Arrival in Cape Town
Arrive in South Africa. A local rep will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel on trendy Loop Street where you can unwind by the rooftop pool. For a romantic introduction to the city, choose an optional sunset cruise to soak up Cape Town’s dramatic coastal views. There’s nothing like the salty ocean breeze to revitalize you. Or pick up the pace on the optional and extremely fun Sidecar Tour zipping along the Cape Peninsula in a 1950s vintage sidecar. Overnight at Pepperclub Hotel & Spa.
Things to do:
A warm welcome and service guaranteed at the Pepperclub
The Silo hotel: a celebration of art, architecture and design
Explore the Cape Peninsula by sidecar
Soar above the Atlantic Seaboard in a helicopter
The sunset Cape Town cruise
Cape Town
You have the day to explore at your own pace. We suggest getting your bearings on an optional My Cape Town City tour, taking you around the landmarks in a way that’s tailored to your interests. If you’d prefer more of a challenge, try a guided hike up Table Mountain’s great escarpment where from the top, the views of the Mother City are next to none. Don’t worry, there’s a cable car that can carry you back down to the bottom. Cue a long session in the hotel spa. Overnight at Pepperclub Hotel & Spa.
Things to do:
A warm welcome and service guaranteed at the Pepperclub
Mount Nelson: lose yourself in an oasis in the lee of Table Mountain
My Cape Town: explore with a local
Hike mighty Table Mountain
Discover Cape Town’s history through food
Cape Town
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a stint in the Winelands that lie just outside the city. On the optional Winelands Constantia Cycling tour, you can peddle through the vineyards at a suitable pace and reward yourself with a glass of cold Chardonnay. If you yearn to visit the picturesque towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, then an optional Fly and Dine in the Cape Winelands tour is perfect since you’re short on time. This way you can quaff a selection of wine from top vineyard estates and soak it up with a long lunch without a care in the world. Your ride? A private helicopter that will whisk you over the mountains in ultimate style. Overnight at Pepperclub Hotel & Spa.
Things to do:
A warm welcome and service guaranteed at the Pepperclub
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: views from mountain to sea, sunrise to sunset
Cycle through the Constantia Winelands
Fly and dine in the Cape Winelands
My Cape Peninsula: coastal views and penguin encounters
Cape Town & Garonga Game Reserve
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hoedspruit. On arrival, a transfer will take you to your lodge in the Greater Makalali Reserve, your home for the next three nights. There’s enough time for an afternoon game drive should you wish to explore the 22,000 hectares of private reserve. You’re in the hands of expert rangers who not only help you spot some extraordinary wildlife but offer intelligent interpretations of the ecosystems too. Yes there’s the Big 5 but without the frenetic pace. Your lodge encourages a slow safari experience with indulgent dining and spa therapies to relax you in between. Overnight at Garonga Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Tented luxury at Garonga Safari Camp
Intimate and private safaris at Little Garonga
Nostalgic safari experience at MCH Private Tented Camp
Wildlife encounters and stylish villas at Karula, Kapama Private Game Reserve
Stay at aha Makalali to see wildlife from all angles
Garonga Game Reserve
Spend the day in the great outdoors savouring every sighting and call of the wild. From an open-top Land Rover you can absorb 360 views of the vast savannah. Your dedicated ranger is an expert tracker whose animal-spotting talents often lead to sightings of the Big 5 as well as cheetah, spotted hyena and black rhino too. For a unique perspective, hop on an optional microlight flight to take in the game from the air as well as stunning views of the great Drakensberg mountain range. Back at the lodge, why not cap the day off with a Bush Bath where you can soak alfresco under the fading African sky. Overnight at Garonga Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Tented luxury at Garonga Safari Camp
Safari for the soul at Garonga
Romantic bubble baths under an African night sky at Garonga
Take to the skies with a microlight flight at Garonga Private Game Reserve
Garonga Game Reserve
If yesterday was dedicated to game drives, today you might like to choose a walking safari where you can slip into the subtler rhythms of the bush. This is when the knowledge of your guide really comes to the fore, whether that’s pausing to identify a predator’s paw print or inspecting the inner operations of a termite mound. Not to mention the large variety of plains game and colourful bird species that you can identify. When evening arrives, transition from safari to a sleep-out deck where you can bunk down under a canopy of stars. This is no ordinary accommodation complete with a four-poster bed and dining table for two. Overnight at Garonga Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Tented luxury at Garonga Safari Camp
Spend a night under the stars on Garonga’s sleep out deck
Garonga Game Reserve & Johannesburg
Transfer back to Hoedspruit for your flight to Johannesburg. Your hotel is only a 5-minute transfer from the airport with all the bells and whistles to help you rejuvenate. Stretch your legs doing laps in the swimming pool or head into the city for a cultural injection on the My Jo’burg – Newtown, Maboneng and Apartheid Museum tour. Or step back further in time to the very beginning of our species on the My Jo’burg Cradle of Humankind tour where you can inspect fossils over two-million-years old. Overnight at Peermont D'oreale Grande.
Things to do:
Discover the beginning of our species at the Cradle of Humankind
Uncover Newtown, Maboneng and the Apartheid Museum with a true local
Discover the spirit of Soweto on two wheels
Johannesburg & Machangulo Peninsula
Transfer back to the airport for your connecting flight to Maputo in Mozambique. Your next transfer is a speedboat ride across the bay to the tip of the Manchangulo Peninsula and your lodge for the next five nights. This might be Mozambique’s most inaccessible spot (a bumpy five-hour car ride would deem it quite inhospitable) but the isolation only adds to that rare, deserted feeling when the white sand, rolling dunes and warm Indian Ocean feel like yours and yours alone. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge. The Bazaruto Archipelego is another fantastic alternative for beach lovers, its islands and exclusive lodges are accessed via flights to Vilanculos. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge.
Things to do:
Machangulo Beach Lodge: a little piece of paradise
Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort: the epitome of island life
Machangulo Peninsula
There’s everything and nothing to do on this Robinson Crusoe-style escape. You have all the ingredients to unwind from long white-sand beaches where you can stroll aimlessly barefoot, to paddleboards and snorkelling gear to explore the gin-blue ocean. Even the spa is designed to absorb the nature. Think vitamin-c-pumped facials to the sound of lapping waves. Otherwise, an optional sunset cruise on a traditional dhow is a great way to end the day. Who knows, you might even spot a pod of wild dolphins. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge.
Things to do:
Machangulo Beach Lodge: a little piece of paradise
Snorkel Indian Ocean reefs from Machangulo Beach Lodge
Machangulo Peninsula
Spend the day as you please. In a place of unspoiled, paradisiacal beauty most of the activities take place on or under the water. Snorkelling and diving are the things to do here, whether that’s spotting exotic fish just in front of the lodge during moderate, neap tides or venturing out in an optional boat ride to discover virtually unexplored coral reefs. Whatever the activity, ask the kitchen to prepare a beach picnic for lunch so you don’t have to miss a beat. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge.
Things to do:
Machangulo Beach Lodge: a little piece of paradise
Machangulo Peninsula
Should you wish to budge from the pool or beach, you might like to get a glimpse of local life on an optional guided tour of the local Santa Maria village. Meet the friendly community and enjoy lunch at a favourite local spot. A little further afield lies Inhaca Island, used as a base for 16th-century Portuguese traders. Today you can take an optional boat ride to its little sandy village and wander around the local restaurants and palm-shaded shacks. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge.
Things to do:
Machangulo Beach Lodge: a little piece of paradise
Explore Santa Maria village from Machangulo Beach Lodge
Machangulo Peninsula
It’s your last day in Mozambique for you to spend at your leisure. You might want to soak up some final rays of sun, toes dug in the sand or opt for a deserted island picnic without another soul in sight. If you’re not done exploring, you can try an optional kayaking adventure with a guide down the peninsula’s estuaries discovering tangled mangrove forests, exciting birdlife and perhaps a few resident turtles. Or take it easy reflecting on your time on a walk through the rolling dunes. Overnight at Machangulo Beach Lodge.
Things to do:
Machangulo Beach Lodge: a little piece of paradise
Machangulo Peninsula & Departure
Say goodbye to the beach and transfer back to Maputo by speedboat. Fly to Johannesburg for your international flight to the UK or onward travel.
