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.
Perfectly situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, the quaint heritage town of Swellendam is South Africa’s third-oldest town. It is Idyllically positioned in the scenic Overberg area and serves as an excellent base to explore the magnificent surrounding landscape, including the Little Karoo in the hinterland. The streets are lined with beautifully restored Cape Dutch buildings dating back to 1745. Visitors can explore the Dutch Reformed Church and Drostdy Museum complex, visit the surrounding nature reserves and enjoy the local farm stalls selling an array of locally produced jams, liqueurs and baked goods. Other popular activities include: hiking, kayaking, camping, game viewing, horse riding, and stargazing.
Dotting South Africa’s beautiful southern coast, the resort town of Sedgefield overlooks the mouth of the Swartvlei lagoon on the famous Garden Route. It features long golden beaches and sand dunes that stretch off into the distance in both directions. The town serves as a great base from which to explore the scenic surrounds, which provides a habitat for a treasure trove of varied and beautiful bird species, many of which can be spotted from the numerous hiking trails and bird hides in the area. Other highlights include: sampling fresh oysters, visiting the Pledge Nature Reserve, and exploring the Red Elephant Forest Walk. Visitors can also enjoy a vast range of outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, kite surfing, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking and magnificent scenic cycling routes. Don’t miss the wealth of fantastic farmer’s markets in the area.
Lalibela Wildlife Reserve is located in the malaria-free Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, close to Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant National Park. The reserve spans over 5 ecosystems, resulting in a breathtaking diversity of flora and fauna. Lalibela is proud to be part of a cluster of photographic safari game reserves in the Eastern Cape. Together, they make up the Indalo Protected Environment, which is a legally protected conservation area.
Lalibela is a conservation project that currently consists of 10,500 hectares (approximately 26,000 acres) and is home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard) as well as other predators such as cheetah, brown hyena, jackal and caracal.
Due to vast areas of Savannah Grassland, this biome has by far the highest carrying capacity. This means the reserve is able to sustain vast herds of plains game such as zebra, impala, wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbuck and eland.
An African safari is not complete without 3 primary components – exceptional game-viewing, bespoke accommodation and delicious, wholesome food. At Lalibela, we take special care to ensure that heartfelt service combines with these three ingredients to assure a memorable African safari experience.
