South Africa invariably wows visitors with its unique mix of improbable juxtapositions and beautiful contradictions. It starts with Nature’s beguiling spell. Stark mountain chains rise vertically from whale-ruled oceans; deserts and tropical rain-forests are separated by slivers of rolling farmland; giant elephant herds wander through savanna that overlooks warm Indian Ocean rollers. South Africans themselves provide a marvelous celebration of individuality. This is a country with 11 official languages and a national anthem sung in four mother tongues. Meeting the locals is integral to the experience and it’s impossible not to be buoyed by their boundless resilience and laughter. Even the lion prides and rhinos seem to share this irrepressible enthusiasm.

South Africa’s eclectic accommodation is designed to capture the essence of each destination – invariably elevating the visitor’s experience. Hotels in Cape Town are plush and luxurious, with interiors reflecting colonial grandeur, and views that encompass mountain and ocean. You’ll find some of the world’s finest hotels here. They don’t rise high or try to conform, but are usually opulently delivered and cleverly constructed to make the most of their surroundings.