Overview
Experience a tour of South Africa that combines volunteering with unforgettable and experiential learning. Take in the breathtaking panorama of Cape Town from a rotating cable car. Explore Table Mountain and Robben Island, home to penguins and a notorious prison. Continue to Johannesburg to tour the Mandela House Museum in Soweto. End your journey with an evening big-game drive and meaningful visits to local schools across the country.
Itinerary
Day 1
Start tour
Day 2
Arrive in Cape Town
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Table Mountain visit by cable car
A trip to Table Mountain is a must for all those visiting Cape Town. Take a cable car up the mountain for spectacular and magnificent views from the top.
Explore Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Day 3
Local school visit
Continue community support activities from previous day.
LEAP Lekker Eet!
Discover the secrets of South African cuisine when you prepare a traditional local lunch (included in place of dinner).
Masiphumelele bike tour
Day 4
Local school visit
Continue community support activities from previous day.
Tour of Cape Peninsula
Explore Boulder’s Beach and see the African penguins in their natural habitat. For those who are brave enough, you can even get into the cold waters for a swim! Then take a scenic drive along the coast to visit Africa's most south-westerly point where the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean merge. Situated in Table Mountain National Park, a natural World Heritage Site, you will be treated to stunning views over the two oceans from a steep sea cliff.
Boulders Beach visit
Boulders Beach is home to a land-based breeding colony of the rare African penguin.
Table Mountain National Park visit
Massive Table Mountain National Park stretches from north of Cape Town down the Cape Peninsula to Africa’s southwestern extremity, the Cape of Good Hope. Iconic, flat-topped Table Mountain is its centerpiece. The mountain’s 1,086m summit affords sweeping views of Cape Town and Table Bay, and is reachable by cableway, bicycle, automobile or on foot. The park is also among the world’s richest floral regions.
Day 5
Local school visit
Continue community support activities from previous day.
Robben Island excursion
Prison tour, Robben Island Museum visit
Day 6
District 6 Museum visit
Explore Company Gardens
Explore the Company Gardens, a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town, home to a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond and aviary.
Shopping at Greenmarket Square
Day 7
Fly to Johannesburg
Travel to Soweto
Head to Soweto, a city developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system. Most of the struggle against apartheid was fought in and from Soweto. The name Soweto is an acronym, made up - in apartheid days - from the first letters of the words “south western township.”
Mandela House visit
Hector Pieterson Memorial
Day 8
Travel to Lesedi Village
Lesedi Cultural Village
Lesedi Village visit, Guided tour of Lesedi local ethnic homesteads, Traditional Feast with African Dancing
Day 9
Travel to Pilansberg
Pilanesberg National Park
Evening game drive
Overnight in a game lodge
Day 10
Early morning game drive
Chameleon Village visit
Visit the local craft center at Chameleon Village before boarding an overnight flight home.
Fly home
Day 11
Return home
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Community-based projects
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.