South Africa will celebrate 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela in 2018, with special holiday packages, new openings, projects and events to celebrate his life.

New tours and experiences include:

1. Footsteps to Freedom with Western & Oriental

A new seven-night itinerary for 2018 from Western & Oriental, ‘Following the Footsteps to Freedom – Nelson Mandela’s South Africa’, begins with three nights in Cape Town, including a visit to Robben Island and a walking tour, two nights on Rovos Rail, and two nights in Johannesburg including half-day apartheid and Soweto tours.

Prices start from £3 550pp (based on two sharing) and include direct flights (excluding taxes) from London with British Airways, three nights’ B&B at Cape Grace in Cape Town, two nights all-inclusive on Rovos Rail, two nights’ B&B at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, transfers, tours and excursions.

2. Half-term break with Rainbow Tours

This seven-night trip from Rainbow Tours is designed to slot into a February or October half-term holiday. After four days in Cape Town, where families can enjoy the views from Table Mountain, visit the penguins on Boulders Beach or learn about Nelson Mandela’s incarceration on Robben Island, the trip continues to the Eastern Cape for three nights on the Kariega Private Game Reserve.

Here, families can embark on game drives and guided bush walks to spot giraffes, lions, zebras and buffalo. Prices start from £4 370pp (based on two adults two children under 12 sharing) and includes flights (excluding taxes) from London, four nights’ B&B in Cape Town, three nights’ full board on safari and transfers.  Children pay for flights but stay free in Cape Town and pay half price on safari, subject to availability. Peak season flight supplements will apply.

3. Eastern Cape packages from Mantis Collection

Mantis has partnered with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism to give guests exclusive access to over 70 activities, adventures and experiences around The Bay. Included in the Baycation with Mantis package is a 2-night luxury stay at one of 3 Mantis properties in Port Elizabeth, daily breakfast, a 2-course dinner for 2 at The Jazz Room Restaurant at No 5 by Mantis on 1 night, and 2 free tour passes. The Nelson Mandela Bay tour passes give guests free and discounted access to over 70 experiences around The Bay, including a Route 67 Tour, which is an artistic celebration of Madiba’s life of service to South Africa.

Mantis Collection is offering two holiday packages to the Eastern Cape in 2018. With Mantis Madness, visitors can experience iconic Mandela Legacy experiences in Cape Town, and also explore the Eastern Cape region.

Guests can book two bights at Founders Lodge and get two nights free bed & breakfast accommodation at participating Mantis properties, or book two nights at Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve and receive 1-night free bed & breakfast accommodation at participating Mantis properties.

Free nights can be redeemed at No 5 by Mantis, The Windermere by Mantis, or Villa Tuscana by Mantis in Port Elizabeth, OR Royal St Andrews Hotel & Spa in Port Alfred, OR The Pearl Valley Hotel by Mantis in The Windelands of the Western Cape. 

5. Sensory experiences at The Table Bay Hotel

The five-star Table Bay Hotel by Sun International, opened by Nelson Mandela in May 1997, is introducing its new craft beer, Wild Legend Weiss, and pairs well with fish and shellfish dinners all on offer at The Table Bay Hotel.

The Table Bay Sensory Dinner experience is available in The Table Bay Camissa Brasserie which offers locally inspired dishes by Chef Jocelyn Myers Adam. The hotel has also launched an exclusive fragrance, Kaap, produced with 100% botanicals from the Cape, and crafted by Tammy Frazer, Granddaughter of inventor of Oil of Olay, Graham Wulff.

For those wishing to celebrate Mandela’s legacy in South Africa, a free app developed by South African Tourism in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Madiba’s Journey, outlines more than 27 places of historic significance across the country that help to tell his story. These locations include Robben Island in Cape Town and the site where Mandela was captured in KwaZulu Natal.Click here for more information.