Bush and Beach: South Africa and Mozambique in 10 Days

Your luxe bush and beach vacation will begin as you land at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and catch a domestic flight to Skukuza Airport, where you will transfer through the breathtaking bushveld of Sabi Sands Game Reserve to a stunning safari river lodge sheltered by a cool forest. Sabi Sands is a private reserve in the Greater Kruger area, and you will explore its enchanting environments after checking into your lavish suite. Returning to your room afterward, you may enjoy sweeping views from your balcony or a dip in your secluded plunge pool.

The prolific bushveld and vast plains of Sabi Sands teem with wildlife, and you will discover as much of South Africa’s iconic game and appreciate its unspoiled sceneries during extensive private safari tours in the mornings and afternoons. Beyond sightings of the Big Five, you will spot giraffes, wildebeest, an assortment of buck, and wild dogs, to name a few, while cruising across the lush landscapes. You may also uncover the creatures of the night during spotlighted evening safaris allowing you to witness aardvark, pangolins, badgers, civets, and much more.

While 4x4 vehicles offer an efficient and effective way to wander the untamed wilderness in search of South Africa’s fascinating game, bush walks are a unique opportunity to slow down your adventures and appreciate every little detail of the bushveld. After breakfast, you will accompany an armed ranger and begin your stroll through Sabi Sands. Your guide will share insight into the intricacies of the bush as you track animal footprints embedded in the dirt, and you will engage your senses as you follow the sounds and smells of the wilderness.

During your stay in Sabi Sands, you will enjoy many remarkable safari experiences set on the Greater Kruger’s riveting wildlife stage. You will capture extraordinary images of the animal kingdom and make magical memories during your travels through the greenery. Between your adventures, you will lap up luxurious amenities at your accommodation and unwind in style against a backdrop of the breathtaking bushveld. You may even cherish the spectacular safari scenes from an open-air spa pavilion where a professional masseuse will treat you to a vitalizing therapy within the wilderness.

This morning, you will transfer to the Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique for a few days of total relaxation on the destination’s castaway beaches. You will arrive in mainland Mozambique and then fly via helicopter to Benguerra Island, treasuring the sprawling sapphire seascape panoramas from the sky as you make your way. Arriving on the island, you will transfer to an immaculate thatched seaside lodge flanked by emerald forest and overlooking the spellbinding seascape. You may spend your afternoon with your toes in the sand or luxuriating in your private pool as the sunset burns across the sky.

Crystal clear sea wraps around Benguerra Island, and you may enjoy the balmy waters spreading from the sandy shoreline hugging your accommodation each morning before breakfast. After breakfast, you may wallow in more of the marvelous marine activities of Benguerra, including a dazzling snorkeling tour over the shallow coral reefs. Gliding across the surface of the sea and plunging beneath the swells, you will witness fish of all shapes and sizes in all sorts of colors seeking refuge among the orange, purple, green, and blue coral plastering the preserved stretches of the reef.

Experienced divers or those seeking to obtain their certificate may be thrilled to partake in a riveting scuba diving tour in the deep waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago. These marine experiences share otherworldly encounters with the fabulous sea life flourishing beneath the azure surface of the Indian Ocean. Beyond scuba diving, you may embrace the bewitching seascape aboard a traditional dhow, a local wooden sailing boat. Your local fisherman and guide will retrace stories of their Mozambican heritage as you revel in the sensational scenery surrounding the still sea.

Beauty is boundless along Benguerra’s coastline. However, inland you will discover more of Mozambique’s natural allure during guided island drives from your cabana across Mozambique’s diverse tropical landscapes. Along the way, you will spot birds sitting on the calm waters of lakes and admire the towering golden dunes covering stretches of the island. Your journey will bring you to a local Mozambican village, where you will meet friendly villagers, find out more about their lifestyle and community initiatives, and tuck into an array of beloved traditional delicacies.

After breakfast, you may spend your final full day in Benguerra exploring more or lounging in luxury at your elegant seaside suite. You may wander the island on horseback, capturing fragrant flowers as they bloom and watching little creatures scuttle through the greenery. You may cast your fishing rod in the stretching seas aboard trawlers or from the sand. You may also luxuriate on the soft sand far from anyone else during a romantic castaway picnic and delightful dune exploration. Today, Benguerra is yours to explore at your pace.

From your suite, you will hear the whisper of the crashing waves and gentle breeze rolling over the Indian Ocean. You will smell wafts of the salty sea air billowing from the shoreline and enveloping your decadent room. You will wake up in paradise on your final morning in Mozambique and spend it admiring the sensational scenery while indulging in an exquisitely prepared coastal breakfast. After breakfast, you will collect your things and transfer to the airport, where you will say your bittersweet goodbyes to Mozambique.