South Africa's Fairest Cape

Fly overnight from the UK to George via Cape Town.

Arrive into Cape Town and board a connecting flight to George, gateway to the Garden Route. You'll have three days to explore its sweeping coastline, where towing cliffs and deep gorges frame golden bays and tranquil lagoons. In between your self-guided adventures you'll have time to relax at your luxury resort, with its two Gary Player-designed golf courses and Fancourt Spa, where hot stone massages and Roman-style baths are on hand to relive any lingering aches. If you've time, there are even some Big Five safari options nearby for the chance to encounter some of South Africa's iconic wildlife.

Stay: Fancourt Hotel, George (Deluxe)

After breakfast depart Fancourt and set off for the Cape Winelands. Choose to drive along the highway for the quickest route or for a slower, more scenic route, drive along the famous Route 62 and experience the dramatic landscapes of the Klein Karoo. Arrive in the Cape Winelands and check into Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards where you'll have time to relax by the pool or take a walk in the vineyards and gardens.

Spend the next two days in the Cape Winelands. From small boutique wineries to household names, it's a chance to explore one of the world's pre-eminent wine-producing regions. It's also the culinary capital of South Africa, and the emphasis here is as much on the food as it is the wine. It's all set against a backdrop of classic, Cape Dutch architecture and rugged sandstone peaks.

Leave the Cape Winelands and drive to the Constantia Valley, about 20 minutes drive south of Cape Town and check into the Steenberg Hotel*. Dating back to 1682, this historic has been lovingly restored by its current owners and features an 18-hole championship golf course, an indulgent spa, a bistro and the award-winning Catharina’s Restaurant. Its 24 rooms come with private terraces and views of the golf course or vineyard, whose produce can be sampled in the tasting lounge or on a complimentary cellar tour. Spend the next three days enjoying the facilities of the hotel, or perhaps take a drive to Cape Town to explore its culture-defining Townships and Table Mountain icon. Also nearby, the Cape Peninsula is a natural showcase where stunning coastal landscapes frame golden bays home to penguins, whales, dolphins and sharks. 

After an early breakfast, drive to Cape Town before boarding the Blue Train in the early afternoon, settling into your butler-served suite before taking afternoon tea in the Lounge Car. Then, as night falls, you'll settle down to a wine-paired gourmet dinner before heading off to bed. The following day, you'll wake to a delicious breakfast and views of South Africa's bucolic interior as you head towards Kimberley for an afternoon tour of its mining museum and the chance to peer over the edge of the famous Big Hole – a vast open-pit diamond mine thought to be one of the largest ever dug by hand. At the tour's end, you'll return to the station to be greeted with a glass of sherry, engraved with the Blue Train logo; it's yours to keep as a memento of your visit. Finally, back on board, you'll enjoy another sumptuous dinner as you head on towards Pretoria.

Enjoy breakfast on board as the suburbs of Pretoria begin to unfold in the morning light. Choose to extend your stay in the area, or transfer to the airport in nearby Johannesburg for your onward flight, arriving in the UK on day 14..

Blog: The Best of South Africa guide