7 Nights Exeter River Lodge and Benguerra Island Lodge

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7 NIGHTS EXETER RIVER LODGE AND BENGUERRA ISLAND LODGE

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve - Bazaruto Archipelago
8 Days / 7 Nights
2 Persons sharing

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Overview

For those pressed on time but still wishing to maximise a bush a beach holiday in luxury, these combinations of the luxurious Exeter River Lodge and Benguerra Island Lodge is the perfect solution. 4 nights on safari in the famed Sabi Sands region and 3 nights on the tropical paradise of Benguerra Island.

Destination / Accommodation / Nights / Basis / Room Type
Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve / andBeyond Exeter River Lodge / 4 / FI / Suite
Bazaruto Archipelago / andBeyond Benguerra Island / 3 / FI / Cabana

Key
FI: Fully inclusive.

Price

Starting from *USD6740.00 per person sharing
*Prices are quoted as an indication and can change dependent on the rate of exchange, season, availability and rates from suppliers

Included

Exeter River Lodge

· Accommodation

· Three meals daily

· All drinks - soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, refreshments on game drives

· Laundry

· Safari activities

· 1-hour nature walks accompanied by experienced armed trackers (subject to availability)

· Emergency medical evacuation insurance

· VAT

· Transfers to and from the lodge airstrip.

Benguerra Island Lodge

· Accommodation

· Three meals daily

· All drinks - soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees

· Laundry

· Emergency medical evacuation insurance

· VAT

· Transfers to and from the lodge airstrip.

· Activities included: One per day: sea kayaking, sunset dhow cruise and scheduled snorkelling trip. One per stay: castaway picnic, island expedition & local village tour.

General

· Charter flight from Johannesburg to lodge airstrip

· Road transfer from the lodge to Kruger International Airport

· Scheduled flights from Kruger International Airport | Vilanculos | OR Tambo Airport

· Return helicopter transfers from Vilanculos to the island

Excluded

Exeter River Lodge

· Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, curio's, etc.)

· Gratuities

· Champagne, cognacs, fine wines, premium brand spirits, cigarettes and cigars

· Park and landing fees

Benguerra Island Lodge

· Activities not listed

· Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, curio's, etc.)

· Gratuities

· Champagne, cognacs, fine wines, premium brand spirits, cigarettes and cigars

· Park fees, landing fees and airport taxes

General

· International flights not listed

· Visas if applicable

· Travel Insurance

· Any further airport departure taxes

Day 1: andBeyond Exeter River Lodge, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

South Africa

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the lions in the Kruger National Park to the iconic Table Mountain in the Cape, takes some beating. Enjoy the Country’s sweeping valleys of the Winelands, Cape Town’s jumping nightlife, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers or KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park which alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins - there is something here for any person with any interest of any age.

Although the country has its fair share of problems, South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you’ll encounter anywhere, from farmers in the rural north who tell you to drive safely on those dirt roads, to Khayelitsha kids who wish you molo (‘good morning’ in Xhosa).

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

The Sabi Sands is South Africa's premier private game viewing destination. It was here that the southern African safari began and today this famous reserve offers exceptional game viewing and equally exceptional accommodations. Two perennial rivers, the Sabi and the Sand flow through this Game Park, sustaining the diverse fauna and flora of the area.

The success of leopard viewing within the Sabi Sands is legendary. Elephants, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a vast variety of antelope and other species can be closely observed in their natural environment.

Day Notes

Upon arrival at OR Tambo Airport, make your way to a predesignated meeting point. From here a representative from the charter company will escort you to the departure lounge. A short 1 hour 30 minute flight will bring you straight to the lodge in Sabi Sands, your home for the next 4 nights. After freshening up, meet your fellow guests and guide for the afternoon tea and activities. A delicious dinner awaits your return.

Overnight: andBeyond Exeter River Lodge View iBrochure

Adjacent to the world renowned Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is famed for its intimate wildlife encounters, particularly leopard viewing. Home to a host of animals, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), the Sabi Sand is part of a conservation area that covers over two million hectares (almost five million acres), an area equivalent to the state of New Jersey.
With no boundary fences between the Sabi Sand and the Kruger National Park, this reserve benefits from the great diversity of wildlife found in one of the richest wilderness areas on the African continent along with the additional benefits experience in a private game reserve, including exciting night game drives.
Game drives traverse an area of 10 000 hectares (24 700 acres) and strict vehicle limits at sightings ensure the exclusivity of your game viewing experience. Sensitive off-road driving practices ensure that guests have the best possible view of any exceptional sightings and rangers are constantly in touch with each other to keep track of animal movements.

Tucked away in a quiet corner in the west of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, andBeyond Exeter River Lodge sits in the shade of a grove of ebony trees right on the edge of the Sand River. Eight luxury suites spread out along the shady bank with dramatic close-up views of the river, all with generous spaces and elegant bathrooms. Cool off in the private plunge pool, while enjoying the sight of a herd of elephant drinking or timid bushbuck browsing the riverside thickets. The magnificently positioned guest sitting and dining areas overlook the Sand River and are filled with deep sofas perfect for whiling away the hours between game drives. A giant sausage tree provides shade for long, lazy afternoon lunches. Delicious meals, complimented by the finest selection of South African wines, are shared in the traditional open-air boma under a star-strewn sky. Romantic candlelit dinners in the African bush or on the decks of the guest suites offer memorable dining experiences.

Flight Information

Date / Flight / Departure Airport / Time / Arrival Airport / Time / Class
OR Tambo International Airport [JNB] / andBeyond Exeter River Lodge / TBA / Charter flight

Included

Fully Inclusive
Drinks (Local Brands) Included

Day 2: andBeyond Exeter River Lodge, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

Day Notes

Full day on safari. Activities included are guided game drives and guided walks. Chat to your guide or host on how best to approach the day.

Activities

Game Drive

Set out in an open 4x4 safari vehicle in the company of a ranger and tracker team, who will attempt to track your favourite animals. The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is well known for its leopard sightings and you may well spot one of these elusive cats resting after a successful night hunt. You will stop for refreshments at a scenic spot during your drive.

andBeyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favourite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting and getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behaviour of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits.

Included

Fully Inclusive
Drinks (Local Brands) Included

Day 3: andBeyond Exeter River Lodge, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

Included

Fully Inclusive
Drinks (Local Brands) Included

Day 4: andBeyond Exeter River Lodge, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

Included

Fully Inclusive
Drinks (Local Brands) Included

Day 5: andBeyond Benguerra Island, Bazaruto Archipelago

Mozambique

Mozambique beckons with its coastline and swaying palms, its traditions, its cultures, its vibe and – most of all – its opportunities for adventure. This enigmatic southeast African country is well off most travellers' maps, but it has much to offer those who venture here: long, dune-fringed beaches, turquoise waters abounding in shoals of colourful fish, well-preserved corals, remote archipelagos in the north, pounding surf in the south and graceful dhows with billowing sails. Add to this colonial-style architecture, pulsating nightlife, an endlessly fascinating cultural mix and vast tracks of bush populated with elephants, lions and birds galore.

Discovering these attractions is not always easy, but it is unfailingly rewarding. Bring along some patience, a tolerance for long bus rides and a sense of adventure, and jump in for the journey of a lifetime

Bazaruto Archipelago

Tha Bazaruto Archipelago is a wonderful tropical island get away with numerous accomodation options and plenty of activities on offer.

Day Notes

A busy day of travel awaits. After breakfast and final farewells, you'll be driven about 2 hours to Kruger International Airport near Nelspruit. Depart on your scheduled flight to Vilanculos. After proceeding through immigration and customs, your helicopter pilot will fly you on a scenic route over the tranquil Indian Ocean. Land in style at your holiday resort home for the next 3 nights.

Overnight: andBeyond Benguerra Island View iBrochure

Benguerra Island
An exquisite piece of paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean, andBeyond Benguerra Island is a luxury beach holiday destination where time stands still and legends come to life.
Book now to be among the first to enjoy the brand new andBeyond Benguerra Island experience, which re-opened on 01 June 2015, after an extensive rebuild and refurbishment. The lodge’s elegant new design, which reflects both the island’s African and Portuguese heritage, adds to its exceptional location alongside a permanent deep water channel.

Situated on the second largest island in the sunny Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique, the lodge is set in a protected marine conservation area and offers pristine beaches and unspoiled coral reefs teeming with marine life. Looking out onto a sandy beach and set on a deep lagoon unaffected by the tides, this exclusive beach getaway is ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Surrounded by premier diving sites, the lodge is the gateway to an underwater wonderland for divers, with a rich variety of tropical fish species complemented by Africa’s only population of the rare dugong. The deep Mozambique Channel, which runs alongside the island, is renowned for its game fish and Benguerra Island offers some of the world’s best catch-and-release deep sea fishing and fly fishing opportunities.

While the island is fringed with golden, sandy beaches, its interior is a lush patchwork of forests, wetlands and fresh water lakes. Horse riding trips and island expeditions explore both the coastline and the interior of the island, uncovering traditional culture at the local village and climbing soaring sand dunes.

Road Transfers

Date / Pick Up / Drop Off / Time / Vehicle
andBeyond Exeter River Lodge / Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport [MQP] / TBA / Sedan

Flight Information

Date / Flight / Departure Airport / Time / Arrival Airport / Time / Class
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport [MQP] / Vilanculos Airport [VNX] / TBA / Scheduled flight
Vilanculos Airport [VNX] / andBeyond Benguerra Island / TBA / Helicopter

Included

Fully Inclusive
Drinks (Local Brands) Included

Day 6: andBeyond Benguerra Island, Bazaruto Archipelago

Day Notes

A full day to relax and unwind. Soak up the sunshine. The day is yours to partake in the scheduled activities. Other optional activities exist for keen scuba divers or deep sea fishing enthusiasts. Alternatively, laze away the day by the pool or on the beach.

Activities

Castaway Picnic
Snorkelling
Dhow Cruise
Island Drives

Optional

Horse Riding Safaris
Scuba Diving
Helicopter Sightseeing

Castaway Picnic

Spend an afternoon indulging on a mouth-watering “Cast-Away” picnic and explore the highest dune in the Bazaruto Archipelago. You will have the opportunity to simply put your feet up and enjoy the breathtaking, 360 degree views of South Point – bring your camera along for excellent photographic opportunities and keep a look out for frolicking dolphins at play.

Additional costs apply.

Snorkelling

This adventure is ideal for those who do not wish to do a scuba diving accreditation but who want to confidently explore the shallower coral reefs, situated off Benguerra Island, with the help of a snorkel.

Additional costs apply.

Dhow Cruise

Hop aboard a traditional dhow (a wooden sailing vessel owned by one of the local people of the island and mostly used for fishing). A friendly fisherman will fetch you from your Casita or Cabana in the late afternoon, where you will board his dhow for an unforgettable cruise around the bay.

Additional costs apply

Island Drives

The adventure can be tailored according to your requirements and varies from a 30 minute trip to the school or 2 hours around the Island. The journey will take you past the lakes and dunes on the northern side of the island, past the school, the church and through the village so you can interact with some of the local people and find out more about the community projects that are run on the island.

Additional costs apply

Horse Riding Safaris

Horseback riding is the perfect activity to take in the exceptional beauty of Benguerra Island.
Enjoy a different perspective of this piece of paradise, at a pace that is comfortable for you. Nine horses and a dedicated guide, based at Benguerra Lodge, are on hand to introduce you to fantastic trails (suitable for all riding levels from first time to experienced riders).

Additional costs apply.

Scuba Diving

If you have previous diving experience then you can enjoy a fantastic excursion to the Bazaruto Archipelago, accompanied by the lodge guide. Those with limited to no diving experience can enjoy a guided introduction to a whole new world of mystery, wonder and beauty!
Dives sites vary according to experience and requests.