Both Safari Lodges offer 8 en-suited rooms which are secluded and private, with a maximum occupancy of 16 people at any time. Your stay includes three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, scheduled safari activities (two game drives per day and/or an optional game walk), refreshments on game drives together with snacks, WiFi, laundry, and transfers to and from the lodge airstrip. 

 

The Safari then takes you to beautiful Cape Town, taking in all the City has to offer – from Table Mountain and the Winelands to the Waterfront and Shark-Cage Diving! 

 

 

With us as 'Toro' Lodge owners, we will take you to enjoy the African wilderness experience. We are at the lodge each year from June through August and personally host groups over this time. Many people coming all the way to Africa however, wish to see more, and so they should, hence we work along with some other hotels and options to cater to your needs. Many persons coming to Africa are a little overwhelmed with organizing everything and having grown up here, with many contacts, it’s easy for us to steer our guests in the direction which will best suit you. Hence us saying ‘we can arrange your full vacation needs while in Africa with 'Toro' as your primary destination’.

 

Brad and Cindy Philipps have years of International experience, from providing to the needs of sports fishing anglers at their lodge in Guatemala to other global sportfishing destinations. Nobody on the planet has released more sailfish and marlin. They continue their participation in the release ethos of bill-fishing, and, true to their nature, also the protection of the species.

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There is a significant sense of accomplishment in a profession when the purpose of potency in it, the point of productivity, the point at which skills begin to show and generate profit, has been reached. Due to this success, the Philipps family bring valuable safari adventures to South Africa. Over the decades, a vast reservoir of knowledge of the details have been accumulated, laying the foundation, forming friendships, earning a reputation for truthfulness, reliability and integrity, through fame and prestige earned in the world of service and establishing our credit as one of the best safari experiences.

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And, whilst not fishing, they spend their time guiding clients on a safari across the African continent every year back in Africa with , hosting personally their friends and friends of friends.

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Suggested Itinerary:

Days 1 – 2, Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (depending on your international arrival time), spend your 1st night at a Guest House only 10 km from International Airport. 

 

Days 3 – 8/9, GREATER MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (GMPGR) – Toro River Lodges. We begin our classic African Safari with a private ground transfer from OR Tambo International Airport or African Guest House in Johannesburg and make our way to Toro River Lodges. When spending the night at African Guest House in Johannesburg, we will collect you at 8 am with a sight-seeing along the way and a stop for lunch. Arrive at Toro mid to late afternoon. Includes Panoramic en-route Guide for the Blyde River Canyon – lunch is not included.

 

Days 9/10 – 11, THORNYBUSH PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE – Simbambili Lodge – After your morning game drive and breakfast, you will transfer to Simbambili Lodge (by road), located in the North-Eastern of the acclaimed Sabi Sand Game Reserve, home to the highest concentration of leopard in the world.

 

Days 11/12 – 14, CAPE TOWN – Table Bay Hotel – We transfer from Simbambili Lodge to East Gate Airport via private ground transfer and from here make your way to Cape Town and the Five Star Table Bay Hotel. Day 12, early in the morning, our private guide will be picking you up at 5 am to drive to Simonstown to do your Shark cage diving. With a +/- 1 hour driving to start your tour scheduled at 6:30 am. Day 13, we can do Table Mountain excursion – weather permitting, and then head out to Franschoek for wine-tastings and lunch.

 

Day 14 CAPE TOWN – SAFARI ENDS
Our safari ends on day 14 with half-day vehicle disposal for shopping and more wine-tastes or whatever if needed.

 

Or just come on a full immersion Safari with your own party.

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Here is a suggested itinerary:

 

Day 1 (July 5th): Leave your country

Day 2 (July 6th): Arrive in Johannesburg (Preferably in the morning)

We will arrange airport pickup with VIP meet and greet at airport.

 

    $95.00 – We will add this to the invoice

    VIP meet and greet at the aircraft door provided by AfricanSky  

    Assistance through the fast lane to immigration.  

    Assistance to collect luggage.

    - our driver will be waiting outside the Airport 

Two options here:

Private ground transfer to Toro Private Game Reserve, with Panoramic en-route by African Journeys 

    $950.00 + $95.00 - with Panoramic en-route tour Guide

    Or you can fly in and avoid the ground transfers from JNB international Airport to Hoedspruit - the nearest local airport from Toro - rate is not included here - then private ground transfer of $350 will apply from local Airport to Toro River Lodges. You can also charter a small plane and land directly in the reserve, specially if your party is big.

Days 2 - 10 (July 6th - 14th):  Arrive at Toro Lodge and stay for 7 or 9 nights of Big 5 Safari with us with 2 Safaris a day! 

Optional Interested in visiting another Private Reserve?

Day 9-10 (July 13th - 14th):  Private ground transfer from Toro River Lodges to Simbambili Game Lodge at $450 each way.  11h00 pick up time.

Adding 2 more nights in the North Eastern Sabi Sand Game Reserve area. For those cat lovers, ‘Simbambili’ is located in the highest concentration of leopard in the world, a nice luxury addition to your Safari.  

Safari Rate is $960 per person per night sharing

Safari Rate is US$1,050 per person per night single 

We will arrange private ground transfer from your Safari Lodge to the local East Gate Airport at $350 per transfer when staying at Toro or $450 if you go to the other Private Game Reserve “Thornybush”.

Or you are welcome to spend these 2 more nights with us at Toro - if you don’t feel comfortable to move around, Toro has it all.  (July 1st, 2nd).  To make a total of 9 nights of Safari.

THE ABOVE RATES INCLUDES:

• Accommodation

• All meals, teas, coffees & snacks

• Dawn and dusk safaris in open Ford Game vehicles and Guide Walks

• All drinks at Toro River Lodges Private Game Reserve

 

 

PAYMENT

25% deposit needs to be received in the next 2 weeks.

 

The balance must be paid no later than 6 weeks prior to arrival.  

 

Important information 

• In the event of premature departure guests will be liable for the full extent of the pre-booked stay.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY 

 

Upon confirmation of reservation, Toro Travel reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee unless the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the original confirmation of the reservation. Applicable cancellation fee equivalent to:

60 to 31 days prior to arrival at the lodge = 25% Cancellation fees (Non-refundable deposit to apply)

30 to 00 days prior to arrival at the lodge = 100% Cancellation fees, unless the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the original confirmation of the reservation.

 

All deposits of 25 % received on confirmation are Non-Refundable and will apply as cancellation fees.

 

Day 11-15 (Jul 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th): Fly to Cape Town for 3 or 4 nights stay.

 

Adding 3 or 4 nights in the beautiful City of Cape Town:

Cape Town Activities for you to look at:

We will book your internal flights – copy of your passports is needed - we need to add your domestic flights to your international flight to allow 2 suitcases per person.

Activities - Private Tour Guide for your stay in Cape Town below:

Shark Cage Diving / Penguin Colony / Cape Point

Wine Farm and Tasting

Table Mountain

Stay at The Table Bay Hotel (5 star) in the Water Front 

Shopping

Private Tour Guide each day with vehicle included - add $450.00 per day - excluding entry fees to parks

Where to stay in Cape Town:

We suggest Table Bay Hotel at the Water Front - will confirm 2023 rates!

Executive Suite R12,522.00 per night including breakfast - $1,043.50 per night

Luxury Twin room R6,045.00 per night including breakfast - $503.75 per night

https://www.suninternational.com/table-bay/

https://www.theroyalportfolio.com/the-silo/rooms/

 

 

Other Hotels:

• One and Only

• Cape Grace

• Victoria and Alfred

Day 16:  July 19th - fly back to your country from Cape Town (CT).

 

Private Tour Guide for your stay in Cape Town

Cape Town has SO many sightseeing options to choose from. We would highly recommend a Wine-land’s tour.  Depending on how much time you want to spend doing this: shorter tour in the Constantia wine-lands (which is literally IN Cape Town) or Franschoek/Stellenbosch day trip or overnight either on your first or last night in Cape Town (to stay with our friend Jen and Maarten who own cottages in town, dining out is a must with some of the best cuisine in South Africa).

If you have the time in beautiful Franschhoek valley, please do not hesitate to come visit at our farm. Their tasting room is cozy and personal and they also have a terrace with magnificent views of the mountains. Their full Cap Classique collection (while stocks last) is available for tasting, as well as a selected range of imported Champagnes.

For the second time, their CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT CHARDONNAY was awarded THE TOP RATING OF FIVE STARS.

Out of over 8000 South African wines tasted, only 111 wines received this supreme distinction rewarding the wines scoring minimum 95/100.

In the meantime, their CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT RESERVE scored a whopping 94/100, making Colmant the best rated Cap Classique producer of the 2018 Edition.

Their tasting room is open from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 13:00 and Saturdays from 11:00 to 13:00

Going up Table Mountain is a treat - but is weather dependent - so often - when you are visiting for a few days - we swop things round to work with the weather.

Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned - so very much part of South African history, also weather dependent.

A Peninsular Tour would pick you up in your Waterfront Hotel and you would drive through the scenic coastal beach-suburbs of Clifton/Camps Bay/Hout Bay - over well known Chaps Peak Drive and head towards Cape Point (here you can see where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet - we have cold Atlantic water on your drive there - and warmer Indian Ocean water as you drive back through the historic Naval town of Simons-town and past Boulders Beach (well known for its penguins).  This is usually a full day tour.  Your guide would choose a great spot to stop for lunch.  Depending on your interests - you could make the coastal tour shorter and end up in the Constantia wine-lands for a late lunch.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are well known, also weather dependent. 

Transfer Cape Town airport – Water front Hotel - $150 each way

Every private guide with vehicle day cost is $450.00 excluding any tourist entry fees and tips

 

Please let me know what would you like to do so we can arrange with your private guide all the activities for your 3 days in Cape Town.

 

The moment you arrive until you leave, all handled and coordinated, can be done in 16 days!

 

ADD on option at Toro
If friends would like to get involved and expose their kids/family to a Big 5 wildlife intervention this is a wonderful option. IE rhino collaring/dehorning. Lion or cheetah work. The reserve is always looking for donors who in exchange for their contribution of money are then included first hand in a day’s Conservation work. Thus touching the rhino, photos, and even flying in the helicopter. Most of these procedures cost in the region of R20,000.00. A Tax deductible invoice can be given. A donation of R10K and up would open the opportunity to visitor to be involved in such. About US$2,000.  Please talk with Brad if interested. Need to be planned and arranged prior. Is a highly recommended experience for those families wanting to get involved in conservation and give back to wildlife.  

 

 

THE ABOVE RATES EXCLUDES :

• Work Conservation Day

• International/domestic flights

• Any wildlife conservation work you would like to expose the family

• Tips 

• Personal expenses

• TAX

 

Email us for an accurate quote at reservations@tororiverlodges.com