South Africa is a varied country, boasting wide open savannas and barreling coastlines. The only way to experience the best that South Africa has to offer, is to do a bush and beach pairing Kruger to Cape Town holiday. We’ve sourced – and visited – properties that we think make the perfect marriage of beach and bush. Each “couple” is perfectly matched within in its price category, and there’s a thread of similarity that weaves through the pairings.
Click here for Beach and Bush PackagesAffordable Kruger to Cape Town
Africa on Foot in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
Africa on Foot is located in the big five Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and shares borders with the Timbavati and Kruger National Park. This is a modern, yet rustic camp that constantly receives 5 star feedback. Mornings start with a 3 hour bush walk and evenings end of with a game drive. There are 5 chalets centered around a bar and safari dining area. There are two pools in camp, one of which is adjacent to the adventurous sleep-out treehouse.
Africa on Foot guides are experts in their field, and this little camp is a sought after safari option for those wanting a camp with personality.
Cape Heritage Hotel in Cape Town’s CBD
Cape Town’s small, historical hotel is a delightful and re-energising place to stay. The hotel is actually an integral part of the restored Heritage Square, which dates back to the 18th Century. The central courtyard is protected by a twisty grapevine canopy and is hugged by an array of restaurants. There are only 7 room types, but each is decorated with a theme in mind. From the Karoo theme to the Mountain themed room, the decor is warm and eclectic. The vibe? Expect hidden corners adorned with leather couches, deep bold colour walls, crackling fires and a charming atmosphere.
Why is this the perfect pairing? Africa on Foot rests on a family-owned farm and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. There’s plenty of history associated with the property. The Cape Heritage Hotel is history personified and has a similar intimate and friendly atmosphere. Both are iconic accommodation options, and make for the perfect “historical” beach and bush experience.
Luxury Kruger to Cape Town
Tanda Tula Safari Camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
This luxury camp strikes the perfect balance between laid-back charm and classic sophistication. Located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Tanda Tula Safari Camp is most certainly perfectly placed for a big five safari.
There are 12 light and breezy canvas tents grace the banks of the Nlharalumi Riverbed, surrounded by riparian vegetation. Canvas tents have been carefully built on wooden balconies and have a delightfully romantic atmosphere. Wooden decks with chairs provide an ideal nook for relaxation.
Expansive areas house en suite bathrooms, and decor is light pine with local artworks adorning the canvas walls. Hovering above the tents is a canopy of trees providing much needed shade during the sizzling summer months.
Tanda Tula offers special sundowners, honeymoon set-ups, game drives and more. The main area includes a pool with a view, boma area for safari dining, and bar area. Garden dining and traditional dancing are just a few of the added extras at tantalizing Tanda Tula.
Cape Grace Hotel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
The Cape Grace Hotel is located in an inimitable picturesque setting on a private quay in a yacht marina at the VA Waterfront. Stark white yachts sail smoothly into the quay to dock, gliding through the calm waters fringing this 5 star hotel. Not only is the Cape Grace of a superior standard of luxury, but the hospitality is warm and completely unpretentious.
There are 120 guest rooms and suites, each with a unique story. Decor is a mixture ocean hues of blue, sunset reds, rich golds and emerald greens; the Cape Grace certainly embodies the colours of Cape Town’s coast, skyline and fynbos. Each of the elegant hideaways have deluxe amenities and personalised touches.
A favourite haunt of guests and non-guests is the Bascule Bar, a cosy and sophisticated waterside bar with an extensive whisky menu and eclectic cocktail list. Comfy leather chairs, warm interiors and lounge areas make for the perfect place for informal meetings and catch-ups.
A wellness area with healing massages, the Signal restaurant with fine dining inspiration and a fully-equipped meeting space makes for the perfect business and leisure hotel.
The location is safe and secure, and at night the Waterfront shops and restaurants come alive with activity.
Why is this the perfect pairing? Both of these accommodation options are romantic, plush, simple and effortlessly elegant. One overlooks a riverbed and the other a harbour. Both have an elite sense of luxury, BUT offer a sort of homegrown local friendliness that makes each place a sought after destination.
Premier Kruger to Cape Town
Singita Lodges
The Singita brand is synonymous with premier luxury, and there are a host of lodges dotted throughout private reserves in the Greater Kruger. Each of the 5 star lodges understands the needs of its discerning guests. Everything is understated at Singita and the focus here is on the finer things in life. Only premium wines and alcohol is served, and food is – arguably – of Masterchef quality.
Decor is of a striking colour palette, while architecture is a constant reinvention of modern vs simple “bush” style design. Exquisite artworks from world-renown artists adorn the walls, while bold pops of color appear in each suite. Rooms give the impression of being a mini villa, each equipped with unique furnishings such as stone fireplaces, heated splash pools and spacious verandas that double as viewing decks.
Singita’s astounding and coveted architecture is only surpassed by its raw surrounds, and heavy presence of big game. An absolute highlight of a safari to Africa.
Ellerman House
Ellerman House Hotel rooms also ooze a villa style atmosphere, and the hotel is so off-the-grid in terms of flying under the radar, that it’s only really spoken about in wealthy circles. Perfectly perched on the mountain slopes overlooking the prestigious Atlantic Coast, Ellerman House really is Cape Town’s pot of gold. Roger Federer and Trevor Noah recently selected Ellerman House as their go-to destination of choice while in Cape Town. It’s a celeb hideaway, fit for the elite.
There are 13 rooms and suites, circling palm-fringed manicured lawns with a swimming pool as the focal point. The travel desk can arrange bespoke experiences, while at the Ellerman House guests are rewarded with a consistent flow of things to do from spa treatments to viewings of the private art collection and opulent dining.
Why is this the perfect pairing?
Both Ellerman and Singita recognize and celebrate the finer things in life, that include everything from fine dining to premium alcohol and a sense of exclusivity for discerning guests. Singita and Ellerman provide the perfect pairing for celebrities.
