See another side of Africa beyond the safari parks

27 April 2026

Africa is often introduced through safari, but that’s only one part of a much wider experience. Across the continent, you’ll find coastlines, cities, mountains, and food scenes that feel completely different from one another. South Africa is a good example of this variety, where you can move from beaches to vineyards to historic sites within a relatively short distance. It’s a destination that works just as well for a multi-stop trip as it does for a single base with day trips.

See another side of Africa beyond the safari parks

Coastlines and beach towns with personality

Cape Town’s Camps Bay is known for its wide stretch of sand backed by the Twelve Apostles, with cafés and restaurants lining Victoria Road. It’s a popular spot for an evening drink as the sun goes down. Further along the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay offers a quieter feel, with places like Robberg Beach for long walks and viewpoints along the Robberg Nature Reserve. Between June and November, whales are often seen just offshore, while boat trips head out to see seals and dolphins.

Cities that balance scenery and everyday life

Cape Town is easy to explore at your own pace. The cable car up Table Mountain gives a clear view across the peninsula, while the V&A Waterfront is a convenient area for shops and casual dining by the harbour. Neighbourhoods like Bo-Kaap are worth visiting for their colourful houses and local food spots. There’s also plenty to do outdoors, from hiking Lion’s Head to coastal drives like Chapman’s Peak.

The Drakensberg Mountains and open landscapes

The Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal offer a very different setting. This is a region focused on walking trails, wide views, and quiet surroundings. The Amphitheatre hike is one of the best-known routes, leading to Tugela Falls, and there are options for horse riding and guided walks to see San rock art. Accommodation ranges from simple lodges to more comfortable stays, all centred around the landscape.

History in the Battlefields

The Battlefields region of KwaZulu-Natal focuses on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Sites such as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are usually visited with a guide, which helps explain the events in detail. The setting itself remains largely unchanged, which adds context to the stories told during the tours. It’s a different pace of travel, with more time spent learning about the area.

Winelands and a slower pace

The Cape Winelands are centred around towns like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Stellenbosch is known for its historic streets, galleries and cafés, while Franschhoek has a strong food scene alongside its vineyards. Wine tastings are available across a range of estates, and the Franschhoek Wine Tram connects several of them in an easy way. It’s a relaxed way to end a trip, with a focus on food, wine and time outdoors.

To experience beyond the safaris in Africa, contact your Travel Counsellor today.

Set-jetting: The world's most cinematic destinations to visit right now

22 April 2026

More than half of all travellers now research a destination after seeing it on screen, and the results are genuinely exciting: set jetting is sending curious travellers to places they might never have otherwise considered, taking them deeper into destinations than a standard itinerary ever would. The best set-jetting trips aren't just about ticking off a filming location. They're about using a story you love as a way into somewhere real. Here are the destinations doing it best right now - and the shows that are sending people there.

This resort is the most striking place to experience Mount Fuji

22 April 2026

Most people see Mount Fuji from a distance – either from the Shinkansen window or briefly between buildings in Tokyo. Hanz Outdoor Resort, set directly on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, offers something meaningfully different. Here, the mountain dominates the view from your villa terrace, from the lake at dawn, and from the open-air thermal baths fed by natural waters sourced from Fuji itself. It's a base that works both for first-time visitors who want to understand why this mountain holds such significance in Japanese culture and for repeat travellers ready to explore the less-visited corners of the Fuji Five Lakes region. The resort has also been featured in National Geographic, Time Out, and described by Metro UK as “the most beautiful campsite they had ever seen”. Here are a few reasons why…

Explore Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls, Salvador, and the Beaches of Bahia

22 April 2026

Few countries pack as much variety into a single trip as Brazil. This 12-day itinerary moves through four of the country's most distinct destinations - Rio de Janeiro's iconic cityscape, the raw scale of Iguaçu Falls, Salvador's Afro-Brazilian history and street life, and the calm of Bahia's Coconut Coast. Each stop is different in character, and together they give a genuine sense of just how much this country has to offer.