. (B)

DAY 5: CAPE TOWN-- DURBAN; DRIVE TO BATTLEFIELDS
You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to Cape Town Airport. On arrival at Durban International Airport you will be met by our representative who will assist you in collecting your rental car. Drive via Pietermaritzburg - a city of charm and dignity set in the heart of Zulu country - into the heart of the Battlefields. This journey is a rich cultural experience. Set off from Pietermaritzburg and travel via Estcourt, Colenso and Ladysmith to Rorke's Drift. The area is renowned for its battlefield tours to all the Zulu War and Anglo-Boer War battle sites in the region. It is also popular for its lovely country lodges. (B,D)

DAY 6: BATTLEFIELDS
Today you will be taken off for a tour of the Battlefields, including Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. The flagship tours to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift are led by registered tour guides that are superb storytellers, making the history of that day come alive. Learn in gripping detail, of the bravery and nobility of the Zulu army that defeated the British at Isandlwana, on The Day of the Dead Moon. The 17km of river frontage includes the famous site of Fugitives' Drift, where Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill lost their lives in 1879 trying to save the Queen's Color of their regiment, winning the first two posthumous Victoria Crosses in history. Listen at sunset to the famous story of Rorke's Drift, where 100 British soldiers were attacked by 4000 Zulu warriors, earning them more Victoria Crosses than in any other battle in history. This is also a region of great natural beauty. Please note that several of the battlefields tour guides are also experts in the zoology and botany of the region. Please discuss with your Absolute Africa travel consultant your particular interests, and we will arrange the best tour options for you. (B,L,D)

DAY 7: BATTLEFIELDS-- PHINDA PRIVATE RESERVE
After breakfast you will depart the battlefields region and drive southeast to the 15,000 hectare Phinda Private Game Reserve. Lying in the heart of one of Africa's most spectacularly diverse regions, Phinda is home to no less than seven ecosystems and an extraordinary range of wildlife. At dawn and dusk experienced rangers and trackers reveal the wonders of wild Zululand, from the awe-inspiring "Big Five" to a fascinating array of plants, statuesque antelope to startling insects, and of course over 350 species of magnificent birds that grace the reserve. Arrive in time for a late lunch, which is followed by the afternoon's game activity. Accommodations at Phinda are offered in one of the spacious split-level bush suites at Mountain Lodge with outstanding views of the Bushveld, or in a stilted glass chalet situated in the rare Sand Forest. Spend two nights at Phinda Mountain Lodge on a full board basis. (B,L,D)

DAY 8: PHINDA PRIVATE RESERVE
Enjoy a full day at Phinda with game viewing activities in the morning and again in the afternoon/evening. Bush walks during the day offer close encounters with the subtleties of nature and a brush with the traditional legends and uses of plants. Phinda has a wide range of activities to offer, including visiting local villages or horseback riding along the banks of False Bay. (B,L,D)

DAY 9: PHINDA-- STANGER, DOLPHIN COAST
On your last morning enjoy a boat cruise on the Mzinene River and breakfast before departing Phinda. Travel down the north coast of Natal to your coastal destination. This coastline north of Durban, stretching from the Tugela Mouth to the Umdloti River, is aptly known as the Dolphin Coast. Close inshore, shoals of bottlenose dolphins gambol in the waves, providing endless entertainment with their engaging antics. Many of the first Indian immigrants settled on this part of the coastline to work the cane fields. The markets, mosques and temples of their ancestors have brought an authentic Eastern flavor to the Dolphin Coast. Spend three nights at one of the fine beach resorts in the area. (B)

DAY 10 & 11: STANGER
Your last days are at leisure to relax on the superb beaches in the area. Alternatively, visit one of the nearby resort towns, such as Umhlanga. Trails meander through the dune forest of the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve. (B)

DAY 12: DEPART SOUTH AFRICA
Drive to the airport for your International departure flight.