Wittering based Travel Counsellor Emma Savage enjoys journey of a lifetime to South Africa including private game reserve safari
ByColumnist
Published: 05:00, 05 July 2026
I’ve recently returned from the journey of a lifetime in South Africa, taking in Cape Town, the Garden Route, and a luxury private game reserve, writes Travel Counsellor Emma Savage
I began in Cape Town, the “Mother City”, where the iconic outline of Table Mountain towers above a cosmopolitan, modern city. There is a lot to see and do from Cape Town; one of the highlights I’d recommend is taking the cable car to the summit for sweeping views of sea and city. My top tip is to buy a fast track ticket, especially in summer (our winter) because the queues can be long. Cape Town really is a fantastic place to spend some time; stay in Camps Bay for a beach vibe or the waterfront to be central to bars and restaurants. I took a full day Cape Point tour which was an excellent way to see all the highlights – watch African penguins waddling along the sands of Boulders Beach, and follow one of the world’s most scenic coastal roads along Chapman’s Peak, stopping at the Cape of Good Hope.
After a few days, I travelled east, where the landscape softens into the lush beauty of the Garden Route. A stop in Kynsna breaks up the drive and it is home to its own mini waterfront with shops and restaurants; perfect for sunset drinks overlooking the water. There’s a nature reserve a short ferry ride away called Featherbed; a manageable hike is rewarded with spectacular views across the two headlands and there is flora in abundance
The true highlight for me was a luxury safari experience at Pumba Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. This malaria-free reserve offers an intimate encounter with Africa’s wildlife and avoids the need to add another flight into your itinerary as its driveable. There are twice-daily game drives with expert rangers in search of lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and cheetah which roam freely across open plains and valleys
Pumba is a very special experience where the staff think of everything, even down to hot water bottles waiting for you on the early morning drives. A safari would not be complete without sundowners, and here they are really magical; enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple with home made snacks and simply enjoy the views. The lodges come with private plunge pools overlooking the valley, where warthog roam and impala graze; utterly breathtaking
My final stop was in Johannesburg, where I took the opportunity to visit Soweto, where Nelson Mandela spent much of his life. The stark contrast from city living to the poorest parts of the township was marked. The community is tight-knit and the people are upbeat but poverty is everywhere and it was a reminder of how lucky we are to have things we take for granted over here such as sanitation, safe housing and reliable gas/electricity
A community led initiative is bringing employment opportunities to Soweto by creating glamping areas and taking tourists on tours of Soweto in tuk tuks, including shopping at local markets and I hope it flourishes as it deserves to
Happy Travels!
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