Cape Town, Winelands and Safari Honeymoon

Land in to Cape Town early this morning – we will ensure you are met off the aircraft and escorted through immigration and baggage collection, before being handed over to a driver who will take you on the 45 minute drive in to the city, with Table Mountain an ever more prominent site as you drive. You will be spending 5 nights at Abbey Manor, a charming little guesthouse in the heart of a quiet residential part of Cape Town. The bulk of Table Mountain looms large overhead and the views across the city and out to sea, with Robben Island visible through the haze, are stunning. Today you can simply relax after the flight, head out for a leisurely lunch or just sit by the pool and let your lunch come to you – worth the treat, it is your Honeymoon after all.

Take the time to explore the wonderful city of Cape Town and take in everything that it has to offer. The restaurant scene here is thriving, with its history as a major trading port, as well as modern position as a global city meaning cuisine from all over the world is available here, served everywhere from tiny streetside cafes, in beautiful hotels and specifically designed restaurants to delight the senses. Wonderful Cape wines are available everywhere you go, and Cape Town also boasts a thriving craft beer, gin and rum industry. Highlights of any visit to Cape Town include trips to Table Mountain, Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. It also boasts amazing shopping, for both local and international brands, a range of galleries and museums, as well as lovely beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay. We will have a car delivered to you on day 4 to allow for some exploration further afield. A popular route is to head South on a day trip to the Cape Peninsula, taking in Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach, home to a huge colony of endearing African penguins. To hit the road less-travelled, make your way North, up the Cape West Coast to tiny fishing villages such as Langebaan and Paternoester to get a feel of life away from the city as well as some of the freshest seafood, especially crayfish, that you could wish to enjoy.

Depart Cape Town this morning and make the journey inland to the verdant and beautiful Cape Winelands. Your base will be Franschhoek, a charming little village whose name translates directly as “French corner”. The Francophile influence is obvious, from street names, the restaurant styles and the laidback vibe to the whole place. Somewhat appropriately, you will be spending 4 nights at Basse Provence a beautiful country house hotel on the outskirts of the village. Spend this afternoon relaxing and taking in the beautiful views to the surrounding mountains.

This beautiful, peaceful town is a wonderful place to sit back, relax and escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. With wonderful places to eat and drink as well as quaint shops and galleries to explore, you can spend a day, or even more, wondering up and down Huegenot Street, the main street running through Franschhoek. Of course, the chance to go wine tasting is one of the main reasons people visit Franschhoek and this can be done in a variety of ways. You can simply drive yourselves to the various wineries for tastings and lunch, or arrange transport there and back, but this somewhat limits how many you can visit and how much you can enjoy the visits. Private guides are a popular way to explore and offer access to smaller, less well-known wineries as well as rarer vintages, but they can be expense. Our favourite way to explore is by taking the Franschhoek Wine Tram, a unique idea that allows visitors to enjoy up to 5 wineries in a day, by taking a variety of routes from the centre of the village. Transport, in the form of specially designed busses and the tram itself, take you around and the ticket price includes up to 5 tastings as you go. We have included a trip on the tram in the cost of the trip and think you will find it a wonderful day out. For those looking to be active Franschhoek offers a variety of walking, hiking and mountain biking trails, the chance to go horseriding, world-class golf courses and plenty more besides.

From Franschhoek you will need to make the short journey back to Cape Town airport to drop off your car and then catch the morning flight up to Hoedspruit, the gateway airport to the Central Kruger area. From Hoedspruit you will be transferred in to the Greater Makalali Conservancy where you will be spending 5 nights at the beautiful Little Garonga – a truly spectacular spot to round off your Honeymoon. Enjoy lunch and some time to relax by the pool before heading out for an afternoon safari in the company of your expert guide. Return to camp after sunset for drinks around the campfire and a delicious dinner before drifting off to sleep with the sounds of the bush all around you.

The daily programme at Little Garonga includes morning and afternoon game drives, lasting around 4 hours each with a focus on getting up close and personal with the hugely varied wildlife that the conservancy supports, but without being intrusive or damaging. Big cats, rhino and elephant, as well as wild dog and hyena are spotted on an almost daily basis, along with buffalo, giraffe, zebra, kudu and impala to name but a few. There is also the chance to join “interpretive” bush walks, sleepout on a deck beneath the stars and enjoy a romantic bush bath – plenty to keep you occupied during your stay. In between activities sit back and enjoy the wonderful surroundings of the lodge, which is renowned for its wonderful hospitality, outstanding cuisine and laid-back but well-run atmosphere.

Enjoy a final morning game drive and brunch in the lodge before being collected and transferred back to Hoedspruit airport for the flight to Johannesburg, connecting on to an overnight service back to your home country.