African Safari and Mauritian Beach Break Combined

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Photo by flickr user Paul Bannister aka NorrisTudor

• 

  Mauritius

• 

  Walking with leopards in South Luangwa

• 

  Walking trails in the Kruger National Park

These gorgeous pale, tropical beaches are just across the waters from Africa and there are direct flights from South Africa, Kenya and Zambia to Port Louis, which makes it quick and easy, as far as travel details go, to follow up an African safari with some time on the beach, for a trip that combines seeing some of the world's most impressive wild animals, and untouched places with some beach bound pampering.  For a lot of people this kind of trip would also make the perfect honeymoon.

There are too many choices when it comes to safari destinations on Africa's east coast, but classics like South Luangwa National Park and the Kruger National Park offer easy transport links and are often paired up with Mauritius by experienced travel planners, because you can see a lot in both in just a week - and in the interest of parity this holiday idea allows a week for both type of getaway.

A week on Safari:

South Luangwa National Park Safari 

The South Luangwa National Park is a great destination for a walking safari – animal numbers are impressive, with over 60 species and 400 bird species, and the park's layout means the wetlands, where most of the animals come to feed and water, are comfortably reached on foot.  Hippos and buffalo wallow in the channels of the river, watched by crocodiles, who also have their eyes on the giraffes and zebras – all watched by camera toting safari shooters.

South Luangwa has plenty of different lodge and camp options, from tented bush camps to permanent luxury lodges, from which you can take day walks or else join a multi-day walking safari between tented camps.

The classic walking safaris run for around eight days, beginning in one of the lodges on the banks of the large lagoons of the Luangwa River, then moving to Luwi Bus Camp, then after a few days on to Nsolo camp, then Kakuli and Mchenja camps. By walking between camps you have a better chance of getting up close to animals without startling them, and you have a chance to cover more ground and see a greater variety of life.

Kruger National Park Safari

The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa's oldest reserves, it's also one of the largest. There are plenty of lodge and camp options both within the park, and in the private reserves along the borders of the park, places like the Sabi Sands Reserve, Timbavati Reserve, Thornybush Private Game Reserve and Kapama Private Game Reserve. While there are plenty of options, and this is undoubtedly a famous and popular destination, there's also plenty of space: this is the kind of park you can really experience the bush in, without feeling like you're on safari in a zoo.

The big five are all represented here and the Kruger has one of the greatest varieties of mammals of any African Reserve, with around 150 different species, and including migrating and breeding birds, around 500 different bird species.

One way to get the most out of your safari in the Kruger is to follow one of the nine wilderness trails though the park. Most are overnight and some pass though regions otherwise untouched by humans. In the really remote regions there are no trails other than those made by animals.

• 

  Port Louis, Mauritius

• 

  Pamplemousses Gardens

• 

  Port Louis Central Market

A week in Mauritius:

Day 8 – 9: Port Louis

International flight connections from Zambia and South Africa come in to Port Louis, the Mauritian capital, so even if you're just here for the idyllic tropical beach resorts you're still going to pass though. For visitors seeking a more cultural experience allow for a couple of days here to see the world's only complete Dodo skeleton at the Mauritius Natural History Museum, the Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens, for the huge water lilies, the Creole design of the old Eureka Mansion, the life of the local Central Market and to admire the historic charm of the old port on the waterfront. It's like easing yourself into island life.

Day 10: Chamarel and the 'Coloured Earths' and Ile aux Cerfs

Mauritius is a small island, small enough to drive all over in a day. The highlights, if you fancy hiring a car and going for a mini road trip, are Chamarel and the 'Coloured Earths', a waterfall and a region of exposed volcanic rock that's set into amazing coloured patterns, and Ile aux Cerfs and its beach. End the day trip in Grand Baie, only 30 minutes drive north of Port Louis, and set up camp in one of the resorts here.

• 

  Ile aux Cerfs Beach

• 

  Grand Baie

• 

  Mont Choisy Beach

Day 11 – 14: Grand Baie and surrounds

Some of the nicest beaches on Mauritius are along the northern coast near Grand Baie, and while some people will find it impossible to move further than the distance from the resort to the resort's beach, La Curvette, Pereybere and Mont Choisy are probably more perfect if you can drag yourself just along the coastline to them.

The Baie aux Tortues, or Tortoise Bay, is south of Grand Baie, and an interesting place to spend an afternoon both for the tortoises and the Balaclava Ruins, the remains of an old French fort where the arsenal was stored, before it was accidentally blown up. Inland from the bay are is the Labourdonnais Orchards, where you can take a free walk or cycle between a scented oasis of coconut, paw paws, passion fruit, lychee and banana trees and bushes, followed by feasting on some of the orchard's bounty on the verandah of the colonial homestead.

Get More Advice from World Reviewer's Mauritian Travel Specialists.

Comments by other travellers

I enjoyed the African safari. Cool time and lots of knowledge...

 JRK-Star - posted 7th June 2012