We often get asked where the best place to go on safari is. Or alternatively where can you go on a safari holiday that can be paired with a beach stay afterwards. It is probably our most popular type of honeymoon, to combine a once-in-a-lifetime safari holiday with a paradise-like beach break. What about Tanzania and Zanzibar? Or Botswana and then Mauritius? something else? Then there’s South Africa and the Seychelles…

The above options are all excellent and definitely possible, however we believe for good reason that South Africa is the perfect safari destination, both for a standalone holiday, and a twin-centre trip. We can certainly say that many of our guests agree with us. But why?

Ease, variety and pricing are three of the main reasons why. The ease of direct flights into South Africa, but also to onward destinations such as the Seychelles or Mauritius. This means that there are less components to consider and less connections which need to slot into place. 

South Africa offers a wide variety of wildlife, an excellent selection of safari lodges, has an incredible diversity of national parks and reserves, and a broad range of things to see and do outside of wildlife spotting, including wine tastings, beach trips, cultural excursions and foodie thrills.

And pricing, South Africa is typically more affordable than neighbouring Botswana or Zambia, or east-African Tanzania. This is partly due to the number of hotels and lodges available which means that pricing is more competitive, but also because of the increased availability of flights resulting in lower prices. The infrastructure is well established so all components are much cheaper. This means that many choose to spend the same budget and splurge on a luxurious safari experience, whilst other travellers might instead opt to add in a few days in Cape Town or The Winelands in addition to going on safari.

A final point as to why South Africa is such a brilliant destination, is that year-round there is so much to discover. When temperatures are dropping in the northern hemisphere, it is heating up in South Africa and the winter is a perfect time to visit the Eastern Cape, spend time on the beach, or drink rosé in the Winelands. Year round the wildlife is sensational, from the ‘green season’ (October – April) where after the first rains the scenery is lush and bird watching is incredible, to the dry period of May – September when vast numbers of animals congregate around the watering holes – excellent for game viewing.

Wildlife in South Africa:

South Africa is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo), as well as hundreds of other plant, bird and animal species. The Kruger National Park is probably the best known safari destination in the world. It extends to the Great Kruger area and includes areas such as the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, providing a more intimate safari experience. From wild African plains to tropical forests, the terrain is varied across the 19,633 square kilometres that make up the park. We recommend flying into one of the three airports of the Kruger depending on the lodge you choose. One lodge which we would highly recommend is the &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge, within the Ngala Private Game Reserve. It is luxurious, amazingly situated in the heart of the Kruger National Park, and is both family-friendly and ideal for a honeymoon. There is even an incredible treehouse overnight stay for an amazing under the stars safari experience.

Sometimes we have requests to minimise the number of flights whilst away and the Madikwe Game Reserve is ideal for this. A lesser known national park in South Africa, not only is the Big Five found here, but it feels like you are hidden off the beaten track, and the reserve  can be reached by car from Johannesburg. It is also a park which is malaria free, another perk. With wild dog, giraffe, zebra, springbok, cheetah, hyena, impala, chacma baboon, Cape pangolin, egrets, herons and storks making up just some of the residents of the park, there’s so much to see. Couple this with some brilliant lodges like the Jamala Madikwe and Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge, and it forms a complete safari destination.

For those wishing to explore South Africa and include a safari destination there are plenty of options. The Garden Route, is an iconic trail that loosely follows South Africa’s southern coastline, and the Eastern Cape can be part of this journey. With rugged beaches and whale spotting to enjoy (seasonally), some might be surprised to hear that there are several game reserves near the coastline. These include the Amakhala Game Reserve where the Amakhala Safari Lodge is located, and the Pumba Private Game Reserve where both the Msenge Bush Lodge and the Pumba Water Lodge are found. Secluded and luxurious, these lodges and smaller parks can feel remote and wild and perfect for a couple of days of wildlife spotting, there are also some fantastic experiences to add-in such as nocturnal game drives, pangolin photographic safaris and wilderness walks.

What else is there to do when visiting South Africa?

Plenty is the short answer. As already stated, South Africa is a year-round destination. Many people will choose to fly into Cape Town and this results in so much to see and do. If you are a foodie then take a read of our blog: A foodie’s guide to Cape Town. You will rapidly realise there’s everything from the height of fine dining to edgy bars and authentic coffee shops and markets to discover. We have some amazing private day trips which can be arranged to see some of the local Cape Town secrets. Meanwhile there is also the iconic Table Mountain and its national park to visit. Choose to hike to the top or take the cable car and see one of our favourite views in Africa.

Just outside of Cape Town there is Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African penguins, it is another example of South Africa’s diverse wildlife. The beaches along the Cape are stunning. Moving away from Cape Town there’s the Winelands. We would recommend spending at least two days in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and The Winelands, there are some incredibly beautiful estates to discover, delicious wines to sample and plenty of gourmet dining spots, as well as sumptuous retreats like La Residence.

For those in search of a beach break, The Garden Route stretches across 290 kilometres of coastline, passing from the Western Cape, by Cape Town through to the Eastern Cape. Passing the Atlantic Ocean onwards to the Indian Ocean, the landscapes are varied. The Morukuru Beach Lodge is perfect for a relaxed stay, guests can enjoy a drink on the beach whilst whale watching, head out on a 4×4 nature drive or go snorkelling.

There’s so much more than can be enjoyed in South Africa. There’s Pretoria Botanical Gardens and the purple jacaranda of Pretoria, the many museums and cultural highlights of Johannesburg and the cosmopolitan city of Durban. So perhaps one of the reasons why South Africa is our top safari destination, is because it is far from just a safari destination!

Two sample itineraries for visiting South Africa:

We have a number of sample itineraries which showcase some of the best of what South Africa has to offer. Here are two sample itinerary ideas: 

South Africa 10 nights highlights:

This 10 night itinerary really focuses on the best of the wildlife of South Africa and encompasses two of the best places to visit to see this, the Kruger National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve.

Arriving in Johannesburg, guests will be transported by private transfer to the 5* boutique AtholPlace Hotel, just 30 minutes away from the airport. After relaxing post-flight and staying overnight, guests then move onwards to the Madikwe Game Reserve, approximately four to five hours away by private transfer or a one hour flight with transfers either side. 

Spend three nights at the stunning and exclusive Little Madikwe Private Camp and make the most of the game viewing activities on offer in the Madikwe Hills, bordering Botswana. This luxurious camp sleeps up to eight guests in privacy and has a cooling swimming pool as well as bush walks and game drives. 

After this guests spend two nights at the 131 on Herbert Baker Boutique Hotel in Pretoria. This is inviting and spacious with beautiful views. There are cultural trips to enjoy, horse riding and it is an ideal spot from which to explore Pretoria. 

The final stop of this itinerary is the Timbavati Game Reserve which is a three and a half hour drive from Pretoria. Nestled on the edge of the Kruger National Park but in a quieter corner, it is another amazing opportunity for wildlife spotting and seeing the Big Five alongside wild dogs and a host of other animals. Four nights at the Bateleur Safari Camp is an incredible way to finish this wildlife-focussed holiday.

South Africa safari and Seychelles beach holiday:

A true favourite, this combines perfectly for two good reasons, the first is that both South Africa and the Seychelles are year-round destinations. For example there is some incredible game viewing in South Africa’s dry season which can be combined with the best of the Seychelles weather in October. The second reason is that the flight time between Johannesburg and the Seychelles is excellent. The daily afternoon flight to the Seychelles takes just over five hours which is far more manageable than that of the Maldives. With a range of intimate resorts, the Seychelles feels like paradise and ideal for a honeymoon.

Starting your holiday in Cape Town we would recommend staying at the luxurious Belmond Mount Nelson. Close to the centre of the city, this oasis provides the perfect lavish base from which to explore Cape Town. Visit the iconic Table Mountain and some of the city’s foodie hotspots, or alternatively Boulders Beach. Stay for three nights and there should be plenty of time to relax post-flight, unwind and explore. 

The natural follow on to this would be to spend a further three nights in The Winelands. A private transfer takes just an hour and 15 minutes from Belmond Mount Nelson. Spend lazy days wandering through the beautiful vineyards, take the wine tram from Franschhoek and hop-on and off as you discover South Africa’s finest wines. Three nights of luxury can be found at the serene Franschhoek Country House & Villas. This five star property has villas for added romantic seclusion, ideal for a honeymoon.

The return journey to Cape Town airport will take just an hour. With a direct flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg, it is then just a one hour connecting flight onwards to Skukuza Airport before a 25 minute transfer will bring you to the stunning Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, one of the Kruger National Park’s finest properties. Guests stay in private villas with a dedicated plunge pool and wonderful interiors. In between relaxing in absolute comfort there are safaris to be enjoyed within the private Lion Sands Game Reserve. There are bush walks, wildlife lectures, hippo excursions, bush breakfasts and stargazing to be experienced. Four nights here will indulge wildlife enthusiasts before returning to Johannesburg.

After 10 nights in South Africa a direct flight from Johannesburg takes approximately five hours to arrive in paradise, the Seychelles. The choice is yours, browse our finest Seychelles properties here and should you need some help choosing your Seychelles paradise, we will be happy to make a shortlist of tailor-made suggestions.

Hopefully this blog has whet your appetite for a couples holiday, family holiday or honeymoon to South Africa and illustrated why it is our top safari destination. Not only that but just how much there is to do when visiting the rainbow nation.