Not for the faint hearted, this is an itinerary designed to pack a great deal of audacious action adventure and will quench the thirst of any thrill-seeker
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Every trip helps support Conservation
Every detail taken care of
What's included
- All accommodation
- Full Board at some of the hotels and lodges, B§B at others
- All domestic flights
- All private ground transfers
- Some private tours and activities
At a glance
A hair-raising trip for the intrepid traveller and the adrenaline-mad. We’ve selected some fearsome activities in an action-packed adventure that will see you hike Table Mountain, dive with sharks, bungee jump the Storms River, kayak the Cape, track Black Rhino and white water raft the Zambezi river.
Example trip itinerary
Cape Town
On arrival at Cape Town, you will be met airside by a Jacada representative, as you enter the terminal building. You will be assisted through immigration, helped with baggage collection and assisted to your onward arrangements.
Transfer
Private transfer from Cape Town airport to Cape Town hotel
Accommodation in Cape Town
Cape Town
Overview
A beautiful, contemporary style boutique hotel, Kensington Place is set on a hillside close to the Kloof Street area offering fabulous views across the city.
Decoration is very contemporary with a mixture of dark woods and bright linens; a sense of place is provided by the collection of Modern African art throughout the hotel. Despite the small size of the hotel, service is extremely good here with staff looking to take care of all the little details for you (as well as 24-hour room service).
Though close to Kloof Street, the hotel maintains a little distance, giving it a sense of calm and tranquility, with just eight rooms sharing a pleasant communal area and an outdoor pool.
→ Find out moreCape Town
Highlights
- Design by local artisans
- Holistic spa
- Two beautifully tiled pools
- Seasonal produce & local wines
- Private dining on request
Overview
This historic hotel in colourful Cape Town has just 19 rooms, offering an intimate escape from the neighbourhood’s buzzy streets. It’s all about local artisans here, with artworks, crafts and striking pieces of furniture that create a bold but beautiful maximalist aesthetic. Expect emerald greens and distinctive printed wallpapers, accented with gold trimmings.
The property is perfectly placed for exploring the restaurants and bars on popular Kloof Street, or for getting outdoors and atop Table Mountain, where views of the city are truly awe-inspiring. There’s plenty of pleasure to be found inside the hotel, too, though, with two prettily tiled swimming pools and a handful of loungers that invite you to laze around in the sun for at least a few hours.
Food here is served in Upper Union, where a carefully curated menu offers seasonal produce by way of small plates and larger dishes, and the cocktails are a highlight for locals and visitors alike.
→ Find out moreThe impact of your stay:
- Built in the early 1800s and declared a national monument in 1984, Cape Cadogan underwent a thoughtful restoration to become a stylish city hotel. Retaining the original features, it stands as an iconic symbol of Cape Town, serving as a reminder of the city’s history and cultural heritage.
- Revenue from Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel supports the More Community Foundation, with a strong emphasis on vital education in the local area. In the Cape Town region, they’ve funded the Injongo Educare Centre, catering to children from the Mfuleni area and providing an after-school care programme for children from neighbouring schools.
- With every stay, a sustainability levy is directed to the More Community Foundation, which aids in overseeing their sustainability initiatives. These efforts include the elimination of single-use plastics, the establishment of effective recycling systems, and the monthly generation of a sustainability report. This report captures all relevant data and serves as a workshop tool to continuously enhance their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint.
You will ascend Table Mountain by aerial cable car. The walk begins at the upper cable station and traverses the entire front table to Maclears Beacon – the highest point at 1087m. The walk returns via a different route providing a variety of vistas. On a clear day the views throughout are exquisite. The entire walk takes about two hours. Note: Routing of hike is dependent on the cable car being operational. If the cable car is not operational on the day, and depending on clients’ fitness levels, the walk would be adapted accordingly.
Enjoy a walk through the Bo-Kaap, traditionally home to the Cape Malay community, with its brightly coloured houses and cobbled streets.
Enjoy a stroll through the Company Gardens – a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town. It is the oldest garden in the country and has its origins in Jan van Riebeeck’s vegetable garden which he grew to feed the original colony as early as 1652.
Established in 1852, the museum has been adding to its collections for over 200 years and offers a diverse range of exhibitions, and gives visitors a better understanding of the earth and its biological and cultural diversity - both past and present.
Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. From 1678 it was the centre of civilian, administrative and military life at the Cape, until the settlement grew and some functions and activities moved away from the Castle. Today the Castle is the seat of the military in the Cape, and houses the Castle Military Museum and Iziko Museums of Cape Town (William Fehr Collection).
Your experience starts with a transfer to the little town of Klein Bay, close to Hermanus and Gansbaai. After a safety briefing, you board your shark-chaser, the Predator II, for the five-mile voyage to Dyer Island. The island, together with Geyser Rock nearby, is home to 40,000 Cape Fur Seals, the Great White Shark’s favourite prey, and the channel which runs between the two is known as Shark Alley. This is where you will anchor – using a specially mixed chum to attract the sharks and you will soon have the opportunity to see them feeding at the surface alongside the boat. The cage is then lowered and you will be able to witness these incredible hunters of the deep in your wetsuit, protected by galvanised steel mesh. All diving equipment is supplied and only snorkeling experience is required if you want to go down in the cage. A light lunch is served on the boat as well as refreshments and you will have the chance to see seals and whales in season as well as the sharks.
We will visit Boulders Beach for a visit to see African Penguins in their natural habitat. Next drive through the historical naval village of Simonstown and over yet another spectacular mountain pass; Boyes Drive, where you will take in views of the quaint fishing harbour at Kalk Bay as well as the seaside villages of St James and Muizenberg.
Explore the rocky coastline and unique Cape Fynbos vegetation which is home to unique bird-life such as African Black Oystercatchers and Cape Sugarbirds amongst others. Climb to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay, and stop at the south western most point of Africa - the fabled Cape of Good Hope.
The Cape of Good Hope functioned as something of a beacon for sailors for years and is still widely referred to as ‘The Cape’ by seafarers. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Cape Point Lighthouse and travel to the most South-Western point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope.
Leaving the suburbs of Cape Town the road winds through Hout Bay and up over Chapmans peak for truly stunning views of the coastline. If we're lucky we may even see Southern Right Whales in the waters off-shore from June-November.
Transfer
Private transfer to Cape Town airport
Flight
Flight from Cape Town to George airport
The Garden Route
Transfer
Private transfer from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn
Check in to charming Thorntree House hotel, where you will be very comfortable and well placed for making the most of the area's adventurous activities to be had.
Surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Swartberg, Outeniqua, Kammannassie and Gamkaberg ranges, each with their own fascinations, visitors to Oudtshoorn are spoilt for choice when it comes to getting a bit of excitement in nature.
You will find breathtaking waterfalls, rock pools to cool off in, cliffs to abseil down, limestone caves to crawl into, beautiful dams to paddle on and fantastic tracks for quad biking. You will hear the beautiful sounds of the fish eagle or the howl of a jackal.
You'll depart around 9am from your hotel and will head to the first activity which is caving at its extreme. Not for the faint-hearted, you will don headlamps and helmets as you scramble your way, all wet and dirty through the beautiful rock formations in the cave. You’ll break for lunch while you marvel at the majestic surrounds, before heading to the cliffs for your next activity which is abseiling down a 40m high cliff. Experience the exhilarating rush as your certified guide talks you through the descent. You'll return to your hotel in the late afternoon and the evening will be yours to relax and unwind after such a thrilling day.
Spend your days exploring one of the Africa's most scenic stretches of coastline, taking in the splendid indigenous forests, bays, beaches, lagoons and charming towns along the way. This part of the Western Cape is also home to a staggering ten nature and marine reserves. Some clients prefer the independence of their own hire vehicle whilst staying here (which we can arrange), or we can organise for private guides and vehicles to take you to the sights.
Today you will participate in one of the most electrifying experience that the Garden Route has to offer: bungee jumping off the highest bungee bridge in the world.
You’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to the beautiful Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve where you’ll come face your fears at the world's highest bungee bridge which spans the Bloukrans River as it flows into the sea. The views are magnificent and the atmosphere electric as you make your way along the suspended walkway to the jump deck. Face Adrenalin operates the highest quality standards in the industry and has been operating since 1993 when they first opened in Victoria Falls.
Transfer
Private transfer to George Airport
Flight
Flight from George airport to Durban
Flight
Charter flight from Durban to Phinda Reserve
Phinda Reserve
Accommodation in Phinda Reserve
Phinda
Overview
A delightful Mali-styled lodge of stone and adobe, Phinda’s Rock Lodge is poised on the edge of the valley for spectacular views of Leopard Rock.
Its six suites seem suspended over the wild valley below, and three of the rooms offer one of the most scenic shower experiences you’ll ever have, allowing you to gaze into the horizon or under the ever-bright African stars. Each en-suite private bungalow has been designed with solid wooden shutters opening out onto your own private viewing deck and plunge pool.
Rock lodge also has a central dining room and inviting lounge that takes full advantage of the bird’s eye view of the many animals below in the bushveld, not to mention prime position for some captivating African sunsets over the Lebombo Mountains. Sunrise is reserved for an outing up Leopards Rock, which should definitely inquire about.
→ Find out morePhinda
Overview
Wonderfully balanced on the mountainside of the ancient Ubombo hills, Phinda’s Mountain Lodge enjoys phenomenal views of Zululand bushveld amidst some stellar styling and design.
Centred around an al-fresco courtyard, its 25 split-level suites all have their own sitting area, spacious veranda with plunge pool and outdoor shower, all for a pleasing degree of seclusion. The style is a chic and modern one with traditional twists and throwbacks, which effectively play out the spectacular vistas and a warm feeling of exclusiveness.
Enjoy the company and stories of the other guests in the comfort of the communal lounge or in the light of its authentic outdoor boma (where this particular lodge is known to serve its incredible bush banquets).
The Mountain Lodge is the best place for families at Phinda, and all guests are greeted by a warm contingent of welcoming staff.
→ Find out morePhinda
Overview
Nestled in one of Phinda’s very special dry sand forests are 16 eco-sensitive, stilted suites. Fusing ethnic Zulu style and Zen concepts, each suite is a minimalist combination of glass, glossy wood floors, rich tactile fabrics and Zulu artwork.
Every suite has its own viewing deck for spying on the local wildlife or kicking back with a book.
The lodge also boasts a rim flow swimming pool to escape to in the heat and humidity of the day, whilst enjoying its panoramic views over the surrounding plains.
Along with cheetah, lion and leopard are tracked on the reserve on a daily basis and guests have a high likelihood of encountering these magnificent animals. Another success story at &Beyond Phinda is that of both the white and the more endangered black rhino. Brought back from the brink of extinction, both the grass easting white rhino and the shrub grazing black rhino are doing well at the reserve. While the white rhino favours water holes and wallows, the black rhino indulges its inquisitive nature in constant solitary rambles.
→ Find out moreArrival at the award winning Phinda Private Game Reserve : 22 000 hectares of pristine wilderness, situated in the lush Maputaland region of northern KwaZulu-Natal. This 'Big Five' reserve encompasses seven distinct habitats, including the rare dry sand forest, which is a preferred habitat of the leopard. The rocky hillside, wooded and floodplain landscape provides ever changing scenery and the chance to see the rarer species, such as the elusive cheetah or the scarce black rhino. Phinda has the highest concentration of privately owned Nyala antelope in the world and with only six remote lodges sharing the reserve, the game experience is personal and exclusive. The reserve offers one of Africa’s finest game viewing experiences and thrilling safari activities which include game drives, nature walks, riverboat cruises, canoe trips and White Rhino tracking.
One of the best features of Phinda is being close to the stunning KwaZulu Natal coastline, a beautiful setting for a half-day beach outing. Soak up the sun, splash in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, relax with a good book, enjoy a picnice lunch, play beach games, take leisurely walks along the shoreline or snorkel alongside Jesser Point, a protected marine reserve.
Transfer
Transfer from Phinda to Richard's Bay airport
Flight
Flight from Richard's Bay airport to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Transfer
Private transfer from Johannesburg airport to your hotel in the city
Accommodation in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Overview
A typically Western business-style hotel, the standard of service, on-site facilities not to mention the Intercontinental’s enviable position so close to the Johannesburg Tambo Airport makes it an excellent and convenient hotel for those on their way out or in to the country. In fact this is the most sophisticated hotel next to an airport in the whole of Africa.
The rooms are all soundproofed and smartly dressed with all the creature comforts that one expects from such a hotel.
→ Find out moreTransfer
Private transfer from hotel to Johannesburg airport
Flight
Flight from Johannesburg to Livingstone
Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Transfer
Private transfer from Livingstone airport to your hotel or lodge.
Accommodation in Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Overview
Set just a short walk away from the falls themselves on the banks of the Zambezi, one can admire the coil of steam and spray rising from the falls on the horizon.
The 173 rooms and suites are set in well manicured gardens along the banks of the river. This is one of just a few hotels from which the falls can be accessed on foot, making it ideal for those who want to be as close as possible. The hotel has been built in a colonial style, harking back to the days of it’s namesake, with grand dining and lounge areas as well as a large outdoor pool and riverside deck.
→ Find out moreThe mighty Victoria Falls rank as one of the most spectacular sites in all of Africa. As the mighty Zambezi river crashes over sheer cliffs onto the rocks below it sprays a cloud of water high into the air. Enjoy a variety of activities in this area (as well as the falls themselves). Speak to your travel designer to find out which suits the best for you.
You will be collected from your hotel to begin a full day of adrenalin pumping white water rafting through 21 rapids. This excursion includes lunch in the gorge, in between rapids, and you will return to Livingstone at about 5pm. The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union. Lower water levels are experienced from August to mid January and higher water levels are seen from mid January to the end of July. A thorough safety briefing takes place before the activity commences and you need to be reasonably fit for this activity in order to cope with the rigors of rafting, as well as the fairly steep walk into and out of the Batoka Gorge.
Livingstone island was opened in 1992 to provide exclusive and unique picnics on the edge of the Victoria Falls. It is a protected area that is only allowed a maximum of 16 people on at any one time. The utmost care is taken to protect and preserve the natural habitat of the area. Also the excursion is seasonal and can only be done when the water level of the Zambezi river is low enough to allow safe access to Livingstone Island. This is from approximately early July to early March. What’s more if the water levels permit, you can take a swim in the Devils swimming pool which an amazing and thrilling experience on the very precipitous edge of the falls!
Transfer
Transfer from your lodge or hotel to Livingstone airport
Flight
Flight from Livingstone to Johannesburg
We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.