Arriving at the modern and efficient Cape Town International Airport, you will be met by your driver-guide for a short 20mins drive to one of Cape Town's most sought after suburbs for check-in at Floreal Guest House.

Most tourists experience a feeling of arriving 'home' when they first set eyes on the city and the way it is cradled by old Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Devil's Peak and the Atlantic Ocean in front.

Like the sailors from yester-year, you will see the city from far out. Nestling in a natural amphitheater, majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop and the Atlantic Ocean to the North, Cape Town's iconic setting simply takes one's breath away.
The Foreal Guest House offers the visitor a fantastic view of the city, 4 star luxury and the ideal, central location for exploring the area.

Maybe some shopping at V&A Waterfront? Enjoy dinner with a spectacular sunset...
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town has sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town and Table Mountain.
The Waterfront attracts more than 23 million visitors a year.

Situated in South Africa’s oldest working harbour, the 300 acres area has been developed for mixed-use, with both residential and commercial real estate.

Today sees you exploring the historic sights in town and mixing it up with a wonderful cullinary experience.

Cape Town has a rich history of Dutch and British rule, infused with the arrival of the French Huguenots later on and a harbour at the tip of Africa drawing people from all walks of life/the globe for close on 400 years The result is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

The old slave quarter of the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town Castle, District 6 Museum (featuring the sad Apartheid-era forced removals), V&A Waterfront (visited by 23 milion people every year) and Table Mountain, are but a few of the sights on offer.

Why not try The Test Kitchen in Woodstock for lunch? Elite Travel rates it NO.28 in the world and Best in Africa...confirm your booking months ahead though, this place humms.

Experience the wonderful diversity of Cape Town's Peninsula. From the only land based African Penguin Colony at Boulder's Beach (Simons Town), to the majestic Cape Point Nature Reserve and the floral wonder of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, this day trip will leave you with an everlasting impression of this prestine part of Africa.
 

• Cape Point Nature Reserve:

As part of the greater Table Mountain National Park, Cape Point at the southern most tip of the peninsular, will simply take your breath away. The mountainous tip of the peninsular makes for a very dramatic back drop to the treacherous ocean down below which the visitor will be able to see by taking the funicular right to the top of the mountain (own account).

The reserve is inhabited by Blesbok, Zebra, Eland, Ostriches and some of the smaller predators. The area is also well known for its marine bird life and typical fynbos (heather) flora.

• Chapman's Peak Drive:

This 6 mile heart stopping drive takes you to 1970ft above the sea along a twisting road carved out of the mountain side in 1922. It's regarded as one of the most dramatic sea drives anywhere, named after the British sailor John Chapman, the first Brit to reconnoiter the area in 1607.

• Hout Bay:

This quaint fishing village (translated as Wood Bay), is guarded by the majestic Sentinel Mountain and is the closest harbour to Cape Town. It was often used when the winter storms made Cape Town's harbour unusable in a time before man-made breakwater structures. You can visit the well known Seal Island by boat (weather permitting and own account), and witness the area's notorious Great White Shark population feasting on the resident seal population (maybe not for the faint hearted?)

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens:

Established in 1913, Kirstenbosch is regarded as one of the greatest botanical and horticultural institutions in the world. Only 12km from Cape Town, the 528 ha estate is filled with more than 7000 species and the herbarium is home to a further 750 000. The visitor can enjoy a good meal at the local restaurant, have a picnic, attend a summer Sunday afternoon family orientated music show in a wonderful natural amphitheater or hike around at own leisure.

Or:

• Groot Constantia Wine Farm:

Originally owned by Governor Simon van der Stel in 1685, this is the oldest wine farm in South Africa. The wines produced here have been admired by the likes of Napoleon, Jane Austen and Charles Baudelaire. The Cape Dutch architecture on the property are some of the best examples around and the work of the architect, Louis Thibault and sculptor Anton Anreith.

A lunch/wine tasting (own account), at any of the top restaurants will not disappoint.

Or:
 

• Camps Bay:

Regarded as Africa's 'Riviera', this strip of the Atlantic Sea Board offers magical beaches, excellent restaurants and cocktail bars and very affluent suburbs carved out of the rocky shore at Clifton and Bantry Bay. All of this with The Twelve Apostles mountain as back drop and some of the whitest beach sand to stare over at a picture perfect sunset.

The Cape Town Peninsula has it all: scenic nature, history, wildlife and excellent cuisine.

 

Today we leave for Swellendam.

Highlights:
 

• Haute Cabriere, a vineyard estate located in Franschhoek. The estate was started over 300 years ago by Huguenot settlers from France, and primarily grows Chardonnay and Pinot noir varietals. Along with still wines they also produce Method Cap Classique wines, which are sparkling wines made using the same technique of that of Champagne using double fermentation and dosage. These wines are labeled under 'Pierre Jourdan'.(incl)
   

• Olijvenhof Olive Farm (incl) This small working farm offers Olive Tours to show it's guests how various produce are being made.
   

• Clarke of the Karoo Coffee Shop is an old butchery converted an old butchery into aRestaurant and Farm stall.  Clarke of the Karoo, on the R62, has since become a popular stopover for the more discerning diner, for both breakfast and lunch.

Today' Highlights:

An Ostrich Farm Tour and lunch (incl).

Today we head out back for the coast and the wonderful Garden Garden Route towards Knysna.

Highlights:

The Outeniqua Pass carries the N9/N12 national road through the Outeniqua Mountains north of George. It connects George and the Garden Route coastal plain with Oudtshoorn and the Little Karoo. It was constructed between 1943 and 1951.
 

The Garden Route is a popular and scenic stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway over the Paul Sauer Bridge in the extreme western reach of the neighbouring Eastern Cape.
The name comes from the verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation encountered here and the numerous lagoons and lakes dotted along the coast. It includes towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley; with George, the Garden Route's largest city and main administrative centre.

Today' Highlights:
 

At the end of South Africa's Garden Route, we come upon the forested town of Knysna which grew around an extensive lagoon of the same name.The town is well developed, but it feels as if you’re travelling in woodcutter country.Knysna's most famed attraction is the Knysna Heads, the treacherous entry into the Knysna lagoon where many an ancient sailing vessel met its doom.

Today the Featherbed Nature Reserve pays homage to the richness of fauna and flora that Knysna has to offer on the southern head, while the northern head forms part of the sprawling residential development that is Knysna.

The nearby Knysna Elephant Park is home to relocated jumbo families, while Monkeyland primate sanctuary a little further down the N2 does the same for tree-loving species. Both destinations are popular choices for children.

Dolphins are often spotted offshore, while southern right whales pay seasonal visits to the shores of the Paradise Coast. A dolphin-spotting boat trip might include a stop off at the Robberg Peninsula near Plettenberg Bay to visit a noisy seal colony.

Today' Highlights:
 Let your spirits soar and your tensions disappear as you unwind in this welcoming, tranquil atmosphere.

It is a delight for any-one who is looking for a coastal getaway that offers very little of todays modern world trappings, a break from anything or any-one, or just a relaxing time on the calm and quiet beaches. Oyster Bay has 3.7 miles of  untouched  beach, of which 2.1 miles is owned by Oyster Bay Lodge. Safe bathing in the sea requires earnest discretion.

The Oyster Bay beach has a network of very high dunes and is a delight for the amateur sandboarder.

Oyster Bay Lodge is a 4 star luxury lodge. Situated on a natural coastal reserve between Knysna and Port Elizabeth, along the malaria-free Garden Route. The luxurious accommodation consists of 4 Luxury ‘Cape Dutch’ Chalets and 10 Comfortable Guest Rooms.  There are exciting activities and adventures on the property and the surrounding area. 

Checking in for your flight to Durban (own account), and settling in close-by, Ballito Bay.

Durban, a coastal city in eastern South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province, is known for its African, Indian and colonial influences. The Golden Mile beachfront is a popular destination for surfers, joggers, sunbathers and water-sports enthusiasts. Refurbished for soccer’s 2010 World Cup, the seafront promenade starts at uShaka Marine World, a huge theme park with an aquarium, and ends at the futuristic Moses Mabhida stadium.

Ballito's secret, the Boathouse, is the gem of the North Coast. This idyllic spot provides luxurious accommodation to the weary traveller.

The Boat House hotel offers 19 rooms, each named for a legendary ship and great effort has been put into decorating each room as individually as possible.

Enjoy spectacular beaches and tropical weather at Ballito, a holiday destination for year-round swimming (Willard) and surfing beaches(Boulder). A promenade about 1.5 miles long along the beach front allows for walking and jogging. The Gunston 500 surfing contest, renamed to the ASP PRIME Mr Price Pro, has been shifted from Durban's North Beach to Ballito where it is held annually in July.

Today' Highlights:
 
For Big Five game viewing in extremely scenic surroundings, Hluhluwe Game Reserve is hard to match. This KwaZulu-Natal game reserve north of Durban is one of the oldest in Africa with great credentials. Visitors can see animals at close range from a number of viewing hides that overlook water holes.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve is world renowned for its role in Rhino conservation and the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Centenary Capture Centre sets a benchmark for animal capture and sustainable utilization throughout Africa. The reserve stretches over 96 000 hectares of hilly topography and contains a diverse range of fauna and flora. This area was once the exclusive hunting ground of King Shaka of the Zulu People.

View the Big Five as well as several more elusive animals, such as Wild Dog, Giraffe, Cheetah and Nyala. The northern section of the park is known for its range of both animal and bird life. Besides game drives and guided walks, visitors can go on self guided auto trails which provide information on management and the natural history of this reserve. Hluhluwe is the oldest game reserve in South Africa established in 1895.

• Game drives with guide (incl)

Today' Highlights:
 

• Swaziland, a small, landlocked monarchy in Southern Africa, is known for its wilderness reserves and festivals showcasing traditional Swazi culture. Marking its northeastern border with Mozambique and stretching down to South Africa, the Lebombo Mountains serve as a dramatic backdrop for Mlawula Nature Reserve’s many hiking trails. Nearby Hlane Royal National Park is home to diverse wildlife including lions, hippos and elephants.
• The Foresters Arms Hotel is set on a luxuriant mountain top estate close to Mbabane and is a colonial style establishment offering guests a tranquil country retreat from which to explore the rich culture and multiple attractions of Swaziland.  What you'll find here is great service, friendly staff and an all-in-one, great experience.

Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals species make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles and storks. Mountains, bush plains and tropical forests are all part of the landscape.



 

The buildings in Berg en Dal Rest Camp are set within natural bush and the gardens planted with flowering shrubs and aloes, leaving much of the natural habitat unchanged within the camp. Berg en Dal is one of the newest camps in the Kruger National Park and offers visitors outstanding accommodation and lodging facilities.

The camp was opened in 1984, meaning 'mountain and dale' and aptly named for its superb location. Great care has been taken to preserve the natural vegetation in the camp area, which comprises Malelane Mountain Bushveld (woodland), attracting a variety of grazers. The area hosts White Rhino, Kudu, Impala, Giraffe, some Elephant, Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Grey Rhebok and warthog.

Leopard and Wild Dog are regularly seen in the region. Lion are usually found in the lower plains on the roads to Skukuza and Crocodile Bridge. Bird watchers will find the appeal of Berg en Dal Rest Camp irresistible as a wide variety of birds species can be seen here.

Well qualified Kruger Park safari guides can offer suggested itineraries and take guests on morning, evening and full day game drives/walks, to track down the Big Five.

Today' Highlights:

The Schoemans Kloof Pass, or simply Schoemanskloof, is situated in Mpumalanga province, on the R539 road between Machadodorp and Nelspruit. This scenic region is the access route that connects Gauteng to the warm Lowveld and Kruger National Park.

Old Joe's Kaia is an unique, small and family owned country house. It's situated in the magnificent malaria-free Schoemanskloof Valley and a little oasis full of surprises.

Expect fresh and unpolluted mountain air, fabulous scenery, prolific birdsong, and a wondeful relaxing, homely atmosphere!
 

Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city and capital of its inland Gauteng province, began as a 19th-century gold-mining settlement.
It's known for Soweto township, a sprawling jumble of African workers’ houses that was once home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela’s former residence is now the Nelson Mandela National Museum. 

 

Leaving South Africa today, you will have a sad heart, but fond memories. 
WIshing you a safe journey back home and we hope to see you again!