Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
Just 45 minutes from Cape Town, Stellenbosch is an enticing Western Cape destination with an exciting culinary scene, photogenic historic buildings, and a youthful atmosphere. The beautiful university town is surrounded by mountains, vineyards, and nature reserves (Jonkershoek and Simonsberg), making it a charming base for wine tours, day trips and outdoor adventure. The town centre is characterised by both a “holiday feeling” - sublime art galleries, award-winning restaurants and alluring boutiques fringe leafy cobbled streets - and a sense of aliveness as students bustle between faculties. Architecture enthusiasts will enjoy the numerous Cape Dutch and Victorian buildings, while music lovers can look forward to world-class classical music concerts at the grand Music Conservatory. Two dreamy botanical gardens (with gorgeous tea rooms under the trees) add to the unique character of this special town.
Located on the edge of the southern Kalahari, Tswalu is the largest private game reserve in South Africa and a visionary regenerative conservation project. From exhilarating predator-prey encounters to rare sightings of some of the most elusive species in Africa, guests enjoy exclusive access to close on 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres) and the guarantee of a private safari vehicle, guide and tracker with every booking. Three luxury safari camps are perfectly positioned to appreciate the dramatic beauty of this semi-arid wonderland of savannah grasslands, red dunes and ancient mountains. Motse, Tswalu's original camp, has nine spacious suites; Loapi is a collection of six private safari homes; and Tarkuni is an exclusive-use homestead with five bedrooms. All offer the ultimate private safari experience. For a long-term conservation endeavour like Tswalu to remain viable takes much more than philanthropy and passion. By supporting nature-based tourism, each guest becomes part of an inspiring conservation story backed by a 30-year legacy of protecting one of southern Africa’s last remaining wild places while positively impacting those who call it home.
Resting at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg, in the beautiful Limpopo Province, the town of Hoedspruit is surrounded by the largest privately-owned conservation area in the world. It is sandwiched between the world-famous Kruger National Park and the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon. Hoedspruit serves as a great base from which to explore the surrounding game reserves and natural attractions. This spectacular landscape features towering cliffs shadowing over enormous stretches of bushveld that give way to marula, acacia and mopane woodlands. Within this wilderness paradise, some of Africa’s most captivating wildlife can be spotted. Visitors can enjoy a number of activities including: Big Five game drives, whitewater rafting, horse riding safaris, visiting the Khamai Reptile Park as well as the Daktari Wildlife Orphanage.
