Self-care safari

FORGET HIDING AWAY AT A HEALTH RETREAT, WITH ITS SPECTACULAR OUTDOORS AND INDULGENT SPAS, SOUTH AFRICA WILL FEED YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL—A MUST TO ADD TO YOUR TRAVEL WISH LIST

- BETTINA TYRRELL

CAPE TOWN

If you’re a traveller who likes to divide your time between nature and unwinding in luxury then Cape Town is a future holiday must. Hugged by mountains and bordered by glittering seas, the port city is a diverse and breathtakingly beautiful location to fuel your inner wellness wanderer.

STAY A scenic 20-minute drive from the town centre and poised above the Atlantic Ocean is the immaculate Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. Flanked by Table Mountain and the eponymous Twelve Apostles ranges, the boutique hotel takes advantage of the majestic scenery from every room. The suites are sumptuous and elegant, and if you can draw yourself away from your private haven, the hotel’s Leopard Bar has an impressive cocktail list, live music and panoramic views of sunsets over the sea, while Azure, the award-winning fine-diner, showcases local cuisine and wines.

EXPLORE Feeling energetic? Try a hike up one of the many scenic paths up the iconic Table Mountain, where you can take in sweeping views of the city and the ocean. If taking it slow is more your thing, hitch a ride in the cable car that takes just five minutes to reach the peak, instead.

SHOP If you’re craving some retail therapy, take a trip to the newly renovated V&A Waterfront, home to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre. The luxurious and airy complex makes for a relaxing browse through the designer and high street stores. For beauty buffs, we’d suggest wiling away an hour or so in Skins Cosmetics, South Africa’s answer to Mecca Cosmetica.

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