Day 1 Monday 17th March 2003 Travel

17h55 Depart New York

Day 2 Tuesday 18th March Arrival Day

Arrival day in South Africa where you are met by your tour leader and transferred to the domestic terminal for your on-forwarding flight to Durban in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province. A late check-in to your hotel followed by a short welcome presentation.

Day 4 Wednesday 19th March At Grassroots level

We spend today in the City of Durban visiting a school of music as well as a drama society or orchestra. Enough time will be allowed for a round of shopping in one or two to of Durban’s markets where "bargaining" is encouraged.

Day 5 Thursday 20th March A day in rural KZN

Today we will visit rural Kwa-Zulu Natal and get a taste of Zulu custom and tradition as well as take in the expansive beauty of the area.

Day 6 Friday 21st March A touch of Safari

This morning we take a flight to Nelspruit in the Mpumalanga province. Here we check-in to a Game Lodge where we will experience an overnight stay in the wild.

Day 7 Saturday 22nd March A bit more Safari

After an early morning game drive, we enjoy breakfast before our onward journey to Johannesburg or Egoli in the Gauteng province. Our evening ends with a visit to one of the city’s popular jazz haunts.

Day 8 Sunday 23rd March Soweto Day

Our day begins with a visit to the surrounding townships, products of the apartheid system, which have a very deep and interesting history. The latter part of the day includes a visit to world-famous Soweto popularised by the 1976 student uprising. Dinner will be at a former shebeen or tavern.

Day 9 Monday 24th March Meet the Industry

Today is spent in Johannesburg visiting a musician’s union as well as one of the country’s oldest recording companies. The evening is spent taking in a theatrical production at one of the city’s playhouses.

Day 10 Tuesday 25th March Pretoria

The administrative capital of the country, Pretoria, awaits us today. Here we will visit the historic Union Buildings and also be hosted by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. We also visit the area called Marabastad and immerse ourselves in the marabi musical genre and culture.

11 Wednesday 26th March Jumpin' Jazz Train

Early check-out of our hotel today and a bit of shopping before we board the Jumpin' Jazz Train at Park Station

Experience a 26- hour fun-filled train journey to Cape Town in the company of an array of North Sea Jazz Festival musicians as well other aficionados.

 

Day 12 Thursday 27th March The Mother City

Still aboard the train and still having fun, we arrive in Cape Town just after lunch. By this time the Mother City will be abuzz with the excitement of the North Sea Jazz Festival happening this weekend. We check into the 5-star Cullinan Hotel. (evidently this is also the venue where all artists are staying as well as the venue for the much envied "after party or afterglow" – you will be there! Tonight we attend the North Sea warm-up, a free concert held at the Waterfront Ampitheatre where local as early arriving musicians will be showcased.

Day 13 Friday 28th March North Sea Jazz Festival

Today you may do one of the following: attend a Master Class of your choice/visit Robben Island/do a Winelands Tour/play golf in the North Sea Jazz Festival Golf Tournament/a funicular trip up Table Mountain

At sundown it’s showtime as the Festival kicks off with some of the world’s famous international acts. Here you are free to move between four different stages/acts at any given time depending on your preferences. This, of course, precedes the late night "afterglow"

Day 14 Saturday 29th March North Sea Jazz Festival

Today the same options apply: attend a Master Class of your choice/visit Robben Island/do a Winelands Tour/play golf in the North Sea Jazz Festival Golf Tournament//a funicular trip up Table Mountain

At sundown we do it all over again (with different artists, of course). Not forgetting the "afteglow"

Day 15 Sunday 30th March Cape Point Tour

At mid-morning we clear the head with a tour of the "Struggle Monuments" of the Cape Flats. After lunch we journey through the seaside villages of Kalk Bay and Simonstown on to Cape Point, situated at the most south-westerly point of Africa.

Day 16 Monday 31st March Development Projects

Today we visit the District Six site and Museum, an area which fell foul of the apartheid system’s Group Areas Act. We spend this time in the company of a few musicians who lived in the area. From here we move on to the development projects situated within the townships. Our day ends with a Gala farewell dinner as well as a late night visit to a jazz jamming session.

Day 17 Tuesday 1st April SA Departure Day

Our final day includes last-minute shopping and a transfer to the airport. Hugs and wishes before departure

Email us your comments or questions at cnconfer@icon.co.za

z z z z z