Day /1
Arrive in South Africa
Fly to Cape Town overnight, on arrival transfer to One&Only Cape Town for a 4 night stay.
One&Only Cape TownCape Town, Madikwe Game Reserve /Itinerary
Day /2-3
Cape Town
Settling in with a day by the pool and a picnic lunch in the hotel gardens, the pace is changed on day three – beginning with a hike up Table Mountain. Taking the easy route in the cable car, your guide moves you away from the crowds to track a dassie before enjoying some breakfast. Then, descending to the sea front, children lead the way on a bike ride on Sea Point Promenade to Green Point Park, before discovering the city’s history through urban art projects like District Six and the Apartheid Benches. Sundowners and games on the beach end the day after a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for an afternoon of running rampant; following a map which leads between tree-top canopy walk-ways and heading out in search of Claud the clawless otter.
One&Only Cape TownDay /4-5
Cape Town
Stopping for hot chocolate and shark stories en-route, Kalk Bay is the first stop, visiting the seals in the harbour and penguins at the local beach. That’s just the prelude to further animal spotting though as Cape Point introduces its very own top five. Listening eagerly to tales of shipwrecks and keeping an eye out for lost treasure, hiking trails leading through indigenous fynbos and past hidden coves and beaches lead to Cape Point Lighthouse. Homemade ice cream from a local farm causes a fuss on the way back, where it can be eaten as messily as you like either on the beach or at the lookout spot of an old fort.
One&Only Cape TownDay /6
Madikwe Game Reserve
The second half of the trip is spent in the wildly beautiful (and conveniently Malaria free) Madikwe Game Reserve. One of the lesser-trodden parks in South Africa, its rugged hills are home to The Royal Madikwe. The lodge, all Afro-chic interiors between thatch and stone and private terraces topped with plunge pools, overlooks a waterhole that delivers ample fauna viewage by day and an atmospheric lullaby at night.
Day /7-9
Madikwe Game Reserve
Mornings and afternoons of course start with game drives in search of the Big 5, while one morning proves to be extra special with a bush breakfast served to the beats of a Marimba band. But between these escapades, Madikwe shows that it's not just about the safaris. One day, lunch is followed by an archery session and a boma dinner under the stars ends by exploring the twinkling sky in magical detail through telescopes and tales of their history. On another, children learn how to make casts of animal tracks on a nature walk around the property, and a keepsake and a new skill are taken home from a beading class that teaches everyone how to master this traditional craft.
Day /10-11
Overnight return flight home.