Travel Review: Luxury Africa Safari, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kruger Nation Park, Victoria Falls, table Mountain, Winelands

We did so many different things during the 15 days we were in Africa it would be difficult to identify our favorite.

Our journey began in Cape Town.  We stayed 4 nights at the Silo- and architectural wonder attached to an African museum right by the harbor.  We were lucky to visit Table mountain on a crystal clear day and the views were spectacular. Our guide that day arranged quick access to the cable car to get to the top and educated us historically on all we were seeing.  We also had an afternoon tour of the city.

We took a day with a different guide/driver to visit Cape point, go canoeing and paddle boarding , and visit Boulder beach where the African penguins were everywhere with all their babies-so neat.   The coastline and crashing waves were spectacular at Cape point. We also went horseback riding at Noordhoek beach for a couple hours.  Adventurous and fantastic guide!

Other things we did in Cape Town- visited Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens , explored the harbor side, went to the aquarium, and enjoyed many good restaurants.  The most special restaurant was La Colombe.

When we left Capetown we had a full day winelands tour-  It was divine, and educational. we loved the beautiful countryside. We were dropped off at a resort which is a little piece of heaven in itself.  Everything about it made you want to stay longer. The beauty of the place, the staff, the ambiance, the wine is all a great memory. The resort provided us with bikes we rode into the town (Franschhoek). We enjoyed exploring the charming village.

 After winelands we flew to Kruger National Park for a 4 night safari at Londolozi in their luxury treecamp.  Wow, wow, wow!  We can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Our ranger and tracker were so professional and fun.  We saw so many animals with their activities up close.  I don't know how they found all these animals in this vast area but they did and it was more than I ever dreamed I would see.  We saw 9 leopard (and they are solitary animals) -with babies playing, a fresh kill, and mating.  We saw lions defending their Cape buffalo carcass against other Cape buffalo, went on a wild African dog chase, giraffes, elephants, rhino's, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas nursing their puppies, etc., etc.- it was really wild haha!.  Everyday we were out 4 hours in the morning and 4 in the evening. We would take a coffee break with snacks in the morning to watch the sun rise, and a spirit drink with snacks in the evening to watch the sun set.  The sunrises and sunsets are consistently glorious in Africa. 

 Londolozi was full of surprises other than the safari- Every night they had a surprise dinner (with choices), you never new the location or venue until you got there.  The staff was like family, service above and beyond, meals were delicious. They made a point to give special recognition to our Anniversary which was a total surprise and so lovely we will never forget it.   

We rented some camera equipment while at Londolozi and took some fantastic pictures to enlarge for our home walls.  They have a computer lab there to assist you in enhancing your prize pictures to make you look professional.  And Yes they even have wifi out in the middle of nowhere.  We hope to go back here one day!

Last but not least we spent 3 nights in Zambia near Victoria falls.   We stayed at the Thorntree lodge a newly renovated very nice place on the Zambezi riverside with spectacular views. Great service, private kind very attentive butler, good meals.  At the lodge itself we took a sunset cruise, could watch elephants on the side of the river, lots of hippos and crocodiles in the water, enjoyed the views, dinner and went to their spa for a massage. One evening we went on a rhino wild and observed the white rhino's and their babies.

Victoria Falls is magnificent but not at full capacity in September.  We went on the Zimbabwe side to walk through the park where most of the water was flowing.  Zimbabwe is the prettiest side to see it on.  We also took a 15 minute helicopter ride over the falls which pronounces it's beauty.

We viewed the falls a second day on the Zambia side by taking a slight swim over to the Devil's Pool and looking over the edge of the falls itself while in the water-  sounds scary but it was safe and really cool- this can only be done a few months of the year.

                                        THE END of a trip well traveled!