A Luxury Tour of South Africa

We recently returned from an incredible luxury tour of the highlights of South Africa, a breathtakingly beautiful country with outstanding culture, food, wine and wildlife.

Our South Africa trip included the cultural and scenic highlights of beautiful Cape Town, wine touring in the spectacular Cape Winelands and a luxury wildlife safari in the legendary Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

We began in Cape Town, a historic city in a stunning location between the steep slopes of Table Mountain and the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Going to the top of iconic Table Mountain was a priority for us in Cape Town, as it is for most visitors. We arrange fast-track tickets for the cable car so our travelers can avoid waiting in long lines.

Panoramic views from Table Mountain helped us appreciate how the mountains protect the city and its harbor. Easy walking trails on the flat mountaintop also provided close-up looks at the unusual plants and animals that live there.

Next, we explored the renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, which sprawls across more than 1,300 acres (526 hectares) on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

Kirstenbosch has native fynbos vegetation, specimen trees, cycads, wildflowers, lawns and even an elevated walkway through a forest canopy. Among the indigenous South African plants are distinctive proteas and ericas.

One day, we took a private excursion out the rugged Cape Peninsula, which has beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity. The area’s unusual fynbos vegetation is protected as part of Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Floral Region UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the scenic drive, we stopped in seaside villages and visited Boulders Beach to see a colony of African penguins.

At the end of the Cape Peninsula, we visited Cape Point and ventured up to the lighthouse for incredible views of the rugged coastline and the churning ocean.

We also saw local wildlife such as baboons and ostriches and visited the nearby Cape of Good Hope, the southwestern-most point of the African continent.

En route back to Cape Town, we enjoyed scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, which winds along steep sea cliffs to Houts Bay…

…and visited Camps Bay and other waterfront neighborhoods.

Another day, we toured the historic center of Cape Town, which offered a fascinating look into the city’s long history.

We enjoyed a private walking tour of Bo-Kaap, where cobblestone streets are lined with colorful houses, mosques and shops. Long associated with the Cape Malay community, Bo-Kaap is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Cape Town.

The Company’s Garden is a public park on land where the Dutch colonizers grew produce for their ships that stopped here to resupply en route to and from Asia. Surrounding the park today are historic buildings and institutions such as Houses of Parliament (Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa), St. George’s Cathedral (where the remains of Archbishop Desmond Tutu are interred), the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation/Gardens Shul and the Iziko South African Museum. We also saw the City Hall and the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope, the oldest extant colonial building in South Africa.

During our stay in Cape Town, we enjoyed dining on fresh seafood, Cape Malay specialties, Indian cuisine and other flavors of the city.

We stayed at the One&Only Cape Town, one of our preferred luxury hotels in the city.

Located in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (the V&A Waterfront), the One&Only has a resort feel and great views of Table Mountain.

The V&A Waterfront is a lively harbor area with luxury hotels, restaurants, cafes, markets and shopping malls. We spent time browsing the Watershed, a warehouse filled with stalls selling locally made crafts and fashions…

…and the neighboring food hall, which has stalls offering a selection of local gins and snacks such as biltong (jerky) and Cape Malay curries.

Also in the V&A Waterfront is Zeitz MOCAA, a museum of contemporary African art inside a converted grain silo. The unique architectural interventions in the former industrial building by Thomas Heatherwick Studio make it well worth visiting.

In the same building is The Silo, another of our preferred Cape Town hotels.

The pastel-pink Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, is one of our favorite Cape Town luxury hotels.

Set among tranquil gardens, it’s a bastion of traditional charm and elegance.

We also recommend Ellerman House, a sophisticated boutique hotel that has beautiful interiors and terraced gardens with breathtaking ocean views.

Artisans of Leisure arranges private insider tours of Cape Town. Depending on the interests of each traveler, additional activities we frequently arrange in and around Cape Town include visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned; touring top art and history museums; philanthropic activities; food tours including visiting farmers markets; wine touring and meals in Constantia, the oldest wine region in South Africa.

After Cape Town, we traveled to the Cape Winelands, a stunningly beautiful region renowned for its spectacular mountains, historic towns, luxury hotels, vast vineyards, and gourmet food and wine.

Wine has been an industry in the Cape Winelands since the 17th century, and many wineries around the main towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch have historic whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings among vineyards.

We visited Franschhoek, a charming village surrounded by vineyards that was settled in 1688 by French Huguenots and is now one of the top wine towns in South Africa.

We enjoyed private tours of leading wine estates, met winemakers, and sampled world-class Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Syrah and Cap Classique (sparkling) wines.

Complementing the excellent wines was the amazing cuisine at the luxury hotels and acclaimed restaurants in the Cape Winelands.

One of our favorite stops in the Cape Winelands was Babylonstoren, a charming farm and hospitality complex with gardens, restaurants and a hotel.

We spent time wandering among the orchards and historic buildings and…

…shopping for honey, preserves, cheese, flowers and other farm products.

We also visited the historic center of Stellenbosch, which was founded by the Dutch in 1679 and is peppered with Cape Dutch architecture and shady trees. In addition to wine, it’s known for its university, one of the oldest in South Africa.

The Cape Winelands region is home to many wonderful hotels, including La Residence, one of our favorite luxury hotels in South Africa.

The exclusive property has lavish interiors and spectacular views from the rooms…

…and the grounds.

Another option in the Cape Winelands is Mont Rochelle, an intimate luxury hotel that’s part of the Virgin Limited Edition. It has a French country feel, beautiful grounds and open views.

Delaire Graff is another hotel option in the Cape Winelands.

The modern luxury hotel is on a hilltop surrounded by gardens and stunning mountain and vineyard views.

Next, we spent several days on safari in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Sabi Sand is a private concession on the border of Kruger National Park and has a high density of wildlife.

We enjoyed morning and afternoon game drives and saw all the Big Five animals: lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and Cape buffalo.

We were particularly lucky to watch a cheetah stalk an impala.

We also saw giraffes, zebras, impalas, kudus, hyenas, hippos, baboons, warthogs, crocodiles and many colorful birds.

Sabi Sand has several of South Africa’s best safari lodges. Among our favorites are Singita Ebony and Singita Boulders.

Singita Ebony is a luxurious interpretation of a classic safari camp that’s in the shade of mature trees along the Sand River. It’s a great option for families.

Singita Boulders is luxurious contemporary safari lodge with organic and modern African style that’s set among trees overlooking the Sand River.

We stopped by the boutique and art gallery at Singita, one of the best places to shop for handmade South African products and South African fine art.

Another luxury safari lodge in Sabi Sand is Ulusaba, part of Virgin Limited Edition.

Ulusaba has three parts: Safari Lodge, Rock Lodge and Cliff Lodge. We enjoyed our stay at the Safari Lodge, where elephants strolled past our room.

But we especially liked Rock Lodge, which perches atop a rocky hill and has jaw-dropping views over the region. Cliff Lodge shares the same location as Rock Lodge and is a good option for families.

The food, wine and service at the top safari lodges in Sabi Sand are always impressive.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to begin planning a private luxury South Africa tour featuring the highlights of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands and a luxurious safari in Sabi Sand or other top wildlife destinations in South Africa.