Travel Kuoni

South Africa Highlights and Mauritius

This two week holiday combines the cultural, culinary and wildlife highlights of South Africa with relaxation on the Indian ocean island paradise of Mauritius.  Explore 'The Mother City' from world-famous Table Mountain to the vibrant V&A Waterfront, Robben Island and the penguins at Boulders Beach. Venture through the cellar doors of the vineyards for superb wine-tasting, and experience an exhilarating safari in the private conservancies around the Kruger National Park.

Suggested itinerary
14 nights
Cape Town, Franschhoek, Greater Kruger Reserves and Mauritius
Safari, Beach and Island

£4,675 - £5,075 pp including international flights

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Arrival in Cape Town

Welcome to South Africa. Upon arrival in Cape Town, you’ll transfer to your hotel, located in thi...

Day 2

Cape Town

Set dramatically beneath iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town effortlessly blends modern city life wi...

Day 3

Cape Town

Today, continue to soak up the lively local scene. Either in the city itself or take a short bus ...

Day 4

Cape Town & Winelands

After breakfast, transfer to the beautiful winelands of the Western Cape. Around an hour outside ...

Day 5

Winelands

The day is your own to further explore the scenic valleys of the Cape Winelands. Perhaps join a g...

Day 6

Cape Town & Abelana Game Reserve

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hoedspruit. On arrival, a transfer will take you to yo...

Day 7

Abelana Game Reserve

Spend the day in the great outdoors savouring every sighting and call of the wild. ​Start your da...

Day 8

Abelana Game Reserve

Rise early for another walking safari where you will see the smaller species. Head out once again...

Day 9

Abelana Game Reserve & Johannesburg

Transfer back to Hoedspruit for your flight to Johannesburg. You can connect to flights home from...

Day 10

Johannesburg & Mauritius

Transfer back to the airport for your connecting flight to Mauritius. Enjoy the remainder of your...

Days 11 to 14

Mauritius

Days at leisure in Mauritius.

Day 15

Mauritius

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Day 1

Arrival in Cape Town

Welcome to South Africa. Upon arrival in Cape Town, you’ll transfer to your hotel, located in this lively city. This will be your base for the next three nights. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or take a stroll along the V&A Waterfront famous for its shops and restaurants. Alternatively get to know your surroundings on an optional city walking tour or dramatic sunset cruise on a vintage sailboat. Overnight at Garden Court Victoria Junction.

Cape Town City Walking Tour

Cape Town

Take a private guided walking tour of Cape Town to learn about the Mother City's complex past. The tour is a great way to get under the skin of this beautiful city; there’s so much variety from the Waterfront to the Central Business District, historical landmarks and Table Mountain. It’s good to do this tour when you first arrive in Cape Town so you can get your bearings and gain an overview of the city’s history.

Begin in the Dutch East India Company’s Gardens, a green oasis that began as a vegetable patch in the 1650s. Here you’ll also get to see the Houses of Parliament, which have decorative porticos and a dome. Other key sites you will visit include Church Square and the Slave Lodge, where your guide will explain about the long, challenging history of slavery in South Africa. You’ll also see St George’s Cathedral, which is the oldest in Southern Africa and known as the ‘People’s Cathedral’ as it played an important role in the struggle against apartheid.

This tour is private and personalised to suit your interests. If you have Jewish heritage you may want to visit the Jewish Museum, or maybe you’ve seen pictures of the colourful houses in Bo-Kaap, where Muslim-majority slaves were once segregated under apartheid and want to visit this area. Not only will the guides explain about Cape Town’s history, but they can also point you in the right direction for the best restaurants and shopping areas.

Waterfront Sunset Cruise

Cape Town

Watch the sunset over Cape Town on a classic sailboat, the Spirit of Victoria. Known as the grand old lady of charter boats her brick-red sails make it one of the most photographed boats on the V&A Waterfront. Enjoy sparkling wine and soft music as you sail towards the sunset.

The route takes you between Cape Town and Robben Island and the local guides will share their experiences of the city. You may sea seals lounging on the red buoys and curious dusky dolphins can often  be seen jumping the bow waves.

Ropes and pulleys manually lift the sails as you bob on the waves while watching the sunset on this one and a half cruise. After passing Mouille Point lighthouse, you will turn back towards Cape Town. Watch as the city's lights start to twinkle and the last rays of sun hit the often cloud-shrouded Table Mountain as you return to the Waterfront.

Day 2

Cape Town

Set dramatically beneath iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town effortlessly blends modern city life with spectacular scenery and outdoor living. Here you'll experience a vibrant fusion of Dutch, French, English, Xhosa, Malay and Afrikaner cultures, and be greeted as a friend rather than a travaller. Let your exploration be steered by your own personal interests, from extraordinary art galleries to eye-opening museums, from coffee shops to local microbreweries. Choose from a wealth of local optional experiences, like the My Cape Town City Tour or don retro leather jackets, goggles, bandanas and helmets to whizz along the Cape Peninsula in a 1950's sidecar. For the ultimate overview of the city, take to the skies on helicopter tour around Table Mountain. Overnight at Garden Court Victoria Junction.

Helicopter flights: Table Mountain 360 - 24 minute flight

Cape Town

Take an exhilarating scenic helicopter ride for aerial views over Cape Town and the rugged Atlantic Seaboard. There’s no better view of Cape Town than from the sky, flying over the mountains and perhaps spotting whales and dolphins in the ocean. This Table Mountain 360° flight is a unique way to experience the Mother City on this 24-minute thrilling journey. The pilot will give a commentary pointing out the landmarks, allowing for plentiful photo opportunities along the way.

Taking off from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a highlight. Out at sea you will see Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. From the air, you can fully appreciate the sheer scale of Table Mountain, one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders. Passing Signal Hill and the Twelve Apostles you will be flown along the coast and over the white sand beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. Circling above the picturesque harbour of Hout Bay, you may see ocean rip currents, whirlpools and, if you are lucky, whales.  After flying above the dramatic coastal road of Chapman’s Peak you will see the colourful beach huts of Muizenberg. Heading inland, the lush vineyards of the Constantia Valley unfold before you descend over the city bowl to land back at the V&A Waterfront.

Sidecar tour of the city

Cape Town

Experience a tour of Cape Town like no other – in the sidecar of a decommissioned military bike. Strap in for this mid-peninsula 3-hour ride along the wondrous landscape of the Chapman's Peak Drive via the Atlantic Seaboard, where you'll pass by the scenic sights of Camps Bay, Hout Bay and the Constantia Winelands in this unique adventure.

Suitable for all ages, there are also longer sidecar tours available with the option to tailor-make your own two, four or eight-hour routes.

Day 3

Cape Town

Today, continue to soak up the lively local scene. Either in the city itself or take a short bus or taxi ride along the sensational coastline where you'll find some of the best beaches in the world. Try Camps' Bay for people watching, Clifton's tiny 1st to 4th numbered beaches or Muizenberg for a surfing vibe. A Cape Peninsula tour offers an unrivalled coastal overview, including Cape Point and Chapman's Peak Drive. Or dig deeper into the regions culture and history on the optional Walk to Freedom tour, exploring the local township communities and visiting Nelson Mandela's former prison cell on Robben Island. The historic Company Gardens or Kristenbosch Botanical gardens are also a highlight for many guests. Overnight at Garden Court Victoria Junction.

Walk to Freedom and Robben Island

Cape Town

Learn about apartheid in South Africa on this unique Walk to Freedom tour. You’ll hear Nelson Mandela’s story on Robben Island and visit the townships where residents were gravely affected by apartheid laws. You'll also get the chance to talk to the people who live in these communities today.

This full-day tour starts at 9.00am on the site of District Six, one of the old residential areas of the city. This once busy, multi-racial community was destroyed during apartheid when the government ordered mass evictions and sent people to townships miles outside of the city centre. Next, visit Langa, a typical black African township where you’ll be greeted by a community site guide who lives here and will show you around, perhaps even introducing you to their family.

The tour continues with a visit to Bonteheuwel, a former mixed heritage township where you’ll learn how people were classified as ‘non-white’ during apartheid and separated into different areas. The final stop is at Gugulethu, where you will visit the Gugulethu Seven Memorial which commemorates the deaths of seven young black activists killed by police in 1986 and the Amy Biehl Memorial, who was a young American student and anti-apartheid activist who was murdered here.

At about midday, you will be dropped at the V&A Waterfront where you can grab a bite to eat before boarding the boat to Robben Island. This part of the trip is run by the official Robben Island Museum and is split into two legs, a one-hour bus tour of the island and a tour of what used to be the maximum-security prison, led by a former political prisoner. You’ll get to see Nelson Mandela’s cell representing an incredibly important moment in South Africa’s history.

Day 4

Cape Town & Winelands

After breakfast, transfer to the beautiful winelands of the Western Cape. Around an hour outside Cape Town, you'll spend the next two nights at the heart of South Africa's viniculture. You can explore the hundreds of cellar doors for wine tasting on your own, and we recommend a hop-on hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram experience to travel between the vineyards, wine tasting along the way. Simply relax and drink in the breathtaking scenery of the Franschhoek Valley. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.

Wine Tram - Hop on & off

Franschhoek

Immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of the Franschhoek Valley on the elegant Wine Tram. On rails where trains once carried farm produce to market, reproduction double-decker trams based on a 1920s design from Blackpool now carry passengers through lush vineyards against a backdrop of mountains to long-celebrated wine estates.

The Hop-on Hop-off Experience gives you a choice of eight lines served by tram and open-air tram-bus, which opens at 9.30am, each connecting eight estates. Once you’ve picked your line, the next decision is which and how many estates to stop at: visitors say four is the ideal number. Within the limits of the timetable, you’re free to stay for as long as you like at each one, enjoying everything from wine tastings and cellar tours to art galleries and family-friendly gardens, depending on the particular stop, not forgetting a long lunch at one of the many fabulous restaurants.

Day 5

Winelands

The day is your own to further explore the scenic valleys of the Cape Winelands. Perhaps join a guided cycling tour of the local vineyards, or explore further afield with some of Stellenbosch's foodie delights. A feast for the eyes and the tastebuds. Dine in your hotel or one of the region's many exemplary restaurants. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.

Bikes and Wine Experience

Cape Winelands

Spend the day soaking up the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Winelands, stopping for three wine tastings and lunch en route. These Vineyard Meander tours operate from both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The estates are carefully handpicked and you will be incredibly privileged to be able to cycle through their private farmland. The tours are relatively easy-going in terms of distance and cycling expectations, and they’re fully guided the entire way.

On any given tour, 80 per cent or more of the riding is through the vineyards and on gravel roads, not just on the main road in between the estates; it’s the sort of exclusive access you’d never be able to get if you were to rent a bike and try to do it yourself. Cycle right past where the farm workers might be harvesting, where the guys are working with the tractors, where they’re doing the daily manual tasks of a working wine estate. At the right season, from January and April, you could potentially help with the harvest, picking grapes and then 15 or 20 minutes later tasting wines made from that same varietal.

It’s a sensory experience all round. You will be encouraged to stop and smell the roses, literally, and to dip your toes in the farm dams. Take in the beautiful views of the Western Cape, with towering mountains as a backdrop to the green of the vineyards – and if you’re not looking at the mountains, you’re looking over the ocean. If you’re limited for time, you needn’t miss out as there are half-day tours that go to two estates. E-bike tours are also available.

Day 6

Cape Town & Abelana Game Reserve

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hoedspruit. On arrival, a transfer will take you to your camp in the Abelana Game Reserve, your home for the next three nights. There's enough time for an afternoon game drive should you wish to explore the reserve. You're in the hands of expert rangers who not only help you spot some extraordinary wildlife but offer interpretations of the ecosystems too. Yes there's the Big Five but also smaller fascinating creatures and abundant birdlife. Overnight at Abelana Safari Camp.

Day 7

Abelana Game Reserve

Spend the day in the great outdoors savouring every sighting and call of the wild. ​Start your day with a bush walk and later take a game drive through Abelana's dramatic landscape. Back at the camp, why not head to the expansive deck and catch one of the mesmerising sunsets. Overnight at Abelana Safari Camp.

Day 8

Abelana Game Reserve

Rise early for another walking safari where you will see the smaller species. Head out once again mid-afternoon to spot more game with your expert rangers. Overnight at Abelana Safari Camp.

Day 9

Abelana Game Reserve & Johannesburg

Transfer back to Hoedspruit for your flight to Johannesburg. You can connect to flights home from here tonight if you wish, but if you are looking to extend your holiday to Mauritius then an overnight in Jozi (as the locals call it) is necessary. Your hotel is only a 5-minute transfer from the airport with all the bells and whistles to help you rejuvenate. Stretch your legs doing laps in the swimming pool or head into the city for a cultural injection on the Private Maboneng and Newtown Tour. Or step back further in time to the very beginning of our species on the My Jo'burg Cradle of Humankind tour where you can inspect fossils over two-million-years old. Overnight at Peermont D'oreale Grande.

Private Maboneng and Newtown Tour

Johannesburg

On this fascinating tour you will be taken by a well-known local to see the incredible street art of Newtown and explore the vibrant area of Maboneng.

Newtown is a powerhouse of some of the most talented street artists across Africa. At Mary Fitzgerald Square, under a bridge you’ll find around 25 pillars of back-to-back street art. Your guide will explain just some of the stories that are behind the murals and graffiti artwork.

You will then travel to Maboneng. Here there has been major reconstruction of old infrastructure in this once run down neighbourhood known as Jeppestown. Mabenong translates as ‘place of light’ and its rejuvenation now spreads over seven kilometres. Here you will find art galleries, craftwork, a variety of restaurants and music spaces.

My Jo'burg Cradle of Humankind

Johannesburg

The Cradle of Humankind is a huge area peppered with limestone caves, its two standout attractions being the Maropeng Visitor Centre and the Sterkfontein Caves.

The Visitor Centre itself is interesting to look at, built in the form of a mound. When you enter, you take a journey through the earth’s history; a gentle ride on a small circular boat while learning about how the earth evolved. The ride takes you to the exhibition area where you could spend hours. The award-winning exhibition shows the development of our ancestors over the past few million years.

Sterkfontein’s dark, limestone caves are fascinating. You will walk down into these huge underground caverns with incredible stalactites and stalagmites. Mrs Ples is the reason that Sterkfontein became renown being one of the oldest fossil skulls to ever be discovered at more than two-million-years old. The other famous discovery here is Little Foot – a nearly complete, millions-of-years-old Australopithecus fossil skeleton.

Day 10

Johannesburg & Mauritius

Transfer back to the airport for your connecting flight to Mauritius. Enjoy the remainder of your time on the tropical island in the Indian Ocean - with time to kick back and relax on the white sandy beaches. Snorkel in the turquoise waters or explore the forests and waterfalls of the interior. Learn about their poignant history and the cultural mix of this former trading outpost. Overnight at Sunrise Attitude.

Days 11 to 14

Mauritius

Days at leisure in Mauritius.

Day 15

Mauritius

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Personalise your trip

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Guide price information

Low Season

01 May - 31 Jul

£4,675

Mid Season

06 Jan - 30 Apr, 01 Aug - 30 Sep

£4,775

High Season

01 Jan - 05 Jan, 01 Oct - 31 Dec

£5,075

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