SOUTH AFRICA

It’s easy to fall in love with South Africa. Not only does it boast a landscape of mesmerising natural beauty and end-of-the-earth wildness, it’s also one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Across nine provinces, from the rugged Cape to the plains of Kruger and the unspoilt beaches of the Indian Ocean, South Africa is home to a tenth of the world’s plants and more than 60,000 animal species.

The country’s swift connections and world-class accommodation allow travellers to slip seamlessly from safaris on land and sea and the dramatic vistas of the Garden Route, to cosmopolitan Cape Town and lazy days of touring and tasting in the Cape Winelands. The blend of indigenous, colonial and immigrant cultures that has shaped the history and the diversity of the “rainbow nation” (there are 12 official languages) has also enriched its superb food. From traditional open-fire braai (barbecue) cooking to fragrant Cape Malay curries and the sushi bars of Camps Bay, eating is one of South Africa’s many delights.