Classic South Africa

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Cape Town.

Cape Town- On arrival, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure. This evening provides the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner at the iconic Gold Restaurant. With cuisine that transports you from Table Mountain to Timbuktu, this is a superb and authentic culinary experience that’s accompanied by a unique cultural experience. Listen to the hypnotic rhythm of the djembe drums and take part in a hand-washing ceremony before your delicious 14-course Cape Malay and African meal is served, with each dish’s origin and heritage explained by the friendly staff. Stay: Townhouse Hotel (or similar). D.

Today promises to be action-filled with a full-day Cape Peninsula tour on the schedule. Weather permitting, your first stop is Table Mountain for a panoramic cable car to the top where you can walk to all the different viewpoints and get some great pictures of the city below. You’ll then head for Hout Bay, passing Camps Bay and Llandudno along the way. Continue travelling over Chapman’s Peak. From here, follow the coast to Cape Point Nature Reserve where you can take the optional funicular up to the Cape Point Lighthouse. Stop for lunch at the local seafood restaurant, then as the day draws to a close, we’ve saved the most endearing sight for last – a trip to Boulders Beach penguin colony. Stay: Townhouse Hotel (or similar).

This morning begins with a tour of Robben Island, a moving experience as you see where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison and hear accounts from ex prisoners. Afterwards, you’ll have to option to return to the V&A Waterfront or your hotel; the rest of your day is free – the perfect opportunity to make the most of Cape Town’s world-class dining, explore the waterfront’s sights or do some souvenir shopping. Stay: Townhouse Hotel (or similar).

Travel to the Cape Winelands to explore various wine estates and have a cellar tour where you can indulge in two wine tastings and snacks. Then, travel on to Stellenbosch. This evening, head out for dinner with your group at a local restaurant. Approx. journey time: 6 hours including Winelands tour and stops. Stay: De Zalze Lodge (or similar).

Today, a special highlight awaits – a journey aboard the Franschhoek Wine Tram. On this hop-on hop-off tour, you’ll make your way through Franschhoek Valley’s vineyard-covered landscapes, with time to savour the views and stops for wine tasting. Today’s lunch is at The Country Kitchen in Sir Richard Branson’s lavish wine estate, Mont Rochelle. Dinner is at your leisure, so you can try Stellenbosch’s acclaimed seasonal dining and try more wine at your own leisure. Stay: De Zalze Lodge (or similar)

Head to the ‘Ostrich Capital of the World’ via Route 62, a beautifully rocky inland stretch known for its wineries. In Oudtshoorn, you’ll learn about the town’s history on a guided tour of the C. P. Nel Museum before going to a local farm to see the town’s most famous residents, the ostrich. After lunch, transfer to your hotel for free time in the evening. Approx. journey time: 6 hours including stops. Stay: Hlangana Lodge (or similar)

Visit the Cango Caves for a guided tour through the incredible fairyland of limestone stalactites and stalagmites. You’ll then follow the coastline to Knysna. Nestled on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, Knysna is surrounded by a paradise of indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. With time free for the rest of the day, you can explore the waterfront and take things at your own pace. Knysna is famous for its oysters (the Knysna Oyster Festival runs annually in April) – perfect if you’re a fan of seafood. Approx. journey time: 2 hours. Stay: aha The Rex Hotel (or similar).

It’s a relaxed morning as you set off on the Featherbed Eco Experience after breakfast. This four-hour experience includes a tour of the privately-owned nature reserve, a ferry trip and nature trail walk, and ends with a delicious buffet lunch at the reserve’s Forest Restaurant. Return to the mainland and have the freedom to explore Knysna on your own. Stay: aha The Rex Hotel (or similar).

You’ll have plenty of time to see some of South Africa’s natural beautiful today as you travel via Plettenberg Bay to Tsitsikamma National Park, which in Khoisan means ‘place of much water’. The park has 49 miles of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain fynbos, and high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. Continue on to Port Elizabeth to check in to your hotel and have a farewell dinner. Approx. journey time: 4-5 hours including stops. Stay: The Beach Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return overnight flight back to the UK, or extend your holiday with a South African safari in the Eastern Cape, or a post-tour beach break on Mauritius’ stunning shores

Stay longer- Mauritius Beach 5 nights. Take some time out post-tour on gorgeous white sand beaches and discover a melting pot of cultures on the idyllic island of Mauritius.

Stay longer- Eastern Cape 2 nights Explore the beautiful bushveld with game drives in the Kariega Game Reserve. In this malaria-free area, you can hope to see the Big Five as you look for wildlife from open-sided vehicles.