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Southern Africa and its idyllic islands

Southern Africa and its idyllic islands


3 stops


12 nights


1631 miles


This Route du Bonheur promises an exhilarating journey from South Africa to one of three countries of your choice. After tracking the ‘Big Five’ in the extraordinary Madikwe Reserve and exploring Johannesburg, your itinerary leads on to the Indian Ocean: perhaps the hardest part will be choosing between Madagascar, Zanzibar and Mauritius. Whichever one you pick, you can expect idyllic beaches, unspoiled lagoons and hidden coves, and will join the inner circle that knows Southern Africa for these off-shore paradises.

01

Departure

Recommended duration : 4 nights

Madikwe Game Reserve

Hotel - Restaurant

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family friendlyvillas with personal stafftailor-made journeyprivate section of the reservea timeless experience

Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Morukuru Family Madikwe

Discover

Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Safaris im Zeichen des Naturschutzes – im Herzen von Madikwe

Safaris im Zeichen des Naturschutzes – im Herzen von Madikwe

Hier trägt jede Safari zum Schutz der Tierwelt und zur Unterstützung der lokalen Gemeinschaften bei. Dieses von der Morukuru Goodwill Foundation ins Leben gerufene Erlebnis bietet Einblicke in verschiedene Naturschutzprojekte im Madikwe-Reservat. Sie helfen dabei, Nashörner und Großkatzen zu orten und zu verfolgen, und begegnen Forschern, die sich dem Schutz der lokalen Ökosysteme verschrieben haben. Zum Programm gehört außerdem der Besuch einer Schule im nahegelegenen Dorf Molatedi. Um das gesamte Programm in vollen Zügen erleben zu können, ist ein Mindestaufenthalt von vier Nächten erforderlich.

During your stay

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Game drive

Game drive

Your experienced guide and tracker will take you out for a game drive in an open vehicle twice a day, offering you the chance of spotting the Big Five as well as many other animals. The best times are early morning and late afternoon, as that is when the animals are most active. Times are flexible however, to accommodate your needs. Children of all ages are welcome to join on game drives as well, booster seats are available should these be required. Please remember to bring something warm, especially during the winter months. You will stop during the drive for a coffee break, or for sundowner drinks to watch the amazing African sunsets.

02

1hPlane

Recommended duration : 1 night

Johannesburg

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Etape fictive

Johannesburg: following the path of a nation’s memory

The city’s name is inextricably associated with Soweto, its most famous township. While Johannesburg today is an impressive metropolis of nearly 5 million people, for visitors it remains an essential destination for understanding the country’s turbulent past and exploring sites pivotal to this recent history. Visiting the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill or Nelson Mandela’s house helps reconcile the scars in its narrative with modern South Africa as a 'Rainbow Nation.’

Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Visit the Apartheid Museum

Visit the Apartheid Museum

From the moment they enter this museum, visitors are deeply moved, with one entrance reserved for "white" people, and the other for "non-whites." In Afrikaans, the word apartheid means ‘separation’–the entrance brings an immediate reminder of the discrimination and violence that defined South Africa between 1948 and 1991. Having opened in 2001, this powerfully compelling museum explains the system and implementation of racial segregation. An experience that is essential yet unsettling in equal measure.

During your stay

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Visit Constitution Hill

Visit Constitution Hill

History is never trivial. The site that has housed the South African Constitutional Court since 2004 was once one of the country’s most feared prisons. Nelson and Winnie Mandela, as well as Gandhi, were incarcerated within these walls. Throughout the year, special exhibitions are held in various symbolic areas of the Old Fort–including the women’s prison and the notorious ‘Number Four’ detention block–offering insight into the country’s turbulent past and its arduous journey toward democracy. Today, the court acts as a guardian for the rights of all South African citizens.


 

03

5hPlane

Recommended duration : 7 nights

Madagascar / Ile Maurice / Tanzanie

Several properties available for this stop

Hotel - Restaurant

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Things to do, see, and discover

On the road

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Exploring the Anjajavy Peninsula

Exploring the Anjajavy Peninsula

Classified as a global conservation priority by the World Wildlife Fund, the Anjajavy Peninsula is one of the planet's last remaining pristine wildernesses, and the ideal place to observe the island’s endemic reptiles and birds in their natural habitat. Marked trails starting from the lodge allow you to explore its wild coves, mysterious caves and tsingy rock formations. Treat yourself to an idyllic escape in Madagascar’s remarkably preserved natural beauty.


 

On the road

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Meet the lemurs

Meet the lemurs

Unique to Madagascar, lemurs arrived on the island from Africa over 60 million years ago. Today, around a hundred different species characterise these protected primates. Although wild, they are remarkably tame, and can often be approached in their natural habitat. The well-preserved Anjajavy Peninsula is home to numerous species, including the brown lemur and the white-and-brown-coated sifaka, known for its acrobatic leaps.

On the road

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Take a stroll through Darajani Market (Stone Town)

Take a stroll through Darajani Market (Stone Town)

Built in 1904 by Ali bin Hamud, the eighth Sultan of Zanzibar, the island’s oldest market characterises the full vibrancy of the archipelago, with stalls piled high with fragrant spices, meat and fish, exotic fruits and baskets of live chickens. A must-visit destination best experienced in the early morning before exploring the city’s charming alleyways and admiring the historic Maison des Merveilles (or ‘House of Wonders’).


 

On the road

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Explore Chumbe Island nature reserve

Explore Chumbe Island nature reserve

Once off-limits to the public due to its status as a military zone, Chumbe Island and its reef waters have remained remarkably shielded from human activity. A private nature reserve since 1994, it is home to Tanzania’s first marine park. Dominated by a large white lighthouse, the 54-acre island is surrounded by an exceptional coral reef where visitors can now dive and look out for hawksbill turtles, dolphins and some 370 different species of fish.

On the road

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Mauritius: a scuba diving paradise

Mauritius: a scuba diving paradise

The waters around Mauritius are home to some 67 destination dive sites, where shipwrecks, tropical fish, sharks, caves and coral reefs make the island an ideal destination for fans of snorkeling and scuba diving. Among the most renowned sites are the majestic ‘La Cathédrale’ caverns, near Flic en Flac on the west coast; the wreck of the Stella Maru, a Japanese cargo ship sunk in 1987 near Trou aux Biches to the north; and the wreck of the HMS Sirius, a 19th-century British ship that south of Mahébourg on the south-east coast.


 

On the road

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Watch the fishing boats return (Grand Gaube)

Watch the fishing boats return (Grand Gaube)

The small port of Grand Gaube has somehow withstood the frenzy of real estate development, and bustles with activity in the early morning as brightly colored flat-bottomed pirogues return from their fishing trips. These traditional vessels can measure up to 26 feet in length. Each carries a crew of two to four fishermen, who unload tuna, mahi-mahi, trevally and other species at the nearby fish market. A timeless spectacle set to the rhythm of traditional Mauritian séga music.


 


 

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