11 to 25 April 2013  

Join me on a fascinating 2-week journey to South Africa. This is a culture and textile lovers dream tour, but… you don’t have to be a textile person to love it! It’s a tour for anyone wanting a personal introduction to South Africa. We’ll travel with sensitivity to local customs, and curiosity about this dynamic society. I will show you my South Africa, the land where I was born and grew up. I've planned a tour to places I consider to be highlights in a land renowned for its stunning beauty, diverse cultures, wildlife and rich decorative arts.

This tour is a collage of rich experiences. We'll visit cities, rural villages and townships, and feel the incomparable stillness of un-spoilt African bushveld. Our luxury bus will take us off the usual tourist track to visit a women’s embroidery collective, an AIDS Centre and see ancient crafts like Zulu basket weaving. We’ll visit vibrant markets, sophisticated city galleries, showcasing the best of innovative “township” arts and meet the people who make indigenous crafts through economic empowerment groups. We will enjoy thrilling wildlife viewing in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, the oldest wildlife reserve in Africa and at iSimangaliso, a stunning UNESCO world heritage reserve on the Indian Ocean. We’ll revel in the dramatic beauty of the Drakensberg Mountains in one of the richest areas for San-Bushman Rock paintings. An Ndebele village will delight us with its fabulously decorated houses and we’ll wander the cobbled streets of the old Malay quarter in Cape Town. We’ll feast on Zulu food, experience Zulu culture - topped off with a night in a comfy thatched beehive hut!

A visit to Nelson Mandela’s Soweto house starts off our tour and it ends with an unforgettable visit to Robben Island, where he was held as a political prisoner. We’ll sip wine in the famed Cape wine lands and stay nearby, in historic Stellenbosch. Textiles are my love and I’ve arranged an exclusive tour of a spectacular collection of contemporary South African art quilts, housed in a heritage Cape Dutch homestead.

Accommodations are carefully chosen to give you a broad experience of South Africa including 3 and 4 star hotels, thatched mountain lodges, a country house in the sugarcane fields, chalets in Africa's oldest wildlife preserve, a beautiful Cape Dutch hotel, the oldest in South Africa. And, of course, fabulous food will sustain us throughout.Throughout the tour we’ll be accompanied by a registered South African tour guide, and Odette Tolksdorf, noted South African quilt artist and tour operator.

ITINERARY

DAY 1            Thursday APRIL 11     JOHANNESBURG                          

Arrive O.R. Tambo Airport, Johannesburg. Hotel bus will take you to your hotel.   In the evening we enjoy a Welcome Dinner together and introduce ourselves. Balalaika Hotel, Johannesburg northern suburbs.

 

DAY 2   Friday APRIL 12     JOHANNESBURG               

In the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg is the Origins Centre where we’ll take a guided tour. This informative exhibition features prehistoric remains that have deepened our understanding of how humans have evolved. The collection of rock art shows the earliest images made by humans in South Africa. On display are eleven remarkable large panels combining fabric, beadwork, embroidery and fabric paint which tell the history of the San/Bushmen. Next we’ll visit Soweto and make a fascinating stop at Nelson Mandela's humble home, now called the Mandela Family Museum. Lunch is at a nearby restaurant frequented by both locals and tourists, offering typical "township" meals. Our afternoon is spent visiting leading galleries to see South African arts, textiles, township art and artifacts. Balalaika Hotel, Johannesburg northern suburbs.

 

DAY 3   Saturday APRIL 13     PRETORIA / WINTERVELD/ NDEBELE    

Today we’ll drive out of the city to experience two rural areas north of Johannesburg and Pretoria. In the Winterveldt we visit women from the remarkable Mapula Embroidery Group whose brightly coloured embroideries telling stories of their lives, are collected world-wide. We then travel to an Ndebele village to meet community members and see how iconic Ndebele designs are used to decorate their homes and other cultural items.Balalaika Hotel, Johannesburg northern suburbs.

 

DAY 4 Sunday APRIL 14 JOHANNESBURG/UKHAHLAMBA-DRAKENSBERG

Depart Johannesburg and spend the day traveling along scenic roads to uKhahlamba-Drakensburg Park. After a delicious lunch we continue to our luxury thatched chalets at a serene mountain retreat. Enjoy this magnificent setting including a special performance of inspiring local indigenous isicathamiya (a cappella) music performed by members of the local Zulu community. Didima, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg

 

DAY 5   Monday APRIL 15     UKHAHLAMBA-DRAKENSBERG          

Spend time on a guided walk in the unique natural beauty of the Drakensburg mountains, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy abundant plants and birds as well as some of the most glorious scenery in the world. View rock art paintings which illustrate the culture and spiritual beliefs of the San-Bushman people. This area is said to contain the richest source of San rock paintings in South Africa. Later, art curator Judy Jordaan and an embroiderer from the Isiphethu Sewing Group will join us for a talk and display of their wonderful story hangings. The afternoon is free to soak in the mountain air and serenity: relax, go hiking, book a spa treatment, enjoy photography, play golf or other activity of your choice. Didima, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg

 

DAY 6   Tuesday APRIL 16     UKHAHLAMBA-DRAKENSBERG/DURBAN            We’ll leave the mountains early and drive to the renowned Ardmore Ceramic studio to see the distinctive style that has intrigued collectors from all over the world - flamboyant painted ceramics depicting African fauna, flora and people. Meet the talented artists and learn about this great creative success story started by Fee Halsted-Berning.  to the next stop on our journey to the coast is the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, one of the major art museums in South Africa. We will also visit the inspiring Hillcrest AIDS Centre. Here we’ll learn about their multi-faceted projects and have an opportunity to buy fabulous Zulu beadwork before continuing to our hotel destination in tropical Durban.  The Benjamin Hotel, Durban

 

DAY 7   Wednesday APRIL 17     DURBAN         

Enjoy a walk along the Durban Beachfront, dip your toes in the thundering, warm Indian Ocean before our guided walking tourof the bustling markets on the edge of downtown. Here, hundreds of vendors sell myriad products including fabrics,clothing, beadwork, music, traditional arts and crafts, traditional food, African herbal medicines and fresh produce. These African city markets are amemorable interactive cultural experience. Next we head to the Phansi Museum. We’ll have a guided tour of this important and spectacular collection of Southern African crafts and artifacts, and rare traditional cultural costumes, all creatively exhibited in a restored Victorian mansion. We will round off the day at the African Art Centre for outstanding local arts and crafts such as baskets, beadwork, textiles, jewelry and woodcarvings. www.afriart.org.za/ Own dinner arrangements - there are many excellent restaurants to choose from close by. The Benjamin Hotel, Durban

 

DAY 8   Thursday APRIL 18                 DURBAN / ZULULAND: ESHOWE 

Depart Durban and travel along the Zululand coastline to Eshowe and the unique Vukani Basket Museum. This building was specifically designed for the outstanding collection of historical and contemporary Zulu baskets. After a wonderful lunch in a tranquil location we make our way to Shakaland. Named for the famous Zulu King Shaka, this hotel incorporated into a traditional "Umuzi" or homestead will submerge us in an exciting cultural environment. After a Zulu feast we’ll visit the Great Kraal to feel the pulsating rhythm of tribal dancing then fall asleep in cozy thatched Zulu beehive huts with all modern conveniences such as en-suite bathroom and comfortable beds!

Shakaland, Zululand

 

DAY 9   Friday APRIL 19      ZULULAND: HLUHLUWE GAME RESERVE

Today we travel into Hluhluwe, the oldest wildlife reserve in Africa, where Africa’s Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo) roam, along with other animals such as giraffe and zebra. Viewing hides overlook waterholes where wildlife can be observed at close range. Our chalets are situated at the award-winning Hilltop Camp, located on a forested hill with wide views of the awe-inspiring bushveld savannah. There will also be time to take leisurely walks around the camp, enjoy the wide variety of birds, trees and plants and soak in the incomprable stillness of pure African bushveld. In the evening we take a night wildlife drive to experience the thrill of an open safari vehicle and nocturnal animals. Hilltop at Hluhluwe Wildlife Reserve

 

DAY 10   Saturday APRIL 20      ZULULAND: ST. LUCIA  

 Take an early morning wildlife drive and afterwards enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Depart for Illala Weavers who have a large selection of wonderful Zulu baskets and beadwork for sale as well as other crafts.  The anceint heritage of basket weaving dates back 5,000 years and has been passed down through generations of Zulu women, who today produce stunning works of art sought after around the world. A very special opporutniy to add to your collection. Our next destination is Lake St.Lucia in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.Listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values. It’s situated along the Indian Ocean in a pristine sub-tropical environment with an amazing diversity of plant and animal species. We’ll go on a riverboat cruise and see crocodiles, hippos, abundant bird life and vegetated sand dunes. Canefields Country House, Empangeni

 

DAY 11   Sunday APRIL 21     DURBAN / STELLENBOSCH         

 An early departure takes us to King Shaka Airport in Durban for our 2 hour flight to Cape Town. We will then drive to the beautiful world-renowned Cape winelands and visit a fine wine estate for lunch and a wine tasting followed by a guided walk around the historic and cultured university town of Stellenbosch. This evening we stay at the oldest hotel in South Africa, founded in 1802 and known for it’s traditional South African cuisine. D’Ouwe Werf Hotel, Stellenbosch

 

DAY 12   Monday APRIL 22                 STELLENBOSCH / CAPE TOWN 

Our drive along the Cape Peninsula is one of the world's great scenic drives and includes a trip to the African penguin colony in Boulders. Today is also a textile bonanza day! From a store full of African print fabrics, wax prints and indigo shweshwe cottons, to unique hand-printed textiles from community projects, and recycled t-shirt yarn made into funky products from Mielie. Many of the products are handcrafted by women from disadvantaged communities who gain economic empowerment through their creativity. We will also take an exclusive tour of the contemporary South African art quilt collection at beautiful, historic Nova Constantia, a privately owned Cape Dutch home.  Breakwater Lodge, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

 

DAY 13   Tuesday APRIL 23                 CAPE TOWN  

We visit some successful township crafts projects sucha as Monkeybiz and meet the people who create delightful items combining traditional craft techniques with contemporary materials. Next, we walk around the atmospheric Bo-Kaap/ Cape Malay Quarter with its cobbled lanes and brightly coloured flat-roofed homes – a photographers delight. This historic area is closely associated with Cape Town’s Muslim community and we’ll enjoy an authentic Cape Malay meal and visit one or two of the excellent art and craft galleries nearby. Own dinner tonight – there are many fine restaurants to choose from close by.Breakwater Lodge, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

 

DAY 14   Wednesday APRIL 24                 CAPE TOWN  

 We will take a memorable boat ride to Robben Island where political prisoners were held during the apartheid ear. Absorb a part of Nelson Mandela’s moving history as the world's most famous former prisoner. Own lunch today and the afternoon is free to do as you please. Continue exploring the trendy V & A Waterfront or Greenmarket Square for African art, artifacts, textiles and contemporary South African art, music and township art.  Or, choose an optional extra activity (at your expense) such as the famous botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch, Museums, Table Mountain Cable Car, or play golf. Our Farewell Dinner tonight will be a special feast to celebrate our 2-week adventure together.Breakwater Lodge, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

 

 DAY 15   Thursday APRIL 25     CAPE TOWN / HOME  

Final farewells after breakfast, then transfer from the hotel to Cape Town International Airport to depart for home.

This tour is for anyone, men and women, interested in an arts and cultural experience of South Africa. The tour is sprinkled with plenty of textile opportunities, but you don’t have to be a textile person to love this tour.

 

PRICE & DETAILS 

Price of tour: $5,490 (shared, double room.We'll pair you with a room mate.)

Single room Supplement:  $1,290 (if you'd prefer your own room)

Registration Deadline: 2 November 2012.

Number of participants: 15 minimum and maximum 25 

 

PRICE INCLUDES:

·         All accommodation (14 nights).

·         All meals except 2 dinners and 2 lunches.

·         Airport transfers.

·         Land transport in luxury air-conditioned coach 

·         Tips for meals and luggage handling.

·         Wildlife viewing in safari vehicles.

·         Registered South African tour guide throughout the tour

·         Specialist on-site guides.

·         Admission fees.

 

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

·         Roundtrip airfare to South Africa.

·         Airfare for internal flight, Durban to Cape Town, aprox. $120.

·         Airport Taxes.

·         Meals not specified in the itinerary (2 dinners and 2 lunches)

·         Travel insurance.

·         Tip for bus driver and tour guide.

·         Personal expenses and self-selected activities.




NOTE: Every effort is made to keep to the published prices, and we absorb minor currency fluctuations. However, a major discrepancy in exchange rates means that prices may be subject to change.  

 

Email Valerie val@valeriehearder.com for the detailed registration form. Once registered, you’ll receive additional information such as travel advice and packing tips.

 

FLIGHTS

All participants will make their own travel arrangements. I suggest Gina at www.pacesettertravel.com 1-800-810-3687 ext 4102. who quoted me excellent prices, currenlty about $1,800 return, tax included. A travel agent can look after travel and medical insurance and the booking of the internal flight from Durban to Cape Town, which is approximately $120. Mention this tour when you talk with Gina. Use can also use points, or search the internet. Check www.flysaa.com and http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/flights.htm

 Travel in South Africa is comfortable. Roads are in good condition, hotels are world class and the water is safe to drink. The exchange rate is favorable to our dollar and ATM machines are plentiful.