Floreal House

Cape Town: 3 Nights

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is consistently voted amongst the top cities in the world to visit and it is no surprise that this wonderful city is one of the highlights of a holiday to South Africa. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers.

One of the main tourist attractions is the tastefully restored V&A Waterfront with its many shops, bars and restaurants. There is also an aquarium and one of the largest craft markets in Southern Africa. Boats offer tours of the harbour from the quayside and the whole place is always buzzing with life and activity. The City Bowl is home to many museums and historical buildings which can all be viewed from a 'topless' hop on/hop off tourist bus, complete with interesting commentary as you ride around the city.

The adventurous can climb up (or abseil down) Table Mountain, windsurf or kitesurf at Bloubergstrand Beach, dive in shark tanks, or do any one of a dozen more adrenalin pumping activities. For a more relaxed pace of life, there are miles of sandy beaches for soaking up the African sun, or enjoy a quiet stroll through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Floreal House boasts sweeping views of Table Mountain, the Harbour and Table Bay. Dating back to the 1920s, the guest house is exceptionally stylish with an impressive white exterior and attractive wooden-framed windows looking out on views in all directions.

The rooms are extremely well-appointed. Each room has a television and a mini bar. A sumptuous, full English breakfast is served every morning in the dining room or around the pool in the garden.

Guests can relax around the swimming pool in the peaceful garden after a day of exploring the City and surrounding areas and staff are on hand at all times to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. There is a wide range of excellent restaurants nearby and transfers to and from these establishments can be arranged.

La Fontaine

The Cape Winelands: 2 Nights

Just an hour's drive from Cape Town and situated in the peaceful Franschhoek Valley, La Fontaine is just a short stroll away from the main village centre of Franschhoek.

With its friendly small village atmosphere, Franschhoek has a number of delightful art and design shops, as well as the Huguenot Museum or the famous Franschhoek Motor Museum. The village is also home to many award-winning restaurants.

The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a totally unique and leisurely way to visit the vineyards and wine estates of the Franschhoek Valley, or the guest house also has bicycles for hire should you wish to explore by pedal power. Private wineland tours taking in not only a selection of the finest wines but also rolling vineyards and quaint Dutch homesteads can be arranged (on request and at an additional cost).

If rest is what you need, stay in and enjoy the tranquil gardens and swimming pools that stretch over 2 properties. The outdoor breakfast patio and front veranda under their vine and wisteria pergolas boast views of the surrounding mountains and tranquil settings.

There are 17 large rooms and suites to choose from, all decorated with individual themes and character.

The Mountain View Suites have a fully equipped bathroom with a large bathtub and separate shower. The larger of these 2 suites also has its own wood burning fireplace. The Luxury Suites have light bathrooms and a seating area for extra comfort.

The Luxury Rooms offer the same standard of luxury decoration but with a slightly smaller footprint. The Deluxe Rooms are the smallest room type but still retain their own charm and elegance.

Abalone Guest Lodge

Hermanus: 2 Nights

Located on the south coast and within a 2 hour drive of Cape Town, Hermanus and Gansbaai are amongst the world's leading destinations for both land-based and boat-based whale watching. From June to December each year, whales can be seen as close as 20m from the shore and can come right up to the side of the whale watching boats.

With excellent accommodation options, fine restaurants and a glorious coastline in addition to the attraction of getting within a few metres of some of the largest animals ever to have lived on this planet, this is a place that every visitor to South Africa should try to see.

Hermanus is a pretty town and the local 'Whale Crier' walks the streets during the whaling season, informing visitors when the whales are present with a blast on his kelp horn. At the Old Harbour Museum, an underwater microphone transmits the whale songs and calls into the museum hall for everyone to hear. Don't miss Bientang's Cave restaurant, where you can watch whales less than 100m away whilst eating an excellent seafood lunch. Other good vantage points are from the Old Harbour wall or the cliff path.

Gansbaai, 50 km from Hermanus, is the starting point for more boat-based whale watching, as well as cage diving with great white sharks, as well as trips to the Dyer Island seal colony.

Abalone Guest Lodge is an unusually artistic and unique guesthouse situated midway between the town centre and the beautiful white beaches of Hermanus. Each en-suite bedroom is individually appointed with original South African art and decor, and has a TV, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Delicious English breakfasts are served on the front terrace or by the poolside. Dinner can be arranged by appointment, or there are many good restaurants within easy walking distance.

Periwinkle Lodge

Plettenberg Bay: 3 Nights

Originally called Baia Formosa, or Beautiful Bay, by the early Portuguese, Plettenberg Bay is home to some of the best beaches along the Garden Route. Set around a curving horseshoe bay, schools of playful dolphins and resident Orca and Bryde's whales are often seen and between July and December the migratory Southern Right whales come to the bay to calf.

The small town is filled with restaurants, galleries, studios and interesting craft shops. With its exceptional climate and beautiful view sites over the Indian Ocean, Plettenberg Bay is perfect for tourists interested in exploring, whale and dolphin watching or just relaxing.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy mountain biking, horse riding, hiking trails, golf, diving, excellent salt and fresh water fishing - even skydiving!

The nearby Robberg Nature Reserve is situated on a rugged coastal peninsula with sweeping views of the bay, as well as superb whale and dolphin watching, excellent birding, hiking trails and the Nelson Bay Cave - an archaeological site with evidence of human habitation that stretches back for more than 120 thousand years.

Periwinkle Guest Lodge is a beachfront guest house offering panoramic views where you can watch the whales and dolphins frolicking in the waves whilst enjoying a scrumptious breakfast.

All the rooms are individually decorated in bright, happy colours which reflect the surrounding sea and mountains.

Six of the 7 rooms have private balconies where guests can enjoy the view from the Robberg Peninsula to the right and the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the left. All rooms have TVs, direct dial telephones, tea/coffee making facilities and bar fridges.

Amakhala Safari Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve: 3 Nights

Amakhala Safari Lodge is hidden in a valley in the indigenous bushveld of the 8,500 hectare Big 5 Amakhala Game Reserve, just 40 minutes drive from Port Elizabeth. This beautifully designed lodge offers all the style and romance of a top safari lodge along with excellent game viewing and outstanding food and warm hospitality.

The reserve is divided into 2 by the N2 highway, and morning and evening game drives by experienced rangers traverse through both sections in search of lion, rhino, lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, black wildebeest, zebra, and over 16 antelope species.

African tribal design has inspired the creation of this intimate thatched lodge, which is reflected in the fine African beadwork and handcrafted designs that are evident throughout the main guest areas.

During the day, relax in the main lounge area of the lodge, and watch monkeys come to play around the waterhole, and antelope and zebra join them to quench their thirst. In the evening the haunting sound of the kudu horn will summon you to the fireside, to share tales of your days adventure and to enjoy award winning South African wines and local cuisine under a magnificent canopy of stars. The resident chef will treat you with gastronomic delights presented with African flair to end off the perfect day.

The 11 stylish air-conditioned suites with tented fronts all open out onto your private deck with its own plunge pool. The rooms also have a small separate lounge area.

You can soak away the heat in a luxurious double bath with the sights and sounds of nature, or splash off the dust in a double outdoor shower. Coupled with the large beds draped with mosquito nets, this lodge is a favourite for honeymooners and the romantic at heart.

The lodge also offers a range of relaxing treatments by a qualified beauty therapist, trained to pamper and soothe their clients in the privacy of your suite.