South Africa: Safari and the Winelands

The trip

South Africa combines a world-class city, one of the most beautiful wine regions anywhere and superb private game reserves, all on the same time zone as Europe, so there is no jet lag. The Sabi Sand, on the edge of the Kruger, is famous for relaxed leopards and excellent guiding, and its lodges are some of the finest in Africa.

The route

Start with four nights in Cape Town: Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and the V&A Waterfront. Drive an hour inland to the winelands of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch for three nights. Then fly to the Kruger region for five nights on safari, splitting your stay between two lodges if you like, before flying home via Johannesburg.

Day by day

On safari, days follow a set rhythm: an early game drive, brunch, a rest in the heat of the day, then an afternoon drive into the evening.

1. Days 1-4

   Cape Town

   Table Mountain by cable car, Kirstenbosch gardens, the penguins at Boulders Beach and the drive round the Cape of Good Hope.

   Stay Hotel in Cape Town

   Travel Airport transfer, about 30 minutes

2. Days 5-7

   Franschhoek and Stellenbosch

   Tastings and long lunches at historic estates, the Franschhoek wine tram and a day for the spa or the pool.

   Stay Hotel in the winelands

   Travel Drive, about 1 hour

3. Days 8-12

   Sabi Sand Game Reserve

   Twice-daily game drives in open vehicles with expert trackers for the big five; bush walks and sundowners by the river.

   Stay Safari lodge

   Travel Flight to Skukuza or a private airstrip, about 2 hours

4. Days 13-14

   Johannesburg and home

   Fly from the reserve to Johannesburg and connect to the overnight flight home.

   Stay Overnight flight

   Travel Light aircraft and scheduled flight

When to go

Safari is best in the dry winter, May to October, when the bush thins out and animals gather at water. The Cape is at its most beautiful from October to April, with warm, dry weather. So September to November and March to April are ideal for both together.

Where to stay

Choose a classic city hotel in Cape Town, a wine estate in the winelands, and a private lodge for the safari, where meals and game drives are included. Price bands are a typical night for two sharing; expect more at peak dates.

Featured stay

Delaire Graff Estate

Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

££££

Couples who love food, wine and art and want a glamorous, mountain-view base in the Winelands, ideally in autumn.

Owned by the diamond jeweller Laurence Graff, Delaire Graff is the Winelands at its most polished: a wine estate perched on the Helshoogte Pass above Stellenbosch, with lodges that each have their own warm plunge pool, a spa, two well-regarded restaurants and a collection of more than 400 artworks.

Read our full review →

What it costs

Allow from about £8,500 per person for 14 days with good hotels, a mid-range private lodge, car hire and internal flights, excluding international flights. With top lodges such as Singita, expect £16,000 or more. Lodges include all meals, drinks and game drives.

Pace and fitness

Game drives are seated and gentle, though tracks can be bumpy and starts are early. Walks are optional. Many lodges are reached by light aircraft with strict soft-bag luggage limits, usually 20kg.

How to book

Our advisors plan this trip end to end: flights, hotels, guides and the small details that make the days easy. Tell us your dates and the style of stay you like, and we will build it around you. Speak to an advisor.