Africa South Africa
Between metropolis and abundant wildlife
South Africa lies at the southern tip of the African continent, between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, bringing together city, wine country, coastline and wilderness with rare diversity. In Cape Town, Table Mountain, the coastal scenery, outstanding restaurants and stylish boutique hotels make for a fine start, before the Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek invite you to savour historic wine estates. At the heart of many journeys is a safari in private game reserves such as Sabi Sand or Madikwe, with encounters with elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos. The Garden Route and secluded stretches of coast round off the country. On a tailor-made journey, you experience South Africa privately, in style and at your own pace, accompanied by experienced guides and staying in lodges and hotels chosen to match your wishes.
- The Garden Route and the west of the country are best suited to a journey between October and April; Kruger National Park in the east, by contrast, is well suited to a safari year-round.
- Nonstop connections from Frankfurt serve Cape Town and Johannesburg, with a flight time of around 11.5 hours.
- South Africa is ideal for a tailor-made self-drive journey, and equally well suited to a private guided tour or an exclusive small-group safari with a personal guide.
- The destination combines beautifully with Namibia, Mauritius, or the Seychelles, pairing a safari adventure with time on the coast.
- Few countries bring together metropolis, wine country, safari, and coastline within such short distances – an advantage you'll feel at every stage of your journey.
Hotel portfolio
Location
Babylonstoren
A historic Cape Dutch wine farm in the Drakenstein Valley with a magnificent garden, Garden Spa and first-class wines.
Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge
A boutique safari camp founded by Til Schweiger at a waterhole on the edge of Addo National Park, with elephants right in front of your terrace.
Gondwana Game Reserve
An 11,500-hectare Big Five reserve on the Garden Route with boutique lodges, a spa and daily game drives.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
An exclusive nature reserve between mountains and the ocean, renowned for its unique fynbos landscapes, ancient milkwood forests, and exceptional whale watching.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge
An intimate beach lodge with just seven suites, set within De Hoop Nature Reserve. Overlooking a pristine six-kilometre stretch of coastline, it offers exceptional wildlife encounters and some of South Africa's finest land-based whale watching.
Pure Sea Boutique Lodge
Welcome to Pure Sea Boutique Lodge—an intimate, adults-only retreat right on the beach at Romansbaai on the southern coast of the Western Cape.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
One of South Africa’s largest private reserves – with plunge-pool suites and white lions.
Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel
A stylish boutique hotel nestled among the dunes of Paternoster with just 14 rooms and suites. Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel combines a prime beachfront setting, a 20-metre pool, a Healing Earth Spa, and a relaxed atmosphere of understated luxury on South Africa's West Coast.
Tintswalo Boulders
An intimate boutique lodge in Simon's Town overlooking Boulders Beach. Tintswalo at Boulders combines spectacular ocean views, elegant suites, and the famous colony of African penguins just steps away, creating an exclusive coastal retreat on the Cape Peninsula.
andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp
A luxurious tented camp in the Ngala Private Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park – 9 tented suites and a treehouse across 14,700 ha of wilderness, with Big Five safaris and andBeyond guides.
Frequently asked questions
South Africa can be visited year-round, but the best time depends on the region and your plans. For safaris in the game reserves around Kruger National Park, the dry months from May to September are particularly rewarding, as the vegetation is thinner and animals gather at waterholes. Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route are at their best in the summer months from November to March, with long, sunny days. Please note that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. We match route and lodges to your travel dates, so you find the best conditions in every region.
For a tour, we recommend 10 to 14 days. This allows Cape Town, the Winelands and a safari to be combined at a relaxed pace, without rushing from place to place. With one week, the journey focuses on 2-3 stops, such as Cape Town with the Winelands, or a safari with a stay in Cape Town. If you would also like to include the Garden Route or finish your trip on the Indian Ocean, we suggest allowing at least two weeks. We shape the journey around your wishes and adjust the duration accordingly.
From Cape Town, direct flights connect to a variety of destinations that pair beautifully with the Garden Route. Particularly popular combinations include Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Namibia.
The Garden Route runs along the south coast between Mossel Bay and the Tsitsikamma region. Highlights include the lagoon landscape of Knysna, the long beaches and viewpoints around Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness, and Tsitsikamma National Park with its dense coastal vegetation. Small boutique hotels and lodges in secluded settings combine peace and nature. With a private guide, you discover these places away from large groups and at your own pace.
In the east of the country, Kruger National Park and the adjoining private reserves such as Sabi Sand are the heart of a journey. On private game drives, you encounter elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo. The Panorama Route with the Blyde River Canyon impresses with its scenery. In KwaZulu-Natal, the Indian Ocean coastline and the Drakensberg mountains complete the programme. Exclusive safari lodges combine these experiences with comfort and personal service.
We turn your dream journey into reality.
South Africa – inspiring South Africa
Share your travel wishes with us, whether you have Cape Town and Table Mountain, the wine estates of the Winelands, a safari in a private game reserve or the Garden Route in mind. We will shape them into an exclusive journey to South Africa, tailored entirely to your personal preferences and your pace.
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