Queen Victoria Hotel

Cape Town: 4 Nights

The Queen Victoria Hotel is a 5* haven of calm, luxury and understated opulence amongst the hustle and bustle of Cape Town's popular V&A Waterfront. Its prime location in a quiet, historic precinct near to the Waterfront allows for a serene city escape as well as convenient access to a range of outstanding amenities.

The hotel's interiors create an ambience of peaceful elegance through the use of greys and taupes, marble-clad walls, crystal chandeliers, white marble and wooden parquet flooring. The triple-volume foyer has a dramatic white spiral staircase and glass lift which adds to the immediate impact as soon as you enter the hotel. The signature shade of deep purple adds a touch of regal eccentricity as well as being an ode to the historic figure after whom the hotel is named.

The menu at Dash, the hotel's bar and restaurant, is structured around classic French cuisine. There are also state-of-the-art gym facilities, a designer Spa and a pool area in beautifully manicured gardens.

Luxury and sophistication emanate through to the suites and luxury rooms, each one individually designed and curated.  Most of the suites have panoramic views of either Table Mountain or Cape Town Harbour and all of them have a fully stocked private mini bar and Molton Brown accessories.

In addition, the Manor House, which is annexed to the hotel, has 4 separate and private suites, and a private dining room area which can accommodate up to only 4 people.

This grandeur, along with the fine touches expected of a 5* property and the hospitable service, have earned the Queen Victoria - also referred to as the QV - recognition as one of the top 25 luxury hotels in South Africa. As its name suggests, this hotel truly is fit for royalty.

Oude Werf Hotel

Stellenbosch: 2 Nights

Stellenbosch is the oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town and the oak-lined streets compliment the many fine examples of elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian architecture in this well-preserved town. The town was founded in 1679 by Simon van der Stel, who named the town after himself.

An academic university town, Stellenbosch has a bustling sidewalk cafe scene and a vibrant nightlife. The many excellent restaurants offer a wide selection of dining options to choose from.

The Stellenbosch Wine Route, the oldest in the Cape, is one of South Africa's premier wine producing regions and can boast winning 70% of all the major wine awards and acolades (both locally and internationally) presented to the South African wine industry every year.

A day tour of this route is a must for any wine buff, or for anyone interested in sampling some of the fine wines and learning more about the wine producing methods and grape varieties. With over 100 cellars to choose from it is possible to experience every different wine style. Along with the wine tasting, stop and enjoy lunch at one of the many fine restaurants which offer superb home-cooked food in stunning settings. Maybe even take a few special bottles home with you when you go. Or book a guided wine tour and let someone else do the driving...

Since 1802 the Oude Werf Hotel, South Africa’s oldest continuously operating hotel, has been welcoming guests with its unique charm and character.

Bayethe Tented Lodge

Shamwari Game Reserve: 2 Nights

The Shamwari Private Game Reserve is 25,000 hectares of malaria-free, private game reserve situated in the Eastern Cape and has received numerous international awards, including the World's Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve.

Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life. Steeped in Settler history and dating back to the time when a multitude of game roamed wild and free, the reserve boasts 5 eco-systems, thus enabling the support of many forms of plant, animal and bird life, including the Big 5 as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, hippo, zebra and numerous antelope species.

Game viewing is carried out morning and evening on game drives, when you are driven in your open vehicle over the rolling hills and valleys in search of the wildlife. The experienced rangers are all in 2-way communication with each other at all times, so on any day they know where the game is and how to find the elusive animals such as the rare black rhino.

In addition to spectacular game drives, Shamwari Private Game Reserve also offers professionally guided walking tours, where you can gain a true perspective of the flora and fauna indigenous to the region. Your guide will point out animal tracks, dung, hiding spots and rare birds, as well as telling you all about the area and its history.

Pronounced 'By-ye-ti', Bayethe Tented Lodge offers guests the opportunity to immerse yourself in utter tranquility with spectacular views of the African bush, surrounded by rich vegetation that provides a feeling of seclusion.

Each of the 12 air-conditioned Superior Tents are camouflaged under trees allowing ample privacy and have an en-suite bathroom with an outdoor shower, as well as a viewing deck with a private plunge pool. The tents also have a romantic indoor fireplace.

The Elephant House

Addo Elephant National Park: 2 Nights

Only an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth, the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park is one of the most scenic National Parks in South Africa, with rolling green hills covered in thick, lush vegetation, most of it evergreen, so it is attractive at whatever time of year you visit.

The Park began in 1931, when a small area of land was set aside to protect the African elephant population of only 11 left in the area. Today, the Park is home to over 450 elephants, who roam freely among the 125,000 hectare reserve alongside black rhino, buffalo, kudu and red hartebeest, and over 400 bird species - and not forgetting the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. Addo has the greatest density of elephant per square kilometre in Africa, and offers some wonderful elephant viewing opportunities.

You can drive into the Park yourself, and follow the small network of roads around the Park. Alternatively, you can arrange to go on a guided game drive with a knowledgable ranger. As the wildlife in the Park are accustomed to all vehicles, they wander quite closely by, giving you an incredibly close encounter.

The Elephant House is an exclusive guest house, only a 10 minutes drive away from the Addo Elephant National Park main entrance gate. The decor is very colonial and furnished with the owners private collection of antiques, Persian rugs and Africana art, and the wide verandas are filled with comfortable sofas. The 8 spacious bedrooms open onto courtyards and private verandas.

This is an ideal place to stay if you wish to explore the Park in your own car. Alternatively, guests can choose to book an early morning or sunset game drive through the Park with the in-house field guide with many years experience, heading out on an open 4x4 safari vehicle and stopping for drinks and snacks midway through the drive.

After exploring the Park, relax around the pool area or find a quiet corner in the garden to put your feet up. The chef serves lovely light poolside lunches and in the evenings, a memorable 3 course candlelit dinner is prepared with flair and personal attention.