Luxury South Africa Vacations

South Africa and luxury travel go hand-in-hand, with some of the finest hotels, lodges and camps on the whole content found throughout the country. Iconic city hotels, beautiful small lodges and vineyards, secluded coastal retreats and world-class safari lodges welcome visitors with open arms and offer unparalleled levels of comfort, service, food and quality activities. From the beautiful city of Cape Town to the idyllic vineyards of the Western Cape and the towering peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains to the game-rich bushveld of the Kruger National Park, South Africa boasts some of the finest luxury experiences that Africa has to offer.

Food and drinks

One of the great allures of a trip to South Africa is the outstanding cuisine, wines, beers and craft spirits that are offered seemingly everywhere you go. Cape Town and the nearby winelands village of Franschhoek are the best-known areas for food and drink, but increasing numbers of places to visit away from these areas are starting to rival them, including the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains, the windswept beaches of the Cape West Coast and the upmarket suburbs of Johannesburg. Enjoy seasonal, locally inspired menus from some of the world’s leading chefs, incredible wines and an increasingly interesting array of craft beers and spirits in the country’s wonderful range of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Wildlife experiences

No trip to South Africa would be complete without spending some time in one of its incredible National Parks or game reserves, which are rightly renowned for offering some of the best game viewing in the world. The best-known of these areas is the Kruger National Park or, more specifically the private game reserves that border it, with the Sabi Sand Wildtuin especially beloved for the incredible big cat sightings that it offers, along with huge herds of elephant, amazing rhino experiences and superb birding. The wildlife experienced is enhanced by some of the finest guides that Africa has to offer who bring visitors up close and personal with the animals and help them to learn more about them by imparting their seemingly endless knowledge in a wonderfully relatable way. Add to this the opportunity to stay in some of the continent’s finest lodges and you have a safari experience that ticks all the boxes for lovers of luxury.

When to travel

Luxury travel is often associated with perfect weather conditions – blue skies, warm temperatures and a lack of rainfall so if this is what you are looking for South Africa’s summer months, between October and March are the perfect time travel, especially to the popular Western Cape. That said, if you are looking to enjoy optimum safari conditions then we would suggest looking to travel in the cooler, drier winter months between May and September, especially if you are looking to head to the Kruger National Park. The same can be said for the beautiful province of KwaZulu-Natal, which comes in to its own over winter, with the snow-capped peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains offering an alluring backdrop to your travels. Ultimately, South Africa is a true year-round destination with the best time to go completely dependent on the experience that you are looking for.

Amazing day trips

South Africa really has led the way in creating new and innovative ways to explore its amazing areas, with a superb array of excellent guides on-hand to give visitors a truly in-depth and immersive travel experience. We offer access to some truly unique guides in Cape Town who can take you away from the main tourist areas but still offer an iconic experience, including quiet walking trails up Table Mountain Table, hidden beaches to see penguins and glorious little restaurants that don’t get too busy even at the height of summer. In the Cape Winelands guides can take you off the beaten track and to some tiny little wineries that produce some of the region’s finest vintages and offer the chance to sit down with the winemakers themselves. For history buffs the outstanding guides on the battlefields of the Zulu and Boer wars are regarded as the finest of the craft anywhere in the world and bring the tales of the iconic battles of these wars to life. Whatever you area of interest, we will be able to pair you up with some truly amazing guides who will enhance your travel experience to incredible levels.

Luxury combinations

Geographically and logistically South Africa is the hub for visiting much of the rest of the southern part of the continent with a huge range of flight connections, meaning visitors can easily add some time in other amazing parts of the region. Perhaps you have a craving to spend time at the iconic Victoria Falls with its wonderful array of lodges or would like to enjoy Botswana’s fantastic wildlife and guiding – both are easily accessed from South Africa with daily flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg. If you prefer some time relaxing on the beach then the idyllic white sands of Mozambique and Mauritius are also just a short flight away, offering the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation in the lap of luxury.

Tailormade South Africa trips

No matter what your plans for a trip to South Africa, we can curate an itinerary that matches your needs down to the very finest detail. From short weekend breaks to Cape Town, two weeks exploring the beautiful Western Cape and even longer explorations further east and north, we will put everything together for you. From recommending the ideal combination of the very finest hotels, booking the best guides and making sure transport logistics are arranged to maximise the time you spend everywhere, we have it covered.