Cape Town, The Blue Train and Kruger National Park

Our holiday begins with a flight to Cape Town, South Africa's cosmopolitan capital.

Our flight lands and we transfer to our hotel on Cape Town's stunning waterfront. On the way, we take an orientation tour that introduces us to some of the city's most famous sights. Your evening is free to get settled in, or to set out and begin exploring at your own pace. One of the most vibrant destinations in Africa, Cape Town offers an enticing blend of unique history, culture and stunning scenery. Surrounded by gorgeous beaches and vineyards, perhaps the most famous sight here is Table Mountain, a towering mountain that watches over the bustling city.

We spend a full day today exploring the magnificent Cape of Good Hope, heading to Cape Point on the south-western tip of Africa. Here, we take the Flying Dutchman funicular railway to a lighthouse that sits at the top of the peninsula, admiring views across the Atlantic Ocean and the stunning Cape Peninsula coastline. After sitting down to lunch at a local restaurant, we travel along False Bay and through Simon's Town naval base to Boulders Beach, a pristine beach that's home to a colony of indigenous penguins.

We visit one of Africa's most famous sights today, taking a cable car up iconic Table Mountain to enjoy the incredible, panoramic views over the city and ocean beyond. We continue by taking a coach out of the city for an excursion that introduces us to one of South Africa's most famous exports, wine. We travel into the verdant countryside to two of the country's finest wine-producing areas, the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch Valleys. We sample some of the excellent local wines and are treated to a delicious 'boerebraai' lunch - an authentic social event that sees loved ones gather together to grill meat on an outdoor barbecue.

Today you're free to explore Cape Town further. The city is home to some gorgeous natural landmarks, incredible displays of street art, and brightly painted buildings along the waterfront. You could visit Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site which, along with Alcatraz, is possibly one of best-known prison islands in the world. Its notoriety largely centres around the fact that President Nelson Mandela and many of his colleagues were imprisoned here during the final years of the apartheid regime. The island now houses a fascinating museum detailing the struggle for democracy in South Africa.

You have some free time to explore Cape Town further today before we transfer to the station for our iconic journey on The Blue Train. A butler escorts you to your cabin and provides an orientation tour of the train as we begin our journey to Pretoria. The service on The Blue Train is impeccable, and we enjoy all meals and included drinks while on board, including afternoon tea, aperitifs and, after our lavish formal dinner of local cuisine accompanied by wine from the Cape Winelands, a selection of post-dinner drinks.

We arrive in Kimberley, the capital of South Africa's Northern Cape and a town that enjoyed a prosperous past thanks to the discovery of diamonds in the area. Here, we visit 'The Big Hole' 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'. Nowadays the mine is no longer in use, but there's a fascinating museum detailing the history of the site, which includes some preserved or restored period buildings from the early years of the rush. We re-board the train for dinner before continuing our journey.

After a delicious breakfast on board, we arrive in Pretoria, a city that's home to South Africa's government and Union Buildings. From here, we transfer to our hotel on the banks of the Sabie River, just 330 feet from the entrance to Kruger National Park and the perfect base for safari drives. Kruger National Park was founded in 1898 to create a protected area for wildlife, away from developers and poachers. Today, it's the largest National Park in South Africa, and one of the most famous safari parks in the world.

We enjoy a full-day game drive, the perfect opportunity to spot the iconic wildlife of Kruger National Park. We head out by Jeep with a local, skilled ranger, whose expert insights will allow us to visit the best locations to see the different species' and point out animals whose camouflage makes them almost impossible to spot. We start by tracking the big cats, still out from their night spent hunting. The park is also home to the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), all of which we hope to see. Returning to our hotel mid-afternoon, enjoy the rest of the day to relax.

Enjoy a second day discovering the incredible wildlife of Kruger on a game drive, hoping to see yet more of the famous 'Big Five'. There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Later, after returning to our hotel, you could unwind in the spa or by the swimming pool. Or, take advantage of the nature reserve by the hotel and enjoy some extra game viewing. A fascinating variety of bird life can be spotted, and bush walks can be organised by the hotel (payable locally).

Enjoy a free morning in Kruger, a great opportunity to enjoy the excellent facilities at our hotel. Later, we transfer to Johannesburg airport for our flight home.

We arrive back in the UK today, where your tour concludes.