Franschhoek Country House

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

The perfect South African summer holiday.

14 days

from £3,995 pp

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

Classic South Africa

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

A classic South African holiday, with a few lesser-visited surprises.

17 days

from £3,655 pp

South Africa Family Holiday

Family Safari + 1 more + 2 more

The ultimate family adventure through South Africa's highlights.

15 days

from £3,495 pp

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

City, Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

South Africa’s culture, safari and beaches rounding off with an indulgent island escape.

15 days

from £5,010 pp

Unexplored South Africa

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

Leave the tourist trail behind and experience a different South Africa.

14 days

from £9,350 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Spier Day Out

Spier is a large and very commercial estate, but this should not deter you from visiting, as they have so many experiences on offer, it really is a great place to visit. Of course, they do tastings of their own wines, but it is probably the other activities that are more attractive. The estate is extensive, with lakes and a golf course, and there are all manner of trails and walks to take, as well as horse rides on offer. There are some great restaurants, and you can order picnics to eat out under a tree. The latest addition to the estate is the Segway Tours where you can glide around their wine estate for an hour or two. They even have a sunset tour to see the Winelands at their best. There are souvenir and craft shops and stalls to browse and a golf course too. At the Eagle Encounters, a large number of birds of prey, from small kestrel through to huge eagles are housed. Some are transitory residents: found injured, Spier nurse them back to health and then release them. Others are permanent residents, often because they cannot be rehabilitated back to the wild, and some of these put on regular flying displays for visitors. With all these activities and wildlife interaction, Spier is great for kids, but adults will get a lot of pleasure from a visit as well.

Cookery Courses

Not only are there a profusion of great restaurants in this part of South Africa, but many of them also offer cookery courses. These can range from the fairly simple, through to a day with the equivalent of a Michelin-starred chef. It may be the Cape Malay curries you want to learn about, or just how to cook kudu or ostrich, or perhaps even it’s just the chance to learn how to cook different types of bread: it’s all possible. Give us an idea of what interests you and we’ll suggest an appropriate course for you.

Classic Cars at L'Ormarins

L’Ormarins is the main farm in the Anthonij Rupert stable, contributing its grapes towards their superb wines. But it’s quite a surprise to come across a pristine collection of vintage and classic cars here, truly extensive in range and covering everything from a 1926 Ford Model T through to a 2002 Ferrari Enzo. For the uninitiated, it is a treat simply to wander around and admire the cars, but for someone with an interest in cars, the rarity and beauty of some of the cars will really take your breath away. Why not enjoy the best of both worlds and combine a tasting of the estate wines with a visit to the motor museum.

Horseback Wine-tasting

The rows of pretty vines, surrounded by verdant trees and corralled between towering mountains are ideal for horse riding, and trails criss-cross the landscape. A variety of options are available, from short trails for beginners, to longer trails including some wine tasting, and perhaps a meal, to evening rides with a glass of wine at sunset. All abilities are catered for.

Self-guided Winelands touring

The beauty of the hotels and guesthouses we work with is their incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff, and you should use them as a resource for helping plan your time. We will give you a few suggestions of estates to visit, as will they: and they will have the kind of insider knowledge that only years living in the region brings. They can then help you plan a route for the day, taking in some of those estates. Of course the beauty of a self-drive tour like this is that you’re entirely on your own schedule and if you change your mind halfway through the day, or are having such a good time somewhere that you don’t want to move on, then the choice is entirely yours. Do remember though that South Africa does enforce its drink-drive laws!