When I first began sharing my adventures with the world some fifteen years in the past, I can say with my complete coronary heart that I by no means thought there could be an finish in sight. Travel and me have had a particular relationship since my first solo journey to Hong Kong (aged nineteen). I used to be younger, impressionable and extremely naive. I knew subsequent to nothing in regards to the world round me and the one means I used to be capable of escape of my shell and work out who I used to be, was to expertise the world first hand.
Fast observe to now and I’m 33 years previous, married, and just lately welcomed my first daughter into the world. It looks like simply yesterday I used to be every part reverse of that, however life actually does have a means of accelerating when you enable love into your life.
The final journey I ever needed to share on World of Wanderlust was this one — my honeymoon. For a woman who made solo journey her complete character, I believed it could be such an effective way to spherical out greater than a decade of solo adventures, as I lastly am on the time in my life the place solo journey is behind me (a minimum of for the foreseeable future!)
My husband and I took our vows virtually a yr in the past at a tiny ceremony within the metropolis we now name residence. Brisbane has welcomed me with open arms and an abundance of sunshine, so we figured it was solely pure to wed in our personal yard with a celebrant, quick household, our sausage canine Frankie and our quickly to be daughter there in spirit as I used to be six months pregnant on the time. To say we glossed over the marriage half could be an understatement, however we have been extra excited by the thought of an excellent large honeymoon collectively to rejoice this particular time in our lives with one another.
Choosing a honeymoon vacation spot
Choosing a honeymoon vacation spot is not any simple feat since there actually are so many unbelievable locations all over the world to spend such a monumental event. I had all the time envisaged myself on safari for my honeymoon given it has all the time been one in every of my favorite journey experiences, so the subsequent half was to persuade my husband! His concept of a honeymoon was extra tropical seashore than bush safari, however as soon as I shared with him some pictures of my travels prior to now he was completely on board. And so it was determined, we have been off to South Africa!
We managed to sneak in a few additional days by planning our flights on Fridays, so we might take a complete of 10 days off work (utilizing the weekends to spice up our time without work work). However as destiny would have it a as soon as in a lifetime cyclone arrived in Brisbane the week of our departure, inflicting all flights to be grounded for a complete of 4 days. By the time the brand new week rolled round we have been weighing up our choices of whether or not it was higher to reschedule, nonetheless we in the end determined primarily based on non-refundable flights and lodging to make a run for it, even when we’d have simply 5 days in South Africa complete (your light reminder to e book journey insurance coverage when you e book your journey!)
The itinerary
With the climate dampening our plans, we had little or no time to spend on the bottom in South Africa. Tempting because it was to postpone and even cancel the journey, we knew it could be a really very long time earlier than we might take the chance to journey once more. Unfortunately lacking the primary few days of our honeymoon meant we must skip Cape Town solely, however I used to be nonetheless excited to share the magic of the Cape Winelands with my husband, as this may be his first go to to South Africa.
Day one: Cape Winelands
Arriving late at evening, we awoke on the primary day of our honeymoon within the ethereal landscapes of the Cape Winelands. Basing ourselves in Franschhoek at Leeu House, we had simply in the future to eat, drink and drive our means across the many vineyards, eating places, cities and landscapes that the realm is so well-known for. I used to be grateful we have been situated in such a central location, as we had numerous touristing to squeeze into in the future, and but the fantastic thing about the Cape Winelands is basically within the artwork of slowing down.
The first cease of our day was to drive to close by Babylonstoren, maybe probably the most well-known and iconic farm on the planet. With sprawling gardens, vineyards and infinite alternatives to eat farm to desk produce, Babylonstoren is what each myself and my husband would think about our paradise. We excitedly made our means via the numerous farm outlets and experiences on supply, daydreaming {that a} farm like this may a dream come true to name residence.
Lunch at Delaire Graff
The first time I visited South Africa I had the pleasure of visiting Delaire Graff wine property for lunch. And so, maybe as a ultimate nod to finalising this chapter of journey running a blog the identical means it started, we made our means up the steep hills to the restaurant for a advantageous eating expertise.
Everything we ordered was prime notch, that includes a wild mushroom risotto for me, their well-known steak for my husband, and probably the most scrumptious deconstructed lime tarts I’ve ever seen, not to mention tasted! The service is nice and the views are distinctive, so in case you ever end up on this a part of the world make sure to add an extended lunch at Delaire Graff to your itinerary.
Checking In: Phinda Vlei Lodge
And in fact, the crowning jewel in our quick however candy honeymoon itinerary! Of all of the locations I’ve visited and experiences I’ve loved, occurring safari is palms down probably the most romantic expertise on earth. This was the precise cause we selected to spend our honeymoon on the continent and much more thrilling was the very fact it could be my husband’s first time seeing animals within the wild on safari.
For our honeymoon we booked three nights at andBeyond Phinda Vlei Lodge in Phinda Private Game Reserve. Of all of the safaris I’ve been on and all of the camps I’ve visited in my profession as a journey blogger, this reserve has had the best dedication to conservation – of the land, individuals, communities, and animals.
Our keep on the lodge was quick and candy nevertheless it was additionally one of many highlights of my journey profession to have the ability to share one thing as particular as a safari with the individual I selected to spend the remainder of my life with. From the second we arrived on the camp we have been giddy with pleasure, prepared for the journey forward of 5:00am get up calls, breezy morning sport drives and naturally, loads of meals to take pleasure in within the bush!
Sadly we lucked out with the climate (I do know what you’re considering – twice!) And although most of our go to was spent inside throughout heavy rain, we have been grateful for the prospect to be in the course of the bush, having fun with time away from our busy lives and reflecting on our journey to this point.
The journey as World of Wanderlust has been probably the most rewarding and life altering experiences anybody might ever hope for of their lifetime. I’m so grateful to every one in every of you who has learn my tales, travelled with me all over the world, or booked a visit primarily based off a suggestion I made.
Before beginning this weblog I used to be a shy and sheltered twenty yr previous who had barely left her postcode. I used World of Wanderlust as a approach to join with likeminded individuals who might share on this journey with me, as we explored the world collectively one journey at a time.
As this chapter closes one other one is properly underway. In 2022 I opened my bakery Brooki Bakehouse in Brisbane and have been busy constructing my enterprise ever since. I’d like to see you there!
With infinite gratitude,
Brooke (World of Wanderlust)