South Africa
When my partner and I got engaged, I knew one of the most important parts of the wedding, for me, would be the honeymoon. We both quickly agreed that going on a safari was a bucket list item we’d love to do for this special trip. As soon as we set a wedding date, the safari in South Africa was booked shortly after.
When planning a trip like this, I knew I wouldn’t be able to go it alone. I looked up companies I had seen a few people travel with (&Beyond was everywhere), but found that the ones most advertised were also some of the most expensive. I did extensive research into tour companies and narrowed it down to a top three based on cost and experiences included. Discover Africa seemed to have the same package as many others, but at a fraction of the cost. I was nervous at first, but the reviews were good and our travel agent, Diane, was super helpful along the way, even meeting with us through a few video calls before we even put a deposit down.
And, let me tell you, it all exceeded my expectations. Safaris can cost thousands of dollars per person, but we were able to do a 10 day trip for about $3,500 per person which included local travel and transport, hotels, safari drives, and all meals on safari, as well as one day trip from Cape Town. The only major costs otherwise were meals (which were very inexpensive) and our flights to Cape Town. Ready to hear more? Let’s dive in!
Franschhoek Wine Region
We flew into Cape Town and then had a driver bring us about an hour away to the Franschhoek wine region. We stayed at the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel, which was cozy (we had a fireplace in our room) and centrally located, with a great Italian restaurant next door.
The food scene in the region is top notch, with many offering prix fixe / tasting menu style dinners. We ate at Allora, Reubens, and The Bistrot at Grand Provence.
While we stayed for two nights, we really only had one full day there, but it was the perfect amount of time. We spent our full day riding the Wine Tram, which was a fun and unique way to experience the vineyards. After paying an arm and a leg in Napa for tastings earlier in the year, I was shocked by how cheap the wine tram and tastings were.
The wine tram costs about $15 per person, and there are an extensive amount of routes and options. It’s hard to narrow them down, but we went based on location and routes that had lunch options. The wine tram (and bus) take you around to multiple vineyards and run at various times throughout the day, so you can really make your own schedule of where you want to go. Each location has different offerings; some are small, some have art galleries, and a favorite had a chocolate pairing. It’s truly a choose your own adventure and while it can feel overwhelming, every place we went was great, and a tasting flight costs about $5, so no matter where you go, you're bound to have a good time.
Here’s where we went and a highlight from each:
Rickety Bridge - you can make your own wine blend here, an experience I regret not doing
Grand Provence Heritage Wine Estate - this one had their own art gallery and we also had an incredible lunch here
Mont Rochelle - stunning views of the mountains and happens to be owned by Sir Richard Branson
La Bri - had a tasty red wine and chocolate pairing here
Simbavati River Lodge
After a few days adjusting to the time zone, we were ready to head on safari. We drove back to Cape Town and flew to the smallest airport I have ever been to in Hoedspruit, South Africa. A driver picked us up, and we began the drive to our lodge. As we were staying in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, we had to go through a checkpoint to get to the ‘main’ road, and as soon as we got on that road, we were in the reservation with wildlife. Five minutes into the road we saw giraffes, monkeys, elephants, and zebras - and we weren’t even officially on safari yet. After about an hour on that route, we took a turn for another 20 minute drive on a bumpy dirt road before we arrived at the gorgeous Simbavati River Lodge.
This open air lodge overlooks a watering hole (though it was dried out when we were there) in an expanse of nature. We had our own private bungalow with a plunge pool, but despite being hot during the day, it dropped so cold at night we never got to fully enjoy this amenity.
We arrived around 3pm and had just enough time to change before the evening drive. Each day you get two drives; a morning one that starts at 6AM (after getting a nice 5AM wakeup call) and a 4PM drive which ends at sunset and brings you home just in time for dinner. Every other night for dinner they do a barbeque style event called a boma, where you enjoy food family style with your safari crew. The other meals were all multi course and some of the best food I’ve ever had.
Between drives, you have the daytime hours to relax - we sat on our patio and watched animals in our backyard, napped, read, and even got a massage one day. It’s a great mix of relaxation and adventure, except when an elephant is guarding your door - but more on that below.
The drives were always a gamble on what animals we might see. Hyenas and kudu (think of a deer) tend to be everywhere, but the big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) are the ones that require expert patience and tracking. We had the most amazing guides and trackers, who told us all about each animal, tree, and the entire landscape in depth. The drives are small, with about 4 other people in the vehicle with you. We got to chat with people from around the world; some young and on their first safari, some seasoned experts.
My favorite memory was our first morning drive. We went out in the dark, and then, ten minutes into the drive, the sun started to come up. With the backdrop of the most beautiful sunrise, a tower (that’s the official name) of giraffes walked right in front of us. It was the most serene and incredible moment in nature.
My least favorite memory - when we came back to our room one day to find two elephants hanging out in front of our door, which required the assistance of our lodge team to move them away.
Overall, this was probably the most awe inspiring trip I have ever experienced. Nothing makes you feel quite like a small speck in the world than being in the middle of nature surrounded by wild animals, thousands of miles from home.
Cape Town
After three amazing nights on safari, we said our farewells and headed back to Cape Town. We spent four nights at the Victoria and Alfred Hotel in the waterfront district. The area was extremely clean, safe, and had plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.
Our tour company had arranged a private tour of the Cape Peninsula (aka where you can see penguins in the wild) through Jarat Tours for our first full day in Cape Town. Our driver wasn’t my favorite, but it was nice to be whisked around on a private tour. We saw penguins in the wild, went on a small hike by the ocean, and stopped for lunch and a wine tasting at Cape Point Winery, a gorgeous spot overlooking the ocean.
For our additional days in Cape Town, we got a hop on hop off bus pass to tour around the city (they highly advise against taking public transit there). The bus had an audio guide and made it easy to get around to all the major sites while learning about the city.
We spent a long afternoon in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and attempted a small hike there as well. Hiking Table Mountain is an extremely popular activity to do, but can be a very strenuous hike. As it had been pouring rain the day before we decided not to make the full trek in case the paths were slippery. Instead, we spent the afternoon on the bus tour's wine extension. We went to Groot Constantia for lunch and a wine tasting. They have expansive grounds and plenty of vines to walk around, too, as well as a museum and tour.
The food and drink scene in Cape Town is incredible (and inexpensive). We had cocktails at The Gin Bar, Truly Yours, and the Silo Hotel (perfect for sunset cocktails). We had dinner at La Padrona, Kloof Street House, Iron Steak, and Mlilo at the Time Out market (the meat platter is a must). A few other spots we stopped at were the Mojo Market for lunch, Truth Coffee (one of the top coffee shops in the world), and shopping for unique, local gifts at The Watershed.
In short - this was a trip of a lifetime, with great scenery, activities, food, and drink.
I had a lot of questions before my trip, so I wanted to share a few common questions and answers for traveling to South Africa:
Is it safe?
We were warned to keep belongings close, avoid public transit, and to only take an Uber Black (not X). With all that in mind, we never felt uncomfortable, and spent most nights eating at restaurants downtown. Our tour guide for our day excursion tried to get us to buy tanzanite by bringing us to multiple shops where he ‘knew someone,’ which was annoying, but not too concerning, and we didn’t feel pressure to actually buy anything (nor did we).
Do I need cash? What are the costs like?
We went in July 2024, and the conversion rate was extremely favorable to the USD. Most meals were under $60 for a great meal and drinks. Cash is helpful to have for tipping, and you’ll want to bring a lot for your safari team.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
Technically, we went in the off season to visit South Africa. Their seasons are reversed from North America - July is their winter, so it tends to be cooler (50s/60s) and rainy, though certainly not the winter I’m used to in New England. On safari it was in the 80s during the day, however the early mornings and evening drives could get quite chilly, and it was all about the layers.
Do I need any vaccinations or a visa?
We got prescriptions for malaria and travelers sickness, but as we went in the low season for malaria, and I had heard so many adverse reactions from people who had taken the meds on other trips, we took the risk of not taking the meds (and made it out just fine). However, I would advise you check with a travel doctor beforehand. No visa was needed at the time of our trip, either.