The Rainbow Nation South Africa
It is hard to believe that the peaks and canyons of the Drakensberg Mountains, the wild Indian Ocean coastline of KwaZulu Natal, the malaria- free reserves of the Waterberg, and the historic vineyards and towns around Stellenbosch are all within a single country.
And you can combine them easily in a single trip! Whatever your interests, whatever your tastes, it is a destination which will exceed every expectation.
- Safari - Luxury and the Big Five
- Cosmopolitan Cities - Magnificent Cape Town
- The Southern Coast - Explore the Garden Route
- KwaZulu Natal - History and Culture from Mountain to Coast
Read More about Luxury and the Big Five South Africa
It’s an easily accessible, relaxed destination which captivates the hearts of those who visit and makes them want to come back for more.
Read more about Magnificent Cape Town
One day you might be whale spotting at Hermanus — renowned as one of the best whale watching locations in the world — and the next you could be learning about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, handling antique weapons and scrambling over the British and Zulu positions.
Read more about Explore the Garden Route
Read more on Battlefields and Culture South Africa
La Residence is the finest boutique hotel in the Cape Winelands. The main house is reminiscent of a French country chateau and is set in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley surrounded by classic Cape Winelands scenery and overlooking a peaceful lake. The hotel is decorated and furnished in style with French antiques, Persian carpets and oil paintings, yet a friendly informal atmosphere prevails.
Singita really does have the last word in luxury safari experiences, and Singita Boulders is no exception. The location is superb, the game viewing rich, and the lodge is a model of sustainability which other properties should strive to emulate.
Thanda Safari Lodge invites you to experience ultimate luxury and world-class service.
Ellerman House describes itself as being for ‘discerning guests accustomed to the finer pleasures of life’ and everything about this glorious hotel reflects that statement. The Cape Town mansion we’d all have in our dreams, it’s a superb Relais & Chateaux hotel with unrivalled views across the manicured gardens to Robben Island, and the beyond to the bay. Perhaps the principal attraction to guests, many of whom return year after year, is the discreet yet attentive service giving you the impression that you are among friends.
Set in spectacular African wilderness surrounds, Ecca Lodge is a unique safari property boasting a revolutionary design where penthouse chic meets the bush. Nestled into a gently sloping, densely vegetated hillside, the Lodge is airy and open with barely a barrier between indoors and the African bushveld.
Tswalu (meaning “a new beginning”) is designed in classic African style and blends into the Kalahari environment, offering unrivalled elegance.
In 1990 we encountered Africa and fell in love with its awesome beauty. Ever since, we’ve been exploring the planet, seeking out its treasures; spreading the word and sharing our passion so that you too can experience the best of the wild world.
Over 30 years we have discovered the finest properties and most reliable partners and developed an appreciation for the nuances of each region. Our knowledge and understanding continually evolves through travel and our network of deep relationships.
We want you to share our passion for travel, this means matching your individuality to a unique blend of places and experiences that extend your horizons. When you first contact Journeysmiths you’ll speak with a member of our travel design team, who between them have over 100 years of experience.
This conversation will form the foundations for your itinerary, giving us the chance to get to know you and understand your aspirations for your holiday. We’ll combine this with our extensive knowledge to create your perfect itinerary.
When you book your holiday much of our work is just beginning, your Travel Designer will liaise with our operations and support teams to ensure that every last detail of your holiday runs “like a Swiss clock”.
Our support team also performs the role of a concierge, so if you want to add tours, need assistance with your visas or would like us to make restaurant reservations, we are happy to do so.
It’s rare that we hear from our clients while they are away due to the accuracy of information we provide. However, if you need us, we are here 24 hours a day and act swiftly to resolve any issue in a way that is most convenient to you.
At Journeysmiths we revel in discovering the wonders of the world, those which are well known, but just as importantly those which scarcely anyone has ever seen. We know that marvels can be found in the most unexpected places.
With us there is no ceiling to the degree of exclusivity, no constraint upon what is possible. Whether we take you to the ends of the earth or fly you by private plane into the finest lodges, booked exclusively for you. Everything is devoted to making this your ultimate holiday, by any standards.
The essence of a Journeysmiths holiday is that you can enjoy luxury combined with a real wilderness experience, in seclusion and high comfort. Staying in remote properties on exclusive reserves you are guaranteed maximum privacy at all times.
We appreciate that like our trips, each client is unique. As such, our service focuses on flexibility, so that you can relax and look forward to your holiday in the knowledge that should the unexpected happen, we are here.
You have complete financial security when you book with Journeysmiths. We are fully bonded and licenced under the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme, licence number ATOL 2883. In addition, we maintain a Total Payment Protection Policy with Travel and General Insurance Services, policy number AELI/topp/22/16.
We believe that travel to the world’s fragile places should benefit the habitats, the wildlife and the people who live there. We call this “Travelling Well” and it is a feature of every holiday we arrange.
The only country able to offer malaria-free safaris, South Africa is a wonderful choice for many looking for a luxury safari experience. Enjoy the abundance of wildlife on offer in some of the most exclusive private reserves, before exploring cosmopolitan Cape Town, where the glamour of the city meets the rugged outdoors.
See the splendour of South Africa as a family on this exclusive safari. Spend your days exploring captivating Cape Town, enjoying the delights of the Winelands and on safari, seeking out the abundant wildlife that roams the wilderness. No matter your age, this iconic safari will leave you with memories for a lifetime.
With opportunities to see the Big Five of both land and sea, along with incredible scenery, enormous national parks, world-class vineyards, a fascinating history and vibrant, friendly people, South Africa frequently tops the lists of the world’s best holiday destinations. Even so, less than 1% of the world's travellers make it here, so it’s a place where you’ll find yourself with a few select, like-minded and discerning adventurers who have discovered this gem of a country. It’s a place you could return to for the whole of your life and never tire of it.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
If you’re looking for a country that’s got everything, choose South Africa. Renowned for the spectacular views of the Garden Route, vibrant Cape Town, malaria free safaris, fascinating history and outstanding wildlife, the whole family will fall under the alluring spell of this diverse country.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the first person to call South Africa “the rainbow nation”. It’s a reflection on the fascinating diversity of this country, not only in the identities of its people but in the landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and activities it offers. South Africa is a country which, because of its variety, can be all things to all people, truly a rainbow of varied opportunities and experiences.
in South Africa
Without a shadow of a doubt, South Africa is one of the very best places to watch wildlife in the world. The Kruger National Park — a protected area the size of Wales — is certainly the most famous and popular safari destination, but with Journeysmiths you’ll escape the crowds to explore vast, wildlife-filled private reserves, in the company of the best guides.
Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities with a unique setting beneath Table Mountain.
To experience a little bit of everything that South Africa has to offer, you can hardly do better than to drive along the coastal road of the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It’s an extraordinary journey, and there’s wildlife on both land and shore, endless beaches, historic battlefields, and the vineyards are never far away. One day you might be whale spotting at Hermanus — renowned as one of the best whale watching locations in the world — and the next you could be learning about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, handling antique weapons and scrambling over the British and Zulu positions.
Formerly the Zulu Kingdom, the province of KwaZulu Natal runs along South Africa’s dramatic Indian Ocean coastline. The Drakensberg Mountains create a natural border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and offer some excellent hiking routes.
For families of all ages there is so much to see and do in South Africa, making it an excellent and diverse travel destination. We’ve chosen 20 of the best experiences to immerse you in the culture, wildlife and beautiful places of this remarkable country.
South Africa is an excellent choice for family travel with children of all ages. Its wildlife is abundant, with a great diversity of species, including the Big Five: rhino, leopard, lion, elephant and buffalo. There are vast malaria-free reserves and it’s easy to get from safari regions to Cape Town and the beach.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
Working in partnership with globally recognised conservation organisation; Care for Wild, the world’s largest rhino orphanage, we have curated a truly unique and exclusive experience giving a privileged few behind-the-scenes access to this otherwise incredibly private sanctuary.