Uncover the Essence of South Africa

Arrive in Cape Town and be transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome drink before a Cape Malay and African set-menu dinner accompanied by an engaging African drumming experience at GOLD Restaurant. Stay Five Nights: AC Cape Town Waterfront Hotel (D)

Enhance Your Journey - Fast Track on Arrival Enjoy a seamless arrival in to Cape Town airport with a VIP welcome and fast track assistance.

Begin your first full day in Cape Town with a delicious hands-on Insider Experience. This afternoon, skip the queues with Fast Track VIP access and take a cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for stunning city views. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. Perhaps choose to enjoy fine dining at a local chefs table experience. (B/L)

Insider Experience - Bo-Kaap Cooking Tour Become immersed in the food, culture and traditions of the Cape Malays of Bo-Kaap on a Bo-Kaap Cooking Tour. Join a hands-on, practical lesson and learn how to cook like a Cape Malay 'Aunty'. Master a variety of Cape Malay favourites and learn how to mix masala for that perfect pot of Cape Malay curry, tasting your efforts at the end.

Enhance Your Journey - Chefs Table Experience This evening, enjoy a chefs table experience prepared using local ingredients and cooked with a distinct flair (additional expense).

Begin your day with a Cape Peninsula tour. Travel along this magnificent stretch of coastline, pausing at must-see destinations including Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Boulders Beach for the resident penguin colony, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. During your tour of the peninsula, stop to admire the ocean views over a delicious lunch. Later, return to Cape Town and spend the remainder of the evening at leisure. You might like to explore the lively V&A Waterfront, a harbourfront neighbourhood featuring hundreds of restaurants, shopping and nightlife. (B/L)

Spend a free day in Cape Town and uncover the city your way. You may like to partake in an optional experience, or simply enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)

Enhance Your Journey - Indulge Your Senses on a Half-Day Chocolate Tour Taste your way through Cape Town's chocolate scene on an immersive half-day tour. Discover the city's top chocolatiers, sample exquisite handmade treats, and learn about the art of chocolate-making (additional expense).

Enhance Your Journey - Community Project Visit Learn more about South Africa's communities and the challenges they face through the local volunteer program which focuses on education, healthcare, social welfare and environmental initiatives, while also promoting sustainable tourism practises (additional expense).

Enhance Your Journey - Visit the Infamous Robben Island Between the 17th and 20th centuries, Robben Island served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment. Today, this World Heritage-listed site and museum stands as a poignant reminder to the newly democratic South Africa of the price paid for freedom. Tour the notorious prison, where Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters were incarcerated during the apartheid era. This tour is weather permitting (additional expense).

Today, journey to Cape Winelands district for a day of exceptional food and wine. Board the Franschhoek Wine Tram for a guided voyage across the region, hopping on and off the tram to enjoy tastings and food pairings at various boutique and renowned wineries. Savour a special Insider Experience before returning to Cape Town where you'll enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. (B/L)

Insider Experience - Nederburg Wines 'Dinner of Discovery' Savour a sensory experience at a 'Dinner of Discovery' at Nederburg Wines. You'll be blindfolded for select moments during this experience, so you can appreciate the flavours in each of the three-course, canapé-style food and wine pairings, without other sensory distractions.

This morning, farewell Cape Town and set off for the fishing village of Arniston via one of South Africa's most scenic coastal drives, Clarence Drive. This route is bordered by the Hottentots Holland Mountains on one side and the crashing waves of False Bay on the other.

During whale-watching season (June to November), stop in the seaside town of Hermanus and board a vessel for an awe-inspiring whale-watching experience, where you'll enjoy the rare opportunity to glimpse these giant mammals in their natural habitat. If you are visiting outside of whale season, enjoy time to explore Hermanus.

Continue to Elim Village, a charming community made up of white-washed cottages and bountiful fig trees. This evening in Arniston, stroll through the picturesque village, passing fishermen's thatched cottages before dining with the locals. Stay: Arniston Spa Hotel or similar (B/D)

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day with a free morning to spend how you wish, before setting off along the famous Garden Route. Your first stop is at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of South Africa where two mighty oceans converge - the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

Continue to Knysna, an idyllic town renowned for its stunning natural beauty. It's home to lush forests, expansive lagoons, and dramatic coastal cliffs, as well as a vibrant arts scene, delicious seafood, and the towering sandstone cliffs of Knysna Heads. Stay Two Nights: Protea Hotel by Marriott Knysna Quays or similar (B/D)

Journey across the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head, where you'll visit the pristine natural wonderland of Featherbed Nature Reserve. Join your specialist guide and learn about the flourishing fauna and flora of this beautiful ecosystem. The remainder of the day is yours to spend at leisure. (B/L)

This morning, continue along the coast towards Kariega Game Reserve, located along the Eastern Cape. Upon arrival, check in to your stunning safari lodge. Tonight, dinner is served within your lodge. Stay Three Nights: Kariega Game Reserve, Ukhozi Lodge or similar (B/D)

Insider Experience - Three Nights at the All-Inclusive Kariega Game Reserve Settle in to your stunning lodge, which has been designed to blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscapes. The lodge features a stunning infinity pool that overlooks panoramic vistas of the river plains, which are home to a remarkable range of wildlife. During your time here, enjoy bush walks and safari game drives, all while enjoying all meals and select beverages included during your stay.

Kariega Game Reserve encompasses 11,500 hectares of breathtaking South African wilderness. Residents of this rich ecosystem include lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards. In addition, you're also likely to spot an incredible range of diverse wildlife from giraffes to zebras and more. Enjoy memorable wildlife encounters on open-air game drives, tranquil river cruises, immersive bush walks or even when fishing. Return to your lodge for dinner this evening. (B/L/D)

Enjoy the final day relishing in the amenities of your safari lodge. Spend a leisurely breakfast admiring the surrounding views, opt to enjoy a spot of pampering at the spa (additional expense), or set off on another exhilarating game drive. (B/L/D)

Bid farewell to the serene landscapes of the Eastern Cape as you journey back to Port Elizabeth for your flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, settle in to your hotel and enjoy a Farewell Dinner, where you can reminisce over cherished memories of your South African adventure with your fellow travellers. Stay: Johannesburg, Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport Hotel or similar (B/D)

Following breakfast, be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)