South Africa trip for private pilots and passengers – fly yourself over Kruger, Victoria Falls & Cape Town

The lodge lies near Sabi Sabi on the edge of Kruger National Park, with an airstrip close by. From the deck the view runs across the river into open bush, and game comes right up to the lodge.

The rooms are generous suites under thatch, with four-poster beds and mosquito nets, outdoor showers and their own terrace. Inside, natural tones, leather and timber set the scene.

The infinity pool sits at the edge of the grounds above the river, with loungers and a shaded deck beside it. During the day that is the place between the two game drives.

Before sunrise and again in the late afternoon you head out in an open vehicle with a ranger and a tracker. The Sabi Sand is known for its leopards.

Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino all live in the area; there is no continuous fence to Kruger National Park, and the game moves freely. Elephant herds cross regularly right in front of the house.

Lunch and dinner are included on this trip. You eat on the deck above the river or in the boma under the open sky.

The house lies in a private game reserve a few minutes' drive from Victoria Falls, on the Zimbabwean side. White rhino live on the grounds, and game drives start from the door.

The suites are generous and colonial in style, each with its own veranda onto the garden and a bathroom with a free-standing tub. The name recalls the explorers Stanley and Livingstone, and the house keeps that story deliberately alive.

The pool and a terrace lie among old trees, and food is served there too. A fire is lit on the deck in the evening, where guests gather before dinner.

From here the falls can be walked along the rainforest path, where the spray falls like permanent rain. From the air they are more striking still: helicopter flights and flights in your own aircraft are both part of the trip.

In the hotel's own reserve you can track rhino on foot with a ranger, along with antelope, giraffe and zebra. The Zambezi is a short drive away.

Two nights are planned here, after the longest leg of the trip via Selebi-Phikwe. Then it is back to South Africa.

The hotel stands on the Westcliff ridge above Johannesburg, built in terraces into the hillside and surrounded by trees. The view runs across the zoological gardens and the green city to the horizon.

The rooms are spread across several buildings along the hillside terraces, linked by paths, steps and a shuttle across the estate. Ochre facades and a great deal of greenery define the look.

The rooms are generously proportioned, many with their own terrace facing the city. Suites with a separate living area are bookable on request.

Two pools sit on different levels of the slope, alongside restaurants and terraces overlooking Johannesburg. The upper terrace is the place for a sundowner.

Rosebank and Sandton, with galleries, shops and restaurants, are a short drive away, as are the Apartheid Museum and the Cradle of Humankind.

One night after returning from Zimbabwe, before flying on to Cape Town with Airlink the next morning.

The Spier belongs to one of the oldest wine estates at the Cape and lies among vineyards and oaks near Stellenbosch, around 30 minutes' drive from Cape Town and close to Stellenbosch airfield.

The estate dates back to 1692, making it one of the oldest in South Africa. Cape Dutch gables, old oaks and a stream running through the grounds still shape the place.

The rooms are spread across whitewashed buildings around courtyards and pools. The Riverside Villas sit a little apart by the water, with their own terrace and pool. The interiors are bright and plain.

The estate has its own cellars and restaurants, and tastings take place on the grounds, from a classic flight to a tasting matched with food.

For the free day, the Blaauwklippen estate with its Cape Dutch manor house is nearby, as is Stellenbosch itself with its oak-lined streets. Stellenbosch airfield is the starting point for the flight over the Cape and the winelands.

Four nights to close the trip, with a day of wine, a day of flying and a day in Cape Town before the flight home.