10-day Royal South Africa

Game drives are the signature activity on any African safari. On game drive, guests head out on a 10 seater specialised safari Land Rover with an expert ranger and tracker. The vehicles are optimised for game viewing and at Royal Malewane we take a maximum of 6 on each vehicle for optimal comfort. To view game is to lose yourself in a powerful and startling drama. During a game viewing excursion, your senses sharpen, excitement grows, you draw close to the most remarkable animals as they hunt, play and sleep. Game drives at Royal Malewane are tailored to suit your interests, so you can track your favourite animal or see the birds, flowers or trees that you love most.

On a typical day on safari, guests will be woken by their ranger before sunrise. Sunrise and sunset are times when many animals are at their most active before and after the heat of the day arrives and chases much of the wildlife into repose. After a quick cup of coffee and a light snack, the morning game drive begins. Game drives usually last between 3 and 4 hours. After morning game drive, guests will be served a hearty breakfast following which guests can relax or enjoy other activities. Afternoon game drives set off at around 4pm and often go on after dark so that guests can see some of Africa's nocturnal creatures. Guests will return to camp for a sumptuous dinner under the stars if the weather permits.

For those that want to get even closer to nature, our highly qualified rangers and trackers will lead guests on foot through the wild African bush. Stroll among the Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos) and glean rare insights into our natural world, focusing not only on animals, but on the biodiversity of habitats and plant life. Bush walks generally leave after breakfast and your early morning game drive.

The award winning Waters of Royal Malewane Bush Spa located at Malewane Lodge is a magical and tranquil space in complete harmony with the natural surroundings. Enjoy a relaxing massage or a pampering beauty treatment. For a more romantic experience, couples can enjoy the Moroccan sunken baths.

A visit to the local community is inspiring, humbling and educational. The Royal Portfolio believes passionately in community involvement and upliftment. At Royal Malewane we therefore decided to focus on children and education. Our mission was to create a meaningful change in the lives of the children of the Sigagule Crèche, by creating an environment where they could learn and have fun in a safe and healthy environment. Transfers for all guests to Sigagule are free of charge.

The Sigagule Crèche had 86 pupils who were housed in a class room only big enough for 30 children and who only receive a grant from the Government sufficient to feed 38 children. They had no running water on the property and two very primitive toilet facilities.

Royal Malewane with the help of very generous donations from our guests have been able to complete a number of critical improvements at the school.

Discover a spa in the heart of the African bush, surrounded by water and located at Royal Malewane's third luxury lodge, Waterside. Experience tranquillity and rejuvenate your senses with specialised spa treatments focusing on balance between body and mind. If you’ve come to Africa to feel nature’s pulse, this is an ideal way of tuning your body to the right frequency. Reflections Spa has three treatment rooms (one of the rooms is a double) and a Hammam – a hot steam bath followed by a massage. There is also a yoga room and gym at Waterside.

This is our most popular external activity - a spectacular flight over some of the most scenic areas in the country like the Blyde River Canyon, Gods Window and the Pinnacle. En route we fly over some of the breathtaking waterfalls renowned in the area (which are even better in the summer months after the rains) like the Mac Mac, the Lisbon and Berlyn Falls. We stop at a private picnic spot where guests can experience the ambiance and are close to nature while enjoying their meal. Departs from the Royal Malewane Airstrip (15 minutes from Malewane Lodge).

Royal Malewane is situated in the wild and beautiful Greater Kruger National Park. The exclusive Leopard Creek Country Club, with its innovative course designed by Gary Player, is located on the southern border of the Kruger Park. Every hole is as picturesque and exciting as the other with the Crocodile River acting as an unusual water hazard on Leopard Creek's signature hole, the par-5 13th. A scenic helicopter flight to the golf course, personalised fitting of golfing equipment and the chance of sighting animals on the course makes for a truly memorable round.

The horse trails are conducted on the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. The reserve is home to a vast variety of birds and animals such as giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, impala and many other plains game. Beginners, intermediate and advanced riders are welcome. The excursion is around one and a half hours and you will be transferred by road to the Wildlife Estate which is 45 minutes from Malewane Lodge. The ride follows game paths, through riverbeds.

Take a stunning cruise on the Blyde Dam situated in the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon. The cruise includes a light lunch or picnic on board and an opportunity to learn about the geology, wildlife and biology of this unique area. The cruise lasts about an hour and a half and departs after morning game drive and breakfast.

Situated in the shadow of the majestic “Mariepskop” this unique conservancy is home to many wild animals. A visit to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation centre is an unforgettable experience. A wide variety of birds and animals can be seen here, where Brian Jones and his team nurture the injured and orphaned, rehabilitating them for release back to the wild wherever possible. Those that are not so fortunate, due to the nature and extent of their injuries, are cared for in captivity to educate the many people who visit Moholoholo each year.

Guided tours through the Centre bring visitors in close contact with both common and rare species such as the Crowned and Martial eagles, Owls & Vultures as well as Serval, Wild Dogs, Lions, Leopard and many other animals and birds.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at Moholoholo contributes to the conservation of endangered species and the rehabilitation of injured and poisoned wildlife. Moholoholo also facilitates a number of successful breeding programs.

The Silo Hotel offers wonderful private art tours that allow guests the opportunity to learn about the incredible African art scene and to celebrate the incredible artists and their work. Widely recognised as one of the best art hotels in the world (by the likes of Forbes and The Telegraph), The Silo Hotel houses a remarkable collection. Vibrant colours shine through as the contemporary artwork and eclectic design of Liz Biden contrast Heatherwick Studio’s stark industrial architecture.

Situated below The Silo Hotel lies the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the world's largest contemporary African art museum. This incredible space is a momentous mark on Africa’s cultural canvas, an exciting new era for African artists, and a remarkable achievement for our beautiful continent. This public, not-for-profit contemporary art museum collects, preserves, researches, and exhibits twenty-first century art from African and its Diaspora. Containing over 100 galleries, spread over nine floors, this exquisite space houses a diverse and unique range of contemporary African art. Various tours of the museum are available, including AfriSam Audio Tours, Art Tours, Architectural Tours, and Children’s Tours.

The Silo Spa, located on the fourth floor of The Silo Hotel, has five treatment rooms, two of which can be made into a couple’s room. The Silo Spa is a tranquil space in which guests can relax and indulge in the latest therapies and spa techniques. There’s also a gym, sauna and a dedicated manicure and pedicure area. Enjoy signature treatments using top international products including Ling and Black Pearl. The Silo Spa is the only spa in Africa to use exclusive Ling products.

Robben Island, easily seen from the rooftop of The Silo Hotel, is situated only 9kms offshore from Cape Town. The island was declared a World Heritage site in 1999 because of its historic political importance, having been the forced home of Nelson Mandela for 18 of the 27 years that he was a political prisoner of the apartheid regime. It is advisable to allow us to pre-book this very popular tour for you. Allow half a day for this tour.

Table Mountain is a great source of pride to all Capetonians. At 260 million years old it is older than the Andes, the Rockies, The Himalayas and the Alps, and was once under the sea. It was recently crowned as the seventh natural wonder of the world. A four minute cable car ride will take you to the 1067m “table top”, with spectacular views on the way up.

Cape Town has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches on offer. Clifton Beaches: there are four Clifton beaches, each as beautiful as the others – pack your sunscreen, a cap, some water and your Frisbee. Camps Bay: the palm fronds of Camps Bay make for the most dramatic sunset pictures – a great spot for cocktails or a bite to eat. Muizenberg: head down to the Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg and take a surfing lesson with the local experts. Cape Point & Boulders Beach: explore the Cape Peninsula and see the fascinating penguins of Boulder’s Beach on a wonderful day trip from Cape Town. Please ask a member of our team should you need directions or transport.

The best place to experience Cape Malay cuisine is on a walking tour through the Bo-Kaap (Above The Cape) District in Cape Town, an area with steep cobblestone streets and brightly-coloured houses where former Cape Malay slaves settled in the early 19th century. Stop to enjoy a local Bobotie, Sosatie, Koeksister or Cape Malay Curry for lunch whilst learning about the rich heritage of the Cape Malay people who live there.

Franschhoek is known as the ‘Food and Wine Capital of South Africa’ and for good reason. Although the list varies year-to-year, up to 8 of South Africa’s ‘Top 100’ restaurants are based in Franschhoek. Despite its tiny size, the town boasts an incredible range of snug cafés and stylish restaurants with every style of food on offer. From traditional English pub food to classic bistro fare, superb wood-fired pizzas to sumptuous sushi, this gourmet dining town has it all.

If you feel like venturing into the village, a complimentary transfer service from La Residence is available to take you to one of the many, award-winning, Franschhoek restaurants.

Whether you are a connoisseur with your own cellar or an enthusiastic newcomer to the wonderful world of wine, wine tasting in Franschhoek offers a unique experience for wine lovers. Explore boutique wineries or experience a private tasting with an expert sommelier.

Wine-making has an illustrious 300-year old history in the Franschhoek Valley and the oldest family-owned wine farms are worth visiting for their quaint architecture and beautiful vineyards alone. There are so many different ways to enjoy wine tasting - eight in fact. On horseback, on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, on a Harley Davidson, by helicopter, on a guided wine tour, at La Residence, on bicycles or simply on foot. A complimentary transfer service is available at La Residence to escort you to any of the local estates.

On a hot summer’s day, enjoy a cooling dip in the magnificent infinity pool or recline on a comfortable sun-lounger between the palm trees, under a shady umbrella.

But for the ultimate relaxation, pamper yourself with a massage in the spa treatment room. The La Residence Spa offers a wide range of treatments and massages including the signature Pinotage treatments which use organic grape products in a variety of beneficial ways.

The Wemmers River is packed with wild brown trout and rainbow trout. La Ferme rents out fly fishing equipment for you to use in the river or in one of their trout dams. If fly-fishing is not your thing, spinning tackle is available to use in one of their bass dams.

South Africa is producing some of the world’s most sought after wines. Many of those top rated tipples are produced in remote and spectacular locations as leading winemakers search far and wide for the ultimate terroir. There is no finer way to experience the rich diversity and breathtaking beauty of the Cape Winelands than by helicopter. We have carefully crafted three distinct helicopter routes which will allow you to sample the diverse expressions of South Africa’s top varietals:

- The Swartland & The Hemel en Aarde Valley
- Stellenbosch & Elgin
- Constantia & Cape Point

Indulge in the ‘chocolate experience’ at Huguenot Fine Chocolates, a local boutique chocolaterie. The half hour tour includes the story of chocolate, a chocolate making demonstration, and a chocolate tasting.

Whether you'd like a lazy pedal through the village or a strenuous hike up Mont Rochelle, La Residence is filled with quaint architecture and is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Hiking and mountain biking are wonderful ways to work up an appetite for the exceptional local gastronomy.

There is no shortage of art galleries and pottery studios in the Cape Winelands. Whether you are looking to purchase, or just to admire, we can direct you to a number of excellent galleries. La Motte, which is a wine estate nearby to La Residence, is home to a wonderful little gallery dedicated to JH Pierneef - one of South Africa's most famous artists.

This is a must for any car enthusiast. The museum is on L’Ormarins wine estate and houses an impressive collection of over 100 collector’s cars from an 1898 Beeston Motor Tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo.

There is a wealth of world-class golf courses to choose from in the Cape Winelands. Pearl Valley Golf course, host to the South African Open Championship three years running is a mere fifteen minutes drive from Franschhoek.