This year, golfers looking for the tee-time of a lifetime or travelers that want to add an interesting element to their wildlife safari can golf their way through South Africa with Great Safaris. The award-winning African travel outfitter has teamed up with pro player and instructor Jerry Martin to design two unique golf safaris. In addition to the unforgettable experience of a wildlife safari, travelers will tee off at several of South Africa’s most prestigious golf clubs: Royal Cape, Leopard Creek and Steenberg Golf Clubs near Cape Town, Kruger Park and Elephant Hills at Victoria Falls.
On Great Safaris’ 12-day Great Southern Safari , Luxe & Premier levels, travelers live in the lap of luxury in the cosmopolitan Cape Town. With the scenic Table Mountain range in the background, golfers of all handicap levels play 18-holes at the Royal Cape Golf Club.
Next up is wildlife safari at Kruger National Park and golf at the exclusive Leopard Creek Country Club, rated South Africa’s No. 1 Course by Golf Digest. This truly unique Garry Player designed course shares both a border and resident big game populations with South Africa’s spectacular Kruger National Park. Sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo and wild boar are commonplace, either on the course itself or in or next to the river running alongside several holes. Great Safaris CEO Dave Herbert is a founding member of Leopard Creek offering an exclusive and once-in-a-lifetime golf safari experience.
On the last leg of the Great Southern Safari, travelers will fly north to Victoria Falls where they can enjoy a multi-hued sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River and explore the impressive Falls on a guided walking tour through the rainforest, and mount a gentle giant for an exciting elephant back safari. Golfers will hit the green on another Garry Player course, Elephant Hills. Playing golf at the Elephant Hills is like a walk in the park where wildlife is often seen enjoying the well maintained grasses and the vegetation.
Adventurers can embark on the 10-day Cape & Luxury Safari where they’ll spend their days touring the beautiful sights of Cape Town and playing at the Royal Cape Golf Club and Steenberg Country Club. Steenberg has been voted as the Top Foreign Golf Resort of 2012 by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. The Steenberg golf course is also rated as one of the top three courses to visit in South Africa. Guests are accommodated in luxurious hotels where they can get some quality rest and relaxation before heading to the Sambona Wildlife Reserve. Just three hours outside of Cape Town, Sambona offers guests beautifully appointed, luxury bush tents and boasts the only free roaming white lions in the world, a vast variety of endemic bird and animal life and highly competent field guides to lead travelers through their safari experience.
Great Safaris offers a number of itineraries throughout South Africa highlighting all of the wonderful aspects of this country – most of which include opportunities to golf at some of the most beautiful courses in the world. Travelers can practice their swing at golf clubs in some of South Africa’s coastal towns, which are home to exquisite whale watching and shark diving. Great Safaris guests will also find unique opportunities to golf on the elegant courses of the wineland and Franschhoek – the culinary capital of South Africa. Travelers interested in these experiences can inquire about custom itineraries.
Departing weekly throughout 2013, the Great Southern Safari’s land costs are $6,995 per person and the Cape & Luxury golf safari’s land costs are $3,395 per person based on double occupancy. These special golf itineraries are valid through Dec. 5. Great Safaris also can organize international and domestic airfare for travelers.
Great Safaris, www.greatsafaris.com