August Recommend 2017 - 30

Safari-Style Romance
in South Africa
Lane Nieset

30 august 2017

for sundowner cocktails or toast next to the
lodge pool, where they can dine on gourmet
South African fare under the stars. Rates start
at $233 pp per night.
Thanks to three airports serving Kruger
National Park, your clients can quickly jet
off to the bush from Johannesburg, Cape
Town or Durban with South African
Airways' Airlink. Flights are around an hour,
and the second your clients step off the
plane, they'll hop right into a safari vehicle
and be on their way for an authentic South
African safari experience.

Honeymoon Hopping

Accommodations at
Leshiba Wilderness.

"Now is where the journey really starts,"
announced our guide, Bruce Nobela, as we
switched from his van into a 4x4. From the
Polokwane International Airport in South
Africa's Limpopo Province, it's an hour drive
to the entry point of Leshiba Wilderness, a
private game reserve tucked away in a hidden
valley on top of the Soutpansberg mountains.
While Nobela is the CEO of local tour
operating company Nhlamulo Destinations,
it was even his first time to this luxury lodge
sitting above the clouds.
One of more than 28,000 private game
reserves in South Africa, Leshiba is not the
typical safari lodge your clients may envision.
It's a steep, hour-long ascent by 4x4 to the
top of this "Venda Village," but once couples
catch a glimpse of the view of the valleys
below-especially from the sunken tub in
the open-walled lodge bathroom-they'll
immediately fall head over heels.
"What you can see here is nature; you can
smell it, you can feel it, you can touch it,"
says general manager Kathryn Straughan.
When Straughan came across the
dilapidated huts in 1995, she decided to
bring the traditional village back to life
as authentically as possible, restoring five
en-suite huts with clay and dung bricks,
and inviting Venda artist Noria Mabasa
to recreate the camp crafting sculptures
throughout. Two luxury suites now flank
either side of the eco lodge, which runs
on solar power, but your clients won't be
glamping by any means.
Tucked away in the bush, these private
villa-style retreats feature plush bedding,
expansive stone baths, outdoor showers,
plunge pools and an open fire place. There's

onsitereview

no restaurant and no menus, so guests won't
be joining other groups for a stuffy, sitdown affair. Instead, the chefs prep globally
inspired, three-course meals (that please even
the pickiest of eaters) using produce grown
in the nearby garden and meat sourced from
markets in town. Before an evening game
drive, couples can linger over a lavish high
tea spread while watching giraffes graze in
the valley. When they return and freshen
up, dinner will be ready and waiting on their
private terrace. Rates start at $190 pp dbl.

Exotic Experiences
It's these types of "hidden gems" like Leshiba,
as well as the variety of experiences within
close proximity, that are transforming South
Africa into a destination for younger, more
adventurous couples.
"South Africa continues to gain in
popularity as a top honeymoon destination,"
says Kimberly Krusell, founder and executive
travel consultant at Honu Travel. "It's easy
to see why so many couples are falling in love
with its magical combination of luxurious
safaris, breathtaking scenery, welcoming
people and some of the world's best wines.
With the exchange rate favoring the USD,
South Africa is also amazingly affordable,
putting these incredibly romantic experiences
easily within reach for many couples
beginning their lives together."
Just two hours from Leshiba, your clients
can experience another type of safari escape
at Mopane Bush Lodge. Located near
Mapungubwe National Park, the four-star
lodge features 12 thatched-roof chalets with
verandahs overlooking the bush. In the
evening, couples can set off on a game drive

South African Airways makes it easy
for couples to honeymoon hop from
Johannesburg to other destinations across
Africa. After landing in the bustling
metropolis of Johannesburg, recommend your
clients escape to the secluded five-star Saxon
Hotel, holing up in one of the villa luxury
suites. Jetlag will quickly slip away after a dip
in the infinity pool and a soothing hammam
session at the spa. Rates for a luxury suite
start at $525 per night.
When couples are ready for part deux, pair
a South African experience with a trip to
neighboring Mozambique. In just 45 minutes,
travelers will land in this rugged piece of
paradise with a coastline stretching 1,535
miles along the Indian Ocean. On the coast,
recommend the five-star White Pearl Resort,
a 30-minute helicopter ride from Maputo
International Airport.
The ultimate romantic escape, this
private beachfront resort features 21 hilltop
villas perched on stilts overlooking the sea.
Couples will be treated to five-star service
as dedicated butlers prep everything from
multi-course picnics on the sand to candlelit
dinners in the privacy of villa terraces. The
best way to soak up views? With a dip in the
plunge pool, followed by stargazing on your
suite's chaise lounges, with a glass of South
African bubbly in hand. Rates for a pool
suite start at $625 pp per night and include
all meals, drinks and activities, from ocean
safaris to horseback riding along the beach.
Contact Information
Leshiba Wilderness: leshiba.co.za
Mopane Bush Lodge: mopanebushlodge.co.za
Nhlamulo Destinations: nhlamulodestinations.co.za
Saxon Hotel: saxon.co.za
South African Airways: flysaa.com
South African Tourism: southafrica.net
White Pearl Resort: whitepearlresorts.com
recommend.com
http://leshiba.co.za http://mopanebushlodge.co.za http://nhlamulodestinations.co.za http://saxon.co.za http://www.flysaa.com http://www.southafrica.net http://www.whitepearlresorts.com http://www.recommend.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August Recommend 2017
