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holiday to South Africa & Seychelles
Stephen Hutchingson, 21st May 2023This was the best vacation of our lives! Every element of the trip was perfectly planned and we had the ability to have some spontaneity as well. We stayed at the nicest resorts we have ever stayed in and had the opportunity to experience both adventure and relaxation which was our goal for the trip. We reflected on the trip in its entirety to try and think of anything we might have changed or done differently. The only point we came up with was that we would have liked to do one less day in Thornybush Game Reserve so that we could allocate one additional day in the Seychelles. We only thought this though since we were able to see all of the Big 5 in the first 2 days.
Accommodation Visited
Shumbalala Game Lodge
“This was a fantastic resort with some of the friendliest staff we have ever met and an intimate setting. The game drives allowed us to see the entire Big 5 in the first two days and we were able to see lion cubs close up which was one of our favorite experiences on the trip. Our spotter (Peter) and driver/field guide (Bryce) were incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining. They made our drives fun and educational and always made sure that we were able to see something each drive. Our hostess and waitresses were extremely friendly and had a great memory for remembering little details about our orders and preferences. Our cabin was such a unique stay with all the amenities we could think of and housekeeping kept our room clean and mosquito free. We had the opportunity to see an elephant drink directly from our infinity pool on our first day and watch a pack of elephants come to the local watering hole while eating lunch. The food was plentiful and delicious! We never went hungry between the morning snacks, breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner. Since we are both huge gin drinkers we also loved the unique gin and tonics that were served on our evening game drives. All in all it was an incredible stay and we loved our experience.”
OR Tambo City Lodge
“At this point on our trip, we were both battling some delayed jet lag and stomach issues so we did not take full advantage of the hotel. We did however enjoy the proximity to the airport and the breakfast buffet. It is difficult to provide more than 3 stars when comparing this hotel to the other 3 immaculate resorts we stayed in. It was an average hotel, above average cleanliness, kind staff, and convenient for what we needed it for.”
Constance Ephelia Seychelles
“We wish we could have stayed here one more day! This resort came packed with a ton of activities and amenities. We loved getting to experience as many of these as we could in the two full days at the resort. We especially loved the spa where we got our first couple's massage and explored the romantic and intimate facilities. We also enjoyed the two hikes the resort offers on its grounds. We made use of the boat house on site where we enjoyed a morning of scuba diving and an afternoon of kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. The food was amazing and we especially loved the Octopus Curry - our favorite dinner of the trip. We also loved the Pan Asian restaurant, specifically the poolside lunch menu. This resort catered to the adventurer in both of us and we loved getting to explore everything the resort had to offer!”
Raffles Praslin Seychelles
“WOW - Just WOW! As soon as we pulled up to Raffles we were greeted with a beautiful panoramic view of the turquoise waters. The staff offered us refreshing hand towels and delicious beverages. We then were escorted to the most beautiful place we have ever stayed. Words cannot describe how beautiful our villa was and how impressive the view we had from our room was. Our room was also equipped with amazing amenities, a breathtaking infinity pool, and the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in.
At this point in our trip we were looking to enter relaxation mode and Raffles was the perfect place for this. At the press of a button, we had a golf cart come to pick us up and bring us anywhere on the resort we needed to travel. The pool and beach had staff readily available to bring you anything you needed from chilled water to towels to a light snack. We had the opportunity to explore the Raffles beach as well as a beach down the road (Anse Lazio) for sunset. Our resort sent us a taxi after a quick WhatsApp message so we could return back to the resort safely after dark. We also received assistance in setting up a morning of scuba diving quickly. Our favorite lunch of the trip was at this resort and the food across the board was impeccable. We especially loved the themed family-style meals like the 1001 Arabic nights. The breakfast boasted every type of fruit juice you could think of and every type of food you could dream of.”
Staff Review
“Natasha was fantastic to work with and answered all of our questions quickly and efficiently. We enjoyed the whole experience and can't wait to use Mahlatini again!”
