👥 Group trip — open enrollment ($4,700 pp) · 📅 Jul 29 – Aug 6 · 🗓️ 9 days
Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Flight UA 188 at 18:30 and transfer to the Premier Hotel OR Tambo, situated just 1.2km from the terminal. Tonight is for settling in and freshening up before the adventure ahead. Johannesburg — the City of Gold — awaits.
After breakfast in Johannesburg, fly to Kruger National Park — one of Africa's greatest wildlife reserves spanning nearly 2 million hectares. Check in to the Kruger Gate Hotel, less than a minute from the Paul Kruger Gate, freshen up, enjoy an early dinner, then head out on a thrilling night game drive under the vast African sky.
An early start for an immersive full-day safari across Kruger's vast savannah and riverine forests. Track the Big Five with an expert ranger, enjoy a bush breakfast and packed lunch inside the park. As the sun dips, return to the lodge for Shabbat preparations — candle lighting at 17:12.
Shabbat Kodesh in the wild — a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our minyan gathers around a Sefer Torah brought especially for this journey, transforming the wilderness into a makom kodesh beneath the vast African sky. Morning pastries before davening, full kiddush, festive Shabbat lunch with zemiros, seudah shlishit, and a joyful Motzei Shabbat BBQ.
Rise for a final morning game drive as the sun breaks over the Bushveld — prime time for elephant, rhino, lion, and giraffe. Return for a full breakfast, then fly to Cape Town and check in to the Premier Hotel in the vibrant suburb of Sea Point, with sweeping views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ascend Table Mountain on the iconic rotating cable car for jaw-dropping 360° views of the city, coast, and Robben Island. Explore the South African Jewish Museum — the oldest synagogue in sub-Saharan Africa — tracing the Jewish community's rich history. After kosher lunch at Riteve, discover Cape Town's unique neighbourhoods, ending the day at the vibrant V&A Waterfront.
Travel along one of the world's most spectacular coastal routes. Wind along Chapman's Peak Drive, visit the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach, browse the charming harbour village of Kalk Bay, and lunch in Hermanus — the world capital of land-based whale watching. Continue through Mossel Bay and check in to the Premier Hotel Knysna on the banks of the beautiful Knysna Lagoon.
Head into the ancient forests of Tsitsikamma National Park — dramatic coastline, indigenous forest, and the iconic suspension bridge over the Storms River gorge. Continue to Storms River Mouth where the river meets the Indian Ocean in a spectacular rocky gorge. Return to Knysna for a special farewell dinner as the group celebrates the final night of an unforgettable journey.
After a final breakfast and check-out, visit the Knysna Heads — the dramatic sandstone cliffs where the Knysna Lagoon meets the Indian Ocean through treacherous narrows made infamous by countless shipwrecks. Then transfer to Cape Town International Airport for homeward flights. Safe travels — until next time!
Route: Johannesburg → Kruger National Park → Cape Town → Garden Route (Knysna / Tsitsikamma) Trip cost: $4,700 per person. Payment: 50% deposit to secure place, balance due 30 days before travel. Trip highlights: - Safari in Kruger National Park (night drive + full day + morning drive) - Shabbat in the African bush — minyan, Sefer Torah, festive meals, Motzei Shabbat BBQ - Cape Town: Table Mountain cable car, South African Jewish Museum, V&A Waterfront - Garden Route: Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach penguins, Tsitsikamma, Storms River Mouth Date of issue: 09 April 2026
Safari with Friends 2026