If you’re just starting to plan your honeymoon, inspect out my very first honeymoon publish right here on exactly how to technique the process as well as select the ideal destination for you. If you’ve settled on a destination, inspect out my second honeymoon publish on exactly how to prepare for the trip as well as make sure the experience is incredible!
When planning our honeymoon, we wished to go somewhere that neither of us had been before, as well as we likewise wished to split our trip between beach relaxation as well as adventure. The very first part of our honeymoon was spent on the beach in the Seychelles (read all about it here) and after ten days of sun, sand as well as resting up after our whirlwind wedding, we headed to South Africa where we embarked on a six-day safari at the Chitwa Chitwa Lodge in the Sabi Sand personal game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger national Park. Whether you’re believing of a trip such as this for your honeymoon or just going for a special vacation, I can state that it was unquestionably the most extraordinary travel experience of my life to date. Today I’m going to cover my safari packing tips, my suggestions on what time of year to go, as well as lastly all of the details on our experience at the Chitwa Chitwa Lodge in Sabi Sands.
BACKPACK (SIMILAR HERE AND HERE) | SNEAKERS (ALSO LOVE THIS PAIR)
Safari packing Tips
We were there at the end of August/early September when the weather condition is extremely pleasant, however can be chilly, particularly in the early mornings as well as late afternoons. Plan on boots or tennis shoes, comfortable pants, as well as layers on top. On the most popular afternoon, I was still completely comfortable in jeans, boots as well as a light long sleeve chambray shirt. On the coldest morning, jeans, boots, a layered shirt-sweater-jacket combo as well as relaxing scarf was perfect. I suggest bringing a pair of gloves as well as a hat (we used baseball caps which were great), since your hands as well as head can absolutely get chilly in the mornings. No requirement to overdo it with cold-weather gear however, since the Land Rovers are stocked with warm blankets as well as warm packs for every person.
SIMILAR BOOTIES HERE, HERE AND HERE
According to our guides (and corroborated by additionally research), the requirement to wear earth tones as well as khaki-colored garments head-to-toe is a total myth. Of course, if you want to get your safari-chic on, have at it! However, our guides stated you can truly wear anything, in any type of color—it doesn’t make a difference. They only stated that you must maybe prevent bright white or bright yellow when going on bush walks, which we only did on one afternoon. I’ve checked out that black or extremely dark colors can draw in flies in some safari places (Zambia as well as other places) however rich and I frequently had dark denim or a black jacket on, and we can’t keep in mind seeing a fly once. Overall, you just want to bring clothes that are comfortable for climbing in as well as out of a Land Rover as well as can be layered quickly for the fluctuating temperature.
We brought this incredible Ona backpack that’s particularly created for photography equipment, as well as it completely housed our cameras, lenses, spare batteries in addition to additional layers, gloves, as well as binoculars. I’d absolutely suggest bringing a backpack of some kind to home similar necessities while out on game drives during the day.
SIMILAR SWEATER HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR JEANS HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR VEST | SIMILAR BOOTIES HERE, right here as well as HERE | SIMILAR EARRINGS | SONNENBRILLE
At Chitwa Chitwa, there’s everyday laundry service included in your stay, so you can pack light! This was really rather necessary, since the extremely small plane we took to the Lodge only enabled for one little bag each, so attire were definitely repeated during our stay (poor rich was so distraught…)! Be sure to inspect on those bag limitations for any small planes you may be taking before you go!
SIMILAR SWEATER HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR PANTS | SIMILAR shoes | SIMILAR HAT | similar BOOTIES HERE, right here as well as right here | SONNENBRILLE
When to Go
If you’re reading this from the united states or any type of other place in the northern hemisphere, keep in mind that South Africa’s place in the southern hemisphere indicates that its seasons are opposite ours. This worked in our favor, since going in August during their wintertime is the perfect time for seeing huge game as well as generally living out all of your Lion King fantasies. Because the terrain is dry as well as foliage dormant, the wild animals that inhabit the area are required to stay better to a lot more restricted water sources, making it much easier for our guides to understand where to find them. They’re likewise much much easier to track as well as area from a distance when you don’t have rich grasses as well as leafy trees in the way. Although we’ve never been during their summertime months, a number of of the other guests at the lodge that we befriended during our time there had been, as well as stated that this trip during the South African wintertime was by far superior. We saw all of the “big five” (lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, as well as rhinos) on our extremely very first morning! And, that’s not even mentioning the giraffes, zebras, baboons, hyenas, hippos, warthogs, impalas, kudus as well as many other animals we had the chance to see from the get-go as well.
SIMILAR jackets HERE, right here as well as right here | SIMILAR PANTS | SIMILAR EARRINGS
The Chitwa Chitwa Experience
If I might only travel to one location, as well as only stay at one place, for the rest of my life, it would be Chitwa Chitwa. I honestly feel homesick composing this publish as well as scrolling back with these photos, as well as we were only there for six days (I recognize exactly how absurd that sounds, however it’s true). It is impossible to overstate the absolutely wonderful experience we had—everything from the beautifully appointed villas (with stunning safari stylish decoration that belongs in Architectural Digest), mind-blowingly spectacular meals, amazingly terrific personnel as well as a place that is straight out of ein Film. The lodge is located on a little lake with each of its villas nestled ideal on the edge of the water. Each rental property has a personal back patio and infinity pool where we would sit every afternoon, just lawns away (yet still totally safe!) from hippos, giraffes, zebras, elephants as well as many other animals who would come by to drink as well as bathe in the lake.
SIMILAR SWEATER HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR PANTS | SIMILAR shoes | SONNENBRILLE
Honestly, I’ve never satisfied friendlier people constantly eager to assist as well as make sure that your every waking (and sleeping) moment is the very best it potentially can be. I can’t keep in mind the last time rich as well as I left a resort or hotel and truly felt like we were stating goodbye to good friends. Every last member of the personnel makes you feel not just like a valued guest, however like a treasured member of their family. It’s indescribable.
Each day begins with tea, coffee, scones as well as a panoply of other treats served on the deck of the primary lodge, before our tracker as well as guide would lead us on the very first early morning game drive. The game drives were the most thrilling experiences as well as our guide Rodney as well as tracker Ranson were astonishingly experienced about the area as well as animals—able to determine animals as well as habits by the faintest print in the sand. Guests are kept totally risk-free during the drive, as well as in every possible way, the trackers as well as guides exhibited a overall commitment to environmental conservation and the utmost respect for the wild animals as well as their natural habitat. It’s exceptionally inspiring as well as impossible to leave the experience without a newfound appreciation for mom nature. It’s the circle of life, ya’ll. Fo real.
SIMILAR SWEATER | ALMA MATER HAT (ALSO like THESE) | SONNENBRILLE
SIMILAR pants | CHAMBRAY tee shirt | SIMILAR storage tank | SIMILAR HAT | SIMILAR earrings | SONNENBRILLE
SIMILAR sweatshirt | SIMILAR denim | SIMILAR BOOTIES HERE, HERE and HERE | ALMA MATER HAT (ALSO like THESE) | SONNENBRILLE
After the early morning game drive, which includes a break for tea as well as coffee out in the bush, we would return to the lodge to indulge in the most elaborate, tasty breakfasts we’ve ever experienced. Then, we would generally roll ourselves over to the lounge areas in the primary lodge, or back to our rental property to nap, checked out or take a dip in the pool, always keeping one eye on the lake as well as the incredible riches of wildlife that was regularly filtering through. We likewise might utilize the time to hit the Lodge’s fitness center or health club (though a lot more frequently selected to relax!). This midday period of free time continued into the afternoon, when lunch was served at 1pm as well as high tea served at 3:30. Following tea, it’s back on the Land Rover for the evening game drive, which always included a stop halfway with for mixed drinks as well as sunset in the bush. We would then come back, have an hour or so to laundry up as well as regroup, before enjoying dinner as well as drinks at the lodge or (some nights) in special surprise set-ups out in the bush. I might compose a book just about exactly how insanely gorgeous as well as tasty every meal was. We’ve honestly never eaten so much or so well.
CHAMBRAY SHIRT | SIMILAR denim | SIMILAR BELT | NECKLACE | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR EARRINGE
Apropos Bücher, die ich schreiben könnte, es ist unmöglich zu erklären, wie besonders jeder Spiel war und jeder Spiel war. Wir haben uns im Wesentlichen keine Erwartungen gemacht, außer dem allgemeinen Gefühl, dass wir idealerweise einige großartige Tiere sehen würden. Auf unserer sehr ersten Spielfahrt waren wir jedoch absolut verblüfft, als wir aus der Lodge -Auffahrt und in schneller Folge fuhren, stießen auf eine Herde von Elefanten, eine Herde von Zebras sowie einen Stolz von fünf männlichen Löwen – Nur ein paar kurze Rasenflächen von unserem Fahrzeug entfernt. Da es solche Anstrengungen gibt, um den natürlichen Lebensraum zu schützen und die Tiere in Sabi -Sand zu respektieren, sind die Chancen auf Wildtiere beispiellos. Aus nur wenigen Rasenflächen jenseits unseres Fahrzeugs sahen wir nachts einen männlichen Leoparden auf der Prowle, ein Paar Giraffen, die bei Sonnenuntergang zu Abend zu Abend waren, drei Grundstücke weibliche Elefanten, die mit einem achtwöchigen Kalb in einem Wasserloch baden, ein Stolz von Löwinnen, die in der Sonne schließen, sowie vieles mehr. Einer der unvergesslichsten Momente war, dass eine weibliche Leoparden eine Antilope, die sie gerade in einen großen Baum getötet hatte, in dem ihr neun Wochen altes Kind auf das Abendessen wartete. Wir parkten unter dem Baum und genossen das kleine Leopardenkätzchen beim frischen Antilopenfleisch, als seine Mutter auf einem großen Zweig in der Nähe ruhte. Jeder Moment war surreal, und jede Runde war viel interessanter als der letzte.
Safaris arbeitet immer nach einem festgelegten Zeitplan, da die Spielfahrten am frühen Morgen und am späten Nachmittag in festgelegten Zeiten zu beginnen und zu sehen sind, um sicherzustellen, dass die beste Möglichkeit, Tiere zu sehen, basierend auf ihren Ernährungszeiten sehen. Der Rest des Tages ist dann um diese Laufwerke aufgebaut, also werden Sie absolut bereit, einen engen Zeitplan während des gesamten Safari -Erlebnisses zu erhalten. Es lohnt sich nicht nur völlig, sondern sie machen jeden Moment der Erfahrung so phänomenal, dass Sie schnell feststellen werden, dass Sie ekstatisch sind, um rechtzeitig aufzutauchen, damit Sie nichts verpassen! Als der selbsternannte schlimmste Morgenmensch aller Zeiten entdeckte ich mich wirklich begeistert, um um 5:30 Uhr aus dem Bett zu springen, und schaute gern Kaffee in die knusprige Luft und schaute über den See, als die Flilter sowohl aufwachen als auch die Die Landschaft fand vor unserer ersten Spielfahrt zum Leben zu finden Neben den Abendfahrten gehören Ihnen, sich zu entspannen, ein Nickerchen zu machen, einen geführten Bush -Spaziergang zu machen oder in das regionale Dorf zu gehen.
Ähnliche Wrap | Ähnlicher Pullover hier und hier | Olive Denim hier | Ähnlicher Hut | SONNENBRILLE
Wie Sie sich vorstellen können, war die gesamte Safari das Paradies eines Fotografen, so reich und ich war im Himmel und fangen alle Tiere fest, die wir jeden Tag gesehen haben. Wir haben tatsächlich unzählige Bilder von der Reise. Wenn Sie also ein bisschen Aufschub von Ihrem Mittwochmorgen haben möchten, scrollen Sie weiter unten!
Wenn ich etwas verpasst habe, irgendeine Art von Bedenken, auf die Sie möchten, oder Ideen, die Sie in Erwartung einer ähnlichen Reise suchen, zögern Sie bitte nicht, in den Kommentaren unten zu fragen!
© Alle Bilder Copyright 2015 Mary Orton