Against the majestic Table Mountain backdrop, the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town is home to grand hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. It has long been a popular destination for film and modelling shoots. With rich historical and cultural heritage, tours through the township and trips to Robben Island allow guests to learn about the history. Cooking classes and wine and gin tastings are only the start of this captivating city. Narrow, cobblestone streets and the Islamic ambience of the Bo-Kaap enhance the atmosphere. Guided hikes and aquariums show off the wildlife of Cape Town, leaving guests wanting more.
The Cape Winelands are a series of large valleys within the Western Cape Province. They are known for their historic towns, Dutch farmsteads and world-renowned wines. The route consists of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Wellington, where hundreds of farmers cultivate grapes and produce wine. This region is not only home to world-class wineries, but some of the country's best restaurants have also been established here, along with fantastic mountain biking competitions like the Family Cycle Tour. This route is ideal to combine with a self-drive holiday along the Whale Coast or the beach-lined Garden Route.
Umhlanga is an affluent residential and commercial town north of Durban on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Some significant attractions on offer are the impressive Gateway shopping centre and Sibaya Casino. A fantastic variety of tropical fish and coral reefs are found wrapped along the shores, making it a perfect place for diving and snorkelling. An assortment of activities, along with the stunning landscapes, make this city a popular destination. Whether wanting to sit back and enjoy the tranquillity of the area or wanting to experience a diversity of exciting activities, Umhlanga has something to offer everyone.
Imfolozi Game Reserve lies to the north of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The park is home to the Big Five and a variety of other wildlife, including the mysterious Cheetah, Wild Dog, and Hyena. The best viewing is done from hides positioned over waterholes, giving visitors a close-up view of the animals. The park offers day walks, game drives, boat tours on the Hluhluwe Dam and exciting all-inclusive wilderness trails. Today, Imfolozi's White Rhino conservation is world renowned, and its Centenary Capture Centre is setting the bar for sustainable capturing and utilization of wildlife in Africa.
In the northern reaches of KwaZulu Natal, Kosi Bay is a rich network of lakes that make up the final stretch of the South African coastline - a wilderness wonderland that is still largely unexplored. The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve protects much of the area homes various animals such as hippos and crocodiles and a great diversity of marine life. Among activities available in the area are bird watching and game viewing, including close encounters with animals such as elephants and giraffes. Boat excursions allow snorkelling along mangrove banks as you meander through reed channels. A true paradise for all who visit.
Set off the beaten track, the Special Elephant Reserve, referred to as the Maputo Elephant Reserve until 1969, was established in 1960 to protect the elephant population in the region. Now, one of earth's 36 biologically richest and most endangered ecoregions, the Maputo Special Reserve is a crucial component of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and Resource Area. Measuring just under 1,500 km², this expansive region links a mosaic of marine, coastal and inland landscapes that offer significant conservation value and potential for high-value tourism. Home to exquisite lakes, floodplains, mangrove swamps, woodlands, and forested dunes sweeping down to unspoilt golden sand beaches, this beautiful piece of untouched wilderness provides a sanctuary for an extraordinarily diverse array of African wildlife, including impressive flocks of vibrant flamingos and exotic birds. Keep an eye out for leopard, antelope, crocodile, hippo, side-striped jackal, zebra, kudu, baboon and bushpig. It is also renowned for its population of over 400 elephants that graze in large herds on the open floodplains or explore the dense dune forests.
