Golf Cruise South Africa Coastal + Blue Train + Ulusaba
Golf Cruise South Africa. Golf Cruise South Africa Coastal + Blue Train + Ulusaba. Each GolfAhoy golf cruise is customized to the individual client’s specific core expectations and demands to meet or exceed expectations.
We begin in Cape Town with five captivating ports of call ahead, including Port Elizabeth, East London, Maputo, Richards Bay, Durban, and finally, a return to Cape Town. The golf lineup includes five rounds at the highly-rated courses of Humewood, East London, Zimbali, Durban, and Pearl Valley.
Optional Post-Cruise Blue Train Experience.
The Blue Train traverses South Africa from Cape Town to Pretoria through breathtaking scenery over untamed savannah grasslands teeming with wildlife. Kings and presidents have indulged in this magnificent, moving five-star “hotel-on-rails”. The route between Cape Town and Pretoria is a 31-hour journey of 994 miles.
Blue Train ITINERARY
Register and check in at The Blue Train Station Lounge, Cape Town Station. Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks. Butlers usher guests to their suites, and butlers do suite orientation. The Blue Train departs from Cape Town Station.
The Blue Train VIDEO
After Blue Train – Optional 5-Star Ulusaba Game Reserve Lodge.
What’s included at Ulusaba?
Accommodation at one of the lodges.
Your GolfAhoy counselor will curate your Ulusaba experience in consultation with you.
Discover Ulusaba Private Game Reserve | Sir Richard Branson’s Luxury Hotel.
From Pretoria, transfer to Ulusaba Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve. Ulusaba means ‘place of little fear’, so named because the kopje, or hill, on which Rock Lodge sits provided the ancient Shangaan tribal warriors with the perfect lookout point. Ulusaba has 20 rooms and suites spread over two lodges: Rock Lodge, the beautiful Cliff Lodge, and Safari Lodge.
Ulusaba sits within the Sabi Sand Reserve near Kruger National Park, surrounded by 33,000 acres of open bush. The hills of Ulusaba are spectacular as they rise above the surrounding terrain, offering a view unsurpassed anywhere else in the reserve.
Ulusaba was voted the number one resort in Africa in the Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards and ranked the third-best resort in the world! Travel + Leisure also named it the best luxury safari resort.
Ulusaba is approximately a 1 hour and 20-minute flight from Johannesburg (JNB). Federal Air flies directly to Ulusaba’s airstrip.
Get to know the staff at Ulusaba | Sir Richard Branson’s Private Game Reserve VIDEO
We thought we would give you a little taste of what you can expect on a typical day at Ulusaba. You can do as little or as much as you like; it’s completely up to you.
5 AM Rise and shine! The early morning game drive sets off at 5.30 am, but before you depart, we have early morning teas, coffees, and refreshments served on the main terrace.
5.30 AM Off we go! We will depart on the morning game drive in an open 4 x 4 safari vehicle, stopping for refreshments in the heart of the South African bush.
9 AM Breakfast Retreat back to the lodge for breakfast with your Ranger. This is an opportunity to chat about what you’ve seen that morning and compare sightings with other guests. Breakfast is served buffet style so you can help yourself, but there is also an à la carte menu to order hot dishes from our kitchen.
1.30 PM Lunch is often served on one of the sundecks, and tables are set up restaurant-style. All dishes are made to order, and there is a range of options—our Rangers favor the Kudu burger!
4 PM Afternoon Tea Before heading off on the evening game drive, we will tempt you to serve our afternoon tea on the patio.
4.30 PM Game on! It’s time to depart for the evening game drive. Search for those elusive nocturnal animals after sundowner drinks served in the bush.
8 PM Dinner is served. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink at the bar while our chefs explain the evening’s menu choices. We often serve dinner in the heart of the bush under the African skies around a blazing log fire. You can expect tribal dancers and singers for a truly authentic African experience.
If all that wasn’t enough, your room has snacks, treats, and a fully stocked complimentary minibar.
Golf Cruise South Africa Coastal ITINERARY
12 Nights | 5 Rounds
700-guest Azamara Pursuit.
Arrive at Cape Town. Explore the diverse and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, visiting its many iconic attractions, including the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Port Elizabeth and the Addo Elephant National Park, the only location in the world home to each of Africa’s “Big 7” animals. The golf is equally diverse. Durban has been a regular host of the South Africa Open and is a links-style layout offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course Pearl Valley is set in the famous Franschhoek Wine region and is a treat to play.
Detailed Itinerary Golf Cruise South Africa Coastal
JANUARY CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (EMBARK BY 4:30 PM / SAIL 6:00 PM)
Embark Azamara Pursuit begins at 1:00 PM. All aboard by 4:30 PM.
Welcome Cocktails and briefing this evening. Meet your fellow golf participants.
Overnight: At Sea
AT SEA
Today, it’s time to relax and reset. Service to your lounge chair is available from The Pool Bar, where the attentive staff is always ready to offer an inclusive cocktail, beer, bottled water, soft drink, or fresh towel. The Patio restaurant serves casual fare during the day and then completely transforms into a sit-down al fresco dining experience at night with table linens and candles. Elegant specialty dining is available for beef at Prime C and Italian at Aqualina. Windows Café serves casual buffet dining with every imaginable choice indoors and at the sensational Sunset Bar.
Overnight: At Sea
PORT Elizabeth, SOUTH AFRICA (7:00 AM / 8:00 PM)
GOLF: Humewood Golf Club was considered the top course in South Africa by the legendary countryman, professional Bobby Locke, during his prime in the 1930s and 40s. A genuine seaside link, Humewood has played host to the South African Open and South African Amateur on many occasions, and Ernie Els is a past champion of the Goodyear Classic, held at the course from 1984-1992. The greens were converted to bentgrass in 2009, and the result was consistently magnificent putting surfaces.
Overnight: At Sea
EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA (7:30 AM / 4:00 PM)
GOLF: East London Golf Club has been South Africa’s favorite championship venue for decades. It has hosted six National Opens, the European Tour, and the National Amateur, counting the likes of Els, Schwartzel, and Oosthuizen among the winners here. The club was originally founded in 1893. Today, it is a coastal gem, opened in 1923, with a wonderful mix of parkland and link holes typically played to elevated greens. No. 9, The Glades, is particularly memorable. After a 50-yard walk through a bush tunnel, you reach an elevated tee that begs for a bomb. Catching the slope makes all the difference for your approach, with a middle iron played slightly uphill to a green protected by thick brush on all sides.
Overnight: At Sea
AT SEA
Enjoy another relaxing day at sea onboard the Azamara Pursuit.
Overnight: At Sea
MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE (8:00AM / 2:00PM)
Enjoy Maputo on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
RICHARDS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA (8:00 AM / 9:00 PM)
Golfers disembark in Richards Bay for an easy two-round, one-night off-ship excursion, including dinner and drinks and an overnight stay with breakfast at the beautiful Fairmont Zimbali Resort. On the second day, golfers will rejoin Azamara Pursuit in Durban in the late afternoon.
It’s a scenic 90-minute morning drive south to the Fairmont Zimbali Resort. On arrival, there will be a light lunch. Afternoon golf will be at Zimbali Country Club.
GOLF: Zimbali Country Club offers irresistible ocean and forest views and exceptional water and wetland features within an inspiring natural setting. It has developed the reputation of a memorable course with charisma and challenge. With the agenda of “conservation taking precedence,” international golf course designer and former British and South African PGA champion Tom Weiskopf crafted a course with dramatic elevation changes and varying ecologically sound ecosystems while maximizing the natural landscape.
Enjoy Richards Bay on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
All overland guests will enjoy an included dinner at Fairmont Zimbali this evening.
Overnight: Fairmont Zimbali, South Africa (hotel – off-ship)
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (7:30 AM / 10:00 PM)
Short morning drive from Fairmont Zimbali to Durban Country Club.
GOLF: Durban Country Club combines lush vegetation, dunes, and gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean. It is a typical links layout with wide, undulating fairways. As a regular host for the South African Open and the Volvo Open in 2013 and 2014, the course measures 6,400 yards and plays to a par 70 from the club tees. The par-5 5th will seize your attention due to the elevated tee, gusting wind, and ocean view.
Enjoy Durban on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
AT SEA
Enjoy another relaxing day at sea onboard the Azamara Journey.
Overnight: At Sea
AT SEA
Enjoy another relaxing day at sea onboard the Azamara Journey.
Overnight: At Sea
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (9:00 AM / IN PORT)
SIGHTSEEING: Cape Town is an iconic and cosmopolitan city; its waterfront area was once described as a combination of San Diego and the inner Baltimore harbor on steroids. Walkthrough the Company Gardens, the fresh produce gardens for ships and locals from the mid-17th Century and today. You’ll find the SA Museum, Cultural History Museum, Houses of Parliament, the National Gallery, and St George’s Cathedral Downtown. Head through the city to Greenmarket Square to browse African mementos at its bustling market stalls. Drive to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South Africa with its collection of Old Cape paintings, and take in the Grand Parade, where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation on his release in 1990.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (IN PORT / PORT)
GOLF: Today, Pearl Valley, set in the famous Franschhoek Wine region, is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and a treat to play. Pearl Valley is considered one of the top-conditioned courses. As with many Nicklaus courses, water on the right with plenty of sand will keep the golfer’s minds off the wide landing areas provided. The course and its geographical location allow guests to enjoy a day outing in the Winelands with high-quality golf to complement the food and wine.
Continue to explore Cape Town at your leisure today. Perhaps make the short trip to the Cape of Good Hope, enjoy lunch, and tour the lighthouse at the rocky promontory on the peninsula’s southern tip.
Overnight: In Port – Cape Town, South Africa.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (IN PORT / DISEMBARK AT 9:00 AM)
Disembark Azamara Pursuit at 9:00 AM.
Pre-Cruise Option – Golf & Kruger Safari
4 Nights | 1 Round | 4 Game Drives | Johannesburg – Cape Town |
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
Arrive in Johannesburg this morning, where we will greet and transfer you to our group meeting point within the adjacent InterContinental Hotel. We fly directly to Skukuza Airport within Kruger National Park early this afternoon. Please note that your golf clubs will be taken by road directly to Leopard Creek Golf Club, and your non-safari luggage will be shipped directly to Cape Town, ready for the cruise. The costs of shipping are included in your pre-cruise package.
On arrival at Skukuza, you will be met by the lodge rangers, who will transfer you in open 4×4 safari vehicles to Jock Safari Lodge, your home for the next three days. Jock Safari Lodge is the first private lodge set in the heart of Africa’s premier wildlife reserve, the Kruger National Park. This luxury lodge incorporates the romance and elegance of the post-colonial era and reflects the indigenous Zulu and Shangaan cultures in its unique style. The Kruger Park offers some of the best game viewing available in Africa, and Jock Safari Lodge is situated in one of the best game viewing areas of the park. There will be time for a quick freshen-up and orientation before heading out on the late afternoon safari drive.
This evening, Welcome Cocktails and dinner.
OVERNIGHT: Jock Safari Lodge – Thatched suite with private plunge pool.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
A normal day at Jock follows the following order:
Morning Game Drive:
5:30 AM – Wake up for the morning game drive.
7:45 AM – Enjoy coffee and tea in the bush.
9:00 AM – A full breakfast is served upon your return from the game drive.
11:00 AM – Enjoy an interpretive bush walk.
1:00 PM – Lunch is served.
2:30 PM – Enjoy a massage on the deck of your suite or relax at the pool.
Evening Game Drive:
4:00 PM – Enjoy high tea before the evening game drive.
5:30 PM – Happy Hour in the bush with cocktails and snacks as the sunsets.
8:00 PM – The fires are lit in the boma for dinner under the African stars.
OVERNIGHT: Jock Safari Lodge – Thatched suite with private plunge pool.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
Golfers travel one hour to the park’s Southern border for golf at Leopard Creek. There are often excellent game sightings on this journey.
GOLF: Today, play Leopard Creek. Situated near Malelane in the heart of Mpumalanga, on the southern border of the Kruger National Park, Leopard Creek presents a rare opportunity to play an outstanding bushveld golf course. The 360-hectare development is bordered north and west by the picturesque Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park. Typical bushveld kopjes overlook the course from the east, providing an ideal backdrop for a magnificent Gary Player-designed course. The club is ranked #2 in South Africa. Cart and snacks included.
Golfers return to Jock in time to join the nongolfing guests for the late afternoon safari activities.
Dinner in the Lodge.
OVERNIGHT: Jock Safari Lodge – Thatched suite with private plunge pool.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Enjoy a morning game drive and full breakfast before checking out and flying from Skukuza directly to Cape Town. Your golf equipment will be shipped separately to Port Elizabeth in readiness for your first game of golf at Humewood during the cruise.
Mid-afternoon arrival into Cape Town and transfer to the Table Bay Hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Table Bay Hotel – Mountain-facing Room
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Breakfast is leisurely, and the morning is free to explore the V&A Cape Town Waterfront before transferring to Azamara Pursuit for our South African Golf Cruise.
Post-Cruise Option – Fancourt & Knysna
4 Nights | 3 Rounds | Cape Town – George
FANCOURT, SOUTH AFRICA
Disembark Azamara Pursuit and transfer to Cape Town Airport for a late morning flight to George on the Garden Route. Short transfer to Fancourt, where you can relax and enjoy the resort facilities. The 150-year-old original Manor House and National Monument set on the 613-hectare Fancourt Estate has been meticulously remodeled to create a boutique hotel that offers old-world, new-world, and out-of-this-world beauty and elegance.
This evening, a Welcome Dinner.
OVERNIGHT: The Manor House at Fancourt – Homewood Suite
FANCOURT, SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF: Today, play The Links at Fancourt. Created from a previously flat piece of land, over 700,000 cubic meters of earth was moved to transform it into a typical Links style. The course presents undulating windswept terrain and dune-style landscape and is the only such course in South Africa. This walking course with caddies is ranked #1 in South Africa. Host course of the 2003 Presidents Cup, 2005 Women’s World Cup, and 2006 South African Open. Please note this is a walking golf course with caddies.
OVERNIGHT: The Manor House at Fancourt – Homewood Suite
FANCOURT, SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF: Pinnacle Point is set high above the Indian Ocean, providing sensational, breathtaking views of the crystal blue water from across the course; this is truly a magnificent and memorable design. All seven holes run parallel to the ocean shore. The home hole is a fierce risk-reward par-5.
OVERNIGHT: The Manor House at Fancourt – Homewood suite
FANCOURT, SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF: The Montagu at Fancourt was designed by Gary Player and remodeled by David McLay-Kidd of Bandon Dunes fame. With the highest levels of conditioning and true championship layout, this tree-lined and challenging course over rolling terrain leaves a positive, lasting impression on all who play here. The Montagu sets the standards by which all other courses in South Africa are measured.
Farewell Dinner at Fancourt.
OVERNIGHT: The Manor House at Fancourt – Homewood suite
FANCOURT, SOUTH AFRICA
Our tour concludes today, and guests can make their homeward travel plans. George is the most convenient departure airport for connecting to Cape Town or Johannesburg for onward international flights.
Sample Cruise Fares
Club Interior Stateroom | Club Oceanview Stateroom | Club Veranda Stateroom | Club Continent Suite | Club Spa Suite | Club Ocean Suite | Owners Suite | |
From $3,699 | From $4,299 | From $6,999 | From $9,499 | From $11,499 | From $13,899 | From $14,399 | |
Combine the Cruise Fare with the Selected Golf Package(s) | |||||||
Golf Package | Golfer | Non-Golfer | |||||
5 Round Program (includes one night off the ship at Fairmont Zimbali with transport, overnight, lunches, dinner, drinks) – Humewood, East London, Zimbali, Durban Country Club & Pearl Valley | $3,495 | N/A | |||||
Non-golf spouse Fairmont Zimbali (includes transport, overnight, lunches, dinner, drinks) | N/A | $975 | |||||
Pre-Cruise Package 4 nights Golf & Kruger Safari including normal amenities (all-inclusive of meals and drinks at Jock Safari Lodge) plus domestic South African flights |
$5,725 | $5,195 | |||||
Post-Cruise Package 4 nights at Fancourt & Knysna, including normal amenities, three rounds, and a domestic South African flight |
$3,995 | $3,195 | |||||
Cruise fares are the published gross prices (exclusive of any port taxes & fees), and where special promotions may be in force, any relevant discounts will be taken from these prices at the time of booking.
Deposits Per Person: Golf 25% of Golf Package Price; Cruise $550 (suites $1,100) |
|||||||
Lock in early for the Best Suites and staterooms at the Best Price. The cancellation fee is only $125 per person until 12 Months Out. | |||||||
|
To book this GolfAhoy trip or to request additional information, please complete our Reservation Quote Request Form to get started.