We had always dreamt of going on safari all together but, with busy schedules and everyone living in different corners of the world, family trips are increasingly difficult to pull off. However, the year of my father’s retirement seemed like the perfect excuse to make it happen. We had great fun getting inspired and designing the trip through the Timbuktu site, and the Timbuktu team worked hard to make it a reality. They took care of all the little details and made it a truly unforgettable experience. Highlights included the gastronomic delights of Cape Town’s amazing restaurants, motorbiking along Chapman’s Peak, epic lion sightings in the Kruger, watching turtles hatching eggs on the pristine beaches of KwaZulu-Natal and an encounter with a Ragged Tooth shark while scuba diving… Safe to say, those memories will definitely last a lifetime!
First stop Cape Town
4 nights at Kensington Place
Having seen so many envy-inducing photographs of Cape Town over the years, there was no way we could leave a few days exploring its delights off the itinerary. It certainly did not disappoint and our days there were filled with one brilliant activity after the next and fueled by some of the most delicious food we had all ever eaten, not to mention the wine…
We packed it all in: the Saturday farmer’s market in Granger Bay, playing with the penguins at Boulders Beach, wine tasting and exploring the beautiful gardens of Babylonstoren, a motorbike ride along Chapman’s Peak, and much much more.
Next stop: Safari in Kruger
3 nights in Sabi Sabi Selati Camp
Our three days on safari were the ultimate in both luxury and adventure. The Sabi Sabi Selati lodge was sensational and we were so well taken care of by all of the staff, but particularly our wonderful guide and spotter. We couldn’t have been more lucky with our sightings and were so happy to tick all of the Big Five off of our lists, but there is simply nothing better than seeing those majestic animals in their natural habitats: female lions and cubs dozing in the midday sun, a leopard stalking an impala only to come upon a very angry mother warthog, scores of wildebeests, buffalo and giraffe, and rhinos and elephants galore.
Final stop: beach time in Thonga Beach
5 nights at Thonga Beach Lodge
After the safari we transferred by air to a lodge situated on the miles and miles of beautiful northern KwaZulu-Natal beach below Mozambique – it was the perfect end to our trip. Not able to sit for long on the beach doing nothing we had activities a-plenty to amuse ourselves with there as well. Snorkeling and massages for the less adventurous amongst us, and scuba diving in crystal-clear waters with sea turtles and sharks for those who still hadn’t had quite enough wild animal encounters. In the evenings we were lucky enough to have guides to help us track down the turtles hatching their eggs on the beach. What a trip!
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