Scenically beautiful, Cape Town is a compelling mix of trendy modern and old-world elegance. Glamorous hotels, world-class dining and stunning vistas merge seamlessly with dynamic student suburbs and vibrant nightlife. Malay and African heritage is evident in the cuisine, traditions and entertainment while the architecture reveals a strong Dutch, German and English flavour and style. Contemporary art is proudly displayed in a variety of galleries and modern boutique hotels, and wine bars and brandy tasting lounges will appeal to the fashionable set. For the well-heeled the finest in opera, ballet, drama and music can be appreciated in style.

We’ll explore the working fishing harbour of Kalk Bay, with its bohemian arts and crafts shops, quirky boutiques, and antiques stores. Heading to the richly historic Simon’s Town, a naval town with museums and monuments to bring insight into the colourful past and the shark diving industry. We go in search of our own splinter colony of rogue penguins, away from the crowded boardwalks, on a beach known only to locals. Next its on to the Cape Peninsula for a gentle hike to explore the reserve’s secluded beaches and unique wildlife. Our return to Cape Town is via Noordhoek Farm Village a food artisan hub of the Peninsula OR alternatively, pop into a gorgeous Constantia wine estate, a well-known wine-producing area, one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere. Time permitting, we may stop for a sundowner at a local brewery, vineyard, beach or scenic look-out.

Today we’ll head to the fascinating town of Stellenbosch, browsing through appealing shops and museums, and sipping coffee in one of the tempting street-side cafes. We awaken our senses with a wine tasting experience at an iconic property. Soak up the scenery of this wonderful region, admire a contemporary art collection, see the highest-growing vines and take in breath-taking vistas from an elevated vantage point. After lunch, discover the town of Franschhoek, established by the French Huguenots in 1688, where historic charm blends with a contemporary ambiance. The town boasts a host of boutiques, gourmet restaurants and galleries. We continue to some family-owned, off-the-beaten-track estates for a more intimate, boutique wine tasting experience, before returning to Cape Town.

Wild, untouched and beautiful, Mana Pools National Park, is a World Heritage Site, located on the floodplains of the Great Rift Valley. Ranging from Kariba Dam to Mozambique, this is one of Africa’s most remote reserves, a lack of borders providing freedom of space for the inhabitants. Prime Zambezi river frontage and lush vegetation sustain a wide variety of game species and birdlife. Dominating the scenery are the four large, permanent pools – “mana” translates as four’s as well as seasonal smaller pools.

Remnant ox-bow lakes, the pools were created by ancient changes in the river’s meanderings and are fringed by foliage and forests of mahogany, wild fig, ebony and baobab. The islands, sandbanks and waters are ideal for substantial hippo pods and crocodiles – these “generalist” hunters, having earned their sinister reputation by being one of the few species that actually view mankind as legitimate prey.

As the abundance of water recedes in the dry months (June to October), Mana Pools draws large herds of elephant and buffalo to its vicinity, the giants appearing – silent as shadows – from out of dense bush. Lion, leopard and wild dog may be sighted as kudu, impala, zebra and waterbuck graze invitingly on open plains. The iconic reserve is a prime walking safari destination with highly professional guides. Fishing is done from the banks of the river and canoeing is available.

Lake Kariba’s waters capture the reflection of iconic painted skies, the blazing sunset colours echoing across waters. Nature’s unrestrained palette balances water and sky. In many places Kariba’s vastness gives the impression of endless oceans, while closer to shore, tree stumps pierce through the lake surface, graveyard evidence of land claimed by water. One of the four largest man-made lakes in the world, Kariba stretches 220kms by 40 kms wide, positioned on Zimbabwe’s northern border with Zambia. Covering approximately 5500kms of what was once the Zambezi valley, the lake is studded with islands and flanked by the rugged Matuzviadonha Mountains. The dam’s genesis provides an almost biblical history of vengeful gods, displaced people and epic relocation plans.

Lake Kariba was created in the late 1950’s by damming the Zambezi River and flooding the land behind the dam. Before the project could begin, 57,000 Batonga people and their villages had to be relocated causing much unhappiness and resentment. Today there are still Tonga people who believe the river god, Nyaminyami, was responsible for the death of 86 workers who perished whilst building Kariba dam. At the same time, Operation Noah, a massive wildlife rescue project was launched in a bid to relocate the animals affected by the rising waters. The five year long programme caught the attention of the world as over 6000 animals were moved to safety.

Royal hunting grounds in the 19th century and declared a national park in 1929, today, Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve. Vast stretches of wilderness, extend from horizon to horizon and form part of the ancient migration route towards Northern Botswana’s Chobe and the Linyanti.

This diverse landscape of mopane and teak forests, semi-desert scrubland and granite hills is inhabited by a wide variety of mammals and birds. Although a year round destination, Hwange is particularly appealing during the winter months (April to October) when large concentrations of animals flock to artificially pumped waterholes as the seasonal pans dry out. The park’s network of waterholes sustains life when natural resources are unavailable. Massive herds of elephant make their presence felt during the dry period. Buffalo, zebra, sable and roan antelope, as well as lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog may be seen.

Cool mornings warm up to comfortable sunny days, and chilly night drives reveal the exciting nocturnal species which make Hwange home. Between November and February/March summer thunderstorms blanket the earth with life,filling up the waterholes and dispersing the animals throughout the park. Game can be located on the open southern plains during summer, but the scenic north is a renewed landscape of hills, floating lily-pads and full pans. Brightly coloured birds dot the trees, bringing movement to endless skies.

When you wander through the lush rainforests above the Victoria Falls, newly baptised in the mist, your ears holding the echo of thundering waters, it isn’t hard to imagine that this is where it all began. Eden. As the land cuts away beneath the ancient Zambezi River, the waters plummet dramatically into the Batoka Gorge, over 100 metres below. The angrily churned up spray shoots skyward, painting the landscape in billowing clouds. This striking “smoke that thunders” can be seen for miles, a geographic pointer summoning visitors into its presence.

On a private stretch of the mighty Zambezi River, 40 minutes from Victoria Falls, lies the sleek safari lodge of Matetsi. Set within a 136,000-acre private concession neighbouring the Zambezi National Park, in dense mopane and acacia woodland and a network of open grasslands, the suites are all strung out along the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a host of activities from morning and afternoon game drives, a private stretch of the river offering sunrise or sunset boat cruises, incredible canoeing on a tranquil part of the river, bush walks, bird-watching and amateur fishing.

What makes this destination so memorable is the fact that it is perfectly combined with warmly hospitable people, exquisite scenery and an array of accommodation. Excellent game,historic ruins, fishing and luxury train travel are easily accessible from Victoria Falls, as are the neighbouring countries which border this fascinating town.