The Far and Wild Travel team took a trip to experience the best South Africa has to offer.
Earlier this month, several members of the Far and Wild Travel team travelled to Cape Town, the Winelands and some went onwards into Greater Kruger to celebrate a milestone year for the company, discover some new favourite properties and remind ourselves exactly why South Africa remains one of the most rewarding destinations we offer.
People often talk about the country’s incredible variety, but experiencing it firsthand is something else entirely. One minute you’re standing beneath Table Mountain, the next you’re drinking wine in Franschhoek surrounded by mountains, before ending the trip tracking lions and leopards through the bush. Few destinations combine coastlines, vineyards, world-class food, culture and safari quite so effortlessly – sometimes all within the same day.
And speaking of world-class food, one thing we all agreed on: we have never eaten steak quite as good (or as affordable) as we did in Cape Town.
Our trip began in Cape Town, a city that perfectly balances adventure, creativity, scenery and some of the best food and nightlife anywhere in Africa.
One of our first evenings saw us exploring the city on a guided speakeasy tour, hopping between hidden cocktail bars and rooftop spots before ending the night at Iron Steak Bar, one of Cape Town’s best-loved restaurants.
“The Speakeasy tour was an amazing experience… fun, interesting and boozy in equal measures! Oh and if the cocktails get a little much there are always delicious mocktails on offer too. It really was a fabulous way to explore and see some of the best rooftop bars in Cape Town.” – Ruth, Africa Specialist
Another unforgettable highlight came during our sidecar adventure around the city and coastline. Travelling by vintage sidecar offered a completely different perspective on Cape Town’s neighbourhoods, beaches and dramatic scenery.
“Without a doubt one of the best highlights from our trip in Cape Town was exploring the city by sidecar. It was such a unique way to see the different neighbourhoods, with the wind in your hair and incredible views around every corner.” – Nia, Asia Specialist
Alongside the luxury experiences and incredible scenery, one of the most meaningful moments of the trip came during a morning spent with Goal50 in Heideveld, helping support a local project building schools and community spaces from recycled tyres and bottles.
“The project has created not just an inspiring Montessori children’s centre, but meaningful local jobs and a real sense of pride within the community. Helping compact soil into the tyre walls gave us a tiny (and sweaty) insight into the hard work behind it, and meeting the people building both Goal50 and the Pitches for Peace football projects was incredibly humbling. Seeing such warmth, creativity and hope in an area facing real challenges really put everything into perspective for us, and we’re delighted to be able to donated the cost of a new pitch to this amazing cause.” – Eliza, Communications & Operations Director
It was a hugely grounding experience and a reminder that some of the most impactful travel moments come through connection with local communities.
And finally, on our last day in Cape Town the team were surprised with a helicopter ride, which everyone agreed was a highlight and a perfect way to end our time in the city and also gave beautiful birds eye views.
“Being surprised with a helicopter ride over Cape Town was an incredible way to end the trip, and even more special as it was a first time in a helicopter for some of us. Seeing the coastline, mountains and city from above really puts into perspective just how beautiful and varied this part of South Africa is.” - Mark, Marketing Manager
After the energy of Cape Town, the Winelands offered a complete change of pace.
Spending time in Franschhoek and the surrounding vineyards quickly became one of the highlights of the trip. Long lunches, wine tastings, mountain scenery and beautiful boutique properties made it incredibly easy to slow down and settle into the relaxed rhythm of the region.
“You’d be forgiven for thinking that this wine lover’s paradise was wasted on a vino-dodger like me, yet there’s so much more to this charming region. Being just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, it’s an easily accessible escape from the hustle and bustle of the city that boasts magical mountain scenery and world-class cuisine.” – Louise, Operations Manager
A particular favourite was our stay at Ludus Magnus, a spectacular villa set amongst vineyards and mountains in Franschhoek. The team there even organised a rather ambitious “Winelands Triathlon” involving swimming in their freshwater dam, followed by cycling and running through the estate grounds. Unfortunately, unexpected rain forced the event to be cancelled at the last minute – leaving us with no choice but to spend the afternoon drinking wine in a nearby winery instead.
Our Managing Director, Alistair, stayed on in the Winelands after the rest of the team departed, continuing to explore some of the region’s standout hotels and experiences, including Babylonstoren Farm Hotel & Spa.
“So much more than a wine farm. Mountain drives with incredible views stretching all the way to Table Mountain, water buffalo milking experiences, cellar tours, olive oil tastings… it’s a destination in its own right, and one you won’t want to leave.” – Alistair, Managing Director
For travellers with the time, we’d always recommend adding a few extra nights in this part of South Africa. It’s somewhere best enjoyed slowly.
While some of the team returned home after Cape Town, our South Africa Specialist, Tamara, and two colleagues continued onwards into Greater Kruger for a short but unforgettable safari journey through some of South Africa’s most iconic reserves.
From Garonga in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve to Kambaku River Sands in Timbavati and finally Mala Mala Rattray’s Camp in Sabi Sands, the wildlife sightings were exceptional from start to finish.
Highlights included rhino with calves, young male lions, elephants gathered by the roadside, incredible wild dog sightings and even the famous white lion cub of Timbavati. The final stop in Sabi Sands delivered stunning river views and one of the best leopard sightings Tamara had experienced in years.
“The views of the river at Sabi Sands Game Reserve were incredible and the game was outstanding! One of the best Leopard sightings I have seen in a long time. Although it was a fair bit of driving, it was very much worth it with incredible camps and amazing wildlife! No time in the South African bush, no matter how short, is ever a disappointment!” – Tamara, Africa Specialist
What stood out most was how naturally safari complements Cape Town and the Winelands. In a relatively short amount of time, you can experience mountains, beaches, vineyards and world-class wildlife all in one itinerary.
In short – absolutely.
For first-time visitors to Africa, South Africa remains one of the easiest and most rewarding introductions to the continent. It combines adventure, luxury, scenery, food and safari in a way very few destinations can.
It works brilliantly for honeymooners wanting something more exciting than a traditional beach escape, for families looking for variety and malaria-free options, and for groups wanting a destination that genuinely offers something for everyone.
And after experiencing it together as a team, we can confidently say it’s also one of the best places in the world for creating unforgettable shared travel moments.
Although we only experienced a snapshot of the country, one thing became very clear: South Africa deserves time. Our Classic South Africa itinerary combines Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route, allowing travellers to experience the country’s incredible variety at a comfortable pace.
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