Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
Explore the Rainbow Nation, from CAPE TOWN to beyond
Get to know South Africa on a unique journey with Llama Travel
Acountry of enthralling wildlife and fascinating culture, South Africa draws a vast array of travellers eager to experience its blend of safari magic and sweeping vineyards. And thanks to Llama Travel’s expertise, you can choose from a variety of excursions that uncover the Rainbow Nation’s many riches. Providing a choice of standard or superior accommodation alongside customisable itineraries, Llama Travel aims to help travellers to have the best experience possible. Here are just some of the ways that its dedicated team can help you discover this diverse and beautiful nation.
GET TO KNOW CULTURAL CAPE TOWN
With its artisanal markets, diverse communities and buzzing food scene, Cape Town provides a fantastic start to any South African journey. One landmark that plays a starring role in the Mother City’s story is the 1,086m-high Table Mountain and its namesake national park. Scaling this massif – via cable car or a pulse-pumping hike – reveals a unique fynbos-covered plateau and sweeping views across the Atlantic.
On a clear day, Robben Island can be seen from Table Mountain’s summit, 16 km away. Taking a boat trip to this Unesco-listed site, where Nelson
Mandela was imprisoned, is a powerful experience. So too, are guided visits to once-segregated areas like the pastel-hued Cape Malay Quarter, or Bo-kaap, Cape Town’s oldest surviving residential neighbourhood.
What often surprises people is how wild the surrounding area can be. A short jaunt beyond the city introduces the wildlife of the Cape Peninsula, where you can see African penguins at Boulders Beach or cruise to the wellnamed Seal Island, home to a colony of 64,000 Cape fur seals.
EMBARK ON A SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI
Going on safari and seeing some
of the Big Five is an eye-opening and magical experience. With Llama Travel, the options for wild encounters are boundless, whether embarking on a two-day trip to easier-to-reach game reserves from Cape Town or delving further into South Africa’s more cinematic habitats in the Kruger.
Gondwana Game Reserve, a 109 sq km park set within a landscape of native fynbos, is an excellent choice for first-time safari-goers. There’s no need to take anti-malarial tablets before your visit and its freeroaming wildlife – including Cape mountain zebra, lions and the world’s southernmost elephant herds – serve up some spectacular moments. You’d never guess you were just a 30-minute drive from the Garden Route.
Those keen to set eyes on a wider variety of big game should put the game reserves around Kruger National Park on their agenda. This region lures the unlikeliest of early risers out of bed with its thrilling game drives. All but the unluckiest will be able to savour some special encounters, from giraffes and wild dogs to Africa’s greatest predators.
BE INSPIRED ON THE GARDEN ROUTE
Stretching for some 300km along the rugged South African coastline, the Garden Route provides one of the world’s most inspiring road trips. Whether you’re keen to explore the markets of small fishing towns, discover lagoon-filled coastal forests or stride along gold-sand beaches, Llama Travel offers a route that ticks all your boxes.
While seafood fans can immerse themselves in the eclectic restaurants of Knysna, known for its annual oyster festival, wildlife buffs can take a 4WD drive escape to the pristine Featherbed Nature Reserve, home to South Africa’s national bird, the blue crane. You can also navigate the Outeniqua Pass (800m) and head into the semi-desert region known as the Klein Karoo. Here you can observe watchful meerkats with trained guides, visit working ostrich farms and step inside the beguiling Cango Caves.
Elsewhere, spot whales in Hermanus or soak up some spectacular ocean views along the coastal paths of Tsitsikamma National Park. Showstopping features include its centuries-old yellowwood trees and the 77m-long suspension bridge.
ADMIRE LANDSCAPES ON ROVOS RAIL
If you’re keen to discover a lesser-seen side to South Africa while experiencing the romance of rail travel, you may be tempted by an itinerary that features the one-of-akind Rovos Rail. Dubbed ‘the most luxurious train in the world’, this vintage wood-panelled locomotive has been taking travellers across the African continent since 1989. Its plush suites and dining carriages – complete with seamless hospitality and five-star cuisine – offer an elegant setting and a considered, slow approach to seeing the country’s remarkable landscapes.
The Rovos Rail experience encompasses a 1,600km sojourn between Cape Town and Pretoria, and takes in everything from the rolling Cape Winelands and bewitching Great Karoo to the grasslands of the goldrich Highveld, with the option to leave the train to enjoy day excursions. Large windows and open-air balconies mean nothing obscures the views of dramatic valleys and mountain ranges, while a choice of highly appointed suites allows you to drift off beside some of the most soul-stirring scenery on Earth.
Llama Travel is offering Wanderlust readers a discount of £60 per booking on its South Africa tours. Mention this article to redeem the offer. Promotion ends 31 July 2024.