Wonders of the Western Cape

We meet in Cape Town for the short transfer to our hotel in Constantia. Following lunch we set out to nearby Kirstenbosch Gardens, 528 hectares of diverse fynbos flora, natural forest and cultivated gardens landscaped on the slopes of Table Mountain. We return to our hotel for the Introductory Talk and Welcome Dinner.

A cable-car takes us to the top of Table Mountain. From Front Table an easy path loops through the richness of this botanical National Nature Reserve. A boardwalk path winds its way to a lush green valley rich with proteas and ericas. This 3 hour walk returns us to the cable car providing stunning views across Table Bay and Robben Island. After lunch we continue walking around Lions Head, with time to visit Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, before returning to our hotel in Constantia.

A short transfer brings us to Silvermine Valley from where we take an easterly path gradually climbing to the top of Table Mountain National Park. We have unsurpassed views overlooking False Bay, Seal Island and the mountainous coastline of the Western Cape. Cape Point can be seen to the far south where the Indian Ocean meets with the Atlantic. We rest at Weary Willy's and descend gently to Kalk Bay, a fishing village with a thriving bohemian quarter. Following lunch and a short transfer to Kommetjie, we meander through the park and hike on the beach to Noordhoek. Our homeward drive takes us along Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most glorious coastal roads.

An early start with a visit to a Cape township and one of the many children's projects that are helping to transform lives. Our journey continues north through wide rolling wheat fields of the Swartland to the rugged Cederberg Mountains crossing the Pakhuis Pass to Bushmans Kloof. This private reserve is a 7,500 hectare wilderness and a South African Natural Heritage site boasting 125 pristine rock art sites, streams, pools and many miles of nature trails. A ranger guides us to an amazing gallery of rock art and will provide interpretation of these ancient paintings and engravings. Late afternoon we set out again by open Land Rover for a game drive and enjoy sundowners in an unparalleled wilderness before dinner and overnight.

We head out for an early morning walk to discover further open air art galleries of ancient cultures. Bushmans Kloof is nestled between the majestic mountains of the Cederberg and vast plains of the Great Karoo. We view the strangely shaped jagged rocks and outcrops while the sweeping, ever changing vistas of the Great Karoo provide a constantly impressive African sky. We picnic at a crystal clear rock-pool, always welcome on a hot afternoon, and return to the lodge for an evening game drive. A less energetic day could be spent in the indigenous gardens or spa and enjoying wellness therapies.

Trained Rangers share their knowledge of the flora and fauna - many hundreds of plant species have been identified in the Reserve. As we progress on our walk we will also see a rich variety of bird life including eagles and water bird. A free afternoon to peruse the library or perhaps go canoeing, fly-fishing or simply relax by the pool. The very energetic could try some mountain biking. At the day's end enjoy sundowners at one of the breathtaking lookout locations of the Reserve.

We leave the Cederberg mountains and travel south to Tulbagh, a pretty and compact town boasting historic Cape Dutch buildings. After lunch, we continue to Franschhoek, another small town renowned for its Huguenot historical architecture. The town is nestled in a valley partly surrounded by mountains and a centre of some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. Our afternoon walk from the village crosses private property, farms, orchards and vineyards to Middelberg, giving lovely late-afternoon views across the village and valley. Time for a wine-tasting before returning to our hotel in Franschhoek town centre.

The day's walk takes us through the exclusive winery estate of Tokara ranch in the foothills of surrounding mountains. Using tracks that dip and rise through the vineyards and woodlands, we continue to lunch. Our afternoon walk finishes at the ranch for a wine-tasting and we return to Franschhoek with time to enjoy this bustling and elegant little town.

An early flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg to meet the private charter flight to Madikwe Game Reserve. (PLEASE NOTE: the flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg is NOT included in the cost of your tour and should be written as part of your international ticket.) Madikwe Game Reserve is a 75,000 hectare park stretching to the borders of Botswana. We drive into the park, home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo), and are welcomed at the Madikwe Safari Lodge - beautifully appointed and sympathetically and harmoniously merged into the African bush. Following a late lunch game rangers lead a late afternoon Bush Walk; then, later, a game-drive in an open Land Rover before dinner under a starlit night. We return for dinner at Madikwe Safari Lodge.

A very early start with a morning walk through the bush, led by an experienced ranger who will enlighten us about the ecological environment of the reserve where every plant, animal and insect forms an essential purpose in the web of survival. Later we venture out for a game drive in search of the elusive white and black rhinocerous. We return for dinner at Madikwe Safari Lodge.

Coffee at dawn and then an early-morning game-drive and bush walk is followed by breakfast and the opportunity to relax and contemplate the silence and tranquillity of Madikwe's great wildernesses. Later following lunch we head out to find game that remains hidden during the heat of the day and will now be searching for water. We enjoy sundowners in the bush and return to the lodge for our Farewell Dinner.

We take a short early afternoon charter flight back to Johannesburg International Airport where we say "Farewell".