Destination Focus: South Africa

Since democracy was established over a decade ago, South Africa, has fast become one of the world’s most sought-after vacation destinations, its inbound numbers growing by leaps and bounds. In 2005, over 200,000 U.S. visitors traveled to South Africa, and the country’s New York-based tourist office expects that figure to jump by at least 10 percent this year.

Rated on of the top destinations for romance and honeymooning. Undoubtedly, many travelers fall in love with a place that offers top safari encounters with exotic wildlife; sublime scenic beauty; friendly and interesting cultural experiences; great golf; and long, deserted beaches. Romance is particularly enhanced by South Africa’s welcoming accommodations, from superb game-viewing lodgings to stylish and intimate hotels in Cape Town.

Surely new accessibility—direct flights aboard South African Airways from N.Y., Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, with Miami coming online soon—to Johannesburg are contributing to South Africa’s rise in popularity, while on arrival, riding the legendary Blue Train (there are actually two; overnight between Johannesburg and Cape Town is simply a very romantic way to travel. Each air-conditioned compartment comes with a full marble bath, phone, TV and butler button for drinks and laundry service.

In South Africa, the top choice for doing something special with someone special is the on-safari experience. While there are 12 national parks in the country, Kruger National Park is the most visited reserve, with more wildlife species than any other African sanctuary. In addition to the big five, Kruger’s other residents include giraffes, hippos, zebras and hundreds of birds. Within the park, clients can stay at a rest camp and take a self-drive safari in a two-wheel drive car or a four-by-four. Or, they might treat themselves to ranger-led, early-morning and late-afternoon game drives offered by such exclusive safari lodges as the 8-suite Singita Lebombo Lodge , winner of numerous international accolades. The property is perched on a cliff in Kruger National Park. Guests enjoy superb food, service and river views from their sunken tubs in out-sized bathrooms.

The Phinda Private Game Reserve is the model sustainable tourism project of Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), known for its partnerships between community development and luxury lodge operations. Phinda is located in Zululand, bordering the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, and the reserve embraces four splendid little lodges, which all have the Small Luxury Hotels of the World endorsement. Also under the CC Africa umbrella is the Londolozi Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. It is the only game reserve member of the Relais & Chateaux hotel group, and clients in search of the finest wildlife experiences (leopard sightings are a specialty) will find it right here with a stay in one of six luxurious suites at the Londolozi Tree Camp, each with a plunge pool and luxurious sala (outdoor covered deck).

While going on safari is the stuff that dreams are made of, no romantic can fail to spend time in Cape Town. Situated at the foot of Table Mountain, surrounded by two oceans, and blessed with well-preserved Edward-ian-Victorian buildings and extraordinary beaches, this is certainly one of the world’s most beautiful cities. And staying here can be half the fun. On the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, admirably restored with pleasant plazas and promenades, stores and cafes, is the tastefully decorated 100-room Cape Grace with terraced suites and a pool. The quintessential boutique hotel is the 11-room Ellerman House, a refined Regency-style mansion hotel that crowns a sweeping seaside knoll. The legendary Mount Nelson Hotel sits amid nine acres of formal lawns and palmy gardens, 20 minutes from the city center.

While in Cape Town, romantics and adventurers will have fun hiking up Table Mountain; touring and tasting in the Winelands’ estates vineyards; following the jaw-dropping Chapman’s Peak road leading to the Cape of Good Hope with flamingos, baboons and ostriches en route; and stopping at Boulder’s Beach, home to a large breeding colony of jackass penguins, or Fish Hoek with its glorious sandy beaches. Visit South Africa.

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