Family Cape Town, Sun City & Kruger

Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and transfer to the legendary Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in the Mother City’s eclectic Gardens neighbourhood. Affectionately known as the ‘Pink Lady’ or the ‘Nelly’, this refined historic icon is within easy walking distance of fashionable Kloof Street, with its trendy eateries and quirky boutiques, and a mere 10-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront.

Settle into your luxuriously-appointed suite overlooking the manicured lawns of the hotel, and then restore yourself with a signature full-body massage at the lavish Librisa Spa. Cape Town has much to offer: Camps Bay, Table Mountain, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Robben Island and the cobbles of Greenmarket Square. Explore the pathways of the world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or simply soak up the sun on Clifton Fourth Beach.

‘Must-sees’ include majestic Cape Point – where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet – and delighting in the antics of endangered African penguins at Boulders Beach.

Return to the Belmond Mount Nelson for a classic high tea around the Windsor Table and indulge in a selection of loose-leaf teas, petit fours and scones with clotted cream.

After breakfast, transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your scheduled flight north to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport where a representative will be standing by to escort you via private shuttle to The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City.

A 2-hour drive from Johannesburg, Sun City is a fabulous, multi-faceted fantasy rising out of its surroundings like a Shangri-La, with The Palace of the Lost City at its heart. Conceived as the ruins of a long-lost civilization, it is an opulent statement of sculptures, fountains, mosaics and carvings in the heart of the African bush.

As a guest at The Palace, take full advantage of the facilities on offer: adults and children alike will love the outrageous Valley of the Waves. Cross over the Bridge of Time and surf the sensational Roaring Lagoon with its hydraulic succession of mechanised breakers; hurtle down the near-vertical slide of the Temple of Courage; sway across the suspension bridge to the Maze of the Lost City; or simply soak up the sun, cocktail in hand, at the Royal Bath swimming pool beside the Amphitheatre. Then tee off on one of the two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Gary Player, with an eye on the crocodiles of the 13th-hole water-feature!

After breakfast at The Palace’s grand Crystal Court, transfer back to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and board your scheduled flight to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport. A representative will be standing by to escort you to Kings Camp Private Game Reserve, a 40-minute drive from the airport. Located within Timbavati Nature Reserve, on the unfenced western boundary of the Kruger National Park, you are now in classic Big 5 territory.

Kings Camp is an enchanting colonial-style lodge that offers personalised service in an immaculate setting overlooking an active waterhole. The air is still, the sun beats down and the scents of the earth are palpable as you settle into your thatched, air-conditioned suite with its indoor and outdoor showers. Fix yourself a drink from the mini bar, then relax in your hammock and soak up the serenity of the savannah from the privacy of your viewing deck. You may see kudu is coming down to drink. And next to it, a giraffe. And then you spot a water buffalo…

By virtue of its being a private reserve, your game-viewing opportunities at Timbavati range through a series of personal experiences that would not be considered in a national park: off-road excursions for premium sightings, spot-lit night drives and interactive nature walks. Pause for sundowners on the banks of the river, with crocodiles and hippos wallowing in its shallows, and return to camp to soak in a tub surrounded by glowing candles. Later, a welcoming fire is crackling in the boma and tables are set for a dinner under the stars.

At dawn, the sky breaks into grey with the first piercings of light on the horizon and a welcome flask of coffee is keeping the chill at bay. This is Africa at its most pristine, parted by curtains of early-morning mist as your ranger negotiates the fallen trees and tell-tale signs of a bull elephant until, suddenly, there he is, standing before you…

Return to Kings Camp from your early-morning game drive and enjoy a final hearty breakfast before transferring back to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, and your onward journey home.