South Africa
Cape Town
Your Trip with a Purpose in South Africa starts in “The Mother City” of Cape Town. We spend several days exploring the majesty of the Cape Peninsula, including Cape Point, the unique Fynbos floral kingdom, Table Mountain, and the rather unexpected Cape Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. A highlight is a private dinner with Mr. Christo Brand, Nelson Mandela’s former prison warden, who gives a personal account of the close friendship and bond between a prison warden and a prisoner serving a life sentence. It is a moving story of an unlikely friendship, with rare and personal insights into Mandela’s life on Robben Island. Your accommodation is the spectacular One & Only resort at the Victoria & Albert waterfront. Lunches and dinners are a culinary delight, with visits to the award-winning Beyond Restaurant at the Buitenverwachting wine estate and a “Farewell to Cape Town” feast at the Mount Nelson Hotel.
Cape WINELANDS
The towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl make up the Cape Winelands and produce some of the finest wines in the world. Join us as we explore several of these wineries, including Babelynstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, set at the foot of Simonsberg in the Franschhoek wine valley. The garden here is a sight to behold and comprises 15 clusters spanning vegetable areas, stone and pome fruits, nuts, citrus, berries, and more. Every one of the more than 300 varieties of plants in the garden is edible or has medicinal value. Along the edge of the garden, a natural stream flows from the Simonsberg Mountain to the Berg River, creating a space for indigenous wild olives to flourish. In their shade, a collection of some 7,000 clivia lilies explode in a spectacular display every spring.
We also visit the historic Vergelegen wine estate which was founded on 1 February 1700. Vergelegen, which means “situated far away”, consists of the Homestead, Library, Mill Ruins, Slave Lodge site, and surrounding gardens. You will spend the afternoon at the wine-tasting center where knowledgeable wine advisors happily guide us through Vergelegen’s range of award-winning wines. The Tasting Centre overlooks an extensive octagonal-shaped herb garden and guests have the option of tasting inside or outside on the patio.
Amakhala Game Reserve
Your South Africa itinerary includes several days at the Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. It is home to the Big Five (rhino, elephant, leopard, lion, and buffalo), a wide range of plains game, and more elusive animals, including the bat-eared fox, hyena, and leopard. However, this is no ordinary safari. Here, we are given unprecedented access to the landscape – the animals, the people, the entirety of the ecosystem – working side-by-side and hands-on with one of the world’s most renowned and respected wildlife veterinarians, Dr. William Fowlds. You will be helping Dr. Fowlds and his team with at least two animal procedures, including white rhino, and will have the opportunity to soar across the reserve in the vet team’s helicopter.
The 5-star Bush Lodge is your home at Amakhala. Discreetly positioned in the bush at the top end of an open valley in the reserve, each of the superlative en-suite tented and thatched suites overlooks a water point with extensive sky views. Each suite also has a secluded private viewing deck with a plunge pool. Within the spacious interior, hot and cold air-conditioning, an atmospheric fireplace, and a large oval bath make this the perfect bush retreat. The main lodge offers luxurious dining, and evenings are spent around the outdoor fireplace admiring the unspoiled African starscape. In addition to working with Dr. Fowlds on a variety of animal procedures, you’ll have the opportunity to go on twice-daily expeditions in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles.
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UPCOMING TRIPS
4 JUN – 13 JUN, 2025
Cape Town & Amakhala
The itinerary is all-inclusive. This includes airport meet and greet, all in-country transport and transfers, lodging, all meals, all entrance fees and tours, drinks (including alcohol), tips for guide and driver, and all taxes.
Not included: International flight to South Africa.
20 JUN – 25 JUN, 2025
Amakhala
The itinerary is all-inclusive. This includes airport meet and greet, all in-country transport and transfers, lodging, all meals, all animal procedures, drinks (including alcohol), tips for guide and driver, and all taxes.
Not included: International flight to South Africa.
Interested?
Trip With A Purpose 