Welcome to Cape Town. Your private Luxury Escapes tour starts on arrival at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). You’ll be guided by a local representative to a private car that will transfer you to your five-star hotel located in the city’s beating heart, surrounded by rugged peaks.
Step inside a world of timeless glamour at Taj Cape Town. Inhabiting a marble stone building, that once homed the South African Reserve Bank, this hotel exudes Art Deco elegance. Spend the evening at your own leisure: you may choose to feast on Indian cuisine under the grand chandelier of Bombay Brasserie, sample wood-fired delights at Mint Restaurant or sip on a premium cocktail at Taj Lobby Bar & Lounge before heading into the dazzling city streets.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) at any time. Airport transfers are included on the first day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. Check-in on Day 1 is from 3pm.
After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel’s lobby at 7.30am for an 8am departure as you enjoy a private guided tour of Cape Town. Resting at the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, nestled between the slopes of Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is a global destination for good reason.
Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere or extraordinary architecture, while others boast a breathtaking landscape and spectacular natural wonders. Cape Town is lucky enough to be blessed with all of the above and so much more. With your private guide, you’ll discover Cape Town’s many local and historical sites.
Learn about the rich history, culture and architecture of Cape Town as you walk through the peaceful Company’s Garden and visit the Castle of Good Hope, Grand Parade and City Hall. Finally, marvel at the colourful houses and cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, and end your morning with a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views of the city (weather dependent). The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore this fascinating city on your own.
Please note: Table Mountain visit is weather dependent. Table Mountain is closed to visitors between July – August 2026 for annual maintenance.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before meeting your guide in the hotel’s foyer for a private transfer to Cape Town Station. Here you’ll board Rovos Rail in time for a 9.30am departure.
The ultimate in luxury rail travel, Rovos Rail has been operating since 1989 and gives you a unique and ultra-glamorous way to experience some of southern Africa’s magnificent landscapes and landmarks. Look out your window to marvel at the ever-changing landscapes, as the train climbs more than 750 metres along the escarpment, and then indulge in world-class cuisine onboard for a formal dinner.
Suite Upgrades available on request: For heightened luxury aboard your opulent hotel on the rails, request a spacious Deluxe Suite, complete with a private lounge area, or a decadent Royal Suite, boasting a half-carriage of sophistication, including a Victorian bath and separate shower.
Rovos Rail journey
After breakfast, you’ll disembark for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village of Matjiesfontein – a remote, quaint town dotted with Victorian-era buildings amid barren highlands.
Explore the museum of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel. After your short stop, you’ll rejoin the train and travel through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. In the afternoon, enjoy high tea in the lounge car before dressing for a formal dinner.
Rovos Rail journey
Gaze out the window in the morning and rise for a delicious breakfast on board before arriving at Kimberley Railway Station, where you will disembark for an off-train excursion at this historic town. Enjoy a tour of The Kimberley Mine Museum followed by a visit to the Big Hole, an open pit and underground mine believed to be the largest hole in the world excavated by hand. Look down into its deep, jade-hued water and learn about the Kimberley’s long diamond-mining history. Then, return to the train for lunch as the journey continues towards Pretoria.
The rest of the day is at your leisure – sit back, relax and watch the passing scenery from the privacy of your cabin. In the afternoon, enjoy high tea in the lounge car before dinner hosted aboard.
Rovos Rail journey
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast, time at leisure and lunch aboard before arriving at Pretoria Railway Station mid-afternoon, where you will be met and transferred by private car to your luxury hotel, located in one of Johannesburg’s most stylish neighbourhoods.
An elegant villa hotel, Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa sits on perfectly manicured grounds that were once part of a private estate. In summer, you can enjoy al fresco meals overlooking the large pool, lush lawns and majestic trees. In winter, you can curl up next to the roaring fireplaces. Be sure to indulge in the Balinese-style spa with its outdoor hydro areas (at additional cost). Located just minutes from the centre of Jo’burg city life, this high-end stay is the ultimate resting place before your onward adventure into the African bush.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 45 minutes
Rovos Rail journey
This morning, you are transferred by private car to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) for a flight to Skukuza Airport (SZK). Skukuza acts as the gateway to the famous Sabi Sands Game Reserve — one of the premier parks that make up Greater Kruger, an area of protected land to the west of Kruger National Park.
Your home for the next three nights is the incredible Dulini — three beautiful lodges of bespoke character nestled on the stunning banks of the Sand and Mabrak River. All three properties, Dulini Moya, Dulini Leadwood and Dulini River, are within close proximity of one another and offer unparalleled wildlife viewing. It is not uncommon to spot elephants, leopards and other Big Five game animals frequenting the trails through and beyond the camp. Enjoy the views from your intimate suite – all equipped with private plunge pools and interiors that epitomise romance, with canopies of mosquito nets and beautiful bathrooms.
Exquisite dining and an unmatched wine cellar, together with the best guides in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, make your experience at Dulini one for the books.
Enjoy a sumptuous lunch before embarking on your first game drive this afternoon in search of the Big Five. From the comfort of your luxuriously appointed vehicle, you will have the perfect vantage point to experience the very best that the Sabi Sands Game Reserve has to offer.
End this magical day with a special sundowner experience in the African bush. Watch the sunset over the expansive plains before returning to camp for a lavish dinner.
All-inclusive, private Dulini Lodge stay
Over the next two days, be prepared to experience exceptional game-viewing under the guidance of experts. Game drives are led by professional and passionate rangers and trackers who have a wealth of knowledge to unravel the intricate nuances of the African bush. Many grew up in the area, and thus, their knowledge of the environment is unrivalled. 10,000 hectares of pristine wilderness are traversed in the comfort of six-seat open land rovers.
With the teeming biodiversity of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the skilled interpretation of bush signs by astute Shangaan trackers, no two game drives are ever the same. Trackers and rangers partner together to look for fresh animal tracks and sensitively follow elusive animals into ravines and through the thicket to ensure a vivid and exhilarating wildlife encounter.
The Dulini day begins at dawn. An early morning game drive ensures you catch the tail end of the night exploits of nocturnal creatures. This essential two- to three-hour safari experience ends in a lavish breakfast back at camp. The option of daily bush walks is also on offer, highlighting the aspects of nature you may miss on a drive and exposing you to the energy and excitement of being immersed in the striking surrounding environment.
An extended period of relaxation in the tranquillity of the Dulini setting allows you to share bush tales, record memories in your safari journal, indulge in chef-concocted culinary temptations or simply unwind as you please.
The excitement of the safari begins again after tea, when the intensity of the African heat begins to subside. This game drive coincides with the close of business for the daytime game and the emerging routines of nocturnal beasts on the prowl. The excitement of each drive is broken up with refreshment breaks to accommodate any call of the wild and revitalise you with a sundowner cocktail.
All-inclusive, private Dulini Lodge stay
After your final morning game drive, enjoy breakfast before you are transferred to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) for your flight to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) or Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) – both gateways to the magnificent Victoria Falls, one of the original natural wonders of the world.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your luxury hotel. Overlooking the majestic Victoria Falls, The Victoria Falls Hotel is a five-star haven with hints of European influences felt in the deep verandas, generous spaces and cool courtyards.
Late this afternoon, you’ll enjoy a striking sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River. Sip on your favourite sundowner as you relax and enjoy the riverine vegetation and exciting wildlife, including unique birds, hippos and the occasional crocodile. In the drier months, wildlife such as elephants and many antelope species can be seen grazing on the riverbanks or swimming across to the smaller islands.
Today, enjoy a tour of Victoria Falls, one of the original Seven Natural Wonders of the World. David Livingstone was the first European to visit the Falls and named it after Queen Victoria. To the locals, it is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ – an accurate description of what happens when the waters of the Zambezi River plunge over the 1,700-metre-wide and 100-metre-deep chasm, creating a shower of spray and deafening noise.
Your private guide will take you on an exploration of the Zimbabwean side of the falls, the best vantage point of the booming cascade, where 70–80% of the water can be seen. Along the way, you’ll learn about the unique flora and fauna that inhabit this rainforest region.
A highlight of the day is an included scenic helicopter flight, known as the ‘Flight of Angels’, that allows you to see Victoria Falls from an entirely unique perspective. Within seconds of take-off, the helicopter’s bubble-shaped windows frame the most spectacular scenery of the Zambezi River. Continue on an unforgettable 13-minute flight over this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon to get a better perspective of its sheer size and beauty.
Back on the ground, this afternoon is at your leisure to relax in the beautiful hotel grounds or embark on further explorations.
Scenic 13-minute helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) for your onwards journey.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 10am. Please book your flights to depart from Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) at any time. Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.