A tailor made trip to South Africa has all the ingredients of a recipe for a thoroughly enjoyable trip. The diverse landscapes mean that no two places you visit will ever feel the same, so if you don't get round to all the regions on your first trip, it is a great excuse to come back. Popular Western Cape and Cape Town are particularly enticing with Table Mountain, Robben Island and gourmet delights - oh and several wine cellars. Cape Town and the Winelands are also pretty great for a long weekend. For a change of scenery, literally, the Garden Route boasts pristine beaches, lush flora and fauna and copious wildlife. As for the seeing the big five, Kruger National Park and private reserves in the Eastern Cape are where to go. For a city experience the capital Pretoria and Johanesburg can provide a cultural scene in between bush and beach experiences. Lastly KwaZulu Natal, often overlooked, offers a fascinating combination of game reserves, mountains, coastline and Zulu heritage - so a real winner basically. Our Africa team have travelled width and breadth of the country to scout out the best of what South Africa has to offer and here our suggestions of where to go:
Where to go in South Africa
Where to go in South Africa
The Winelands and Cape
Sample the many delights accessible via scenic drives from Cape Town, from wine tasting to whale watching, and countryside retreats.
Cape Town
Surely the ultimate 'winter sun' city break from the UK; endless appeal, and minimal time difference.
Eastern Cape
The second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces is a region of exceptional natural beauty and has so much to offer, particularly for families.
KwaZulu-Natal
Often overlooked but offering a fascinating combination of game reserves, mountains, coastline and Zulu heritage.
Kruger National Park & Sabi Sands
The Kruger is South Africa’s oldest and largest nature reserve, covering an area of 7,700 square miles, roughly the same size as Wales.
Madikwe & The Waterberg
There are many fantastic safari options throughout Africa, but South Africa's Madikwe Game Reserve has the added advantage of being malaria free.
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 destinations
What to do in South Africa
Riding South Africa
The appeal of South Africa’s horseback safaris is that everyone from the tiniest tot to the deeply experienced riding traveller will find something...
Discover the Real Cape Town
We strongly recommend taking advantage of some of the excellent privately guided tours that we can arrange during your stay in Cape Town. There...
Luxury Train Journey From Pretoria to Cape Town
Rovos Rail evokes the style and old age glamour of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express – minus the murder – with subtle modern...
Cape Town Photography Tour
Explore Cape Town through the eye of a lens on a guided photography tour.
uThando Community Projects Tour
Visit some of the townships surrounding Cape Town; in particular visiting a number of social development programmes that are being implemented here.
Showing 1 - 3 of 5 activities
Load moreLuxury Hotels in South Africa
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 hotels
Sort:
Le Quartier Francais
Le Quartier Français is a small, privately owned country inn situated in the heart of the historic village of Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands.
Lion Sands Lodges
Family owned and managed since 1933, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is located along the Sabie River inside the famous Sabi Sands Game Reserve....
Ngala Tented Camp
Ngala Private Game Reserve was the first reserve to be incorporated into the game rich Kruger National Park (all 36,500 acres of it), and the...
Marataba
Marataba is a 57,000 acre private concession in the heart of the Marakele National Park – a malaria-free wilderness in South Africa’s Limpopo...
La Clé des Montagnes
Surrounded by picture-perfect vineyards and orchards, La Clé des Montagnes is a beautiful old Cape Dutch style property which now houses a selection...
Mont Rochelle
Mont Rochelle is a wonderful boutique hotel set on a hill above the historic village of Franschhoek, surrounded by vineyards and mountains. The...
Makanyane Safari Lodge
Makanyane is a luxurious lodge situated in the Madikwe Game Reserve, overlooking the Marico River. Named after the African wild dog in the Tswana...
Leeu Estates
Tucked away on a hillside overlooking the Franschhoek Valley, Leeu Estates offers contemporary, exclusive accommodation within one of South Africa’s...
Settler's Drift
Settler’s Drift is a 5-star luxury tented lodge set amidst the Kariega Nature Reserve – a big five reserve - on South Africa’s Eastern...
The Silo
Occupying a prime spot along the V&A Waterfront, the Silo is one of the most exciting new hotel openings Cape Town has seen in recent years.
Leeu House
Leeu House is located in the heart of Franschhoek and so is ideally located for those who wish to be able to walk to a range of dining and drinking...
Cape View Clifton
The stylish Cape View Clifton is located in Clifton, a beautiful suburb of Cape Town on the Atlantic seaboard between Lion’s Head Mountain...
Morukuru Ocean House
Looking out over the white beaches, rock pools and sand dunes of the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Morukuru Ocean House boasts a fantastic location...
Morukuru Farm House
Located in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve, Morukuru Farm House is a luxurious private property which sits within 100 hectares of safe,...
Ant's Hill
Ant’s Hill is a beautifully unique bush lodge located on a private game reserve in the malaria free Waterberg plateau (an easy three hour road...
Morukuru Owners House
Under the shade of the Morukuru trees and on the banks of the Marico River, Morukuru Owners House is an idyllic private safari house.
Morukuru River House
Morukuru River House is a luxurious private safari home, perched on the edge of the idyllic Marico River banks.
Shamwari Bayethe Tented Lodge
Sitting within the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Shamwari Bayethe Tented Lodge expertly combines luxury with a truly authentic...
Babylonstoren
The traditional Cape Dutch farmstead of Babylonstoren is slap bang in the middle of the Cape Winelands, within easy reach of Franschhoek, Paarl...
Bartholomeus Klip
A Victorian farmstead on its own 10,000 acre private nature reserve, and at the same time a working wheat and sheep farm, all near to Cape Town...
Birkenhead House
Birkenhead House is a luxurious coastal retreat perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, just outside Hermanus – one of the first stops...
Bushmans Kloof
Tucked away in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, Bushmans Kloof offers the freedom to cycle, walk and enjoy outdoor activities surrounded...
Delaire Graff Estate
British jeweller Laurence Graff bought the Delaire estate outside Stellenbosch in 2003, and has expertly combined art, design, food and wine...
Grootbos
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is a five-star 4,200 acre reserve overlooking Walker Bay, just east of Hermanus on the Cape coast. The reserve...
Hawksmoor
There may be smarter places to stay in the Winelands, but we guarantee none have as much character as Hawksmoor.
La Residence
La Residence is a secluded retreat situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, in the heart of the Cape Winelands just an hour from Cape Town.
Grande Provence
Grande Provence Estate is situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley in South Africa’s Western Cape. This is the heartland of South Africa’s...
The Last Word Franschhoek
Formerly a private homestead, The Last Word Franschhoek is an intimate haven in the heart of South Africa’s wine and culinary capital.
Ellerman House & Villas
Ellerman House is perhaps Cape Town’s most exclusive address – a luxury boutique hotel of just eleven rooms (and two seriously lux villas)...
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 hotels
Load moreKey Facts & Useful Links
Language: Afrikaans
Currency: Rand
Visa: Not required however, you must have two facing clear visa pages in your passport (in addition to any amendment/additional pages you have at the back of your passport).
Religion: Christian
Food & Drink: Bobotie – curried minced meat baked with an egg based topping
Time difference:
GMT +2 hrs
Flight from London:
11:30 hrs
Sustainable Tourism in Africa: The Importance of Transfrontier Conservation Areas
![Guest blogger]()
In Africa, conservation is crucial when it comes to protecting ecosystems and the wildlife that live within them. A wonderful example of this is the development of Transfrontier Conservation Areas across Southern Africa. These ecological regions, which cross over country borders, are…
View more on the blog
Bon Appetit! Our Favourite Food Holidays Around the World
![]()
Travel is an activity that activates all the senses - especially the taste buds. Whether it's just-caught lobster in Nova Scotia, a rich and creamy pasta dish in Italy, or a little bit of everything in foodie haven, Melbourne, feasting on local delicacies is a great way to sink your teeth…
View more on the blog
Once in a Lifetime Experiences
![]()
Planet Earth plays host to some seriously epic events. There are those that happen every year, such as Holi Festival (the world's most colourful celebration) and the Great Wildebeest Migration through Tanzania and Kenya (the largest overland migration in the world). And then there are the…
View more on the blog
How to Travel Green
![]()
Green travel, or responsible travel as we like to call it, is becoming increasingly important as we all become more aware of the environmental impact of travelling. Don't worry - this isn't intended to be a preachy blog about how to be the 'perfect traveller'. In fact, an absolutist attitude…
View more on the blog
Our Favourite Gardens From Around the World
![]()
At the risk of sounding terribly middle-aged, we love a good
garden. But where can you find the best (apart from at Monty Don's
house, obviously)? Lucky for you, we've dug up (sorry) a list of
some of our very favourites gardens from around the world…
View more on the blog