Featured Places

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

Days 1 - 4: Cape Town

Victoria & Alfred Hotel Location Map

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is consistently voted amongst the top cities in the world to visit and it is no surprise that this wonderful city is one of the highlights of a holiday to South Africa. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers.

One of the main tourist attractions is the tastefully restored V&A Waterfront with its many shops, bars and restaurants. There is also an aquarium and one of the largest craft markets in Southern Africa. Boats offer tours of the harbour from the quayside and the whole place is always buzzing with life and activity. The City Bowl is home to many museums and historical buildings which can all be viewed from a 'topless' hop on/hop off tourist bus, complete with interesting commentary as you ride around the city.

The adventurous can climb up (or abseil down) Table Mountain, windsurf or kitesurf at Bloubergstrand Beach, dive in shark tanks, or do any one of a dozen more adrenalin pumping activities. For a more relaxed pace of life, there are miles of sandy beaches for soaking up the African sun, or enjoy a quiet stroll through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Set in the heart of the beautifully restored Waterfront and framed by the ocean and Table Mountain, the elegance and luxury of the Victoria & Alfred Hotel is rivalled only by its relaxed atmosphere and warm personal service. The hotel is renowned for the highest international standards.

All the bedrooms of the Victoria & Alfred Hotel enjoy unrivalled views of Table Mountain and the working harbour or the vibrant V&A Waterfront.

The luxurious interiors of all spacious bedrooms are complemented by elegant decor, along with all the modern essentials to make guests feel comfortably at home. Each has a separate shower, fully stocked private bar and air-conditioning.

Dining at the hotel's award winning restaurant, the Waterfront Cafe, overlooking the cobbled quayside and the harbour is reminiscent of a meal in a Southern European coastal village. As the sun begins to set, enjoy cocktails are served on the terrace while overlooking the bustling harbour.

Guests can also use the swimming pool and spa at the V&A's sister hotel - the Dock House - which is situated just across the road from the V&A.

Example Details For Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Nights: 4 Nights
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Mountain-Facing Room (Stay 3/Pay 2 offer applied)
Includes: Breakfast is included.
 
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Victoria & Alfred Hotel Location.

Address

Victoria & Alfred Hotel,On the Waterfront Pierhead, V&A Waterfront

Directions

From the N2 (Cape Town International Airport/the Winelands/Hermanus/The Garden Route): Take the N2 towards Cape Town. Keep on this road, following the signs for Cape Town North, and then M6 Sea Point. If in doubt, keep bearing right the whole time! You will then see the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on your left-hand side (very large cream-coloured building), and there will be a set of traffic lights at a major junction. Turn right here towards the V&A Waterfront. At the first roundabout, turn left and then at the next roundabout take the second exit keeping straight on Dock Road. Go past the Two Oceans Aquarium and you will see the hotel on your right.

From the N1: Follow the road to Cape Town, and you will see the CTICC on your left-hand side. Follow the directions as above.

Check In / Check Out

Rooms may be occupied from 14:00 on the day of arrival and must please be vacated by 11:00 on the day of departure for the convenience of arriving guests.

General Information For Guests

Children of any age are welcome.

All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with heated towel rails and bathrobes. They also include a mini bar, air conditioning, hair dryer, television with satellite channels,a writing desk, electronic safe and tea/coffee making facilities.

The hotel facilities include a concierge service, 24 hour room service and security, secure parking and facilities for persons with limited mobility. A foreign exchange facility is also available.

Guests can enjoy a selection of top dining options when visiting the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. The Ginja is located on the hotel’s premises, where guests can enjoy excellent meals and stunning views. Breakfast is served at either the Ginja or Dash, located at the Queen Victoria Hotel and at no additional cost to guests when bookings are made on a bed and breakfast basis.

There is a state-of-the-art gym and spa treatment rooms are also available.

Guests can use the swimming pool and pool bar at the neighbouring Dock House Boutique Hotel.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The hotel offers a laundry and dry-cleaning service (additional cost).

Credit cards are accepted.

Bayethe Tented Lodge

Shamwari Game Reserve

Days 5 - 7: Shamwari Game Reserve

Bayethe Tented Lodge Location Map

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.

Example Details For Bayethe Tented Lodge

Nights: 3 Nights
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Room: 1 x Superior Tent
Includes: All meals; drinks (excluding French champagne and premium products); afternoon tea; twice-daily shared game drives; guided walks; tea/coffee; water; game drive beverages; a Born Free and Animal Rehab visit; and the Conservation Levy are included.

Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve. Guests over 65 wishing to join a guided walk are required to have a letter or certificate from their doctor prior to arrival confirming they are in good health and are physically fit to do the walk. More details available on request.

Please Note: As the animals are wild, it is not possible to guarantee what you will see during your safari.

 
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Bayethe Tented Lodge Location.

Address

Bayethe Tented Lodge,Off the N2, Shamwari Game Reserve (via Kwantu Gate)

Directions

Note that Port Elizabeth was recently renamed Gqeberha - both names can appear on roadsigns and maps and can be used interchangeably.

 


From Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)/Mossel Bay/George/Knysna: Follow the N2 out of Port Elizabeth (now renamed Gqeberha) heading towards Grahamstown bypassing the town of Colchester. 11 km past Colchester use the left lane to take the N2 ramp to Grahamstown. Continue on the N2 for 17 km bypassing the R342 turn-off. Continue along the N2 a further 11 km until you reach a sign board Eagles Crag and Bayethe on the Sidbury road. Turn left onto the gravel road and follow this road for 9 km until you reach a T-junction. At the T-junction follow the sign boards right to Bayethe for 4 km.

From Grahamstown: Travel along the N2 towards Port Elizabeth (now renamed Gqeberha), and follow the directions as above.

Please note that you drive through the reserve to get to the lodge - do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way - if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.

Check In / Check Out

Rooms may be occupied from 13:00 on the day of arrival. If you don't think you can arrive by this time, you should aim to arrive by 14:00 at the very latest (between May-August) or 15:00 (between September-April) or else you will miss your afternoon game drive.

Rooms must please be vacated by 11:00 on the day of departure for the convenience of arriving guests.

General Information For Guests

Children aged 12 years and older are welcome. Adult rates apply.

The Superior Tents have a private plunge pool and deck, an en-suite bathroom (9 tents have an indoor bath and outdoor shower and 3 tents have an indoor bath and indoor shower), air conditioning, hair dryer, electronic safe, fitted international adaptors, international dial telephone, electric blankets, private minibar, tea/coffee making facilities, and an indoor fireplace.

The main lodge has a central lounge area, bush relaxation retreat, gift boutique, in and outdoor dining facilities and an outdoor deck.

The relaxation retreat has 2 private treatment rooms and offers a number of different spa treatments (additional cost).

Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided.

A laundry service is available (additional cost).

Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards are accepted.

Should you wish to leave a gratuity, envelopes are available at reception. Alternatively you can add it to your final bill and settle by credit card when you check out.

In collaboration with the Born Free Foundation, the Big Cat Rescue and Education Centres are situated within the game reserve. They aim to draw attention to the plight of wild cats, confined in impoverished, captive environments throughout the world. It is the mission of The Born Free Foundation, founded by actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna and her late husband Bill Travers, to ‘Keep Wildlife in the Wild’. Both Shamwari and Born Free aim to promote conservation and protect these species and their habitat, whilst maintaining a compassionate approach to the welfare of animals. The rescue and education centres home rescued lions and leopards from across the world and aim to be an enlightening experience for all visitors.

You also have the opportunity to visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre when you visit Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The Centre helps to rescue, rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned or orphaned animals under the care of professional veterinary team. Once these animals have been nursed back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat. Part of this experience is Vulpro - a unique captive breeding centre and the only one of its kind in Africa. Injured vulture species that can’t fly will breed in captivity and the healthy young are released back into the wild.

A compulsory Conservation Levy has been included in your rate - this contribution will aid conservation efforts as well as the anti-poaching unit.


Bush Walks / Walking Safaris

Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve.  Guests over 65 wishing to join a guided walk are required to have a letter or certificate from their doctor prior to arrival confirming they are in good health and are physically fit to do the walk. A guided walk can last a couple of hours and involve walking over uneven terrain that may contain dangerous wildlife in potentially high temperatures. Guests may need to move quickly and for a sustained period through rough bush terrain if instructed to do so by their guide.

Regardless of age or the provision of a doctors certificate, the final decision on whether a guest can join a guided walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.

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