Great Africa Tour: 4 Countries, 12 Days from Istanbul

We meet at the International Departures Terminal of Istanbul Airport at 22:00. After midnight, Turkish Airlines flight TK 044 departs at 01:50 for Cape Town, the jewel of South Africa. The flight takes about 11 hours. We land in Cape Town at 11:45 and transfer to the city centre by private vehicle to check into the hotel. After a short rest, a panoramic city tour takes in the Parliament Building, the heart of South African politics, the 17th-century Company Gardens, and the Castle of Good Hope from the Dutch colonial period. Adderley Street and the colourful houses of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood are among the most photogenic stops. The day closes with a walk around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Marina. Flight details: TK 044, Istanbul (IST) to Cape Town (CPT), 01:50 to 11:45. Accommodation: Capetonian Hotel or similar.

After breakfast we drive through Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Clifton, some of Cape Town's most sought-after coastal neighbourhoods. Our first stop is Hout Bay, a fishing village ringed by mountains. We then follow Chapman's Peak Drive, considered one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world. At Cape Point we see the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, and a funicular takes us up to the Cape Point Lighthouse for a view over the whole area. On the way back we visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and close the day passing through the historic town of Simon's Town. Activity: Chapman's Peak Drive, the funicular to Cape Point, and the penguin colony. Accommodation: Capetonian Hotel or similar.

Today we ride the cable car up Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of Cape Town, climbing to 1,087 metres for a panoramic view over the city and the ocean. We then head to Stellenbosch, South Africa's best known wine valley. At Spier Wine Farm, one of the region's oldest producers, we walk among the vines and learn how the wine is made. Free time follows in the streets of Stellenbosch, lined with Cape Dutch architecture, art galleries and boutique shops. Activity: The Table Mountain cable car and a tour of the Stellenbosch valley. Accommodation: Capetonian Hotel or similar.

Early in the morning we take a domestic flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. On arrival we drive straight to Pilanesberg National Park. A 4x4 safari takes us into the African wilderness, with the chance to see the Big Five, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros, alongside giraffes, zebras and impalas in their natural habitat. After the safari we settle in for dinner and an overnight stay inside the park. Flight details: CPT to JNB, domestic flight. Activity: A 4x4 safari in Pilanesberg National Park. Accommodation: Kingdom Resort Hotel, 4-star or similar.

The day begins in Sun City, where entertainment and wilderness meet. The resort, often called South Africa's answer to Las Vegas, features themed pools, exotic gardens and a world-class casino. In the afternoon we head to Johannesburg, arriving in the evening to check into our hotel. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Woodmead or similar.

Today is spent at Lesedi Cultural Village, exploring South Africa's ethnic diversity through the traditional lifestyles, architecture and daily customs of the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele peoples. After visiting the tribal homesteads and hearing their stories, we watch dance performances in traditional dress, set to African rhythms. Guests who want to can join the dancing. Activity: An introduction to five tribes and a traditional African dance performance. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Woodmead or similar.

Early in the morning we transfer to Johannesburg Airport and fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. On arrival we explore the falls from the Zimbabwean side. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke That Thunders," the falls stretch 1.7 kilometres wide and drop 128 metres. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the falls surround us in mist and rainbows. Flight details: South African Airways, Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls (VFA), 11:45 to 13:30. Accommodation: Rainbow Hotel or similar.

Today we cross into Botswana, another of Africa's treasures. After the border crossing and passport formalities we enter Chobe National Park, known as the elephant capital of Africa. A morning 4x4 land safari brings us close to herds of elephants, zebras and the predators of the savanna. After lunch on the banks of the Chobe River, a boat safari lets us watch wildlife from the water, including hippos, crocodiles and animals coming down to drink. We return to Zimbabwe in the evening. Activity: The Botswana border crossing, a 4x4 land safari and a Chobe River boat safari. Accommodation: Rainbow Hotel or similar.

The day continues with a crossing from Zimbabwe into Zambia, arriving in Livingstone. Here we view Victoria Falls from the Zambian side, taking in a different perspective on the falls. This route sits closer to where the water drops, and we observe the ecosystem and vegetation the falls have created. Accommodation: Chrismar Hotel or similar.

In the afternoon we transfer to Victoria Falls Airport and fly back to Johannesburg. On arrival we take a panoramic city tour through South Africa's political history. Mandela House in Soweto, where Nelson Mandela once lived, the Museum of Africa with its record of the apartheid era, Constitution Hill and the historic Carlton Centre are the main stops of the day. Flight details: South African Airways, Victoria Falls (VFA) to Johannesburg (JNB), 14:20 to 16:05. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Woodmead or similar.

On our last day in Africa we transfer to the airport at a time set by our guide. The scheduled Turkish Airlines flight departs for Istanbul at 19:05, and we spend the final night of the trip on board. Flight details: TK 039, Johannesburg (JNB) to Istanbul (IST), 19:05 to 06:20 the following day.

We land at Istanbul Airport at 06:20 and the 12-day Africa tour comes to an end. From the colourful streets of Cape Town to the river safari at Chobe, and from the two faces of Victoria Falls to Livingstone, the route closes here.