We're Just Back From: South Africa

July 11, 2025

WhirlAway’s Stacey Blum shares 5 ultra-exclusive moments that redefine the classic safari.

Everyone talks about going on safari. But not everyone tells you how it feels—to experience a languid afternoon with winemakers who forgo the norm, to watch a lioness cradle her cub across the plains, to luxuriate in a Versace-drenched suite in the Winelands where the bathtub rivals the size of a Manhattan studio.

WhirlAway’s Stacey Blum (whose job is to vet the best of the best) recently spent two weeks on an indelible journey through South Africa with Abercrombie & Kent. She discovered a symphony of wow factors—equal parts city, bush, and bliss. These five moments rose to the top as her most exclusive, most unexpected, and most unforgettable.

1. A Private Peninsula Picnic

“It was a Saturday, the weather was perfect, and there was no one around—our guide found this magical little cove, and we had a fully catered picnic. It felt completely ours,” says Stacey.

After a morning spent meeting seals in Kalk Bay, tracking rogue penguins in Simon’s Town, and hiking Cape Point's wild coast, A&K delivered the ultimate flex: a private picnic on the Cape of Good Hope replete with white linens, fine wine, zero crowds, and a cinematic sea view.

2. Sidecar Thrills on Chapman’s Peak Drive

“If you told me I’d be clinging to the back of a motorcycle—on a cliff—taking videos with one hand? I would’ve said you were insane. But I did it.”

Chapman’s Peak is already iconic. But experiencing all 144 curves from the back of a vintage sidecar with the Atlantic wind in your hair? That’s a travel wish-list sprung to life. Top it off with surprise sundowners overlooking the ocean, and this isn’t just a drive—it’s an itinerary mic drop.

3. The Suite Life at La Residence

“My suite was Versace-inspired. The bathroom? My son said it was bigger than his apartment.”

Set in Franschhoek’s lush wine valley, La Residence is South Africa’s most decadent pause button. Stacey describes it as a place to intentionally slow down—where each intimate suite is a sensory feast, the art is collector-level, and the guests swap stories over rosé by the infinity pool.

Bonus: The six-bedroom villa on-site was originally built for the owner’s family but is now bookable for yours.

4. A Doors-Off Helicopter Over the Delta

“This felt like I was on a National Geographic film set—buffalo herds below, white birds flying above.”

After this seamless chopper transfer to Chief’s Camp, Stacey did what every true adventurer does: went back up for more. This time without doors. Flying over the Okavango Delta with unobstructed views—elephants wading, impalas leaping, and birds scattering—was simply thrilling.

“Also while at Chief’s Camp, we watched a lioness drop the tiniest cub in the grass. Then she disappeared. I asked the guide to wait—I knew she was coming back with another. And she did.”

5. The Best in the Biz: Private Guides

“We had the most experienced and knowledgeable guides. These bushmen had a wealth of knowledge about the animals. They not only knew how to track them, but also imparted cultural customs and information on the topography. There wasn’t a question they couldn’t answer, and were the reason we were able to get up close to the incredible wildlife.”

This journey wasn’t just about ticking boxes. “I left every lodge feeling like I was leaving my family,” Stacey adds. “There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the wonders and variety of South Africa.”

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