De Hoop Collection

Romantic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

South Africa Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

A seamless South Africa and Mauritius holiday.

14 days

from £4,450 pp

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Waterfalls to Waterfront

South Africa, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, Kruger & Cape Town.

11 days

from £4,950 pp

Bergs, Battlefields & Bush

Safari Adventure + 2 more + 3 more

Exploring the history & wildlife of KwaZulu-Natal.

13 days

from £4,750 pp

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

The perfect South African summer holiday.

14 days

from £3,995 pp

The Best of South Africa

Romantic Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Cape Town, wine & wildlife: South Africa's highlights over 11 days.

11 days

from £3,225 pp

South Africa Express

Wildlife & Nature Express + 1 more + 2 more

A whistle-stop adventure packed with penguins, wine and wildlife.

10 days

from £3,050 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Hiking

There are a number of places to go hiking in the Overberg. The Bontebok National Park just south of Swellendam encompasses the Langeberg Mountains as well as being bordered by the Breede River, making for an attractive walking environment. There are day trails and an overnight trail for the more adventurous. The De Hoop Nature Reserve, further south still, on the coast, also has a network of hiking trails designed for day visitors and overnighters. They include inland hikes through the Potberg Mountains, and along the coast, and are designed to showcase the best of the scenery and wildlife, including Cape vulture colonies and the crustaceans of the rock pools.

Sanbona safari

The enormous reserve of Sanbona covers mile upon mile of some of the most stunning Karoo scenery. Folded ridges of cracked rock cross the landscape, and riverbeds carry dense foliage across an otherwise inhospitable landscape. Unlike the game-dense famous wildlife areas, such as the Kruger, there is no race here to try and spot the Big Five, as you’re unlikely to find all of them. With good luck and good ranger skills, you may see some of the elephant and white lions that call the reserve home, but there is so much more here than a quest for the Big Five. There are remarkable rock formations and your ranger can give you a crash course on local geology here; there are also San rock art sites to admire, and the vast, inspiring landscape to enjoy. You’re also likely to see some big game, like eland, oryx (with their magnificent horns) and zebra as well, and your ranger will take the time to teach you all about these animals and their place in the Sanbona ecosystem. Sanbona is a safari experience for those who appreciate more than just the Big Five, and for whom solitude, massive landscapes and huge skies are a major draw.

Whale watching

The southern right whale migration which brings these enormous creatures to South Africa for about five months a year runs right along the shore of the De Hoop Nature Reserve, and is one of the major draws of the reserve in season. The long coastline is a marine protected area, and it has been known for upwards of 200 whales to be present at the same time in the waters off De Hoop. There are no boat trips offered from De Hoop, it is purely a case of finding yourself a suitable dune to watch the show from. Fortunately with all the blowing, sailing, spy-hopping and breaching that the whales seem particularly fond of performing here rather than elsewhere in South Africa, you’re almost certain to have plenty to watch.

Montagu

Montagu is a town situated on R62, a road that cuts across some of the arid Little Karoo. It is a historic town, and many of the buildings date back to early settler days, giving the town lots of character and atmosphere. There are cruises along surrounding rivers on offer, and the wine estates of the region are just starting to come to prominence; most of them offer tastings and cellar tours. The surrounding mountains are a haven for hikers with many popular, self-guided walks available. Within the town itself you might like to visit Montagu Nature Garden, with its quiet paths and attractive plants and flowers. Montagu makes a great daytrip from somewhere like Swellendam and there are accommodation options available in the town itself.

Cape Agulhas

Cape Point is not, as many think, the most southerly tip of the African continent – that honour goes to Cape Agulhas, which is also recognised as being the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The landscape around Cape Agulhas is austere – rocky ridges running through flat valley floors scoured by a wind that blows unhindered from Antarctica. These winds and the local currents have caused many a shipwreck along the coast and the remains of some are still visible. So it is no surprise that Cape Agulhas is marked by a lighthouse. For those who appreciate dramatic scenery and geographical quirks and extremes, a drive down to Cape Agulhas makes an interesting inclusion on a trip to South Africa.