Cape Town is a true fan favorite, with its exciting Mediterranean vibe, amazing culinary scene, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, thriving art community, and successful sports teams – all set to the backdrop of iconic Table Mountain and the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is no wonder it is called The Mother City. This vibrant, trendy city has broad appeal. Local attractions include Table Mountain, Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, boutique shops, numerous museums, wineries, and world famous restaurants. For those venturing beyond the city, the Cape Winelands and Cape Peninsula are a day trip away.
Cape Town’s rich cultural heritage dates back more than 300 years and its diversity is evident in the city’s architecture, art, and food. It is the second most populous city in South Africa and sits at the southwest tip of Africa.
Abbey Manor nestles on the slopes of Table Mountain in the upmarket and tranquil suburb of Oranjezicht, overlooking the splendor of Cape Town. Built more than a hundred years ago, Abbey Manor imparts an immediate feeling of grandeur and old-world charm as you enter our world of sumptuous rooms and dramatic views. The outstanding location and pleasant ambience of Abbey Manor makes it ideal for both tourists and business visitors.
Escape to the inviting garden and pool area providing an appealing and peaceful retreat. The large solar heated pool is perfect for guests who enjoy a swim as part of their workout. Alternatively soak up the rays and relax beside the pool in loungers with a good book and a drink.
The lounge offers guests a collection of books from around the world plus magazines. Just sit back and unwind with relaxing music to soothe your senses. A fully-stocked honesty bar serves as an invitation to socialise over some Cap Classique or from a wide selection of local wines.
The rooftop terrace is the ideal place to sit and enjoy sensational views of sun-kissed Table Mountain, or across the harbour to the Atlantic Ocean.
Luxury Room
Each of the luxury rooms is unique and different from the next. The interiors are a mixture of original elements and contemporary touches creating tranquil and romantic spaces. All rooms offer inspiring views to the surrounding mountains or the city.
Explore the Cape Peninsula. The Cape Peninsula is a complete contrast to the more cosmopolitan city. With its wild national parks, artistic bohemian seaside villages and working fishing harbours this day will be about embracing the locals and spending as much time out of the vehicle as possible. Our first stop is for Cape Town’s coolest coffee spot at Muizenberg’s Surfers Corner the epicentre of South Africa’s surf culture. We head to Simon’s Town to find our own rogue penguins on a local beach. Snorkel and stand-up paddle in sheltered coves, getting a unique perspective of the penguins (weather permitting).
After visiting Cape Point, we’ll venture deeper into the Peninsula to explore secluded wild beaches, lesser-known coves, rock pools and shipwreck hiking trails away from the tourist crowds. This part of the Table Mountain National Park is home to ostrich, baboons, tortoises and mountain zebra. Our return journey along the Atlantic side is a story of amazing views, hidden local cafes and watering holes full of character. We stop en-route for a sundowner at a local hang-out, wrapping up our day out.
Please note: During your morning brief your guide may advise changing the route of your tour to allow for us to beat any pending crowds into certain areas during peak seasons, so that we can spend maximum time exploring outside the vehicle.
Explore quirky Cape Town. This is the grittier, real Cape Town. Edgy, artsy and bursting with culinary flavour and creativity. We don’t call Cape Town the ‘Mother City’ just because it is the highlight of SA. When you come into contact with some of our mesmerizing locals who take their skill set to outta-this-world levels of expertise and resourcefulness, you may well come to believe that “mother city” is code for “mother ship”. Our first point is the top of the mountain, the cable car spreading the city out before our eyes as we rise above the rest of the world.
Cape Town’s inner-city streets are a treasure trove of fashion and jewellery boutiques, studios, quirky home décor, atmospheric pubs, craft beers and concept stores. We’ll touch on some of the city’s lesser known historical facts, shipwreck stories and possibly meet a few of the captivating characters behind the roasteries, distilleries and workshops.
Craft beer and gin tasting at a local distillery or brewery, caps a well-rounded day!
Chobe National Park is located in northern Botswana in easy driving distance to Kasane and Victoria Falls. Chobe is Botswana’s first designated national park and, at over 11,700 km2 (4,500 mi2), is one of the largest. The greater Chobe area consists of the Chobe River, Savute, and Linyanti, which combined is home to Africa’s largest elephant population. There is a rich variety of landscapes in addition to the famed riverfront including vast floodplains, woodlands, grasslands, and clay pans which can be enjoyed by boating safaris and game drives.
Perched on the edge of a rocky ridge overlooking the famous Chobe River, presenting a unique design, Chobe Elephant Camp has been built to take advantage of the incredible views overlooking the sweeping floodplains while offering a comfortable refuge from the harsh African conditions.
Built from the same red Kalahari sands that dominate the northern part of Botswana, this eco-friendly lodge is ideally positioned to take advantage of everything this incredible destination has to offer. Be it the spectacular wildlife that the Chobe River is famous for, or the opportunity to interact with the local Sibuya Tribe who live within this wildlife haven, Chobe Elephant Camp offers its guests a true African adventure.
Providing a simultaneously rustic and stylish feel, Chobe Elephant Camp was designed to minimise its carbon footprint, providing a genuinely eco-friendly gateway to the surrounding natural wonders.
The lodge boasts a large open-plan main area featuring a cosy arrangement of couches along with a bar, dining area and reading corner and opens up onto an inviting boma area.
From the main area, a small pathway leads down to the swimming pool with a viewing deck onto a private waterhole.
The rooms
With 12 rooms, Chobe Elephant Camp can comfortably accommodate 24 guests. All rooms are en-suite with both indoor and outdoor showers.
Chobe Elephant Camp has been designed to capture the feel of the traditional Farmstead located in the African wilderness. Polished floors, exposed wooden beams and weathered furniture capture the feel of rustic charm. Mix this with some contemporary style and the lodge has a unique feel of old meets new and offers guests something different and unique.
At Chobe Elephant Camp you will conduct all your activities with local professional guides. These trained professionals will help you to interpret the sounds, smells and sights of the bush and its inhabitants, as well as expose you to the culture of the local people and how they live in this wilderness.
With a variety of activities that include viewing the regions spectacular wildlife from open safari vehicles, by canoeing along the Chobe floodplain or by boat on the Chobe River, along with visits to the nearby village to get introduced to the local culture, Chobe Elephant Camp offers a wide range of experiences to its guests.
The town of Victoria Falls lies on the southern banks of the Zambezi River at the western edge of the falls that it is named after. After David Livingstone set his eyes on the “smoke that thunders” in 1855, the settlement was later developed in 1901 when the possibility of using the waterfall for hydro-electric power was explored, and expanded when the railway from Bulawayo reached the town shortly before the Victoria Falls Bridge was opened in April 1905, connecting Southern Rhodesia (later Rhodesia; now Zimbabwe) to Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia).
Vic Falls, as it is affectionately abbreviated to, is known as the adventure capital of Africa, with any number of outdoor and adventure activities to choose from. As well as world-class white water rafting, there is one of the world’s highest bungee jumps, skydiving, swing slides, helicopter rides and more.
Although the town is small, it has a vibrant feel to it with lots of craft shops, pop up craft breweries and cafes, and relies heavily on tourism.
Victoria Falls National Park
Victoria Falls National Park is a tiny piece of protected land surrounding Victoria Falls, one of the world’s three great waterfalls. Situated in western Zimbabwe in the town of Victoria Falls, the views are incredible and you can follow a path right along the edge of the gorge. The mighty Zambezi creates a roar and a huge spray of mist that can be seen from many miles away. The falls are also known as Mosi-oa- Tunya, an incredibly descriptive name that captures the essence of this very special place so well – translating to the “Smoke that Thunders.”
As a result of the spray from the falls, a mini rainforest exists in the surrounding area, creating a wildlife hotspot. Species such as lion and leopard occasionally come through while sightings of elephants are more common. Above the falls, hippo and crocodiles abound, amongst a large array of wildlife – an added bonus to a visit to this World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Ilala Lodge Hotel is a family-run hotel that offers luxury and comfort in the heart of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Nestled in attractive gardens, the well-appointed hotel is a mere eight minute walk from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Ilala Lodge Hotel is ideally located and it is very easy for guests to access all the historical sites, restaurants and activities available in Victoria Falls. The friendly and attentive staff of this welcoming hotel makes sure that guests’ visits are perfect in every way.
The award-winning Palm Restaurant at Ilala Lodge Hotel is famous for its delicious gourmet cuisine and attracts guests worldwide. Diners can see the spray and hear the sounds of Victoria Falls, locally known as the “Smoke That Thunders,” while they enjoy the al-fresco dining under the starry African skies that the Palm Restaurant offers. Wild animals, such as warthog and impala, often graze on the hotel lawns and entertain guests during mealtime.
Standard Room
The Twin Standard Rooms are complete with two comfortable ¾ beds set within an expansive space, and an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower. The Double Standard Rooms are ideal for couples, as they have one cosy king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower.
Located on the Zimbabwean side of the mighty Zambezi River, Ilala Lodge Hotel is geographically the closest hotel to the magnificent Victoria Falls and is easily accessible to the town centre. Explore the lush wilderness surrounding the town on a game drive, surf the rapids on a Zambezi River white-water rafting expedition, bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge, or view the Falls from the exhilarating angle of Devil’s Pools on the edge of the plunging water.
Guests can also enjoy a legendary Zimbabwean sunset from the comfort of the elegant Ra-Ikane river cruisers, part of the Ilala Lodge Hotel group.
Hwange National Park is situated in western Zimbabwe and is the country’s premier game reserve. With easy road and flight access from both Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, the reserve is extremely popular with both local and international tourists. Hwange is renowned for its huge elephant and buffalo herds, sable and other rare antelope as well as an excellent concentration of large predators including lion, leopard, wild dog, hyena, and cheetah. Birders will find plenty to keep them busy with over 400 species of birds recorded and the park is especially known for its spectacular sunsets.
At almost three million acres, Hwange is a huge wilderness area open to Botswana on its western side, allowing wildlife to traverse across countries and making it extremely valuable for the conservation of large mammals like elephant, lion, and buffalo.
Situated on a private concession on the Eastern boundary of Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe’s premier National Park and home to abundant wildlife, flora and fauna. The Hide features stunning views across a natural waterhole. Hwange was once the royal hunting ground of Ndebele kings and has long been known for its abundant and diverse wildlife.
In particular, the park is known for herds of elephant and buffalo numbering in the hundreds. This is one of the best places to see lion, leopard, and African wild dog among the hundred or so other mammal and four hundred bird species. The Hide is passionate about nature; they have built on their superb location and extensive knowledge of the park with the best expert guides so that guests can experience the true wilderness and wildlife Hwange has to offer.
Tom’s Little Hide – Exclusive Use House
The bedrooms are each individually decorated and furnished with solid Zimbabwean teak furniture. All the rooms are mosquito-proofed and have fans for warmer days. Rooms 1 and 2, both double en suite bedrooms, form the main part of Tom’s Little Hide and can also accommodate one child in each on a roomy day bed. The bedrooms are linked by a dining room and outside veranda, complete with sparkling splash pool. Room 3 is more of a family tent with an outside bathroom and inter-leading children’s room, which can accommodate two children. Altogether, up to 10 guests – 6 adults and 4 children – can stay at Tom’s Little Hide.
Since The Hide is on its own private concession, a 5 km square area in Zimbabwe’s largest national park, the range of activities offered is extensive. Go walking in the bush with a guide, where guests will discover it’s less about the Big Five and more about making a personal connection. Drive at night after an unwinding sundowner and experience wild nocturnal activity which guets don’t typically get the chance to see elsewhere. Enjoy a sleep out at The Dove’s Nest, and of course, explore the waterhole hides, a photographer’s dream.
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