South Africa’s Most Romantic One-Week Safari

Johannesburg can quickly flip certain preconceptions about Africa. Far from images of an underdeveloped continent, the city is a colorful mass of towers that is surrounded by luscious green plateaus. After landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport, you will be transferred to Sandton, which is Johannesburg’s most upmarket neighborhood. Hidden away here is Nelson Mandela’s former presidential retreat. It has been converted into a luxury, boutique hotel without letting go of any of the old magic and heritage. After checking-in, you can indulge in a couple’s treatment at the spa before dining with the privilege of one of Africa’s most celebrated chefs. The day is designed to be slow and relaxed and a chance to ease into your vacation after a long flight.

O.R. Tambo is Africa’s busiest airport and safari gateway. Flights to various safari destinations leave in the morning, so a one-night layover is necessary for most international visitors. By leaving Mandela’s heritage behind this morning, you will board a flight bound for Phinda, swapping the city for the open savannah and wandering wildlife. Here, first impressions always concern tranquility, and even from the runway, you can see large mammals upon the scorched landscape. Your first sightings of an elephant or a buffalo will be nothing like being in a zoo. There is a serenity to watching these giants stroll through their natural habitat, and rather than the clamber of moving from animal to animal, you can be hypnotized by the slow and everyday movements of each animal that you encounter.

Of course, spotting a lion or a rhino can bring shrieks of excitement. There are thrills here as well, and with every first sighting, there is an initial shock as you come to appreciate just how close you are to Africa’s endangered giants. When this fades, you will be left with the reality of an African safari in Phinda. Essentially, it is just the two of you, your expert guide, and many thousands of wild animals that are going about their day. After a short transfer to your secluded villa, you will have time to watch the animals from the pool or terrace. Your guide will discuss a program of activities, and because everything is private, the day can continue as you please.

A slow game drive is usually recommended for your first day of safari. In an open-topped vehicle, you can drive on and off the trails for dazzling first sightings of elephant, giraffe, hippo, lion, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, rhino, and a magnificent array of antelope. Phinda is South Africa’s largest private game reserve, but you do not need to waste time searching for the animals. Not only do local guides understand where particular animals usually live, they know where they are likely to be at during particular hours of the day. Remember, this will be your private safari, and the program is yours. So, confess your adoration of hippos and your guide will lead you to them, possibly with a bottle of bubbly and a picnic.

You will wake up to the sounds of the wild this morning. Birds will tweet, elephants will trumpet, and you may hear the rustling noises of zebra as they graze nearby. Breakfast will be served to your terrace at the time of your choice. Your guides will recommend an early start as you can see more wildlife during the cooler hours, but this is your safari, so it is really up to you. While sipping coffee on the terrace, you can look upon the grazers, and then out to four-legged giants along the horizon. There is a misconception that a safari is all about adventurous drives and bumping around the bush. Over these two days in Phinda, you will learn that animal encounters can continue at any moment of the day.

Your villa will be standalone, and there is nothing artificial on the vista. You can watch wildlife from the plunge pool, terrace, or simply by opening your curtains. On today’s game drives or walks, you will explore more of the reserve and follow the animals in their natural habitat. Again, watching a rhino amble past is a thrilling experience, but mostly, you will delight in the serenity and seclusion that this safari provides. You can stop to drink wine on remote plateaus, enjoy private moments around a watering hole, safely walk hand in hand through elephant country, and slowly settle into the wilderness rhythm. The pace will be comfortable, and by the end of today, you will feel a million miles from the day to day of home.

After an optional, final morning activity in Phinda, you will fly to the Sabi Sands, which is a legendary jigsaw puzzle of unfenced reserves in the Greater Kruger. First impressions will probably be similar to Phinda, which are mostly of the space and large mammals that are close to the airstrip, but as today’s safari continues, there are clear distinctions between your two destinations. In Phinda, you can witness a beautiful variety of wildlife. It is an ideal first destination for couples as you can see all the famous animals without needing to rush or spend all day on game drives. Sightings have more unpredictability in the Sabi Sands, but this is balanced by abundance. Now, when you see elephants, it could be a herd of 50 plus. The antelope are also too numerous to count, and it will be easy to lose track of all the big cat sightings.

Wildlife is attracted to the Sabi Sands because of the Sabi and Sand Rivers, which are two of the Greater Kruger’s most important water sources. Water brings life, and the mix of vegetation draws all kinds of animals. Your villa will be tucked away in the trees with a terrace and plunge pool that overlooks a river. Here, you can be completely hidden from people and still return the gaze of the animals that drink down from the river. Most couples are initially in awe of their surroundings, so today’s activities are likely to be short, allowing for plenty of time to enjoy your villa, but you can also choose a full day of exploring with a picnic lunch.

As dawn breaks on the Kruger savannah, a lion may meet your eye. Its mane will flutter on the breeze, which will be a sublime moment to share with your partner: the two of you with the Kruger king. You can wait a few moments, and then it may be a rhino that catches your eye. She may walk past with proud horns or a look of melancholy in her eye. Next, maybe a zebra herd with hundreds of individual moments to seek out amid the striped herd. Down by the river, you can surely find quarreling hippos, while in the forest you can catch a glimpse of another leopard.

While you cannot predict every animal that you will see on a safari, the above is what can be experienced in just 20 to 30 minutes of a sunrise game drive. The Sabi Sands is not one reserve but a collection of them. These reserves share an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, allowing for the free movement of wildlife. Your reserve does not allow non-staying guests to enter either, which means that there is never more than 24 visitors on the entire reserve at one time. It is a very private safari experience, and with such space and seclusion, there can always be somewhere new to be alone. Your guide can be very discreet and will keep watch for animals, while you can gaze upon the savannah in peace, comfort, and luxury.

This morning, you will drift across the Kruger savannah in a hot air balloon while enjoying blissful views of the wilderness. From up here, you can admire the rivers and how they carve tree-lined routes across a dusty land. Elephants and giraffes are visible as well along with larger herds. As always, this is a private activity with just you, your partner, and your air balloon pilot. Shortly, you will touch down to a champagne brunch before continuing your safari with a game drive that can take you into the national park and other Sabi Sands reserves.

Back in your own safari haven, there will likely be some personal leopard encounters this afternoon and evening. The reserve is the finest place in Africa to see this big cat. Like most cats, they are secretive and solitary animals. Your guide will know of their favorite spots, but even when getting close, you may initially miss one. Your guide can point to a tree, and at first, there will appear to be nothing, but if you focus and look closer, a tail will move, betraying the leopard’s hiding spot. You may even catch a glimpse of its shining blue eyes. On other occasions, you can watch a leopard as it bounds down or tree or as it disappears into the grass on the trail of prey. It is moments like this that can make your safari such an inspiringly personal experience.

One week is an excellent amount of time for couples who venture on a safari. With only two to three days, you can easily feel rushed, but it takes five to six days in order to really experience the wilderness and not just the different animals, but the rhythm of life and how wildlife reacts and interacts with each other. With a week-long safari, you can also enjoy all the exclusive safari extras. Part of your itinerary can be private bush picnics and dinner tables beneath the stars. You can track specific animals to appreciate their day-to-day life, explore on nighttime game drives, or choose for hand in hand game walks in wildlife-rich landscapes.

Most importantly, with a week-long safari, you can also enjoy the heavenly accommodation. There can be lazy hours of watching animals as they drink at the river along with very private evenings that are tucked away in the forest. On nighttime game drives, you can track leopards on the prowl before returning to a terrace that is laden with dinner. There can also be indulgence and so many opportunities for toasting to romance, as well as all the wonderful animals. While you may be expecting an adventure, after six days on your safari, you may find the rhythm to be utterly tranquil. This is not just an intimate experience with Africa’s legendary animals but a remote escape that has been tailor-made just for two.

From the Sabi Sands, you will take a short morning flight back to O.R. Tambo International, where you will connect onto your homebound flight.