Begin your tour of South Africa with three nights in Cape Town, voted the best city in the world for the seventh consecutive year.

Cape Town is a colourful and vibrant city surrounded by dramatic mountains and sandy beaches. It is certainly one of the most beautiful cities in the world – presided over by one of the 7 Natural Wonders of The World – Table Mountain. The magic of Cape Town, or the ‘Mother City’ as it is affectionately known, lies in the collision of natural wonder, diverse cultures, art, design and a thriving food and wine scene. Many visitors underestimate the time needed to explore Cape Town and we always recommend at least three nights.

Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean type climate and is within close proximity to the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route. Spend your days relaxing on Clifton beach, ambling through the botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch and wine tasting at legendary wine estates. The Cape Town epicurean scene has been going from strength to strength over the last few years. Food markets, fine dining restaurants, cafes, bistros, pubs, bars and casual eateries abound in the Mother City. Take a look at our list of the Top 20 Restaurants in Cape Town as well as our list of the Top 10 Restaurants in the Cape Winelands. The Silo Hotel is located in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, the ideal base from which to explore all that the city has to offer.

Aside from being the best place to view whales on the planet, Hermanus is renowned for its wild beauty, artisanal food producers, markets and its proximity to the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven-and-Earth ) wine route – one of South Africa’s premier, cool-climate wine producing regions. Hermanus is a scenic 90-minute drive from Cape Town and is the perfect spot in which to relax and forget about city life, with long strolls on the beach, massages, sunsets and fresh seafood.

The pure air, pristine beaches and sheer tranquillity are a captivating combination in themselves, but for those looking for an energetic Hermanus holiday, there is plenty to do. Surfing, fishing, mussel-picking, golf, tennis and horse riding, as well as the more convivial pursuit of wine tasting in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Whale watching can be done on land, at sea or in the air. For those looking to get up close and personal with the Southern Right and Humpback whales, we recommend heading out on the ocean with a company called Dyer Island Cruises, as their primary focus is on marine conservation and research.

The town’s fascinating history as a fishing village can be traced by visiting the Old Harbour Museum, where old fishing boats and reconstructed fishermen’s shacks are on display. For the more adventurous, explore the rich flora and fauna of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve with numerous hiking and mountain biking trails. Over 1100 different plant species have been identified within the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, an area of only 15 square kilometres. This makes it one of the six floral kingdoms of the world and compares well with the UK’s total number of 1500 species.

Top Hermanus attractions include Marine Dynamics Shark Cage Diving, Surfing, Whale Watching, Mussel Picking, Wine Tasting, Butterfly World and Horse Riding.

The untamed environment of The Greater Kruger National Park stirs deep emotions. Visitors experience meaningful and often life-changing encounters with wildlife replacing bustling city life with the tranquil sounds and splendour of nature. Time slows down as your body adjusts to the natural rhythms of the African bush.

Guests at Royal Malewane often ask about additional activities outside of the reserve. There are many Top Kruger attractions which include Helicopter Rides Over The Panorama Route, Canyon Cruises, Hot Air Ballooning, Local Village Excursions and Golf At Leopard Creek. The ‘Lowveld’ is one of the most spectacular and dramatic regions in South Africa and well worth exploring en route to the Kruger National Park. The ‘Panorama Route’ includes incredible geographic sites such as God’s Window, The Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon and Mac Mac Falls. Pilgrim’s Rest offers a fascinating window into the past, and captures the spirit of a bygone era and its people in their quest to discover gold.

However these external activities are time consuming due to the nature of the destination and there is more than enough to keep you occupied at the lodge itself with twice daily game drives, bush walks, star gazing, bird watching and of course taking some time out to enjoy your beautiful suite, the delicious cuisine and the award winning Waters of Royal Malewane Bush Spa. Increasingly guests are taking an interest in conservation and like to spend time with our specialist counter poaching dog unit on the reserve.

We like to recommend at least 3 nights on safari in South Africa to really make the most of the experience and to see as much wildlife as possible.