The “Rainbow Nation” is a true star of conservation and sustainable tourism. From Cape Town and classic ‘big five’ safaris, to the lesser-known gems of the Karoo, Overberg, Garden Route, Drakensburg and beyond, South Africa is a land of jaw-dropping natural wonders, lip-licking gastronomy, and life-affirming people.
16 days from £3800 pp
Hike up Table Mountain, take a bike tour through Cape Town, kayak on the open sea, and cycle between vineyards. Continue towards the Garden Route for quad biking, stand-up paddle boarding, river kayaking, a canopy tour, nature walks and various other activities, before finishing your adventure with an active safari . There will be plenty of rest at your boutique hotels along the way, accompanied with South Africa’s famously delicious food and drink.
23 days from £4700 pp
Go deeper on this very special adventure, immersing yourself in the unmissable highlights of Cape Town and the Garden Route, along with drives deep into the relatively unexplored Karoo, a vast region full of historic towns, dramatic valleys, cultural exploration, and off-the-beaten track wildlife viewing. This is perfect as either a self-drive or guided adventure, and allows plenty of time to explore the real South Africa.
13 Days from £4950 pp
Escape the crowds at a gloriously positioned luxury hotel outside of Cape Town, overlooking a wild Atlantic Ocean beach. Take your pick from exploring the city or the stunning Peninsula, before continuing to one of the Winelands most picturesque retreats. Once you’ve toured the vineyards and enjoyed the famous gastronomy, head to a charming lodge in the Overberg to reconnect with nature, ahead of a wonderfully isolated luxury safari experience.
15 days from £9300 pp
Experience the best of South African luxury with 4 nights in Cape Town, 3 in the Winelands and 3 at stunning Grootbos Reserve, before ending with a world-class 4 night safari adventure. Example hand-picked excursions along the way include a Cape Town artist tour, a helicopter ride over Robben Island guided by a friend of Nelson Mandela, and a unique chance to combine horse riding with land-based whale watching. A unique and unforgettable journey!
Probably our favourite city on the planet to visit, Cape Town is an invigorating mix of colour, culture, gastronomy, natural beauty, and living history. From Robben Island to the District Six Museum, Bo Kaap to the Zeitz, via outstanding local food markets and restaurants, we could spend a week here and never be bored.
We wouldn’t normally include a city twice, but the beauty of Cape Town lies in its combination of both cultural and natural wonders. A trip to the top of Table Mountain is unmissable, but we also love the hike to Lions Head for an even more spectacular 360 view back across to it's big sister (pictured) and down to Camps Bay.
One of the world’s great scenic drives, this is a land of untamed primal forest, imposing mountains, pristine beaches, rocky ravines, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, waterfalls and lagoons. You can easily drive the route itself in a few hours, but the point is to stay, explore, and enjoy!
Much like Cape Town’s dramatic setting, what sets this area apart from many great winelands are the stunning mountains standing over the serene green vineyards. These incredible views, accompanied by world-class wine and gastronomy amongst elegant Cape Dutch architecture, makes it a personal favourite of ours.
Two hours from Cape Town is a land dotted with fruit farms, wine valleys, charming towns, and a coastal riviera famous for its marine wildlife. Our partner lodges here offer an immersive combination of walking, cycling, quad biking, kayaking, even horse-riding or stand-up paddleboarding. The choice is yours.
No trip to South Africa could be complete without the iconic safari experience. Whether you’re looking for the Big Five or the elusive Pangolin, focussed on a luxury wilderness retreat or a hands-on conservation experience, this country has a safari option for every possible taste.
Direct flights operate from London Heathrow to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Indirect options are also available, however flying via another country may increase the chance of covid-related cancellations, and also emits more greenhouse gases.
Whilst South Africa is a year-round destination, the best weather in Cape Town, the Winelands, Garden Route and Eastern Cape tends to run from November to April, whilst optimal wildlife viewing on a Kruger, Sabi Sands or Madikwe safari is from May to October.
South Africa has a population of 58 million people, roughly equivalent to that of England and Wales but over an area some 800% larger. Uniquely it has three capitals in Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative), whilst its biggest city and major transport hub is Johannesburg.
Conveniently for those travelling from the UK South Africa is only two hours ahead of GMT, minimising the impact of jet lag.
The South African Rand (ZAR) is the country's national currency.
With restrictions changing regularly, please check updated government advice for South Africa at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
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