Romantic Cape, Kruger & KwaZulu-Natal

From Cape Town International Airport you are transferred to the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, which is set dramatically against the green slopes of the Twelve Apostles mountain range overlooking the cerulean Atlantic Ocean. Occupying one of the most enviable seaside locations in Africa, this landmark hotel boasts first-rate facilities and impeccable service.

Your highly sought-after address outside the Mother City is a haven of relaxation and creature comforts where all your needs are intuitively met by the ever-attentive staff. The beautiful suites have splendid sea or mountain views, where the earth, sea and sky come together.

Spend afternoon hours wandering the paths of the Table Mountain National Park that lie above the hotel or treat yourself to a specialised hydrotherapy session at the award-winning spa or one of the private glass gazebos. The panoramic views afforded from the candlelit tables of Azure restaurant are spectacular and almost compete with the delicately prepared haute cuisine.

Cape Town’s cosmopolitan city centre, with its boutiques, fine-dining restaurants, galleries and trendy bars, is just a short drive away. A cableway trip to the top of Table Mountain is a ‘must-do’ and ferries leave regularly from the V&A Waterfront for Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated before the birth of democratic South Africa.

After breakfast this morning you are transferred by road to the charming town of Stellenbosch – the heart of the Cape Winelands and home to the magnificent Delaire Graff Wine Estate. Conceived as an art, hospitality and wine destination, this dynamic estate showcases classic examples of traditional Cape Dutch architecture that are in striking contrast to an extensive collection of contemporary pieces produced by renowned South African artists. The gardens were landscaped by expert horticulturalist Keith Kirsten, whose rich knowledge of African flora has enabled him to create a most fitting backdrop for the artworks with more than 300 indigenous plants, shrubs and trees.

Enjoy a leisurely vineyard walk or an expert tasting hosted by the winemaker himself. Ask the kitchen to pack a basket full of picnic treats to enjoy under the shade of the historic oak trees. Haute cuisine and Delaire Graff’s superb wines can be combined at the estate’s fine-dining restaurant where the sommeliers do a fantastic job of familiarising diners with the impressive wine list as one delectable course after another is brought to be enjoyed overlooking the beautiful vineyards.

Inviting complete relaxation in an idyllic setting, your elegantly appointed accommodation offers light-filled interiors that flow effortlessly outdoors. The furnished sala and private plunge pool create the ideal space for carefree relaxation and your state-of-the-art kitchen is stocked with everything from organic coffee and specialist teas to handmade artisanal chocolates.

On day six, you and your partner will be taken on a private guided tour of some of the Winelands' most romantic spots. Enjoy entrancing views of the magnificent Jonkershoek and Stellenbosch mountains, taste wine on a small island in a peaceful lake and, depending on the weather, indulge in a picnic or have lunch next to a crackling fire. This is a lovely day's outing to stock up on award-winning wines and local chocolate at some of the region's highly rated wine estates.

This morning you are transported back to Cape Town International Airport where you connect with a flight to Johannesburg before being transferred Ngala Tented Camp in Timbavati Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park. Ngala offers front-row seats to a never-to-be-forgotten African wilderness experience. In this unfenced camp, the Big 5 wander freely across vast stretches of land as they have done for thousands of years.

Twice-daily game drives in open-topped 4x4 vehicles are guided by expert Shangaan trackers who share a wealth of indigenous knowledge about the reserve. Game viewing is excellent with reliable leopard sightings and off-road driving is permitted, all but guaranteeing fascinating wildlife encounters. Night-time game drives expose nocturnal wildlife, which might include bush babies, genet, porcupine or even a stealthy owl hunting its prey. Accompanied by an armed ranger, experience the thrill of tracking animals on foot and discover the smaller parts of this ecosystem often overlooked from the vehicle.

After breakfast this morning you fly out to Skukuza Airport before connecting with a flight to Phinda Private Game Reserve. Occupying 23 000 hectares in northern kwaZulu-Natal, the magnificent reserve neighbours the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which was South Africa’s first Unesco World Heritage Site. Stay at Forest Lodge within the reserve, whose glass-encased suites look out into lush vegetation that is thick with birdlife and monkeys. Phinda Private Game Reserve is known for its abundant wildlife, diversity of habitats and extensive range of safari activities on offer. Its coastal rainfall pattern means the reserve enjoys a lush environment which comprises seven distinct ecosystems. Adding to Phinda’s wildlife charms, the marine diversity of nearby Sodwana Bay is easily accessible for those keen on scuba diving or turtle watching.

Adventures include twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, nature walks, excellent bird watching, riverboat cruises and canoeing along the Mzinene River. The unfenced Big 5 reserve is renowned for a healthy population of big cats that can be spotted on early morning and late afternoon game drives. Unique experiences on offer include a Maputaland Beach Adventure in search of nesting loggerhead and leatherback turtles as well as a visit to the endangered Wild Cats Project.

After breakfast this morning you are transported to Benoni Airfield for your shuttle transfer to OR Tambo International Airport where you connect with your flight back to Johannesburg and onwards home.