The Garden Route and a spot of safari in South Africa

Ever heard the phrase, “a world in one country”? Well, Cape Town is a world in one city! Surrounded by craggy mountains, ocean, plenty of lush greenery and rolling countryside, but also a bustling city scene, vivacious cultures and history, you won’t be short of things to do. We recommend starting in the city with a guided tour. Choose your focus from history, food or art (or all three), and discover the spots away from the guidebooks. If a guide isn’t your thing, wander the streets and seek out your own gems. Follow it all up with a connoisseur gin tasting and dinner in an award-winning restaurant and you have Cape Town in a nutshell.

Then there’s the great outdoors. Table Mountain dominates the landscape and with several hiking routes to choose from (guided or un-guided), and the cable car, there’s no excuse for not reaching the top. Other highlights around the city include the Southern Peninsula, home to African penguins, cliff-carved roads, lighthouses and incredible views, and the sun-kissed beaches of the Atlantic Seaboard. And we haven’t even started on the markets, paragliding activities, surfing or shopping yet…

Nestled between Cape Town and the start of the Garden Route, Overberg is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. Scenic doesn’t begin to describe the rolling hills and reserves laden with thousands of fragrant fynbos species that merge with sugar-fine beaches on the coastline. Spend quiet moments reclining at a chic guesthouse with a glass of wine in hand as you wait for pods of dolphins and whales to splash, spout or jump from the water. Between July and November, hundreds of southern right whales make their migration from Antarctica - a truly special sight.

Then, explore, explore and explore some more. Cycle, hike or ride horseback into the pretty surrounds, go on a game drive through one of the reserves, or follow the shoreline to a secluded beach for a few hours. Water-wise, there is kayaking across the lagoons, whale-watching boat trips and, for the adrenaline-seekers, cage diving with a Great White Shark.

The town of Knysna is bursting with charm. It’s a place to slow down and breathe in lungfuls of salty sea air (glass of wine in hand), whilst enjoying the restaurants and cafes that line the lagoon and the pretty boutiques full of arts and crafts. For water-based activities, head to the harbour and take your pick from the numerous companies peddling their wares, including yacht or speedboat trips around the glorious Heads, catamaran cruises, kayak excursions, as well as snorkelling and diving in the lagoon.

If you haven’t quite got to grips with your sea legs, the surrounding ferns and forests offer the perfect terrain for on-foot explorations. Knysna Forest, home of giant hardwood trees and easy trails, and the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head both spring to mind, as well as beach-side Goukamma Reserve for some surf with your hiking. If none of that takes your fancy, hole up in one of the fabulous golf resorts and be treated like a king (or queen) for the day.

South Africa’s Eastern Cape is wild and wonderful, from its undiscovered beaches to the collection of fantastic reserves. Depending on the lodge, you could aim to see members of the Big Five on game drives (Kwandwe’s impressive numbers of elephant and black rhino make it a firm favourite), visit a rhino or big cat sanctuary, or explore the terrain on a walking or horseback safari. Along the way, you could spot giraffe, zebra and antelope and, should the reserve offer night drives, porcupine, aardwolf and aardvark.

Just before Eastern Cape reaches KwaZulu-Natal, find yourself hiking epic mountain trails and searching for dolphins surfing the waves. For something completely different, hop over to the town of Graaff-Reinet. Nestled in the heart of the Karoo, the fantastic local food and breweries are sure to entice you.