South Africa
In the Footsteps of Mandela
Follow in the footsteps of one of the 20th century’s most remarkable figures, from the cosmopolitan streets of Cape Town to the rolling hills of the Transkei and the townships of Johannesburg. Top it all off with three unforgettable nights on safari.
12days
Dates, route and final price are confirmed personally.
Trip highlights
What this trip includes.
- 01
Discover Cape Town and explore the city’s connection to Mandela, including Robben Island and the site of his historic release speech.
- 02
Travel deep into the Eastern Cape to Mvezo and Qunu, the places that shaped Mandela’s childhood and identity.
- 03
Enjoy three nights on the beautiful Eastern Cape coast, balancing the historical journey with time to relax and explore.
- 04
Follow Mandela’s political journey through Johannesburg and Soweto, including Mandela House and Constitution Hill.
- 05
Trace the story of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and its transition to democracy.
- 06
End your journey with three nights on safari, combining exceptional wildlife with the landscapes that make South Africa so special.
Perfect trip reading
Build your reading for the trip.
A short shelf chosen to deepen the places and history you will encounter.
The route
Your route at a glance.
Day by Day
Your suggested itinerary.
Every detail can be adjusted after your planning conversation.
Arrive in Cape Town and meet your private driver for the transfer to your hotel. Settle in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Depending on your arrival time, you might take a stroll along the Sea Point Promenade, explore the V&A Waterfront or simply relax at your hotel.
Photo: Finding Dan
Take the ferry across Table Bay for a private tour of Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Visit the prison and his former cell, and learn about the experiences of the political prisoners who were held there.
Back on the mainland, visit Cape Town City Hall, where Mandela delivered his famous first public speech after his release in February 1990. Finish the day off by taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, watching as the sun sets over Table Bay and Robben Island.
Spend the day exploring one of the world's most spectacular coastal drives. Travel along the Atlantic seaboard through Clifton and Camps Bay before following the dramatic coastline towards Cape Point.
Visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, explore historic Simon's Town and continue to the Cape of Good Hope. Take in the views from Cape Point before returning to Cape Town via the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, with time to stop for photographs and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Fly from Cape Town to East London, where you will meet your private guide and begin the journey into the Eastern Cape. Travel through the rolling hills of the former Transkei towards Qunu, stopping along the way to appreciate the landscapes and communities of Mandela's homeland. Continue to your coastal accommodation for a relaxing evening beside the Indian Ocean.
Travel with your private guide to Qunu, the village where Mandela spent much of his childhood and where he chose to be buried. Explore the landscapes he described so vividly in Long Walk to Freedom and learn about the traditions that shaped his early years. Continue to Mvezo, the tiny village where Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in 1918. Visit the Nelson Mandela Museum and learn more about his journey from rural boy to lawyer, activist and ultimately president.v Return to the coast in the afternoon.
After several days of travel and history, enjoy a more relaxed day on the Eastern Cape coast. Depending on your chosen accommodation, you might walk along the beach, explore the rugged coastline, meet local communities or simply relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
After breakfast, travel to Mthatha with your private guide and visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, which traces Mandela’s life from his childhood in the Eastern Cape through his political awakening and long struggle against apartheid. Then fly to Johnnesburg where you’ll, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel.
Spend the day exploring the Johannesburg that shaped Mandela's political life. Visit Soweto and Mandela House on Vilakazi Street, where Mandela lived with his family and returned after his release from prison. Continue to Constitution Hill, the former prison complex where Mandela was incarcerated at different stages of his life. Finish the day with a tour of Liliesleaf, the former Rivonia hideout that became an important centre of the liberation movement.
Fly from Johannesburg to the Greater Kruger National Park for an unforgettable three-night safari. Settle into your surroundings before heading out on your first afternoon game drive. As the sun begins to set, look out for elephants, giraffes, buffalo and antelope, while your guide searches for the predators that make the African bush so compelling. Return to the lodge for dinner beneath the stars.
Rise early for a morning game drive, when the cooler temperatures bring the bush to life. Follow tracks and fresh spoor with your expert guide in search of lions, leopards, elephants and other wildlife. Return to the lodge for breakfast and some time to relax before heading out again in the afternoon. Depending on the reserve and lodge, activities may also include guided bush walks, birding or other specialist experiences.
Enjoy a final full day in the wilderness. Your final evening is a chance to reflect on an extraordinary journey through South Africa, from Mandela's childhood home to the modern city and finally into the wild.
Enjoy a final breakfast in the bush before your transfer to the airstrip or onward journey. Your journey through the footsteps of Mandela ends here — with his story of freedom and reconciliation followed by an unforgettable encounter with the wildlife and wilderness of the country he helped transform.
Ready when you are
