HIGH & WILD

Set on the most exclusive and expensive address in the city, you’ll fly into Cape Town and stay at the stunning Cape View Clifton for two nights surrounded by National Geographic-worthy views. From your beautiful room, you can drink in the vistas of super chic Clifton and Camps Bay from the glass doors and sea-facing balcony or enjoy a fine bottle of Cape wine on the terrace with views that encompass the 12 Apostles. If you are feeling energetic, you can head up to Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and the iconic Table Mountain, either by scenic cable car or by following the many hiking routes, and then walk around one of the great botanic gardens of the world, the Kirstenbosch National Garden. As you have two nights in Cape Town, spend one day hitting the highlights, weaving between the tasty explosions of culture in the Malay Quarter (definitely sample the sweet koeksisters and spicy samosas) and people-watching or yacht-spotting along the V&A Waterfront and harbour. You’ll be taken on a tour of the Cape Peninsula during your stay, starting on the warmer eastern side, visiting Dalebrook Marine Reserve to explore the rock pools, before moving to Kalk Bay to see the fishermen haul in their catch of the day. Next it’s off to Simons Town to see the famous African penguins before ending along Cape Point, the grand exclamation mark at the bottom of the African continent.

Boarding a chartered flight, you’ll be flown from Cape Town to the sandy Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, where you’ll stay three nights looking across the red grasslands of the Kalahari desert. Just one of two lodges found within the 110,000 hectare reserve, the Motse is the perfect base for tracking desert-adapted black rhino, going on horseback safaris, exploring the land on daily morning and afternoon game drives and for walking along ancient trails of the San Bushmen –we recommend visiting the rock carvings which are some of the oldest on Earth. Try spot the sought-after Big Five, meet the adorable meerkat colony and go on night walks for rare encounters with aardvark, aardwolf and porcupine. If you’re not a morning person, skip the early drive and head to the blissful spa for a soothing treatment outside in the tranquil garden – with the occasional antelope grazing alongside the gardens, you can even spot wildlife from your spa bed!

From the vast desert landscape to a thicketed bush setting, you’ll be transported to Hoedspruit via chartered flight and then be taken to Greater Kruger National Park for three nights. Set on the banks of one of the largest lakes in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Chitwa Chitwa is an uber stylish lodge with just six suites – ensuring complete privacy in this exclusive, Big Five mecca. Wallow in your private plunge pool taking in the lake-view or rest on your deck identifying the large antelope and thirsty predators that visit the lake’s shore right in front of you.  The most popular activity at the lodge is the thrilling game drives. Go out with the professional rangers and trackers each morning and afternoon for close-up encounters with buffalo, lion and rhino and in between drives, head out on a guided walk to silently approach the giants of the bush, such as elephants, giraffes and wildebeest. A feast for the eyes, the lodge is dotted with dramatic and commanding works, created by owner Maria Brink and inspired by the artist Francis Bacon. Take a closer look at the art pieces, sculptures and jewellery, grab a book and unwind in the cosy library or after a day of spotting wildlife, head to the spa to have your muscles relieved with a massage, your skin soothed with a wrap and your mind cleared of its stress and tension of everyday worries.

Embrace the well balanced fusion at Thonga Beach Lodge – a property that is part luxury spa lodge and part barefoot beach hut. You’ll fly to the deserted Elephant Coast and spend four nights walking along miles and miles of empty golden beaches, snorkelling along reefs flooded with shoals of colourful fish and scuba diving to see the incredible sea life including 11-foot whale sharks, curious dolphins and breaching humpbacks. If you’d prefer to stay above the waves, you can try surf fishing or deep sea fishing, spot hippos and crocodiles in Lake Sibaya by paddling the waters in a kayak, or join the nocturnal walks along the beach in search of egg-laying turtles (November to February). The sunsets here are spectacular, so make sure you have your favourite tipple come sundown to toast the day’s end. We went for a tasty ‘topsy turtle’ cocktail in the ocean bar - a potent ladder of colour with a tiny umbrella to top it off – quite fitting after an evening excursion to the beach, watching the little hatchlings race towards the sea.