The South Africa Experience

Johannesburg + Luxury Safari Trip + Cape Town

There aren’t very many places in the world where you can shake your mane with a lion, shop from a grip of Black-owned stores, and eat a delectable meal prepared with ingredients you personally foraged.

Join us on our 11-day luxury adventure in South Africa and experience the country’s culture on a deeper level than the limited Apartheid narrative you’ve been told. You can’t call yourself woke until you have experienced our ancestral home for yourself. Check out our client photos at #UITALSouthAfrica.

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of your tastebuds singing after you savor the local culinary magic at Neighbourgoods Day Party & Market, sip sommelier-selected wines in the Winelands, and swoon over the traditional fare and captivating storytelling at the Yeoville Supper Club.

And you didn’t come snatched for nothin’! The pics you will snap of your melanin poppin’ in front of the brightly colored homes of Bo-Kaap will be enough to shut down the gram, no cap.

Whether you are soaking it in on a cruise, in a helicopter, or from the top of Table Mountain, the breathtaking scenery will make you feel blessed to experience the beauty of the Motherland.

Priceless moments with new friends, historical exploration, and pampered relaxation await you on your Up in the Air Life journey through South Africa.

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Here's your trip at a glance.

WHERE YOU'LL GO

From exploring the concrete jungle to embarking on safari, this trip offers a wide variety of scenery (and selfie) options. You will be able to check must-see sites like Nelson Mandela’s House, Shambala Private Game Reserve, and Robben Island off your bucket list.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

This trip is your chance to be classy, bougie, and a little ratchet. From dining on food created by the finest chefs and learning about the unexpected nuances of Nelson Mandela's story to Kicking at the most lit parties, you will experience the spectrum of South Africa's multi-faceted culture.

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

Our accommodations are so extra. After a long day admiring the majesty of elephants, finding the best deals in the market, or soaking in the sites, you will relax in a sumptuous private villa, garden lodge, or freestanding suite. Only the best for Lifers!

Explore the day-by-day itinerary.

THIS TRIP IS FOR YOU, IF:

THIS TRIP IS NOT FOR YOU, IF:

Day 1

Welcome to Johannesburg, South Africa!

Arrive at Johannesburg Airport (JNB). After you’ve checked into your luxurious accommodations and had a chance to rest up, we will toast it up on a local house, which chef is now-famous South African denizen. He offers a culinary family-style dinner journey fusing vegan vibes, cocktails, wine & storytelling with traditional food from every corner of the continent.

Day 2

Today we’ll learn the history of Apartheid by visiting the renowned Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela’s House, and other historic sites.

After we’ve worked up an appetite, we’ll head over to enjoy an amazing Soweto Braai lunch and see Soweto’s beyond boisterous Vilikazi Street. The rest of the evening will be yours, and you’ll enjoy a free evening out on the town with our recommendations.

If you are up for a night out enjoy an amazing dinner at a renowned Jazz Club.

Day 3

Today, the day is yours to explore Jozi, enjoy the day at the pool, indulge yourself in the hotel’s spa, or head to the global phenomenon of a ‘Day Party’ to the motherland South-African style at the Neighborgoods market. The vibrant blend of delicious food, mouth-watering drinks, and exceptional music and dancing will make your day!

You might also want to opt for an optional Inner City Walking Tour to soak up the sights and sounds of the City with a local.

The night is yours, so feel free to experience some of Joburg’s most famous drinking spots – from trendy rooftop bars to underground pubs and historic watering holes — so you can let your hair down and discover a city undergoing a remarkable rebirth.

Day 4

Today we’ll venture out to the neighboring province of Limpopo for an unparalleled luxury safari where you’ll see “The Big 5” up close and personal.

Today will be your first game drive of the trip! Keep your eyes peeled because The Big 5 are lurking. Who will spot more lions?

At night, return to your lavish lodge for relaxation & reflection.

Day 5

Awaken to a glorious African sunrise and delectable breakfast before we head out on our final African Safari game drive. You might want to rest up and stay in the camp, but don’t miss our last tour because the sundowner cruise will be one for the books!

In the evening, we’ll gaze up at the Milky Way as it stretches out across the sky, bringing a renewed sense of peace and adventure,

Day 6

On your last day on the camp, multiple options will be available for you! From spa time and fishing to an ATV riding in the breeding camp and visiting a Gun Range for the most adventurous.

Day 7

Awaken to a glorious African sunrise and delectable breakfast before heading back to the City for our journey back to Jozi to fly to Cape Town.

Teeming with luxe restaurants and beautiful hotels that will treat us like the kings and queens we are, Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city overcoming its complicated past with so much to offer. Likened to a US coastal city like LA or Miami, the City’s rich African culture creates an enticing and electrifying vibe.

Tonight, you’ll have free time to wind down from our journey and enjoy dinner on your own or with your newfound friends. Don’t worry; we’ll have some dope recommendations!

Day 8

Today we’ll explore Bo-Kaap, the Cape Malay neighborhood in Cape Town known for its colorful homes, a favorite spot for any Instagrammer. We’ll take a photo tour that misses nothing.

In the evening, we’ll trade the crowded ferry and long lines for a private helicopter flight to explore Robben Island, the notorious prison that once held Nelson Mandela.

On arrival we’ll be greeted by a local tour guide who will show us around the prison and learn valuable insights about Mandela’s time there.

Tonight dinner is on your own and we will provide you recommendations of the top culinary experiences in the area.

Day 9

Today is your free day to explore Cape Town.

We’ve arranged for a private optional tour of the Peninsula for those who’d like to see the penguins and go to the most southern tip in Africa.

We also would recommend a local gin making class, spa at the hotel, or laying out on the rooftop of the hotel catching rays.

Day 10

Enjoy your last day and head to the shops on V&A Waterfront to grab souveniers.

This evening, we’ll head to Winelands for a sunset tasting overlooking a vineyard with a wine expert.

After sunset we’ll head to a private multi-course dinner paired with wines. as we forage for ingredients, experience a guided cellar tour, and enjoy an out-of-this-world lunch with expertly matched wine pairings.

Day 11

Rise and shine for an optional self-guided tour or shop your last hours away.

When it’s time, our private drivers will whisk you away to the airport, where you can start planning your next adventure with new friends.

"The Up in the Air Life trip to South Africa was everything I expected and more. Every historical and cultural detail was curated based on our interests and passions and they still provided some great surprises as well as flexibility for spontaneous changes and personal time. "

Shauna

"This was an amazing trip, all of the details were worked out before we arrived, the individual attention to our care was most important to my family. We were celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary"

Monique

"I felt safe, I felt cared for, I felt pampered, I felt like this trip was made for me! My friend and I looked at this trip through the lenses of "could we have done this ourselves" and the answer was overwhelming NO! From the opening dinner in Johannesburg we would have never found or been too afraid to try, to the hotels we would have considered too extravagant, to the Game Reserve we would have felt wasn't something we "needed" to do, to the helicopter ride we are both too afraid to attempt - it was so many things we realize we would have never experienced without Up in the Air Life."

Tracy

YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPECT TO:

Connect with amazing people.

We provide the opportunity to make friendships with people who share your worldview and won't ask why you wear a bonnet to sleep.

Experience attentive
and authentic hospitality.

Not only is the staff of Up in the Air Life dedicated to making sure your trip is flawlessly executed, but we are also intentional about choosing locales and vendors who celebrate Black travelers

Be pampered with only the best.

There is no need to take a break from your baller lifestyle when you travel with us. Our lodging, excursions, and dining are pure luxury.

Feel safe and secure.

Our experienced American guides and well-maintained local relationships mean that you will have peace of mind when you travel with us.

Say "goodbye" to FOMO.

Our trips are anything but basic. While we make sure you see well-known main attractions, we also develop itineraries that will give you unique stories to share with your friends back home.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT