Cape Town, the Blue Train & Kruger National Park

Your vacation begins in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, where you meet the Tour Manager at our hotel, close to the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and overlooked by the magnificent Table Mountain. After settling in, this evening is free to begin exploring and dining independently. You may like to wander down to the Waterfront, which has a variety of eateries offering fresh seafood, traditional South African dishes and North Indian cuisine, with several restaurants overlooking the water. At night, the wharf is illuminated to create an atmospheric setting.

Cape Town is a cultural melting pot with a fascinating history that dates back thousands of years to the Khoi-San people, the first inhabitants of the Cape. In 1652, the Dutch established a settlement here and were later joined by Asians, followed by French Huguenots and then the British. Today, in addition to boasting this impressive history drawn from global influences, Cape Town is beloved for its scenery, wine, cuisine and culture.

 We enjoy a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula today, beginning after breakfast with a drive to the Cape of Good Hope, heading to Cape Point, at the continent's most southwestern tip. Here, we take the Flying Dutchman Funicular railway to just below the lighthouse at the top and marvel at panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, False Bay and the Cape Peninsula coastline.

We then travel along False Bay to Simon's Town, where we have lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time to look around. Our tour continues to Boulders Bay, a pristine beach home to a colony of African penguins. The penguins nest in the dunes and swim in the sea, often gathering in family groups to soak up the sun on the rocks. Wander along the boardwalk between the dunes to see these lovely creatures in their natural habitat.

Back at the hotel this evening, you may like to take a taxi to Bree Street, a popular dining destination in Cape Town, where you could enjoy fusion food, Cape Malay dishes, Mediterranean cuisine or Asian flavors.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 After breakfast, weather permitting, we visit one of South Africa's most familiar landmarks - Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain. We take a cable car to the top of this remarkably flat-topped mountain, enjoying panoramic city views on the way up. With plenty of free time at the top to soak up this unique environment, you can follow trails among beautiful Cape 'fynbos', which includes varieties of coral-hued proteas, and spot animals such as the rock rabbit ('dassie' in Afrikaans) or the Table Mountain ghost frog. There is also a café and coffee shop for refreshments.

After descending the mountain, a coach takes us out of the city and into the stunning mountain landscapes of the Cape winelands. Our destination is one of the country's most famous wine-producing areas, the beautiful Stellenbosch Valley. We pause our route at a traditional Cape Dutch farmhouse and wine estate for a typical South African 'braai' (barbecue) lunch and then end our afternoon with a wine-tasting experience.

Upon returning to the hotel, the evening is yours to relax or continue exploring the Waterfront.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Today, you are free to explore Cape Town further. You may like to visit the brightly-painted Bo-Kaap neighborhood, the historic Cape Malay quarter. Alternatively, you could take the ferry to Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site where President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The island now houses a museum detailing the struggle for democracy in South Africa.

Nature lovers can enjoy Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, one of the world's seven most magnificent botanic gardens. Extending across the southeast slopes of Table Mountain, this spectacular nature reserve has several trails and a fabulous Tree Canopy Walk.

The nearby V&A Waterfront has many shops, an arts and craft market and the National Maritime Museum. It is also possible to take a short cruise around the harbor to see the city sights or sail further out into Table Bay towards Cape Town's Green Point. As for dining out, you are spoilt for choice in Cape Town.

• Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast in Cape Town, we transfer to the station for our iconic journey to Pretoria on the Blue Train. As we board the train, a butler escorts you to your private cabin and provides an orientation tour as we begin our two-day journey. Once you have settled in to your five-star accommodation - which has a private ensuite bathroom, plush furnishings and a picture window - you may like to relax in one of the luxurious lounges before we take our seats for a light lunch.

The service and standard of dining on the train is impeccable, and all our meals and drinks are included on board. Enjoy afternoon tea and aperitifs, and after a lavish formal dinner of local cuisine and a selection of wines from the Cape Winelands, there is a selection of post-dinner drinks.

High tea is served in the Lounge Car at 4pm, and the Blue Train offers two dining sittings each evening: one at 6.30 and another at 8pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is served onboard this morning, and there are two sittings for lunch. Soon after lunch, The Blue Train arrives in Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape and a town with a prosperous past due to the discovery of diamonds in the area.

After disembarking, we take a short coach ride to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum. The hill where diamonds were first found quickly disappeared under the pressure of over-mining, and the resulting space became known as the 'Big Hole'. This open basin is now so large that it can be seen from space and is 215 meters (705 feet) deep. An enclosed ramp allows us to view the Big Hole. Although the mine is no longer in use, there is a museum detailing the history of the site, which includes preserved and restored buildings from the early years of the diamond rush.

We re-board our luxurious train before the second dinner of our trip, and then we continue our journey through South Africa's vast and open landscapes.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Lounge in pure luxury aboard the train today as our route through South Africa continues to unfold as we near our destination. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and choose your preferred lunch sitting for our last meal aboard the train. You can relax in one of the lounges, watching the passing views from the large picture windows and relishing the First Class service before our rail journey comes to an end this afternoon.

The Blue Train pulls in to the administrative capital of South Africa, Pretoria, early this evening. This handsome city has streets lined with Jacaranda trees and is a hub for art, culture and cuisine. Pretoria is also where South Africa's government and presidential offices are based, operating in the historic Union Buildings.

A coach transfer takes us from the station to our city center hotel, where we sit down to dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 We have an early breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing Pretoria by coach. Our route today takes us into the wilderness once more as we make our way to our luxury lodge-style hotel on the banks of the Sabie river at the entrance to the Kruger National Park. The largest park in South Africa and one of the world's most famous, Kruger National Park is home to all the 'Big Five' animals: the lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros.

The rest of the day is free to settle in among the attractive surroundings, maybe making the most of the swimming pool. There is also a viewing deck where you might like to relax while getting your first look at the wildlife that makes its home around us. This evening, we are greeted with a welcome drink before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Today, we enjoy a full day of wildlife viewing, heading out by Jeep after an early breakfast, accompanied by a local, skilled ranger. Our guide's expertise allows us to visit the best locations to see different animals and helps us to identify those whose camouflage makes them difficult to spot.

We start by tracking the big cats, still out from their night hunting. We also keep an eye out for other species, including the 'Big Five'. We take a break from our safari with a picnic lunch and then continue driving into this wild, open bushland, where each day brings unpredictable but wondrous sights.

Returning to our hotel late this afternoon, there's time to freshen up before dinner at our lodge this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Another day of fantastic wildlife and wild African scenery lies ahead as we enjoy a second full-day safari in Kruger. Our wildlife drive brings another chance to spot the 'Big Five' in their natural habitat, as well as many other species, large and small. A skilled ranger leads the way, once again aiding with his expertise.

As the safari unfolds, look out for colorful birds perched in trees, beside water or flying across the sky. Kruger's plant life is also fascinating, with an array of trees, plants and flowers decorating the semi-arid terrain. We enjoy a picnic lunch again today before continuing our Jeep journey through the wildlife reserve.

Our safari concludes this later afternoon, at which time we return to Kruger Park Lodge for the final dinner of our African holiday evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 This South African adventure has featured beautiful scenery and stunning wildlife. Starting in Cape Town, we explored mountains, beaches and wineries and met its most adorable inhabitants, penguins. Our holiday then took us across South Africa in ultimate luxury on The Blue Train and to Kruger National Park, where two days on safari gave us the opportunity to see the animals for which Africa is most famous.

There is time to relax after breakfast, surrounded by the sights and sounds of Kruger National Park. Enjoy your last chance to watch for animals at the waterside from the hotel's viewing deck, and to wonder at the diversity of Africa's wildlife. Later this morning, we set off back to Johannesburg by coach. The landscapes change and gradually become more urban along our route - especially as we approach Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo airport, where your vacation ends and you are free to catch your flight home.

• Breakfast