2025 – SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town & Kruger National Park Area
August 25 – September 5, 2025

a colony of penguins in the beach

Experience wildlife and wild places abroad with the NEW Zoological Society’s Conservation Travel Program! The NEW Zoological Society, in partnership with the NEW Zoo and Sunset Family Travel, is hosting an adventure to South Africa and inviting you along on this amazing trip of a lifetime!

ITINERARY

Day 0 – 26 AUG (TUE) – DEPART GREEN BAY, WI
The group will either depart Green Bay via a flight from Austin Straubel Airport or take a luxury motorcoach from Green Bay to Chicago and depart from O’Hare International Airport. Once group airfare can be purchased, this will be confirmed.

Day 1 – 27 AUG (WED) – ARRIVE CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

  • Welcome to Cape Town, lovingly referred to by the locals as the “Mother City.”
  • Meet our Globus Tour Director at the Airport
  • Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 2 – 28 AUG (THU) – CAPE TOWN

  • Start the day with a visit to Table Mountain (weather permitting). Guests will take the cable car up the mountain to enjoy spectacular views.
  • Take a scenic drive along stunning Chapman’s Peak Drive en route to Cape Point Nature
    Reserve. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope before arriving at Cape Point. Ride a funicular to the
    steps of the old lighthouse with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
  • Dinner at a local restaurant.
 Cape Point Nature Reserve

Day 3 – 29 AUG (FRI) – CAPE TOWN

  • A morning visit to the SANCCOB facility. The primary objective of SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is to conserve seabirds, with the African penguin being the flagship species of focus.
  • After lunch at SANCCOB, enjoy an extended visit to Boulder’s Beach along with SANCCOB representatives to meet African penguins in their natural habitat.
  • Later this afternoon enjoy an interactive cooking experience and dinner in the Bo Kaap Neighborhood of Cape Town.
group of penguins close-up

Day 4 – 30 AUG (SAT) – CAPE TOWN – EXCURSION TO THE WINELANDS OR WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK

  • Wineland Tour: With a rich tradition dating back to the mid-17th century, South Africa is known
    worldwide for the production of remarkable wines. Join an expert Local Guide on this relaxing
    private excursion that visits several vineyards and includes three wine tastings in the beautiful
    countryside of Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. From Malbecs and Merlots to
    Chardonnays, Rieslings, and everything in between, you’ll discover just what makes South African
    wines so special. You’ll also learn about Pinotage grapes—the country’s signature variety that
    was created in 1925 by a university professor. Breathtaking scenery, quaint Cape Dutch
    architecture, delectable wines, and your very own private guide.
  • West Coast National Park: Join a Naturalist for a tour of West Coast National Park during its famous wildflower season. Against the backdrop of the azure blue lagoon, white dunes, rare fynbos, green wetlands, and unbounded waves, there is much to experience. West Coast National Park hosts a total of over 250 bird species annually, over a quarter of South Africa’s total. Visit one of the bird hides and spend some time enjoying the quiet. Unwind on the shore of the Langebaan Lagoon at Kraalbaai and explore the many rock pools along the seashore at Tsaarsbank.

Day 5 –31 AUG (SUN) – CAPE TOWN – WHALE WATCHING EXCURSION

  • Whale Watching Tour: We will visit one of the world’s whale-watching meccas. This exciting excursion takes us to Hermanus, the breeding ground for the rare southern right whale. We’ll search for and have the chance to observe these gentle giants. Learn about their unique and playful “sailing”—where they raise their fluke out of the water and catch the wind with it to remain stationary, and see if you can catch them breaching, lob tailing, and spy-hopping. While nature is never guaranteed, there is an excellent chance of seeing whales in September/October.
Cape Town - Whale Watching Excursion

Day 6 – 01 SEP (MON) – CAPE TOWN –HOEDSPRUIT–MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)

  • Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to Makalali Private Game Reserve, the home to an abundance of wildlife including the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Climb aboard your custom safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive with a skilled tracker and professional Ranger. Sip sundowner drinks before returning to your lodge for dinner.
Makalali Private Game Reserve bedroom
Makalali Private Game Reserve outdoor fire

Day 7 – 02 SEP (TUE) – MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)

  • Rise early for coffee and tea before our morning game drive. Keep an eye out for big cats after their night of hunting. Guests will spend a day with an EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust) Expert, including an orientation talk about an endangered animal (wild dog, cheetah, or lion) and guests will then have the opportunity to go out into the field with the expert to do some “field work”.
  • Other animals we may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more.
  • Return for breakfast mid-morning, followed by time to relax at our lodge.
  • Afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks.
two lions resting

Day 8 – 03 SEP (WED) – MAKALALI (GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA)

  • Sharpen our game-spotting skills on morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for African buffalo, reintroduced to the area after an absence of more than 50 years, reuniting the “Big Five” to roam freely in the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve. Guests will again enjoy the company of an Endangered Wildlife Trust expert on their drives to enrich their experience.
African buffalo standing

Day 9 – 04 SEP (THU) – HOEDSPRUIT – IVA – JOHANNESBURG

  • Enjoy a final game drive this morning before boarding our flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg.
  • Visit the Rosebank Art and Craft Market before we transfer to the airport for our evening departure back to the US.

Day 10 – 05 SEP (FRI) – GREEN BAY, WI

  • After an overnight flight and motorcoach transportation we will arrive back in Green Bay.

PRICE
The price of this trip is $7759 per person. This price includes all accommodations; round-trip Europe Economy airfare on Delta/KLM from Chicago O’Hare (see below) with 1 checked bag,1 carry-on,1 personal item, and economy assigned seats; deluxe motorcoach transportation to/from Green Bay/Chicago; admission fees; all meals (except in airports) with 1 beer, wine, or soda per person; trip insurance; and more!

Space is limited to 32 total passengers. Single rooms are sold out.

To reserve your space, a $1500 deposit (per person) is required at the time of booking and paid to our travel partner Sunset Family Travel. Personal checks are accepted and preferred. A 3.5% credit card fee will be charged. Final payments are due April 18, 2025.

For questions or more trip details, please email Kristine at newzoosociety@gmail.com
To confirm your reservation, please email shelley@sunsetfamilytravel.com