COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW

Flying into Cape Town, you’ll start this classic South African vacation by staying three nights in the fashionable city suburb of Oranjezicht, pressed up against the foothills of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. After your long flight, you’ll be thankful for the 10m swimming pool and Jacuzzi at your guesthouse, the boutique 2inn1 Kensington, where you wallow away a few hours gazing up at the flat-topped mountain from your room or sunbathe in the tranquil gardens.

However, with the pivotal Kloof Street within walking distance, make the most of your central location and put on some comfortable yet stylish shoes in order to explore Cape Town’s sophisticated centre. Head to the oak-lined pedestrian strip of Government Avenue, to walk through the historic Company’s Garden, see the exhibitions in the South African National Gallery and to spot some of Cape Town’s defining architecture, such as the Houses of Parliament.

From the historic hub, hop over to Bo Kaap to really experience the flavours and colours of Cape Town’s Malay Quarter. Stock up on the typical Cape Malay treats, such as a koeksister, melktert or samosa, before catching the iconic views along the V&A Waterfront. As this is the classic tour, make sure to set some time aside in order to take the cable car up Table Mountain, dive into the shark-infested waters in a cage and go on a tour to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

After Cape Town’s incredible cultural hit, you can mull the last few days over sitting among the sun-drenched vineyards located in the Franschhoek Valley. Collecting the car, you’ll drive east to the small working winery La Petite Ferme, which also has large, elegant suites and a much-applauded restaurant. The wine estate also has a tasting room open daily from morning until evening, which is perfect for learning about the Cape Winelands as you are guided through the process from vine to bottle and everything in between, with the bonus of several delicious samplings.

As you have a car at your disposal, you can drive into the French Huguenot town of Franchhoek and see for yourself why it’s highly acclaimed as the culinary capital of the country. Make a detour to Stellenbosch, to photograph its lovely old buildings, oak-lined streets and stately colonial homes.

Of course, when in the Winelands a certain amount of wine tasting is in order, so consider starting at the Babylonstoren estate for its full-bodied Chardonnay, then enjoying the deep, flavoursome reds at Boekenhoutskloof, and rounding off the day at La Motte, to soak up the vintages with a meal overlooking majestic oaks.

Dropping the car back in Cape Town, you’ll fly to Hoedspruit and then be transferred to the Makalali Conservancy, a Big Five game reserve located in the Limpopo province just west of Kruger National Park. Your base is the Garonga Safari Camp, an inviting tented hideaway surrounded by 22,000 hectares of wildlife-rich terrain.

In between the morning and evening games drives and guided walks, where you’ll be able to spot white and black rhinos, as well as lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes and wild dogs, relax with an  outdoor bush bath underneath ebony trees or enjoy an aromatherapy massage in the open-air sala.

For those looking to burn off some of the vacation indulgence, there is white water rafting and horse riding available nearby or to really get your heart rate going, spend a night out in the open at the ‘Sleep Out’, listening to the nocturnal calls of lions and hyenas from the safety of the viewing deck, dominated by the canopied four-poster bed.