I just returned from an epic family safari adventure with my family and can’t wait to share all the details. My husband and I had visited South Africa two years ago (which you can read about here, here, here and here) and loved it so much that we promised to return with our family. Our itinerary for this trip really leaned towards total extravagance because we were celebrating both of our (60th) birthdays! We never could have pulled off all the logistics without our incredibly knowledgable travel advisor Julian who is actually lives in Cape Town; I am happy to share his information with you if you message me directly.
Word of advice, if you are planning such an epic trip I would only deal with someone who is based locally and is intimately knowledgable about and well connected with the lodges, private flights and transfers as well as all the quirks of visas and travel requirements.
Planning a trip for eight people always has its challenges but I am grateful to say that our trip went off completely without a hitch, it was truly the adventure of a lifetime. Our itinerary was such that we were to meet up in Johannesburg (flying from LA, London and NYC) and then spend a night there acclimating to the time difference before setting out the following day for Safari.
On our previous trip to South Africa we opted to fly direct from Newark to Cape Town on United (they also offer direct service to Johannesburg). Unfortunately we were so disappointed in United’s Polaris class on that very long journey that this time we chose to fly on British Air (with a short layover at Heathrow) in their First Class cabin. Truthfully I had avoided British Air for the past few years because I felt it had really gone downhill, but having heard some good reports about their recently upgraded cabins we decided to give it a try.
The flight was scheduled to depart JFK’s Terminal 8 at 8:30 am necessitating a 4:30 am pick up from our home in CT. Following a streamlined check-in process we arrived at a very quiet Chelsea Lounge (British Air’s First Class lounge) and settled in for some coffee and a light bite. The space was soothing and the service friendly enabling us to relax a bit before the flight.
Upon boarding we were led to our seats by a very welcoming flight attendant and and encouraged to settle in. The seats were quite spacious with a large entertainment screen though sadly the system at my seat refused to turn on leaving me to my book (and iPhone) for the entirety of the flight. The cabin crew were extremely apologetic after numerous attempts to reset the system that controlled my seat failed and ultimately I was offered compensation in the form of a £300 credit on a future flight.
Judging by the crew’s need for reassurance that I was “okay” without my entertainment system it led me to believe that all passengers may not have been as understanding. In truth it really wasn’t that much of a hardship.
The strategy for the first flight was to stay awake in order to attempt to beat jet lag and force ourselves to adjust moe quickly to the time change. Once we were up in the air a light breakfast was served which was actually pretty tasty.
Following meal number one I settled in for some reading until it was time for meal number two about four hours later. Our flight attendant offered to set dinner up for my husband and I to dine together which was a treat. The vintage champagne (Lanson 2008) in particular was delicious, as were the desserts.
The final verdict? I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable our experience on BA was, and would certainly fly with them again.
While Johannesburg is officially the richest city (with regards to GDP and private wealth) in Africa, it is not a tourist destination like Cape Town so sightseeing was not a priority. Upon arrival we collected our bags and headed straight to the Saxon Hotel to relax and recover from our long journey. Located in the most elite residential area and hidden behind high security gates the Saxon is regarded as the most luxurious property in Joburg (trusted to host world leaders when they visit the area).
While there are certainly historically significant sites to visit in Johannesburg (The Apartheid Museum and Mandela’s House to name just two) we felt a connection to Mandela just by staying at the Saxon as that is where he stayed following his release from prison in the 90’s, ultimately completing his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom while there. Currently there is a terrific collection of artwork depicting Mandela’s life interspersed throughout the hotel which was a treat to explore.
Our group was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome by the exceptionally friendly and accommodating staff, and best of all even though it was early all of our rooms were ready! The hotel (fully renovated in 2022) is beautifully appointed and the surrounding property is quite bucolic. All of our suites were located in Villa 1 and surrounded a large living room which we used as a gathering spot during our stay.
Each of our rooms shared the same layout and included a lovely outdoor space as well. The mini bar was complimentary and each couple received a bottle of bubbly as a welcome gift.
While the idea of climbing into bed and taking a nap was tempting the goal was to persevere and stay awake so we all met up for lunch (and coffee) at the hotel’s Terrace Restaurant. The food was delicious and the service incredibly attentive and solicitous.
One of the most anticipated perks of our stay was that each booking included one couples massage per room which we made sure to schedule ahead of our arrival. The spa was light and bright and the massages were so relaxing that I for one quickly fell asleep and enjoyed the best nap ever.
Although the formal restaurant within the Saxon (Qunu) is highly regarded we decided to venture out for an early dinner at Marble , located about 15 minutes away in the upscale Rosebank area. Known for cooking with fire Marble is very popular with locals and tourists alike and the food was very tasty, particularly the grilled seafood and meats as you might expect.
When we returned back to the hotel after dinner there were lovely surprises waiting for us in our rooms, a perfect end to our first day in South Africa.
Following a good nights sleep we gathered for breakfast on the Terrace once again (lots of gf goodies for me!) before packing up in preparation to head off to Botswana, our first Safari destination.
At 9 am we were picked up by our driver who brought us to Lanseria, the smaller airport in Johannesburg where we boarded the first of our two flights of the day.
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