Among travel insiders and friends, the most frequently discussed destination is a trip to South Africa. This part of the world lives up to the hype! Beautiful and unique plants and trees, large wild animals, sweeping views, jaw-dropping sunsets, South Africa offers this and so much more.

5StarTips🌟:
Here are my Always5Star recommendations for a luxury visit to South Africa.

🌟 Cape Town Wineries

Did you know that wine was first produced by Jan van Riebeeck in 1690 in this region? That’s over 300 years of perfecting their wine. Only thirty minutes from Cape Town, Steenberg Farm is not to be missed. From the lush green grounds to the stunning architecture and artwork on display, the Stellenbosch – Steenberg Farm is a perfect example of a luxury winery in South Africa.

The beautifully manicured landscape is a feast for your eyes, the modern and well-appointed wine tasting rooms and restaurants earn five stars for beauty and excellent service. There is also a golf course and a stunning spa. The Steenberg Farm is a must when visiting Cape Town.

🌟 Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

As you can imagine, I love to talk about travel and when the topic comes up, friends always comment on a desire to go on a safari, it’s the #1 most mentioned bucket list item. Who can argue with the adventure of a lifetime?

Safari trips range from a simple truck tour (usually at dawn and dusk) to a luxury tent trip deep into the bush. For an Always5Star experience, I recommend one of the many private game reserves. On our trip to Africa, we stayed at the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a Big Five (black & white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard) safari destination, located near Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

There are 26 rooms spread out over lodges and villas sitting on over 50,000 acres where you have the opportunity to see such animals as cheetah, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest and more.

Guests can experience twice daily game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle, big game walking safaris, fishing, and bush walks. There are wellness treatments for relaxing and plenty of areas to sit and unwind after an exciting day.

From the post safari (twice a day) breakfasts and dinners, to the room accommodations with private pool and soaking tub, this was a five-star experience. Awe inspiring and humbling to be in the presence of such raw beauty and incredible animals, this is a place I will not forget.

🌟 Victoria Falls & Royal Chundu Resort

Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This massive curtain of water can be viewed by helicopter, experienced in a rafting cruise, or seen (and heard) by taking a walking tour.

To give you some perspective, Victoria Falls is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. The noise of the rushing water can be heard from over twenty miles away! This incredible sheet of water is surrounded by a lush rain forest.

They are several luxury resorts in this area; we stayed at the Royal Chundu Resort in Zambia. With accommodations directly along the Zambezi River, and within several miles of the falls, the location couldn’t be more ideal.

Our beautiful room!

The resort is small and private with personalized service, elegantly appointed rooms and opportunities for adventures. The Royal Chundu Resort was one of the most romantic and special places I have ever experienced. The staff was exceptional and made sure that every guest felt like royalty. This place earned an Always5Star stamp of approval.

Dining outdoors near the river.

A private outdoor – elegant dinner that the resort surprised us with for our Anniversary!

The Royal Chundu arranged for a private helicopter ride over the falls, which turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that I will never forget. It’s not possible to put into words the awe and beauty of the experience.

🌟 Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Vumbura Plains camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana is another breathtakingly beautiful spot in the world. It borders Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The seemingly endless flat land is home to a wide variety of wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras. We saw many of these animals while flying over the Delta in a small plane.

Our safaris were custom designed for us and included lunch in the wild with my favorite, champagne. It could not have been a more perfect moment for this Always5Star gal!

Back at camp, our accommodations fronted a large wetland and from our room we were able to view an eclectic mix of animals roaming free.

The Vumbura Plains camp is an exclusive and magnificent experience. It’s beautifully and tastefully decorated, the meals are filling and delicious, and the staff is courteous, welcoming, and friendly.

Huge private villas! With a shower that was almost as big as the bedroom. You could take a shower and observe nature…or maybe nature is observing you! Lol!

From the excellent food, local entertainment, plus drinks in the evening, to the beautiful open private compound, the property earned 5 big gold stars from me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌟 The Plettenberg, South Africa

The Plettenberg is located along the coast at the bottom of South Africa in Plettenberg Bay. Here is where the greenest grass meets the bluest sky and a sense of peace envelopes you as you enter the grounds of this boutique hotel. Rooms are elegant, spacious and decorated in soothing colors.

The Plettenberg checks all the boxes for pure luxury: All day poolside service? Check! Views of the ocean and mountains? Check! Spa/wellness treatments? Check! Cocktails and elegant dining options? Check!

Close to the hotel are beaches which offer whale watching excursions, kayaks, marine safaris, and dive charters. If you prefer to stay on land, there are nature reserves, various animal sanctuaries, restaurants, wine tours, bike trails and much more.

We greatly enjoyed our time at The Plettenberg hotel and loved the beautiful area.

Final Thoughts:

Planning a South Africa trip can be overwhelming. I dreamed of going to South Africa my entire life, so when it came time to make this dream finally happen, I was focused on planning and making it the best trip ever! The great news is that it was! In writing this article, I was looking forward to sharing the fruits of my labors and hope these ideas will make your Africa dreams become reality too!

Cheers to all of you and your Always5Star dreams of Africa coming true! 

For more Always5Star Tips and Inspiration about traveling to South Africa:

Always5Star Tips To Planning A Trip To Thanda Luxury Safari KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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🌟 Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this post. My opinions are completely my own based on my experiences, which I paid entirely for myself.

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