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2025 Spectacular South Africa Tour Photo Gallery

What a journey! We couldn’t have asked for anything more—the guides, the food, the people, the perfect weather, and absolutely stunning sights made the 2025 Spectacular South Africa Tour truly spectacular. As we head home, it’s bittersweet knowing our African adventure has come to an end, but our hearts are full knowing we’ve made memories that words could never quite capture.

Tour Manager: Cora Kinney

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We arrived in Dubai after a 16 hour flight.

Sunrise view from the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel.

Breakfast at Sufra in the hotel.

Dean getting some morning juice.

Kenneth making his selection of breakfast pastries.

Visit to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary to see the flamingos.

Winston and Kathleen ready and dressed.

Taking a short camel ride and photos.

Susan posing with a hawk.

Group shot in Dubai's desert.

4x4 desert ride tour

Dubai cityscape with lots of construction going on.

Enjoying a cultural meal together at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

A flavorful spread of traditional food.

Took a short boat ride across the Dubai Creek to shop for trinkets, spices, and, of course, Dubai chocolates.

Shopping area

View from Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

Art installation at the Burj Khalifa Building.

Dubai chocolates!

More of the Dubai cityscape.

Museum of the Future, Dubai

While shopping we found a Daiso!

We flew from Dubai to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Our first stop was Constitution Hill to learn about Nelson Mandela’s incarceration, along with other famous freedom fighters.

Local Johannesburg market

In the afternoon we visited the Apartheid Museum commemorating the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa.

Apartheid Museum

We arrived at Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa.

What a treat, on our first day here we were able to see the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos!

Lion

White Rhino

Leopard

African Buffalo

Giraffe

Vervet Monkey

Bateleur Eagle

Blue Wildebeest

Nyala

The weather report at Kruger Gate Hotel.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

The potholes are formed by water erosion.

God's Window views at Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

African sunsets

Back at the hotel.

Heading back into the wild on another full day safari game drive in Kruger National Park.

Safari in an open-air-vehicle.

Nile Crocodile

Water buffalo

Spotted Hyena and pup.

Kudu

Eagle Owl

Visiting the resort town of Knysna, in the heart of the Garden Route.

Located on the coast, Knysna is your gateway to the natural beauty of South Africa.

The House of Aloes

We said goodbye to Knysna and headed to Stellenbosch and started with some wine tasting.

Wine tasting at The Wine Glass.

Taking a tour of the Kleine Zalze Vineyard and Winery.

Sampling the delicious wine.

Kleine Zalze Vineyard

We visited the nearby town of Franschhoek.

We took a thrilling ride on a cable car that whisks you to an altitude of more than 3,000 feet, landing atop Table Mountain.

The top of Table Mountain

Top top provides amazing view of Cape Town and other famous landmarks.

A dassie, or rock hyrax, sitting cliffside.

Cape Town, South Africa

Dinner in Cape Town

Beluga Restaurant in Cape Town.

Crayfish platter at Beluga Restaurant in Cape Town.

Robben Island, an UNESCO Heritage Site.

Robben Island gives an unforgettable glimpse into South Africa’s past and the enduring spirit of those who fought for freedom.

The Cape of Good Hope

African penguins at the Cape of Good Hope.

Ostriches are pretty common to see here too.

Exploring the South African coastline by bus via Chapman's Peak Drive.

Chapman's Peak Drive is known as one of the most scenic drives in the world!

Dinner at Gold Restaurant

Saying goodbye to Cape Town.

Aerial view of Cape Town.

Our final destination, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

African Openbill Stork

Checking into the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

Enjoying a leisurely night cruise on the Zambezi River.

Elephants along the Zambezi River.

Taking in the majestic sunset on the Zambezi River.

Mingling with residents of a nearby village.

Tour manager Cora with one of our hosts.

We visited a animal sanctuary for rescued animals. Many of these animals will be released back into the wild.

Having lunch with a local resident from Zimbabwe.

Talking story and sharing cultures with each other.

Traditional food prepared by our host.

What everyone was waiting for, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

The entrance at the falls.

The waterfall is one of the world’s largest and most awe-inspiring, known locally as "The Smoke That Thunders."

It sits right on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, where powerful cascades plunge into the Zambezi Gorge, creating mist visible for miles and a thunderous roar that echoes through the surrounding rainforest.

Nightfall in Zimbabwe

Afican elephants active at night.

Dinner back at the lodge.

It's our last full day on tour and it's a free day. Many opted to visit Chobe National Park on another safari.

Nile Crocodile

African Fish Eagle

Antelopes

Lions with their prey!

Sooty Tern

Vultures

Another option was to see Victoria Falls by helicopter.

We left Zimbabwe for Dubai on an 8 1/2 hour flight then a 16 1/2 hour flight to LA then 6 hours home sweet home in Honolulu!

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2025 Spectacular South Africa Tour Photo Gallery

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