Cape Town, Madikwe and Mauritius in 14 Days

Table Mountain, wild dogs at dawn and a quiet south-coast lagoon in Mauritius

14 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

A two-part honeymoon that starts with four nights in Cape Town, moves to a malaria-free Big Five safari in Madikwe for three, then flies four hours across the Indian Ocean for six slow nights at Bel Ombre on the south coast of Mauritius. It suits couples who want a city, a safari and a long beach finish with only three hotels. October, November, April and May balance all three best.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

South Africa and Mauritius share an ocean and a short flight, which makes them one of the simplest long honeymoons to plan from the US. Delta and United fly nonstop to Johannesburg and there are regular flights on to Mauritius in about four hours.

This route opens in Cape Town because it is the gentlest place to recover from the long flight. You get Table Mountain, a coastal drive to Cape Point and lunch among the vines in Constantia. Then you fly north to Madikwe, a reserve on the Botswana border that is free of malaria and run only by its lodges, so there are no self-drive cars and few vehicles at sightings. Wild dogs are the local specialty.

The last six nights are for doing very little. Bel Ombre is on the less developed south coast of Mauritius, with sugarcane hills behind the beach, a nature reserve with waterfalls and a lagoon protected by the reef.

The route

Best months: October to November and April to May
Trip length: 14 days
Budget: About $500–1,300 a night for two in Cape Town and Mauritius and $1,500–2,500 on safari (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–5: Cape Town

Land at Cape Town International (CPT), usually via Johannesburg or a European hub. The city center is 20 to 30 minutes away. Stay in town or in the quieter Atlantic suburbs: Ellerman House in Bantry Bay looks over the ocean; the Mount Nelson in the Gardens is the grand old classic.

Keep day 2 easy. Walk the V&A Waterfront, then take the cable car up Table Mountain in the late afternoon if the wind allows. On day 3, drive Chapman's Peak to Cape Point and stop at Boulders Beach for the penguins on the way back along the False Bay side.

Day 4 is for wine. Constantia is only 20 minutes from the city, with long lunches and tastings at historic estates. If you have more energy, take a guided day to Franschhoek instead. The romantic moment is sundowners at Camps Bay or on Signal Hill with the city lights coming on below.

Days 5–8: Madikwe Game Reserve

Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg (JNB) in about two hours. From there, a scheduled or charter light aircraft reaches a Madikwe airstrip in about an hour; the road transfer takes about four hours via Zeerust. Arrive in time for tea and your first afternoon drive.

Madikwe's lodges are all inside the reserve and include game drives and meals. Madikwe Safari Lodge has suites with private plunge pools. Jaci's Tree Lodge raises rooms on stilts in the riverine forest. Madikwe Hills sits on a rocky hill with long views over the plains.

You have two full days. Drive at dawn to track wild dogs, which range widely and are best found early. Spend midday on your deck watching the waterhole, then go out again in the late afternoon. The romantic moment is sundowners on a koppie as the light fades over the bushveld, followed by a private dinner under the stars that most lodges will set up for honeymooners.

Days 8–14: Bel Ombre, Mauritius

Return to Johannesburg and fly to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (MRU) in about four hours. Bel Ombre is 50 to 60 minutes by car through cane fields and small villages. Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort sits on the beach here with colonial-style buildings, a large spa and access to the golf course.

This is the slow stretch, so plan very little. Spend the first two days on the lagoon and at the spa. On day 10 or 11, take a guided half day in the nature reserve behind the coast for a waterfall swim and a picnic. Book dinner one night at the Château de Bel Ombre, a restored 19th-century plantation house.

Drive the wild south coast to Gris Gris, where the cliffs face the open ocean with no reef to stop the swell. Visit the Bois Chéri tea estate for a tasting with views over the hills. On day 14, transfer to MRU for flights home, usually through Johannesburg, Dubai or Paris.

Getting Between Stops

Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International (JNB) is the hinge of the trip. Cape Town to Johannesburg takes about two hours with several airlines and many daily departures.

For Madikwe, a scheduled or charter flight from Johannesburg takes about an hour. Road transfers take about four hours and cost less, but they turn a travel day into a long day. Lodges arrange both. Light aircraft have luggage limits, usually soft bags of about 20 kg per person, so check before you pack.

From Johannesburg, Air Mauritius and South African Airways fly to Mauritius in about four hours. Try to fly out of Madikwe in the morning to connect the same day. Bel Ombre is 50 to 60 minutes from MRU by car; most resorts arrange transfers. In Mauritius, driving is on the left and a driver for day trips costs little more than a rental car.

Where to Stay

Cape Town: Ellerman House in Bantry Bay has ocean views and a serious art collection. The Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, in the Gardens is pink, historic and close to the city's restaurants. The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa sits between Camps Bay and the mountains on the coast road.

Madikwe: Madikwe Safari Lodge, run by andBeyond, has suites with plunge pools. Jaci's Safari Lodge and Jaci's Tree Lodge are family-run and well loved. Madikwe Hills is the pick for views. Ask for a suite set apart from the main lodge.

Bel Ombre: Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort is on the beach with a large spa and golf nearby. The south coast has a few other upscale resorts along the same stretch, all quieter than the north.

When to Go

The three stops peak at slightly different times, so the shoulder months work best. In Cape Town, the dry summer runs from about November to March; the winter from June to August is cool and wet. Madikwe is best in the dry months from May to October, when the bush thins and animals gather at water. Mauritius is driest and least humid from May to December, while January to March brings heat, rain and the chance of cyclones.

October and November combine warm Cape Town days, good late dry-season game viewing and fine beach weather. April and May are also good, with autumn colors in the Winelands and green but drying bush. From June to August, Madikwe and Mauritius are excellent but Cape Town can be rainy, so keep its plans flexible.

Budget and Booking

Cape Town is good value by international standards. Expect roughly $450–1,300 a night for two at the top hotels, with long lunches and wine priced well below US levels. Madikwe lodges run about $1,500–2,500 a night for two, including meals, drinks and two game drives a day. Bel Ombre beach resorts are about $500–1,200 a night for two, often on half board. These figures are approximate and seasonal.

Add internal flights and the Madikwe charter or road transfer. Book Madikwe and Cape Town six to nine months ahead for October to March and the holidays.

Many Mauritius resorts offer honeymoon packages with dinners or spa treatments if you share your wedding date. Ask whether half board or all inclusive works out cheaper, since there are few independent restaurants close to the south-coast resorts.

Make It Shorter or Longer

For 11 days, cut Cape Town to three nights and Mauritius to five. Keep the full three nights in Madikwe; two feels rushed once flights are taken into account.

With 16 to 18 days, add three nights in the Cape Winelands between Cape Town and the safari for Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Or split Mauritius between Bel Ombre and Le Morne, a short drive west, for the kitesurfing lagoon and the mountain hike.

Couples who want a bigger-name safari can swap Madikwe for the Sabi Sand next to Kruger, a short flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town. You gain leopards and more lodge choice but need to plan for malaria. Rodrigues, a 90-minute flight from Mauritius, suits couples who want a quieter island with very few resorts.

Honeymoon Tips

Madikwe is malaria-free, which suits couples who are pregnant or hoping to be soon. Check CDC travel health notices for the rest of the route.
Pack warm layers for open-vehicle drives at dawn, even in summer.
Cape Town wind can close the Table Mountain cable car at short notice. Go up on the first clear afternoon.
Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps after dark in Cape Town rather than walking.
In Mauritius, swim inside the reef. The open coast around Gris Gris has strong currents.
Read the State Department advisories for South Africa and Mauritius before you go.

FAQ

Planning this trip

Is Madikwe a good safari for a honeymoon?

Yes, especially for couples who want the Big Five without malaria. The reserve allows only lodge vehicles, so sightings are calm and uncrowded. Wild dogs are a highlight. Lodges are intimate and many offer private dinners. It lacks the scale of Kruger or the Mara but is far easier to reach.

How long is the flight from South Africa to Mauritius?

Johannesburg to Mauritius takes about four hours on Air Mauritius or South African Airways. Cape Town also has flights to Mauritius on some days. From the airport, Bel Ombre is 50 to 60 minutes by car. Morning departures from Madikwe usually connect the same day.

Why Bel Ombre instead of the north of Mauritius?

Bel Ombre is quieter and greener, with sugarcane hills, a nature reserve and a reef-protected lagoon. The north around Grand Baie has more restaurants and nightlife but feels busier. Couples who want rest after a safari usually prefer the south coast. Le Morne on the southwest is another quiet option.

What is the best month for this trip?

October and November are the best overall. Cape Town is warm and dry, the bush in Madikwe is open for game viewing and Mauritius is sunny without peak humidity. April and May are a close second. From June to August, expect cooler weather and rain in Cape Town.

How much does a South Africa and Mauritius honeymoon cost?

For two weeks at good hotels, many couples spend roughly $11,000 to $24,000 for two including internal flights and the Madikwe transfer, before international airfare. These are approximate figures. Cape Town and Mauritius are reasonable; the three safari nights cost the most per night.

Stops on this route

South Africa

Cape Town

South Africa

Madikwe Game Reserve

Mauritius

Bel Ombre

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