One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', boasts 11 official languages, and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches of Cape Town. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or sample some of the world's finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, its untamed wilderness is astonishing: wildlife roams freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park.
Cape Town is a city like no other – a vibrant melting pot alive with creativity, colors, sounds and tastes. Take in a view from above by riding the cable car to Table Mountain or check out the tiny cell Nelson Mandela was kept in on Robben Island. Visit the V&A Waterfront near your hotel, a place for shopping or just hanging out to watch the world go by. Breathtaking natural scenery, long standing cultural heritage and world-class wine production estates characterize an area known as the Wine Lands where you will can taste the wines of the region. Drive through gorgeous scenery and hamlets on the way to Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, a rocky coastline seafarers have respected and feared for hundreds of years. Please check your itinerary for inclusions.
Sharing an unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Nature Reserve is one of Africa’s most prestigious safari destinations and was the first private game reserve established in South Africa. Spanning 65,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, the reserve encompasses rolling savannah, Lowveld woodlands, seasonal riverbeds, watering holes and the perennial Sabi and Sand rivers. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing, Sabi Sand offers some of the best opportunities in Africa to encounter the Big Five, particularly its famous leopard population, as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species. Visitors can enjoy unforgettable game drives, guided bush walks and magical evenings beneath star-filled skies. Combined with some of South Africa’s most luxurious safari lodges, Sabi Sand delivers an unrivalled blend of wilderness, exclusivity and world-class hospitality.
Mozambique beckons with its coastline and swaying palms, its traditions, its cultures, its vibe and – most of all – its opportunities for adventure. This enigmatic southeast African country is well off most travellers' maps, but it has much to offer those who venture here: long, dune-fringed beaches, turquoise waters abounding in shoals of colourful fish, well-preserved corals, remote archipelagos in the north, pounding surf in the south and graceful dhows with billowing sails. Add to this colonial-style architecture, pulsating nightlife, an endlessly fascinating cultural mix and vast tracks of bush populated with elephants, lions and birds galore. Discovering these attractions is not always easy, but it is unfailingly rewarding. Bring along some patience and a sense of adventure, and jump in for the journey of a lifetime.
Santa Maria is a small, remote coastal village on the northern end of Mozambique's Machangulo Peninsula, overlooking the sheltered waters of Maputo Bay and the Indian Ocean. Surrounded by white-sand beaches, dunes, coastal forest and mangroves, it is a laid-back beach destination centred on nature and water-based activities. Travellers can snorkel and dive around the reefs and marine reserve near Inhaca Island, kayak through mangroves, take dhow cruises across the bay or head out for deep-sea fishing. Boat excursions to Inhaca offer opportunities to explore its beaches, reefs and local communities, while seasonal whale watching adds a wildlife dimension. With its beautiful beaches, warm waters and rich marine life, Santa Maria offers a tranquil, off-the-beaten-track escape on Mozambique's southern coast.
