Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Meerkats
Get close to the habituated meerkat family in the Kalahari Reserve.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Northern Wildlife Reserves and Cape Town
Set out on a stylish South African safari, exploring two of the country’s greatest wildlife reserves – the dry Kalahari and the game-rich Madikwe, before finishing at the stunning Silo Hotel in Cape Town.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
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2
Cape Town
Explore Cape Town – packed with restaurants, galleries and activities.
3
Wild Dogs
Search for hunting packs of endangered wild dogs in the richly diverse Madikwe Game Reserve.
4
Silo Hotel
Finish at the stylish Silo Hotel, built above the Museum of Contemporary African Art.
Why we like it
This trip combines a carefully selected trio of properties that all prize individuality and excellence, whilst also highlighting the incredible contrasts of this diverse country. A journey to South Africa ought to be the holiday of a lifetime and this trip, we think, aims for just that.
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Day 1
Johannesburg - Madikwe Game Reserve
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Days 2-3
Madikwe Game Reserve
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Day 4
Madikwe Game Reserve - Johannesburg - Kalahari Reserve
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Days 5-6
Kalahari Reserve
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Day 7
Kalahari Reserve - Johannesburg - Cape Town
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Day 8
Cape Town
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Day 9
Cape Town - Johannesburg
Day 1
Johannesburg - Madikwe Game Reserve
Days 2-3
Madikwe Game Reserve
Wild Dogs
Search for hunting packs of endangered wild dogs in the richly diverse Madikwe Game Reserve.
Day 4
Madikwe Game Reserve - Johannesburg - Kalahari Reserve
Days 5-6
Kalahari Reserve
Meerkats
Get close to the habituated meerkat family in the Kalahari Reserve.
Day 7
Kalahari Reserve - Johannesburg - Cape Town
Silo Hotel
Finish at the stylish Silo Hotel, built above the Museum of Contemporary African Art.
Day 8
Cape Town
Explore Cape Town – packed with restaurants, galleries and activities.
Day 9
Cape Town - Johannesburg
More details
Madikwe Game Reserve
Begin in Madikwe – only a short flight north from Johannesburg. Here, stay at the owner-run and managed Jamala Madikwe Lodge. This beautiful thatched lodge, comprising just five individual villas, sits within the Madikwe Game Reserve. It features an elevated viewing deck, looking out over the reserve.
Explore this remarkable landscape, home to a diversity of wildlife. Once barren farming land, this area now teems with species. Set out on morning and afternoon game drive, in search of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes and more.
Kalahari
Head further west, flying via Johannesburg, and head into the arid Kalahari Reserve. Stay at Tswalu Motse – a wonderfully isolated lodge that lies beneath the Korannaberg Mountains, looking out over the dry grassy plains of the Kalahari.
Ideal for both families and couples, Tswalu offers a wide range of activities. Take game drives through the desert, set out on guided bush walks, horse ride across the plains, track rhinos or star gaze beneath the night’s sky.
Flexible and private, the Tswalu experience is individually tailored for every guest, with bush dinners, sundowners, wine tasting and dune picnics.
Cape Town
Finish in cosmopolitan Cape Town, staying in The Silo, which occupies the upper part of a renovated grain silo. Beneath, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa fills the rest of the building, which itself sits right at the heart of the famous V&A Waterfront.
Brilliantly located for exploring Cape Town, this remarkable hotel stands out – not just because it rises high above the rest of the waterfront, but because of its remarkable design. The stylishly appointed rooms all feature pillowed window bays, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Cape Town’s cityscape.
Start planning your trip
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From $8,758 Per person
When to travel
South Africa in January
A great time to visit around Cape Town and the Garden Route, as it is hot and dry. Further north in the Kruger, it is also hot, but there is a much greater chance of rainstorms.
South Africa in February
Peak season in the Cape continues, and it is often the hottest time. It is worth booking well in advance to get your preferred accommodation.
South Africa in March
It is an excellent time to visit all parts of the country, as the weather is still warm and the rain eases in the north. In the Kruger, it is lush and green after the rainy season.
South Africa in April
Visitor numbers drop, and lower temperatures make for ideal hiking conditions in the Drakensberg mountains. It is warm and dry across the country, making it a great time to explore multiple regions.
South Africa in May
A quieter time of year and a good time to visit, especially if you are not looking for balmy heat. The north and especially the Kruger enters its dry season, with cooler temperatures.
South Africa in June
Midwinter brings the rainiest time in the Cape, but it is still pleasantly mild in the day with the sun shining. The dry season in the north makes for excellent wildlife viewing as animals congregate around watering holes.
South Africa in July
Clear skies and crisp sunshine dominate in the north, as it is the driest month. It is low season so parks are generally quiet and it is easier to spot wildlife around the sparse waterholes.
South Africa in August
A fantastic time to see KwaZulu Natal as is one of the warmest places in the country at this time. In the Western Cape, it is starting to dry out in time for whale watching season.
South Africa in September
The West Coast springs into life as the flowers bloom and temperatures rise across the country. A chance to spot newborns and it is prime time for whale watching in the Cape.
South Africa in October
A great time to see both the north and south, as it is relatively dry everywhere. Flowers carpet the countryside as temperatures continue to rise.
South Africa in November
The start of the rainy season in the Kruger and the north, as temperatures heat up. Impressive thunderstorms become more regular in the afternoon. The last chance to see whales in the Cape, and a good time to see inland areas before they toast in the summer heat.
South Africa in December
Summer approaches and with it visitor numbers rise, especially in the south. If you want to travel around Christmas and New Year, you should book well in advance to secure the best spots.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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