Luxury Holidays to exotic destinations with Thomas Cook Signature

South Africa

This inspirational country is also one of Africa's most beautiful - from the spear-tipped mountains in the Drakensberg to the lush green vineyards of the Western Cape, from Durban's golden beaches to the endless blue skies of the Kruger. South Africa really is the Rainbow Nation and has everything you need for the perfect African adventure. With so much to choose from it can be difficult to decide where to go and how to put your holiday together, so we have made some recommendations below to help you tailor-make the perfect South African holiday experience.

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South Africa is home to some of the world's most vibrant and beautiful cities. From the sprawling city of Cape Town nestled in the foothills of the majestic Table Mountain, to historic Johannesburg, home to Nelson Mandela and the township of Soweto.

Cape Town is Africa's answer for a sophisticated city break: elegant hotels, spectacular location, fine dining and a host of attractions can be combined with days on the beach or by the pool, or even hiking in the Table Mountain National Park. Visit the historic Bo-Kaap Museum, one of Cape Town's oldest houses in the Muslim area, built in 1763 or head to City Hall where you can see the spot that Nelson Mandela made his first speech as a free man in 1990. For panoramic views of this fascinating city, take the cable car ride up Table Mountain where the incomparable vistas from the top make for the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

South Africa's largest city makes a great stop over en route to the excitement of a safari nearby or the laid-back chill of a beach resort. Johannesburg is now a modern, vibrant city but to get beneath the skin of the town, visit its museums to get an evocative insight into the recent past. The Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill (once the city prison in which Nelson Mandela was held for a time) are particularly poignant spots, while Museum Africa delves further into life in the historic gold mines. Stay at the Protea Fire & Ice! (4◊) located in the exclusive Melrose Arch development which boasts a variety of trendy retail and leisure amenities. Close to the South African Museum of Military History, Hyde Park Corner and the Sandton Convention Centre, its a great base from which to explore the city.

durban

Durban offers the perfect combination of city break with golden sandy beaches. If you base yourself here, you'll be able to explore the colonial heart of the city, including the fascinating Natural Science Museum, and the brilliant Ushaka Marine World, encompassing a water park, an aquarium and the wonderful Phantom Ship. As the country's largest port, the are plenty of excellent restaurants serving seafood, Portuguese food, Indian and other international cuisines.

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From the imposing Drakensburg Mountains in the south to the historic battlefields of the central region to a sighting of white rhino on a reserve, KwaZulu Natal has a wealth of attractions, making it one of South Africa's most popular destinations.

While in Cape Town take the Walk to Freedom Tour which starts at the District Six Museum, from here, visit Langa, the oldest apartheid housing scheme in the Western Cape townships, and stroll around Tsoga Environmental Gardens. Take lunch on the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront folloewd by a 3 hour cruise and tour of Robben Island to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela.

Synonymous with the struggle against apartheid, Soweto is South Africa's largest urban settlement and home to over a million people. Gain an insight into the community of Johannesburg's South Western Township, visiting Hector Pieterson Museum, Regina Mondi Church, the site of underground meetings, passing by the Mandela House on the way, a true experience of life in a township.

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The Kruger National Park is vast - the size of Wales - and is famed the world over as one of the oldest and most prestigious national parks in Africa, spanning both South Africa and Mozambique. Lions, elephants, cheetah, leopards, rhino, giraffes and hippo make it one of the world's most thrilling game reserves.

Ideal for eco tourists and animal lovers, Shamwari gives visitors the chance to go on spectacular game drives and participate in the ongoing action to help maintain the reserve's ecosystem and protect its inhabitants. Home to a myriad of animals including the Big Five, the reserve has been awarded plaudits for its conservation work and is the site of the Born Free Foundation Big Cat Rescue Centre as well as the Shamwari Wildlife Hospital.

Sprawling over a vast 9,000 hectare area with the Kariega River to one side and the Bushmans River to the other, the Kariega Private Game Reserve is a rich and varied safari location ideal for those in serach of an authentic African experience. With the chance to see the Big Five in their natural habitat, Kariega provides one of the very best safari environments imaginable and with it fantastic lodges offering stylish accommodation and fine dining.

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One of South Africa's most iconic hotels, The Palace of the Lost City's spectacular architecture and towers rise up from a subtropical jungle to recreate an ornate ancient African fantasy temple. The interior of the hotel pays tribute to the art and nature of South Africa with beautiful mosaics and hand painted ceilings. Relax by the intricately designed pool while enjoying a cocktail soaking up the sun in the world's most enchanting city. You can dine in style and be looked after like royalty at this member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Regarded as one of Cape Town's most elegant havens, Cape Grace boasts a unique scenic location on its own quay on the waterfront. Modern and stylish yet timelessly classical, the hotel's architecture echoes the Cape's French historical influence. An atmosphere of warmth, intimacy and understated luxury permeates this exquisite hotel.

With the Twelve Apostles mountain range on one side and the stunning Atlantic Ocean on the other at this hotel you can expect the most breathtaking views. The opportunity to view whales and dolphins, coupled with the hotel's magnificent spa facilities ensure that this hotel deserves its reputation as a member of the "Leading Small Hotels of the World". At Twelve Apostles it is easy to forget where you are, only 20 minutes away from the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town and a few minutes away from the elegant Camps Bay.

lanzerac

Lanzerac, on a working wine estate, is a charming country manor hotel offering beautifully furnished rooms, personal service and fine cuisine. All rooms have private patios overlooking lush vineyards, gardens and the Helderberg Mountains, providing a wonderfully romantic base from which to explore the region's vineyards.

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Travel on the unmistakable Blue Train, world acclaimed for over 50 years. Now completely restored, its gleaming coaches offer unadulterated comfort and the perfect way to view the stunning landscapes. Expert chefs prepare all meals, which are served in the beautifully appointed Dining Car. All accommodation is en suite with an Italian marble bathroom and have a chair and fold-down table, lounge chairs and ottoman, and a double-glazed panorama window.

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One of the world's most famous scenic drives, the Garden Route stretches 130 miles along the south coast of the Western Cape. George is that largest of the towns on the Garden Route, then the tiny village of Wilderness signals the gateway to the Wilderness National Park. Georgian and Victorian buildings form the laid-back Knysna on the shore of a lagoon. Plettenberg Bay is a fashionable resort town and you might finish your journey with a visit to the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Treat yourself to some time in the Wineland - Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Admire the Afrikaans Language monument in Paarl Rock and continue on to the wineries of well-known estates to sample wines of merit. Discover the origins of this world-famous wine producing region at the Huguenot Museum in Franschhoek.

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Get there in style...

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS offers you a choice of daily flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town, all with convenient flight times, departing early evening and arriving early morning the next day, making your destination just a dinner, movie and breakfast away.

Africa is truly the continent of contrast, from desolate deserts to sweeping plains, iconic coastline to lush vineyards, you'll spoilt for choice with the vast number of options available. Blessed with some of the most breath-taking sights on earth, with iconic wildlife and wonderful rich cultures, Africa is an unforgettable natural beauty.