South Africa
South Africa is land of incomparable beauty, from untamed wilderness and traditional cultures to lush winelands and urban delights. With exclusive safari lodge buyouts and expert-led biking and hiking, Gray & Co. delivers South Africa’s very best across breathtaking landscapes. Hike the mountains, cycle the coastline, wander the galleries, savor delicious wine and cuisine, and explore some of the best safari destinations on the planet. Our deep local expertise and personal connections make it all happen…authentically and in style.
Go ‘next level’ safari with Gray & Co. Our favorite safaris experiences can be found in private reserves that offer rare African wildlife viewed up close and personal, and actively – whether it’s Cape giraffe from the seat of a bike, black rhinos tracked on foot, or leopard and lion from private open-top 4x4s. Immerse yourself in a malaria-free setting at Kwandwe – a stunning private wilderness in the Eastern Cape, revel in abundant wildlife and luxury at Singita’s Boulders Lodge bordering Kruger National Park, and discover a tapestry of diverse habitats and intimate wildlife encounters at Phinda Private Game Reserve along South Africa’s Indian Ocean.
South Africa’s abundance reaches far beyond the safari landrover. Immerse yourself in the allure of Cape Town, where you’ll hike on Table Mountain, cycle Chapmans Peak, helicopter across the spectacular Cape of Good Hope for a visit with African penguins…perhaps a few baboons too, and dive into the culinary and cultural wonders of this gem of a city. Join Gray & Co’s comrade Christo Brand, Nelson Mandela’s charismatic prison warden and later close friend, for a deeper diver into South African history. Cape Town offers an abundance of great places to stay, and our favs include the historic Mount Nelson Hotel, known for impeccable service and an ideal city location, and the more intimate Ellerman House, sitting on the slopes of Lion’s Head peak looking out over Bantry Bay.
Franschhoek, an idyllic hamlet founded in the 1600s and one of the country’s premier wine regions, lies just a hop and a skip away. The wine is lovely, but it’s the cycling over Bains Kloof Passand the wild proteas on hikes through Mont Rochelle Biosphere Reserve that keeps us coming back for more. Sir Richard Branson’s 26-room Mont Rochelle and the nearby 16-suite La Residence, both surrounded natural beauty and rolling vineyards serve as superb bases for exploring the area.
Further down the coast lies the artsy whale watching town of Hermanus, with its craggy cliffs and crystal blue waters. The elegance of The Marine and Birkenhead House hotels are alone worth the trip, but the real discovery is the wealth of quiet roads for biking that lead to hidden vineyards as they curve through serene landscapes and along dramatic coastal roads.
Wildlife, wide-open spaces, wine, and wonderful urban adventures…we can’t get enough of South Africa. Join us and you’ll quickly understand why!
