South Africa and Mauritius: Garden Route and island life

Sunglasses, bags, camera, a yearning to explore – you've got everything you need, and you're heading to the airport! As your plane rolls down the runway, you get more and more hyped about what lies ahead. You lean back, snuggle up in your seat and start dreaming of all the adventures that await you in the African wilderness. One thing's for sure: this is gonna be the trip of a lifetime!

Three, two, one: made it! Your feet are finally on South African soil – thousands of miles away from home. Crazy, isn't it? You pick up your hire car at the airport and jet out of the city. The further away you drive, the greener the landscape around you becomes. And after just over half an hour, you reach your destination. Welcome to Stellenbosch! Welcome to the Winelands!

The lore goes, those who've been to Stellenbosch but didn't do a wine tasting can't rightly claim to have ever truly been there. So don't waste any time! Sign up for one and get to tasting (optional, payable on site). Why not give it a try at one of Stellenbosch's true hidden gems, Warwick Wine Estate? Cheers!

You're taking Route 62 today, a road that seems to disappear into the horizon. Cruising down the highway in your hire car, you pass vast landscapes, winding mountain passes and seemingly endless vineyards. You make a stop at the famous Diesel & Crème Diner in Barrydale and treat yourself to a burger and milkshake, surrounded by old petrol pumps, rusty vintage cars and colourful enamel signs. Once you've had enough to eat, you hop back into your car, step on the accelerator and finish the last part of your journey for the day.

A gravel road carries you into the vast expanse of South Africa, and there it is: your fully furnished glamping tent in the middle of an ostrich farm. And in front of your veranda, you find a fire pit where you can enjoy your evening to the fullest. Contact the camp and get yourself a braai basket filled with fresh vegetables, bread and high-quality, local meats (optional, payable on site). Then bask in the setting sun with the sweet smell of barbecue and an incredible view of the wilderness – one you can only find here!

Just looking at the wilderness isn't enough for you, and you want to truly immerse yourself in the incredible nature? Then plan your day exactly how you see fit. Here's a tip: AfriCamps' ostrich farm is real highlight. Book yourself a guided tour of the farm and gain unique insights into ostrich rearing (optional, payable on site). If you're there at the right time, you can even help the chicks hatch! Did you know that one ostrich egg can hold about 24 chicken eggs? And the giant eggs are incredibly robust. An adult can stand on one with all of their weight and it won't break! Another highlight that you just can't miss is an afternoon safari in the Little Karoo (optional, payable on site the day before). In AfriCamps' game reserve, which boasts an area of over 5,000 hectares, join a guide for a hike through the Karoo's native vegetation. Maybe you'll even see an antelope hop past or catch a glimpse of a giraffe as it strolls through the wilderness.