Spend time today at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You can take a ferry from the Waterfront across Table Bay to Robben Island. An ex-prisoner takes you on an extensive tour of the prison, which includes a visit to Nelson Mandela’s cell, the limestone quarry and the old leper colony. You could also visit the Waterfront’s Two Oceans Aquarium, which is highly recommended for the insight it gives into life in the two oceans off the southern tip of Africa – the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warm Indian Ocean. The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s trendiest shopping precinct and is full of great restaurants and bars. If the weather was inclement on the first day, take the opportunity to go up Table Mountain today.

You can self-drive this city tour of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. You will visit the historic Castle and the Bo-Kaap Malay Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and colourful mosques. You will also visit District Six, site of forced removals during the Apartheid era. You view the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall and the Slave Lodge and will enjoy a walk through the Company Gardens. Weather-permitting, you will ride the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy the view over Cape Town and across Table Bay to Robben Island. If the weather is inclement, you will be taken on a scenic drive up Signal Hill.

You depart your hotel take a drive along the Atlantic seaboard via glamorous Clifton to the quaint seaside village of Hout Bay. We continue via the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point. Looking at this dramatic promontory jutting into the sea gives one an idea why early sailors nicknamed it the Cape of Storms. We then follow the coastline northwards via Simonstown, where you can visit the penguin colony of Boulders Beach. We also visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which is dedicated to the extraordinary variety of plants found in the Cape Floral Kingdom. A leisurely drive through the leafy southern suburbs will bring us back to the city bowl in the late afternoon.

Sailing in Table Bay:
A Sailing Cruise to no-where across the bay and back on either Esperance or Spirit of Africa. Depending on the wind, either to Milnerton and back in the South East Wind (Summer) or to Robben Island in a North West Wind (Winter). The Skippers pick the most comfortable course, normally a beam reach.

Sea-Kayaking:
Sea kayaking is about exploring the coast and experiencing marine life from a small, yet safe and stable craft. Seeing the whiskers on a seal, hearing a dolphin blow, feeling your skin tingle when a whale surfaces close by is what sea kayaking is all about. Trips run from Simon’s Town and Mouille Point, which offer relaxing paddling with spectacular views of the penguins, Signal Hill, Lions Head and Table Mountain. There is always the chance that seals, penguins, dolphins and even the odd whale will visit you on route.

Mountain Biking:
You begin with a warm- up ride on the tar along Table Mountain road, then go off-road along a dirt track and up to the King’s Block House for sweeping views across the city and the Southern Suburbs. You then cycle downhill to the imposing Rhodes Memorial, where you can choose to enjoy some refreshments in the beautifully situated tea garden, before heading back via Deer Park with some exhilarating downhills and a few challenging climbs back to the bus – suitable for beginners & experienced riders.

Sunset Horse Ride:
The Sunset Horse Rides take place on the spectacular Noordhoek beach where you will have the opportunity to canter along as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean. Noordhoek is situated below the Southern Slopes of Chapman’s Peak Drive and is Cape Town’s rural treasure with a farm atmosphere. It is famed for its long white sandy beach, ideal for horse riding. You pass through wetlands with indigenous bird life, then over the dunes and onto the beach where you can visit the Kakapo Shipwreck. The horses are superbly schooled and very rider friendly. Novice and experienced riders are equally welcome.

Surf Lessons:
Surf lessons are conducted at a beach break with perfect waves for beginners and intermediates. The instructors have many years of surfing experience and have helped hundreds of learners find their feet. They also include a lesson on ocean awareness. Lessons take place at Surfer’s Corner, Muizenberg Beach or at Big Bay, Blouberg Strand, depending on where the best surf is to be found on the day.

Table Mountain Abseiling:
A thrilling experience of adrenaline and achievement: a 112-metre controlled descent off Cape Town’s magnificent Table Mountain. Step off the top, at 1000 metres above sea level, and rappel into pure vertical space. This is the world’s highest commercial abseil. You are surrounded by awesome views and the deep blue Atlantic at your feet. You can link this activity with a Table Mountain Hike or use the Cable-Way to get to the starting point. No experience is required for this great adventure.

Sandboarding:
This is an exhilarating, easy-to-learn adventure activity, similar to snowboarding. Sandboarding takes place in the stunning nature reserve at Atlantis (approx. 40 minutes from Cape Town Central). This idyllic location, often used by the film industry, offers incredibly white sand dunes and unique views of Table Mountain and the City. The tour includes a full sandboarding lesson, teaching you how to control, brake and turn. You will be instructed and guided for the entire duration of the activity to ensure a safe and fun-filled time. Includes: all sandboarding equipment, expert instructors, permits, and transport to and from the sand dunes location.

Paragliding off Lion’s Head:
Cape Town is one of the most spectacular places in the world to paraglide. Lion’s Head is the site that they fly from most commonly because of its location and the stunning views of Table Mountain and the Cape Town area. However, there are many flying sites in the area including Signal Hill, Sir Lowry’s Pass (just past Somerset West), Franschoek and Hermanus. Tandem paragliding instructional flights are a great way of getting into paragliding or just experiencing the joy of free flight. Flights last anything from 10-30mins. As a tandem paragliding passenger you do not require any previous knowledge of paragliding at all. The pilot will brief you on takeoff and landing shortly before your flight. Take-offs are easy (just a few steps usually) and landings are soft (most often they land on large grassy fields with no obstacles or dangers.

Take a drive through the Cape Winelands, with its backdrop of majestic mountain ranges and lush valleys. You can stop for wine tastings at wineries and estates along the way and you will have the chance to purchase some of the wines you have tasted. You can visit Stellenbosch, the “town of oaks” and South Africa’s second oldest town. A scenic drive over the Helshoogte Pass (Hell’s Heights) takes you to the Franschhoek Valley. French Huguenots settled in the Franschhoek Valley in the late seventeenth century, seeking refuge from religious persecution in Europe and bringing with them precious root-stock to establish the wine-growing industry in South Africa.

Thornybush Game Lodges offer unique exclusive safari experiences in both open Land Rovers, and on foot. The private reserve is home to an abundance of species: 147 mammals including the “Big Five”, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, 49 fish, 34 amphibians and 336 trees. The reserve is predominantly open savannah and with a near perfect year round climate, it is the ideal African safari holiday destination.

The day starts as dawn breaks over the African bushveld. After your early morning wakeup call, coffee, tea & rusks are served on the main deck overlooking the riverbed. Shortly after, you depart in your open Land Rover with your experienced Rangers and Trackers who will share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you. After an exhilarating hunt for tracks to see what the animals have been up to during the night, and tracking down whatever you find, you will stop somewhere out in the bush for a break of coffee & tea. After a sumptuous breakfast is served either back at the camp or in the riverbed or bush, guests are offered walks to suit their interests and fitness levels and are accompanied by an armed ranger and tracker. Walks allow guests a better chance to see some of the smaller creatures of the bush as well as an opportunity to learn more about the flora and fauna of the region & to have a chance to follow tracks in more detail. The local Shangaan trackers will enthral you with their explanations of the medicinal and other uses of the numerous plants and trees along with tales of traditional folklore.

The rest of the day is spent at the discretion of the guest for other activities that we offer, with a delicious lunch being served. The afternoon game drive is preceded by high tea and extends into the evening to view seldom seen nocturnal species by torchlight. Upon returning for a gourmet 3 course dinner, either in the boma, bush or lodge – guests can socialize with a cognac, single malt or cigar around the campfire or lounge before returning to bed for another day’s adventure.

The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga has breathtaking vistas around every mountain corner, waterfalls plunging down faces of sheer rock, memories of the gold rush and an endless river canyon.One breathtaking view after another – that’s South Africa’s famous Panorama Route, where you’ll experience mountains, sky, forests and the truly impressive Blyde River Canyon, one of the world’s largest canyons.

Scenic landmarks with evocative names like God’s Window, Wonder View, the Pinnacle, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondawels beckon. The Blyde River Canyon’s lush subtropical foliage makes it the world’s largest ‘green canyon’, thread your way along the cliff tops 800m above the Blyde River Canyon, and at God’s Window, be sure to walk in the thick, indigenous mist forest that’s often among the clouds.

There are several beautiful waterfalls on the Panorama Route; The Lisbon Falls is 94 metres (308 ft) high. The Berlin Falls is on the Sabine River and falls 80 metres (260 ft), pouring into a circular basin flanked by red cliffs. The falls have the shape of a candle, with the first short drop forming the wick, and the remaining, broader drop being the candle body. The Mac Mac Falls are 70 meters (229 ft) and is situated near the site where payable quantities of gold were first found in 1873. The diggings became known as Mac-Mac because of large number of Scottish diggers at the camp.

The gold rush town of Pilgrim’s Rest gives you the chance to relive the 1873 gold rush in surroundings of unparalleled beauty. You can even try your hand at panning for gold.

Culture in Mauritius:
Mauritius has a diverse cultural history, here are some of the best sites to explore:

L’Aventure du Sucre:
Travel back in time and visit this fully restored sugarcane factory. Explore the intriguing world of sugar production and how central it is to the island’s culture.

Casela Bird Park:
No trip to an exotic island would be complete without marveling at its bird life. More than 2 500 birds, of 140 species, inhabit the Casela Bird Park. Among the specimens from five continents, the Mauritian pink pigeon is one of the rarest birds in the world. Choose a quad or a Segway to travel around the park on a guided excursion.

Pamplemousses Gardens:
A colossal collection of indigenous and exotic plants, particularly the talipot palm, which blooms once in its 60-year lifetime – the Pamplemousses Gardens are a must.

Port Louis:
Port Louis is the bustling capital of Mauritius, bursting with a colourful history and a soulful character. Port Louis reflects the cosmopolitan population that is Mauritius, with fantastic markets that exude the aroma of exotic spices and offer all sorts of treasures. For more high-end and designer finds, visit the Caudan Waterfront.

Escale Creole:
Experience the very best of Mauritian hospitality at this table d’hôte, and taste the lively and vibrant flavours of genuine, homemade Creole cuisine.

Mauritius is so much more than a tropical beach holiday destination. Aside from its magnificent coastlines, ash-white beach sand and never-ending Sapphire Ocean, the island is also a rich cultural hub of history, landmarks and tradition. You can discover the multi-faceted island of Mauritius, because all Beachcomber Resorts facilitate excursions and trips around Mauritius in signature Beachcomber style and luxury.

If you can tear yourself away from the beach to explore the island of Mauritius, you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. Connect to the raw wonders of nature and discover secrets in deep ravines and towering volcanic peaks.

Join a tour at Eau Bleue Waterfalls for abseiling, mountain bike riding and kayaking. Hop on a ‘big cat’ for a day-cruise to the islands off the north of Mauritius, east to Ile aux Cerfs or west from Rivière Noire to Ile aux Bénitiers.

Indulge your spirit of adventure with quad biking expeditions in the lush hilltop greenery of Valriche to the south-west. True to Beachcomber style, smart two-seater quad bikes are perfect for an adrenaline-filled ride through the lush vegetation, over rivers and through streams at an exhilarating speed.

Victoria Beachcomber Resort & Spa offer a variety of different restaurants for you to enjoy. These include:

Morris Beef:
This brand new restaurant will guarantee spectacular views of the beach, the sea, and the sunset to its adults-only audience at breakfast and dinner each day. Continental breakfast is available here each morning while steaks and grills are the speciality for dinner. Dress code is casual and ‘elegant-barefoot’.

Le Superbe Restaurant:
This is the main restaurant of Victoria and divided into separate sections for a more intimate atmosphere. Live cooking is a big attraction at Le Superbe, which, as the name suggests, results in superb local and international cuisine. Autour du Monde (Tour of the World) perfectly describes the global selection of food on offer here. Tables are arranged to create a romantic pool and beachside ambience. Children will feel very grown-up in their own area of the restaurant, which has been appropriately furnished and decorated. Meals are prepared according to their tastes. Buffet dinners are included for half board guests.

L’Horizon Restaurant:
An illuminated pathway leads guests to this beachside restaurant where guests can have their pick of mouth-watering fresh catches of the day, hand-picked by you at the restaurant’s very own Fish Market. Another fabulous feature of this restaurant is that it has a romantic, feet-in-the-sand atmosphere where you can kick off your shoes and make your meal an entire experience on its own. The menu offers a choice of starters, main courses and desserts both at no additional charge and with a supplement applicable.

La Casa Restaurant:
Guests at Victoria keep returning to La Casa. It could be the delectably Mediterranean dishes on the menu, delicious pastas, seafood dishes and salads. Or maybe it’s the enchanting, twinkling lights of Port Louis in the distance as you dine the evening away, surrounded by the warm Mauritian air. It’s probably a mix of both, as La Casa prides itself on a well-rounded restaurant experience. The menu offers a choice of starters, main courses and desserts both at no additional charge and with a supplement applicable