Mixing South Africa with Seychelles will give you unforgettable Big 5 game drives followed by a tropical desert island escape. It’s one of the ultimate safari and sunshine combinations. First, you’ll explore the African bushveld on the safari of a lifetime and then you’ll retreat to a picture-perfect beach paradise to recharge your batteries. What could possibly be better?
South Africa is one of the world’s greatest safari destinations. At first light, you’ll set off on Big Five game drives to see herds of elephant gathering around waterholes and prides of lion stalking their prey. At sunset, you’ll take another safari, stopping for a scenic sundowner en-route and watching the stars pop up in unpolluted night skies. Choose between romantic tented lodges, luxury tree houses or traditional thatched lodges - there’s somewhere in South Africa to meet every kind of safari style.
The world-famous private game reserves and safari lodges of the Greater Kruger Park offer possibly the best Big 5 game viewing opportunities to be found anywhere, with lion and leopard tracking a particular speciality. These lodges are either located within one of a handful of concessions in Kruger itself, or in one of the neighbouring private game reserves (such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Balule, Thornybush, Klaserie, and Manyeleti) on the western side of the Park, or in one of the nearby reserves such as Kapama, Makalali or Karongwe.
Morning and afternoon game drives on open 4x4 safari vehicles provide unrivalled game viewing in the company of highly skilled rangers and Shangaan trackers. The land is privately owned, so the game viewing vehicles are not restricted to the road network and it is therefore possible for the experienced guides to follow the wildlife through the bush and to get extremely close to the animals.
After several days of pre-dawn wake up calls, you’ll be ready to swap the bush for the beach and when it comes to serious R&R, you can’t say better than Seychelles. From Johannesburg, you’ll fly directly to Mahé, the central hub, to unwind on some unbelievable beaches.
The 115 islands of Seychelles are tiny tropical drops in the Indian Ocean. Each one has glorious swathes of pure white sand slipping into clear azure seas. With several of these ranked amongst the most beautiful beaches in the world, it’s an incredible place to be stranded for a few days. Kick off your flip-flops, sink your toes in the powdery sand and listen to the sound of rustling coconut palms. It’s simple barefoot bliss.
If you’re staying in Seychelles for a week or less, we would suggest you make just one island your 'base' and visit other islands on day trips - to save the hassle (and cost) of moving too frequently. Alternatively, if you have longer to spend relaxing in the sun, you can split your time on 2 or even 3 different islands, letting you experience paradise from all angles.
Mixing South Africa with Seychelles will give you unforgettable Big 5 game drives followed by a tropical desert island escape. It’s one of the ultimate safari and sunshine combinations. First, you’ll explore the African bushveld on the safari of a lifetime and then you’ll retreat to a picture-perfect beach paradise to recharge your batteries. What could possibly be better?
