5 reasons to visit
STUNNING SOUTH AFRICA

Our customizable South Africa itineraries combine cosmopolitan Cape Town, the untamed landscapes & wildlife of the Amakhala Game Reserve, lush vineyards & farmlands of the Winelands region, incredible cuisine and exceptional, off-the-beaten path hiking throughout.

From the mountaintop views, the wildlife on safari, the winelands and beaches, you’ll quickly fall in love with this region. 

1. GORGEOUS LANDSCAPES &
EXCEPTIONAL HIKING

South Africa offers incredible hiking and breathtaking mountaintop views. You'll walk through indigenous jungles, along winding pathways through fields of proteas and on trails that offer sweeping landscape views of Cape Town, Camps Bay, Signal Hill, Table Mountain and the whole Cape coastline. As you walk through Kirstenbosch Gardens, you’ll discover one of the loveliest places in all of Cape Town as you pass birds of paradise, wild gardenia and so much more. Making your way up Franschhoek Peak, you'll instantly be transported into an untouched, natural world where you'll likely only see a few other hikers as you pop out on the summit with jaw-droppingly beautiful views of the high peaks around and the lush vineyards below.

2. UNIQUE, INTIMATE SAFARI EXPERIENCE

The Amakhala Game Reserve is a beautiful, private, 18,000-acre game park located in the malaria-free Eastern Cape. Amakhala is home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo & leopard). There are also many giraffe, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest and a variety of wild dogs and antelope. Here, you'll have an intimate, exciting stay where the rangers are knowledgeable and respectful of the reserve. You'll be in a small group for your game drives each day and one of the best parts of this reserve is that you'll hardly see any other jeeps or people during your time on safari. Ending each day with a sundowner in hand as you watch the sun set over the remote African wilderness is a truly special experience.

3. INCREDIBLE FOOD & WINE

Our trips aren't just about the hiking. A huge part of all our itineraries include indulging in and tasting the local cuisine & wine - a vital part to any trip! Our South Africa trips are no exception. Cape Town is full of global food trends where you'll find a delicious mix of styles, flavors and techniques from French and Dutch to Indian. While on safari, you'll eat fabulous meals in between game drives and enjoy sundowners in the bush as well as a fully stocked bar back at the lodge. Franschhoek, located in the heart of the Winelands, is known as South Africa's gourmet capital and for good reason. A heaven for foodies, but not pretentious, it's some of the best food we've ever had anywhere in the world. The vineyards that surround Franschhoek are beautiful and we always recommend spending at least a day hopping from one winery to the next, sampling some of the best wine in the world.

4. HANDPICKED BOUTIQUE LODGING

Where you stay on any Pathways trip is more than where you sleep. We take care to select special, boutique accommodations that will allow you to have a unique experience and help you connect more deeply to the local culture and cuisine of the places you're visiting. For our South Africa itineraries, our hotels are all run and operated locally - like Kensington Place in Cape Town, La Clé in Franschhoek and Bukela Lodge in Amakhala Reserve.

5. CUSTOM ITINERARIES & HONEYMOONS

All of our itineraries are handcrafted & completely customizable to your preferred travel dates, budget, accommodation preferences and activity level. We’ll work with you to tailor your itinerary until it’s just right. On your trip, we'll provide you with everything you need to enjoy a local, authentic Pathways experience and the liberty to explore at your own pace.

ready to start planning a trip?

Customize your trip here and we’ll be in touch within one business day to start building your itinerary. When you’re ready, we look forward to helping you plan an amazing trip.