Experiences in South Africa

Go giraffe tracking in Bellevue Forest Reserve

The guided walk allows guests to explore the African bushveld, come up close with the remarkable giraffes and soak in the mesmerizing sights and sounds of the wilderness. With an expert FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) trained guide, guests are ensured a safe and educational journey through the wilderness, enriching their understanding and appreciation for the wild life and the natural surroundings of the Addo Valley bushveld. This adventure, with its limitation to a small group of participants, promises a more personalized and immersive experience, making it a memorable adventure for those seeking an authentic African safari experience.

Go on a guided walk in Tswalu

Birders will be eager to discover many of the bird species of the southern Kalahari while at Tswalu. Birding is best done on foot. Setting out in the early morning on a walking safari coincides with the onset of the dawn chorus. Listening to bird calls is always a useful tool to locate different birds.

Go wine tasting in Stellenbosh

Sip some of the best wines South Africa has to offer amid the enchanting scenery, culture and history of Stellenbosch.

Follow the scent of sun-baked grapes to the Winelands, where you'll enjoy a day of award-winning wines, glorious vistas and epicurean delights. Join your guide on a tour of the finest wine estates in the valley, where you'll sample rich pinot noirs and piquant chardonnays (and anything in between). Try your sommelier skills out with three wine tastings at picturesque estates, while dipping into the history of South African winemaking. You may even become a true connoisseur by the end of it!

Check out Cape Town's best food spots with a guide

Get a taste (quite literally!) of Cape Town’s history and culture on this ultimate food tour through the city’s most vibrant areas and restaurants.

Cape Town is famous for its stellar cuisine and on this tour, you'll leave the linen napkins at home and experience the best local delicacies. Take a culinary journey through Cape Town as you guide shares the secrets and history of South African cooking. Kickstart your tastebuds at a boutique coffee roastery in the city centre before tucking into a selection of South African staples: biltong and droewors – meat cured with an exotic blend of herbs, seasonings and salt – are on the menu, as well as samoosas. Sample traditional Cape Malay dishes in colourful Bo-Kaap. Indulge your sweet tooth with a chocolate tasting at an artisanal chocolate makers in the city before rounding things off with a craft gin tasting in a secret location. Throughout the day you’ll also have the chance to shop for the local and traditional foods that you’ve tasted - even browse the oldest spice shop in Cape Town!

Check out Cape Town's best food spots with a guide

Spot the rare bird species in Northern Kruger

The Kruger may be famous for its big-named wildlife but the lesser visited north is home to a host of birdlife. Leave your lodge with a seasoned guide who will take you on a drive through forests of fever trees and beside flowing rivers, using their sharp eye and wealth of knowledge to introduce you to the Kruger's birding scene. The crown jewel of South African birdwatching, the diverse flora of northern Kruger attracts tropical and subtropical species. A feast for the eyes, there is plumage of every shade, from the racket-tailed roller with its powder blue feathers to the soaring Verreaux's Eagle. With over 450 species, the Kruger is enough to tempt any twitcher and if you time it just right, a late afternoon drive may reward you with a peek at the Pel's Fishing Owl.

Try cheese and wine pairing in Franschhoek

Pairing cheese with wine has long been a great way of highlighting the flavours and aromas of the grapes and in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, you’re in for a real treat in both taste departments! You’ll visit a variety of wine estates that either make their own cheese or have specially chosen locally-made fromage. Enjoy a memorable day learning the art of a good cheese and wine duo, combining the best of South Africa's wines with everything from home-cured mountain cheese to Brie. And you couldn't ask for a better view! At the end of the day, stroll around the award-winning gardens of Babylonstoren and visit their artisanal deli to take home a taste of South Africa.

Visit to Tswalu’s habituated meerkats

Guests have the opportunity to get within a few metres of one of three habituated family groups to watch them pop in and out of their burrows, stand sentry, groom and play with each other, soak up the sunshine, and forage in the sand for tasty morsels. The families are referred to as the Mokala, Gosa and Rockstar groups.

Explore the Stellenbosh vineyards on horseback

In the morning, you’ll meet your four-legged companion and stride out on a guided ride around the vineyards and estates of the Stellenbosh region. With the wind in your hair and the sweet smell of the flora in the air, there’s no better way to experience the beautiful countryside. You'll have a choice of horses and routes to suit your riding level, from fast-paced gallops along mountain passes to lingering walks through the orchards. You'll have worked up an appetite and after lunch in Stellenbosh, you'll have the chance to sample the area's finest wines. Bottoms up! If you're visiting in the warmer months (October to March), book a sunset ride when the Winelands are bathed in gold.

Learn about Cape Town’s history with a guide

Get to grips with South Africa’s rich, varied and sometimes turbulent past on this city tour of the Mother City and surrounding areas.

Known by many as the Mother City, Cape Town packs a historic punch. From colonisation by the Dutch in 1652, to the torrid apartheid years and the release of Nelson Mandela in 1994, South Africa has been through a lot and this tour of Cape Town offers an informative look at the country's past. Your seasoned guide will take you on a journey through the city where its history is told through the architecture, monuments and museums. Learn about the origins of colonisation at the Company Gardens and Castle of Good Hope, and discover the truths of apartheid at the District Six Museum. Take a step back a few thousand years at the Iziko South African Museum, where you'll learn about the country's original peoples, and walk beside the smartie-coloured houses of the Bo-Kaap, which tell yet another side of South Africa's history.

Learn about Cape Town’s history with a guide

Enjoy a private vehicle safari in Tswalu Kalahari

A private vehicle safari allows for unlimited time at sightings, which may include some of the elusive species that find sanctuary here, such as aardvark, pangolin, bat-eared fox, brown hyena, and aardwolf. Other iconic Kalahari species include the black-maned Kalahari lion, the desert black rhino, wild dog, oryx and cheetah. At any time of the year, there are special sightings and transformations to the landscape influenced by seasonal changes and the absence or abundance of water. Spending time at one of the habituated meerkat colonies is often a highlight of a Tswalu safari.

Experience the Sardine Run Migration at GweGwe

The Sardine Run is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacles, and at GweGwe Beach Lodge it happens right on our doorstep. Each winter, vast shoals of sardines migrate along the Wild Coast, attracting dolphins, whales, seabirds and game fish in an unforgettable display of marine life. GweGwe offers a rare opportunity to experience this phenomenon from a remote, luxury base within the Mkambati Nature Reserve.

Enjoy the white sandy beaches of Cape Town

If you're bound for Cape Town, you're sure to have heard of its coastline of idyllic and sun-bathed beaches. There are plenty to choose from but you can easily scatter these into your itinerary for a couple of hours (or entire days) spent beside the Atlantic Ocean. The most famous is Clifton, which has four white sand coves sheltered from south-easters by massive boulders (they aren't bad to climb either!). Whether it's surfing, beach volleyball or simply soaking up the sun while watching yachts bobbing in the lagoon, Clifton has a beach to suit. The palm-lined Camps Bay offers a taste of riviera life with a gorgeous beach, top-tier restaurants and stunning views of the Twelve Apostles range. For something more off the beaten track, head to Noordhoek Beach at the end of Chapman's Peak. While its rough surf doesn't allow for swimming, it has an edge-of-the-world look and makes for incredible photos. The colourful beach huts and Blue Flag status make Muizenberg a lovely option with warmer waters, great surfing conditions and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Spot black and white rhino in the Kruger

Make it your mission to see the endangered rhino of the Kruger on a niche game drive that's sure to garner some fantastic sightings. Led by the expertise of your guide, journey into the plains of the south in search of the wide-lipped white rhino where they stoically graze and roam. To see the more elusive black rhino, you'll venture closer to the bush thickets where they browse on succulent leaves. Marvel at these jurassic creatures as your guide fills you in on the efforts to conserve rhinos for generations to come.

Experience life in the vibrant streets of Bo-Kaap

An explosion of colour and flavour at the base of Signal Hill, the Bo-Kaap was formed in the 1760s and has since become a tight-knit community with a whole lot of history. Stroll down Wale Street to see the oldest building in Bo-Kaap, where its museum is held with plenty of fascinating exhibits. Wander through the thriving food markets with homemade Cape Malay dishes for tasting - you can even have a cooking class to try a few at home. The houses were painted rainbow colours as a symbol of freedom and you'll learn your share of Bo-Kaap's history from the people themselves as you explore this unique little part of town.

Search for the famous Big Five in the Kruger

Under the cover of darkness, the Kruger comes alive with a whole new host of wildlife. After an early dinner, leave camp as your knowledgable guide leads the way with an infrared spotlight. Look out for the telltale glow of eyes (and rustle) from the trees and scrub, where a shy serval or darting scrub hare may appear. Nighttime is when the big cats truly come into their own and turn the Kruger into their personal hunting ground. Watch enthralled as leopard and lion prowl, with hyena following closely in the hopes of enjoying leftovers. As you trundle back to camp for a hot drink, listen out for the call of the fiery-necked nightjar as it pierces the quiet.

Hike to the top of Lion's Head in Cape Town

Beside Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain, sits Lion's Head, a favourite for more casual hikes with the full package of incredible views. Set off with a picnic along the trail with the city, sea and peninsula laid out below, to reach the pretty summit within 90 minutes. Especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset, a hike up Lion's Head makes for a lovely way to start the day or end it with a few sundowners. Be prepared to encounter some challenging parts of the trail along the way, so this is not for the faint hearted and a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Go wine tasting in the winelands of Cape Town

Sip some of the best wines South Africa has to offer amid the enchanting scenery, culture and history of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

Follow the scent of sun-baked grapes to the Winelands, where you'll enjoy a day of award-winning wines, glorious vistas and epicurean delights. Join your guide on a tour of the finest wine estates in the valley, where you'll sample rich pinot noirs and piquant chardonnays (and anything in between). Try your sommelier skills out with three wine tastings at picturesque estates, while dipping into the history of South African winemaking. You may even become a true connoisseur by the end of it!

Go wine tasting in the winelands of Cape Town

Cage dive with great white sharks in Cape Town

When you see the dorsal fin silently slice the clear water, you know a Great White Shark has arrived near your boat. Secured in a special steel cage, you then descend below the surface for a little one-on-one with this terrifying, beautiful creature - it's nerve-wrecking, yet extremely rewarding.

Ice cream & push scooter tour at sunset

This jaunt is fun for everyone, includes amusing anecdotes of Sea Point’s past and is the perfect way to end your day on a sweet note!

The idea is not to eat a massive amount of ice cream, but rather to have tastings at each stop and enjoy exploring the promenade with a guide. In total, we will eat 1.5 scoops on the tour (you can have more if you want) and taste a variety of delicious ice creams.

We meet at Queen’s Beach and take an e-scooter towards the Green Point Lighthouse.

Finishing near where we started, 1.5 hours later.

Go on a cocktail & speakeasy tour in Cape Town

We know it can be tricky — and even intimidating — to know where to go for a sophisticated drink in Cape Town.

We also know that going out with a local, in a group, is the best way to discover the city's best spots. And luckily, there are some truly phenomenal cocktail bars and speakeasies to choose from.

We’ve been to all of Cape Town’s best bars and have curated a route and schedule that showcases the city's best on each night of the week.

Go on a cocktail & speakeasy tour in Cape Town

Listen to unique stories on a guided walk in Cape Town

Discover the natural diversity of Cape Town on this fun tour that is the perfect introduction to the city’s hidden wonders. While exploring, you’ll hear fascinating stories about Cape Town’s history and legends – from indigenous heroes to modern-day icons.

The Constantia Wine Walk

A sip-and-stroll storytelling journey through Cape Town’s most iconic vineyards.

Lunch with a private chef in Cape Town

An exclusive gourmet lunch experience awaits, hosted by the esteemed Chef Nicky Gibbs in her personal home. Chef to renowned rockstars, she crafts a delectable 6-course set menu, thoughtfully paired with botanical teas, each ingredient foraged from her own garden. A feast for the senses in a beautiful setting with panoramic views of Noordhoek Valley.