Day 1-3: Cape Town’s Beaches, Mountains & Winelands

South Africa’s beautiful city of Cape Town has so much to offer its visitors. Laze on one of the white sand beaches, catch the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, enjoy world-class shopping at the V&A Waterfront or take the ferry to Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.

Since you have a car, it’s easy to explore further afield too: drive the Cape Peninsula along the cliff-hugging Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and penguins at Boulders Beach. A trip to the Cape Winelands is a must, the vineyard-clad valleys secreting away grand wine estates and award-winning restaurants. And between all these activities you can relax at your city hotel which has a spa, rooftop swimming pool with Table Mountain views, and intimate Odeon cinema.

Accommodation: Pepperclub Hotel & Spa

Day 4-5: Wilderness on the Beach-Lined Garden Route

From Cape Town it’s a smooth, easy drive to Wilderness. This small town sits at the start of the Garden Route; a coastline of tucked away beaches, forests and tranquil estuaries. Drive to nearby Knysna and have champagne and oysters at the pretty waterfront or enjoy a day of sea and sunshine at Plettenberg Bay. Kids are sure to love Monkey Land and Birds of Eden (the world’s largest free flight aviary), or take to the sea on an ocean safari in search of dolphins and whales.

Your accommodation in Wilderness is a light and spacious boutique hotel set up on a cliff overlooking a wide sweep of beach. Even in peak holiday season Wilderness beach is never crowded, you can go for long beach walks or horse ride along forest trails, paddle on Wilderness Lagoon or paraglide down over the sea and sand.

Accommodation: Views Boutique Hotel & Spa

Day 6-7: Big Game Safari at Shamwari Private Reserve

Leaving the Garden Route behind, you turn inland to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Set in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, this wild reserve is home to lion, elephant, rhino, cheetah, zebra, giraffe – and more. Along with expertly-led game drives and guided walks, you are also given the opportunity to visit Shamwari’s conservation centres including the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries.

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge has 12 air-conditioned tents each with its own plunge pool and game viewing deck. Between activities relax in private in your luxurious tented suite or indulge in a massage at the Bush Spa overlooking the river. On clear evenings dinner is served under the stars, either out on the lodge deck or around the fire in the traditional boma.

Accommodation: Bayethe Lodge

Day 8: Drive to Port Elizabeth

Enjoy a final breakfast overlooking the lodge waterhole; a gathering spot for antelope, warthog and other wildlife.

From Shamwari Bayethe Lodge it takes just over an hour to drive to Port Elizabeth, where you’ll drop your rental car at the international airport in good time for your flight back home.