Where Two Oceans Meet the Wild
From Table Mountain's ancient summit to malaria-free Big Five safaris, world-class winelands and the Marine Big Five — Africa's most versatile destination.
Fully private, unhurried and all-inclusive — from a three-day taste of the Mother City to the seven-day Cape & Big Five combination. Every journey is crafted entirely around you.
Seven days of Mother City glamour and Big Five thrills
Five days of vineyards, mountains and Atlantic splendour
Four days of Cape Town's greatest icons
Three unhurried days in the Mother City
Sail across Table Bay to the island where Nelson Mandela spent eighteen of his twenty-seven years in prison. Every tour is guided by a former political prisoner whose first-hand testimony you will never forget — our most requested Cape Town experience, and one that sells out far in advance.
Return catamaran ferry across Table Bay and a guided prison tour led by a former political prisoner.
A half-day crossing to the UNESCO island with an expert-guided walk through the maximum-security prison.
Two Cape icons in one unforgettable day — the island prison and the summit of Table Mountain.
The island, District Six Museum, Zeitz MOCAA and Bo-Kaap — a full private day of the Cape's living history.
Cape Town is the jewel of the African continent — a city where dramatic natural beauty meets rich cultural heritage, world-class cuisine and extraordinary wildlife. Backed by the iconic Table Mountain (a New 7 Wonder of Nature), wrapped by two oceans and surrounded by the Cape Winelands, Cape Town offers the most diverse travel experience in Africa. What many travellers don't know: malaria-free Big Five safaris are just two hours away at Aquila and Sanbona reserves. Add the Marine Big Five (whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins) and you have a destination that combines bush, beach, wine and wilderness in a single journey. Cape Town is the perfect bookend to a Kruger or Sabi Sands safari.
One city, a hundred journeys — a mountain that is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, a malaria-free Big Five within easy reach, two oceans and the world's most celebrated winelands. Here is what earns Cape Town its place at the top of every list.
Boulders Beach colony in Simon's Town
Hermanus/Walker Bay, June–November
False Bay and Gansbaai, year-round
Hout Bay and Duiker Island colonies
False Bay pods, year-round
Aquila (2hr) & Sanbona (3hr) — malaria-free
UNESCO World Heritage — 9,000+ plant species
Cape Peninsula troops
Including African penguin and Cape sugarbird
Where the Cape story begins. Four private, unhurried safaris — malaria-free Big Five within two hours of the city, a safari of the sea, and two of the Western Cape's most storied luxury reserves. Each one crafted entirely around you.
A full-day malaria-free Big Five game drive just 2 hours from Cape Town. Open-vehicle safari with expert rangers, plus horseback and quad-bike options. See all Big Five before dinner — perfect for travellers with limited time.
Trade the Big Five on land for the Big Five at sea. Whale watching in Hermanus, shark cage diving in Gansbaai, seal snorkelling at Duiker Island and dolphin cruises in False Bay — Africa's most unique safari experience.
A 2–3 night luxury safari at Sanbona's Dwyka Tented Lodge in the Little Karoo. Malaria-free Big Five, ancient San rock art (130+ sites dating back 3,500 years) and vast Karoo starscapes. Where ancient human history meets Africa's greatest wildlife.
Luxury eco-lodge in the heart of the UNESCO Cape Floral Kingdom. Botanical safaris through 9,000+ plant species, Marine Big Five excursions, horse riding and conservation through the Grootbos Foundation. The only place where a UNESCO plant kingdom meets the ocean.
A mountain in the sea, a cableway to the clouds, and a peninsula that ends where two oceans collide. This is the Cape at its most iconic — Table Mountain, Cape Point, Chapman's Peak and the penguins of Boulders, all on one unforgettable coastline.
Twenty minutes from the city, the mountains open into a valley of Cape Dutch estates, oak-lined avenues and some of the finest cellars on earth. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Durbanville — tasted slowly, over a long vineyard lunch, exactly as they should be.
Cape Town isn't only about the bush. Along this coast live two of the ocean's most spellbinding giants — the great white shark and the southern right whale. We call them the Cape's Marine Big Five, and meeting them is every bit as unforgettable as a game drive.
The Cape wears its history openly — the fortress of Robben Island, the colour of the Bo-Kaap, the botanical splendour of Kirstenbosch, the rhythm of a township kitchen. These are the stories that give the Mother City her soul.
The greatest secret of the Cape: you can be on a malaria-free Big Five game drive within two hours of your hotel. Add the Cape by helicopter, a two-day highlights journey, or a family day built entirely around your children — the grand finale to any Cape Town stay.
Every tour below we produced ourselves: a cinematic preview film shot on location and George's own narration to walk you through the day. All are live, verified experiences you can book in a few taps — swipe through and find your Cape Town.
Looking for more Cape Town day tours? Visit Gray Line South Africa — our sister company — for our full catalog of instant-book Cape Town experiences, from half-day city highlights to full-day peninsula adventures. Over 40 tours, live availability, and instant confirmation.
Browse Gray Line South AfricaThe great white shark. The southern right whale. The dolphin, the Cape fur seal and the African penguin. Cape Town is the only city on the planet where you can meet all five in a single coastline — a safari of the sea to rival any game drive on land.
For couples seeking something truly special, Cape Town & Western Cape pairs unforgettable shared experiences with intimate lodges and quiet, golden moments away from the crowds.
Curated private tour of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl — the world's most beautiful wine region.
Trade the Big Five on land for the Big Five at sea.
Cable car or hike to Table Mountain's summit, then a full-day Cape Peninsula drive: Chapman's Peak, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach penguins and Kirstenbosch Gardens.
A 2–3 night luxury safari at Sanbona's Dwyka Tented Lodge in the Little Karoo.
The Mother City is the ideal start or finish to a great African journey. Fly north to the Big Five, east along the coast, or on to the Falls — we'll weave it into one seamless itinerary.
Drive east along the coast for forests, lagoons and Africa's prettiest road trip.
Fly up for a bush finale — the classic mountain-city-and-safari combination.
Pair the Cape's beauty with world-class Big Five viewing in a private reserve.
Add the falls en route to a wider Southern Africa journey.
Cape Town & Western Cape stands apart — here's how it compares to other cities.
Warm and dry with beach weather, outdoor activities, long days
20–30°C, sunnyPleasant weather, wine harvest season, quieter, excellent photography light
15–25°C, mildCool and rainy but peak whale watching, cosy wine tastings, lowest rates
8–18°C, rainyWildflowers bloom, warming up, whale season ending, fynbos flowering
12–22°C, warmingThe practical details that make a real difference — gathered from years of crafting private Cape journeys for our guests.
The famous 'Cape Doctor' southeaster blows hardest Nov–Feb afternoons. Book Table Mountain and boat trips for calm mornings.
The Table Mountain cableway closes in high wind or cloud. Go on the first clear morning of your stay rather than saving it for last.
Cape Point, the winelands and coastal drives are easiest self-driving. Roads are excellent; remember South Africa drives on the left.
Weather turns quickly — sun, wind and a cool sea breeze in one day. A light jacket is useful even in summer.
Peak summer is Dec–Feb (warm, busy, book early). Winter (Jun–Aug) is green, quiet and great value, with the odd rainy day.
Cards are accepted almost universally and tipping is customary — around 10–15% in restaurants, a little for car guards and porters.
Direct flights from Johannesburg (2 hours), Europe and Middle East. Flights to Kruger/Sabi Sands approximately 2 hours (CPT to SKZ/MQP).
From an Edwardian art house above the Atlantic to a tented lodge in a private Karoo reserve — the finest addresses of the Cape, held for you by our concierge.
Cape Town's most exclusive address — a private art gallery, world-class wine cellar and Atlantic panoramas in an Edwardian masterpiece
Perched on the cliffs of Bantry Bay, this Relais & Châteaux jewel feels like the private mansion of a well-travelled art collector — because it is. One of South Africa's most important art collections lines the walls, a glass-fronted cellar cradles a thousand Cape vintages, and the infinity terrace spills toward an Atlantic horizon. Barely a dozen suites, a butler for each, and not a single crowd in sight.
Travel + Leisure World's Best, Condé Nast Gold ListFromR 11,895per person, per night
Urban luxury at Africa's most iconic waterfront — Nobu, spa island and Table Mountain in one address
The Mother City's most glamorous address, moored on its own island at the V&A Waterfront with Table Mountain filling the window. Nobu and Reuben's put two of the country's finest kitchens under one roof, the spa floats on its own private island, and the marina rooms open onto still water at dawn. Urban luxury with the whole city — restaurants, galleries, the harbour — a short stroll away.
Leading Hotel of the World, World Travel AwardsFromR 7,961per person, per night
Big Five in a malaria-free Karoo wonderland — ancient rock art and star-filled skies included
Three hours from Cape Town, tucked into a horseshoe of ancient Karoo cliffs, nine glass-and-canvas tents deliver Big Five safari without a malaria pill in sight. Track free-roaming white lions, trace 3,500-year-old San rock art, and watch the Milky Way blaze over the semi-desert from your private deck. A wild, cinematic counterpoint to the coast — and an easy add-on to any Cape stay.
Leading luxury lodge in Western Cape safariFromR 10,706per person, per night
Africa's most meaningful eco-luxury — your stay directly funds conservation of 800+ plant species
Above Walker Bay near Gansbaai, glass suites hover in a 1,000-year-old milkwood forest where 800-plus fynbos species bloom underfoot. It is arguably Africa's most meaningful eco-luxury — every night directly funds the conservation and community work that made Grootbos world-famous. Whale watching, marine Big Five and flower safaris lie on the doorstep of a lodge with a conscience.
World Travel Awards Leading Green HotelFromR 7,961per person, per night
Where ancient human art meets world-class wellness — 130 rock art sites in a mountain wilderness
A Relais & Châteaux wilderness reserve in the rugged Cederberg, three hours north of the city, where 130 ancient San rock-art sites hide among sandstone koppies. Days drift between spring-fed rock pools, a world-class spa, star-bathing and slow game drives past Cape mountain zebra. No Big Five here — just deep silence, restorative wellness and a landscape that resets the soul.
Condé Nast Gold List, Relais & Châteaux, World's Best SpaFromR 10,431per person, per night
Big Five on Cape Town's doorstep — the accessible safari proving you don't need a week in the bush
Two hours from the city on the edge of the Karoo, Aquila proves you needn't surrender a week to meet the Big Five. Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard roam a vast malaria-free reserve, reachable as a day escape or an overnight in a chalet with a private plunge pool. The accessible safari — ideal when the honeymoon is short on days but big on wish list.
TripAdvisor Certificate of ExcellenceFromR 3,935per person, per night
From Table Mountain's ancient summit to malaria-free Big Five safaris, world-class winelands and the Marine Big Five — Africa's most versatile destination.
perfect for families and short itineraries
the only place to see whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins in one trip
with Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl on your doorstep
a New 7 Wonder of Nature with 360° views of two oceans
Every journey is privately guided, fully bonded and backed by our 4.9/5 rating from more than 200,000 guests since 2008 — with a dedicated concierge from first enquiry to final farewell.
Yes! Aquila Private Game Reserve (2 hours from Cape Town) and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (3 hours) both offer malaria-free Big Five safaris. Aquila offers full-day trips, while Sanbona provides a luxury overnight experience. Both are excellent for families and travellers with limited time.
Cape Town's tourist areas are generally very safe, especially the V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Constantia and the Winelands. As with any major city, exercise standard precautions: don't flash valuables, use reputable transport and stay in well-known areas. Private guided tours offer the safest and most enriching experience.
Cape Town's summer (November to March) offers warm, dry weather perfect for beaches, Table Mountain and outdoor activities. Winter (June–August) brings rain but is peak whale watching season with lower rates. Autumn (April–May) offers pleasant weather and the wine harvest. Each season has unique appeal.
The classic combination is 3–4 days in Cape Town followed by 3–5 days in Kruger or Sabi Sands, connected by a 2-hour flight. This 'bush and beach' itinerary is South Africa's most popular and allows you to experience both the Mother City's culture and Africa's greatest wildlife.
The Marine Big Five are unique to the Cape Town coastline: Southern Right Whales (peak June–November), Great White Sharks (year-round), Bottlenose Dolphins (year-round), Cape Fur Seals (Hout Bay/Duiker Island) and African Penguins (Boulders Beach). No other destination offers all five marine species.
Yes, Cape Town and the entire Western Cape are completely malaria-free. This makes it an excellent safari destination for families with young children and travellers who prefer to avoid antimalarial medication. The nearby Aquila and Sanbona reserves are also malaria-free.
Stellenbosch (45 min), Franschhoek (1 hour) and Paarl (45 min) form the Cape Winelands — one of the world's most beautiful wine regions. Famous for Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Méthode Cap Classique, with gourmet restaurants ranked among Africa's finest. The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a must-do experience.
A minimum of 3–4 days allows you to experience Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and a safari day trip. For a comprehensive experience including whale watching, Hermanus, a multi-day safari and deeper exploration, 5–7 days is ideal.
A luxury Cape Town honeymoon typically combines: 2–3 nights at Ellerman House or One&Only (city luxury), a private Winelands day, a Cape Peninsula tour, 2 nights at Sanbona or Grootbos (luxury safari), and optionally 3 nights in Sabi Sands for the ultimate bush-and-beach romance.
Absolutely! Hermanus (1.5 hours from Cape Town) is the whale watching capital of the world. Southern Right Whales visit Walker Bay from June to November (peak August–October). Boat trips from R1,200 per person, or watch from the famous cliff paths for free. Cape Town harbour also offers seasonal sightings.
Tell us how you love to travel and we'll shape a private Cape Town experience around you — every entrance fee, every transfer, every detail taken care of. One dedicated concierge, start to finish.
Cape Town is where most journeys begin — Table Mountain, two oceans, the winelands just beyond. But it is only the opening scene. Let Trevor Noah introduce the whole country that surrounds it.
Official South African Tourism campaign · featuring Trevor Noah