South Africa 2024 | Safari & Creation Tour | Gary Bates

Depart your home airport today. If you would like to use our group air, we have special prices and schedules that originate on United Airlines from Newark. Our United nonstop flight departs Newark at 8:45PM. Please plan on being at the Newark airport at least 3 hours prior to departure. (The air add-on is $1,450 per person, including children over the age of 2)

Arrive in Johannesburg at 5:45PM. Transfer to your hotel, the fellowship begins at dinner and then rest up before your adventure awaits you tomorrow!

In the morning we will meet our guide and driver to begin our creation journey safari. We will drive approximately an hour to Pretoria, which is the capital of South Africa. Pretoria is a vision of purple, thanks to its plethora of blossoming trees that gave the South African metropolis its nickname: Jacaranda City. The buildings of Pretoria reflect diverse architectural styles and influences, creating a unique, urban landscape. We will start off with a unique opportunity to get up-close-and personal with some of God’s most majestic cats while visiting the Cheetah Research and Breeding Centre. The name does not fully represent the amazing animals you will encounter during our visit! It will be memorable indeed. Our favorites are the singing wild dogs and the incredible birds that almost seem prehistoric looking! You will be mesmerized at the animals that are rehabilitated in this amazing camp facility.  Afterwards, we will depart Pretoria and drive toward the Dinokeng – rich in creation evidence. We will arrive at our safari lodge and get settled into our African accommodations. It will be an exciting time to familiarize yourself with your home away from home – with the incredible animals to be seen walking freely in the distance! Enjoy a dinner overlooking the Bush.  Tonight we will just have some low key fellowship as the next few days will be very intense and fulfilling.

Those Ballooning Depart for the Evening

You may sleep in this morning if you wish, as you will have some free time to explore the lodge and camp. BUT! Our early birds can enjoy a pre-breakfast cup of coffee, and take-in an exciting sunrise bush-walk with a local tracker this morning. After breakfast, we will begin our adventures in the wild with an exciting FIRST game drive. What a way to start our days! We will enjoy a hosted lunch inside the private park – even the lunch ambiance will be remarkable.

Those guests who will be taking the early morning ballooning trip tomorrow, will depart us at 2:30PM today and will be taken to where the flights will depart. They will be staying the night at a separate luxury safari lodge with dinner and a small safari to be included.   

Today will be quite momentous as you see these amazing creatures so close to you. You will see so many versions of antelope and various versions of new unknown mammals. We will return for a late dinner at our lodge. Each night you have an option for fabulous fellowship around a large fire in our cozy lodge. Feel free to be ready for Q&A as well! Gary is always a wealth of information.

If you would like to see the animals, come alive at sunrise –taking the optional hot air ballooning safari and floating above the Bushveld, this morning will be very exciting! You will wake up early and transfer to a field where the balloons will be set up for a special flight for you. Light breakfast with champagne will be served and off we go!  This momentous time will forever be etched in your mind. On some flights you can almost follow a herd or come up close to an activity taking place below that is rarely seen from a noise producing safari vehicle. The cost includes all transportation, meals and of course the unique ballooning adventure. Costs for this option is $550 per person with $400 per child.

Those who did not take the ballooning adventure:  Early this morning we set out on an exciting adventure to see some real action on the game drive. Grab a Danish, coffee and piece of fruit – we don’t want to miss a moment as the sun comes up. Dusk and dawn! Mornings are always an active time to see the great Big 5 animals. Midway through our Safari we will stop for breakfast at a well-placed location for your amazing journey.

After dark, benefit from a lesson in astronomy and enjoy stargazing at its finest, as we uncover some of the mysteries of God’s creation of the sun, the moon, and the stars. 

Early birds can enjoy a bush walk before breakfast or enjoy a massage or some free time to yourself to catch up on cataloging your pictures. Our lodge has activities and special places for spectacular views for all. The waterside ambiance of some of the areas are lovely for private times of worship and quiet. There is a swimming pool onsite although it is open, weather permitting. In addition, there is a nice workout facility and spectacular walking spaces.

We have a late afternoon safari via boat this afternoon. The watering holes provide the uniqueness of what we will see AND HEAR! The amazing areas of the bushveld allow for viewing various animals in each landscape – especially the water-based areas. These water-based visits are unique to our safari experience. 

At night, our lodge affords a commanding view: We experience the sun as it dips below the horizon and share the adventure with the fellow believers over fabulous, “African” cuisine. Spend the evening reminiscing with the kids and sharing your favorite stories from the week around a raging fire under the stars.

Unique bush-walk for those who want to get up close with the evidence of animals near our camp during the night. We will drive to a precious small school within the local community. This day will greatly enrich your children’s minds as they come to appreciate some of the many things they can often take for granted. We will return to the lodge, where the children will have the opportunity to enjoy a creative lesson on creation, while adults can join in or enjoy some of the lodge activities alone. 

This morning is Sunday services onsite at our own little chapel on the Bushveld! Gary and Deon will have a time of teaching and we will have some precious time of worship together. Lunch together as we celebrate God’s goodness on His Holy day.

This afternoon, we have a unique treat for you to visit a hospital care center for a rare tiny monkey called the Vervet.  These tiny bush babies have had to be rescued and cared for while they are rehabilitated. Our visit there provides you the opportunity to be in a safe enclosed room with a handful of babies. They are inquisitive and their little fingers and hands like to touch and feel everything around them. It really is quite an experience and our presence allows them to care and feed for them and then return them with their mothers into the wild. For those of you who wish to stay at the lodge and enjoy a massage or activity closer to home, you can stay and do as you like. 

Sleep in this morning if you like or enjoy a morning walk or Safari at our lodge. Today will be the last opportunity on the Big 5 safari drive. On this day we will feature animal hiding places of those that we may have missed and seeing a uniquely different landscape altogether! We will be in the park in the evening hours and end the day with a lovely dinner. Beautiful views from our lodge late this evening while enjoying a fireside teaching and fellowship.

Today you have an opportunity to experience a hands-on interactive Elephant Reserve. The experience is $399 per person but is included free for all bookings received prior to January 31, 2024. While there, we have a special lunch planned nearby at a separate safari lodge. Here you will also have an opportunity to meander around their grounds, ride a bicycle or rent a 4-wheeler. Then on for a special visit with the elephants. Here you will have an opportunity to touch and feed these amazing, gentle animals. Study their eyes, their feet, their huge toenails and their love for their children. God is so good! Then a special intimate time with the elephants, and an amazing picture experience as the elephant’s head to their watering hole as the sun sets.  This event is always a highlight for all!  Tonight, we will enjoy one last night around the fire as we fellowship, worship and gaze upon the stars and God’s amazing creations above and around us. Those not taking the Elephant Encounter will have time at the Safari Lodge for walks, or a bicycle ride.

Enjoy a restful time this morning as we begin to say goodbye to our dear new friends! Depart from our lodge and drive to Johannesburg, known affectionately as Jo’burg, or the ‘City of Gold”. We will visit Freedom Square, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Vilakazi Street, formerly home to both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Visit the Apartheid Museum for a deeper look at the humbling and ultimately inspiring journey from the dark days of segregation to Mandela’s release from prison and his policy of reconciliation rather that retribution.  The flight departs at 8:00PM. Prior to the flight we will have a lovely heavy lunch together!

Arrive at the airport at 5:00PM (check-in is at 5:00PM) for our 8:00PM flight. Dinner in the airport or wait until you board your flight. Arrive back to Newark at 5:50AM (same day). Choose flights after 8:50AM with checked luggage or a little shorter if traveling only with carry-on luggage shorter if traveling only with carry-on luggage.