Madison & Bo’s Safari Honeymoon

This is a sample outline of your honeymoon with hotel options listed. Pricing is total for two, but these are base retail prices and do not include flights (domestic and international), tips, or park fees. Safari pricing includes all food and activities, while Cape Town and Mozambique do not. Nothing is on hold, so pricing and availability could change.

If you want to save money, we can cut the Cape Town segment or find a safari camp outside of the Greater Kruger National Park area. You will still get good wildlife in other reserves, but Kruger is one of the best places in Africa. There are also cheaper options near Kruger, but most of them allow 8-10 guests per vehicle, and 6 is the maximum I prefer.

July 15: Cape Town

Arrive in Cape Town at 5 pm on your direct flight from DC. You will be greeted at the airport and driven to your hotel. Enjoy dinner out in Cape Town.

Cape Town can be windy and occasionally rainy in July because it is winter. This makes for excellent hiking weather but isn’t ideal for beaches. The weather in the Winelands will be slightly better, as it is about an hour inland. Right now, I have Winelands as a day trip from Cape Town, but you can stay there if you are willing to pay slightly more. This is a good place save money on hotels.

Recommended Hotels:

• Gorgeous George: $470-720
  • A stylish hotel option that is centrally located in Cape Town
• Welgelegen Guest House: $460
  • A more cozy boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood
• Mont Rochelle: $1000
  • A solid hotel option by Virgin in Franschhoek in the Winelands
• La Cle: $1300
  • A slightly nicer and more unique hotel than Mont Rochelle in the Winelands

July 16: Cape Town Hike

Take a scenic coastal hike in the morning before dining in one of the city’s best restaurants.

July 17: To Greater Kruger National Park

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to one of the greater Kruger National Park area airports. The exact route will be determined by the safari log you select. I’ve included some of my favorites for your budget below.

Recommended Lodges:

• Simbavati Hilltop: $6,918
  • This is a great value location option in the Timbavati Reserve near Kruger National Park. It has a plunge pool and a large room. The camp has only six rooms, so it’s very private.
• Ulusaba Rock Lodge: $7,773
  • This is part of the Virgin Limited Edition and is a good value for the Sabi Sands reserve, the best private reserve near Kruger. This room option does not have a plunge pool, but it has a nice bath with an incredible view of the reserve.
• Dulini River: $9,950
  • This is one of my favorite honeymoon camps in the private Sabi Sands reserve near Kruger National Park. It offers top-notch style, small camps, and great game drives, but it is more costly than the others.
• &Beyond Kirkmans Camp: $8,766
  • This camp has a great location in Sabi Sands, though I wouldn’t say I like the design quite as much. It combines well with their Benguerra Island Lodge (below) to get their honeymoon special offers.

July 18-20: Kruger Safari

Spend the next few days on game drives, walking safaris, and enjoying the incredible wildlife.

July 21: Beach Getaway

Fly back to Johannesburg and catch a flight, most likely to Vilankulos to Mozambique, for a relaxing finale on the beach.

Recommended Resort:

• Sussurro: $5640
  • This new resort is on the mainland and further from snorkeling, but the location makes it more affordable than other options. It’s also one of my favorite resort designs in Africa – great value for what you get.
• Anantara Bazaruto: $5,502
  • This resort has a fantastic private island location, but I don’t like the design as much as some of the other resorts in Mozambique.
• &Beyond Benguerra Island: $6,300
  • This is one of the better resorts in Mozambique, and it combines the best with other &Beyond lodges to get a special offer.
• Azura Benguerra Island: $7,770
  • This is one of my favorite honeymoon destinations. It costs a bit more, but they have a good location and are very community-oriented. I can sometimes get a free helicopter ride at this price.
• Hilton Northholme Seychelles: $2269
  • This is a much cheaper option if you are willing to take the 5-hour flight to Seychelles. July is a windier month here, but the Hilton’s location on the northwest side of the island shelters it compared to other locations.

July 22-24: Beach Resort

Spend the next few days relaxing on the beach, taking boat rides, snorkeling, etc.

July 25: Depart for Home

Fly back to Johannesburg and onward towards home.