Johannesburg, Cape Town, the bush The best of South Africa

Day 1 Flight to Johannesburg

Night on board, arrival the following day.

Day 2 Johannesburg

Meet and greet in English and assistance with formalities.
In your itinerary - Johannesburg with a local. Today, your guide is a friend Have a brief chat  about what you know, and what you would like to do to get your bearings,   and off you go. You might want to go to Soweto, for example. The former township, once a driving force in the anti-apartheid struggle, is now a city brimming with positive energy. The Apartheid Museum shows how far the country has come. We'll leave it to Jozi and its residents to answer any questions you may have.
Stay for one night in Orchards. The house where Gandhi lived between 1908 and 1911 is now a both a museum and a guesthouse committed to upholding the principles that shaped the future Mahatma's life. The rooms are simple and bright with an understated comfort and two of them are in the historic house. Delicious, healthy vegetarian food is served. The historic Kraal was built by Hermann Kallenbach and the new wing, where you will be staying,   was designed by Rocco Bosman.  Each building in its own way embodies the spirit of openness and peace that inspired one of the great political and human stories of the 20th century.
Also included  - Dinner at Gandhi's house. Without strictly being a restaurant, the house has trained chefs who endeavour to express his spirit in their dishes. There's no need to justify the cultural significance of the food, but seeing it on the plate proves the point. The meal is entirely vegetarian and no alcohol is served in line with Gandhi's principles. And as you discover, the food is something else.
Optional extra - Musical evening.

Drive to Karongwe Private Game Reserve. Stay for two nights on the banks of the Makhutsi River, where the water winds lazily through the tall grass. It's all very green. The lodge is designed with great care and a keen sense of rustic style. The common areas are particularly successful in this respect, with their stylish use of wood and leather. The terraces are perfect for lazy animal spotting. When meals are served outdoors, it adds a touch of African romance to the food, making the flavours even more intense. Evenings in the boma,   the traditional enclosure with a fire pit,  are an opportunity to relive the day's adventures. Your room opens out onto the natural surroundings. It is bright, clean and modern. The predominant colours are black and white, a pleasant contrast to the natural patterns and colours outside. There's a beautiful swimming pool where you can swim properly. The spa brings you into close contact with the bush.

In your itinerary - Safari time! Although the term the Big Five is a bit overused, it's a real privilege to be able to watch animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, rhinos and leopards in their natural habitat. And encountering them in real life is no run of the mill experience. Especially as there is plenty of other wildlife too. And that includes some impressive animals. Even though they are not on the list, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, impalas and hippos, are no less worthy of your admiration. Safaris take place in the morning and evening on special vehicles. They are supervised by rangers, who are all professionals. They will do everything to make sure you get up close to the animals, and have plenty of photos to prove you've been on safari. The private reserve is part of the protected area surrounding Kruger National Park and, plays a role in increasingly robust conservation efforts.

Day 7 Karongwe Reserve - Cape Town

Drive to Hoedspruit airport. Return the car and fly to Cape Town. Private transfer and stay for four nights in the suburb of Gardens. You push open the wooden doors and, as if by magic, or perhaps thanks to the charming, lush garden, you find yourself a million miles from lively Kloof Street. In the 19th century, the white house was a farm. There is something curiously familiar about it. You could be in Provence. The French owners have decorated the place in light and bright tones, characteristic of southern France. There are also plenty of fun little decorative touches. It's cheerful, playful, beautifully finished in every detail, and comfortable for your body and soothing for your mind. Your spacious room is totally  on trend. It retains an underlying rustic simplicity, but the amenities are discreetly sophisticated. It will be a joy to come back here among the pomegranate trees after long days spent exploring the city. The breakfast is exquisite and you can fuel up on organic food. Another great feature is the jazz and soul record collection. It's all very groovy!
Pick up your rental car.

Day 8 Cape Town

In your itinerary - Historic Cape Town walking tour. Your guide is an expat living in Cape Town who is passionate about everything to do with their adopted city. In their company, you discover the beautiful Cape Dutch or British colonial buildings that are preserved as part of the city's rich heritage. They can tell you all about the city's history. You soon find yourself gazing at the birthplace of present-day Cape Town. At Company's Garden, created in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company, marvel at the oldest cultivated pear tree in Africa. This garden, now a park, was originally intended to provide fruit and vegetables for the settlement, and for the crews of the ships about to round the Cape of Good Hope. District Six, once a multiracial working-class neighbourhood, was emptied of its residents in the 1970s under the Group Areas Act 41, a law enforcing racial segregation. This symbolic place has been revitalised since the end of apartheid. The Malay Quarter of Bo-Kaap, on Signal Hill, is known for its brightly coloured cottages and a long history of forced immigration. Cape Town and all its contrasts are brought into sharp relief.