If there’s one thing we love more at Timbuktu than travelling ourselves, it’s hearing stories about your travels! This month, our lovely guests Jason and Natalie have given us a sneak peek into their grand tour of South Africa, organised with the help of Timbuktu travel guru, Joanna. Both Jason and Natalie have been exploring the world since their college days, but neither had travelled to the African continent. Then, with a big birthday around the corner, it was time to take the plunge. Here are some of their stunning pictures, and what they had to say…
First stop Cape Town
3 nights at The Cape Cadogan
“Cape Town was epic! Cape Cadogan is absolutely beautiful and the suite we stayed in was stunning. The concierge gave us recommendations for restaurants that were simply fantastic. Table Mountain is impressive to say the least, and Cape Point is awe-inspiring.”
Next stop, the Cape Winelands
2 nights at Mont Rochelle
“Mont Rochelle hotel and the town of Franschhoek may be two of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Again, amazing service and incredible food. We went on the wine tram as well, and met a lovely couple who were celebrating their honeymoon. As a group we spent the day tasting fantastic wines from some of the brilliant vineyards there. I think we were meant to taste the wine and then pour out the remainder…but that just seemed like a waste!”
Exploring the whale route
2 nights at Ocean Eleven Guest House
“On our first night in Hermanus, as I stood on the terrace of our room overlooking Walker Bay, a massive Southern right whale shot out of the sea not 200 metres from me, as if on cue. We spent the next two days chasing the countless whales up and down the coast.”
The beautiful Garden Route
2 nights at Emily Moon River Lodge
“Emily Moon; perhaps the single most breath-taking place we’ve ever been. It was like walking into a storybook. The food and service were second to none and we doubt we will ever see or stay in a place more tranquil and captivating. While there, we hiked into the Robberg Nature Reserve where we saw the seal colony, a massive great white shark stalking them, and the most beautiful sand dunes.”
Last stop – An Eastern Cape safari
3 nights at Shamwari Bayethe Tented Camp
“Finally, Shamwari is, simply put, epic. The Bayethe Tented Camp is truly remarkable, and something everyone should experience. At one point, as we sat amongst a herd of elephants passing no more than 3 feet from us, I looked at Natalie and I think we both realised how terribly fortunate we were to be there at that moment.”
View Shamwari Bayethe Tented Camp
