13-Nights South Africa: Winelands and Wildlife - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

1 Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

Rising from the plains of the north, Joburg is a modern metropolis, the powerhouse of South Africa, its veins coursing with rivers of gold. Yet for all the country’s natural wonders, it is human history that is writ large in Johannesburg: moving museums chart the difficult story of Apartheid, while the Cradle of Humankind is home to the largest concentration of ancient human fossils ever discovered, a fascinating glimpse into where human life began.

In Zulu, Londolozi means “protector of all living things” — and most of them seem to be living within the 58 square miles of this Eden on the banks of the Sand River, sharing the unfenced western border of Kruger National Park. The full gamut of wildlife is here: 145 species of mammals, from elephants, rhinos and giraffes to cheetahs and buffalo, plus dozens of reptile and amphibian species and a dizzying array of birds. Londolozi is one of the best places in Africa for spotting leopards. In 1993 Londolozi achieved Relais & Châteaux status, the first game reserve in the world to do so.

Set out in your open safari vehicle in search of lion, buffalo, rhino and elephant. Hardly a day goes by without seeing or tracking a leopard — despite the big cat’s “elusive” reputation.

Follow nocturnal hunters on an evening game drive or get even closer to the wildlife surrounding the camp on a guided walk with your ranger.

Stand atop Table Mountain and see fertile seams of natural beauty threading through the city below, from the fynbos-covered hills of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to the soul-melting sunsets of Lion’s Head and the sands of Boulders Beach, home to thousands of African penguins. Down by the docks, the chic V&A Waterfront is hosts the Zeitz MOCCA, the largest collection of contemporary African art in the world, while the food and wine across melting pot Bo-Kaap and trendy Woodstock are an artform themselves.

This road trip is a must: expect a mood-boosting day on the southwest tip of the African continent, navigating hairpin bends along the Atlantic coast with its dramatic cliffs, unfurling white sands, and glimpses of jewel-bright ocean. Wander the beaches strung beneath the Twelve Apostles (peaks in the Table Mountain range), visit the fishing harbor of bucolic Hout Bay, and meet endangered African penguins at Boulders Beach as they swim, bask in the sunshine and nest on the rocks. Keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife such as chacma baboons, klipspringers, Cape clawless otters and rock hyraxes. End the day with the legendary Chapman's Peak drive.

Take in panoramic views of the city and harbor as you ascend Table Mountain by cable car, returning to earth for some cultural immersion at your choice of three Cape Town museums. Take your pick from the District Six Museum, Bo-Kaap Museum, Iziko South African Museum, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, South African Jewish Museum, Nelson Mandela Museum and Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

Let the rolling fynbos guide you into a land striped with vines, where luxury spas and Georgian mansions recline in the shadows of mammoth peaks. South Africa’s wine region is legendary, whichever route you take: to Constantia, where some of the country’s oldest wineries still produce fine Sauvignon Blancs, through the iconic estates of Stellenbosch or to the old French town of Franschhoek, home to art galleries and fine-dining restaurants just as heavenly as the wine.

French Huguenots founded the handsome town of Franschhoek in the 17th century and brought their vine-growing prowess with them; explore the town’s intriguing history with a browse of its charming boutiques and galleries, before settling in for lunch at a spectacular local winery.

Rolling red dunes and luxurious, far-flung lodges scattered beneath the summits of the Korannaberg Mountains: South Africa’s largest privately protected space is a wild experience, where days are spent studying the rock engravings of the San people, among the oldest hunter-gatherer peoples on earth, or heading out to spot a cabal of mammals: jackals, cheetahs and the critically endangered ground pangolin, perhaps, all adapted to the desert’s unforgiving whims.

In this charming, early-20th-century heritage home, sip cocktails on the veranda before savoring seven courses from a tasting menu – each introduced by the chef and paired with the perfect wine. Exclusive, interactive and intimate, this Kalahari fine-dining experience introduces you to seasonal, hyper-local ingredients that convey a sense of place.

Look beyond the Big Five on a game drive in a private vehicle, allowing unlimited time close-up with species that might include aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, oryx (a large antelope), desert black rhino and black-maned Kalahari lion. At any time of year, there are seasonal species to be observed, plus changes to the landscape influenced by the absence or abundance of water — all pointed out by expert Tswalu Kalahari guides.

Horse riding is a magical way to explore the Tswalu wilderness, following game paths through the grasslands, and stopping at water holes to observe the action. Without the hum of the safari vehicle, your surroundings come alive with birdsong and animal calls, and you experience the crunch of dry grass beneath hooves, the breeze on your skin, and the red Kalahari dust kicked up by retreating oryx, eland or kudu. The stables at Tswalu have well-trained horses suitable for intermediate and expert riders.