South Africa's Wildlife, Wine & Natural World

Enjoy included UK airport lounge access before flying overnight to Johannesburg. 

Arrive in Johannesburg, and check into the luxurious Michelangelo Hotel. Located on Nelson Mandela Square in the centre of Johannesburg, this member of 'The Leading Hotels of the World', the hotel boasts 242 suites and rooms. It's also perfectly positioned for access to some of the city's best shops and restaurants. 

In the afternoon, embark on a tour of the township of Soweto. A vibrant, exciting and stimulating town, Soweto is home to over 2 million people, and has a vibrant, innovative and eclectic cultural scene - especially in music. A city with a rich and at times troubled past, it encapsulates the South African story. Embark on a tour of the town starting at the Hector Pieterson Museum, pass Mandela House and spend some time in its fascinating museum. Afterwards, visit Regina Mundi Church, a site that was utilised as a meeting point by many underground and banned political parties. Finish the tour with a visit to the largest stadium in Africa, Soccer City, which hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening and matches.

Stay: Michelangelo Towers, Johannesburg (Deluxe)

Transfer by light aircraft to Madikwe Game Reserve. With its wild ridges dotted with rounded boulders and grassy plains that seem to roll on forever, Madikwe gives a great indication of what South Africa must have looked like hundreds of years ago. It's especially famous for Operation Phoenix, one of the largest game translocation exercises in the world. Between 1991 and 1997 more than 8,000 animals of 28 species were released in the reserve, including elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, giraffe, antelope and other herbivores. Today its vast plains are home to 66 mammal species - including all the Big Five - and approximately 300 resident and migrant bird species.

Embodying the spirit of this wild and rugged region is Madikwe Safari Lodge, your base for three nights. This sophisticated lodge is divided into three intimate camps of just 20 suites in total, cradled between two rolling hills with views across the game-filled plains towards the Dwarsberg Hills. Each suite has a fireplace, outdoor shower, wooden sundeck and private plunge pool, while activities include morning and evening game drives in open safari vehicles, bush walks, bird watching, stargazing, bush breakfasts, boma dinners and local community village tours.

After your morning game drive, fly back to Johannesburg where you'll connect with a flight to Cape Town. On arrival, you'll take a transfer to the luxurious Steenberg Hotel & Spa on a historic wine farm in the Constantia Winelands, on the city's southern outskirts. Enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz as you settle into this serene countryside retreat, immersed among vineyards and beautifully landscaped gardens. Throughout your stay, you'll have complimentary access to mountain bikes to explore the hotel's 300-acre grounds, as well as complimentary access to golf clubs to use on the on-site driving range and 18-hole championship golf course. 

You'll have the opportunity to sample the local wines in an included tasting session at the Steenberg vineyards and a full day tour of the wider Constantia Winelands region, while the Bistro Sixteen82 serves up fresh, flavoursome tapas plates based around the finest locally sourced ingredients. There's also Tryn restaurant, which offers an exquisite fine dining experience. And when you're not exploring the hotel's delightful gardens, playing golf or indulging in culinary delights, you will be tempted to treat yourself to a soothing massage over at the spa. 

Heading southeast along the coast, you'll arrive at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, nestled among ancient Milkwood forests and fynbos-carpeted hills that slope down towards the sea. Across 3,500 hectares of pristine wilderness, over 900 species of flora can be found alongside 23 mammal species. Throughout your stay you'll gain a deep appreciation of the region's natural wonders on a series of included excursions, including horse riding, guided hikes through the fynbos and Milkwood forests, a 4x4 flower safari and a bird-watching adventure. The nearby coast, stretching along Walker Bay up to Hermanus, is renowned as one of the best places in South Africa to spot Southern Right Whales, which you'll have the chance to do on a coastal drive. A tour of Walker Bay's stunning beaches and the Klipgat Caves will also be among the highlights of your stay. 

The lodge itself is a triumph of eco-friendly design, blending seamlessly into its natural surroundings. Expect spacious, contemporary suites with breathtaking views, a gorgeous outdoor pool, and exceptional food and wine at the on-site restaurant, where you can either dine indoors, in the wine cellar, or in the enchanting, lantern-lit outdoor boma. Fresh fruit, breakfast (with a full English menu), light lunches and five-course dinners are included in your stay.

Spend the remaining days of your South African adventure soaking up the delights of Cape Town. You'll be based just outside the city at an elegant boutique hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and framed dramatically by Table Mountain National Park, on the coastal road that leads to Camps Bay. From this idyllic location, you'll enjoy a sense of peace and quiet that's harder to come by in the city centre, while still being within reach of the major sights. 

Enjoy a private food-themed Cape Town walking tour led by an expert guide, which will provide a fascinating introduction to the history and culture of Cape Town through its diverse culinary landscape, with numerous stops at local cafes and artisan producers. The rest of your time here is free to spend as you wish, exploring the city and its surrounding regions at your own pace. If you haven't done so before, taking the cable car (or hiking) up Table Mountain is a must for magnificent panoramic views overlooking the city and the coastline for miles around, while a tour to Cape Point, calling in at Simon's Town and the penguins of Boulders Beach, is similarly rewarding. 

You might also be tempted to explore the vibrant V&A Waterfront district, board the ferry to Robben Island, take a walking tour of the colourful Cape Malay quarter (Bo-Kaap), or unwind on the gorgeous sandy beach of Camps Bay. Further afield, a day trip to the Stellenbosch or Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands region is a fabulous choice. 

After one last breakfast, return to the airport to catch your flight home arriving the next day.