Day 1 - Arrive Cape Town

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel. This transfer time is approximately 40 minutes.

With its classically inspired exterior and gracefully elegant interior, Cape Grace is set on its own private quay on Cape Town's vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Cape Grace's charm lies in its intimate atmosphere, stylish décor and unique personalized hospitality.

The afternoon is at your leisure.

Kick start your holiday with a scenic packed Huey Flight adventure! Choose from two options departing from the V&A Waterfront.

The Peninsula (60 minutes): Experience the entire Cape Peninsula on this scenic helicopter flight. Take in Cape Town’s breath-taking mountains, endless beaches and lush wine estates, all the way down to the pristine Cape Point Nature Reserve.

The Huey simulated combat Mission (30 minutes): Experience the ultimate rush of the Combat Mission adventure flight through on a genuine Vietnam Huey helicopter along the shores of the untamed West Coast. Enjoy low flying over endless beaches as you manoeuvre through the Blouberg Hills.

You will be dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon. The evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Cape Grace Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Cape Town

This morning embark on a full day Winelands tour.

Whitewashed homesteads nestling under avenues of oaks, rolling green hills covered with wild flowers, fertile valleys alive with the sounds of surging streams, restaurants with French names and Dutch flavors… such is the setting of the Winelands, home of some of the world’s finest wines and Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town.

Founded by Governor Simon van der Stel in 1679, the university town of Stellenbosch is embraced by the majestic Simonsberg, Jonkershoek and Helderberg mountains. The town is famous for its carefully preserved architectural heritage, which includes examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian styles. During a private walking tour of the historical sector by a qualified guide who grew up here, you will learn many of Stellenbosch’s secrets. The tour finishes at the fascinating Village Museum which chronicles the town’s past and incorporates the oldest existing house, which dates back to 1709.

Stellenbosch is also the centre of the local wine making industry and is surrounded by hundreds of vineyards. You will have the chance to visit some privately owned wineries, which date back hundreds of years. One of these is the picturesque Rustenberg Estate, owned by the Barlow family for generations, and is renowned for its award winning wines, attractive location and famous herd of Jersey cows.

From Stellenbosch, journey up over a breath-taking mountain pass called the Hels Hoogte (“Precipitous Heights”) Pass and down into the Banghoek Valley, en-route to a cheese tasting session at a local estate. 

Afterwards there will be the opportunity for a private cellar tour at the beautiful Plaisir de Merle Estate (or similar) near the village of Simondium. The Plaisir de Merle story carries a proud legacy of exceptional people who have created an unsurpassed viticultural and vinicultural tradition.

From here continue through the lush Franschhoek Valley to the quaint Huguenot village of Franschhoek (“French Corner”) for lunch. The area was originally known as Oliphant’s Hoek (“Elephant’s Corner”) after elephants took to calving in the sheltered valley with its plentiful supply of food and water.

After lunch you may wish to stroll though the village, which in addition to quaint art and antique shops boasts the distinctive Huguenot Monument which was erected in 1938 to commemorate the French Huguenots who arrived in South Africa in 1688. The museum next to the monument depicts the rich heritage and history as well as the development of the Franschhoek Valley, including its fynbos flora, fauna and early inhabitants.

You will then travel across country to the historic town of Paarl passing the Victor Verster Prison from which former President Nelson Mandela was released in 1990. Surrounded by fruit and wine farms Paarl nestles in the Berg River Valley beneath the imposing granite rocks of Paarl Mountain. Visit the unique Taal Monument, the only monument ever built to immortalize a language (the Afrikaans language). Standing proudly on top of Paarl Mountain and used by tourists as a beacon, the vistas over town, vineyards and mountains are awe-inspiring. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Cape Grace Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 3 - Cape Town

Spend today exploring the local life.

Enjoy a township tour of Khayelitsha with a local guide. Meet inspiring local business owners and township community members, sip artisan coffee from the very first township coffee shop, The Department of Coffee. Taste traditional cuisine as you dine in a township hot spot. Plan and hold a class for nursery school children or perhaps plant a new garden for a local family using recycled materials. Explore the streets of Woodstock on a walking tour and learn about the murals created by local and international artists.

Alternatively, a novel way to experience Cape Town’s oldest and most visited township, Langa, is on a two hour cycle tour. Three tours depart daily. On a bicycle, you feel part of the community while sights and sounds entice your senses. The cycle tour also allows you to cover more ground, street life, spaza stores, pavement cooking, shebeens, hostels and shacks. Experience township culture in the company of a local guide as you meet and greet locals.

Overnight: Cape Grace Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 4 - Cape Town - Royal Malewane Private Game Reserve

This morning transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your light to Johannesburg. On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, a representative will meet and assist you to the Domestic Departures Terminal. Depart Johannesburg on a scheduled flight to Hoedspruit.

On arrival at Hoedspruit Airport, a Royal Malewane representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge. The transfer time is approximately 45 minutes.

Royal Malewane is situated within the Greater Kruger National Park, accommodating a total of 20 guests. Elevated walkways link the suites to the main camp where African thatched-roof buildings house the library, shop, dining and reception areas. 

Game viewing at Royal Malewane provides guests with the best opportunities for seeing the natural abundance of big game on the 12,000 hectare reserve, home to the "Big Five" - lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activity on offer.

Overnight: Royal Malewane

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Royal Malewane Private Game Reserve

Today is at leisure to enjoy the hot air balloon excursion!

*Please note you have a private ranger assigned to your suite who will discuss and plan your days for you*

Take an hour-long flight over the scenic, Lowveld section of the Blyde River, West of Hoedspruit. The terrain is a mixture of farmland and private nature reserves at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment.

The mountains to the South and West provide shelter from the prevailing winds, thereby affording good flying weather on most days. On very calm days, balloons can fly over the Kapama Nature Reserve, South-East of Hoedspruit. The qualified pilots and crew will ensure a safe, enjoyable and informative adventure.

Meet before sunrise and enjoy a coffee while you watch your eight-story high balloon being inflated and prepared for flight. After a safety briefing you should be airborne in time to witness the sunrise. The height above ground will vary between skimming the tree-tops to as high as 2000 feet as the pilot changes altitude in search of favorable wind directions and speeds.

As the sun rises, the landscape, the vegetation and, if you're lucky, some wildlife will provide great photo opportunities!

Overnight: Royal Malewane

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Royal Malewane Private Game Reserve

Today is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer at the lodge.

For those that want to get even closer to nature, a highly qualified ranger and tracker will lead you on foot through the wild African bush. Stroll among the Big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos) and glean rare insights into the natural world, focusing not only on animals, but on the biodiversity of habitats and plant life.

Bush walks generally leave after breakfast and your early morning game drive.

Overnight: Royal Malewane

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 - Royal Malewane Private Game Reserve

Today is the last day of your holiday, we recommend horse riding.

The horse trails are conducted on the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. The reserve is home to a vast variety of birds and animals such as giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, warthog, impala and many other plains game.

Beginners, intermediate and advanced riders are welcome. The excursion is around one and a half hours and you will be transferred by road to the Wildlife Estate which is 45 minutes from the lodge. The ride follows game paths, through riverbeds.

Back at the Lodge, get ready for some pampering. The award winning Waters of Royal Malewane Bush Spa is a magical and tranquil space in complete harmony with the natural surroundings. Enjoy a relaxing massage or a pampering beauty treatment. For a more romantic experience, couples can enjoy the Moroccan sunken baths. There's even a small hair salon for a wash and a blow dry before you head back to reality.

Overnight: Royal Malewane

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Depart Johannesburg

Enjoy a final game viewing activity this morning. After breakfast you will be transferred to Hoedspruit Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg.

On arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport, a representative will meet and assist you to the International Departure Terminal.

Depart Johannesburg on your outbound flight.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B