Africa?

Lored

Specifically South Africa?? Anyone been or planning a trip?

Should we consider Tanzania or Kenya?

We are seriously wanting to book for our honeymoon but have a thousand questions and really neither of us know anyone who's been to ask.

We want to do a safari for 6 nights, then follow with a few nights relaxation. We are thinking winelands which looks gorgeous but would do beach. We have a travel agent but kind of wanted a real person's perspective.

Thanks all for any info.

Jells2dot0

I have been to the Seychelles and Mauritius, which would fall under the relaxation category. We aren't safari people, so we skipped over that part. We flew into Jo'burg and then first to Mauritius. We stayed at the Grand Mauritian, which we enjoyed, but overall, we felt the island was not quite the paradise we envisioned. The Seychelles, on the other hand, was definitely everything it is in the pictures. We stayed on Mahe at Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove and also on Denis Private Island. Denis was amazing! A private island paradise that isn't quite the $3K/night price tag that most of the others charge. I'm not sure what your budget is, but it's a very expensive trip and if you can swing a stay in the Seychelles, I'd recommend it. I know you mentioned staying on the mainland, but a lot of people do combine their safaris with island stays.

Lored

Thanks for the reply, Jells. I was kinda thinking of doing the whole safari /beach thing but honestly the only beaches in the area that look worth it are Seychilles and January is not a great time. I would hate to spend the money for rainy season. Leaving me with South Africa winelands. I am thrilled to go there, just don't know how to get there from Kruger. Am I missing something by not going to Capetown? I don't really have much a desire to go there, I guess I just wonder if I'm missing something? Can we just do safari, then a couple nights in Stellenbosch? Do I need to go to Capetown to something? Of course, we have limited time. Work is so annoying. Can we do South Africa in only 10 days or so? Thanks thanks thanks thanks.

AdeleDazeem

...can I come on your honeymoon?

Honestly, it sounds amazing.  This is a trip we have planned in the distant future so I'm curiously reading your thread. 

Enjoy!  Enjoy!

Jells2dot0

Understood about rainy season however we went in August, which is one of their driest months, and it rained almost the entire time we were there. Apparently their wet season was non-existent and they got rain for the first time in months during our stay. Go figure!
I can't really be of any help with the mainland stuff. We decided upfront when we went that it wasn't something we wanted to see or do, so we didn't do much research on it. I know there are a few knotties on here who have been or are planning a trip, so maybe they can help!

Lored

Yeah I guess you never can tell with the weather! Seychilles does look gorgeous!!!!!!!

Swazzle

I'm going to South Africa for my HM in May. We're spending 4 nights in Cape Town and 3 nights on a safari. I booked everything through South African Airways Vacations (my coworker used them for her HM a few months ago and said everything was perfect). 

You'll spend 2 days travelling so definitely keep that in mind (for example, we leave out of NYC on Monday, May 6th and arrive in Cape Town on Tuesday, May 7th. Coming back, we leave Johannesburg on Tuesday, May 14th and arrive in NYC on Wednesday, May 15th).

While we're in Cape Town we're going to do a full tour of the area 1 day and a great white cage dive another day. That leaves us with 1 full day to sleep in and I think we're going to visit the cheetah outreach for a few hours that day. 

I would have liked to have had more time (and money) so go to Mauritius but we just couldn't swing it with work (and our budget). While it's not a beach, we'll be able to relax during the day while on the safari leg of our trip since game drives are early in the morning and later in the day. 

Hope this helps!

dazyabbey

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_africa-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:47edc00f-f082-41a1-8741-e4a5559b6f7aPost:b1b27739-771e-4a7e-9538-ea8a4d7f037e">Re: Africa?</a>:
[QUOTE]...can I come on your honeymoon? Honestly, it sounds amazing.  This is a trip we have planned in the distant future so I'm curiously reading your thread.  Enjoy!  Enjoy!
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

^THIS!^
I am so jealous. I think we are going to try and go for our 5 year anniversary. We were going to try and go on an African Safari but just couldn't swing it. :-(

girlinchicago

We're going in July for our anniversary. Our plan is 5 nights Cape Town (there's a lot we want to see and eat...we are huge foodies), 4 nights Praslin in the Seychelles, 4 nights safari at Londolozi, and 1 night Joburg in transit (airport hotel ). If you want beach time, you could look into Durban. We also thought about Mozambique (Azura or Benguerra Lodge) but we just really wanted to check out the Seychelles and were able to fit it in the budget. I would have loved to add on two nights in the winelands, but H ran out of vacation time! We are planning to do a day trip from Cape Town. Let me know if you have more specific questions; I love to research trips and I've been doing a lot of it for this one!

Jells2dot0

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_africa-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:47edc00f-f082-41a1-8741-e4a5559b6f7aPost:25292cfb-09c0-43d1-bf21-f5294dd5d2ad">Re: Africa?</a>:
[QUOTE]We're going in July for our anniversary. Our plan is 5 nights Cape Town (there's a lot we want to see and eat...we are huge foodies), <strong>4 nights Praslin in the Seychelles,</strong> 4 nights safari at Londolozi, and 1 night Joburg in transit (airport hotel :( ). If you want beach time, you could look into Durban. We also thought about Mozambique (Azura or Benguerra Lodge) but we just really wanted to check out the Seychelles and were able to fit it in the budget. I would have loved to add on two nights in the winelands, but H ran out of vacation time! We are planning to do a day trip from Cape Town. Let me know if you have more specific questions; I love to research trips and I've been doing a lot of it for this one!
Posted by girlinchicago[/QUOTE]

Where did you decide on in Praslin? I'm looking forward to the day I have enough vacation time to head back there :)

girlinchicago

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_africa-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:47edc00f-f082-41a1-8741-e4a5559b6f7aPost:dbe9a2cf-feca-4d80-8391-c99010747cdf">Re: Africa?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Africa? : Where did you decide on in Praslin? I'm looking forward to the day I have enough vacation time to head back there :)
Posted by Jells2dot0[/QUOTE]



We decided on Raffles!

I hear you - H just started a new job and will have even less vacation time. Luckily they're letting him take a few extra days this year since we were already booked. I'm excited to hear about your Cooks trip!

Jells2dot0

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_africa-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:47edc00f-f082-41a1-8741-e4a5559b6f7aPost:cf1ec4c9-58ca-40ea-b415-65afaef093ff">Re: Africa?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Africa? : We decided on Raffles! I hear you - H just started a new job and will have even less vacation time. Luckily they're letting him take a few extra days this year since we were already booked. I'm excited to hear about your Cooks trip!
Posted by girlinchicago[/QUOTE]

Def dying to hear about Raffles! I am so jealous you are going. We talk about our stay there all of the time and wish it was a lot closer to home.

msaputra

We went last year and had a great time!

Safari was definitely the highlight, followed by wine country (Franschhoek). So relaxing!

We spent 5 days in Cape Town but honestly it was probably our least favorite.

We also spent 1 day in johannesburg but could have probably skipped it alltogether.

Here's a link to my (long) trip report - let me know if you have questions

Lored

Thanks for all of the replies! I def want to do safari and wine lands. I don't have much desire to go to Capetown but sort of feel like I should since when will I ever be in S Africa again? Not sure exactly what is there. We are definitely winos and spa people so I think I'd rather do a couple nights in winelands area than Capetown. Am I missing something if we don't do Capetown?

msaputra

Cape Town is beautiful, but after a relaxing safari it felt too crowded for us.

The main activities there are Table Mountain, driving to Cape Peninsula, Robben Island (where Mandela was prisoned).

Here's all the things we did in Cape Town:

http://darcela.blogspot.com/2012/04/exploring-cape-town.html

I'm glad we went, but if we ever go back I probably would skip Cape Town and go back to Safari and the Winelands...

If you really feel like you have to go, you can do 1-2 days there while also doing the wine country, they are very close (30 mins - 1 hour). So maybe just do 1 day in Cape Town, and then drive to the winelands and spend most of your time there.

Lored

Your trip report just made me soooo excited. Looks beautiful. You guys certainly packed a lot in! Now I'm wondering Stellenbosch or Franshoek? Thanks for sharing!

msaputra

We stayed in Franschhoek and LOVED it.

We stayed at this quaint B&B called Maison D'Ail: http://darcela.blogspot.com/2012/04/maison-dail-guesthouse.html

Loved it there...

3 minute drive to main Franschhoek town.

We didn't have time to checkout Stellenbosch, but I think Stellenbosch is a much bigger city. I'm sure it's beautiful also

JerseyGirl05

Lored -

My roommate just got back from a 2 week trip to South Africa. Her boyfriend is from South Africa so they went back to visit family, but since it was her first time there they did a lot of the touristy things as well - swam with penguins, went on a cruise to see hippos, went on several safaris (saw the big 5 in one day). They drove all over - flew into Jo'burg and drove to Empangane and Durbin. Private message me if you want her email address - she would be happy to answer any question you could possibly have - if she can't answer it, I know her boyfriend can.  My mom also went to Tanzania and said it was amazing - but unfortunately got injured so it was a sour ending to a wonderful journey. 

Jells - I guess it is official that I am back. :-)  Funny to be back on these boards again, but the planning process has been fun.  I will have to post a picture of the ring on facebook soon.

Jells2dot0

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_africa-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:47edc00f-f082-41a1-8741-e4a5559b6f7aPost:59776283-ebb2-409d-bb43-b265554a0146">Re: Africa?</a>:
[QUOTE]Lored - My roommate just got back from a 2 week trip to South Africa. Her boyfriend is from South Africa so they went back to visit family, but since it was her first time there they did a lot of the touristy things as well - swam with penguins, went on a cruise to see hippos, went on several safaris (saw the big 5 in one day). They drove all over - flew into Jo'burg and drove to Empangane and Durbin. Private message me if you want her email address - she would be happy to answer any question you could possibly have - if she can't answer it, I know her boyfriend can.  My mom also went to Tanzania and said it was amazing - but unfortunately got injured so it was a sour ending to a wonderful journey.  Jells - I guess it is official that I am back. :-)  Funny to be back on these boards again, but the planning process has been fun.  I will have to post a picture of the ring on facebook soon.
Posted by JerseyGirl05[/QUOTE]

Welcome back! The second time's a charm!

alg13

Definitely stay in Stellenbosch if you are going to wine country.  It is an easy drive to Franschoek, Cape Town and anywhere else you would want to go for the day. Hire a driver from the beginning for the time you are there, reasonably priced and well worth it!  My sister lived in Stellenbosch  and my dad works in the wine industry- when we visited we stayed there as it's well located and has the most to do.  Plus, it is an adorable town.  Great restaurants and b&b's and the city is fairly walkable during the day.  I have to go back and look at where we stayed as it was a few years ago but I highly recommend it.  It was a cute B&B and absolutely accomodating plus the staff was a wealth of information.