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Drakensberg

With basalt ranges, emerald-coated valleys and epic hiking trails, the Drakensberg invites you to treat it as your playground. The Ampitheatre is a real hiking highlight, a hair-raising trek up steep gullies and rock faces before a widescreen panorama of the misty Tugela Falls is revealed.

Montusi

Montusi Mountain Lodge may offer luxury but it is also a perfect base to explore the adventure right on its doorstep. The area is known for its outdoor activities as well as guided hiking tours to Montusi Mountain. You can also get stuck in with horse riding, biking and hiking in the nearby Royal Natal National Park.

The Battlefields

The undulating hills, kopjes and grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal may look serene these days, but during the 19th century they played host to a series of battles fought by the Zulus, British and the Boers. Lorna spent time at two of its most famous battlefields. Isandlwana battlefield saw the Zulus hand the British army their most bruising defeat and the site today is abundant with memorials and whitewashed cairns, while a small museum tells the battle’s story. Close by lies Rorke’s Drift, where an informative interpretation centre sits on the site of the original mission station the Zulu reserves attacked.

Fugitive’s Drift

The incredible Fugitive’s Drift property is a 5,000 acre Natural Heritage Site that overlooks both Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. A stay here will bring you as close as possible to the battlefields with guided tours from the five-star accommodation bringing the history to life.

Howick

In 1962 just outside the town of Howick, Nelson Mandela was arrested by apartheid police, marking the start of his 27 years in prison. A sculpture comprising 50 steel columns now stands in the spot where he was captured and when viewed from the correct angle, a portrait of South Africa’s most beloved son is revealed. A small museum embellishes Mandela’s story further, with a particular focus around his arrest.

Durban

Wake up early in Durban to catch a glimpse of the crimson dawns from Umlanga’s Whalebone Pier or from the city’s sandy seafront. Once you have soaked up those morning views, follow in Lorna’s footsteps and go in search of food at Victoria Street Market. Nowhere is Durban’s Indian heritage more keenly felt than here, at the city’s oldest market, where you can try its most famous street food dish, bunny chow (hollowed-out bread filled with curry).

Umhlanga

In Umhlanga, the beaches stretch for miles and it is tempting to spend your time lazing on the golden sands, but adventure rewards those who explore further. Don a snorkel mask to see myriad marine life including dolphins. Away from the shoreline, don’t miss the Hawaan Forest, an unspoilt slice of greenery where you can follow one of the many hiking trails to spot the likes of wild pig, pythons and a rainbow spectrum of birds.

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Jo'burg

Diverse, outward-looking and high-octane, Johannesburg is modern South Africa at its buzzing best, with a thriving arts scene, burgeoning café culture and neon-tinted nightlife. Be sure to visit its most famous township, Soweto. Formerly home to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, Soweto has emerged from its shady past and been reborn as an eclectic neighbourhood with vibrant street art, gourmet eateries and poignant memorials. During her visit, Lorna connected with the locals at one of the township’s shisa nyamas, where you can pick your own meat from a butcher before watching it cooked on a braai. 

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Clarens

Clarens is a hidden gem seemingly stuck in time. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Free State’, the chocolate-box Dutch sandstone architecture feels as if it’s not been touched since the village was first built in 1912 and its quaint high street is a joy to wander in search of pottery, leatherwork and other curios.

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Cape Town

With nature, adventure, culture and history all on the cards, Cape Town offers something for everyone. To really appreciate its dramatic location, you need to get up high. Lorna took to the skies in a helicopter but a hike atop Table Mountain, Lion’s Head or Signal Hill will all deliver great views. Back at sea level, there’s no better way to soak up the city’s eclectic culture than a stroll through the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Its vividly painted houses are staples on Instagram, but its chequered history, Cape Malay cuisine and spice-laden supermarkets describe a deeper story.

Hermanus

Hermanus is one of the best whale-watching spots in the world and here, you don’t even need to leave the shore to spot the likes of southern right whales. Take a boat trip to see more marine life including the Cape fur seal, great white shark, African penguin and bottlenose dolphin. Away from the coast, follow in Lorna’s footsteps and explore the town’s boutique shops and cafes.

Stellenbosch

Characterised by its Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture, plenty of heritage surrounds Stellenbosch in the form of its historic wine estates. But the region’s rich soil isn’t just used for growing grapes but vegetables, too, which translates into tasty menus of farm-to-fork food served at its estates and restaurants.

Cape Winelands

The cool climates of the Elgin Valley in South Africa's Winelands lends itself perfectly to growing varieties including sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. The sun-dappled vineyards here are great for exploring by e-bike, which is how Lorna got around this beautiful part of the country.

Grootbos

This private nature reserve puts you in the centre of mountains, forest and sea so you can see for yourself just how diverse South Africa’s geography is. With 3,500 hectares of pristine wilderness to explore, it’s perfect for getting out on a hike to see the incredible plant life and wildlife. Along the coast, whale watching and shark cage diving awaits.

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Mount Camdeboo Game Reserve

Camdeboo National Park provides a home for a rich bounty of wildlife including eland, springboks, hartebeests and rare Cape mountain zebras. A stay at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve will put you in the heart of this wilderness and offers unforgettable safari experiences.

Cradock

Founded in 1813 for the migratory farmers working the surrounding countryside, Cradock is a charming agricultural town situated on the banks of the Great Fish River. Cattle farmers still live here today and the town also specialises in the production of wool and mohair.