Mixing a Big Five safari with a stint in the tropical sunshine is a hard-to-beat holiday cocktail. Bush and beach holidays really do offer the best of both worlds, whisking you off into a world of wildlife and then delivering you straight into a comfy sun lounger. It’s a perfect balance, giving you both a safari adventure and a blissful chance to recharge your batteries before returning to reality. They’re twin-centre trips with a toe-tingling, tropical twist and we can’t get enough of them ourselves.
While you’re on safari, you’ll set off at sunrise each morning, racing across the savanna in search of the Big Five. If the crisp morning air doesn’t ping your eyes wide open, a herd of elephant gathered around a waterhole will do the trick! You’ll get closer to the wildlife that you would ever imagine possible, sending your adrenaline soaring and your camera working overtime.
You’ll head out again at sunset, stopping for an atmospheric sundowner in the bush and looking out lion in the long grass. At night, you can stand around a traditional blazing boma – bonfire – and gaze up at a blanket of stars. Whether you opt for a thatched chalet perched on a riverbank, a tented lodge in the heart of the wilderness or a treehouse up high in the forest canopy, you’ll feel millions away from the working world.
Whilst unbelievably exhilarating, this rhythm of safari life can be a little exhausting. After a a string of dawn game drives, you’ll be hankering after some heavy-duty relaxation. This is the perfect time to escape to a barefoot retreat where your to-do-list will consist of no more than an afternoon massage and a Mai Tai at sunset. Here, you can bury your alarm clock at the bottom of your baggage and abandon yourself to unlimited beach laziness. No more 4am wake-up calls for you – just lazy days and lapping shores.
So, where are the best places for a bush and beach holiday? While Kenya has traditionally taken the top spot when it comes to safari and sun adventures, there’s a jeep-load of other options available. All of them will give you a breathtaking safari and a brilliant bronzing on the shores of the Indian Ocean. To help you set you off in the right direction, we’ve compiled our current tropical twin-centre top three:
1. South Africa and Mauritius
This is a killer combination, kicking off with a Big Five safari in Kruger National Park and ending up on the sun-kissed sands of Mauritius. What’s more, you can easily turn it into the ultimate triple-centre holiday by adding a few nights in Cape Town into the mix. By doing this, you’ll get wonderful wildlife, world-class culture and wow-factor beaches, all wrapped up in one unforgettable trip.
Mauritius is a beach paradise worthy of any postcard, with endless stretches of pure white sands fringed by swaying palms. It’s the perfect place for lazy breakfasts, barefoot strolls, sunset cocktails and romantic seafood meals overlooking the Indian Ocean. As safari and sunshine holidays go, you can’t get better than this…
Tempted? Take a closer look at our South Africa and Mauritius holidays.
2. South Africa and Mozambique
Mozambique is THE place to live out all of your Robinson Crusoe fantasies. Its quiet, castaway beaches are the sands-less-travelled, so you’ll feel deliciously marooned in a peaceful paradise. Getting away from it all doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Mozambique is a brilliant place to unwind after the excitement and early mornings of a Big Five safari. Here, you can sink your toes in the sand and lie back in your little nook of beach nirvana. The snorkelling is wonderful, the seafood is impossibly fresh and the sand is silky soft. Think secret coves, crystal waters, fiery sunsets and strictly no stress allowed.
Itching to go? Find out more about our South Africa and Mozambique escapes.
3. Tanzania and Zanzibar
If you’ve been dreaming of endless African plains packed with wandering herds, Tanzania will tick every box. Tanzania is Africa at its most epic and one of the top wildlife-viewing spots on the planet. From the sun-baked savanna of the Serengeti to the giant caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater, it’s an eye-popping, jaw-dropping choice for a safari.
A safari in Tanzania is a hard act to follow, but topping off your trip with a few days on Zanzibar will definitely do the trick. It may be pocket-sized, but Zanzibar packs a real tropical punch. It’s a sultry, romantic chunk of paradise, where traditional dhow boats sail across the horizon at sunset and warm breezes rustle through the coconut palms. Here, the only pressing decisions are sunbathe or snorkel, Margarita or Mojito, and massage or manicure. It’s a hard life eh…
Ready to pack your bags? Here’s the full rundown of our Tanzania sunshine and safari holidays.
If you’re looking to put your escape plans in motion, feel free to give us a call with any questions at all. We’ll be delighted to help send you off on your bush and beach adventure!