Safari, Cape Town, Winelands and More: Highlights of South Africa

You can explore the vibrant culture, cosmopolitan ambiance, and rich history of Cape Town at your pace. Stroll along the waters of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where shops and restaurants overlook the passing boats, wander through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden to explore the flora or visit Robben Island that held Nelson Mandela. You can take the scenic cable car to the top of Table Mountain and watch as a layer of drifting clouds known as the “tablecloth” may cloak the peak. On a clear day, you might enjoy a panorama of the entire Cape Peninsula.

Continue to explore the Cape Peninsula to discover the unique beauty of the region. You may wish to travel along Chapman’s Peak Drive to enjoy the scenic coastal route where the sheer face of the mountain plunges into the sea. At Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, you can stop to visit the penguin colony where African penguins take shelter around the white-sand beach and boulders. You can also travel down to Cape Point to view the southernmost tip of Table Mountain National Park. You may also have your first glimpse of the wonders of the wildlife as Cape zebra graze on the windswept grasses.

The Boland outside of Cape Town embodies the superb wine-producing region where mountain ranges that surround the vineyards create distinct microclimates. Your private transfer will take you to Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard to enjoy the picturesque views that sweep from the vineyard to the Klein Dassenberg Mountain, with stops for two tastings along the way. The quiet sounds along the 26-bedroom hotel will create an inviting ambiance in which you can relax near the pool or take to the trails that lead outward from the property. The remaining day is yours to enjoy Franschhoek French roots where art galleries, wine farms, and celebrated restaurants demonstrate eclectic delights.

Luxury and opulence feel innate in Franschhoek where you can access world-class estates. Spend the day cycling, hiking, or embracing the soil with a guided food and wine tour that celebrates the history, culture, and topographical diversity. You can visit a historical winery and sample a straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc with hints of herbs, lime, and green fig or bask in the charm of a family-owned winery where the Shiraz features a smokey palate and hints of violet. For an exciting experience, you can pair wine and food in an elegant manor house for a true sample of local flavor.

The marvelous sandy beaches and spectacular waters of Hermanus will become your focus after your private transfer meets you at the hotel lobby and escorts you to the Harbour House Hotel in the small seaside resort town. Your accommodation sits in the heart of the Old Harbour to accentuate the complementary design of the historic manor house with modern and spacious rooms before you find the terrace with a panoramic view of Walker Bay. At the Old Harbour Museum, old fishing boats adorn the exterior and the trails of Fernkloof Nature Reserve lead to unparalleled views of the water.

Exploring the natural beauty of Hermanus is easy as you will find pristine beaches, charming restaurants, quiet cafes, and exceptional lookouts. As you take time to enjoy the timelessness of the fishermen’s village or sample wines along the Hermanus Wine Route, you can also embrace the town’s reputation as one of the world’s best land-based destinations for whale watching. Southern right whales travel along the coast between June and December as the local population also swells in the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer seasons. You may glimpse a whale breaching or spyhopping as you watch from the shoreline.

Your private transfer will escort you back to Cape Town for your flight to Skukuza Airport located inside Kruger National Park. Meet your guide at the airport and for your first game drive as you travel to the renowned Lion Sands River Lodge inside Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. With your first true safari experience, you may spot a herd of grazing buffalo or a pack of gazelle as you travel into South Africa’s first private nature reserve. The lodge looks over a pristine landscape with a sense of brightness and openness for exceptional panoramas over the active and untamed wilderness.

Look forward to an immersive game drive experience with a safari focused on exploring the private nature reserve’s woodland, dry river bends, and water holes connected to the Sabi and Sand rivers. Your expert guide will lead you through the wilderness as you search for the infamous Big Five for view of lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephants. You may spot giraffe peeking over treetops as they sift through branches in search of ripe leaves. As the scent of grass fills the air, you may find a herd of elephants on the water’s edge finding refuge from the day’s heat.

How you choose to explore the grand expanse of Sabi Sands and greater Kruger National Park will directly affect your overall experience. Your guide can help you meet your goals by searching for certain kinds of wildlife during your game drives and bush walks. Perhaps you hope to catch a cheetah lounging in the sun or a pack of wild dogs playing in the cool morning. In the evening, you can embrace the unobstructed starlight during an exceptional dinner that captures the beauty of your remote position, the luxuries of your lodge, and the wonders of the night sky.

The morning may fill with the sounds of the wild when the animals are most active before the day’s heat sets in. Zebras visit waterholes and lionesses return to their pride. Nocturnal animals often hidden in the darkness like aardvarks and pangolins head back to their burrows. Your private transfer will greet you in the lodge’s lobby and escort you to the airport to begin your journey home. You will have plenty of time to reach Cape Town or Johannesburg bringing an end to your luxurious exploration of South Africa.