This 15-day escorted holiday pairs a luxury safari in South Africa with a week on the beach in Mauritius, with flights from London and almost everything included. A tour leader and wildlife specialist travel with the group in South Africa, and a local representative looks after you in Mauritius. You stay five nights at a five-star tented camp in the Mabula Game Reserve and seven nights at a five-star beachfront resort, both all-inclusive, with 12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 12 dinners, five high teas and drinks served from 10am to 10pm. Return flights to Johannesburg, the flight on to Mauritius and all transfers are included.

After an overnight flight from London, you drive north from Johannesburg to the Waterberg Mountains and the Mabula Game Reserve, part of a UNESCO-listed biosphere. Your camp has private tents with verandas, an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant, and the first evening brings a talk from one of the reserve's resident wildlife specialists. Over the next few days, four game drives head out in search of the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – along with giraffe, zebra and many species of antelope.

Trip highlights

Five nights at a five-star tented camp in the Mabula Game Reserve (Days 2–6)
Four game drives in search of the Big Five (Days 3–6)
A bush walk, bush lunch, sundowners and stargazing (Days 3–6)
Seven all-inclusive nights on the beach in Mauritius (Days 7–13)
The Wonders of the South tour, with Chamarel's Seven Coloured Earth (Day 9)
Flights from London and all transfers included

Map of the 15-day holiday flying to Johannesburg, driving to the Mabula Game Reserve, then flying to Mauritius for a stay at Belle Mare — 15-day route: Johannesburg – Mabula Game Reserve – Mauritius (Belle Mare)

Johannesburg Days 2 & 7
Safari Plains Camp Days 1–6
Belle Mare (Long Beach) Days 7–13
Chamarel Day 9

All-inclusive five-star stays, flights and transfers in one price, with a tour leader and wildlife specialist on safari. Balances an exciting safari with a full week of rest on the Indian Ocean.

Best suited to

First-time safari travellers who want comfort
Couples looking for a special-occasion holiday
Travellers who want everything arranged, including flights
Anyone who likes to combine wildlife with beach time

Day 1 · London Fly to Johannesburg

Begin your holiday with an overnight flight from London Gatwick to Johannesburg, where your safari adventure in the Waterberg begins the next morning.

Hotel
Overnight flight
Day 2 · Johannesburg, Mabula Game Reserve To Safari Plains

Meet your driver in Johannesburg for the scenic drive north to your camp beneath the Waterberg Mountains, arriving in time for lunch. In the evening, a resident wildlife specialist gives a talk about the reserve before dinner.

Hotel
Safari Plains five-star tented camp

Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 · Mabula Game Reserve Morning game drive

Rise early for your first game drive, when herds of antelope are out on the open plains, returning to camp for breakfast. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or on your veranda.

Hotel
Safari Plains five-star tented camp

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 · Mabula Game Reserve Afternoon game drive and sundowners

A leisurely morning at camp, then an afternoon game drive in search of the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. Stop for sundowner drinks and snacks in the bush as the sun goes down.

Hotel
Safari Plains five-star tented camp

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 · Mabula Game Reserve Bush walk and game drive

Take a morning walk through the savannah with a guide, learning about the smaller creatures and plants of the bush, and enjoy a traditional bush lunch. In the afternoon, head out on your third game drive.

Hotel
Safari Plains five-star tented camp

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 · Mabula Game Reserve Game drive and stargazing

A final morning game drive gives one more chance to see the Big Five. After a day at leisure, gather for an early dinner and an evening of stargazing under the clear night sky.

Hotel
Safari Plains five-star tented camp

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 · Johannesburg, Belle Mare Fly to Mauritius

Transfer to Johannesburg for your flight to Mauritius. On arrival, transfer to your beachfront resort on the east coast for seven all-inclusive nights.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 · Belle Mare At leisure in Mauritius

Wake to the sound of the waves and spend the day enjoying the beach and the resort's pools, or join an optional excursion to the north of the island.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 · Ganga Talao, Black River Gorges National Park, Chamarel Wonders of the South

A full-day tour of southern Mauritius starts at a winery making lychee wine, then visits the sacred lake of Ganga Talao, the Black River Gorges National Park and the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel, with lunch at a local home.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 · Belle Mare At leisure, or a speedboat trip

A free day at the resort, or an optional speedboat trip across the lagoon to some of the small, uninhabited islands off the coast.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 · Belle Mare At leisure

A full day to relax at the resort, enjoy its restaurants and facilities, or explore the island under your own steam.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 · Belle Mare At leisure

Another free day, perhaps for a round of golf at a nearby course, time by the pool or a walk along the beach.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 · Île aux Aigrettes At leisure, or volunteer with wildlife

Relax at the resort, or volunteer for the day with the Wildlife Foundation on Île aux Aigrettes, helping biologists and rangers with planting and feeding giant tortoises.

Hotel
Long Beach five-star resort

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 · Mauritius Fly home

A final breakfast and lunch at the resort, with time to enjoy the beach before your transfer to the airport and overnight flight home.

Hotel
Overnight flight

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15 · London Arrive in the UK

Arrive back in the UK in the morning after your overnight flight from Mauritius, and the holiday comes to an end.

Mabula Game Reserve (5 nights) Safari Plains five-star tented camp
Belle Mare, Mauritius (7 nights) Long Beach five-star resort

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

Included

Flights return from London Gatwick to Johannesburg, and Johannesburg to Mauritius
Accommodation 12 nights, all-inclusive, in a five-star tented camp and a five-star beach resort
Meals 12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 12 dinners, five high teas and drinks from 10am to 10pm
Safari four game drives, a wildlife talk, a bush walk, a bush lunch, sundowners and stargazing
The Wonders of the South tour of Mauritius, with lunch at a local home
All transfers, and all local taxes and fees
Tour leader and wildlife specialist in South Africa, and a local representative in Mauritius

Not included

Travel insurance
Visas, where required
Optional excursions in Mauritius
Spa treatments and personal spending
Tips

Honest disclaimer — please read

You want to fly from a regional airport — flights depart from London Gatwick
You want an active, overland safari — this is a relaxed, one-camp stay
You want to explore Mauritius every day — most days are free at the resort
You prefer independent travel — this is a group holiday

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Mauritius · UK FCDO travel advice for South Africa