What was that noise – a hippo or just a bird? You won't know when you sleep in the dark of African night al fresco. South Africa's bucket list countdown continues.

10. Picnic in the Cape Winelands

We've all been to South Africa through a wine bottle. The country has a knack for producing some of the world's greatest wines and you'll find these inviting vineyards only a short drive from Cape Town. I visit in autumn and find that once we get off the freeway and head towards Franschoek we are greeted by marigold rows of vines and a pastoral idyll of farms and horse studs. The ideal way to experience the wine and the country is through a picnic lunch at Boschendal Estate. Baskets are shared between two people and come complete with a French baguette. The chicken and apricot dish is a crowd-pleaser but there are also cheeses, cold meats, salads and chocolate brownies. Wash it all down with a white or red (or both) while taking in the mesmerising terrain.

9. See the streets of Soweto
The way to see the township of Soweto in Johannesburg is by bike. It's an accessible method of taking in the streets and meeting locals that is more engaging than a passive bus trip and a lot faster than walking. You can try the local burger, called kota, which is a hollowed out white bread loaf stuffed with chips, fried egg, meat, cheese and sauce. It's what happens when an English chip butty mates with an American hamburger and is styled by a hungry South African. After a feed, head for the shebeen, Soweto's version of a home brewery. Even if you're on the morning cycle ride, you must have a chat with the locals over a beer. It's not as downtrodden as what you might expect from a township either; with three million residents, Soweto feels lively and proud. Be sure to cycle Vilakazi Street, where you'll find the former home of Nelson Mandela and current home of Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Air Mauritius flies from Perth to Johannesburg with prices starting from $1828

8. Embrace Zulu culture

A prospective bride is worth 11 cows in Zulu culture, sometimes less, depending on virginity and age. To get a feel for the curious traditions of the Zulu, PheZulu is the place to visit – guests will watch the local Gasa clan enact community rites of passage like marriage and the passing down of a witch doctor's wisdom to younger generations.  

Ancient courting rituals endure here. When a girl loves her prospective husband, she gives him a string of white beads to mark their coupling. The man then provides the bride's father with an agreed number of cows – although nowadays money is often exchanged instead. If the woman is from royal stock, the price will exceed the average 11 cows.  

Zulu rites are brought to life by barefoot dancers who impress with their athleticism and leaping prowess. Traditional garb such as fluorescent bead headdresses and woollen ankle warmers make these performances memorable, particularly against the backdrop of the Valley of 1000 Hills. Thatched huts in the village offer an insight to traditional life and retain the smoky remnants from campfires.

7. Drive the Garden Route

The Garden Route has 200km of liberating bitumen that allows travellers to customise their experience from a starting point of Mossel Bay to the finish line at Storms River.  

It can cater for all, whether they seek adrenalin, food and wine or nature. For adrenalin junkies, the world's highest commercial bridge bungee jump is at Plettenberg Bay and at 216 metres it's enough to get anyone's palms sweaty.  

For lovers of the outdoors, Tsitskamma National Park and Nature's Valley are stunning wilderness areas and a stay at the Phantom Forest eco-retreat in a tree suite will cap off a back-to-nature experience.  
Foodies will be making regular pit stops at the roadside stalls along the route that offer up all manner of local produce. Knysna is renowned for its oysters, and even has a festival in the molluscs's honour. For a healthy does of luxury, book a stay at the eclectic and gorgeous Grand Café and Rooms in Plettenberg Bay.African Travel Specialists have a nine-night self drive package starting from $1275

6. Sleep in a treehouse

To sleep under African stars is a dream for many a traveller. The rugged romance of this experience need not be so rugged either, especially if you choose a tree house run by one of South Africa's best luxury safari lodges.

Take Lion Sands in Kruger National Park. The two-storied Tinyeleti tree house runs alongside the animal mecca that is the Sabie River. On this river hippos bathe and then strike model-esque poses on the bank, delighting visitors by the dozen.  

The ultimate sleepover starts with sundowners and dinner at sunset and comes with a few little luxuries: a decadent bathroom and antique wardrobe. The bed is a colonial four-poster with mosquito netting and side tables set with lanterns. The wine glasses on the dinner table are double the size of your regular glass. They really have thought of everything.

Surrounded by the sounds and smells of the bush, your imagination may run wild and you may not have the most peaceful night's sleep, but you can be sure that it will be your most memorable, with intermittent lion roars, hyena cackles and elephant trumpets throughout the night. If you do get a little spooked, there is a two-way radio and my guide tells me that on a few occasions couples have asked to be returned to the sanctuary of their lodge room. It is perfectly safe though, with a gate that keeps out any of the big predators, so drink the local wine to calm any frayed nerves and settle in for an exquisite night under the stars.

Swagman Tours has a 17-day South Africa Rainbow Route itinerary which visits the Drakensburg mountains. Prices start from $2070