Honeymoon Vic Falls, Kruger & Seychelles

Depart OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for the Zambian town of Livingstone from where you are transferred by road to Tongabezi Lodge. This romantic hideaway situated just upstream of Victoria Falls on the banks of the Zambezi River is still owned and managed by one of its original founders. The nearby Falls are a must-visit, especially during full moon when a lunar rainbow forms over its 108-metre high cascade. The array of white-knuckle activities available at the Falls will keep adrenalin junkies busy too. Guided 4×4 game drives and birding walks are fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing and an idyllic boat cruise on the hippo-highway of the river is a signature Zambezi experience not to be missed.

You will never tire of the splendid wilderness views from the comfort of your multi-layered lookout deck nor those afforded from the privacy of your suite’s furnished balcony. Wile away the afternoon in the nook of a giant sofa with a book chosen from the library or find respite from the heat of the day in the sparkling pool, which is set into the natural rock and is complete with its own waterfall. Your choices of private dining options include dreamy picnic lunches on the vast lodge grounds and lazy breakfasts in your king-sized bed. Hopeless romantics can be treated to dinner on a boat floating down the Zambezi, illuminated only by paraffin lamps and with every course delivered by canoe.

This morning you board a flight to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where you are met by a representative from The Residence and escorted in a Rolls Royce to the hotel. Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Houghton – home to late President Nelson Mandela – this hotel is characterised by regal charm and boasts superb attention to decorative detail in everything from its extravagantly furnished sitting areas and lounges to your airy, individually designed suite.

After breakfast you are transferred back to OR Tambo for your flight to Skukuza Airport, where you are fetched by your guide and driven to Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. Set on the banks of the Sabie River, your lavish and contemporary villa is located on a private concession within South Africa’s premier Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park. Thrilling 4×4 game drives and informative walking safaris through untamed game-rich wilderness are led by an expert ranger-and-tracker team. Expect excellent game viewing with reliable leopard sightings in a Big 5 reserve where off-road driving is permitted for unique wildlife encounters and an unmatched animal tracking experience. For a more unusual outing, join a hippo tour along the Sabie River and experience up-close encounters with these land-shy animals while crocodiles sun themselves on the riverbank. Night-time game drives expose nocturnal bush-life, includes bush babies, genet, or even a stealthy predator hunting and stalking its prey.

Your incredibly spacious 2-roomed glass-fronted villa features its own rim-flow pool and a dedicated butler. Between action-packed game drives and fine dining, put your wellbeing in the hands of one of the spa’s beauty therapists or work out in the gym. Through the telescope on your private deck, stay in your bathrobe and spot game by day and star constellations by night. An outside shower allows you to bathe without missing out on any action unfolding on the river. Take your meals on the lower wooden viewing deck with expansive wilderness views, in the privacy of your villa, or alfresco around a roaring fire beneath the starlit sky. Retire to your suite’s exquisitely appointed living area and curl up in front of the cosy fireplace before sinking into your king-sized bed for a contented night’s sleep.

This morning you are driven back to Skukuza Airport from where you board a flight to Johannesburg and are chauffeured to The Residence. Arriving at the palatial entrance gate, you are greeted by name and welcomed back to the family by every member of staff. A drink at the hotel’s sleek Piano Bar precedes a grand silver-service dinner in the dining area, which is elegantly appointed with glittering chandeliers.

After breakfast you are transferred back to the airport for your flight to the Seychelles. From the international airport, it is just a 10-minute drive to the Eden Bleu Hotel. With direct access to the world-class yacht marina, Eden Bleu is a water-sport lover’s dream. In the evening, head to Bourgeois Bar for a sundowners and a light meal, and then to the casino to see if Lady Luck is smiling on you. All rooms have views of Eden Island, the marina or the beautiful granite peaks.

In the morning you are transferred back to Seychelles International Airport from where you fly in a light aircraft to remote Denis Island. Your Crusoe-chic beachfront cottage sits under the shade of coconut palms and overlooks the gin-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Spend heady days sunbathing on the footprint-free beach between refreshing dips in the bright blue lagoon. Exploring the inviting ocean’s depths on a reef dive – or even wallowing in the shallows with a snorkel – get up-close to triggerfish, pirouetting rays and gliding turtles.

Wander through the thick of the island’s forest that echoes with birdcall while discovering the immense diversity of flora and fauna. Resident conservationists conduct educational island tours, which provide fascinating insight into its history and conservation background. Watch the talented chef in the open kitchen as he uses ingredients sourced fresh from the island’s gardens or the surrounding Indian Ocean to prepare innovative cuisine to tantalise the senses; whether for a 5-course dining room affair, breakfast in bed or a romantic candlelit beach dinner under a star-studded night sky. Each time you return to your seaside beach cottage you are floored by the spectacular views from your verandah, furnished with a comfortable day bed overlooking the water just a few steps away. Lulled by the sound of the ocean rhythmically lapping the shoreline, fall into a deep slumber and dream of Africa.