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.
Thornybush Game Reserve lies just five hours’ drive from Johannesburg, near the border with Mozambique, in the beautiful Limpopo Province. Boasting over 12 000 hectares of pristine wilderness, this stunning protected area is characterised by open savannah, woodlands, and shrublands. The park is home to an array of African wildlife, including all of the mighty Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) - as well as giraffe, mongoose, zebra, and the rare and endangered Pangolin. Thornybush is also inhabited by over 500 bird species and offers several bird-focused walks and drives. Visitors can enjoy guided safaris (day or night), luxurious spa treatments, and delicious local cuisine in a breathtaking setting.
Vilankulos is a relaxed coastal town on Mozambique’s Indian Ocean shoreline, best known as the main gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago. Fringed by palm trees and wide sandy beaches, it has a gently worn, working seaside feel where fishing boats pull in with the tide, and dhows drift across blue horizons. Offshore, the Bazaruto islands offer some of southern Africa’s most striking marine scenery, with coral reefs, shifting dunes and clear waters suited to snorkelling, diving and dhow sailing, often alongside sightings of dolphins, turtles and dugongs. Onshore, simple lodges, markets and sandy lanes reflect a low-key pace of life. Salt air, heat and ocean breeze define the sensory experience, while sunsets wash the coast in deep orange and gold. Vilankulos blends relaxed coastal life with direct access to one of the Indian Ocean’s most remarkable marine environments.
