Stunning South Africa

Melissa LoGalbo on 09 September 2017
We flew with South African airways into Johannesburg. On arrival we stayed at the 5* D’Oreale Grand Hotel at Emperors palace which is only 5 minutes’ drive from the airport. If looking for an airport hotel I would highly recommend this hotel or to stay in one of its sister properties within the complex. The hotel is situated within a casino resort so there are an abundance of restaurants and bars within walking distance. We used this as a base before our onward trip the next day.

The next day we took a small aircraft (very small!) with Federal airlines to Madikwe Game reserve. On arrival to the airstrip we were met by the manager of the lodge greeted with a glass of champagne which was a lovely touch indeed. On the way to our lodge – Dithaba, we saw herds of elephants, zebra and many more which was a great start to our safari experience.

We stayed here for two nights which was full board and included two game drives per day. We had a fabulous guide whom knew so much about the area and made the game drives an unforgettable experience.

This is a truly wonderful safari lodge and would highly recommend it. The staff make it an excellent experience for you and each day they have a little surprise. There are three lodges within the same resort but Dithaba is a lot smaller and only takes eight guests so is more personal and exclusive.

We were sad to leave this Game reserve, but we took the small aircraft back to Johannesburg and stayed two nights which gave us the opportunity to soak up a bit of the city.

Our next destination was Cape Town. Rather than flying here we took the Rovos Rail which is hailed as the most luxurious train in the world. It took two days to reach Cape Town, but it was a very special experience with fine dining, fabulous service and something that was just a little different than what we would normally do.

On arrival into Cape Town we picked up a car and headed towards Camps Bay and stayed just outside at the Twelve Apostles hotel. From here we visited a lot of the sights, Cape Point, Boulders Beach, the infamous Table Mountain were just a few to name. I totally love this city, there’s just so much to do and see.

After our stay in Cape Town we headed further down the coast to Hermanus for two nights which is the whale watching capital of South Africa. It’s about a two-hour drive very scenic. Luckily it was whale season and we saw whales every day and even from our hotel room. Hermanus is a pretty town and there are some beautiful scenic coastal walks and an abundance of great restaurants.

Our next stop was a short drive to Franschoek which is known as South Africa’s culinary capital. We stayed here for two nights which gave us the chance to visit some of the wine estates and sample some of the amazing restaurants.

After here we drove to Stellenbosch, again a short drive but a very scenic drive stopping at a few wine estates on the way for a bit of tasting.

It was one night here then back to the airport for our homeward journey. This was my second time to South Africa now and really is a country that I have fell in love with and vow to return again one day.

If you would like my first-hand experience in planning a holiday to this destination, then please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me I can ensure you I can put together a trip of a lifetime for you.