Where would you go if cash were no object? We asked some prominent South Africans to tell us about their holiday fantasies, and gave them some sound advice on what to do while there...

Hendrik du Toit, Investec CEO: Antarctic
"I can't resist the wilderness. To see the Ice Continent would be the experience of a lifetime, but it would also inspire me to do more to battle the causes of climate change."
  • The low-down: Although in summer temperatures can soar to a balmy 10?C in Antarctica, in winter, they can drop to -60˚C: it goes without saying that no one lives there. It is home, though, to seabirds such as penguins and albatrosses, seals and the whales that migrate to their summer feeding grounds off Antarctica?s coast. Whale sighting is best in February and March, with several species, including Southern Rights, Humpbacks and Blue Whales all gathering for the seasonal krill feast. You'll have access to a helicopter, so you'll be able to see, up close, colonies of Emperor Penguins.

    In summer, the southern tundra gets about 20 hours of sunlight a day, reflecting off towering glaciers, icebergs and kilometres of frozen desert. Weather permitting, it?s possible to kayak up to these massive ice formations for a closer look.

    Or follow in the footsteps of explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott, visiting historical huts along the way. Also see Mt Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on earth, which can be viewed from Observation Hill. Every year, the Antarctic Ice Marathon is held; three days later, there's the 100km Ultra Race, so if you need the added challenge?

    Antarctica is inaccessible in winter, but even in summer it's vital that the cruise operator operates icebreaker vessels, or at least ships with an ice-strengthened hull (remember Titanic?). The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators permits only 100 passengers to disembark at any one place, so the fewer passengers the better the chance to go ashore.

  • Splash out: Take a tour with luxury operators Abercrombie & Kent. It operates Antarctic cruises out of South America on the Explorer II. She accommodates 300 passengers, but is limited to 198 for Antarctic cruises. The ship has spacious guest quarters with queen-sized beds, walk-out balconies, private bathrooms and satellite TV. There are cocktail bars onboard, as well as a fitness centre, swimming pool and whirlpool. Twelve rubberised boats take small groups of passengers on up-close tours of the Antarctic scenery.

Marianne Fassler, designer: Africa
'The most precious and expensive thing in my life is time, so my holiday would be a long trek through Africa with time being no object, especially visiting Ethiopia, Mali and Lamu Island off Kenya. I'd treasure the opportunity to linger.'
  • The low-down: Ethiopia is filled with relics of ancient civilisations, such as Aksum ? the remains of the great Aksumite civilisation whose giant obelisks are rumoured to be the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. A must-visit is Lalibela where sunken churches were chiselled out of solid red rock in the 12th century, long before earth-moving equipment was dreamt up. Orthodox locals still use these ornate excavations for daily devotions.

    Ethiopia's natural scenery is filled with contrasts and many parts of the country are surprisingly green. Afro-Alpine vegetation covers the slopes of the Simien mountain range, which reaches heights of over 4000m. At the other extreme, the Danakil Depression reaches 120m below sea level. The Blue Nile, one of the river?s two major tributaries, has its source in Ethiopia?s Lake Tana. Visit www.tourismethiopia.org.

    In Mali, go visit a market to buy some Bogolan. Bogolan or ?mud cloth? is a product indigenous to Mali. Women from various tribes traditionally paint cotton cloth with mud for men to wear on special occasions. These days, the cloth is sold in markets all over the country. Camel caravans are a good way to explore the country and Sahara Desert.

  • Splash Out: In Ethiopia, Sheraton Addis stands opposite the national palace. The outdoor heated pool has underwater music, and rooms come with butler service. The ambassador suites at Kempinski Hotel El Farouk Bamako in Bamako, Mali, have great views over the River Niger.

Nicole Fox, 5FM: Space
'I'd love to do a space trip. Not on a space shuttle or anything, because I?m far too much of a girl for that, but something like Branson?s space plane, just to be able to see the earth from some kind of a distance.'
  • The low-down: The writers of Star Trek famously called space the final frontier, but it?s becoming increasingly accessible for those who can afford to fulfil their cosmic dreams. Space Adventures is the company that took South African Mark Shuttleworth into orbit, as well as Dennis Tito, the world?s first space tourist, and three others. It offers various options to adventurers looking for an out-of-this-world experience.

    A sub-orbital spaceflight fulfils the basic requirements of experiencing weightlessness and seeing the earth from space. Passengers are flown 100km up, where earth?s atmosphere thins and space begins.

    Alternatively there?s the orbital spaceflight, which includes a 10-day stay on the International Space Station, orbiting the earth every 90 minutes. For the extremely adventurous ? and obscenely wealthy ? Space Adventures is currently recruiting for the first tourist expedition to the moon.

    The mildly curious, on the other hand, can stick to the relative safety of astronaut training or a zero-gravity flight in a zero-G training jet ? including dinner with a former astronaut.

  • Splash Out: Until Space Adventures completes its private launch bases in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, passengers wanting to blast off to the Space Station will be allocated one of the small number of commercial seats available on existing missions. These launch typically from Star City in Russia. And while you?re there, you may as well make a holiday of it.

    Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, located on the banks of the Moskva River in the heart of Moscow, is wonderfully central. It overlooks the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil?s Cathedral. There?s a gym, indoor swimming pool and a casino and guests who check into the presidential or Kremlin suites get butler services and a luxury 730Li BMW sedan to use for the duration of their stay ? with fast track services.

Article courtesy of Horizons, BA/Comair's in-flight magazine published by Touchline Media