Custom Itinerary
Grace Ann & Ryan’s Safari Honeymoon
I’ve put together three different itinerary directions you could go after starting in Cape Town. These could be blended if elements appeal to you in each. All the lodges mentioned are luxurious and cost between $1k and $2k per person per night. Once we have a clear direction, I will create a complete itinerary based on dates and availability.
Note: I usually book 3-4 nights per safari lodge, except Victoria Falls, where 2-3 nights is better. Prices and availability are listed as examples but are subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, the prices listed do not include conservancy fees or transportation to the camps.
Each of these itineraries starts with a stay in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands to decompress after your wedding. Days can be spent dining out and exploring the scenic region on short hikes. The favorable exchange rate on the South African rand makes it a great time to splurge on food and wine – and South Africa has some of the world’s best. There are a bunch of hotel options in the area that we can cover once we settle on a safari direction.
Two of the best safaris in South Africa in one trip
One of my favorite hotels in the Cape Winelands is La Cle ($565/nt), a historic wine estate in Franschhoek. They run a fantastic special offer with Kwandwe Private Game Reserve ($1093/person/nt), where you get 25% off both properties if you book three nights at each. The prices above are before the discount.
Kwandwe is at the forefront of safaris in the Eastern Cape region. The 54,000-acre reserve has been rewilded to an impressive degree and boasts two luxury lodges with private plunge pools. Their Great Fish River Lodge is the best one for honeymooners. The landscape here is a rolling coastal scrubland with a variety of wildlife. Guests here can sometimes take part in rhino tagging with the camp vets for an additional donation.
From the Cape, fly east to the greater Kruger National Park area and Sabi Sands Private Reserve. Private reserves allow off-roading and limit the number of vehicles at a sighting, giving you a better safari experience. Sabi Sands is one of the best in the world, and it is not rare to see all of the “Big 5” on a single game drive. We saw multiple leopards per day on our last visit.
Sabi Sands is famous, so things are booking up, but there are a lot of great lodges to choose from:
This trip would require the least travel time since it is all within one country. However, you could combine Kwandwe with Botswana if you like what you see below.
Botswana’s wildlife spectacle with the option to end in Sabi Sands, South Africa
After time in the Winelands, fly from Cape Town to Maun, Botswana, the jumping off point for safaris. The shallow waters of the Okavango Delta are a dramatic backdrop for wildlife viewing, and the reserves around Chobe National Park has the highest density of elephants on the planet.
Great Plains Conservation operates some of my favorite camps in Botswana because they are on large private concessions. Their premier camps, like Duba Plains and Selinda Camp, are some of the best in Africa, and all have private pools, but they run around $2500/person/nt. If you take advantage of their stay four pay three offer, you can get that to around $1,850/person/nt. Internal flights from Maun and between camps are included in the rate, which drops the price further once factored in.
Their Duba Explorers Camp ($1565/person/nt) is an even better deal because you get the same amazing wildlife experience for a lower price. The only sacrifice is a communal instead of a private pool. Duke’s Camp ($1430/person/nt) is another option on a smaller reserve–but is super stylish and well-located with a communal pool.
There are a few ways you could do a Botswana trip:
An experiential safari at a better price
If you want to go a little further off the beaten path or save money, the Zambezi River is an excellent safari destination. From Cape Town, you can fly direct to Victoria Falls. In the falls area, the Victoria Falls River Lodge Island Treehouses ($1350/person/nt) has the most incredible view and bath, but there are multiple good options away from the bustle of the falls. You can spend one day at the falls and the rest of your time here on river cruises or safaris into Victoria Falls National Park.
From the falls, fly towards Mana Pools National Park – there are a couple optional stops en route:
Mana Pools National Park lies on the shores of the Zambezi River. It’s a favorite destination for safari purists because of the variety of activities and dramatic wildlife viewing. There is something ineffable about the light, which makes for amazing photos. There are a couple of camps here I think you might like:
Any of these itineraries could be mixed with a beach if you cut them in half. From Johannesburg you can fly to Seychelles, Mozambique, or Mauritius. I can share resort options if you are interested.