South Africa revels in its role as safari connoisseur, expertly blending unspoiled African bush with opulence and exclusivity. Experience the intimacy of a romantic safari tour to South Africa as you nestle into a luxury escape that cascades superlatives; the immersive natural spectacle is elevated in the most inimitable of styles. This isn't merely an African safari at its most compelling and elegant. It's an unforgettable hideaway for relaxation and romance in the heart of untamed Africa.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Thanda Private Game Reserve – Exclusive Safari Introduction
Land at King Shaka International Airport in Durban and a helicopter is waiting to whisk you off to Thanda Private Game Reserve. A multiple winner of the World's Leading Luxury Lodge, Thanda offers an authentic immersion in Africa's wilderness and a stylish exclusivity that's difficult to find anywhere else on the continent. Your first two nights are spent in a 220 square meter bush suite that's surrounded by the delights of the game reserve. It's a hidden base for romance and relaxation, yet also your base for stunning safari experiences. Lounge on the wooden deck, dip into the heated plunge pool, watch the mammals roam, and enjoy dinner in your luxurious private boma, your exclusive outdoor enclosure.
What's Included:
Day 2
Thanda Private Game Reserve – Elevating the Romance
Day 3 - 4
Thanda Private Game Reserve – Genuine Bush Immersion in a Luxury Tented Camp
Day 5
Isimangaliso – Idyllic Indian Ocean Bliss
Day 6
Isimangaliso – The Hippos of Isimangaliso Wetland Park
Day 7
Isimangaliso – Getting Lost in the Beauty of the Wetlands
Day 8 - 9
Kruger – Beautiful Big Five Impressions in Kruger National Park
Day 10 - 11
Kruger – Private Safari Paradise in the Kruger
Day 12
Johannesburg – Departure from South Africa
Trip Highlights
- Savor the safari exclusivity of Thanda Private Game Reserve, a multi-time winner of World's Leading Luxury Lodge and your base for the first four nights of this vacation
- Garner a fresh perspective on safari immersion by spending three days in the beautiful Isimangaliso Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for lavish indigenous forests and boat safaris down game-filled rivers
- Blend close-up safari encounters with idyllic beach as you settle onto the Indian Ocean's white sand that surrounds the lodge, a place where monkeys and hippos mingle with palm trees and deserted bliss
- Complete the vacation with four days of iconic Big Five action in Kruger National Park, a remote private concession ensuring the exclusivity and romance is elevated even further
- Helicopter rides and private flights connect the destinations, minimizing travel time and offering dazzling panoramas over the South African hinterland
- Enjoy a full eleven days of meaningful and intimate safari; each destination provides a new perspective, every experience is tailored to you and your partner, and each camp or lodge harmoniously blends with the wild
Detailed Description
South Africa's wild hinterland teems with big mammals. The magnificent Big Five roam freely, joined on the plains by hippos, giraffe, and a conglomeration of antelopes. This is a landscape of safari dreams, a beautiful expanse of unspoiled nature ripe for private exploration. South Africa also leads the continent in providing exclusive luxury safari experiences. World-leading luxury lodges and camps leave you alone with nature; think elephants walking past as you lounge in heated plunge pools, spacious honeymoon suites with beautiful views over the plains, and opulent dining illuminated by candles. Close up encounters with famed big game are at the core of the experience, then the little luxury touches uncover a side to Africa that very few other visitors can indulge in. Exclusive and tender, yet undeniably wild and remote, this 12-day South Africa safari vacation is tailored for romantic or honeymooning couples looking for absolute privacy.
Start in Thanda Private Game Reserve, soaking up the beauty of a lodge that regularly takes home the gong as winner of World's Leading Luxury Lodge. For the first two days you sleep in the lodge and enjoy a myriad of intimate and meaningful safari encounters. Walk with elephants, admire the dazzling Big Five in their natural environment, and watch it all from your spacious veranda and suite. Then switch to the chic Jabula Tent, a true piece of solitude complete with swimming pool and lounge area. It goes without saying, that everything is situated to maximize the panoramas over the 14,000 hectare reserve.
Isimangaliso Wetland Park then provides a new angle: a stunning camp is tucked away in the forest, surrounded by monkey calls and wheeze-honks coming from the water. Once again, it's a destination for serenity and private moments in the heart of nature. Boat safaris explore hippo-covered rivers and vivid marine reefs, then they emerge in the ocean and transport you to dazzling sand banks virtually inaccessible to the world. Choose to relax. Choose to explore. Choose to savor the rare beauty of Isimangaliso at your own pace, and choose to indulge in this rarely explored part of the world. These rich safari experiences blend into Indian Ocean paradise. The Thonga Beach Lodge is just meters from white the sand, it looks like a postcard and the tranquil impressions of safari are further enhanced by iconic beach escapism.
South Africa's premier safari destination is Kruger National Park, a huge 20,000 square kilometers that's home to half the world's wild rhino population and a stunning superfluity of big cats. It's undeniably popular. Yet unfenced concessions ensure that exclusivity remains at the core of this vacation. Soak up the safari serenity of Kapama Karula, a private reserve bursting with all of Kruger's indelible big game. Expect to be sitting on the veranda and marveling at the full Big Five passing by. Like always, the safari itinerary is dictated by you and is completely exclusive. Game drives, walking safaris, dinners in the bush, everything exactly tailored to your needs. And like always, expect a solitude and exclusivity in South Africa's natural spectacle.
Starting Price
$15,600 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.95 stars based on 1173 reviews.
The trip was the best we have ever had. Africa is a very special place. Zicasso's travel expert did a fantastic job of organizing the itinerary. The only disappointment was that we were not scheduled to see the mass migration across the river.
Reviewed By Andrew K.
Zicasso’s travel agent put together an amazing trip for our family. This travel agent was incredibly responsive.
Reviewed By David W.
We had an amazing trip, planned by Zicasso's travel partner. This is the first time I've ever used a travel agent and I'll admit, I was nervous. She took all of our feedback into consideration while planning. I highly recommend!
Reviewed By Kris C.
This was a well-planned trip that was personally rewarding and fulfilling.
This trip provided a great balance of the diverse locations from both countries (Namibia and South Africa).
I chose Zicasso as, at this stage of life, when taking well-deserved vacations, I just want to pay, pack, show up and have everything (accommodations, transportation, domestic and international flights, tours, attention to safety, and additional recommendations) accounted for. And that is exactly what the Zicasso's travel expert provided via her tour agency.
I was able to share my must-haves/nice-to-haves and she customized a vacation package that tended to every detail. It was a wonderful balance of rustic and luxury. It was also our July “birthdaycation” for my aunt and me, and we were surprised at multiple locations with surprise birthday acknowledgements. Birthdays are very special to me, so this was a major “icing” on the cake for me on this vacation.
Although there was a minor “hiccup” on the day of arrival, the travel specialist's “on-the-ground” (local) staff pivoted and quickly and professionally found another option for us for our airport pickup. This shows the mark of a company interested in ensuring the complete satisfaction of their clients.
For the destinations the travel expert specializes in, they will be my first point of contact when looking to make my next vacation destination.
Well done!
Reviewed By Andrea +.
The trip was carefully planned and we received optimal assistance throughout the trip and constant availability and monitoring during the journey. Our Zicasso travel agent was very professional and always available to respond to our requests and needs. The choice of hotels was excellent and reflected the expectations. The activities offered in the different locations were very well structured and the guides were of high quality, particularly those in Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta.
Reviewed By Roberto B.
Our family had a blast in South Africa, thanks to Zicasso's travel designer. She was meticulous in the planning and gave some good suggestions that worked well for our group. From fast-track tickets up to Table Mountain to food recommendations, she curated an itinerary that made the trip a breeze.
The guide in Cape Town was a wellspring of knowledge. We learned so much about the country from her, from history to economics and culture.
The safari portion of the trip was most memorable. The resort in Hoedspruit was just what the family needed.
We will definitely look up this travel company for future trips.
Reviewed By Lauren L.