Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
South Africa – Mozambique – Johannesburg – Makalali Game Reserve – White River – Vilanculos
100% customisable for you
After plenty of daydreams, excited chatter and eagerly counted-down sleeps, your love-laced trip to southern Africa begins today.
Head to the airport, breeze through security, then it’s time for those all-important pre-flight rituals: a bookshop browse and a celebratory tipple in the lounge.
Then, make your way to the gate and board your direct overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. With around 11 hours in the air, snuggle up in your seats, stick on a good rom-com, then fluff up your neck pillows for some shut-eye ahead of tomorrow’s arrival...
Wake up, sleepyheads – you've made it to South Africa. After touching down in Johannesburg this morning, you’ll be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel, where you’ll stay for the night.
Battling a bout of jet lag? Well, nothing wakes you up quite like Johannesburg. Meet your local guide and dive headfirst into the district of Maboneng, a whirlwind of artsy enclaves, eye-catching street murals and indie boutiques. This is a go-with-the-flow kind of experience, so follow whatever catches your eye, whether that’s a contemporary gallery or a tucked-away café (iced coffee, anyone?)
Next, explore the neighbourhood of Soweto as your guide tells you all about its pivotal role in the anti-Apartheid struggle. Then, delve deeper into the country’s turbulent past inside the Apartheid Museum, a powerful emblem of South Africa’s long fight for freedom and democracy.
And after a jam-packed day, leave dinner plans up to our Concierge – just tell them what you’re craving...
Love is in the air...and so is the excitement. Today you’ll be whisked back to the airport for your one-hour flight east to Hoedspruit.
When you land, you’ll be privately transferred on the two-hour drive to Makalali Private Game Reserve, set in the heart of the Greater Kruger region. And when your other half suddenly starts excitedly pointing out the window, there’s a good chance they’ve just clocked their first animal sighting...
Soon, the dusty tracks will lead you to your safari camp – your wild hideaway for the next two nights. The rest of the day is all yours, so perhaps bask in the oh-so-glorious sunshine, cool off in the pool or take your R&R to new heights with a couples’ massage.
As dusk settles, gather around the crackling fire for a traditional bush braai under the starry sky, complete with sundowners and flame-grilled fare. Between bites, your rangers will also fill you in on what tomorrow’s safari has in store...
Forget the alarm clock this morning. As dawn breaks, the bush erupts with a chorus of birdsong, distant hoots and the rustle of waking wildlife.
Don your khaki clothes, then bundle into a 4x4 for your first game drive. This reserve is home to (deep breath) elephants, buffalo, lions, rhinoceros, panthers, cheetahs, giraffes and an abundance of bird species, so keep score of how many sightings you can tick off before breakfast.
Bounce along to one of Makhutswi River’s waterways, where the stars of the show are undoubtedly the crocodiles, measuring a jaw-dropping 15ft long (gulp). If you can tear your eyes away, scan the channels for a tell-tale pair of ears poking above – often the only giveaway that a humongous hippo is wallowing below.
As darkness descends, embark on a nighttime game drive to experience the bush in a whole new light (or rather, hardly any light at all). Jackals prowl, hyenas cackle in the distance and creepy crawlies emerge, stretching their many, many legs...
Fuel up with a hearty bush breakfast this morning, then meet your driver for the four-hour journey south to the farming village of White River. This road trip calls for a good soundtrack, so perhaps ask your driver to tune into our destination-specific playlist as you scan the horizon for a dazzle of zebras (one of our favourite collective nouns).
When you arrive, check in to your charming lodge – your crash pad for the night. Then, stroll hand in hand through the surrounding countryside, where green pastures unfurl around sleepy villages, home to farmers who have cultivated this bountiful land for generations. Along the way, stop at roadside stalls piled high with locally grown mangoes and citrus fruits – all the makings of a seriously refreshing pick-me-up.
When hunger strikes this evening, make a beeline for a barbecue restaurant and sink your teeth into fiery sosaties (skewers of marinated meat), paired with seasonal produce from the region.
After a wildlife whirl of a time in South Africa, it’s onto Mozambique – a new country to explore and another stamp in your passport.
After a 45-minute private transfer to Nelspruit Airport, board your one-hour flight to Johannesburg, where you’ll connect onto a one-and-a-half-hour flight to Vilanculos in Mozambique. Let your other half claim the window seat; you’ll soon hear a running commentary of oohs and aahs as South Africa’s lunar-like plains give way to the sparkling blues of the Indian Ocean.
When you touch down, you’ll be met at the airport and whisked away to your oceanfront villa – your peaceful retreat for the next three nights.
Drop your bags, slip straight into sandals and saunter down to the beach, claiming a sun-drenched lounger and dipping into the sea whenever the heat starts to bite. And for dinner this evening, enjoy a seafood supper starring Mozambique’s famous flame-grilled prawns, best washed down with a spritzy cocktail.
Lather on the sunscreen and charge the camera – the next two days are all yours to explore Mozambique’s mesmerising coastline.
After a serious spell of sunbathing, perhaps amble down to the waterfront and board a dhow (a traditional sailing boat), for a voyage across the lagoon. With a skipper at the helm and the sea breeze doing its bit, sail towards the Bazaruto Archipelago, a snorkelling mecca of carnival-esque corals, shimmering fish and majestic manta rays. If luck’s on your side, you may even spot the elusive dugong; an endearingly gentle marine mammal known for its whiskery snout and docile nature.
Consider yourselves avid twitchers? Cruise along the Govhuro River, where there should be plenty of feathered friends to keep those binoculars busy. Scan the vine-tangled mangroves for great egrets, African jacanas and flashy kingfishers, their vivid plumage flashing through the canopy.
For your last evening, leave the restaurant choice to our local Concierge, who’ll know just the spot for a romantic candlelit dinner by the sea.
Time flies when you’re having fun and, sadly, your escape to Africa has come to an end.
Enjoy one last beachside breakfast, bask in those final rays of vitamin D and then, however reluctantly, prise yourselves off the sun loungers for your private transfer back to the airport.
When you arrive, have a mooch around duty-free (and perhaps pick up a last-minute gift for your partner) before boarding your flight back home, with a quick stop in Johannesburg along the way.
All in all, you’ll spend around 13 hours in the air; plenty of time to flick through your photos, smile at the memories made and perhaps pitch your next trip idea to your other half...
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
