Inspiration
Exclusive South Africa: Safari & Coast
This effortless South African escape pairs world-class wildlife with spectacular coastal wilderness, designed for those seeking privacy, space and soul-stirring landscapes.
The wild roams and the ocean waits
Over eight days, you’ll explore two of the country’s most captivating regions – Madikwe Game Reserve and De Hoop Nature Reserve – from the comfort of fully serviced, exclusive-use homes.
- Madikwe Game Reserve
- De Hoop Nature Reserve
- South Africa
Kim Hart
An expert in the ultra luxurious, Kim is your go-to for superyachts, exclusive-use villas and the kind of experiences that don’t appear on websites. She has an extensive understanding of the world’s finest hotels and a personal in-depth knowledge of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada, shaped around her own worldwide adventures. Kim also has a passion for the iconic wildlife viewing experiences both above and below the water.
Madikwe
Start in Madikwe, one of South Africa’s largest and most rewarding safari destinations. Located in a malaria-free zone on the edge of the Kalahari, this remote reserve offers Big Five encounters without the crowds, along with sightings of endangered wild dogs and over 300 bird species. With your own private guide and vehicle, game drives unfold entirely on your schedule.
From there, fly south to De Hoop, a coastal spot of windswept dunes, fynbos-covered plains and protected marine reserves. This is one of the best places in the world to spot southern right whales from land, and your days can be as active or as relaxed as you wish, with hikes, marine safaris and sundowners on the sand.
With everything included, from private charters to personalised dining, this is a seamless, soul-enriching journey through two of South Africa’s most extraordinary landscapes.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Begin your adventure with a direct charter from Johannesburg to the remote reaches of Madikwe, one of South Africa’s best-kept safari secrets. Tucked against the Botswana border, this vast reserve spans over 75,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and is home to all of the Big Five, as well as cheetah, brown hyena, aardwolf and the highly endangered African wild dog.
Your base is an exclusive-use safari home: elegant, relaxed and entirely yours. With a private guide, tracker, vehicle and chef, each day is tailored to your pace and interests. Early morning and late afternoon game drives bring you close to incredible wildlife, from lion prides silhouetted at sunrise to elephants bathing in the dam at dusk. Bush walks, birding, stargazing and kids’ activities can also be arranged to suit your group.
The landscape here is beautifully varied, from golden savannahs and rolling hills to ancient rock formations, and the absence of crowds means your safari feels incredibly personal, with many sightings all to yourselves.
Back at the lodge, spend quiet afternoons by the pool, sip sundowners on the deck overlooking the bush or gather around the fire beneath a starlit sky.
This is safari as it should be: intimate, flexible and utterly unforgettable.
Whale Watching and Coastal Wanders at De Hoop
De Hoop is South Africa’s best-kept coastal secret: a wild, wind-brushed expanse where rolling dunes whisper against the Indian Ocean and whales glide just offshore. Between July and November, southern right whales gather in large numbers along this stretch of protected shoreline, easily spotted from the comfort of your villa or during peaceful walks across the sand. With each step, the landscape shifts: fynbos plains give way to shell-scattered beaches, rocky outcrops lead to tidal pools filled with starfish and sea anemones. Whether you’re hiking alongside a naturalist, pausing to watch bontebok graze against a sea-sprayed horizon or simply sipping wine with a view of whales breaching at sunset, this is nature at its most graceful – and utterly unforgettable.
De Hoop Nature Reserve
From the bush to the beach, your journey continues with a private flight south to the coast, where dunes and fynbos combine with the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Set within a protected World Heritage site along South Africa’s Garden Route, De Hoop Nature Reserve offers a wild, windswept beauty and some of the most spectacular marine life viewing in the country.
You’ll stay in a fully serviced oceanfront villa, exclusive to your group and designed for barefoot luxury. Wake to the sound of waves and panoramic views, and spend your days exploring at your own pace. Between July and November, southern right whales gather just offshore, often visible from the deck or during beach walks: a truly unforgettable sight.
Choose from a range of included activities: guided coastal hikes, mountain biking through the fynbos, snorkelling in tidal rock pools or sandboarding down the dunes. For something slower, settle in with a glass of local wine and a good book as the sea breeze drifts through the villa.
The reserve is also home to rare wildlife like bontebok, Cape mountain zebra and over 260 species of birds. Keep your binoculars close: sightings are frequent, even from your breakfast table.
Evenings are for relaxed dining with your private chef, sundowners on the veranda and stargazing in near-total silence. It’s the perfect ending to a trip that pairs South Africa’s wild soul with the ease of effortless luxury.
Talk to our specialists to start planning your trip
