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Salvage your own raw aquatic diamonds on our exclusive diamond safari, taking you to the West Coast of South Africa followed by an exhilarating safari in Limpopo.
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Ker & Downey® Africa > Trips > Diamond Safari Expedition in South Africa
This 11 day diamond safari takes you from the mineral-rich seabed of the West Coast to the grassy plains of Limpopo, heaving with wildlife. Starting in Cape Town, spend 4 days exploring the city and its surroundings, including an exclusive diamond diving day trip on the West Coast of South Africa. Board your private jet in Cape Town, enjoy a short 1 hour flight and touch base at Port Nolloth, a secluded and private diving location. Meet expert diamond diver Wynand Hendrikse at your day villa before kitting up for your descent to the ocean floor to salvage diamonds. Your trip continues in the heart of the Cape Winelands at the prestigious Delaire Graff Estate. Here you will have the opportunity for a private tour of the Graff Diamond collection on the property as well as their notorious art collection – including life-size brass sculptures of African predators you are yet to see in the wild. Lastly, embark on a traditional wildlife safari with an uber adventurous twist at Leobo Private Reserve located in the northernmost province of South Africa, Limpopo. Spend your days on a quad bike and horseback safaris through the reserve, kayaking in the winding waterways and star gazing from the villa’s observatory. Kick your safari up a gear and track members of the Big 5 on neighbouring reserves, spot wildlife as you soar over the reserve on daily helicopter flips and sleep out in a treehouse under the stars as hippos grunt from the waters below.
Touch down at Cape Town International Airport where one of our dedicated Ker & Downey® Africa team members will be waiting to welcome you to our home country, South Africa. Your guide will accompany you through the vibrant City of Cape Town and transfer you to Ellerman House, a mere 30 minutes away from the airport. Perched on the slopes of Lion’s Head, this Cape Edwardian mansion is set in the seaside neighbourhood of Bantry Bay and will be your base for the next 4 nights. After a seamless check-in, browse the boutique hotel’s private contemporary South African art collection, sip on a 20-year-old brandy at the hotel’s brandy lounge or choose from a collection of over 7500 bottles of wine to pair with your dinner at the wine gallery. Take in panoramic views of the Atlantic ocean while cooling off in the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy a sunset drink on the garden terrace before a South African inspired dinner at Ellerman House.
Wake up at your own pace before heading to the dining room for a breakfast of freshly baked pastries, seasonal fruits and a cooked eggs benedict. Fill your day with an array of activities that Cape Town has to offer, from a day tour to the Cape Peninsula, stopping off at Boulder’s Beach, Cape Point and the quaint seaside town of Kalk Bay, to a leisurely day in the Winelands. Feeling active? Pull on your walking shoes and summit Lion’s Head, or take a scenic ride up Table Mountain by cable car. After an adventurous day exploring the city, dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel or alternatively your Adventurist can arrange an exclusive dining experience at one of Cape Town’s many award-winning restaurants.
Wake up with the sunrise, it’s time for your diamond safari. At 07:00 your driver will meet you at Ellerman House to transfer you to Cape Town International Airport for your 75-minute charter flight up the West Coast of South Africa. The Benguela team will be waiting to greet you on the Port Nolloth runway and transfer you to the private beach villa for an artisan breakfast and pre-dive briefing with expert diamond diver Wynand Hendrikse. At 10:00, it’s time to start diving for diamonds. You will require a PADI diving licence to enter the water, if you don’t have a licence, don’t fret, you can stay in the boat and watch the divers submerge to dive out diamonds. The divemasters will guide you through the water to the best spots for finding raw aquatic diamonds. Fill up after an adventurous morning with a signature lunch experience prepared by your private chef from
Ellerman House, including fresh West Coast lobsters paired perfectly with local, South African wines. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to grade your ‘harvest’ alongside diamond experts where you can select and purchase your rough diamond before your onward flight back to Cape Town and a safe transfer to Ellerman House. And the best part? Your selected diamond will then be polished and set into a unique piece of jewellery at the Benguela design studio in Stellenbosch for you to keep.
Rise and shine to breakfast overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Ellerman House. Today, enjoy the sites of Cape Town at leisure, from soaking up the sun at Clifton Beach or taking a stroll along the Sea Point Promenade. Other sites not to miss include the colourful Bo-Kaap, the bustling V&A Waterfront and Cape Town’s latest attraction for art lovers, Zeitz MOCAA – Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art. Enjoy dinner at the hotel or spend the evening discovering many fine dining restaurants in the city.
Photo credit | Iwan Baan
After a final hearty breakfast at Ellerman House, your driver will meet you for your transfer to Delaire Graff Wine Estate. Located along the Helshoogte pass outside of Stellenbosch, Delaire Graff Estate offers luxury living in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Each lodge on the estate has a private sundeck and heated plunge pool where you can admire the views of the vineyards and the valleys below. Aside from offering tastings of their award-winning wines in an art-filled tasting room, the estate is also home to an on-site spa and gym, a boutique selling high-end luxury products such as jewellery, luxurious linen clothing, leather handbags and traditional African artefacts. Spend the day at leisure or explore the working wine farm on an estate and cellar tour before enjoying a drink at the lodge bar before a world-class dinner at one of the two restaurants – the Delaire Graff restaurant offering bistro chic cuisine, or Indochine – a bespoke Asian inspired eatery. End off your day in the Winelands with your favourite film in the private cinema.
After a healthy spread of freshly baked pastries and seasonal local produce at the Indochine restaurant, you will have time to continue your diamond safari and admire unique pieces of jewellery on display on the Graff Diamond Tour. Established in 1960, each piece is handmade in London by Graff’s Master Craftsmen and is displayed in the intimate salon on the property. The collection showcases classic diamond line bracelets, solitaire rings, yellow diamond butterfly earrings, pendants and an exclusive luxury watch collection. Unwind at the hotel spa and choose from a variety of treatments on offer. From rejuvenating massage therapies to expert skin treatments, this is your time to reboot for the next exciting chapter of your trip. Enjoy a fine dining experience at one of the estate’s restaurants or choose to dine in the privacy of your lodge while taking in views of the Stellenbosch valley.
Every plate boasts the freshest ingredients and produce is picked from the estate’s greenhouse daily so be prepared for a healthy feast.
A trip to Africa isn’t complete without a safari experience. After breakfast at Delaire Graff, you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your onward journey to Johannesburg International Airport, a short 2-hour flight away. From here you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to Leobo Private Reserve, a 20,000 acre estate within the Waterberg mountains. The reserve is encompassed by rugged, mountainous terrain, bushveld savannah, winding rivers and deep gorges and is one of the only sole-use reserves in the country, giving guests exclusive access to the entire estate. Teeming with wildlife, you can spot buffalo, hippo, crocodiles and plenty of plains game within Leobo. Want to see the Big 5? Don’t worry, they’re only a short drive away on a neighbouring reserve. After your 3 and a half hour journey to Vaalwater Limpopo, check-in to the reserve’s award-winning observatory villa. Sleeping up to 6 adults and 3 children, the villa exclusively accommodates one group at a time and features a private observatory, a sundeck and infinity pool overlooking the reserve, as well as rooftop jacuzzi. Unwind at the swimming pool after your day of travel and enjoy a South African style braai prepared by your private chef in the villa’s outdoor boma. End the day off with a tour of the night sk
Located in Leobo Private Reserve, Leobo Lodge’s award-winning observatory villa sleeps up to 6 adults and 3 children. The villa exclusively accommodates one group at a time and features a private observatory, a sundeck and infinity pool overlooking the reserve, as well as rooftop jacuzzi.
Traverse the Leobo Reserve in a safari vehicle on daily game drives in search of buffalo, hippo, crocodiles and plenty of plains game. Want to see the Big 5? Don’t worry, they’re only a short drive away on a neighbouring reserve. End each day with a tour of the night sky from the private observatory.
For the next 2 days, wake up to a scrumptious breakfast before exploring the nearby reserve on safari game drives in search of members of the Big 5. Alternatively, explore the Leobo Reserve in a Landcruiser. Return to the villa for an al fresco lunch of gourmet pizzas and salad followed by active afternoons traversing the Leobo Reserve on horseback safaris, bush walks, mountain bike and quad bike excursions. The Leobo Reserve predominately has plains game, enabling you to explore the reserve without the threat of predators. Take your safari experience up a notch, and buckle up for a 1-hour helicopter flip over the reserve per day. In the evening there is an option to experience a Hippo campout. Your guide will transfer you to the reserve’s tree-house, equipped with a 4 man tent, just yards away from the grunting hippos. From the safety of the Hippo Deck, you can enjoy an excellent view of the hippos as they emerge from the water to feed on the grass along the banks. If you’re not keen to stay the night, you can visit the deck for a sundowner before returning to the villa for dinner under the night sky followed by stargazing from the private observatory.
Located in Leobo Private Reserve, Leobo Lodge’s award-winning observatory villa sleeps up to 6 adults and 3 children. The villa exclusively accommodates one group at a time and features a private observatory, a sundeck and infinity pool overlooking the reserve, as well as rooftop jacuzzi.
Day 11 marks the end of your South Africa Diamond Safari. After a filling breakfast prepared by your private chef at Leobo Lodge, your driver will meet you to transfer you from Leobo Private Reserve to Johannesburg International Airport for your onward journey home.
Our experts are here to help.
Head office:
7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
Head office: 7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
