Day 1
Suvarnabhumi – Doha – Cape Town
Meet at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16:30 and depart for Cape Town via Doha. Your tour leader is with you from the start, with the trip dossier.
South Africa9 Days 6 Nights
The journey, day by day
Day 2
Cape Town – Bo-Kaap – Sunset Cruise
Arrive in Cape Town, visit the colourful Bo-Kaap quarter, and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Atlantic.
Hyatt Regency (or equivalent)
Day 3
Table Mountain – Winelands – Seal Watching
Ride up Table Mountain, the flat-topped icon of Cape Town, taste wine at a historic estate, and cruise to see the seal colony.
Hyatt Regency (or equivalent)
Day 4
Sidecar – Helicopter – V&A Waterfront
A sidecar city adventure, a helicopter flight over Cape Town, and free time at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Hyatt Regency (or equivalent)
Day 5
Penguins – Ostrich Farm – Cape of Good Hope
African penguins at Boulders Beach, an ostrich farm, and the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of the peninsula.
Hyatt Regency (or equivalent)
Day 6
Cape Town – Johannesburg – Pilanesberg (Game Drive)
Fly to Johannesburg and enter Pilanesberg National Park for a Big Five game drive.
Ivory Tree Game Lodge (or equivalent)
Day 7
Game Drive – Sun City
A morning game drive, then on to Sun City, the luxury resort city in the savanna.
The Palace of the Lost City (or equivalent)
Day 8
Hot Air Balloon – Pretoria – Airport
A dawn hot-air balloon flight, a stop in Pretoria, then a transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Day 9
Arrive Suvarnabhumi Airport
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, at 18:25, with your memories and a digital album from South Africa.
Top-choice stays
Hotels chosen for you
Curated Destination Stays, a waterfront city hotel, a malaria-free safari lodge, and the legendary Palace resort.
- Hyatt Regency (or equivalent) · Cape Town (4 nights), V&A Waterfront, walk to the harbour
- Ivory Tree Game Lodge (or equivalent) · Pilanesberg (1 night), Big Five reserve, malaria-free
- The Palace of the Lost City (or equivalent) · Sun City (1 night), the iconic Palace with bushveld views
Note: Upgrade the Hyatt Regency to One&Only Cape Town (5-star luxury) or Ivory Tree to Madikwe Safari Lodge as a Private Trip add-on. To add a night on the Stellenbosch wine route at Lanzerac, extend the trip to 10D7N.
What's included
- 3 Destination Stays (incl. Palace of the Lost City)
- domestic flight Cape Town–Johannesburg
- private vehicle & driver throughout
- Table Mountain Cableway
- Groot Constantia wine tasting
- Seal Island cruise
- Boulders Beach penguin entry
- Cape Point Ostrich Farm
- Cape of Good Hope
- Cape Town Sidecar tour
- 20-min Helicopter scenic flight
- sunset Table Bay cruise
- 2 Pilanesberg Big Five Game Drives (afternoon + dawn) with ranger & tracker
- Hot Air Balloon Safari 1 hour with Champagne breakfast
- Sun City entry
- Pretoria + Union Building
- Carnivore dinner
- tour leader
- professional photographer
- insurance
- daily breakfast
- 14-day photo album
- International flights (TG/QR/SQ Economy ~THB 48,000–62,000 / Business 195,000–225,000 quoted separately)
- lunch & dinner except where noted
- optional Sun City golf at Gary Player Country Club (~THB 12,000/pax)
- ranger/tracker tips (~ZAR 200/day/pax recommended)
- shopping
South Africa reviews · 5.0 / 5
★★★★★
"Pilanesberg dawn drive, we found a lion feeding on the kill from a leopard the ranger had been tracking. The shot the photographer caught has been on our office wall all year. Ivory Tree Lodge had warm staff and great food."
★★★★★
"Pilanesberg being malaria-free meant our 8-year-old didn't need prophylaxis. The Hot Air Balloon at dawn floating over the bushveld with elephants and giraffes below, our kid talked about it the entire trip."
★★★★★
"Cape Town more beautiful than expected, the 20-minute helicopter showed us Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles from the air. The Sidecar tour was a surprise highlight. We closed the trip at the Palace of the Lost City, even more lavish than the photos."
Common questions
When is the best time for safari?
April to October, the dry winter of the Southern Hemisphere. Animals come to the waterholes, short grass makes them easy to spot, Cape Town sits at a comfortable 12–20°C, and the Hot Air Balloon operates consistently. May–September is the prime window for whale watching at Hermanus (add-on). November to March is summer, Cape Town is warm and beautiful, but game viewing is harder.
Will we really see all the Big Five?
Pilanesberg is a Big Five reserve (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) plus 200+ other species (giraffe, zebra, impala, kudu, wildebeest, hippo) across 500 sq km. This trip includes 2 Game Drives (Day 6 afternoon + Day 7 dawn). 2024–2025 client data: lion, elephant, rhino, and buffalo are spotted on most trips. Leopard appears on roughly 50–70%, solitary and stealthy.
Do we need yellow fever vaccination or malaria prophylaxis?
Yellow fever: not required unless you've transited a high-risk country (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia) within six days. Malaria: Pilanesberg is a malaria-free reserve, no prophylaxis required. This is the main reason Wanvela uses Pilanesberg rather than Kruger, especially for families with children and pregnant travelers.
Do we need a visa?
No. South Africa is visa-free for Thai passport holders (effective January 1, 2025) for stays up to 30 days. Passport must have 6+ months validity and two consecutive blank pages. Wanvela checks documentation 45 days before departure.
Is the Hot Air Balloon Safari guaranteed?
Weather-dependent. The balloon flies at dawn (5–6 AM) for ~1 hour, with a Champagne breakfast on landing. Flies on roughly 80–90% of days in the dry season (Apr–Oct). Wanvela has a backup plan if cancelled, extended Game Drive or helicopter scenic flight instead. Partial refund if the operator cancels.
Is the trip suitable for young children, are the game drives frightening?
Children 6+ can do everything. Ivory Tree Game Lodge accepts children from age 6 on game drives. The vehicles are open-sided and the ranger carries a rifle, but in our experience there's never been an incident, the animals ignore the vehicle and stay 10–20 metres away. Close enough, safe enough. Children pay 65–80% of adult rate. Hot Air Balloon accepts children 1.20m+ in height.
How safe are Cape Town and Johannesburg?
Wanvela uses the same drivers and guides we've worked with for years and never lets clients walk alone in unsafe areas. Hotels are in V&A Waterfront (Cape Town), the safest neighbourhoods. We send a safety briefing (no flashy jewelry, no shoulder bags in markets) 30 days before departure.
