HARI OM!
Due to overwhelming response to the yatra announcement
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
WAITLIST IS NOW OPEN.
CMLA 2022 Yatra to South Africa
under the guidance of Swami Ishwaranandaji
December 7-20, 2022
CMLA Yatra season is back! We are excited to announce Yatra for 2022! Join us in exploring the wilderness in 14 days of South African Yatra (SAY) which includes:
- 2 Full Days of Safari Game Experience, a Visit to Chinmaya Mission in Durban, Victoria Falls, and many other exciting scenic adventures.
- Satsangs with Swami Ishwaranandaji throughout the Yatra
- Yatra covers: Cape-Town, Durban, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg, and Victoria Falls
The Yatra cost is the most affordable and includes:
- Lodging, Boarding, and all park entrance fees
- 5 domestic flights on the Yatra
- Tour guides
Unforgettable Special Highlights
- Enjoy a tour of Cape Town, view the Castle of Good Hope, the Grande Parade and visit Table Mountain
- Tour historic Robben Island*, a World Heritage Site and view the former prison cell of Nelson Mandela ( weather permitting )
- During the Cape Peninsula Tour, visit the Cape of Good Hope reserve and view the penguin colonies at Boulders Beach
- All intra-flights: Cape Town-Durban, Kruger, Johannesburg-Victoria Falls & -Johannesburg
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- A thrilling game drive in an open-vehicle through Kruger National Park
- Visit spectacular Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Enjoy a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River
- Game drive through Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana
- Sunset game viewing cruise on the Chobe River
Eligibility
- This yatra is open only to active Chinmaya Mission members and those recommended by Chinmaya Mission members. Center affiliation and participation will be verified with the resident Swamin of the affiliated center.
- To ensure a safe and convenient yatra for everyone, all yatris must be fully vaccinated and double-boostered by November 1, 2022.
- All yatris should have a valid passport with expiry no earlier than June 30, 2023.
- The final acceptance of registration is at the complete and sole discretion of CMLA Yatra Team.
Itinerary (14 days: Dec. 7-20, 2022)
Yatra commences in Cape Town on Dec. 7th and ends in Johannesburg on Dec. 20th.
All Yatris are expected to arrive in Cape Town on Dec 7th.
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Day 1 Dec 07 22
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Day 1 – December 7, 2022
Cape Town, South Africa (Arrival Day) Upon arrival at Cape Town (CPT) International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will assist you to your transfer. You will be met by your driver for a transfer to your hotel. Check-in and spend the rest of the day on your own. Everyone is expected to attend the group dinner with Swamiji in the evening. Details will be available upon arrival. Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Westin Cape Town |
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Day 2 Dec 08 2022 |
Cape Town, South Africa Breakfast at your hotel. You will be met at your hotel by your driver & guide for a full day Cape Peninsula Tour. Return to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: Westin Cape Town |
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Day 3 Dec 09 2022
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Cape Town, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel. You will be met at your hotel by your driver & guide for a half-day City Tour. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: Westin Cape Town |
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Day 4 Dec 10 2022 |
Cape Town, South Africa to Skukuza, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Meet with your guide for a transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Skukuza. Arrive at Skukuza Airport, the gateway to the Kruger National Park. You will be met by the tour representative and take a 30-minute shuttle service to the hotel. Check in and later in the day, enjoy half-day game drive through Kruger National Park. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Kruger Gate |
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Day 5 Dec 11 2022
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Skukuza, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel. Safari trip to Kruger National Park. Return to your hotel after the full day safari. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate |
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Day 6 Dec 12 2022
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Skukuza, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel. Continue the second day of the full-day safari Return to your hotel after the full day safari. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate |
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Day 7 Dec 13 2022
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Nelspruit, South Africa to Livingston, Zambia Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Meet with your English-speaking guide for a transfer to Nelspruit Airport (1.5 – 2 hours) for your flight to Livingston. Arrive at Livingston Zambia International Airport, where you will be met by your driver for your transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in. Lunch is served at the hotel (arrival time permitting). Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: Pioneers Victoria Falls |
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Day 8 Dec 14 2022
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel for a full day trip in Chobe, Botswana on a seat-in-coach. You will go by road for 70 km to the Botswana border where the local Botswana guide will meet you after immigration procedures. Return to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: Pioneers Victoria Falls |
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Day 9 Dec 15 2022
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Breakfast at the hotel. You will be met by your driver-guide in the hotel reception and depart on your seat-in-coach tour of the Falls. Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Pioneers Victoria Falls |
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Day 10 Dec 16 2022
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Victoria Falls to Livingston to Durban via Johannesburg Breakfast at the hotel and check out. You will be met by your driver for your transfer to Livingston International Airport for your onward flight to Johannesburg to connect your flight to Durban. Transfer from King Shaka International Airport, Durban to hotel. Check in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani |
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Day 11 Dec 17 2022
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Durban, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and will leave by luxury coach for a full day tour of the city of Durban and the traditional Zulu cultural experience. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani |
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Day 12 Dec 18 2022 |
Durban, South Africa to Johannesburg, South Africa
Breakfast at hotel and check out. After breakfast, transfer to airport for taking flight to Johannesburg. On route the transfer from O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to hotel, visit Cambanos & Son Curios, where you will find African artefacts and souvenirs. Check in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation: Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch |
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Day 13 Dec 19 2022 |
Johannesburg, South Africa Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will be met by your guide for a full-day tour to SOWETO and Johannesburg city. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch |
| Day 14
Dec 20 2022 |
Johannesburg, South Africa (Departure Day) Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Shuttle departures as required to O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to connect to your flight home. Meals: Breakfast |
Registration Process & Deadlines
Due to overwhelming response, no more applications are being accepted.
WAITLIST IS NOW OPEN. Submit the waitlist registration form (ONE FORM PER YATRI) at https://tinyurl.com/cmla-yatra-2022.
In order to ensure an enjoyable yatra for everyone, only 60 yatri seats are planned. Help us serve you better by following all instructions.
For yatris who have already registered:
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- Submit the waitlist registration form (ONE FORM PER YATRI). Deadline:Wednesday, June 15, 2022
- Pay the tax-deductible registration fee (mode of payment in next section). Deadline: Thursday, June 30, 2022
- Submit color scans of photo page & last page of passport via email to yatra@chinmayala.org with subject line ‘Yatra 2022: Passport Details – Firstname Lastname’. Deadline: Thursday, June 30, 2022
- Pay the yatra cost (mode of payment in next section). Deadline: Sunday, July 31, 2022
Please note:
- Registration is confirmed only when:
- Yatri has completed Steps 1 & 2; and subsequently
- Registration has been approved by CMLA Yatra Team (sole and final discretion)
Mode of Payment
1. Registration Fee:
A tax-deductible registration fee of USD 500 per yatri. It may submitted in one of 2 ways:
1. Option 1: Make a U.S. bank check payable to ‘CMLA’, write ‘Yatra 2022: Registration fee’ in check memo and mail to:
Attn: CMLA Yatra 2022 Coordinator
Chinmaya Mission Los Angeles
14451 Franklin Ave.
Tustin, CA 92780
2. Option 2: Click here to pay by Paypal via debit card/credit card (non-refundable 2.5% processing fee extra).
If registration fee is not received by CMLA by payment deadline (June 30, 2022), the seat will be released to waitlisted yatris.
2. Yatra Cost:
On Twin / Double sharing: USD 5000 per yatri
On Single / no-sharing basis: USD 6150 per yatri
If complete payment is not received by CMLA by payment deadline (July 31, 2022), the seat will be released to waitlisted yatris.
Please note refund/cancellation rules for registration fee and yatra cost under Cancellation & Refund Policy section below.
Visa Requirements
Tourist visa is not required for U.S. passport holders for this yatra itinerary.
Applicants who wish to stay back longer at the end of the yatra itinerary or travel to other surrounding areas or hold citizenship to another country may contact Rashmin Paleja (rashmin@apremiertravel.net) for visa requirements and application guidance.
Cost Inclusions
- Accommodation on twin / double as specified in the itinerary.
- Meals on full board as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Domestic Flights/Cape Town-Durban-Mpumalanga-Johannesburg-Victoria Falls-Johannesburg.
- Transportation with a (44 seater) qualified driver, for all journeys specified in the itinerary.
- English Speaking Guide.
- Entrance Fees where applicable, for all sightseeing and Game drives as specified.
Cost Exclusions
- International airfare (arrival flight segment into Cape Town and departure flight segment from Johannesburg) and any related fees. Contact Rashmin Paleja (rashmin@apremiertravel.net) for air ticket booking.
- Visa application / fee for non-exempt countries as per South Africa Immigration Services.
- All personal expenses like telephone calls, tips, shopping, laundry, soft/hard drinks etc.
- Any extra services such as extra vehicle / hotel nights / sightseeing tours than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Travel insurance (recommended) covering loss of baggage, change of flight fees due to any reason etc. Contact Rashmin Paleja (rashmin@apremiertravel.net) for purchasing an optional travel insurance policy at additional cost.
- Any services that are not mentioned above in inclusion part.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
All cancellation requests must be provided in writing stating the registered yatri names, either via email to yatra@chinmayala.org or by postal mail to:
Attn: CMLA Yatra 2022 Coordinator
Chinmaya Mission Los Angeles
14451 Franklin Ave.
Tustin, CA 92780
1. Verbal cancellation requests will not be entertained.
2. Registration fee (USD 500/yatri) is refundable only until June 30, 2022, after which it will be non-refundable.
3. Yatra cost is refundable per the below-tabulated cancellation policy. Refund amounts are indicated below, as applicable per the original booking basis and the date the refund request is received by CMLA Yatra Team.
| Date of Receipt of Refund Request
(Yatra Cost only) |
Refundable % | Original Booking
Double Occupancy (USD 5000) |
Original Booking
Single Occupancy (USD 6150) |
| Until July 31, 2022 | 100% | USD 5000 | USD 6150 |
| August 1 – September 30, 2022 | 50% | USD 2500 | USD 3075 |
| October 1 – October 15, 2022 | 25% | USD 1250 | USD 1537 |
| November 1, 2022 onwards | 0% | No Refund | No Refund |
4. Any debit/credit card processing fee is non-refundable.
5. Refunds will be issued by CMLA Finance as a U.S. Bank check; will be made payable to the original payer and sent by U.S. First Class postal mail to the address indicated on the check. Refund processing time will be 4-6 weeks.
6. Cancellation of international flight will be as per the ticketing policy of the airlines; and will not be managed by CMLA.
Queries
For any questions, please email the CMLA Yatra 2022 Team at yatra@chinmayala.org