Affordable Luxury South African Holiday

Arrive in Cape Town today where you'll pick up your rental car and head to the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel to begin your holiday. The rest of the day will be yours to relax and settle in and perhaps go on your first exploration of this vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

The following two days are yours to explore the city. Hike or take the cable car up iconic Table Mountain or board the ferry to Robben Island for a history lesson. A scenic drive down either side of the peninsula will take you to scenic Cape Point and ever-popular Boulders Beach, where you can sunbathe at a local penguin colony!

Go shopping at the visitor-friendly V&A Waterfront, enjoy a sunset cruise in Table Bay or simply stroll along fashionable and cosmopolitan Long and Kloof Streets and pop into one of the many shops, markets and street cafes.

Dinner options are plentiful: choose one of Cape Town's top-class restaurants to dine at in the evenings or simply relax in style at the Cape Royale.

Today you will leave the city behind as you drive to the picturesque Cape Winelands and the historic town of Stellenbosch. Stop for lunch at one of the many wineries in the area or in the quaint town centre at one of the many cafes and restaurants dotted along the town's oak-lined streets.

Carry on after lunch to the nearby town of Franschhoek and settle into the Franschhoek Country House for the following three nights. Spend the afternoon getting an optional spa treatment at the hotel or take a walk to see the town's traditional Huguenot architecture.

Franschhoek is well-known as the gourmet capital of South Africa and you won't be short of dining options - Monneaux Restaurant and Le Quartier Francais come highly recommended.

Spend the coming two days visiting the many boutique wineries in the region and tasting exquisite local wines. Wander the charming streets of Franschhoek and stop at some of the galleries and art shops or drive through the mountainous countryside admiring the beautiful Cape scenery.

This morning you'll return to Cape Town International Airport for a scheduled flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. After picking up your hire car, drive to the Cybele Forest Lodge and settle in at this unique establishment.

Situated on 300 acres of forest, one of the best activities at the Cybele is simply to take a leisurely walk through the sun-dappled forest to the river and on to a lovely waterfall.

The lodge also serves as an ideal base from which to visit the highlights of the Panorama Route such as Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and the quaint, historic town of Pilgrim's Rest. Spend these days drinking in the beautiful surroundings and enjoying your forested stay.

Wake up early to maximise your time at your next destination, Shumbalala Game Lodge, in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve. Adjoining the famous Kruger National Park, Thornybush is prime big game country and you'll explore the region for the following three days on thrilling morning, afternoon and evening game drives. Keep your eyes open for the abundant game that roam these lands: besides the Big 5, Thornybush is home to a wide range of classic African animals and boasts an amazing bird count.

Spend your evenings sitting by the campfire, sipping fine wine and listening to the sounds of the wild. You can also walk down to the lodge's waterhole to watch the animals that come out of the shadows for an evening drink.

After a final morning game drive to search for the animals you haven't yet seen, you'll drive yourself to Hoedspruit Airport to catch your scheduled flight to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Your tour ends once you arrive in Johannesburg.