Discover South Africa

Begin today with a private guided hike up Table Mountain for spectacular views over the city and ocean. You're collected from your accommodation and driven to the lower cable car station ready for your ascent. Your guide then leads you up steep, rocky trails to the mountain's summit, with plenty of stops to catch your breath while taking in the views — you may see Camps Bay and the 12 Apostles in the distance. You take the cable car back down the mountain.

Today your private driver and guide takes you on a tour around the Cape Peninsula's beautifully rugged coastline. Highlights include passing through the affluent suburb of Camps Bay, seeing the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, strolling around the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and visiting the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which is home to baboons, several antelope and bird species, as well as seals and dolphins offshore. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs en route, and you can purchase lunch in one of the area's pretty towns.

This morning your hire car will be delivered to your hotel in Cape Town for your journey to Swellendam. The drive from the city is just a few hours, but it's worth allowing more time to admire the towering peaks and stretches of vineyards that dominate the views. Once you've arrived in Swellendam you can enjoy the rest of the day leisurely exploring the town's little cafes or shops, or perhaps visit the excellent Drostdy Museum. The museum houses an interesting example of Cape Dutch architecture from 1747 and is home to plenty of historical artifacts.

Set off on your two-and-a-half-hour drive to Oudtshoorn. The journey takes you through a breathtaking mountain pass, the arid Karoo area and along Route 62, said to be the most scenic route in South Africa, cutting through an expanse of vineyards, huge mountains and deep-cut valleys. We recommend taking your time to enjoy the views. After checking into your accommodation, begin to explore Oudtshoorn. The town is known as the 'ostrich capital of the world', becoming wealthy through its ostrich feather industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today you can see the ornate sandstone houses once belonging to those who grew rich from the trade.

Take the day to explore the beautiful mountainous area. The drive up to the Cango Caves is stunning. Here you can join guided tours including a walk through the caves to learn about the history and the rock formations. For something a little more intrepid, you can opt for the adventure tour of the caves which takes you deeper underground through smaller caverns and tunnels.

Leave Oudtshoorn behind and drive for two hours to Plettenberg Bay. As you join the Garden Route at the town of George, the road runs along the coast, offering some beautiful views over the ocean. You may wish to stop for lunch in one of the coastal towns along the way. On arrival in Plettenberg Bay, settle into your accommodation before heading out to explore. You may wish to take a stroll along the sandy beach or walk along the dramatic cliff tops, looking out for sightings of whales (July to November) and dolphins offshore.

The high mountains of the Garden Route run parallel to the coast and collect most of the winter rainfall that the Cape region receives. The rains cascade down the precipitous slopes, forming fast-flowing streams and rivers that carve deep gorges through the stands of indigenous forest before eventually meeting the Indian Ocean. Make your way to Tsitsikamma National Park. On arrival, you will leave the heights and get down to sea level. This will allow you to see and experience the coast from an entirely different perspective.

Head out into Plettenberg Bay for a whale-watching tour. By using a combination of hydrophones and sharp eyes, your boat guides will attempt to get you in among the whales, dolphins, and seals that swim in the bay, sometimes surfing in the waves. You are likely to see bottlenose and humpback dolphins as well as some shark species as you look for whales. In addition to the abundant marine life, you can also spot birdlife, such as cormorants, kelp gulls and African black oystercatchers. Please note this tour only operates between June and December.

This morning you drive for around three hours from Plettenberg to Amakhala Game Reserve. After settling into your lodge, this afternoon you embark on your first game drive in the park with a knowledgeable guide, who can help track wildlife and tell you more about each species.

Today you are at leisure on safari. There are two game drives a day, one in the early morning and the second in the late afternoon. After your morning game drive you will arrive back at the lodge to eat a scrumptious breakfast. The rest of the day you have at leisure until the afternoon for your second drive, part of which will be at night — a chance to see some nocturnal animals.

Today you have another full day on safari. During your stay you could also partake in a river cruise at Amakhala, allowing you to view wildlife from a very different perspective.

After your morning game drive and breakfast you will drive out of the game reserve to Port Elizabeth Airport. Fly to Johannesburg to connect to your flight back home.