SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is the country most often described as having everything, and for once the cliché holds up. The private reserves bordering Kruger offer some of the finest Big Five safari on the continent, while the southern coast holds its own with marine life such as whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, and penguins. Cape Town is one of the great food cities of the southern hemisphere, sitting beneath Table Mountain in a setting that borders on unfair. The winelands of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch have been producing mighty fine wines since the seventeenth century. And running beneath all of it is a national history that the best guides will help you connect with and truly understand. South Africa rewards almost every kind of traveler, and the only real mistake is trying to see all of it at once.
A Taste of What's Possible
Encounter the Big Five in one trip
Cycle around the picturesque Winelands to sample wines with boutique winemakers
Visit some of Johannesburg’s top galleries with a local curator or artist
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
Cape Town
01
One of the great cities of the southern hemisphere sits beneath Table Mountain in a setting that almost no other city can match — ocean on one side, mountains behind, vineyards an hour out, and a food scene that has quietly become one of the most exciting in Africa.
Hermanus
02
The coastal town two hours from Cape Town is one of the best land-based whale-watching spots on the planet, where southern right whales come close enough to the cliffs that you can watch them breach without leaving dry land.
Private Game Reserves
03
The conservancies bordering Kruger offer the finest safari in South Africa, with unfenced access to Big Five wildlife, expert rangers, and the kind of intimacy and flexibility that the national park itself cannot match.
Sample Itinerary
Culture, Wine & Wildlife: A Luxury Adventure Through South Africa
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town and private transfer to your luxurious accommodations in the city center.
Day 2:After a morning at the iconic Table Mountain, head out on a walking food adventure through Cape Town’s vibrant streets, stopping to taste bites at local establishments that tell the story of this fascinating city’s history, culture and people.
Day 3: Venture out of the city along the panoramic Chapman’s Peak Drive and head to Cape Point National Park for dramatic scenery at the southern tip of the continent. Round out the excursion at Boulders Beach and watch African penguins as they frolic in the waves.
Day 4: Today you’ll head further down the coast by car to Grootbos Nature Reserve, a luxurious eco-reserve in Gansbaai. Settle into your peaceful lodge tucked between forest, mountains, and sea.
Day 5-6: Two full days to immerse in the natural beauty of the reserve, choosing from a variety of guided experiences including horseback riding, nature walks, birdwatching, marine and coastal drive, and whale watching.
Day 7: Leave the ocean behind as you continue inland by car to South Africa's Winelands. Stroll through charming Franschhoek’s shops, galleries, and cafes before checking into your lovely vineyard estate.
Day 8: Enjoy a full day visiting and exploring the country’s principal wine routes of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, indulging in fine wines at local vineyards and taking in spectacular scenery along the way.
Day 9: Return to the Cape Town airport in time for your flight to Skukuza. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodations in the magnificent Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. Head out on your first private safari with your game ranger in search of The Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, elephants, and more.
Days 10-11: Relish in two full days immersed in the magic of Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a private conservancy that shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. Enjoy a private game drive each morning at sunrise and again in the late afternoon, giving you the incredible opportunity to observe a wide range of animals in their natural habitats under the expert guidance of your safari ranger.
Day 12: Fly from Skukuza Airport to Johannesburg or Cape Town and connect to your onward flight home.
