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South Africa wildlife & nature

Wild South Africa

From $6,470 USD
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Overview

Wild South Africa

Continent

Africa

Days

9 days

Nights

8 nights

Group Size

12 people

Activity

Easy

Interest

Wildlife & Nature

Highlights

  • Encounter the Marine Big 5 on a cruise along the coast of Gansbaai
  • Kayak your way around False Bay and meet the penguins at Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
  • Learn about tide pooling with a Marine Biologist expert
  • Enjoy a series of unforgettable sunrise and sunset safaris through the African bush, spotting lions, elephants and giraffes
  • Learn the art of Cape Malay cuisine during a hands-on cooking class
South Africa 9 days 8 nights

Marine wildlife and Kruger Safari

Day 1

Welkom!

Cape Town's Table Mountain.
Cape Town's Table Mountain.

Day 2

Exploring Cape Town

Malay Quarter, Cape Town, South Africa
Malay Quarter, Cape Town, South Africa

Day 3

Coastal Wonders and the Marine Big 5

Great white shark, Gansbaai, South Africa
Great white shark, Gansbaai, South Africa

Day 4

Paddles and Penguins

Boulder's Beach
Boulder's Beach

Day 5

Sunset Safari

Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park

Day 6

Into the African Bush

Day 7

Sunrise, Serenity, Sunset, Repeat

A rare sighting of an elephant and her baby.
A rare sighting of an elephant and her baby.

Day 8

Jozi Journey: Exploring Johannesburg

A leopard hiding in the grass.
A leopard hiding in the grass.

Day 9

Farewell

What is included?


What is not included?


Upcoming departures

2 available dates
  • May 4 - May 12, 2025
    Price
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  • Nov 23 - Dec 1, 2025
    Price
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Additional info

Pricing & Trip Deposit

Deposit to book your trip: $250 USD.

Balance due 90 days prior to departure.

The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.

Traveling solo?

You’re in good company.

Opt for a Private Room to yourself, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost:

2024 departures: $1,430 USD per person

2025 departures: $1,250 USD per person

Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. 

If you don’t opt for a Private Room, you'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.

Activity Level

This trip will require two to three miles of walking each day, mainly on flat and even ground, as well as occasional stairs.

Arrival & Departure

You should plan to arrive by 12 p.m. on Day 1, and depart after 12 p.m on Day 9. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) connects to a range of flight hubs in Europe. Connecting airlines include South African Airways, British Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways.

*Airport transfers are only provided if arriving & departing on the trip dates, or if pre/post arrangements have been made through Atlas Obscura. 

Have more questions?

Check out the Essential Trip Information for this trip or our general FAQs.

Any questions about this trip? Don't hesitate to reach out

Trip Leader

Melissa Cristina Márquez

Melissa Márquez is a marine science education expert. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico, Melissa has worked at the forefront of marine science education and communication for over a decade, hard at work combatting the misinformation that's rampant in ecological fields — and paving the way for Latina women like her in science. With her TEDx talks garnering thousands of views in their first weeks alone, Melissa is a prominent thought-leader and has engaged at global forums such as the National Academy of Science, Oxford, University of Western Australia Global Leader Experience, and National Science Policy Symposium, among others. Named one of Sachamama’s “Los 100 Latinos Más Comprometidos con la Acción Climática” in 2021, “Forbes 30 Under 30: Science” finalist in 2020, and named in InStyle’s 2021 “50 Badass Women” list, Melissa has been touted as “the most enthusiastic shark scientist” people ever meet. She has been featured in NPR, Allure, InStyle, GQ, Seeker, Popular Science, and appeared on Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Acciona, and Good Morning America. When the ocean conservationist isn’t at sea filming for various TV shows, she has been instrumental leading the DEI charge in marine science, fighting for and advancing inclusive science communication efforts, and challenging the status quo for women in STEM. Through her advisory roles in Women in Ocean Science, Beneath The Waves, Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), and PangeaSeed, she hopes to leave a wake of opportunities for generations to come. A marine scientist by training, Melissa holds a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Victoria University of Wellington. Her first children book series, Wild Survival, was published in 2021-2022 by Scholastic to rave reviews. Her picture book memoir, Mother of Sharks, will be published in 2023 by Penguin Random House, followed by the Sea of Constellations picture book in 2024.

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