Romantic Cape, Whale Coast & Kalahari

Itinerary information

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a driver will meet you at arrivals for your transfer to the grand Mount Nelson Hotel, which is located in in the heart of Cape Town’s ‘city bowl’ on a sprawling estate. The Mount Nelson is a true icon and landmark in Cape Town well known for its old-world luxury – think tennis courts, rose gardens and high teas – and exceptional service with outstanding attention to detail.

The city of Cape Town and its magnificent Peninsula offer many attractions in breath-taking surroundings – it is no surprise that the city is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Dramatic mountains plunge down to beautiful white sand beaches dotted along the coastline, and picturesque villages nestle in their folds.

The vibrant V&A Waterfront is a bustling precinct of shops, bars and restaurants overlooking the busy working harbour and docks, and alongside it the city centre of Cape Town sits cradled in the bowl of Table Mountain. The rotating cable car to the top offers incredible 360-degree views as you ascend and, once you reach the level plateau, a thousand metres above the sea, you can follow a network of paths that lead to a series of viewpoints.

Here you can look down over the Twelve Apostles mountain range at Camps Bay and Clifton beaches, over Table Bay to the notorious Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, across False Bay to the mountains of the wine country and southwards to the end of the continent at Cape Point.

Itinerary information

Leave the city behind and head to the picturesque scenery of the wine country near Stellenbosch. A driver and guide will pick you up at the Mount Nelson in the morning, and rather than just a transfer, you’ll enjoy a half day winelands tour, ending off at your home for the next two nights – Babylonstoren.  This magnificent estate dates back to the 17th century and is suffused with the history of the Cape European settlers. The original farmhouse and outbuildings are constructed in the Cape Dutch style with thick whitewashed walls, ornate gables and thatched roofs, and the surrounding organic gardens and orchards are a sensory delight.

After settling into your delightfully quaint yet sophisticated cottage, you are ready to enjoy the many attractions of the farm and the surrounding areas. You may choose to be as active or as relaxed as you like, the ethos of Babylonstoren is for you simply to be as you are, and absorb the tranquillity and magnificence of this glorious setting.

You have an 8-hectare formal French kitchen garden to wander and, if you like, a gardener will accompany you as you take a relaxing walk, perhaps picking herbs and ingredients for your own salad to be prepared by the chefs. The river that burbles through the property is cloaked in a carpet of vibrant clivia flowers, and there are numerous viewpoints and picnic spots dotted all over the farm. The spa is an oasis of calm overlooking the gardens where herbs for the various therapies are gathered daily; the nearby gym offers a sauna, steam room and the latest equipment for burning off the kilojoules gained while you have indulged in the fabulous cuisine from the restaurant.

Itinerary information

You set off on a road transfer from Babylonstoren in the morning, and follow the scenic route along the coast, past the picturesque villages of Hermanus and Stanford before you arrive at Grootbos Forest Lodge, set on a hillside with a grand view of Walker Bay, where mountains plunge dramatically into the sea. The surrounding reserve is dominated by fynbos, the indigenous floral kingdom that is spectacularly diverse and wholly endemic to the Cape.

Your luxury suite is sited to maximise both privacy and the magnificent view of the mountains and ocean, and although being completely eco-friendly, no luxury or amenity is spared in creating a haven of stylish sophistication in an undeniably romantic setting.

Located in the southern-most region of the African continent where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, the waters here boast an astonishing variety of marine life, from the southern right whale calving ground of Walker Bay to the great white shark hotspot of Seal Alley off Dyer Island just a short distance away. Here too are ancient petroglyphs, shell middens and caves where the earliest human inhabitants of this region left signs of their passage over the millennia. A tour with one of Grootbos’s incredibly knowledgeable guides will provide you with a fulfilling and insightful experience of this incredible ecosystem and its fascinating history.

After a day of exploration, there is no better way to rejuvenate and relax than with a heavenly spa treatment either in the therapy rooms, in the comfort of your suite or even deep within a grove of ancient milkwood trees. It is then in a state of floating bliss that you can indulge in the finest Cape cuisine, accompanied by the fabulous wines grown here in the unique terroir of the Overberg.

Itinerary information

Leaving Grootbos in the morning, the road transfer takes you along the scenic coastal route back to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Tswalu. Soaring over the Cape Fold Mountains, you’ll witness their rugged beauty before transitioning to the vastness of the Kalahari. Touching down at the airstrip, your guide meets you for a short drive to Tswalu Motse Lodge, nestled at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains. This wooden, stone, thatch, and red clay lodge harmonizes with the ancient landscape. The main house boasts elevated decks, elegant lounges, an infinity pool with savannah views, and a secluded spa for total relaxation. Your suite offers an expansive bedroom with a fireplace, a lavish en suite bathroom, and a private sundeck overlooking a waterhole, perfect for enjoying Kalahari sunsets.

Choose an early morning game drive with a gourmet picnic or indulge in a leisurely champagne breakfast in bed on another day. Head out on a horseback safari, bond with meerkats, track black-maned Kalahari lions, and marvel at ancient Bushman rock art. A thrilling experience awaits as you witness the power of these majestic animals, accompanied by the playful innocence of their cubs. Conclude your adventure with a mouth-watering picnic in a scenic location, followed by a stroll to view 380,000-year-old Bushman carvings.

On one of your evenings, you sleep out below a glittering canopy of stars at the Malori Sleep-Out Deck: a raised platform richly furnished with an enormous and comfortable king sized bed. Arriving in time to enjoy a cocktail as the sun sinks into the horizon, you then indulge in a gourmet meal cooked over the coals of the campfire before slipping between the covers, with the silence of the Kalahari enveloping you, and the stars so bright they seem close enough to touch.

Itinerary information

On your final morning, you enjoy a leisurely breakfast before bidding the magical Kalahari farewell. An aircraft meets you at the runway for the flight to Johannesburg, and as you fly over this ancient landscape, the memories of your magical African experience flood your mind: from the picturesque beauty of the Western Cape with its wine country and whales, to the haunting amber eyes of a Kalahari lion. Moments that have touched your soul and memories that will remain with you forever.u00a0