Discover the very best of the Rainbow Nation on this 14 night luxury trip with stays at incredible 5* hotels, private safari drives, and unbeatable excursions all included!
Elevating all of the essentials of a South African sojourn to upscale heights, this 14 night itinerary takes couples on a tour of the country’s best boutique hotel gems, while meeting some of the most inspiring local people and encountering the most unforgettable experiences along the way.
Plus, by booking you’ll be able to donate 5% of your total holiday price to the charity of your choice for free, helping to make a difference to vulnerable people in the UK and around the world!
Itinerary highlights
- Lunch at Crofters Kitchen with Nicky Gibb & a private dance performance accompanied by traditional South African instruments
- A private day excursion of Cape Town & Table Mountain including entrance fees, private cable car hire, beverages, snacks and a local lunch
- A private day excursion of the Cape Peninsula including entrance fees, beverages, local snacks and lunch
- A private day excursion of South Africa’s Winelands including 3-4 wine estates tailored around interests and wine preferences and tasting, entrance and attraction fees
- Safari drives while staying in Londolozi Private Granite Suites
About South Africa
South Africa is renowned for being a stunningly vibrant country due to its wide variety of cultures. Its incredible wildlife, scenic landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and burgeoning food & wine scene also make the country a favourite among a diverse range of travellers. Cape Town offers a great introduction to South Africa. The city’s most iconic landmark, Table Mountain, towers over the city and offers incredible coastline views once you get to the top via the cable car or a self-guided hike. The historical towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are located outside the city, and are home to some of South Africa’s best wineries. Walk-in tastings and exciting food & wine pairings are offered by many wine estates and Franschhoek is also best-known for being South Africa’s culinary capital. You can of course also go on incredible safaris with plenty of opportunities to spot the Big Five in their natural habitat, on game drives led by the experts.
Wherever you decide to go in South Africa you can stay in gorgeous sustainable luxury accommodations, savour delicious farm-to-table food, and help leave a positive impact by taking part in activities and excursions which enrich local communities and protect the environment. To find out more about sustainable South Africa please click here.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in South Africa
Depart London Heathrow for an overnight flight to Cape Town.
Day 2 – Cape Town
Taking it slow after an overnight flight, spend the day getting to know the surroundings of Ellerman House before a captivating dinner with Christo Brand – Nelson Mandela’s former prison guard. Defying all odds, the two became close friends during Mandela’s imprisonment on Robben Island and Brand will regale you with his stories about the former South African President. Away from your hotel, Cape Town has so much to offer for the duration of your stay from luxury boutiques, to stunning beaches and incredible cuisine. Ellerman House is one of South Africa’s best hotels, so you’re sure to enjoy this incredible accommodation during your Cape Town stay.
Accommodation: Ellerman House
Day 3-5 – Cape Town
A private cable car to Table Mountain’s chopped-off top means breakfast is enjoyed with 360-degree views as a guide brings the history of Cape Town to life over a cup of coffee, continuing the tour into Cape Town itself to discover its artist and foodie hotspots. You’ll have lunch with chef-to-the-stars Nicky Gibbs, who will prepare a delicious meal using ingredients entirely grown in her home or foraged from the surrounding landscape. During your Cape Town stay you’ll also enjoy a private day excursion of the Cape Peninsula with food and drink included.
Accommodation: Ellerman House
Day 6-8 – Paarl
Anyone could go on a wine-tasting tour of the Cape, but doing it with a qualified Wine Master with vino-making in his blood takes it to the next level. Joining an expert guide on a tour of some of the off-the-beaten-track wineries in the area, they will impart their industry knowledge (including how they can identify a wine with their eyes closed) through often unrepeatable experiences learning about local farming methods and the origin of wine in South Africa. Your stay will include wine-tasting experiences and all entrance and attraction fees.
Accommodation: Brookdale Estate
Day 9-10 Hermanus
Into Hermanus where the whales roam. On arrival, you’ll be able to take in the stunning view of these graceful giants as they glide through the water between Hermanus and Africa’s most southerly tip. You’ll also have the option to gon a guided walk through stunning Grootbos Nature Reserve, one of the best nature reserves in South Africa. Birkenhead House is your base, an independent bolthole looking out over the bay making the breaching whales visible even from your suite window.
Accommodation: Birkenhead House
Day 11-13 – Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Most would deem a safari one of the most adventurous ways to end an itinerary, but at the Granite Suites of Londolozi Game Reserve, it can be the most relaxing too. Spa treatments and photographic endeavours accompany the game drives here, where a morning of animal spotting seamlessly melts into yoga on the Healing House deck, watching the scene of elephants and giraffes from within the branches of a 500-year-old Ebony tree. Alternatively, head out with camera in hand with a dedicated tutor who knows all of the great spots to get the best shots of the wildlife.
Accommodation: A private suite at Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Day 14-15 – Return home
Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back home.
Ellerman House
Ellerman House commands spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean. Professional and charming staff plus a remarkable art & wine collection leave guests breathless. Consisting of 9 bedrooms and 2 suites in the House, and the neighbouring contemporary Villa and Spa, the property embodies the best in South African hospitality in true Relais & Chateaux style. Ellerman House is the place to stay in Africa’s fair Cape.
Brookdale Estate
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein mountains in Paarl, Brookdale Estate is as unexpected as she is enchanting with some of the region’s most innovative wine creations. The Rudd family saw the enormous potential of the property and acquired the estate with a clear vision in mind – to create a world-class country estate producing fine wines and interesting blends created from unusual varietals for South Africa. Brookdale Estate is also home to an elegant Manor House with sprawling gardens, a soon-to-be established restaurant and tasting lounge, and a natural paradise of indigenous vegetation. Here, imagination meets skill through an exploration of curiosity.
Birkenhead House
Perched on the Hermanus cliffs, the regal Birkenhead House overlooks the whale-watching paradise of Walker Bay. Accommodating guests in the utmost luxury, this is the perfect destination for those seeking the pinnacle of seaside living.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites
Bold, inspiring materials mirror the extrusion of granite rocks that flank the camp while conveying the raw essence of Africa. A palette of silver, charcoal and elephant grey in a range of sumptuous materials creates an elegant and contemporary setting in each expansive suite. The emphasis is on space, light and privacy while blurring the barrier between inside and out. A seamless integration with nature is achieved with large doors and windows all opening directly onto the Sand River. This luxury safari lodge is for the discerning traveller who appreciates the finer details of an African safari. Each suite has a private, heated swimming pool.
Price correct as of 07/03/23
