Day Trips - Vulamehlo Safaris & Tours

Only some of the regular tours are described here. We will tailor-make any other to suit your requirements. We can combine any of these tours if you wish to overnight in the area.

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve/Wonder Caves/Sterkfontein Cave

In December 1999 the fossil hominid sites known as the "Cradle of Humankind" were declared a World Heritage Site. The Drimolen site is situated within the reserve which is also host to white rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo, cheetah, wild dog and more than twenty other species of game. On certain days of the week you can watch the wild dog, cheetah and lion feeds. The rare Cape Vulture can also be observed from the bird hide. We also visit the nearby Wonder caves with its millions of years old Stalactites and Stalagmites within the caves.
As with the Drimolen site, the Sterkfontein cave forms part of the hominid sites "Cradle of Humankind" and is most famous for the discovery in 1947 of a virtually complete cranium of an early apelike creature, lacking only teeth and the lower jaw. It was nicknamed "Mrs. Ples". In 1998 the first intact fossilized skeleton of an early ape-man was excavated and together with all the other fossil bones and bone fragments excavated, the site is regarded as one of the most famous in the world.

R640.00 pp
Includes lunch at a picnic spot within the Lion and Rhino reserve, soft drinks and mineral water.

Hartbeespoort Dam and Lesedi Cultural Village

The dam was built in 1923 on the Crocodile River. Today the area attracts thousands of tourists out to enjoy the various activities such as flea markets, snake and animal parks, art galleries, African arts and craft and boat cruises. We visit the Lesedi Cultural Village learning more about the traditional African cultures. The village depicts the traditional lifestyles of the Basotho, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu people. After watching a show and touring the four villages, we will move to the Nyama Choma Restaurant where we will feast on dishes from South, East and North Africa. The menu includes dishes like venison stew, crocodile meat and putu.

R640.00 pp
The Nyama Choma lunch, soft drinks and mineral water are included.

Gold Reef City

This developed into a huge gold-rush era theme park. You can wander through the museum town going back into the history of discovering gold and of the lives of the people who worked on the mines. Enjoy fun rides on the Big Wheel, Carousel and Noah's Ark as well as roller coaster rides, robotic shows, tribal dancing, can-can dancers, underground tours depicting mining techniques, a gold pouring display, museums, shops, restaurants and the casino complex.

R550.00 pp (with guided tour of theme park)
R450.00 pp (without guided tour of theme park)
Lunch at Gold Reef City, soft drinks and mineral water included.

Pretoria Highlights

The administrative capital of South Africa is about 50 km north of Johannesburg. The tour starts at the Voortrekker Monument, the most famous memorial of the Great Trek, which started when a number of Boers decided to move to the interior so as to escape British rule. Many battles were fought with the local inhabitants of the interior and the Voortrekker Monument was erected in remembrance thereof. We visit the Union Buildings designed by Sir Herbert Baker and built to commemorate unity between English and Afrikaans speaking whites after making peace at the end of the Second Anglo-Boer war. The presidential inauguration of Nelson Mandela in 1994 also took place at the Union Buildings. On our way to the National Zoological Gardens (known as the Pretoria Zoo) we will pass through the heart of Pretoria that tells it's own story. Lunch will be at the Zoological gardens after which we will explore the different trails on foot, buggy and cableway.

R550.00 pp
Lunch, soft drinks and mineral water included

Sun City, Lost City

In a valley in the Pilanesberg Mountains lies this man-made world of waterfalls, jungles, ruins, gardens and imitation earthquakes on the Bridge of Time. Visit the man-made sea at Valley of the Waves and enjoy the extensive sport and recreation facilities available. Visit the Palace of the Lost City Hotel where every piece of furniture is custom-made and enjoy high tea in the Crystal Court Lounge in the company of a pianist. Walk through the completely man-made gardens that is home to several eco-systems and were awarded Botanical Garden status. For the golf enthusiasts, the Gary Player or Lost City golf course is just the place to spend the day.

R898.00 pp
Lunch, soft drinks and mineral water included.

Pilanesberg National Park

Set in the North West Province in an eroded volcano that is more than a thousand million years old this natural eco-system is home to Africa's big five, large mammal, reptile and bird species as well as numerous other smaller animals. Spend the day exploring the range of habitat, vegetation and the diversity of animal and bird species. Enjoy a barbeque for lunch at one of the picnic spots and stop at hides overlooking water-holes and places of geological interest.

R675.00 pp
Lunch, soft drinks and mineral water included.

Sundays Only
Heia Safari Ranch-South African Barbeque and Mzumba Tribal Dancers

Arrive at Heia Safari Ranch and go on a game drive through the reserve before a barbeque lunch are served around the poolside, visited by the resident Zebras and Giraffes who wander around the hotel property.

After the barbeque you can you can see and hear the famous Mzumba Tribal Dancers perform the age-old tribal legends of mystical Africa, to the accompaniment of throbbing drums and chanting women.

Witness the sacred "Domba" (Python Dance), the Maiden Initiation of the Venda tribe. Relive the famous Zulu War Dance and also hear the unique "Click Song" presented in the traditional tribal dress of Africa's past.

R600.00 pp
Lunch, game drive, tribal dance show, soft drinks and mineral water included.

2-Day one night tour
Sterkfontein and Wonder caves and hot air balloon safari

Day 1

We pick you up after breakfast and depart for Sterkfontein cave after which we will visit the Wonder caves.

As with the Drimolen site, the Sterkfontein cave forms part of the hominid sites "Cradle of Humankind" and is most famous for the discovery in 1947 of a virtually complete cranium of an early apelike creature, lacking only teeth and the lower jaw. It was nicknamed "Mrs. Ples". In 1998 the first intact fossilized skeleton of an early ape-man was excavated and together with all the other fossil bones and bone fragments excavated, the site is regarded as one of the most famous in the world. Although not of the same palaeontological interest as Sterkfontein, the nearby Wonder caves with it's millions of years old Stalactites and Stalagmites provides spectacular viewings within the caves.

We drive to the Mount Grace Country House Hotel, situated high in the Magaliesburg Mountains. We spend the afternoon relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of the hotel, which also has a heated swimming pool.

Day 2

You will be woken up early to drive to the launch site from where the hot air balloon will take off. While having coffee, tea and rusks you can watch the balloon being assembled and inflated. After take-off you will experience the panorama of the Magalies River Valley and nearby Hartbeespoort Dam area. The flight takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes depending on the direction and speed of the wind.

A retrieve vehicle will follow to take you back to the launching site after touch down where you can sit and relax while having a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast we drive to Hartbeespoort Dam. We visit the Lesedi Cultural Village learning more about the traditional African cultures. The village depicts the traditional lifestyles of the Basotho, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu people. After watching a show and touring the four villages, we will have lunch in the Nyama Choma Restaurant within the village where we will feast on dishes from South, East and North Africa. The menu includes dishes like venison stew, crocodile meat and putu. After lunch we visit the many flea markets in the area before driving back.

R3960.00 pp
Included in the price: accommodation, lunch and dinner first day, balloon safari, breakfast and lunch on second day, soft drinks and mineral water.