There’s a reason South Africa often appears on the list of the world’s best destinations – it’s home to some of the world’s best game reserves, top wine farms, vibrant cities and incredible natural splendour. And with Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique on its doorstep, the options are truly endless.

What makes South Africa so special?

In a word: diversity. In the matter of a week or two, you can dine at some of the world’s best restaurants, relax on a long list of postcard-perfect beaches, visit stunning wine farms, go on fascinating historical tours, climb a mountain or two and visit some of the world’s best game reserves. It’s that mix of culture, adventure and relaxation that sees visitors returning to our shores again and again. With years of experience, the team at Scintilla knows a thing or two about getting the balance right between all of the options. The following itineraries have been perfected in that time and are the best boutique trips you’ll find in South Africa.

1. Family Cape Town, Winelands & Safari

8 nights
From $7,435 per person

South Africa is a wonderful destination for families and this trip takes full advantage of that. Your time spent in Cape Town and the Winelands will include private tours focused on adventure and tailored to the ages of your kids. In the Winelands, children can explore the farm gardens, feed the resident donkeys, fetch fresh eggs for breakfast, enjoy a scavenger hunt and help the bakers knead bread. You’ll end your trip in the malaria-free Madikwe, staying in a private safari house where there are no set safari times and your private guide can introduce your family to the wonders of the bushveld.

2. Cape Town, Winelands & Safari

8 nights
From $8,869 per person

This 8-night trip is the perfect choice for those wishing to explore South Africa but with limited time. Start your trip in the vibrant city of Cape Town, where you can visit the penguins on Boulders Beach, take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and explore the Cape Peninsula. Next, you’ll explore the french-inspired town of Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, famous for its mouthwatering cuisine and world-class wines. You’ll also have time to visit Stellenbosch, where you can browse through appealing boutiques, galleries and museums, and sip coffee in one of the tempting street-side cafes. The trip culminates with a visit to the iconic Kruger National Park, in search of the famous Big 5 and epic wildlife sightings.

3. Cape Town, Karoo, Eastern Cape Safari

10 nights
From $4,229 per person

This 10-night trip combines the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town with the lesser-explored and unspoiled Karoo and Eastern Cape. You’ll kickstart your journey with a few days in the spectacular city of Cape Town, where natural wonders surround a city of glamorous hotels, world-class dining and stunning vistas.. This is followed by something slightly different, when you visit the towns time forgot – Graaff-Reinet, Cradock and Nieu Bethesda. You’ll immerse yourself in the pioneering history of farms, forts, steepled churches and the South African artists and writers who have left their mark indelibly carved into this land. With 120m high columns of rock set against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of the Camdeboo, the Valley of Desolation is a hauntingly beautiful “Cathedral of the Mountains”. This historic region is surrounded by the majesty of the Karoo and the breathtaking Camdeboo National Park, where you’ll end your trip. The scenery is dramatic with sweeping grassy plains, impressive ancient rock formations and a lunar landscape – home to an array of wildlife.

4. Cape Town, Overberg, Kruger and Mozambique

13 nights
From $12,045 per person

This trip features some of the finest private homes and exclusive luxury lodges, which is the ultimate way to travel as a group or family, allowing you more freedom and flexibility and removing the worry of other guests. Here, the focus is entirely on your group – and a team of staff is ready to cater to your every whim. You’ll start off in Cape Town, before heading to the Overberg, an area of fruit and grain farms, verdant wine-growing valleys and a coastal riviera known for its charming towns and whale viewing.
During the calving season, from June to December, Hermanus is arguably the best destination in the world to view the Southern Right Humpback Whales, with pods of up to 50 creatures frolicking close to land. Your heart rate will kick up a notch at the Sabi Sands, a 65,000-hectare private reserve adjacent and open to the Kruger, known as one of the few places that you can see the Big 5 in one day and with a reputation for big cat sightings. Your journey will come to a beautiful end in the azure waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago, where you’ll enjoy some tropical relaxation.

5. Cape Town, Kruger and Mozambique

11 nights
From $8,825 per person

A popular choice, this 11-night journey takes in some of the highlights of Southern Africa by visiting three iconic destinations for a full immersion and a holiday of a lifetime . Praised as a laidback destination, Cape Town affords that wonderful combination of wine, nature, food, culture and history. Start with a stay in the heart of Cape Town’s vibrant V&A Waterfront, a wonderful place to shop, dine and soak up the city’s energy.. Next, you’ll encounter South Africa’s Big 5 in the world-renowned Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park. And finally, you’ll soak up the sun during a relaxing and restoring stay in a luxurious beach hideaway in Mozambique.

6. Battlefield Bush and Beach

9 nights
From $3,149 per person sharing

KwaZulu Natal is one of South Africa’s most diverse and scintillating regions – home to the untamed beauty of the far northern coastline, a diverse array of private game reserves, the mighty Drakensberg mountain range and the fascinating historical tours of South Africa’s battlefields. From the fields of Isandlwana to the fort at Rorke’s Drift and the numerous museums and sites of the area, ghosts of the past whisper their tales on the chilling battlefield tours. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park is home to a healthy population of highly endangered black and white rhinos and at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, you can spot Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles laying their eggs on the beaches. This trip comes to a close in Kosi Bay, a system of lakes, channels and an estuary, ranging from fresh to saline water and joining the ocean at the mouth. It’s one of the most fascinating and beautiful pristine lake systems on the African coast, attracting a remarkable variety of brightly coloured marine life.

Our Scintilla Travel Curators are adept at crafting truly unique, tailor-made journeys to match your needs and interests. If you’d like  us to assist with planning your South African trip of a lifetime, get in touch by completing a traveller enquiry and one of our experts will get back to you.