Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

Mozambique: An April Escapade with a Safari Twist

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

April is a splendid time to explore and travel the world, and this year, our travel itinerary is spotlighting the exotic Southeast African country of Mozambique.

Renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and the promise of an exciting safari experience in combination with South Africa, this intriguing destination is sure to kindle the wanderlust in you.

April is a delightful time, weather-wise, for Mozambique, conveniently avoiding the intense heat of December-March and the heavy rains of February. This makes it an optimal season to enjoy the country’s amazing destinations without any weather-related issues.

Our first beach encounter was at Machangulo. The untouched splendor of this locale is simply captivating.

The resort, located between the Indian Ocean and Maputo Special Reserve, offered an excellent mix of breathtaking landscapes and luxury. The tranquil environment and crystal blue waters set the perfect scene for snorkeling, fishing, or simply unwinding.

From Machangulo, we journeyed to the White Pearl Resorts, a hidden treasure nestled in the dunes of a pristine beach. The luxury suites, with their stunning ocean view, provided a front-row seat to the spectacular landscape. Days here were spent enjoying the beach, exploring the vibrant marine life, and savoring meals under the starry African sky.

The journey then unfolded towards Vilanculos, a quaint town that is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago. Here, we stayed at the &Beyond Benguerra, Anantara Bazaruto, and Sussurro. Each resort radiated a unique charm, featuring luxurious accommodations, world-class cuisine, and a myriad of activities including beach horseback riding and traditional dhow sailing. Doesn’t this scream HONEYMOON? 

The Bazaruto Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, is a UNESCO-protected marine reserve. This underwater wonderland showcased a vibrant spectacle of coral reefs, tropical fish, and even the elusive dugong. Exploring these underwater marvels marked a memorable highlight of our trip.

While Mozambique offers an abundance of beach activities, the idea of incorporating a fantastic safari experience takes the excitement to another level. Currently, this perfect blend of beach and safari is best achieved by combining a South African safari with a Mozambican beach vacation. The majestic wildlife of South Africa followed by the soothing Mozambican coastlines is an adventure worth every moment and if you wanted to have a Honeymoon safari but you always dreamed of a honeymoon on a fantastic beach, well, here is your answer. 

In a nutshell, Mozambique in April will be an unforgettable journey – the warmth of the people, the exotic flavors of the local cuisine, the charm of the beaches, and the vibrancy of marine life. If you’re scouting for an exceptional destination for your April getaway or a fabulously romantic Honeymoon, I’d highly recommend Mozambique. And who knows, you might just find yourself in the midst of the dreamy beach and safari combo that Mozambique is working towards!

Ready to plan your unforgettable journey to Mozambique?

Let’s make it a reality together! Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with me, German, today. We’ll craft your perfect itinerary and create a vacation that truly exceeds your expectations. Start your Mozambique adventure now!”

What Our Clients Say

Discover Egypt in March: Travel Back in Time

Discover Egypt in March: Travel Back in Time

Discover Egypt in March: Travel Back in Time

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

For the month of March I would suggest one of my favorite destinations: Egypt.

If you are considering a luxury trip to Egypt, there are many reasons why March is the perfect time to go. The weather is mild, and the crowds are smaller, allowing you to have a more exclusive and intimate experience. Additionally, March is an ideal time for exploring the numerous sights and activities that Egypt has to offer.

As someone who has been to Egypt a few times, I can tell you that it is a country that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and luxury. If you are planning a luxury trip to Egypt, I recommend staying in one of the many incredible luxury hotels the country has to offer.

The Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is an elegant five-star hotel located in the heart of Cairo.

It offers stunning views of the Nile River and the city, and it’s within walking distance of many top attractions such as the Egyptian Museum and the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

The rooftop bar and the outdoor pool are fantastic. The Mena House Hotel by Marriot, is a great hotel it is right outside the entrance to the Pyramids and one can see them form the hotel’s swimming pool and gardens and they have quite a few Pyramid view rooms, so make sure you ask for one of those. 

The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh is a luxurious beachfront resort located on the Red Sea coast. It offers stunning views of the sea and the surrounding mountains, and it’s a great place to relax and unwind. Scuba diving from the shores of the Red Sea is amazing but it is much better when going on a boat out to sea. 

While in Egypt, there are numerous luxury excursions and activities that you can enjoy. Here are five of my top recommendations:

  1. Take a Cruise down the Nile: A Nile River cruise is a must-do activity in Egypt. It offers breathtaking views of the ancient temples and ruins, and it’s a great way to relax and soak in the history and culture of the country. 
  2. Scuba diving in the Red Sea: The Red Sea is home to some of the world’s most stunning coral reefs and marine life. Scuba diving in these waters is a fantastic way to explore the underwater world and experience the natural beauty of Egypt.
  3. Private Pyramids Tour: A private tour of the pyramids is an excellent way to experience the history and culture of Egypt. You can avoid the crowds and get up close and personal with these ancient wonders.
  4. Hot Air Balloon Ride: A hot air balloon ride over Luxor is an unforgettable experience. It offers stunning views of the temples and ruins, and it’s a great way to see the vastness and beauty of Egypt from above.
  5. Desert Safari: A desert safari is an excellent way to experience the natural beauty of Egypt’s vast deserts. You can ride camels, watch the sunset, and enjoy a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars. The Oasis of Siwa is a great option for this. 

It offers stunning views of the Nile River and the city, and it’s within walking distance of many top attractions such as the Egyptian Museum and the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

The rooftop bar and the outdoor pool are fantastic. The Mena House Hotel by Marriot, is a great hotel it is right outside the entrance to the Pyramids and one can see them form the hotel’s swimming pool and gardens and they have quite a few Pyramid view rooms, so make sure you ask for one of those. 

The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh is a luxurious beachfront resort located on the Red Sea coast. It offers stunning views of the sea and the surrounding mountains, and it’s a great place to relax and unwind. The Scuba diving from the shores of the Red Sea is amazing but it is much better when going on a boat out to sea. 

Ready to plan your dream vacation to Egypt in March?

If you would like to plan your dream vacation to Egypt, I encourage you to book a 30-minute consultation with me via Zoom. During our consultation, we can discuss your travel preferences, budget, and itinerary. I will provide you with expert advice and help you plan a luxury trip that meets all of your needs and expectations!

What Our Clients Say

Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

Discover Victoria Falls in February: The Ultimate Experience

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

February is a fantastic time to explore Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders. With optimal water levels and an array of exhilarating activities, there’s never a dull moment during a visit to Victoria Falls in February.

Victoria Falls, affectionately known as Vic Falls, is a breathtaking destination that can be enjoyed year-round. However, February offers the perfect balance of water levels, allowing visitors to experience both the power of the falls and the thrill of activities like Devil’s Pool. From March to June, water levels are too high for Devil’s Pool, while during the dry season, the experience isn’t quite as impressive.

Spanning 1 kilometer in width, Vic Falls transforms into an adventure lover’s paradise during the low river season. This is the perfect time for adrenaline-pumping activities such as white water rafting, high-speed boat rides, bungee jumping, zip-lining, and the exhilarating giant swing. Don’t miss a visit to The Lookout Cafe for stunning views and delicious food.

For a more serene experience, visit The Elephant Cafe, where you can get up close and personal with these gentle giants. To fully immerse yourself in the wonders of Vic Falls, we recommend a minimum stay of two nights, which allows enough time for a helicopter flight over the falls and various activities.

Victoria Falls is accessible via two airports: Livingstone Airport in Zambia or Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. To make the most of your trip, consider obtaining a multiple-entry visa, as activities are spread across both countries. A safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana or Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe adds an unforgettable touch to your adventure.

 

When choosing where to stay, consider the luxurious Royal Livingstone Hotel, located close to the falls. For those staying longer than two nights, we recommend upriver lodges like the exquisite Royal Chundu Lodge, which offers a variety of unique activities.

In summary, February is an ideal time to visit Victoria Falls, with a perfect blend of powerful falls and exciting activities. Combine this unforgettable experience with other African destinations like Cape Town and a safari for a 10-12 day trip of a lifetime.

Ready to plan your dream vacation to Victoria Falls in February?

Book a 30-minute consultation with me via Calendly. During our call, we’ll discuss your travel preferences, budget, and itinerary. I will provide you with expert advice and help you plan an unforgettable adventure that meets all of your needs and expectations. Don’t miss this opportunity – schedule your consultation today!

What Our Clients Say

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

TOP AFRICAN DESTINATION BY MONTH – JANUARY IN UGANDA

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

January is a great month to travel within africa and like I say with each question about where is the best place to go and when? Africa is a continent in which you can travel almost everywhere all year round, the only difference is that some months it’s better in some countries. For Example, Never go to Namibia in February, Waaaay too hot. After saying this, Where is the “best” place to go to in January? Well, besides the obvious, Cape Town, I would suggest Uganda. Yes. Uganda, to see the Gorillas. 

January is great in Uganda, because the rainy season just finished, the temperature is great and within all the choices, available it’s nice to do Uganda in January. In Uganda you can do so much, it is not only about the Gorillas, you can also go see the Chimpazees, and do a safari.

OH! You can visit Mirchison Falls, that’s where the Nile river starts, and if you are lucky you can see a Shoebill Stork in the wild (very lucky) but in Entebbe there’s a place where you can see them and interact with them, I find it an incredible bird and so prehistoric. I could not believe my luck when i got to be so close to one of them. 

So, yes, visit Cape Town in January (basically visit Cape Town all through summer here, Dec – Mar) but also think of Uganda as a very nice. Destination.

What to do and where to go.

In Uganda you can visit the Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest, for this you will need to get a permit to visit the gorillas, they are very limited, so you need to book in advance, they cost USD700 per person. If you’d like to see the Chimpazees, there are two options, fly to Kibale or to Kasese, Kibale is a better option to see the Chimps simply because there are more Chimp families there, but the permits are a bit more expensive than in Kasese, Kyambura gorge. 

In Uganda, you can visit a couple of national parks that offer proper safaris, Queen Elizabeth National park is the most known one but there are a few more, Kidepo Valley National Park is the one that offers better animal sightings but it is very difficult to reach so you will need to fly there. The other famous park is Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile River starts.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park you can visit the Kazinga Chanel, a Chanel that unites Lake George with Lake Edward. The animal sighting here is amazing. Lots of Hippos and as safari goes, if you are lucky you can see the tree climbing lions. 

While in Entebbe, you can do sunset cruises on Lake Victoria and even visit the Ngamba Island where they have a Chimp Sanctuary, where you can interact with the chimps but in order to do this you will need a special permit and also you will need to have all the vaccinations that are in the world. Tetanus, Epathitis, Meningitis, TB, Smallpax, etc. you name it you will need it. One can also visit the Uganda Wild Conservation and education center, it used to be a Zoo a but now it is used more for research and education, if you do go, ask for the behind the scenes tour. That’s where you get to feed some of the animals and pat them, I fed a giraffe, a Rhino, an elephant, but the best was the interaction with the Shoebill stork, it’s something I will never forget. 

Need some help planning your January holiday?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get there & back.

What Our Clients Say

The Pondo Trail

The Pondo Trail

The Pondo Trail

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Go HomeSkip To Video

We recently did the Pondo trail, one of the most scenic and beautiful trails in South Africa, the planning started almost a year before when our friend asked if we would join them on a trail, he knows us very well so he knew it had to be a fully serviced trail, what do I mean by that? Well, firstly, we needed someone to help carry our bags, definitely not sleeping in tents. Secondly, we wanted food cooked for us and obviously, drinks, so, yes! The Pondo trail is just like that, you carry a small bag with whatever you might need during the day, basically a water bottle, a long sleeve sweatshirt or jacket just in case, preferably a rain jacket, snacks, and sunblock, that is what I had in mine. 

The way the trail works, you start from Mtentu, just outside Port Edward, this can be, by road, a couple of hours on a bumpy road, or by boat, if the sea conditions are good, now, to get there you fly to Durban, we spent the night before there and then met everyone at the airport to start the 3-hours drive to the Estuary hotel in Port Edward, where we spent the night, next morning we go on a 2-hours drive to the starting point of the trail, some people were very lucky, actually, just Jan, because one of the guys doing the trail didn’t want to do all the driving so he went on a Helicopter and since they charge for a minimum of 2 people Jan got to go with him. We all met at the edge of the Mtentu river mouth and the adventure started with us going across the river. No, we didn’t swim, and although a few of the guys did, we went on a Kayak. 

Day 1. (15km)

We start the trail and it’s all very exciting and fun, within 45 minutes of starting we find a waterfall and we jump in the water, then we keep going, we stop for lunch at a very nice natural pool, now, the first dat we walk across a nature reserve so although we didn’t see any, we could have seen some wildlife, wait, we did se Zebras. 

Day 2. (18km)

Now, we are out of the nature reserve, and I have to admit, it was the less exciting day of the 5, the landscape was pretty much the same all day, lots of grasslands and not much diverse scenery, it got quite windy at one point, but it ended majestically!

As we were reaching the end of the day we saw far away in the distance, these massive waves crashing against the coastline making giant splashes, I immediately thought, ah! It would be so cool if we could walk right next to them, well, guess what? We walked right next to them, the splashes were huge and very often and that rocky coastline was about 1km long, at the end of all this splashing and fun was our campsite, right next to the river mouth which they had organized a bonfire and plenty of G&T waiting for us, (wine for me please)

Day 3. (17km)

 

This is supposed to be the most exciting day, we are going to see the waterfall Bluff, one of the few waterfalls that go straight into the ocean. According to our guide, there are only 12 waterfalls like this in the world, and 3 of them are on this trail but only this one is accessible. OK, only this one has easy access. Lots of uphill and downhill, we even went to see a cave, and then we came up to the waterfall, very impressive. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side so we didn’t walk down to it and got totally wet, I should have done it! So, yes, it was the best day.

Day 4. (10km) 

On our last day walking, we did walk a lot, a total of 10 km. Day 3 is the longest and the best day, today. It wasn’t as long but it took us across 7 headlands and 6 beaches, each one more beautiful than the other. When we reached the top of the last hill, the view of the estuary where we ended the trail was just amazing. We arrived there at midday and spent a fabulous afternoon by the river, drinks, friends, and fun, all around a fantastic bonfire.

Day 5.

We head back to where it all started, Durban. Word of advice, if you can take a helicopter back, DO IT! It was a long drive and of course, we were all super tired. In my opinion, it was a bit too much, about 7- hours drive back, but when you think about the trail and how beautiful everything was, it was all worth it.

In summary, The Pondo Trail is a Must-Do, especially if you love nature and like the outdoors. However, you have to like walking. A total bonus are the beaches, rivers natural pools, and waterfalls. The best time to do it is between April and May, but you need to book this well in advance, almost a year in advance.

Want to join the next Pondo Trail Hike?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get the best out of your travels.

Pondo Trail Video Journal

What Our Clients Say

Top African destination by month – DECEMBER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Top African destination by month – DECEMBER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Top African destination by month – DECEMBER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Blog post with #NANANtravel
Blog Posts

For December I would say that South Africa is the best destination, why? Well, it’s summer, it’s the holiday season and South Africa has everything you need for adventure,  family fun, and tradition, you can celebrate in a beautiful city, go on a fantastic safari and enjoy incredible beaches, all this in one country. 

December is the peak season for South Africa, especially Cape Town, and it is when we welcome the most tourists as well as people from other parts of the country, making Cape Town a city full of energy, vibes and of course events, the beaches are full, the weather is perfect and as always, there are lots of things to do here. 

When it comes to a safari, it’s the beginning of the rainy season so the vegetation is not as dry as in winter, making it a bit more beautiful (if this is possible).

But also it’s babies season, most of the animals would have given birth in September or October so it’s a great time to see all the newborns. When I say rainy season, please don’t be alarmed, it’s sporadic rainfall and not as often as it would be in January or February. It rains in bits and not necessarily everywhere.  

Oh! Another bonus, the river starts filling up, and if you like thunderstorms, you will definitely get those in Johannesburg.

What to do and where to go.

In Cape Town, I would recommend the Pod hotel, or The Marly hotel, not only because they are fantastic hotels but also because they are within walking distance from the beach. If you prefer something closer to the city, for me, The Winchester Hotel is the best, halfway between the city bowl and the beaches, right on the promenade it is perfectly located. I normally don’t recommend hotels in the city bowl just because I personally prefer the ocean views and the closeness to the sea. However, if you insist, La Botessa would be one that I’d recommend, also Gorgeous George and Camissa House, without forgetting the Silo Hotel and The Cadogan Boutique Hotel.

A day in the Winelands is a must as well as the Cape Point Tour, but also taking a couple of days to relax and enjoy the beaches, Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, etc. There are also a lot of activities to do all year round but some of these are much more fun in Summer like Scuba diving through a Kelp Forest or Snorkeling with seals, an Ocean Safari to look for whales and dolphins, Paragliding, Kayaking, Sandboarding, Skydiving, and plenty more. There’s something for everyone. 

Something a lot of people love to do is the Garden Route, it’s a great way to enjoy a road trip visiting some incredible beaches and then end up with a Safari near Port Elizabeth, if you are not the type that likes road trips, you can always fly to the Kruger National Park area and do a safari in one of the most fabulous private game reserves in the country for example, Royal Melawane, Singita, Earth Lodge, Saseka, etc.

Need some help planning your December holiday?

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with German – for the perfect advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get there & back.

What Our Clients Say