Iconic South Africa: Cape & Garden Route Safari

Today you arrive at Cape Town International Airport where you will collect your rental car and drive yourself into the city and The Cape Grace Hotel, your home for the following four nights.

This luxurious hotel is conveniently located at the ever-popular V&A Waterfront and within a short drive of Table Mountain and the many attractions and activities that Cape Town has to offer. Take the cable car up this iconic mountain or a ferry to historic Robben Island and gaze at Nelson Mandela's former prison cell.

Make time for a stroll along Camps Bay beach or lounge at one of Clifton's sheltered coves while visitors seeking an urban buzz should explore bustling Long Street Long and its many markets, bars and cafes.

Easiest of all however is simply enjoying a bit of shopping or a sunset cruise at the Waterfront and sitting down to a delicious meal at one of the many top-class restaurants there.

Today you will leave the bustle of Cape Town behind and drive to the tranquil Cape Winelands, an astonishingly scenic region set in ranges of dramatic mountains. Your home for the following three nights is Le Quartier Francais Hotel - a charming French-style boutique hotel situated in the town of Franschhoek, gourmet capital of South Africa.

Ideally located to explore the region's wine-growing valleys, you'll spend your days driving out to nearby estates, tasting exquisite local wines and enjoying the most beautiful views.

Return to the hotel to relax and take a stroll through the gardens, have a dip in the pool or browse through the boutique store, and in the evening sit down to a delicious gourmet meal at one of Le Quartier Francais' three world-class and award-winning restaurants. You could even end the evening off with a film in the hotel's very own cinema.

Today you will travel to the Garden Route, winding your way along this scenic coastal region to The Kurland Hotel - a luxury country homestead near Pletteneberg Bay, at the heart of the Garden Route, and your home for the following four nights.

There's so much to do in the immediate area, and when you're not out enjoying a Marine Encounters cruise on the Indian Ocean or visiting the animal sanctuaries of Monkey Land, Birds of Eden and the Elephant Sanctuary, you can easily spend a wonderful time just relaxing at the lodge.

Head into the estate's private forest where you can kick back in beautiful surroundings with a picnic lunch or simply laze around beside the pool. Unwind with a range of spa treatments and therapies or practice your swing with a round of golf at one of the nearby golf courses.

Today you will enter South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, travelling to the banks of The Great Fish River and settling in at The Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge - an exclusive safari lodge - for your last four nights on tour. With only nine rooms, that are also spaced far apart, you can unwind in total privacy and seclusion.

This is one of the few malaria-free Big 5 destinations in Southern Africa, thus giving you peace of mind to enjoy great views of The Great Fish River and thrilling game drives in search of lion, black and white rhino, buffalo and elephant and a host of other classic African animals.

Today you will enjoy one last breakfast at Kwandwe before driving to the airport in nearby Port Elizabeth to drop off your car and connect with your ongoing travel arrangements. Alternatively, self-drive the scenic Route 62 back to Cape Town.