South Africa

A ‘Mother City’ whose Table Mountain provides the perfect vantage point; a view from the top spans art-filled city streets, sublime beaches and the historic Robben Island. Yet with a multitude of choice, this matriarch knows that she’s got what she needs to keep surprising, making for enchanting fresh discoveries and a more considered pace in life.

A southernmost road trip that’ll tick any horticulturist’s boxes, this route earnt its name for a reason. Whether it’s the beautiful lagoons, rich forests, limestone cliffs or mountain ranges that are playing host to a plethora of adrenaline-filled activities, it's hard to imagine taking a reason for a breather. That is, of course, until the iconic Hermanus comes into sight; where whale pods go proudly spouting by.

Home to the traditional Zululand and the city of Durban with its more rural and sandy beach landscapes, this hidden gem is known for its softer side that meets adventure playground. At the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields, it’s where history is respectfully remembered, while the outdoors types seek mountain hikes and cycling adventures. And, because wildlife is never too far away, it’s a great spot for finding the Big 5 and some lesser-known marine biodiversity.

An epicurean’s delight lays nestled between dramatic mountain cliffs at the luscious green winelands of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. And whether it’s in sipping the signature pinotage or just settling down for a picnic, one thing's for sure: with views and gastronomic cuisine like this, the days will surely go rolling away.

The smallest of fingertips buzzing with anticipation. The wildest of imaginations turned into reality. Conjuring the image of a safari might be an easy task, but what makes the private game reserves at Sabi Sands and Madwike so special is the sheer intimacy of it all. The wildlife is close, and the feeling is homely; making the sighting of the Big 5 almost guaranteed.

You’ve never felt as remote as in Botswana, with its placid lagoons, eco-diverse island game reserve and the lunar-like salt flats of Makadikadi Basin.

Bright red shukas, the savannah’s most notable characters, and a landscape of flat plains that billow into hills, Kenya is archetypal Africa.

Unspoilt and uncrowded, Madagascar is the land of the ‘blue safari’ – where snorkelling, diving and sailing in the warm turquoise waters is only paused for a bit of lemur spotting.

Arabia’s mystical allure and Africa’s vibrancy converge in Morocco, refusing to give in to Western ways and instead delivering a splendid culture contrast that’s sure to stay rooted in traveller’s minds forever.  

A country still with some growing to do, these lesser-trodden coastlines that often act as an add-on to a South African safari are a rare find of authenticity-meets-blissfully-beachy break.

Ethereal expanses of dunes merge into wild, coastal wilderness in this sun-baked land, casting the spooky spell of the sands that’s all too exciting and easy to succumb to.

Untamed and mysterious, the sulky rainforests of Rwanda are a wildlife wonderland, where golden monkeys peak out from behind dense leaves, bushbuck scarper at the slightest of sounds and gorillas take over the mountains.

Tanzania is a Great Migration, the volcanic peaks watching over herds as they cross vast plains and indented craters, eyed intensely by the climbing lions from their treetop perches; but this book holds more than just its front cover.

There may be no need for the classic beige suit, but the boots are essential in this home of the iconic walking safari that encapsulates the memory of 70s treks gone by.

The archipelago of Zanzibar is somewhat of a wildcard, but with its bohemian vibe, mellow pace and decidedly quieter yet still sugar-white sands, it gives the Maldives a run for its money.

Bringing off-the-beaten-track safari experiences that’re just as active as its dramatic Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is no stranger to a thrilling escapade.