Dino Dig – A Fossil Finding Odyssey to Africa, October 2024
$ 5000
/ per person
(0 Reviews)
Ready to dig the Great Karoo Landscape?
HOSTED BY:
Safari Odyssey l Ancient Odysseys l Genus Africa
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Destination
Tour Plan
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DAY 1: Arrival Day – Overnight in Johannesburg, South Africa
- DAY OF ARRIVAL: OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
- TRANSFER: You will be met upon arrival by your tour Representative and transferred to your next destination.
- LUNCH: Lunch at the WITS Club (located at the WITS University).
- AFTERNOON ACTIVITY: Visit to WITS University for a private tour of a dinosaur fossil collection with Prof. Jonah Choiniere whose research interests include Dinosaurs, Triassic, Jurassic, Systematics & Fossils. Time permitting you will also enjoy a tour of the WITS Origins Centre with Dr Tammy Hodgskiss, Curator of the Origins Centre.
- DINNER: Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant at the Mandela Square.
- OVERNIGHT: Sandton eg. The Garden Court Sandton City (3*) or The Da Vinci Hotel Sandton (5*) .
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DAYS 2, 3, 4 & 5: Dr Julien Benoit, Bethulie (fossil excavations)
- BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer from your hotel to O.R. Tambo International Airport.
- FLIGHT: Morning flight from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer from Bloemfontein Airport to Bethulie.
- LUNCH: Lunch will be served at the hotel after check-in.
- DAILY ACTIVITIES: Day 2 starts in the company of Dr Julien Benoit who will share a presentation on the planned excavation activities during your visit to Bethulie l Days 3, 4 & 5 are full day digs! Packed lunches included daily.
- DINNER: At the hotel or at a local restaurant.
- OVERNIGHT: 4 Nights in Bethulie at the The Royal Hotel.
- ADDITIONAL ATTRACTIONS IN BETHULIE: About Bethulie l Anglo Boer War Concentration Camp l Pellissier House Museum l Hennie Steyn Bridge l The Mission Building.
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DAYS 6 & 7: Prof Jennifer Botha, Bethulie (fossil excavations)
- BREAKFAST: Served at the lodge in Bethulie.
- AM ACTIVITY: Presentation by Prof Jennifer Botha on your time spent in her company and excavation activities.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer to the Oviston Nature Reserve.
- ACTIVITIES: Day 6 & 7 are filled with excavations, located within the Oviston Nature Reserve, under the auspices of Prof Jennifer Botha. Time permitting enjoy some late afternoon entertainment activities available in and around Bethulie.
- LUNCHES: Picnic styled packed lunches to be enjoyed on site.
- DINNER: At the hotel or at a local restaurant.
- OVERNIGHT: 4 Nights in Bethulie at the The Royal Hotel.
- ADDITIONAL ATTRACTIONS IN BETHULIE: About Bethulie l Anglo Boer War Concentration Camp l Pellissier House Museum l Hennie Steyn Bridge l The Mission Building.
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DAY 8: Prof Bruce Rubridge – Graaf Reinet (fossil excavations and collections)
- BREAKFAST: Served at the lodge in Bethulie.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer from Bethulie to Graaf Reinet in the Great Karoo.
- LUNCH: Lunch at the hotel or local restaurant.
- PM ACTIVITIES: Orientation and overview of Karoo fossil landscape with Prof Bruce Rubridge.
- LEISURE TIME: A late afternoon visit to the Valley of Desolation within the Camdeboo National Park, a time when the valley is at its most beautiful.
- DINNER: A picnic and sundowners will be served as dinner at one the picnic sites of the Valley of Desolation.
- OVERNIGHT: 3 nights Graaf Reinet eg. Langhuis Guesthouse l Drostdy Hotel l Die Wingerd B & B
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DAY 9: Prof Bruce Rubidge - Private Tour of Fossil Collections in New Bethesda
- BREAKFAST: Served at the lodge in Graaf Reinet.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer from Graaf Reinet to New Bethesda.
- LUNCH: Enjoy a leisurely local luncheon upon arrival.
- ACTIVITIES: Activities for the day include a private tour of Prof Rubridge’s Grandfather’s fossil collection, followed by a visit to the Kitchings Fossil Exploration Centre and finally the most exciting Owl House . . . "Where History & Art Meet", iconic to New Bethesda's local attractions!
- TRANSFER: Return transfer to Graaf Reinet.
- DINNER: To be enjoyed back in Graaf Reinet at the hotel or local restaurant.
- OVERNIGHT: 3 nights Graaf Reinet eg. Langhuis Guesthouse l Drostdy Hotel l Die Wingerd B & B
- ATTRACTIONS IN NEW BETHESDA: The Owl House l The Helen Martins Museum l Bethesda Arts Centre of the First People l The Bushmans Heritage Museum l Felters l Dustcovers Book Store l Infinity Gallery l Reinethuis Honey Company and Honesty Shop l Ware on Earth Ceramic Gallery and Studio
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DAY 10: Prof Bruce Rubidge - Prospecting & Fossil hunting in New Bethesda
- BREAKFAST: Served at the lodge in Graaf Reinet.
- TRANSFER: Road Transfer from Graaf Reinet to New Bethesda.
- AM ACTIVITY: Prospecting and fossil hunting of mammals, reptiles with Prof Rubridge.
- LUNCH: Afternoon at leisure as you wonder around the village of Graaf Reinet.
- AFTERNOON: At leisure
- DINNER: Group dinner with Prof Rubridge.
- OVERNIGHT: 3 nights Graaf Reinet eg. Langhuis Guesthouse l Drostdy Hotel l Die Wingerd B & B
- ATTRACTIONS IN AND AROUND GRAAF REINET: The Bushman Heritage Museum l Imibala Trust l Boundless l Wellwood Farm l Genora Guest Farm l Kalk Kop Crater l Obesa Cacti Museum l Samara Private Game Reserve l Camdeboo National Park l Windmill Junction Gifts l Reinet Antiques l McNaughtons Bookstore l John Rupert Theatre l Dutch Reformed Church l The Reinet House Museum l - Hester Rupert Art Museum l The Recollection Village Museum l The Old Residency l Old Library Museum l GRT BreweryAfrikaans Rum Tasting Gin
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DAYS 11 & 12: Amakhala Private Game Reserve in the Greater Addo area
- BREAKFAST: Served at the lodge in Graaf Reinet.
- TRANSFER: Road tour from Graaf Reinet to The Amakhala Private Game Reserve. This transfer is a tour this time around as our group will be accompanied by Prof Rubridge as he provides insight of the area that we will be travelling through en-route to our final destination for the day.
- LUNCH: Days 11 & 12 include a delicately prepared meal set amongst rugged African bush!
- DAILY ACTIVITIES: Days 11 & 12 includes a morning and afternoon game drive within the Big 5 landscape of the Amakhala Private Game Reserve, which, BY THE WAY, has a dinosaur fossil site of its own!.
- DINNER: Days 11 & 12 dinners will be delectable, allowing for a gourmet experience second to none!
- OVERNIGHT: 2 Nights @ The Amakhala Private Game Reserve, eg. Woodbury Tented Camp / Bush Lodge / Bukhela Game Lodge.
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DAY 13: Last day – Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg
- ACTIVITY: AM Game drive at Amakhala Private Game Reserve.
- BREAKFAST: Breakfast at Amakhala Private Game Reserve.
- TRANSFER: Morning drive from Amakhala to Port Elizabeth.
- LUNCH: Lunch stop in Sardinia Bay.
- PM ACTIVITY: 1 or 2-Hour visit to Sardinia Bay Beach.
- TRANSFER: Road Transfer from Sardinia Bay to the Port Elizabeth Airport.
- FLIGHT: Port Elizabeth to OR Tambo Johannesburg. Departing @ 17h25pm out of Port Elizabeth and arriving at OR Tambo @ 19h10pm.
- OVERNIGHT: Johannesburg or flight out home-bound.
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ADD ON DAYS 13 & 14: Two Days' Dig Experience with Prof Rob Gess in Grahamstown
- ACTIVITY: Early morning game drive at Amakhala Private Game Reserve.
- BREAKFAST: Served at the Amakhala Private Game Reserve.
- TRANSFER: Road transfer from Amakhala Private Game Reserve to Grahamstown.
- LUNCH: Lunch at the hotel or local restaurant in Grahamstown.
- ACTIVITIES: Orientation with Rob Gess. Day 13 will be spent at Waterloo Farm as well as a lab tour for soft tissue in collections. Day 14 includes a half-day in Bathurst - splitting rocks which have uncovered Devonian and earliest 4 legged creatures. The afternoon takes you to Alexandria - to uncover marine invertebrate and possibly also see Devonian / Bokkeveld material-trilobite.
- DINNER: Includes a welcome dinner with Rob Gess and a special farewell group dinner on the last evening of your tour!
- OVERNIGHT: 2 nights Grahamstown eg. Retief House.
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DAY 15: Last day – Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg
- BREAKFAST: Served at the hotel in Grahamstown.
- TRANSFER: Morning drive from Grahamstown back to Port Elizabeth.
- LUNCH: Lunch stop in Sardinia Bay.
- PM ACTIVITY: 1 or 2-Hour visit to Sardinia Bay Beach.
- TRANSFER: Road Transfer from Sardinia Bay to the Port Elizabeth Airport.
- FLIGHT: Port Elizabeth to OR Tambo Johannesburg. Departing @ 17h25pm out of Port Elizabeth and arriving at OR Tambo @ 19h10pm.
- OVERNIGHT: Johannesburg or flight out home-bound.
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