Cape Town, the Blue Train & Kruger National Park

Your holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers for a direct overnight flight to Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city and legislative capital.

Cosmopolitan 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.

Touching down in Cape Town this morning, we are met by a coach driver and transferred to our hotel in the city's heart.

Enroute, our driver points out some of Cape Town's main sights, briefly introducing us to the city that will be our home for the next four nights. Our hotel is close to the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and overlooked by the magnificent Table Mountain.

After checking in, the rest of the day 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.

A full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula begins after breakfast as we are driven to the Cape of Good Hope and 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 at nearby Boulders Bay, a pristine beach home to a colony of African penguins. These characterful creatures 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 Africa's only native penguins in their natural habitat.

Back at the hotel, you could visit Bree Street, one of Cape Town's most popular dining destinations, where you could enjoy fusion food, Cape Malay dishes, Mediterranean cuisine or Asian flavours.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we visit one of South Africa's most familiar landmarks (weather permitting). Taking a cable car to the top of the remarkably flat-topped Table Mountain, we enjoy 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 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, savouring highly acclaimed varieties.

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 neighbourhood, 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 harbour 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 this cosmopolitan city.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Cape Town before we transfer to the station for our iconic journey on the Blue Train. As we board this legendary train, a butler escorts you to your private cabin and provides an orientation tour ahead of a two-day journey.

Your accommodation includes a private ensuite bathroom, plush furnishings and a picture window. After settling in, 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 of our meals and drinks are included on board. Enjoy afternoon tea and aperitifs, before a lavish formal dinner of local cuisine and a selection of wines from the Cape Winelands. In the evening, unwind in the Club Car with 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 6.30pm and another at 8pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is served onboard this morning, and there are two sittings for lunch. Soon afterwards, the Blue Train arrives in Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape and a town with a prosperous past as a centre for diamond mining.

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 705 feet (215 metres) deep. An enclosed ramp allows us to view the chasm and, 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 reboard our train before the second dinner of our trip, and continue our journey through South Africa's vast and open landscapes.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lounge in elegance aboard the train today as our route through South Africa continues to unfold enroute to our destination. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and choose your preferred lunch sitting for our final 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 into Pretoria early this evening. This city has streets lined with Jacaranda trees and is a hub for art, culture and cuisine - and it's 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 hotel in the modern Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, where we sit down to dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have an early breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing Sandton by coach.

Our route today takes us into the wilderness once more as we make our way to our luxury lodge-style hotel 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: 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

Savour a full day in the incredible wilderness of Kruger National Park as we head out by jeep after an early breakfast. Accompanied by a local, skilled ranger, their 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 spent hunting, while keeping an eye out for other species, including the Big Five. Taking a break from our safari, we enjoy a picnic lunch then continue driving into this wild land where each day brings unpredictable but wondrous sights. The grassy plains of this open savannah are home to a dazzling array of animals, including cheetah, impala, hyena and African wild dog.

Returning to our hotel late this afternoon, enjoy some 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 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 we seek iconic animals and lesser-known ones such as genets, civets, warthogs and monkeys.

As the safari unfolds, keep your eyes peeled for colourful birds perched in trees 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 national park.

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

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There's time to relax after breakfast this morning and soak up the sights and sounds of Kruger National Park that surround us. Enjoy an excellent opportunity to look out for animals at the waterside from the hotel's viewing deck, getting your final glimpses at the diversity of Africa's wildlife. You might also like to head out into the property's lush gardens or enjoy the upscale facilities.

Later, 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 OR Tambo airport, where we board our direct overnight flight home.

• Breakfast

This unique journey has been a true South African adventure, showcasing the country's beautiful scenery and unbelievable wildlife. In Cape Town, we explored its mountains, beaches and wineries - and met its most adorable inhabitants, the penguins of Boulders Bay. Travelling in elegance aboard the iconic Blue Train, we journeyed across South Africa before spending two days on safari in Kruger National Park, seeking out the majestic animals for which Africa is most famous.

Your holiday concludes this morning as our plane lands at London Heathrow, and you can make your way home.