Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Your South African Adventure Begins!

Depart Boston for South Africa! Get ready for a journey that brings together cultural discovery, outdoor adventure, and hands-on conservation. From Cape Town’s vibrant neighborhoods to the wildlife of Kruger National Park, you’ll explore new places, connect with local people, and discover the natural world from a different perspective.

Day 2: Welcome to Cape Town!

Arrive in Cape Town, where your local Program Director will welcome you to South Africa! Transfer to your hotel and take time to settle in and refresh after your journey and join your welcome dinner!

Day 3: Table Mountain, Cape Town & Cape Malay Culture

Begin your exploration of Cape Town with a visit to Table Mountain, weather permitting. Take in sweeping views of the city, coastline, and surrounding mountains while discovering the dramatic setting that makes Cape Town so distinctive.

Continue through the city’s historic neighborhoods and landmarks, including Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square, City Hall, and District Six. Visit the Iziko South African National Gallery and consider how art reflects the country’s history and diverse perspectives.

Explore Bo-Kaap’s brightly painted streets and learn about its Cape Malay heritage before enjoying a Cape Malay lunch. Later, spend time at the V&A Waterfront, browsing shops and watching the activity around the working harbor. Gather for dinner at a waterfront restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Day 4: Coastal Kayaking, Penguins & Cape Point

Travel along the scenic Cape Peninsula toward Simon’s Town for a guided coastal kayaking adventure. Paddle through the waters near the penguin colony, conditions permitting, and look for African penguins while learning about their habitat and conservation. Observe the wildlife respectfully from a distance as you enjoy a new perspective on the coastline.

Continue to Cape Point to explore its dramatic coastal scenery and ride the funicular toward the historic lighthouse area. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and take in the peninsula’s landscapes before returning to Cape Town for dinner.

Day 5: Robben Island & Community Connections in Langa

Board a ferry to Robben Island, weather permitting, for a powerful exploration of South Africa’s history. Visit the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent many years of his imprisonment and learn about the experiences of political prisoners during apartheid. The visit offers an opportunity to reflect on human rights, resilience, and the ongoing work of reconciliation.

Return to the V&A Waterfront for lunch before traveling to Langa for a locally guided cultural walking tour. Learn about the community’s history and contemporary life, exploring local creativity and hearing perspectives from the people who call Langa home.

Tonight, celebrate your arrival at Gold Restaurant. Join an interactive African drumming experience before enjoying a multicourse African-inspired dinner accompanied by cultural entertainment. Discover new flavors, connect with your fellow travelers, and share your excitement for the adventures ahead.

Day 6: Journey to Kruger | Your Home for Science & Discovery

After breakfast, transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Skukuza. Upon arrival, meet your guide and travel to the Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative (SSLI) Campus, your home for the next chapter of your South African adventure.

Located within Kruger National Park, SSLI is an education and research campus established through a partnership between South African National Parks, the Organization for Tropical Studies, and the Nsasani Trust. With student bunk rooms, a research laboratory, a library, and equipment such as camera traps, the campus supports university students, visiting researchers, and conservation education.

For high school students, staying here offers an exciting introduction to the world of field science. You’ll live and learn in a setting used for ecological research, connecting classroom concepts with firsthand observations. Through your planned game drives, ranger-led activities, and camera trap investigations, you’ll practice asking questions, gathering evidence, and considering how research helps protect wildlife. It’s an opportunity to explore interests in biology, environmental science, and conservation while building independence and teamwork.

Settle into your accommodations and get acquainted with the campus before joining an essential wildlife safety briefing. Learn how to move responsibly through this environment, respect animals and their habitats, and follow your guides’ instructions.

Gather for dinner and turn in early—the coming days bring early starts, hands-on discoveries, and opportunities to experience the bush as it awakens!

Day 7: Into the Wild | Sunrise Safari & First Discoveries

Rise early for your first game drive through Kruger National Park, with sunrise at Mathekenyane planned as part of your introduction to the landscape. Watch the light spread across the African bush, listen to the sounds of the wilderness, and look for wildlife as your guide helps you become familiar with your surroundings.

Return to camp for breakfast, followed by an introductory talk on the wildlife, ecology, and conservation themes you’ll explore throughout your stay. Ask questions, challenge your assumptions, and begin looking beyond individual sightings to understand the science behind the ecosystem.

After time to rest and recharge, set out on another guided game drive. Learn about the animals you encounter, the habitats they depend on, and the relationships that sustain life in Kruger. Practice observing behavior and recognizing clues in the landscape as each discovery adds to your understanding.

Following dinner, join your group leader for an evening activity on campus. Share your observations, compare memorable moments, and reflect on how your experiences connect to broader questions about conservation and our responsibility to protect the natural world.

Turn in early, ready for another day of exploration and hands-on learning!

Day 8: Into the Bush | Wildlife Tracking, Camera Traps & Conservation

Rise early and join experienced rangers for a guided walk through the African bush. Explore the smaller details often missed from a vehicle, from animal tracks and feeding signs to the relationships between plants, animals, and their surroundings. Learn to interpret these clues and discover what they reveal about life in the wilderness.

Working alongside your rangers, learn how to position and use camera traps to monitor wildlife without disturbing its natural behavior. Discover how these tools help researchers identify species, understand movement patterns, and capture activity that might otherwise go unseen.

Return to camp for a conservation talk exploring wildlife research, ecology, and the challenges facing protected areas. Then join your group leader for an interactive discussion, sharing observations and questions from your fieldwork. Consider how human actions affect biodiversity and how young people can contribute to a more sustainable future.

After lunch and time to recharge, head out on a guided game drive through the Kruger wilderness. Put your growing knowledge into practice as you observe animals in their habitats, recognize connections within the ecosystem, and see how scientific concepts come to life in the field.

Return to camp for dinner and a relaxed evening with your group, ready for another day of discovery.

Day 9: Wildlife Discovery & an Overnight Adventure Under the African Stars

Begin your day at Lake Panic Bird Hide, where quiet observation offers a closer look at Kruger’s remarkable biodiversity. Bring your binoculars and watch for colorful kingfishers, fish eagles, waterbirds, and animals visiting the waterhole. Compare sightings with your classmates and see how many species you can identify!

Back at camp, reflect with your group on your discoveries and the role that research, responsible tourism, and individual choices play in protecting wildlife. Then pack your essentials and prepare for a special experience—an overnight sleep-out in the African bush!

With your rangers and group leaders, make your way to the designated sleep-out site and settle into your outdoor surroundings. As daylight fades and stars begin to appear, gather around the fire for a traditional South African braai. Enjoy a freshly prepared meal, good company, and the atmosphere of an evening in the wilderness.

After dinner, linger around the campfire to share stories, exchange ideas, and reflect on the adventures you’ve experienced together. Away from screens and everyday distractions, listen to the sounds around you and take time to appreciate your connection to this extraordinary environment.

Following your rangers’ guidance, settle in for a night beneath the African sky. Falling asleep to the sounds of the bush offers a completely different perspective on the landscape you’ve been exploring—and a memorable highlight of your South African adventure.

Day 10: Camera Trap Discoveries & Conservation in Action

Wake to the sounds of the bush and enjoy a game drive back to camp. After breakfast, take time to relax and share stories from your overnight adventure.

Later, join your hosts to retrieve the camera traps used during your field activities. Learn how researchers organize and interpret the images to identify species and better understand wildlife activity.

Return to Lake Panic for another opportunity to observe the landscape and reflect on your time in Kruger. After dinner, review the camera trap footage together and discover what happened while no one was watching! Connect the evidence with your own observations and consider how field research helps inform conservation.

Day 11: Farewell to South Africa

Enjoy breakfast before packing up and beginning your journey home. Reflect on the experiences you’ve shared—from exploring Cape Town and learning about South Africa’s history to tracking wildlife and participating in conservation fieldwork.

Transfer to the airport for your return journey, carrying new knowledge, friendships, and a deeper appreciation for the people and ecosystems you’ve encountered.

Day 12: Welcome Home!

Arrive back in the United States with unforgettable memories and fresh perspectives. Return ready to share your discoveries and bring the lessons of cultural understanding, teamwork, and conservation into your own community.