The Wonders of Southern Africa

Arrive in South Africa to a warm A&K welcome and transfer privately to your hotel. Overlooking the marina, with panoramic views of Table Mountain, One&Only Cape Town is a tranquil enclave on the doorstep of a vibrant city.

One&Only Cape Town

Wake in ‘the Cape’, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Rise early for the famed cable car to the summit of Table Mountain. Whether it is covered in a tablecloth of clouds or showing off against a crisp blue sky, Table Mountain is always spectacular. Your knowledgeable guide will deftly steer you away from the crowds to the best viewpoints, while revealing the fascinating history of the city. Next, chat to your guide about personalising your morning according to your interests. Perhaps wander the cobbled marketplace at Greenmarket Square, then explore the colourful ‘freedom’ houses of Bo-Kaap, to learn about the people and politics that have shaped the area.

Stop for tasty artisanal street foods before heading to Sea Point Promenade to admire the edgy and provocative art installations. Wander the Watershed Market to pick up handmade souvenirs and finish the day like a local with a bonbon and cheeky gin cocktail at a chocolate shop. Don’t forget to visit the secret gin bar tucked behind it with your evening at leisure.

One&Only Cape Town | Meals: BL

Explore the Cape Peninsula your way, with plenty of flexibility to suit your tastes and fitness levels. Take a walk through the bohemian fishing community of Kalk Bay, famous for its art galleries, brightly painted fishing boats and resident seals. You may like to walk among the penguins at Simon’s Town or seek out a rogue splinter colony. If you’re feeling energetic, perhaps take a hike inside the Table Mountain National Park, keeping your eyes peeled for ostrich, baboon, mountain zebra, bontebok and tortoise. Delight in deserted beaches strewn with ancient shipwrecks far from the usual tourist trail, before pausing for a gourmet picnic in a secluded wilderness location.

This afternoon, savour tasty treats at Noordhoek Farm Village, a thriving food hub where you can tuck into freshly made ice cream, artisanal treats, and aromatic java. Grab a bite and soak up the atmosphere. Then follow the 144 curves of Cape Town’s most scenic road to a quiet spot where you can admire an extravagant African sunset.

One&Only Cape Town | Meals: BL

Prepare for a full day of wine appreciation in Cape Winelands. Begin with a guided tour of the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden in Stellenbosch where you can admire over 60 sculptures carefully nestled among indigenous florae. Continue to the Oldenburg homestead to taste their complex and sustainably produced small-batch wines. Browse the quaint boutiques and art galleries in Franschhoek, while you learn about its French origins and the captivating backstory of its wine production. Follow it up with a delicious leisurely lunch at one of Franschhoek’s wineries.

More wine tasting awaits this afternoon, on the comfortable veranda of Jacoline Haasbroek, owner of the award-winning My Wyn Wine Estate. Perhaps stretch your legs on a walk to the nearby waterfall afterwards. Wind down with a gentle stroll in one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, trundling through the ever-changing tapestry and botanical diversity of its gardens.

One&Only Cape Town | Meals: BL

After a morning and lunch at leisure, get ready for your rail journey to Pretoria aboard Rovos Rail — widely known as one of the most luxurious trains in the world. Settle into your private suite, with lashings of old-world charm and an Agatha Christie-esque atmosphere. Pop on your fluffy white gown and watch the spectacular mountain ranges of the Cape flow by. This evening, dress smartly to indulge in your first four-course dinner in the Victorian dining car, crafted by skilled chefs and paired with the finest South African wines.

Rovos Rail | Meals BD

Wake stationed at Matjiesfontein, where you can wander through the historic Victorian village, and peruse the collection of vintage cars and railway carriages. Later this morning, travel from the gold-rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. After lunch in the dining car, relax with the captivating views. There’s an observation car with an open-air balcony to soak up the South African landscapes and often an onboard historian. You’ll find places to socialise with fellow guests including a lounge car, gift shop and dining car, all designed with timeless elegance.

Rovos Rail | Meals: BLD

Arrive at Kimberley, the diamond capital of South Africa. Kimberley was the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to integrate electric streetlights and the first Stock Exchange in Africa. Start your exploration of the city at its main attraction: the Big Hole, a hand-dug mine the size of eight football fields. Your guide will captivate you with fascinating stories of the city during the frenetic days of the 18th century diamond rush, with a tour of the once-operational diamond mine. Reboard Rovos Rail and enjoy lunch as the train travels northeast towards Klerksdorp and the grassland plains of Highveld.

Rovos Rail | Meals: BLD

Arrive at Pretoria, an historical city with gracious old architecture, historical sites, an emerging cosmopolitan centre, prosperous leafy suburbs and wide streets lined with Jacarandas. If you happen to arrive in November or December, the city will be covered in a purple haze of flowers.

Transfer to your hotel in Johannesburg and check into your hotel, the former residence of Nelson Mandela. This afternoon, visit the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, where you can wander through Madiba’s post-presidential office, and view the permanent exhibition on Nelson Mandela’s life and times.

Sanctuary Mandela | Meals: B

Journey on to one of the most unspoiled oases in all of Africa, the Okavango Delta. On arrival into Botswana, you’ll fly by light aircraft to your luxury camp in the Khwai Private Reserve. With almost half-a-million acres of pristine wilderness, floodplains stretch as far as the eye can see and the glistening waterways and emerald forests attract all the stars of the safari show.

Settle into your sophisticated tree-house room, shaded by the boughs of cool leadwood trees. This afternoon head out on a game drive, keeping your eyes peeled for elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and enjoy sundowners before a delicious dinner.

Tuludi | Meals: BLD

With only a handful of camps in this private reserve, Tuludi offers almost exclusive game viewing. Spend two days exploring the area at your desired pace on day and night game drives. You’ll also enjoy mokoro excursions through the Khwai River channels (season dependent). Don your safari gear and camera and rise early for a morning drive to catch the early prowlers. Stop for fresh, steaming coffee along the way, then make your way back to camp for breakfast or relish breakfast in the bush. Relax and soak up the camp’s luxury ambience, perhaps cool off with a dip in your private plunge pool and take a siesta, before heading out again in the late afternoon for your second game drive. After refreshing scenic sundowners, head back to a mouth-watering dinner and share stories of your adventure.

Tuludi | Meals: BLD

Join your bush pilot for a scenic helicopter ride over the wetlands to North Island Okavango safari camp, on its own private island. The flat plains submerged in water is stunning from above. Keep a lookout for large herds of buffalo no bigger than black ants, elephants and hippos in the water, and plenty of antelope.

Unlike most camps, North Island Okavango has water-based activities almost all year round. Surrounded by a mosaic of islands and channels, your tent sits peacefully in front of a hippo-filled lagoon, under the boughs of wild ebony trees. At night sit on the deck listening to bell frogs tinkle and watch as fireflies flit across the water. If it’s cold, stargaze around a crackling firepit on the deck.

North Island Okavango | Meals: BLD

Spend two days exploring the Okavango Delta on foot, land and on water. Game drive through vast tracts of pristine wilderness in search of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo and the rare sitatunga antelope. View the wildlife at eye level on a boat or traditional mokoro safari through the lily-filled channels. And tick off some of the Okavango specials from your bird-list — the slaty egret, Pel’s fishing owl and the African skimmer to name a few.

Activities start early in the morning accompanied by a dawn chorus of wildlife. In the afternoon, after a traditional siesta, you may choose to cruise on an engine boat or in a mokoro, expertly punted by a skilled local poler. Mokoro silently glide through the waterways, allowing close-up views of a vast array of wetland birds.

North Island Okavango | Meals: BLD

Fly Northeast to Kasane where you will transfer by road into Zimbabwe and on to your lodge in the Zambezi National Park. Old Drift Lodge is nestled within a wild paradise on the banks of the Zambezi River, frequented by elephant, buffalo, herds of sable, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala. Your suite has its very own viewing deck, with a private plunge pool and star bed. Enjoy delicious dining, enriched using fresh seasonal ingredients and herbs grown in the gardens.

Old Drift Lodge | Meals: BLD

Victoria Falls is an awe-inspiring experience. No photograph can begin to depict the reality, and nothing can prepare you for your first humbling sight. Follow your guide through the rainforest to the falls, followed by lunch at the Lookout Café. Sit back and feast with breathtaking views.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the national park your way. Animal sightings are frequent from Old Drift Lodge, and the remote location on the river enable fantastic birdwatching year-round. Enjoy game drives, river safaris, guided walks, or perhaps venture further afield to explore the town.

Old Drift Lodge | Meals: BLD

Transfer to Victoria Falls International Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: B