Cape Town, Winelands, Whale Coast & Madikwe

Arriving at Cape Town International airport, you collect a rental car and your adventure begins. The Mother City's iconic Table Mountain rises into view as you leave the airport, drawing you to its graceful slopes in the heart of the city where Kensington Place awaits. This award-winning boutique hotel is set in the exclusive enclave of Higgovale at the base of Table Mountain, a short drive from all the city’s main attractions.   Two full-day escorted tours - one of the city and Robben Island, and the other of the nearby Constantia Winelands - are built into the itinerary, and you have plenty of time spare to do as much or as little as you like. If you feel energetic, hike up Table Mountain or Lion’s Head for grand mountain and ocean views, stroll through the city to explore museums and coffee shops, or shop for African artefacts at the ever-popular V&A Waterfront. The golden beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay tempt sun worshippers to simply laze on a lounger, lunching at nearby eateries.  

Since you have your own transport, the entire Cape Peninsula is open to you. You discover how quickly the big city buzz falls behind as you head out of town, replaced by the rhythmic tumble of waves on a quiet shore, murmuring breezes and birdsong. Venture to the dramatic landscapes of Cape Point Nature Reserve, taking front-row seats to the penguin’s playground at Boulders Beach along the way. There are working harbours and fishing villages to explore, soaking up the blue-ocean views and warm welcomes.   When evening falls, be sure to catch the sublime Camps Bay sunset, cocktail in hand, before trying out one of Cape Town’s award-winning restaurants that evening.  

On your second night, saddle up for an exciting but gentle 3-hour meander through the historic streets of Cape Town. Leaving from the V&A Waterfront, you cycle past the soaring Cape Town Stadium and down into the Company's Gardens, which are home to Parliament as well as the South African National Gallery (and plenty of squirrels!). From there, head along vibrant Long Street to old-world ambiance of the Bo-Kaap, a traditional Malay enclave.  

After your final breakfast at Kensington Place, head into the heart of the Cape Winelands to check into the glorious Babylonstoren Hotel, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in South Africa. Tucked away in the alpine Drakenstein Valley between the classic Wineland towns of Franschhoek and Paarl, this elegant hotel features a beautiful (and famous) fruit and vegetable garden, luxurious spa and superb restaurant.  

Take the pace of your days down a notch or two. Breathe in the herb-scented air as you wander through the farm’s rolling vineyards and blossoming orchards. The food at Babylonstoren is exceptional and, with 300 species of edible plants spanning its eight acres, you can expect garden-fresh and local produce, paired with some of the country’s best wines from the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains.  

The hotel is situated on a wine estate with cellar tours on offer and fine wines to buy. The garden tour is especially popular: wander amid the lush greenery of this fertile area, accompanied by enthusiastic gardeners and sampling plenty of wine along the way. Escape the midday heat with a dip in the pool or spoil yourself in Babylonstoren's decadent spa, where modern and classic treatments blend to pamper your body and soothe your soul. Work off the very fine dining at the hotel’s gym or head into the great outdoors for hiking, canoeing and cycling. On day seven, you and your partner will enjoy a private guided full-day tour of the area's foodie delights. Work your way through three food-and-wine pairings, a stand-alone wine tasting and sample some of South Africa's best chocolate, cheese and biltong (air-dried meat) amid inspiring sculpture gardens.

Your journey continues from the Winelands to the rugged Cape coastline and charming town of Hermanus. This seaside spot is famous for the annual gathering of mighty southern right whales in its shallow bay between August and October. These gentle giants flirt, mate and even calf here, giving Hermanus its global reputation as a key whale-watching site.  

Luxurious Birkenhead House welcomes you to its magnificent cliff-top setting overlooking Walker Bay. Contemporary, stylish design and interesting, opulent furnishings make this hotel a haven of comfort you may feel hard pressed to leave. The sun deck’s loungers offer a perfect spot for gazing out over the ocean, with its intensely aquamarine water and, in whale season, the telltale tail flukes of southern rights at play or the powerful crash of a breeching male. Perfectly located to explore one of the most rewarding and diverse shorelines in the country, we can happily organise outdoor activities like kayaking, quad biking and diving. Hermanus is also near South Africa's shark-cage diving capital, Gansbaai. Encounter a great white shark in its natural habitat from the safety of an underwater cage on an unforgettable trip to Dyer Island. Once you have had your fill of all the outdoor excitement, slip into Birkenhead House’s plush spa and wellness centre for soul and body pampering. As the ocean breeze turns, enjoy a sunset cocktail before dinner. Birkenhead House's restaurant serves superb fusion cuisine, a subtle mixture of Cape seafood, traditional French techniques and strong Asian and Italian influences. Choose your favourite dining spot - beside the pool, in your suite or overlooking the ocean.

After breakfast, head to Cape Town to catch a scheduled flight to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. From here, a short light aircraft flight whisks you to Madikwe Game Reserve and the wild setting of Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge, considered one of the best lodges in the area. Surrounded by a breath-taking tableau of tangled acacia woodlands, open plains and towering rocky peaks, this lavish, intimate lodge reflects an elegant style with distinctive African accents.

After settling into your villa, join your host at the main lodge to plan your activities for the next two days. With its prime position, owner-run Jamala Madikwe is the ideal base from which to discover the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of this malaria-free game reserve. Madikwe is home to wide range of classic savannah animals and desert-adapted species, as well as the Big 5 and very rare wild dogs. Game drives dominate the safari activities at Jamala. An early start is required for the morning drive but you are rewarded with coffee, tea and delicious snacks while on safari plus a mouth-watering brunch on your return.

Afternoons are spent at leisure - cool off with a dip in your private pool or stake out the lodge's waterhole - but after a decadent high tea the excitement rises again with the afternoon drive that morphs into a spot-lit evening drive after sundowner drinks. Arriving back at the lamp-lit lodge brings the day's adventure to a close but Jamala has one more trump card: award-winning cuisine, served under a canopy of Africa’s star-studded, inky skies. The night sounds of the Kalahari float on the air, providing a safari lullaby as you slip between cool cotton sheets.  

Bid a fond farewell to Africa on the final day of your tour as you catch a charter flight back to OR Tambo International Airport. Sit back and allow the memories of the last two weeks to wash over you: Table Mountain, sipping fine wine among verdant vineyards, golden beaches and breaching whales, the roar of a lion at dusk and the silent tread of elephants - images and sensations that journey home with you.