Accommodation: Luxury en-suite rooms
Destinations: Johannesburg, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Franschhoek, Cape Town, Johannesburg
Activities: Game drives, guided walking safaris, birding, optional food and wine tasting, optional activities in Franschhoek
During your 6 day adventure in South Africa, you will be accommodated in two family-run lodges that belong to the same family - providing a consistent level of exceptional service. Couples seeking a romantic getaway in the freedom of the wild and a stay in the romantic Cape Winelands will describe this South Africa vacation as the ideal romantic celebration.
From exhilarating wildlife encounters to mastered culinary delights and world-class wines, this 6 day visit to the Greater Kruger National Park and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands offer some of South Africa's finest treasures.
Your 6 day adventure in South Africa begins with a light aircraft flight from Johannesburg to Shumbalala Game Lodge in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve. The Big Five territory forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park and offers game viewing activities such as game drives and guided walking safaris.
Explore the lodge's facilities with a visit to the library or the swimming pool before indulging in some culinary delights at the afternoon high tea. Afterwards, venture out into the untamed bush alongside an experienced guide on a game drive that lasts into the evening. Stop in a remote spot to enjoy sundowners and snacks as the sun sets.
Freshen up at the lodge, before making your way down to a special setting for a culinary feast. Dinner is a five-course meal prepared by a professional chef and served in various settings depending on the occasion. Retire to your suite for an early night's rest in preparation for the upcoming days of adventure.
An early wakeup call and a cup of coffee or tea will signal the start of a new day and your morning game viewing activity. Your professional guide will take you out in a specialized safari vehicle for a game drive. Try your hand at tracking the Big Five as well as a large variety of other wildlife species, and enjoy a stop in the bush for coffee or tea and a light snack.
Upon return to the lodge, you will be served a delicious brunch before exploring the bush on foot during a guided walking safari. This is the opportune time to get a closer look at the fauna and flora of the wild, including a prolific list of birdlife, and photographic opportunities are endless.
Optional activities that can be enjoyed around the game reserve include elephant-back safaris, hot-air balloon safaris, horse riding, visits to conservation centres and a round of golf at Hans Merensky Golf Estate. Alternatively, enjoy a siesta or make use of the lodge's facilities before gathering for the afternoon high tea, which is followed by an afternoon /evening game drive.
Return to a selection of pre-dinner drinks from the bar or the underground cellar. Dinner is served in a variety of places - the dining room, alfresco around a campfire, on the game viewing deck, in the underground cellar or in your private suite. After dinner, spend some time outdoors around the campfire gazing into an endless canopy of stars.
On the fourth day of your safari, you will board a flight from the Thornybush Private Game Reserve to Johannesburg, and from there, to Cape Town International Airport. You will collect your car rental at the airport, and from there you will embark on a mini road trip to the Franschhoek valley in the Cape Winelands.
You will stay at Franschhoek Country House & Villas. Known as the food and wine capital of South Africa, this little town exudes tranquility and elegance. The lodge has two swimming pools, a spa that offers a variety of optional treatments, an award-winning Monneaux Restaurant and bar. Explore the many wine farms that make up the valley, and indulge in the culinary delights offered at the many restaurants.
Visit the wide variety of art galleries and boutiques in the town, or take an optional tour of the chocolate-making process at the chocolate factory. Other optional activities include visits to the Huguenot museum and other historical sites, or you can explore the wine farms on the tram or on horseback.
Horse riding, mountain biking and hiking in the mountains is a great activity for those seeking adventure, while the nearby golf courses offer a more tranquil activity. Evenings can be spent enjoying the lodge's facilities or trying out the food and wine that this romantic town has to offer.