What to do in South Africa

It's not called Cape Point for nothing, jutting out into the icy Atlantic Ocean with panoramic views as far as the eye can see. Exploring the nature reserve can easily take the entire day, with hidden, white sand beaches and fynbos-clad hiking or biking trails. Keep your eyes peeled for speeding ostriches, various antelope and over 270 species of bird. Plus, listen out for the telltale bark of a chacma baboon (but don't share your lunch)! Travel via the 'Flying Dutchman' funicular to scenic lookout points and picnic spots - you may even see whales between August and October. Make sure you get a look at the Cape's original lighthouse (and a few snaps) before you go.

Of all the Kruger's wild and woolly creatures, the Big Five induces the most gasps - and with good reason! At sunrise (or as sunset approaches), depart from camp on a game drive with your expert guide to track Africa's most famous quintet. Explore the rolling savannah, lush valleys and river banks where you may spy a languid leopard on a branch, elephant splashing in the water, rhino and buffalo snuffling in the grass and a pride of lion snoozing in the shade of a fever tree.

Bar from the cute cafes and old-fashioned style, Franschhoek's charm is cemented with a trip on the wine tram. Pick your route and simply jump on in the centre of town to enjoy a scenic ride through the valleys of lush vineyards. Along the way, the tram makes stops at some of South Africa's oldest and most well-known estates. Take a tour of the cellar, join a wine tasting or stroll through the rows of vines before grabbing a bite to eat. For a novel way of seeing Franschhoek's finest wine estates, the tram is your answer. And you'll pick up history of the Winelands along the way.

​A journey up the magical Garden Route, starting from Cape Town, couldn't be done at a better time. It’s warm and clear in December, with almost zero chance of rain along this spectacular coastline. Stop off at some of the amazing towns and beaches along the way (Hermanus, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay to name a few) and by the time you reach Port Elizabeth you will be ready for a few of the local game reserves, offering some spectacular game viewing, including the Big Five.

Phinda offers the rare opportunity to see both black and white rhino in the wild. Experienced guides take you out into the bush on foot, where they interpret the tracks and signs in the attempt to locate one of these majestic creatures—one of Africa's biggest and most endangered animals.

It’s usually Hermanus that steals the show when it comes to whale-watching, but the drive along the picture-perfect coastal road from Cape Town through Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay is just as spectacular. Keep your eyes peeled for the majestic creatures as you go and when you reach Hermanus, stretch your legs with a stroll through the galleries, bookstores and boutiques. After a lazy lunch, head into the hills of the Hemel-en-Aarde for a taste of the grapes from a cool-climate region, in particular the South African speciality, Pinot Noir.

Stand on the battlefields of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War and let your guide and storyteller bring the sights, sounds and scents to life. Learn of the Zulu bravery and innovation that defeated the British Army at Isandlwana, then hear how British soldiers, vastly outnumbered, still managed to win at Rorke’s Drift.

Being on horseback allows you to get close to animals like the endangered roan and sable antelope or the usually skittish Hartmann’s mountain zebra without disturbing them. Beginners and advanced riders alike can ride across the grassy plains and red dunes, drink in the beauty of the Kalahari landscape and enjoy its stillness.

Part sleepy fishing village, part culinary heaven, you can’t visit Paternoster without doing a little restaurant hopping. So for a 24 hour, tastebud-ticklingly delicious foodie journey, here’s the plan. Cast off your flip-flops and head straight along the beach to Voorstrandt. The 115-year-old green and red tin hut is a Paternoster institution where the beer is cold and the fish comes straight from boat to plate. For dinner it’s Gaaitjie and chef Suzi Waterhouse’s Afrikaans classics with a seaside twist and the best sunset in town. After an early morning dip (essential to replenish the appetite!), roll in to the Strandloper Hotel for freshly baked pastries and heavenly coffee. Next up is Oep ve Koep, a rustic farm-stall-come-restaurant owned by the legendary Kobus van der Merwe. Foraging is the name of his game, so expect wild oysters in the restaurant and fynbos jam in the pretty shop. And if you’ve got an extra few hours, squeeze in a Malay fish curry under the twinkling garden lights at the Noisy Oyster. Talk about saving the best till last….