Africa + Indian Ocean

South Africa

Fantastic game-viewing, vibrant cities and some of the world’s best wineries…

Alongside its amazing natural splendour, South Africa offers great cultural richness, vibrant cities and world-class food and wine. It also has some of the most sophisticated and stylish lodges. Despite its popularity, the country has many unspoilt and uncrowded corners that we can open up for you.

Always a leader in conservation, South Africa is more focused than ever on the rehabilitation of its wildlife areas. The private concessions adjoining the Kruger National Park have some of the world’s best to offer in terms of both game-viewing and places to stay

In other areas the number of malaria-free parks is growing rapidly, enabling families with younger children to sample the delights of safari. For adventurers, the Karoo is little travelled, but a startlingly beautiful region, as are the Kalahari desert and the west coast.

Our favourite lodges and camps in South Africa tend to be small and owner-run, with the very best resident guides and set in the most awe-inspiring locations.

For the latest travel update on this destination, please contact us to speak to one of our experts.

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An online magazine by the experts at cazenove+loyd

Read our curated collection of travel notes and stories from our experts, clients and friends on the ground who will give you the inside track on our thrilling destinations.

Lessons from Londolozi

Written by Savannah Varty, Destination Expert

South Africa's Londolozi Game Reserve is an incredible place. cazenove+loyd's Savannah Varty shares with you a few stories about her childhood adventures there

Travelling with children in South Africa

Written by Laura Birtles, Executive Editor

South Africa is the perfect place for a family holiday over the festive season. With its fabulous wildlife reserves, craggy mountains and powdery beaches lapped by two oceans, this diverse country has so much to entertain every generation

Seeing the southern right whales in South Africa

Whilst visiting South Africa with Henrietta Loyd, Founder+Director of cazenove+loyd, we had the most wonderful experience while staying at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve seeing thee magnificent Southern Right Whales, many with their feeding calves.

What we look for in a luxury lodge, a tented camp and a mobile-safari expedition

The very best safari lodges and tented camps provide guests with a home away from home in a new and wild country. We have mapped out some of the things we look for in a luxury lodge, a tented camp and a mobile-safari expedition to demonstrate how we decide what is exactly right for you.

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Initial Conversation

Your Destination Expert will build a relationship with you and a nuanced understanding of what you want from your holiday.

Creating an Itinerary

Once we know you, we can match our years of specialist knowledge to you and begin designing your extraordinary trip.

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We will continue refining your itinerary adding in those special touches and leaving no stone unturned to make sure that every day is spectacular.

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From the moment you leave home, we will be on hand to ensure a totally seamless experience.

Map

Getting Around

For greater flexibility families may wish to self-drive in South Africa, taking in sunsets along the spectacular Garden Route.

Testimonials

Stories from South Africa

“We have just got back from a fabulous trip to South Africa organised by Claire and the team at cazenove+loyd, which proved to be both an easy and hugely rewarding experience. Starting with the basics of who we were (family of 4 with girls aged 12 and 10), why we were going to SA (lots of significant birthdays and family things this year so a special holiday to celebrate all of them), what we liked, or thought we would like (safari – we had been a lot and really wanted the girls to experience it for the first time – and for that to be a life memory. Horse riding for 3 of us, dolphins etc) and a balance of luxury and not astronomical cost. We considered a number of options and ended up with a fantastic trip that took in a wonderful safari (Kariega in the Eastern Cape), three nights at Hog Hollow Country Lodge, including a half day ride form the Hog Hollow Stables, one night in Swellendam at the amazing Scoone Oordt Country House (best lamb I have ever eaten!) and ending in Cape Town staying in a super cool apartment at the Waterfront. Everywhere we went we seemed to get the best – from landing at Jo'burg and being escorted to the Port Elizabeth flight, best lodges at Kariega and Thomas (brilliant ranger), treated like royalty at Hog Hollow (and pretty much everywhere else) and advice on pre-booking restaurants in Cape Town – The Codfather (a MUST) and the perfect Sunday lunch venue – The Roundhouse/Rumbullion. It all worked seamlessly and was everything we had hoped for – and more…”

Peter Day

“I can't begin to tell you what a FABULOUS holiday we have just returned from in South Africa. I will have to call to tell you all as it would turn into a book if I tried to write it all down on email. There is just so much to tell!! It really was just the best and you did everything to perfection. Our treat of a picnic was so thoughtful and we took it, with the twins, to Natures Valley and sat on the beach. So magical and special you have no idea.”

Sophie Whitehead

“I can’t think of anything we’d want to change or do differently. Except stay longer! It was just the right mix of adventure and packing a lot in for such an amazing opportunity while still having time to relax and not feel like we were too much ‘on the go’. Thank you so much! We hope to be in touch about another adventure soon.”

Molly O'Rourke

"The whole experience was humbling, emotional and totally unforgettable. It opened my eyes and my interest to South African politics and people. Thank you so very much - a life changing experience!"

Client

“What a lovely surprise to be upgraded and also find your kind gift in our room. Don't think we'll ever settle back to our routine lifestyle. La Residence was fabulous so great selection on your part. We loved every minute.”

Client

“Our guide, Craig was wonderful and so accommodating. We were not able to get up Table Mountain or out to Robben Island because of weather, though Craig certainly made up for it by arranging to have one of the Robben Island guides come and give us a personal lecture which made it so rich for all of us with details.”

Molly O'Rourke

Before I stepped foot on the enchanting Rovos Train in South Africa, I knew a trip led by Sir Nicholas Soames, MP, Winston Churchill’s grandson, which retraced Churchill’s Boer War experience, sounded like a trip of a lifetime. The talks, given on the train by his most gracious, hospitable and well-informed grandson, convinced all of us that Sir Nicholas had indeed inherited the gift of his oratorical skills and good humour peppered with personal anecdotes. But the highlight was the re-enactment of the Zulu War versus the British at Rorke’s Drift by Douglas Rattray, son of David Rattray. We were all brought to tears over hearing of the devasting battle, challenges and defeat at Rorke’s Drift all delivered like a John Malkovich performance. And that constitutes a trip of a lifetime. I am already inked in for whatever trips cazenove+loyd has on the horizon.

Angela Parlange

"I wanted to thank you for planning this amazing and moving trip for us! We loved Leeu House and all the people and wineries. Justin was a perfect guide and we totally recommend you use him again! The safari at Chitwa Chitwa was also perfection – the most wonderful experience! Cape Town was beautiful, especially our drives around the coast. The Dock House was also terrific."

Susie Maguire

Dear Claire, we are having the time of our life! Thanks for the Champagne and for setting up this beautiful vacation. Our friends are thrilled as well!

Wendy Frantz, client

I just wanted to let you know that this trip was everything we could have asked for and more. The lodges and guides were outstanding all the way through and we learnt so much and had a fabulous time. Our guide in Cape Town, Charlene, was especially outstanding and went way beyond the pale to show us the beauty and complexity of South Africa. We were very moved by our experience and overjoyed by our choice to travel through cazenove+loyd.

Wendy Frantz, client

We had a fantastic two weeks and your careful planning really paid off. The guides were excellent, and each day was full of surprises and enjoyable activities. As we are quite interested in politics and history, South Africa provided that in abundance, along with superb hotels, great natural beauty, exciting wild animals and wonderful wines. When friends ask if we would change any part of our itinerary, we tell them it was perfect. Many thanks for a job well done.

Client

PHOTO GALLERY

Our snapshots of South Africa

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