Chris Havrilla invites you to join her next August in South Africa for a journey that she has personally designed and curated with Nanda Journeys. Chris's love of cuisine, culture and cocktails is the inspo behind the program. You'll be immersed in South African culture with cooking and cocktail making; community dining experiences (one in Nelson Mandela's former mansion!) winery visits; safaris and so much more! This 13-day journey takes you to Johannesburg, SOWETO, Pilanesberg, Franschhoek and Cape Town. Space is limited so securing your spot earlier is highly recommended. 

Cuisine & Cocktails

 - Mix up some cocktails at Sin & Tax – the only bar on the Continent to make it on the Worlds 50 Best Bars top 100. 

- Enjoy supper with Christo Brand, a former guard turned friend of Nelson Mandela’s. 

- Enjoy a cellar tour & wine tasting at a wine estate in the Cape Winelands. 

- Take part in a Food Jam, a social and cultural experience where you’ll cook, drink and have fun. 

- Savor a glass of famous Vin de Constance at historic Klein Constantia wine estate.

- Explore the many cultures of South Africa with a cooking class and lunch in Bo-Kaap, a Cape Malay community, and Afro-Asian neighborhood food tour. 

- Explore the vibrant social and food scene at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market.

- Lunch and Jazz music at Nelson Mandela’s former presidential mansion.

Culture and Conservation

- Explore The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to uncover the origins of humanity.

- Explore Pilanesberg Game Reserve, known for Big 5 game viewing in a malaria free environment and just a short 2-hour drive from Johannesburg. Safari at sunrise and sunset from your luxury lodge.

- Embark on an exploration of the darkest years in South African history at the Apartheid Museum as well as a Tuk Tuk ride through the massive South Western Townships (SOWETO) of Johannesburg.

- Explore Table Mountain via the aerial cableway (weather dependent)

- Take in the quaint and quirky coastal village of Kalk Bay, the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope National Park during a day trip.

- Visit Robben Island for a tour and discussions about its history. 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

- An opportunity to dine at South Africa's only Michelin star chef's restaurant, JAN Franschhoek and also at one of La Liste 2024's "Top Restaurants"

- Hot Air Balloon ride at Pilanesberg National Park - observe the animals in the natural habitat from above - a once in a lifetime experience. 

"It's all about customer service. Tapping the knowledge, expertise and communication capability of a Nanda Journeys means our group gets expert advice, customized to our interests, knows what to expect each step of the way, gets answers and help on all those impossible exceptions that crop up, and returns from the adventure having an experience that lasts a lifetime…and craving even more.”  G. Crispin - Business Owner

Read more about what people are saying about Nanda Journeys HERE

Chris Havrilla is an avid traveler with a passion for exploring diverse flavors (food, coffees, teas, and spirits), cultures, and unique destinations. Her adventures have spanned all continents, where she seeks out both well-known landmarks and hidden gems. From hiking in the remote mountains of Patagonia to savoring street food in the bustling markets of Southeast Asia, Chrissy is always in pursuit of authentic experiences.

Her travels are driven by curiosity and a desire to connect with local communities, often immersing herself in local traditions and off-the-beaten-path activities. Whether it’s a solo trip or a journey for work or with family and friends, Chrissy embraces the transformative power of travel, believing that each trip offers a new perspective on the world.

Her travel stories are filled with amazing food, drink, conversations, vibrant encounters, cultural discoveries, and the joy of adventure, making her a passionate advocate for travel as a means of personal and professional growth and learning.

Depart for South Africa today from your home airport. 

International air fare is not included to give you the maximum flexibility to book your own flight from yoru home airport using your prefered carrier and class of service. Nanda Journeys is happy to assist and provide you quotes as soon as the group reaches its minimum traveler target of 12 people. 

With a dynamic fusion of African, European, and Asian influences, South Africa is a place of vibrant cultural diversity. Years after its emergence from apartheid, the nation has become a fascinating mix of history and modernity, of ancient traditions and new ideas.

Upon arrival at Johannesburg International airport, you will meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in. 

The Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank stands out for it's beautifully appointed rooms in shades of flamingo or navy with their brilliant illumination and comfy beds. Floor-to-ceiling windows, high-speed Wi-Fi and a large-screen smart TV complete

the upscale offer. The hotel creates a sanctuary in the trendy walk-work-play district of Rosebank. Playful, charming, spacious and unstuffy, this hotel elevates sophistication and artistry, with an enviable collection of original local artwork and

thoughtful touches, like valet parking, Antipodes bathroom amenities and in-room dining 24/7. Proud Mary Modern Eatery and Wine bar offers innovative dishes with a bespoke wine list and is definitely the place to be seen with one of their

signature cocktails at hand . The hotel is also only a 2 minutes’ walk from the Gautrain linking you to Sandton, Pretoria, the city, and the airport. Shopping opportunities abound with three prime shopping centers located right next to the hotel with signature shops, entertainment, movies and much more.

The building, known as "The Bank", was constructed in the 1930s as was designed to serve as a branch of the Bank of Africa. The architecture reflects the style of the era, with elegant Art Deco influences. In the 1980s, the building underwent

significant renovations and changes, but its historical charm remains intact. Over time, it evolved from a financial institution to a commercial and retail space. In recent years, it was transformed into a hotel. This modern adaptation has preserved

the building’s historic character while integrating contemporary amenities, making it a notable landmark in Rosebank.

Enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktail class this evening. Sin+Tax offers a world-class cocktail experience without the pretension: an inclusive, exclusive cocktail encounter in the City of Gold. Never compromising on quality, they up the ante for South Africa’s cocktail scene by pushing the boundaries of innovation and imagination. Sin+Tax is the only bar on the African continent to make it into the World’s 50 Best Bars’ top 100 in 2019.

Overnight: Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank (or similar)

Included meals: Dinner 

 After breakfast (provided daily), take part in an orientation and welcome briefing on South Africa  Through a candid, illustrated presentation and informal question & answer session, travelers will be given an introduction to the socio-political-economic context of present day South Africa as shaped by its past and current geo-politics. This provides context to the problems South Africa faced during the transition to democracy and the resultant issues we grapple with today. The purpose is to ground delegates within their surroundings to help them assimilate within their environment for maximum learning while in the country and from their engagements that follow. It is a dynamic and candid session delivered by Keira or Kenny, who are both steeped in all-issues-Mzansi (South Africa). 

Immediately following, head out on an Afro-political food walking tour. Fordsburg is a neighborhood with a colorful history, spicy streets, enticing flavors, and bargains galore. Once part of the farm on which gold was first discovered, for years attempts were made to regulate the area into a whites-only district, but this was prevented by a strong spirit of activism. Today this predominantly Indian and Pakistani neighborhood also has the most incredible range of food to taste. This is a tour for eaters, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample myriad dishes and street snacks – from masala dosa to sweetmeats, fresh succulent fruits and sugarcane juice to whole coconuts lopped by a machete-wielder so you get to drink the juice. Then there’s paan snacks, fresh naan bread, Pakistani kulfi ice cream, Syrian laffa topped with Nutella, and the best samosas in the city.

A formal lunch is by individual arrangement today (if you are still hungry!).

Explore the massive South Western Township (Soweto) of Johannesburg, the biggest city in South Africa and heart of the Freedom Struggle via Tuk Tuk. As you navigate through the township neighborhoods you will observe the contrasts: cramped shanty towns vs. spacious

luxury suburbs; shacks vs. mansions; lush gardens vs. littered streets; glam malls vs. street traders; multi-level highways vs. pitted dirt streets. This is Soweto – a place of friendship, vibrancy, and contrasts.

Enjoy dinner at Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers, a funky oasis and warm heart of the community. End with a fireside chat – an opportunity to meet locals and learn about the very diverse culture, language, and people of South Africa.

Overnight: Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Food Tour & Dinner

Start the day embarking on an exploration of the darkest years in South African history at the Apartheid Museum. Likened to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., this haunting museum takes you into the beating heart of the struggle for freedom from apartheid, the grip of the National Party’s regime during apartheid, and the giddy days of liberation.

Enjoy lunch and Jazz in the home where Nelson Mandela lived for a time during his presidential term. Now called Sanctuary Mandela, it hosts Jazz Sundays over lunch time in its restaurant, Insights, which offers guests a place to enjoy and share delicious meals with friends and family, just like Madiba loved to. Mandela loved to dance, often seen doing his signature "Madiba Jive", so hosting jazz in his former home honors his love of music and how it brings people together.

This evening you will have a Pan-Afrikan Plate Dinner Club Experience in the Heart and Soul of Yeoville, Johannesburg, with chef Sanza Sandile at his Yeoville Dinner Club.  Sanza, a former radio journalist,  is something of a local legend as much for his stories, warmth, wit and unique insights as for his cooking. Even global food celebrity Anthony Bourdain tracked him down for his local knowledge and cooking expertise. From Mozambican-style fried fish to Nigerian-inspired Jollof rice and Middle Eastern falafel and dips the table is a feast for the eyes and the stomach.

Overnight: Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Say goodbye to Johannesburg today. Travel north via private motor coach to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve (2 hours). Pilanesberg Game Reserve offers safari’s as Big 5 and most other large mammals of Southern Africa are represented in the reserve. Pilanesberg is a malaria free Big Five game park and is the only place in South Africa when you can do a Hot Air Balloon Ride (optional activity).

In route explore The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to uncover the origins of humanity. Unique for its blend of rich paleoanthropology, savannah biodiversity and panoramic landscapes, "The Cradle" is home to the three globally significant paleoanthropological sites that represent the most extensive concentration of early human fossils found anywhere in the world.

On this journey of discovery you will walk in the footsteps of your ancestors to our earliest human origins. The expert-guided tour operates by open safari vehicle through the pristine landscapes of the Greater Cradle Nature Reserve to two of the world’s most important fossil sites – Gladysvale Cave and Malapa.  They are home to Australopithicus sediba, a new hominin species discovered there in 2008. The sites you visit are all active dig sites which are still yielding hominin and animal fossils of international scientific importance. The Reserve itself is home to over 20 animal species, including leopard, brown hyena, sable antelope, eland, giraffe, blesbok and kudu.  

Lunch is on your own this afternoon. 

Later check in at Ivory Tree Game Lodge. Ivory Tree Game Lodge is a luxury 5-star safari retreat located in the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. It offers a

balanced combination of upscale accommodations and captivating wildlife experiences. The setting is designed to blend seamlessly with the natural environment, providing a serene and elegant escape. The lodge boasts a range of high-end amenities, including a spa, a well-equipped gym, dining options, a beautiful swimming pool and a boma area where guests can enjoy traditional African meals around a fire.

Dinner will be provided at the lodge this evening.

Overnight: Ivory Tree Game Lodge (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

As the animals prefer to feed during the cool temperatures of early morning, you will venture out early in an open game vehicle to witness exotic plant and animal life in the gentle light of the dawn. You may see lazy hippos and crocodiles along the riverbank, and your guide will help you be on the lookout for the Big Five—lion, Cape buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard, and elephant. Take in stunning South African beauty among the ever-present giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, and warthog.

Return for breakfast at the lodge and enjoy some time to relax and find respite from the afternoon heat. Relax on your deck, at the pool or in any of the lodge’s tranquil spaces.  Lunch is available at the lodge.

Head out later this afternoon for another late afternoon game-spotting adventure at sunset. 

Dinner will be provided this evening at the lodge.

Optional activity: South Africa's past success in rhino conservation now means that international high-tech poaching syndicates know where all the remaining wild Rhino’s are. South Africa’s hard yards are being rapidly undone before our eyes by the onslaught of rhino poaching. South African National Parks’ budgets have been stretched to the limits to combat poaching. By allowing our guests to join the dramatic rhino conservation interventions in a National Park, the Park ecologist can fund that operation’s costs. Guests effectively sponsor a rhino’s survival by biodata capture and notching for identification (&/or radio collar fitment/de-horning), and in return they get to actively take part in, and assist the wildlife vet and Park crew during, a “Rhino Immobilization”. Price depends on number of people participating.

Overnight: Ivory Tree Game Lodge Bush Lodge (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy one last morning game drive followed by brunch back at the lodge. 

Optional hot air balloon safari - An almost spiritual adventure that takes you soaring above the breathtaking landscapes of Pilanesberg National Park. Experience the thrill, tranquility and simplicity of floating in the sky and watching wildlife from the aerial perspective. Experienced guides ensure your safety and provide fascinating insights along the way, including about the geological features of the park. 

Check out late this morning and return via motor coach to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Fly to the southern city of Cape Town. Meet your local driver and head to Franschhoek.

Whether you are a wine-lover or not, the Cape Winelands is a wonderful area to visit with breath-taking vistas, majestic mountain backdrops, a rich history and culture. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads with award-wining wine farms lie at the heart of it, with the most popular and well-known towns being Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Franschhoek boasts some of South Africa’s ‘Top 100’ restaurants and has become known as the country’s Culinary Capital, providing visitors with a memorable dining experience. Leading chefs create everything from cutting-edge cuisine to stylish light meals, using only the freshest local produce paired with superb local wines. Franschhoek is also a member of The Délice Network of Good Food Cities of the World, this is an international network of likeminded cities engaged in promoting the benefits of culinary excellence and good food. Franschhoek

Check in at Protea Hotel Franschhoek. This charming 4-star hotel overlooks the mountains and vineyards of the historic village of Franschhoek, near art galleries and wine estates about 80 km east of Cape Town. Enjoy comfortable rooms, a quality restaurant and a sparkling swimming pool. This property has a rich history, with one section dating back to the 1880s. 

Dinner is by individual arrangement this evening. 

Overnight: Protea Hotel Franschhoek (or similar)

Included meals: Brunch

This morning visit Babylonstoren one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. In 2007, owner Karen Roos commissioned French architect Patrice Taravella to plan the layout of the garden, "he's remarkable in that he really understands the movement of people: how to make a garden hold you and calm you down," she says. The garden comprises 15 clusters spanning vegetable areas, stone and pome fruits, nuts, citrus, berries, bees, herbs, ducks and chickens, a prickly pear maze, and more. Their experienced gardeners will be your guide of the garden, encouraging guests to pick, taste, smell and touch while walking and learning. Every one of the more than 300 varieties of plants in the garden is edible or has medicinal value. The fruit and vegetables from the garden are harvested all year round for use in two farm-to-fork restaurants.

Enjoy lunch in the Greenhouse at the rear of the garden.

By now it's time to get down to Franschhoek business - WINE! Enjoy a cellar tour and wine tasting at a select wine estate.

Dinner is by individual arrangement (own expense). May we recommend you dine at La Petite Colombe. Making La Liste 2024's Top Restaurants list, La Petite Colombe is an elegant and contemporary dining destination offering a refined and intimate dining experience. It boasts a sophisticated, modern interior featuring clean lines, chic décor and expansive windows. But the food is what it's all about and in the culinary capital of South Africa, it stands out at the top.

While this dinner is optional, a reservation will be secured for the group well in advance due to high demand and resultant scarcity. Final participation numbers will be confirmed closer to the time and the bill will be for own account.

Overnight: Protea Hotel Franschhoek (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Explore the town, the valley, the wineries and the food at your leisure! Your guide will be able to provide some options for you from the social/cultural side, or suggest additional wineries you may want to visit – there are so many! The main street is known for its cafes, galleries, and boutiques. 

There are also activities - hiking, mountain biking, horse riding. You can even go Hot Air Ballooning! But there's also the option of down time - Franschhoek is all about rural relaxation and taking in the gentle and genteel side of life.

Lunch and dinner are on your own today.

May we recommend you check out Michelin star JAN Franschhoek Restaurant. Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s journey to becoming one of the first South African chefs to obtain a Michelin star has captured the imaginations of foodies around the world. Jan says, "We are committed to leaving the world more mindful, more inspired and more sustainable than how we found it. We will do this by sharing content that honors our heritage, innovates and celebrates the beauty in everyday life". 

A reservation will be held for the group just in case as it is in high demand! 

Overnight: Protea Hotel Franschhoek (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check out and head toward Cape Town.  Stop at the Sustainability Institute for the indigenous garden walk and insights on edible plants. Meet and learn from Loubie Rusch, an indigenous plant expert who founded Local WILD. 

Late this morning you will spend time in Bo-Kaap at a cooking class. The Cape Malay cuisine is the oldest of the Cape, evolved by the Malay slaves who worked in the kitchens of their Dutch masters.  The historic area, that became home to many Muslims and freed slaves after the abolition of slavery, showcases local Islamic culture, heritage and community in the heart of the city.

It is a bright and colourful area, one of the most photographed places in Cape Town but its character is endangered by on-going gentrification of the area.  When the textile industry of Cape Town collapsed with the rise of Chinese imports, a major employment sector for Bo-Kaap artisans closed.  Their resourcefulness led to many home-industries emerging and the introduction of locally-led tourism in the area, including doing cooking classes from their homes.

The Cape Malay cuisine is the oldest cuisine of the Cape, having been evolved by the Malay slaves who worked in the kitchens of their Dutch masters. They could not resist adding some spice to the bland Dutch cuisine! Participate in the making of a few items towards your lunch menu and learn more about this local culture.They could not resist adding some spice to the bland Dutch cuisine. Participate in the making of a few items toward your lunch menu and learn more about their local culture.

After lunch, head to Table Mountain. If weather permits, you will have the opportunity to ascend Table Mountain via a revolving aerial cable car this afternoon. This iconic symbol of Cape Town is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature   offering stunning views of the entire Cape Peninsula, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Cape Town, and the harbor.

Later, check in at the Southern Sun The Cullinan hotel. Located in one of Cape Town’s most sought after areas, within easy reach of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The hotel has a outdoor heated pool, fitness center, conference facilities, onsite dining and a bar. Guest rooms have all the amenities you will need including AC, minifridge, free Wi-Fi, bathroom amenities, safe and more.

Dinner is on your own this evening. 

Overnight: Southern Sun The Cullinan (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

From purely a farm market to the current vibrant social and food scene that it is, Oranjezicht City Farm Market 'OZFM' is a cheerleader for community farming and artisanal culture in Cape Town. Organic and regenerative produce as well as locally sourced fresh produce is at the heart of the market, but the lifestyle and deli and food stalls add energy and character. There is a wonderful mix of food stalls selling cooked and raw dishes for all palates and preferences – from carnivores and chocoholics to vegans and diabetics. Take a tour of global flavors, from Africa and Europe to the East and West and try something new at this “glorious multicultural cookout” while you hang out with locals in Cape Town's cosmopolitan meeting place.

Pending his availability on a Sunday, we hope you'll meet Tapiwa Guzha, a Zimbabwean molecular biologist with a passion and commitment to "decolonializing" flavor and food to bring back authentic African flavors to.....ICE CREAM!!   

He considers himself a cultural rehabilitator, assisting with a restoration of beliefs and identities.  He's an inspirational and candid speaker/host on the topic of indigenous food, plants, cooking, traditions and flavours, using his eatery as "an educational initiative that is focused on sharing food and food culture from the African continent. A unique way to share African folklore, rituals and cultural practices through frozen morsels and crunchy cones. A way to celebrate our diversity and embrace our differences while also realising we're far more similar than we are different....Food is often a source of othering and has been used as a way to corrupt a people's sense of identity and self worth. Our paramount mission is to heal and nurture the collective self esteem of the continent through food and the rituals around food. Deliberately. One person, one representative scoop at a time."

He's the founder of Tapi Tapi - An African Indulgence: "In part, Tapi Tapi is focused on rehabilitating the self-esteem of people from the continent about our food practices, as well as our culture and beliefs. I use food because it’s universal, people need to eat. So it’s a nice tool to to get people to listen", he says.

Enjoy lunch at Tintswalo Chef’s Warehouse. Cameron Smith and the kitchen brigade are cooking food that reflects the fresh diverse natural products of the Cape, with great care in sourcing ingredients, from local growers of unusual and heirloom herbs and vegetables to ethical fishmongers with sustainably caught fish fresh out of the water, to coastal plants with unique flavors foraged on the property. Enjoy a 5-course small plate menu, with an ocean view beyond compare, you are sure not to want to leave!

Supper will include special guest, Christo Brand. Mandela doesn't get closer than this! In 1978 when he was 19 years old, Cristo worked at Robben Island. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship and in 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. On his release, Mandela created a job for Christo in the Constitutional Assembly. Christo shares many personal anecdotes and insights directly into Mandela's prison and presidential years that you can't possibly learn of from anyone else.

Overnight: Southern Sun The Cullinan (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Spend the day exploring the countryside via a motor coach tour of the Cape Peninsula all the way to the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point) in Table Mountain National Park. Extraordinary care has been taken to protect this lush reserve of indigenous flora and fauna, and the striking natural beauty of the area makes it a destination for both foreign and local visitors.

Stop to see the rare African penguins in their natural surroundings at Boulders Beach. There are few places in the world where you can get this close to a breeding colony of penguins, and you’ll get a firsthand look at these flightless birds as they roam freely around the area.

Lunch will be provided today.

Make a stop at the end of the afternoon at the historic Klein Constantia wine estate and savor their famous Vin de Constance.

Say goodbye as you reflect and share memories over a Food Jam experience. A Food Jam is a social, festive combined cooking effort with plenty of time & space to cook, drink & have fun. It is a 4-course menu cooked by guests in teams - you whip up a feast that you enjoy together afterwards at the Long Table. Each team receives a recipe & the ingredients and is invited to follow it or freestyle. Your host chefs guide and give cheerful assistance, and generally create an amazing vibe!  The venue is spacious, funky, attractive and user-friendly, and the food is all locally derived.  

Overnight: Southern Sun The Cullinan (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 - Tuesday September 1

This morning you will visit Robben Island (weather permitting), once described by Nelson Mandela as “the harshest, most iron-fisted outpost in the South African penal system,” has become an international symbol of the triumph of the human spirit. Today Robben Island is a living museum and World Heritage Site, a tangible reminder of the past and a symbol of hope for the future.

Lunch is on your own this afternoon with meal service provided on your international flight home. 

Fly back to the U.S. this evening with arrival the following morning. 

Included meals: Breakfast 

DAY 14 – Wednesday, September 2

Arrival in US

Arrive back in the US this morning to connect to your flight home.

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