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 South
Africa is amazingly diverse, and your research
to date has revealed that this country is indeed
an ideal honeymoon destination. Yet you still
wonder how to step outside the boundaries drawn
by Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast.
There must be more to this country than Cape
Town and a handful of uber luxurious safari
lodges, right?
In
addition to must-visit locales, this itinerary
takes you to a number of off-the-beaten-path
spots that offer pristine beauty, relative lack
of tourism, and special lodges that for some
reason, the rest of the world has not yet discovered
en masse. Always interesting, often luxurious
and definitely geared for the adventurer within,
this honeymoon can be considered unique in the
context of an already unique destination.
 Your
honeymoon is already different - for the moment
you've bypassed Cape Town in favor of a different
and more secluded starting point. You can't
wait - exhausted after a busy wedding and one
of the longest travel days you can remember,
you arrive at Bushman's Kloof, in the Western
Cape Province, a 3.5 hour drive or short flight
north of Cape Town. Your first three days in
this lovely Relais & Chateaux enclave is meant
to reenergize your bodies and minds, and prepare
you for the excitement of the days ahead. Things
will become busy, but for now, Bushman's Kloof,
and its spiritual setting amongst the red rocks
of the Cederberg Mountains, invite you to relax.
This of course is easy when you have their wonderful
spa at your doorstep - be sure to enjoy one
of their signature massages. If weather permits,
the treatments can be performed outdoors amidst
the cool rock formations as you gaze across
the vast plains.
When
not sleeping, sampling gourmet food, or spa-ing,
the nature reserve offers hours of fascination,
starting with the many prehistoric rock art
sites, thought to be older than 10,000 years.
If you are lucky enough to arrive in August
or September, the unbelievable carpet of wildflowers
begs a gourmet picnic on a lazy afternoon. Or,
take a game drive to view the local species
and the stunning scenery.
 Refreshed
and ready to dive into the rest of your trip,
you make the short journey back to Cape Town.
This incredibly beautiful coastal city is a
requisite stop on any South African itinerary,
but you are nonetheless glad to be here - it
has a buzz that it is uniquely its own. Enjoy
great restaurants, venture south one day with
a private driver to the Cape Peninsula, and
do a bit of souvenir shopping - shopping opportunities
are fewer and far between after this! While
in Cape Town your home will be Kensington Place,
a hip boutique guesthouse set in the city bowl
at the top of trendy Kloof Street, with its
numerous nightspots and restaurants. Away from
the bustle of the waterfront and its throngs
of tourists, Kensington Place offers an aesthetically
pleasing place to start and end your day - and
the breakfasts are terrific!
 While
there is much to love about Cape Town, this
trip is not so much about city time as it is
about new experiences in the great outdoors.
With this anticipation, you'll take a private
charter flight a short 30 minutes along the
southern coast towards the town of Gaansbai.
If you are fortunate, your pilot will point
out pods of Southern Right Whales that use this
area as their annual breeding and calving grounds.
But more on the creatures of the deep in a moment
- you have arrived at Grootbos Nature Reserve.
From the moment you enter your villa, you gaze
out across Walker Bay and its beautiful sweep
of coastline. In between is a type of vegetation
called fynbos, comprised of thousands of different
plant and flower species, of which the Grootbos
Reserve is dedicated to preserving.
 You'll
learn a lot about fynbos, through 4WD safaris
across the reserve, extended hikes, and horseback
excursions. Recent naturally occurring forest
fires have also unlocked some of the secrets
of the fynbos, allowing dormant plant species
to finally germinate, leaving the reserve in
a riotous state of wildflower-induced color.
Stunning! Look for the King Protea, South Africa's
national flower. But the land is not the only
attraction at Grootbos - gentle and not so gentle
giants are just offshore. In fact, we highly
recommend a whale watching safari, where you
may also spot the rest of the "Marine Big 5":
penguins, dolphins, seals and great white sharks.
Yes, that's right - great white sharks. And
if you dare, shark cage diving in this area
is an unforgettable experience, and may even
dispel some of the common myths about these
creatures. Imagine the photos!
Upon
leaving Grootbos, you will take a quick charter
flight back to Cape Town, then another flight
to the northeast of the country, and a final
air hop to the amazing Sabi Sands Reserve. Suddenly,
things feel very different, more wild, even
farther away from civilization as you've known
it to this point. Yes - the best has been saved
for last, and it's time to embark upon the first
of your two official safari experiences.
 Your
small plane is met at the landing strip by a
ranger from Savanna Safari Lodge, your home
for the next three days. Driving along the dirt
track back to the lodge, your ranger spots a
rhino just off the road… throwing the vehicle
into low gear, you leave the road and creep
across the bush for a better look. You are so
close now that you can see the ox-picker birds
on his back, and you can look into his eyes.
Welcome to Sabi Sands, and welcome to Savanna!
In
Savanna you have chosen one of the Sabi Sands'
friendliest lodges - the owners have taken great
care to develop an environment where guests
are treated as family. Meals are communal and
rangers dine with guests, allowing for opportunities
to rehash the day's excitement, learn more about
the flora and fauna, in the end creating a bond
with the lodge and its people you won't soon
forget.  And
if you prefer some privacy, it's no trouble
to set up a special dinner on your verandah
- simply ask! Accommodations here are lovely,
featuring incredibly oversized bathrooms with
soaking tubs, indoor and outdoor showers and
in many cases, private plunge pools on wooden
decks. Expect to see the "Big 5" here, and you'll
do so under the care of an expert tracker and
ranger whose sole purpose is to share his love
and incredible knowledge of this part of South
Africa. Expect to shed a tear or two when you
leave - how can anything else possibly compare
to the last three days?
 Ah,
but it can, albeit in a different way. You'll
take a charter flight bound for the northeast
corner of South Africa, in the remote northern
extreme of the famous Kruger National Park.
This secluded section of the park is home to
a lodge called Pafuri Camp, at the crossroads
of "Crooks Corner", or namely the intersection
of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, as well
as the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers. The terrain
here is rich and varied, making it one of the
best places for bird watching in South Africa,
and a treasure trove of flora and fauna which
the camp's knowledgeable rangers unlock for
visitors in a magical way. This is not necessarily
a "Big 5" camp (white rhino have only been re-introduced
in this area in recent years and are not abundant,
for example), but it is a place for people who
appreciate the finer details of the natural
environment. You've already seen the Big 5 in
the Sabi Sands, and a natural extension of your
safari experience is to focus on the fascinating
subtleties of the bush that now begin to draw
your interest.  The
camp is also run in cooperation with the local
Makuleke tribe, with a percentage of the profits
given back to the community. The lodge itself
is comfortable and charming - honeymooners often
receive the benefit of a special bungalow, on
it's own island, reached by a special bridge.
The seclusion is complete with its own boma
for romantic outdoor dining by firelight.
Three
days in Pafuri Camp won't seem near enough.
As half the staff come to bid you goodbye and
best wishes on your new marriage, you reflect
that 15 nights in South Africa doesn't seem
near enough either. You are incredibly glad
that you've chosen to experience South Africa
on your honeymoon, and on top of that, you've
chosen well; the strength and warmth of your
memories will continue to confirm that for months
and years to come.
Who
will enjoy this trip:
Those who enjoy visiting places of unique value
and interest, but not necessarily of international
fame, while still seeing South Africa's highlights.
Couples who wish to incorporate some luxury
as well as outdoor adventure into their honeymoon.
This is a good itinerary for those who wish
to avoid lots of driving.
Who
should avoid this trip:
Those who have a hard time with small planes.
If you prefer not to visit several places during
the course of one trip. If you need beach time
other itineraries or destinations will be will
be a better fit.
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