Destinations

South Africa and beyond.

The places we plan trips to most, with honest notes on when to go and what to know. If yours isn't listed, ask: we plan trips worldwide.

Camps Bay shops at golden hour beneath the Twelve Apostles, Cape Town

South Africa

Kruger National Park

Big Five safaris in one of Africa’s great parks, a short flight or a long drive from Pretoria.

  • Guided morning and sunset game drives
  • Self-drive safaris between national park rest camps
  • Lodges in private reserves bordering the park, such as the Sabi Sand and Timbavati

When to go: May to September (the dry winter) is best for game viewing, as animals gather at water and the bush is thinner.

South Africa

Cape Town & the Cape Peninsula

Table Mountain, Atlantic beaches, Cape Point and the Winelands within an hour of each other.

  • Table Mountain by cableway or on foot
  • Chapman's Peak Drive and Cape Point
  • Boulders Beach penguin colony

When to go: November to March for warm, dry beach weather; April and May for quieter, milder days.

Zimbabwe & Zambia

Victoria Falls

The Smoke that Thunders: one of the world’s largest waterfalls, under two hours’ flight from Johannesburg.

  • Walking the rainforest trail along the falls
  • Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
  • Helicopter flight over the falls

When to go: March to May brings the most water, with huge spray that can hide the view.

Tanzania

Zanzibar

Spice-island history in Stone Town and white beaches on the Indian Ocean.

  • Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Spice farm tours
  • Nungwi and Kendwa beaches in the north

When to go: June to October and December to February are the drier seasons.

Indonesia

Bali

Temples, rice terraces, surf beaches and great-value villas.

  • Ubud and the Tegallalang rice terraces
  • Uluwatu Temple and its sunset Kecak dance
  • Tanah Lot sea temple

When to go: April to October is the dry season.

Cuba

Havana

Colonial squares, classic cars, live music and Caribbean sea air.

  • Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • A drive in a classic 1950s car along the Malecón
  • Live son and salsa music in the old town

When to go: November to April is dry and warm.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

Skyline views, desert safaris, souks and beaches, about eight hours from Johannesburg.

  • Burj Khalifa observation decks and the Dubai Fountain
  • Desert safari with dune driving and a camp dinner
  • Old Dubai: Al Fahidi, the souks and an abra ride across the Creek

When to go: November to March is warm and pleasant.

France

Paris

Museums, cafés, the Seine and the Eiffel Tower, plus easy trains to the rest of Europe.

  • Eiffel Tower and a Seine river cruise
  • The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay
  • Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur

When to go: April to June and September to October bring mild weather and thinner crowds.

Italy

Rome

Ancient ruins, the Vatican, piazzas and some of the best food in Europe.

  • The Colosseum and Roman Forum
  • Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica
  • The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

When to go: April to June and September to October are warm without peak-summer crowds.

South Africa

Pretoria & Gauteng

Our home province: heritage, business travel and an easy gateway to the rest of Africa.

  • The Union Buildings and their gardens
  • Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument
  • Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill in Johannesburg

When to go: All year.

Africa & Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean island escapes

Mauritius, Zanzibar, the Seychelles and Mozambique — short flights from Johannesburg to warm water.

  • Mauritius: resorts for families and couples, many with all-inclusive options
  • Zanzibar: Stone Town history and east-coast beaches
  • Seychelles: island-hopping and granite-boulder coves

When to go: Varies by island.

Americas

Mexico & the Caribbean

Cruise ports, Mayan heritage, tequila country and Caribbean beaches.

  • Western Caribbean cruises with private-island stops
  • Mayan sites and craft markets on the Yucatán Peninsula
  • Tequila distilleries and museums in Jalisco

When to go: December to April is the dry season.

Also planned on request

Tell us where you're thinking of going and we'll put together flights, stays and transfers for it.