South Africa and Mozambique Gandhi, the Big Five and sandy beaches

You go straight to Satyagraha House in Orchards and your room is available immediately. The house where Gandhi lived between 1908 and 1909 is now 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 was designed by Rocco Bosman. Each wing 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.
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.
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.

Day 3 Johannesburg - Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Private transfer to the airport, then flight to Hoedspruit. Pick up your rental car and drive to Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Stay for two nights in a small lodge with wide open vistas. From the balcony of your chalet on stilts, the views extend across the bush all the way to the Drakensberg mountains. Everything in your new home seems to be made of wood. The bedding and furniture add touches of blue and green to lovely effect. As well as adding an element of colour, the bedding is top quality. The chalet is perfect for recharging after days spent on safari. The canvas walls can be rolled up to connect you to the outdoors. You feel as close to nature as possible. But you still have plenty of privacy. Just a few steps away are the dining area, the lounge, a swimming pool and the boma,   the traditional enclosure around a fire under the  stars. There's everything you need to refuel and unwind between safaris and chatting about your big adventures.

Day 4 Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

In your itinerary - The reserve is set in an area of mopane woodland and open savannah. Game drives take place at dawn and in the late afternoon, when the animals are active. They are supervised by highly qualified rangers who speak English. Nothing escapes them in the wild. No one is better than them at getting you to the right place at the right time. And that's what a safari is all about. It's all about spotting one of the Big Five - lions, elephants, leopards, African buffaloes, rhinoceros. Don't let these five stars overshadow all the other animals though. You're also likely to see giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, cheetahs and warthogs who, if not the kings of the savannah, are at least its princes. The easy grace of the antelopes is also worthy of your admiration. And, as always, you need to keep an eye out for birds. The white-backed vulture, greater painted-snipe, Temminck's courser, southern ground hornbill, and more, are all out there.

Day 5 Klaserie Private Reserve - Hoedspruit

Drive to Hoedspruit. Stay for one night in a large modern villa that blends in with the wild surroundings. These, moreover, feel like a natural extension of the garden. As you leave the woods, you stay connected to the bush. In the garden, there are two inviting swimming pools. The architecture and layout feature simple lines and very contemporary, open spaces. The décor includes both photos and beautiful looking handicrafts. Comfort is the byword here. The restaurant is especially well-appointed. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner - in the dining room or in the garden - each meal adds a real sense of pleasure to the day. Spa treatments are available for your wellness. You can also hire bikes.
Optional extra - Boat trip on the Blyde River Canyon

Day 6 Hoedspruit - White River

Drive to White River. The journey takes you along the Panorama Route, which follows the Blyde River Canyon, one of Africa's most impressive canyons. This green canyon, carved through the red sandstone of the Drakensberg Mountains, is carpeted with vegetation. The viewpoints here are truly spectacular. The name says it all at God's Window. Bourke's Luck Potholes are dramatic rock formations at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur rivers. The Three Rondavels are huge pinnacles of rock shaped by erosion. The large birds of prey seen soaring in the blue sky hint at a well-stocked larder down below. 
Stay for one night at Kingsview, in the north of White River. The modern hotel has a garden and swimming pool. The contemporary design is bright throughout and white is the dominant colour. The rooms and the communal areas are all beautiful spaces. The functional lines of the furniture blend in perfectly. The whole place is very well put together and enjoyable to spend time in. And it all opens out onto the garden. Full English breakfast is served to start the day.

Day 7 White River - Vilanculos

Drive to Mbombela. Return the car at the airport. Flight to Vilanculos, Mozambique. Private transfer and stay for four nights on the beach. Although you still have to cross the garden to get there, walking around the pool. Everything about the house is delightful - the rooms, common areas, décor, hospitality and food. You feel very much at home in your own private space. It opens out onto the outdoors as it should. It's very private too. And above all, it's comfortable. No need for air conditioning, the breeze is enough to keep the rooms cool. And all the better for keeping you in touch with nature. The food is in a similar vein. It showcases local ingredients - from both sea and land - with genuine Franco-Italian expertise. What about some hiking? Do you fancy some water sports? Or some diving? We can organise all that for you. If you feel like a massage we can organise that too.
Optional extra - Mozambican cookery class.

Day 8 to 10 Vilanculos

What should you do here? Maybe just do nothing. Enjoy the setting and the enchanting seclusion right where you are. Sip a cocktail or two, laze by the pool or on the beach. Or board a dhow and sail across the lagoon at sunset for a gentle and brightly coloured experience not to be missed. And be sure to explore the mangroves of the Govhuro River by boat too. Birds gather here in large numbers. You can spot the purple heron, great egret, glossy ibis, African jacana, pied kingfisher, and more. You can also visit the Bazaruto Archipelago, a prime spot for diving and snorkelling. Beneath the surface of the water, it's like a carnival. Reef fish dazzle with vibrant colours, turtles glide by, barracudas stage nervous ambushes, and the manta rays are the very picture of streamlined elegance. The area is home to the gentle dugong, which leads a peaceful vegetarian life here. You have three days of tropical bliss by the sea. It's up to you whether you opt for the sandy beach or explore the natural surroundings.

Days 11 & 12 Vilanculos - Johannesburg - Return flight

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Johannesburg. Assistance with airport formalities, direct return flight. Night on board, arrival the following day.