Once 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. Journey 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 concerning the world round me and the one manner 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.
Quick monitor to now and I’m 33 years outdated, married, and just lately welcomed my first daughter into the world. It seems like simply yesterday I used to be all the things reverse of that, however life actually does have a manner 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 assumed 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 (no less than 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 house. 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, instant 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 had been extra excited by the concept of an excellent huge honeymoon collectively to have a good time this particular time in our lives with one another.
Selecting a honeymoon vacation spot
Selecting a honeymoon vacation spot is not any straightforward feat since there actually are so many unbelievable locations around the globe to spend such a monumental event. I had at all times envisaged myself on safari for my honeymoon given it has at all times been considered one of my favorite journey experiences, so the following half was to persuade my husband! His concept of a honeymoon was extra tropical seaside than bush safari, however as soon as I shared with him some photographs of my travels up to now he was completely on board. And so it was determined, we had been off to South Africa!
We managed to sneak in a few additional days by planning our flights on Fridays, so we may take a complete of 10 days off work (utilizing the weekends to spice up our time without work work). Nevertheless 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 point the brand new week rolled round we had been weighing up our choices of whether or not it was higher to reschedule, nonetheless we finally determined based mostly on non-refundable flights and lodging to make a run for it, even when we’d have simply 5 days in South Africa whole (your light reminder to ebook journey insurance coverage when you ebook 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 may take the chance to journey once more. Sadly lacking the primary few days of our honeymoon meant we must skip Cape City fully, however I used to be nonetheless excited to share the magic of the Cape Winelands with my husband, as this is able to be his first go to to South Africa.
Day one: Cape Winelands
Arriving late at evening, we awakened on the primary day of our honeymoon within the ethereal landscapes of the Cape Winelands. Basing ourselves in Franschhoek at Leeu Home, we had simply in the future to eat, drink and drive our manner across the many vineyards, eating places, cities and landscapes that the world is so well-known for. I used to be grateful we had been situated in such a central location, as we had plenty of touristing to squeeze into in the future, and but the fantastic thing about the Cape Winelands is de facto within the artwork of slowing down.
The primary 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 contemplate our paradise. We excitedly made our manner by way of the various farm outlets and experiences on supply, daydreaming {that a} farm like this is able to a dream come true to name house.
Lunch at Delaire Graff
The primary time I visited South Africa I had the pleasure of visiting Delaire Graff wine property for lunch. And so, maybe as a last nod to finalising this chapter of journey running a blog the identical manner it started, we made our manner up the steep hills to the restaurant for a advantageous eating expertise.
All the pieces we ordered was high notch, that includes a wild mushroom risotto for me, their well-known steak for my husband, and one of the scrumptious deconstructed lime tarts I’ve ever seen, not to mention tasted! The service is nice and the views are distinctive, so for those who ever end up on this a part of the world be sure you add an extended lunch at Delaire Graff to your itinerary.
Checking In: Phinda Vlei Lodge
And naturally, the crowning jewel in our brief however candy honeymoon itinerary! Of all of the locations I’ve visited and experiences I’ve loved, happening safari is arms down probably the most romantic expertise on earth. This was the precise motive we selected to spend our honeymoon on the continent and much more thrilling was the actual 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 Personal Recreation 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 very best dedication to conservation – of the land, individuals, communities, and animals.
Our keep on the lodge was brief and candy but it surely 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 had been giddy with pleasure, prepared for the journey forward of 5:00am get up calls, breezy morning recreation 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 pondering – twice!) And although most of our go to was spent inside throughout heavy rain, we had 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 thus far.
The journey as World of Wanderlust has been one of the rewarding and life altering experiences anybody may ever hope for of their lifetime. I’m so grateful to every considered one of you who has learn my tales, travelled with me around the globe, or booked a visit based mostly off a suggestion I made.
Earlier than beginning this weblog I used to be a shy and sheltered twenty yr outdated who had barely left her postcode. I used World of Wanderlust as a method to join with likeminded individuals who may 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 nicely 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)