10 Days • 9 Nights
South Africa Honeymoon: Cape Town, Franschhoek & the Sabi Sand
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Romantic, luxurious safari nights in the Sabi Sand, just for two, are the crowning highlight of this honeymoon. At an intimate luxury lodge in the leopard-rich Sabi Sand, romance and the wild meet in the most memorable way. You thrill together to dawn and golden dusk game drives in an open 4x4, tracking leopard, lion, elephant and more with an expert ranger and tracker, then return to a suite with a private plunge pool and a deck overlooking the bush, where game comes to drink. You share champagne sundowners in the wilderness as the sky flames.
- Days of world-class wine and candlelit dinners in gourmet Franschhoek are a romantic highlight of this honeymoon. The exquisite Franschhoek valley, founded by French Huguenots and ringed by dramatic mountains, is South Africa's gourmet capital and one of the most beautiful and romantic corners of the Cape. You taste award-winning wines on gracious estates, ride the hop-on wine tram among the vines, and linger over long, candlelit dinners at world-class restaurants beneath the peaks, savouring some of the finest food and wine on the continent. You stay in a beautiful boutique retreat amid the vineyards, waking to mountain views and unhurried mornings together.
- Beautiful, romantic Cape Town, with Table Mountain and its sunsets, is a magical highlight of this honeymoon. Regularly voted one of the world's most beautiful cities, Cape Town is a dream honeymoon start, cradled between mountain and two oceans. You ride the cableway to the summit of Table Mountain for breathtaking views, watch the sun sink into the Atlantic from Camps Bay or Signal Hill with a glass of bubbly, stroll the stylish V&A Waterfront, and dine superbly at the city's celebrated restaurants. You might picnic in the beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens, relax on a golden beach, or sip cocktails with a mountain view.
- Exploring the wild Cape Peninsula together, from penguins to dramatic Cape Point, is a beautiful highlight. A spectacular coastal drive follows Chapman's Peak south past pretty Hout Bay to the tip of the peninsula. At Boulders Beach you walk boardwalks hand in hand among a comical colony of African penguins, then continue into the Cape of Good Hope, where the land narrows to the wild headland of Cape Point, its old lighthouse high above crashing surf where two oceans meet. Along the way you pass fishing harbours, sweeping white beaches and fynbos alive with ostriches and antelope, perhaps sharing a seafood lunch by the sea.
- Thoughtful romantic touches throughout make this honeymoon truly special, a memorable highlight in itself. From the moment you arrive, this journey is designed for two. Beautiful boutique hotels and intimate luxury lodges, a private guide and vehicle, champagne on arrival, and thoughtful surprises, sunset picnics, candlelit dinners, spa treatments for two, a private game-drive vehicle where possible, and rose-petal turndowns, weave romance through every stage. Whether toasting the sunset from Table Mountain, sharing a vineyard lunch in Franschhoek or watching a leopard together in the golden light of the bush, you are cared for with warmth and style, free simply to enjoy each other and this beautiful country.
- Above all, this journey offers a honeymoon of beauty, romance and adventure in one seamless trip, unforgettable and unhurried. In ten days you share a world-class, beautiful city beneath its iconic mountain, glorious wine country and gourmet dinners, and intimate, luxurious Big Five safari in the leopard-rich Sabi Sand, from Atlantic sunsets to starlit nights in the bush. Few honeymoons combine such beauty, indulgence and wonder, or such warmth of welcome, and every detail is arranged so you need only savour it together. The contrast of stylish city, romantic vineyards and the raw magic of the wild makes it endlessly memorable.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 10-day journey.
Your honeymoon begins as your flight lands in beautiful Cape Town, where you are met and transferred to your stylish boutique hotel beneath Table Mountain, welcomed with champagne. The Mother City, cradled between mountain and sea, is one of the most romantic cities on earth, and its beauty enfolds you at once. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing together after your journey, perhaps strolling the chic V&A Waterfront, sipping cocktails with a mountain view, or watching the sun melt into the Atlantic from Camps Bay. This evening a special welcome dinner introduces you to Cape cuisine and to the romantic journey ahead of city, wine and wild. As the city lights sparkle beneath the mountain, its magic takes hold. Rest well together, ready to explore beautiful Cape Town tomorrow at a relaxed and indulgent pace.
Today you savour the Mother City together. Weather permitting, you ride the revolving cableway to the summit of Table Mountain for breathtaking panoramas over the city, Table Bay and the Atlantic coast, walking the summit paths hand in hand among fynbos and dassies. You might explore the colourful Bo-Kaap, wander the stylish waterfront, or picnic amid the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens beneath the mountain's eastern slopes. As evening falls, you toast the sunset from Signal Hill or a chic rooftop with a glass of Cape bubbly, then dine at one of the city's celebrated restaurants. The beauty and romance are captivating. As the day ends, you relax together in your boutique retreat. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore the wild Cape Peninsula, from penguins to the dramatic meeting of two oceans at Cape Point.
Today you follow the spectacular Cape Peninsula south together. You drive the coast past Camps Bay and along the cliff-hugging Chapman's Peak, pausing at pretty Hout Bay harbour. At Boulders Beach near Simon's Town you walk the boardwalks hand in hand among a delightful colony of African penguins, then continue into the Cape of Good Hope, where the land narrows to the wild headland of Cape Point, riding the funicular to the old lighthouse for dizzying views over the meeting of the oceans. You watch for ostriches and antelope in the fynbos and share a romantic seafood lunch by the sea. The drama and beauty are unforgettable. As the day ends, you return to Cape Town along the coast, the light golden over the water. Rest well together, for tomorrow you journey into the romantic Franschhoek winelands.
Today is yours to enjoy together at a relaxed pace before you leave the city. You might relax on a golden Clifton or Camps Bay beach, take a sunset cruise on Table Bay, browse the boutiques and galleries of the waterfront, or return to Table Mountain if you missed it earlier. Alternatively, indulge in a couples' spa treatment, savour a long lunch at a beachfront restaurant, or simply unwind by your hotel pool with the mountain above. This flexible day lets you savour beautiful Cape Town in your own way. The ease and romance are wonderful. As the day ends, you toast a final Cape Town sunset with a glass of Cape bubbly. Rest well together, for tomorrow you journey into the exquisite Franschhoek valley, the gourmet heart of the beautiful Cape Winelands.
Today you leave the city for the exquisite Franschhoek valley, South Africa's gourmet capital, ringed by dramatic mountains. A short, scenic drive brings you to your beautiful boutique retreat amid the vineyards, welcomed with more Cape bubbly. You settle in, then ride the hop-on Franschhoek wine tram between gracious estates, tasting award-winning wines among the vines, and savour a long, romantic estate lunch beneath the peaks. You stroll the pretty village with its galleries and boutiques, drinking in the beauty of the valley. The scenery, flavours and romance are wonderful. As the day ends, you relax at your retreat, the mountains glowing at sunset, before a memorable candlelit dinner at one of the valley's celebrated restaurants. Rest well together in the romantic heart of the Winelands, ready to savour more wine, food and beauty tomorrow.
Today you savour the beauty and flavours of the Franschhoek valley at leisure. You might visit more celebrated estates to taste and blend your own wine, enjoy a chocolate or cheese pairing, or take a cellar tour, learning from passionate winemakers amid glorious mountain scenery. You could indulge in a couples' spa treatment, relax at your vineyard retreat, or explore the nearby estates of Stellenbosch. A long, unhurried gourmet lunch beneath the peaks is a highlight of the day. The beauty, indulgence and romance are wonderful. As the day ends, you toast a final Winelands sunset over the vines, then dine memorably at one of Franschhoek's world-class tables. Rest well together, for tomorrow you fly north to the leopard-rich Sabi Sand for the wild, romantic finale of your honeymoon, dawn drives, champagne sundowners and starlit nights in the bush.
Today your honeymoon turns wild and wonderful as you fly to the lowveld. You transfer to the airport and fly north to the Sabi Sand, a private reserve famed for its relaxed, frequently seen leopards. On arrival you are welcomed to your intimate luxury lodge, settling into a beautiful suite with a private plunge pool and a deck over the bush, and enjoy lunch as game comes to drink nearby. In the golden late afternoon you set out together on your first open 4x4 game drive with an expert ranger and tracker, thrilling to your first sightings and sharing champagne sundowners as the sky flames. After a spotlit drive back, a romantic dinner awaits beneath the stars. The thrill and romance of the wild are intoxicating. Rest well together in the bush, the African night alive around you, ready for magical days of safari.
Today you share the extraordinary wildlife of the Sabi Sand. You rise before dawn for a morning game drive as the bush stirs and cools, your ranger and tracker finding the Big Five, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, along with cheetah, wild dog and plains game, the reserve's off-road driving bringing you thrillingly close to its famous relaxed leopards. You pause for coffee in the wilderness, then return for a leisurely brunch and a restful midday by your private plunge pool, watching game at the waterhole. In the golden afternoon you head out again, tracking predators, and toast the sunset with champagne in the bush. As the day ends, you dine romantically beneath the stars, perhaps in a lantern-lit boma. Rest well together amid the sounds of the African night, cocooned in luxury and romance.
Today you savour a final, romantic day in the wildlife-rich Sabi Sand. A dawn drive seeks whatever the bush offers, perhaps a leopard and cubs, a lion pride, elephants bathing or a cheetah on the plains, your ranger sharing the wonders of the wild. Back at the lodge, a leisurely brunch, time in your private plunge pool and perhaps a couples' spa treatment fill the tranquil midday. The afternoon drive brings more encounters and a farewell champagne sundowner as the sky flames. You reflect together on the beautiful journey you have shared, from Table Mountain to a leopard in the golden light. The romance and wonder are profound. As the day ends, you enjoy a special farewell dinner beneath the stars. Rest well together amid the sounds of the African night, savouring your final, magical honeymoon evening in the bush.
After a final dawn game drive and breakfast in the bush, you bid a fond farewell to the wilderness and transfer by light aircraft, via Johannesburg, to connect with your onward departure. You leave having shared a honeymoon of beauty, romance and adventure: beautiful Cape Town beneath Table Mountain, its penguins and Atlantic sunsets, the world-class wine and gourmet dinners of Franschhoek, and intimate, luxurious Big Five safari in the leopard-rich Sabi Sand. The images stay vivid long after you land, sunset over the sea, a vineyard lunch beneath the peaks, champagne sundowners in the bush, and a leopard in the golden light. South Africa offers beauty, romance and wonder in abundance, and you depart, hand in hand, already dreaming of a return together to the Cape and the wild heart of Africa.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 9 nights accommodation, a welcome dinner, a Franschhoek wine-estate lunch and all meals on safari in the Sabi Sand
- Daily breakfast
- Airport and land transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Touring, game drives and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert local guides and ranger-trackers
- Park, reserve and site entrance fees as per itinerary
- private touring in Cape Town, a Table Mountain cableway visit, a Cape Peninsula tour with Boulders and Cape Point, a Franschhoek winelands tour with tastings and the wine tram, internal flights, three nights at an intimate luxury safari lodge with all game drives, romantic honeymoon touches such as champagne on arrival, and all park and reserve fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Most lunches and some dinners in Cape Town and the Winelands
- Spa treatments, premium wines and champagne, and tips for guides, rangers and trackers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Many nationalities (including UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia) receive a visa-free visitor's permit on arrival in South Africa for tourism, typically up to 90 days; a passport valid for at least 30 days beyond departure with two or more blank pages is required. Rules vary by nationality and can change, so we confirm the exact, current requirements for you and advise on any eVisa or permit needed
- Currency: The currency is the South African Rand (ZAR); cards are very widely accepted in cities, towns, hotels, restaurants and shops, and ATMs are plentiful. Carry some cash for markets, tips, curio stalls and rural areas. Tipping is customary, roughly ten percent in restaurants, and gratuities for safari rangers, trackers, guides and drivers are appreciated
- Best time to visit: South Africa is a year-round destination. May to September (dry winter) is prime for Big Five safari in Kruger and the lowveld, as thinning bush and water holes concentrate wildlife; November to March (summer) is warm and sunny for Cape Town, the beaches and the Winelands. June to November brings the southern right whales to Hermanus and the Garden Route coast. We tailor timing to your priorities
- Language & etiquette: South Africa has eleven official languages; English is widely spoken and understood everywhere in tourism. This is a warm, diverse, welcoming 'Rainbow Nation' with a rich and complex history; a respectful, open-minded interest in its cultures, from Zulu and Xhosa heritage to the story of apartheid and reconciliation, is deeply rewarding. A friendly greeting goes a long way
- Getting around: Distances are large and touring is by comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with expert guides and drivers, or by self-drive on good roads (we can arrange either); light aircraft connect Cape Town, Johannesburg and the bush to save time. South Africa drives on the left. On safari, open 4x4 game-drive vehicles with a ranger and tracker are used within the reserves
- Health & safety: Consult your doctor about routine vaccinations and, for the lowveld and Kruger during summer, antimalarial precautions (the Cape, Winelands and Garden Route are malaria-free); bring insect repellent, sun protection and any personal medication. Tap water is safe to drink in cities and towns. Use normal city-travel common sense, keep valuables discreet, and follow your guide's advice, particularly on foot in urban areas at night
- Culture & wildlife etiquette: On game drives, follow your ranger's instructions at all times, stay seated and quiet near animals, and never stand up or leave the vehicle unless told it is safe. Keep a respectful distance, avoid flash near wildlife, and take only photographs. When visiting townships, communities and cultural sites, go with trusted local guides who ensure visits are respectful, safe and genuinely beneficial
- Power & practicalities: Power is 230V; South Africa mainly uses the large three-round-pin type M plug (and increasingly type N and type C), so bring a universal adapter. Occasional scheduled power cuts ('loadshedding') can occur, though hotels and lodges typically have backup generators. Bring layers for chilly early-morning and evening game drives, sun protection, and neutral-coloured clothing for the bush
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you arrange special honeymoon touches?
Absolutely, it is our pleasure. We build in romantic touches throughout, such as champagne on arrival, sunset picnics and cruises, candlelit and private bush dinners, couples' spa treatments, rose-petal turndowns and a private game-drive vehicle where possible, and we upgrade to the most romantic boutique hotels and intimate luxury lodges. Just tell us your wishes and any milestones, and we will weave thoughtful surprises into every stage to make your honeymoon truly unforgettable.
Could we add a beach finale to our honeymoon?
Yes, and it is a wonderful idea. Many honeymooners round off this journey with a few days on a beautiful beach. We can add the golden beaches of the Garden Route or KwaZulu-Natal, or fly you on to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles or Zanzibar, or to a beach lodge in Mozambique, for a blissful, sun-drenched finale. We tailor the length and style of the beach extension to your dream honeymoon.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary. On safari at game lodges, stays are typically fully inclusive, with all meals plus daily game drives, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. In Cape Town, the Winelands and along the Garden Route we usually leave lunches and some dinners free so you can explore South Africa's superb, varied food and wine scene, and we gladly recommend the best restaurants at every stage.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your journey is private by default, with your own expert local guide and comfortable vehicle in the cities, Winelands and Garden Route, and shared open 4x4 game drives with a professional ranger and tracker at the safari lodges (private vehicles can be arranged). This gives you flexibility, depth and a pace tailored to you. South Africa's knowledgeable guides bring its wildlife, landscapes, wine and complex history vividly to life.
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Many nationalities, including UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, receive a free visa-free visitor's permit on arrival for tourism, typically up to 90 days. A passport valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure, with two or more blank pages, is required. Requirements vary by nationality and can change, so we confirm the exact, current process for you and advise on any eVisa or permit needed before you travel.
Is South Africa safe to visit?
South Africa is a rewarding and well-established destination that welcomes many visitors each year, and travelling with a good operator makes it smooth and safe. We use trusted guides, drivers and lodges, arrange secure transfers, and brief you on sensible precautions, much like in any major world city: keep valuables discreet, avoid walking alone in quiet urban areas at night, and follow local advice. On safari you are in expert hands with professional rangers at all times.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on your priorities. May to September (dry winter) is prime for Big Five safari, as thinning bush and water holes concentrate the wildlife; November to March (summer) is warm and sunny for Cape Town, its beaches and the Winelands. June to November brings southern right whales to Hermanus and the coast, and September adds spring wildflowers. Many combine the Cape and the bush year-round; we tailor the timing to what matters most to you.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of city, Winelands, coast and safari, upgrade to luxurious lodges in the Sabi Sand, add the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon, the Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal and Zulu heritage, Addo Elephant Park, or extend beach time, and tailor the pace, comfort and focus to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through the astonishing variety of South Africa.
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