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Honeymoon to South Africa
Melissa Meyer, 19th February 2022A honeymoon is always expected to be unforgettable, but with Mahlatini and Caroline by our side, our highest expectations were blown away. Every detail was thought out with our comfort and travel style in mind. One reason we liked Mahlatini above all other travel companies was how varied each trip seemed. It was clear they were not promoting one itinerary and forcing it upon each of their clients. Our ideas were heard and an itinerary was expertly crafted with us in mind. We could not have been happier with the service, the level of responsiveness and the memorable locations and activities chosen for us.
Countries Visited
South Africa
“South Africa is truly a dream. The country is so welcoming and despite everything going on in the world over the past two years, a joy to visit. We always felt safe and comfortable in the country and with the people. Everyone is so generous with their time and knowledge. The love of the country runs deep with its people and that is obvious when talking about wine, politics and even (or especially) the bush.”
Accommodation Visited
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
“The Twelve Apostles did an amazing job of welcoming us to South Africa. The room was great and they made a lovely effort decorating the room for our honeymoon/ our birthday. The only suggestion we would have would be for the hotel to highlight the amazing grounds. It wasn't until we were leaving that someone mentioned the waterfall and other pretty backyard of the hotel, we didn't even know! We did try to do a picnic one day (and had it all planned), but there was a mixup on the date and a wedding was planned for that day, so we couldn't go to the picnic spot.”
Morukuru Beach Lodge
“Wow, this was the surprise hit of our trip. We knew it would be nice, but were truly blown away by the honeymoon suite. We have stayed at some luxury properties in our travels, but this room felt next level. The staff and food were absolutely incredible. We loved the sundowners on the dunes and had a great time becoming friends with the other guests. The intimate nature of the property and the friendliness of the staff made us feel like family within hours. Often overlooked, but I want to give a shout out to the cleaning staff. We jokingly called them Ninjas, as we never saw them come or go, but they made our room sparkle after every visit. The surprise flower and bath night was just so kind and well done. We were so happy.”
Le Quartier Francais
“When we pulled up to this hotel on the main street, I knew it would be nice, but we were thrilled by the oasis hidden behind the walls. The location was honestly perfect for the activities we wanted to do and its connection with Leeu vineyards was icing on the cake. The concierge staff was so helpful in booking last minute wine visits for us and we were so grateful. Really a delightful spot.”
Dulini River Lodge
“As I mentioned to Caroline (our incredible planner), this place left me in tears (in the best way). From the moment we arrived to a herd of elephants enjoying the river while we ate our first meal, we knew we were in a magical place. As New Yorkers, we are used to the best of the best (and think we deserve it being a big city :)) and were really shocked that a lodge in the bush could rival New York's finest when it came to cuisine, massages and luxury rooms. Our ranger Tim was just the coolest. We felt like we had been there for years after only being there for a few hours (a theme on the trip). It really felt genuine and we're still in touch with our favorite staffers! If Dulini was not over 20 hours away from NYC, they wouldn't be able to keep us away. Seeing 4/5 from our room was an absolute highlight and this place was truly heaven on earth.”
Staff Review
“We loved Caroline and Lucia! Both experts listened to what we wanted and tailored an experience that addressed our wishes. Each suggestion was right on par with what we were looking for. They were flexible, responsiveness and informative. We felt well-prepared and taken care of every step of the way. Poor Lucia had to spend days on end with us peppering her with questions, taking car ride naps and just generally listening to our chatter and remained the most pleasant the whole time. We learned so much while having the best time.
The only suggestion we would give is both Morukuru and Dulini had their own tipping guides that far exceeded those provided in the Mahlatini packet. We of course went with the higher amount (it was more than deserved) but if we had not reviewed that we would have undertipped. It may make sense to tailor the tipping guide to the locations being visited or potentially up the amounts in the guide. At Dulini we could pay the tips with a credit card, but we do prefer to give cash where possible, so we had to make some unexpected ATM stops. Definitely not a big deal, but just something that could be updated.”
