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Egypt is such an amazing place- the history, the culture, the people, the food, the juxtaposition of new and old; it was so high on our list. After traveling to 28 countries prior to Egypt, we consider ourselves pretty experienced when it comes to travel. Egypt challenged us in so many ways- from planning, to avoiding scams. So here is our detailed guide to help you navigate this beautiful country.

Safety 

Is Egypt safe? At the time of writing, according to the US Department of State, Egypt is a level 3 travel risk (reconsider travel). With that being said, we didn’t feel as though we were in danger of being harmed by anyone at any time.

From a female perspective, Joc did experience a lot of men wanting to touch her or “give hugs”, many unwanted compliments about her appearance, and general glaring.

The biggest safety concern in Egypt is the relentless scams. People are constantly trying to do things for you or tell you things and demand money for their “services”.

Although we love to engage with locals typically, it is incredibly important to remain vigilant during your time in Egypt. For this reason, we truly recommend a local guide. They can drive away unwanted scammers.

Visa process

US visitors need a single-entry tourist visa. Cost is $25USD and is valid for 30 days. We completed our visa on arrival with assistance arranged by our local travel guide. 

When to visit?

Egypt is known for sweltering summers, for that reason, it is recommended to visit between October-April.

If you’re looking to skip the temples and opt for beach days, June- September is ideal for visiting the red sea.

Getting around

Getting to Egypt, you will likely fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI).

Egyptian driving rivals our experiences with SE Asia driving. Egypt has a mix of under developed and modern roads, but essentially no road rules. With various police check-points located at random, you never know when you will be stopped or what for (likely a bribe is required).

Due to the driving hazards and general safety concerns, we recommend hiring a private driver. Additionally, we highly recommend the services of an Egyptologist during your visit– their knowledge is truly astounding.

Currency & Preferred payment

The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP). 1EGP is the equivalent of $0.02USD. Although cards seem to be widely accepted, we still recommend carrying EGP or USD as tipping is very customary and expected. 

For ease, we always opt to remove cash at the airport ATM on arrival.

Pro-tip: Make sure to decline the ATM conversion to get the best exchange rate from your bank.

DIY Versus Hiring a Local Agency

We are extremely PRO hire a local agency. We did work with a local operator for the entirety of our stay; they helped arrange transportation, getting entry tickets, going through customs and immigration, and ensuring egyptologists at all sites.

We had formulated our itinerary and allowed a few critiques from them- we vetted multiple agencies and this itinerary format seemed to be the best from multiple sources.

We selected our own accommodations because we felt most comfortable getting a place that would suite our mid-range needs.

While, we can’t recommend our agency’s particular service (we only recommend things we truly believe in), we do recommend reaching out to multiple agencies and finding the best fit for you.

Pro-tip: haggling is part of Egyptian culture. It feels taboo to us, coming from the US, but you NEED to do it.

Driving & Flying Versus Nile River Cruise

We opted to fly & drive because we had heard that the Nile River cruises spend much less time at the sites. We are extremely fascinated by Egyptian history and didn’t want to “cheat” ourselves.

Because of the time it takes to travel through the nile, some sites are also omitted (depending on your route). We wanted to have complete control over our itinerary and ensure we saw everything that we could.

Having done the fly & drive option, we do actually think the cruise would be a fantastic option for people who want a sampling of the history without all the hassling.

That said, you can’t go wrong with either option.

Itinerary

Cairo- 3 days

Where to stay?

For a fantastic, luxury stay (with pyramid view), you should absolutely consider this hotel:

We personally stayed here, which we consider a Mid-range hotel. It has an amazing pyramid view & excellent breakfast included.

A great budget option, with a pyramid view, you should take a look at this hotel:

Day 1

Good morning from Cairo! Since you likely flew into CAI, you will start your journey through Egypt here. Today, you will visit the Giza pyramids, Sphinx, and panoramic viewpoint.

Cost to enter the Giza plateau is 540 EGP. This will get you into the general area, going inside additional pyramids is an extra fee. While at the pyramids you have the option to ride a camel. While we won’t speak to the ethics of this, we will only note that it is an option. 

Pro-tip: the pyramid area is filled with people looking to scam you for a quick buck. Do not allow anyone to take photos for you, do not walk someone’s camel, generally- DO NOT ENGAGE. 

We did an ATV ride in Giza and this was a fantastic and slightly sketchy (AKA a man sat on the front the whole time) way to see a different perspective of the pyramids with less hassling.

Pro-tip: wear light neutral colors to hide the dust on your clothes (obviously, we didn’t do this…learn from our mistake).

Day 2

Today you will visit The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The cost is 80EGP per person.

Here you will find more than 50,000 artefacts, mummies, and tombs from all across Egypt. We highly recommend the services of an Egyptologist. 

Next you will visit the Citadel of Salah El Din. This is an old palace built as a defense against the crusaders and is complete with the beautiful Mohamed Ali Mosque. The entrance fee is 60 EGP.

Day 3

Today you will visit Old Cairo (also known as Coptic Cairo). Two famous sites in Old Cairo are the Hanging Church and Abu Sengra. Abu Sengra is thought to be the place where the holy family sought refuge. 

Next you will visit the Islamic district in Cairo. This open-air market is said to be the oldest in the middle east. It is vibrant, lively, and where you can buy any item that your heart desires. We recommend heading there later in the evening as Egypt really comes alive at night.

If the night markets aren’t your thing (it’s truly sensory overload), you could also opt for a Nile dinner cruise. We did one and there was belly dancing and loads of unique entertainment. We wouldn’t say its a “don’t miss”, but it does beat sitting in your hotel room.

Aswan

Where to stay?

For a higher end stay, closer to downtown, we recommend staying here:

For a mid-range hotel, with an authentic Nubian vibe, we recommend this hotel: while it is a little out of the way from the downtown area, where else in the world would you experience a stay like this?

For a budget hotel with Nubian themes (although again, further from downtown), this would be a great option:

Day 4- fly to Aswan

After an early morning flight you will have plenty of time to visit the Temple of Philae. Philae temple is one of the most recognizable temples- it was also featured in the Death on the Nile movie.

This temple was relocated after the construction of the high dam and is devoted to goddesses Isis and Hathor. The entrance fee is 550 EGP.

Day 5- Visit Abu Simbel

Get an early start today because Abu Simbel is approximately a 6 hour (round trip) drive by private car from Aswan.

There are two temples located here. The first temple was built by Ramesses II for the god Rahorakhty. The second, smaller temple was dedicated to Queen Nefertari. The entrance fee is 550 EGP.

Abu Simbel is one of the most beautiful temples, but is often excluded from most Nile cruise itineraries (If opting for a cruise, check to see if you can do this as a day trip from Aswan).

Luxor

Where to stay?

For a luxury stay, we recommend staying here:

For a mid-rang stay, we recommend this hotel:

For a budget stay on the East Bank, we recommend staying here

Day 6-Drive to Luxox.

Today you will drive to Luxor and em route, visit two additional temples. To be completely transparent, our guide for the day really rushed us through and because of that, we have SOOO few photos or history to share. Even travel bloggers can’t have wins every day.

The first temple you will visit is the Kom Ombo temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris. The entrance fee is 100 EGP. There was a lot of crocodile information here, which was super interesting- they even had mummified crocodiles.

Next you will visit Edfu, the temple of Horus. The entrance fee is 450 EGP.

Day 7- Explore the West bank of Luxor

You will start by exploring the west bank of Luxor. Here you will visit the Valley of the Kings.

This area is filled with tombs (some yet to be found) of Egyptian kings. Interestingly, many tombs are located under pyramid shaped mountains or mounds.

Different tombs are open at different times depending on the environment, but of the ones we saw, they are all stunning. These tombs have the most vibrant and elaborate colorings and hieroglyphics that we have ever seen. The entrance fee is 350EGP.

Next you will visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This is a mortuary temple, dedicated to the god Amun. Fun fact- they tried to have her erased from history… but clearly they didn’t succeed. THIS TEMPLE IS MASSIVE. The entrance fee is 350EGP.

Day 8- Explore the east bank of Luxor

Start your morning early with a hot air balloon ride. Honestly, this is a core memory. View the temples you saw yesterday from above and take note as you fly over the Colossi of Memnon. 

After your epic hot air balloon ride, you will visit the Karnak Temple Complex. This is the largest Egyptian temple constructed and because of this, it draws the crowds. We recommend starting early here early to avoid the crowds as much as possible. The entrance fee is 600EGP.

Lastly, you will visit the Luxor temple, the second largest temple in Luxor. This temple is dedicated to the deities Mut, Khonsu, and Amun. The entrance fee is 400EGP.

Day 9- Exploring the remaining temples in Luxor

Begin your morning by exploring the Ramasseum temple of Ramses II. While this may not be the most stunning temples, we really enjoyed it.

The temple is surrounded with remains of mud brick storehouses. While temples and tombs were built very elaborately, they were built for the afterlife and deities, respectively. Kings would have lived in modest mud brick homes, so this storefront helps paint the picture of what day-to-day life would have looked like. The entrance fee is 180 EGP.

Lastly, you will visit the Valley of Nobles. Here you will find tombs of the high priests and Egyptian court sophisticates. In contrast to the tombs of kings, which focus on the afterlife and deities, the noble tombs focus on telling the stories of their lives. The entrance fee is 150EGP.

Red Sea

Where to Stay?

For a more high-end stay, we recommend checking out this hotel:

All-Inclusives are very popular in this area. Here is a great mid-range option:

For a more budget option, here is the hotel which still includes breakfast & dinner:

Days 10-13  Red Sea

Today you will transfer to Marsa Alam. It is a 4 hour drive.

 While many people visit Hurghada, we chose to visit the quieter Marsa Alam. Marsa Alam is full of beautiful white sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and aquatic adventures.

Snorkeling and diving opportunities are plentiful in the area. We recommend spending 3 days here and after all your exploring, you earned it!

We personally chose to do 2 snorkeling trips and it was some of the best reefs we have ever seen (and we’ve been to the Great Barrier Reef).

Day 14

Heading home. Flights into & out of Marsa Alam only occur on certain days of the week. If you need to return to Cairo for your flight home and cannot find a flight out of Marsa Alam, you can drive 2.5 hours to Hurghada and catch a direct flight to Cairo from there.

Final Thoughts

Egypt will leave you completely in awe. Being able to witness some of the earliest civilizations (that we know of) is so humbling. The chaos is such a unique culture and it just adds another level to the experience. If you follow this 2 week itinerary, we are sure you will see the best that Egypt has to offer and you will be so glad you finally booked the trip!

The post Egypt Travel Itinerary: How to Plan the Perfect Trip in 2025 appeared first on World Travel Lahrs.

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Cappadocia is a magical place. From watching the sun rise as hot air balloons fill the sky, to the streets littered with fairy chimneys, it is truly a bucket list experience.

Why 5 days?

If you are like us, the promise of drifting through the skies in a hot air balloon was enough to inspire your entire trip. Türkiye has very strict regulations on air balloon flying conditions with regard to the weather, they do not fly every day.

Five days will give you 4 full mornings. Although it’s probably more time than you need to see this region, the slower pace is enough to fill your time, but not feel too rushed. Plus, this gives you the best chances to see the balloons fly AND fly in one yourself.

If you read our post on deciding how much time to spend in a destination you know it’s important to give yourself extra time for these magic moments.

So, here is our 5-day guide to give you the best itinerary for exploring Cappadocia.

Safety 

Is Cappadocia safe? At the time of writing, according to the US Department of State, Türkiye is a level 2 travel risk (exercise increased caution).

In our experience, we felt completely safe. The locals were incredible kind and welcoming, never once was safety a concern for us. 

When to visit?

Cappadocia can experience both a hot summer and snow during the winter.

The best time to visit is April- June or September-October. Visiting during these months with give you warm days and cool evenings. 

Getting To Cappadocia

Cappadocia is actually a region of central turkey. When most people refer to Cappadocia, they are in fact, referring to the town of Göreme.

To reach the region of Cappadocia, you will need to fly into either Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) and drive 1hr to Göreme, or fly into Nevşehir Kapadoky airport (NAV) and drive 40 minutes to Göreme.

Driving in Göreme can be incredibly chaotic and the roads are very narrow (think typical Europe small). For this reason, we opted to get a taxi for our journey to/from the airport. The town of Göreme is very small and incredibly walkable, so we were able to reach most places on foot.

Currency & payment methods

The currency in Turkiye is the Turkish Lira. 1 Turkish Lira (TL) is equal to $0.03USD.

Cash seemed to be preferred in Cappadocia, even our hotel wanted us to pay in full with cash (although they accepted card as well).

Many places preferred cash so much that most world currencies (USD, Euro, AUD, CAD, ect.) were accepted, not just Turkish Lira.

Where to Stay

If you’re coming to Cappadocia, you have to stay in a cave hotel. It’s such a unique experience. Take an old cave dwelling, fill the sky with hot air balloons at sunrise, and somehow it is pure magic.

You’ve probably seen photos of this stunning hotel online. This luxury stay will not dissapoint.

Another fantastic luxury option is this beautiful cave hotel.

We stayed at the Charming Cave Hotel. We would classify it as mid-range budget and HIGHLY recommend it. The breakfast was INSANE (in the best way).

While it’s not a cave house, here is a more budget friendly option. It’s more of a traditional hotel, so if that’s your preference, this is perfect for you! All the Cappadocia magic, without the cave.

Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Cappadocia! Since you likely arrived here mid-day, it’s time for you to check into your hotel.

Once you’ve settled into your very own cave dwelling, make your way to sunset point for a romantic sunset. To reach sunset hill you will take a short hike up a steep hill. It is 3TL CASH per person to enter.

There are plenty of beautiful viewpoints for photos. This is also a very common place for engagements to take place, so:

Ladies: he might just want to see the sunset.

Fellas: she might think that love valley isn’t the only rock she’s going to see on this trip.

After sunset, enjoy a fantastic Turkish meal- we recommend trying the testi kebabı or “pottery kebab”. It comes as a in a flaming ceramic that is cracked with a tiny hammer right in front of you. 

Day 2

Morning

Time for an early morning! Start your day with a hot air balloon and take in the landscapes as you drift past the fairy chimney villages.

Since the balloon flight is extremely weather dependent, we recommend reserving your flight in the first part of your stay in Cappadocia. This will give you plenty of days to reschedule, if need be. Most other activities in this itinerary start in the later morning, keeping your mornings free for schedule shifting.

After a successful hot air balloon flight, grab a wonderful Turkish breakfast. Turkish breakfast is an experience- we had NEVER seen anything like it. It’s a hearty feast consisting of breads, pastries, eggs, cheeses, among many other accoutrements.

Afternoon

Take a visit to love valley to see the iconic phallic shaped rocks. From the town of Göreme to love valley, it is 3km. We opted to walk as there is a sidewalk for nearly the entirety, but it is not shaded and can get quite toasty.

A taxi can get you there in 5-10 minutes. Once there, you can make your way through the dusty trails and take in the unique formations.

Day 3

Today you will do the green tour. This tour will take up the entirety of the day as there are quite a few stops and lunch is typically included. We selected an operator through get your guide.

The green tour can vary slightly by operator, but most should visit Göreme Panorama, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley, and Derinkuyu Underground City. There is also a green/red combined tour, but we felt most things on the red tour were easily self guided. 

The true highlight of this full-day tour is the Derinkuyu Underground City. Derinkuyu is a multilayer city built underground for protection from religious persecution or foreign invaders.

We caution that it can be quite anxiety inducing. So, if you struggle with claustrophobia, please take that into consideration before selecting this tour. A great alternative to the green tour is the red tour. The red tour highlights are love valley & the open air museum. 

Day 4

Morning

After your wonderful Turkish breakfast, make your way to the Göreme open-air museum. The entrance fee is 100TL. Wander along the path and get lost as you admire the fairy chimneys. 

Fairy chimney is the name given to mushroom shaped rock formations. Their formation is actually a geological process where the layered composition allowed degradation faster in certain areas, creating the shape that we see today.

Evening

Prepare yourself for a thrilling way to watch the sunset with an evening ATV tour. Riding ATV’s through the dusty desert, passing through fairy chimneys, culminating with a sunset, is truly magical… and a hint of terrifying.

Be warned though, you will get incredible dusty. The tour operator provided a gator to prevent dust inhalation and a helmet for safety. At the end of our tour, everyone got blown-off (not sure what term is appropriate here) by a high pressure air blower.

Pro tip: Wear some light colored clothing (the opposite of us) to help hide the dust for cute photos.

Day 5

After a slow morning (AKA waking up to watch the dreamy hot air balloons take flight one last time), we HIGHLY recommend this mosaic lantern making class.

The mosaic lamps are very important in Turkish culture and symbolize protection and enlightenment… and who doesn’t need both of those things?

Get creative as you put your own take on these Turkish light fixtures. It is a lengthy and detail oriented process, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.

On your last night, you will watch the whirling dervishes perform. There are two types of whirling dervish performances: one that is more like a dinner show and the other is more of a religious ceremony.

We opted to do the religious ceremony because we really enjoy cultural learning experiences. This unique ceremony features repeated whirling (circle) dancing, singing, and chanting. This culturally important ceremony symbolizes the spiritual journey towards Allah.

It’s absolutely fascinating how the spinning seems endless and no one ever falls. The whole thing lasted about an hour, so it’s enough to observe, but just know you won’t be spending your entire night here.

You are required to remain quiet, no photography or videography of any kind. This is an excellent culture opportunity, but not some place that we would recommend for small children, due to the quiet nature.

Final thoughts

Cappadocia, the land of breakfasts and balloons. With plenty to do and see, while still maintaining a relaxed feel, Cappadocia has something for everyone. The magical balloons at sunrise and charming cave suites will have you swooning, but the deep culture and amazing food will have you wanting to come back for more.

The post The Perfect 5 Day Cappadocia Itinerary: Hot Air Balloons, Caves & More appeared first on World Travel Lahrs.

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Two weeks in New Zealand is plenty of time to experience the natural beauty and unique customs. From movie sets, to wildlife viewing, geothermal baths, and Maori culture, these epic experiences will have you wanting to come back again.

First: Why Visit Both Islands?

The North and South Island are vastly different- not just in temperature, but in scenery, experiences, and overall vibes. While you could easily spend two weeks exploring just one island, we chose to hit the highlights of both. Achieving this much in a short window was made possible by including 3 in country flights. 

Pro-tip: When your short on time, but high on ambition, choosing at the fastest (which isn’t always the cheapest) transportation option will help you maximize what you’re able to do.

Of course, when planning any adventure, wildlife is a top priority to us, so we chose to hop around a bit in the pursuit of the best wildlife opportunities.

North Island: The North Island is warmer and looks almost tropical with its lush green hills. To us, it resembled a slightly chillier version of Hawaii.

South Island: The South Island is definitely chillier. While on the South Island it felt like we were in a beautiful Nordic adventure land- fjords, glaciers, and epic mountain views.

North Island Highlights (Days 1–3)

Hobbiton 

Is Hobbiton worth is? Absolutely. While it is ever so slightly touristy, it’s still such a cool experience.  They have really put a lot of effort into maintaining the integrity of the set, the experience, and integrating the New Zealand heritage. It must be booked as a guided tour, which truly ensures you get the best view points, photo ops, and stories. 

Joc has adamantly refused to give the LOTR series a try, but even a non-LOTR lover like her enjoyed the experience (I believe she did agree to watch the movies after, but we’re still waiting).

Waitmo caves 

If you’ve read any of our other posts, you have likely seen Joc talk mention her Pinterest bucket list. This is probably the sole reason she wanted to come to New Zealand- THE GLOW WORMS.

There are a few different options for how you can experience this unique bioluminescence phenomenon- by boat or by innertube. Seeing as we were visiting in the early spring, we anticipated the water to still be chilly and opted for the boat, but next time we will do the innertube!

The tour begins by a guided walk through the caves, complete with an explanation of how the bioluminescence works. Then you board a boat and are guided through the water while the worms twinkle above you. You should not miss this experience… I mean worms are gross, but in this case, they’re *romantic*

Rotorua hot springs

Have you ever considered the smell or rotten eggs relaxing? Neither have we. BUT, this might just change your mind. Walk through the bubbling geothermic park, then relax in the mud spa. 

This area has been used medicinally by the Maori people for quite some time. While we can’t say that we felt any different, it sure was nice to relax our tight muscles after that 14hour flight. 

The sulfur smell will remain in your suit, so definitely don’t bring your favorite swim suit. They told us it would come out with a specific detergent, but that was not the case for us. There are swim suits available for rent, should you wish to rent a swimsuit.

Tamaki Maori culture tour

Culture is incredibly important to us when we travel and this was probably one of our favorite experiences. New Zealand is incredible in the blend that they have with the Maori people. Coming from the US and our freckled history with our own indigenous people, it was so wholesome to see how the cultures blended with respect for one another.

This experience was formatted similar to a Luau in Hawaii- it included a show, an example of a cultural ceremony, a lesson on Maori cooking methods, and a fantastic authentic meal. The night ended with Q&A session where nothing was off limits (but there were definitely some questions that could have been more tactful). 

This is run by a local Maori family and you could really tell that they were passionate about educating others and preserving their culture… we are big fans of this!

Brunch at Hill House Café

We had just landed in Auckland after 14+ hours of flying and we were HUNGRY HANGRY. Zach, being the calm in a storm of hanger, was quick to start the “best brunch places” google.We’re not typically the biggest fans of google results for food, but this knocked it out of the park.

Not only was the food amazing, but the café is located in a beautiful park complete with walking trails and epic views of the city. It was the perfect way to start our journey in Auckland and would make an excellent place for brunch any day of the week. We highly recommend the cheddar scone.

Mount Eden

The highest volcanic peak in mainland Auckland. To be honest, even after going, I am still not sure it’s real.

The strikingly green grass was otherworldly. The epic views from the summit make all the steps up worth it. There are hiking trails throughout the area and it is very well maintained. Absolutely a “must see” during a day in Auckland.

South Island Highlights (Days 4–14)

Marlborough sound Dolphin, penguin, birding cruise

If there’s a chance to see birds, you better believe that Zach, our bird nerd, will sign us up. Joc is a big penguin & dolphin fan, so this really suited us both. We booked this experience with E-Ko tours .

We started in Picton and went through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds to the Motuara island bird sanctuary. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife and local conservation efforts. Since we fancy ourselves to be wildlife naturalists, this was a really cool and unique experience.

We cruised through the sounds while dolphins played underneath us- a cool experience because we didn’t approach them, they were curious about us.  This is a little off the beaten path, so you will be avoiding crowds and is easily drivable from Kaikōura, the whale hotspot.

Stargazing Lake Tapeko

To be completely honest, this was not on the OG itinerary. We ended up needing to spend more time in Lake Tapeko due to weather and booked this last minute. It ended up being a HUGE success. 

Lake Tapeko is one of the best areas in the world for stargazing due to its lack of stray light. We cozied up with the provided blankets and were mesmerized by what we saw. We have never seen so many stars in our lives. They also brought in heavy duty telescopes which even allowed us to see a Saturn (it really looks like the pictures!!). 

Go Tepako Farms Tour

Again, this didn’t make the OG itinerary, but this off the beaten path activity was so fun. Lamb are incredibly common in NZ, in fact, there is a “lambing season” when the new babies are born. Unfortunately, this season can close down a lot of hiking paths, but luckily for us, we visited this farm and got to feed the baby orphaned lambs.

We first went on a tour of the area and learned all about the farming practices and wool collection. We learned about the importance of the farms and how this remote area of NZ functions (they have one electricity source).

While this isn’t full of adrenaline, it’s a wholesome activity that really gives you a better understanding of the life in NZ outside of the big cities. These type of cultural experiences are really important to us and we believe they help us grow. Plus, did I mention we fed the baby lambs? 

Kaikōura whale watching

Kaikōura is a picturesque coastal town known for its abundant wildlife. This area is well known for sperm whales, which typically prefer very deep waters. Because of a shelf located just off shore, the waters tend to be very deep, making it the perfect area to spot them not far off land. 

Although the primary attraction is the sperm whales, this area is also known to have other whale friends like humpback whales, blue whales, southern right whales, and even orcas. While you may spot these other whales on a tour, that is more seasonally dependent.

Sperm whales, Orca whales, Hectors dolphins, and Dusky dolphins can be spotted year-round, but humpback & southern right whales are best spotted June-August.We were lucky enough to have some great sightings of sperm whales and some hectors dolphins. Although we were holding out hope for an Orca or two, it wasn’t our day.

If you’re not too chicken (like us) they also have whale watching flights. I imagine this would be AMAZING. If we could ever get the courage, we would definitely go back just for this.

Hooker Valley Track in Mount Cook/Aoraki

This is the most popular trek in Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park. With 3 epic suspension bridges, Mueller Glacier views, and Mount Cook looming in the background, this will have you feeling like you’re in the midst of a crazy alpine adventure.

Because of the alpine nature of the area, weather changes incredibly fast. Although this trek isn’t the most physically demanding, be prepared for the elements.

 During our time int the Mount Cook NP area, we had crazy storms. We did finally get some okay-ish weather to try this hike (aka insane wind and some rain), but we were still only complete ½ the trek safely. Better safe than sorry… and we will go back to try again!

Penguin viewing Otago Peninsula

Penguins? Say less. Here you watch from a platform as the Little Blue Penguins (that’s their actual name) come home to their nests for the evenings. With the help of master spotters, you will see them form rafts coming into shore and then be in awe as they waddle past you to their homes. 

We had a little bit of a traumatic experience here as nature was…well, naturing. A predator tried to take one of the tiny guys, but luckily the penguin successfully escaped.

Although slightly traumatic, it speaks to the naturalist perspective and not interfering. They did tell us that they had never seen that happen before, so unless you’re unlucky like us, you should just be able to make heart-eyes at tiny penguins for the evening.

Milford sound Cruising

The vast fjord lands with endless waterfalls and pure moody magic. If you’re coming to NZ, this is likely already on your list, but if it’s not…it should be! 

If you happened to be here while it’s raining, that’s when the waterfalls really shine. Keep in mind, it’s all the more chance to get wet, so dress accordingly (aka bring a poncho). 

 If you’re here when its sunny, you will get to see the beautiful fjords bursting out of the water. Either way, it’s a winning experience.It is also possible to book a multi-day cruise through the Milford sound, but we felt a day cruise was plenty

Isthmus peak hike

As I mentioned above, during lambing season, certain trails are closed (looking at you, Roy’s peak). Because of that, we ended up here. While, I cannot compare this to Roy’s peak, I can tell you that it’s one of the most beautiful hikes we have ever done.

With stunning views over Wanaka and Hawea the whole way up, this 10 mile hike will take your breath away… in more ways than one.

We would say that this hike difficulty is moderate, with 1,000m elevation gain, but the real doozy is the length. If 10 miles isn’t for you, don’t worry, there are various viewpoints where you can stop and call it quits, but still get epic views.

Dunedin wildlife Safari

More wildlife? Don’t roll your eyes just yet… there are MORE PENGUINS.

On this tour, you will head out to Cape Saunders for a look at various wildlife habitats, one being the Yellow-Eyed Penguins. On this half day tour, you will also get the chance to see NZ Fur seals (warning: they are smelly), albatross, and NZ sea lions.

The best part about this tour is it is completely different from the other tours above. You will see different (stunning) landscapes, new wildlife, and we really enjoyed our time with the two chill bros who guided our day.

Final Thoughts: Is 2 Weeks in New Zealand Enough?

Two weeks is enough to make you absolutely fall in love New Zealand and leave you longing to come back. 

Will you see everything? No. However, if you use these 15 recommendations as a guide, you will see some of the best natural and cultural highlights that New Zealand has to offer.

The post 2 Weeks in New Zealand: 15 Epic Things to Do on the North & South Islands  appeared first on World Travel Lahrs.

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Planning your first trip to Italy? I know it can seem overwhelming. We got you. This itinerary covers Rome, The Amalfi Coast, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Venice. It is packed with highlights, don’t miss items, and best of all- no fluff.

Italy will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s truly the place that opened our eyes to the beauty of travel. Unique culture, amazing food, stunning views, epic history- Italy has it all.

Italy was our first real international trip- I’m talking long haul flights, changing cities, multiple hotels, and public transportation. It was incredibly overwhelming and we had absolutely no clue where to begin. 

What we did know, was that there were a handful of cities we had always dreamed of visiting. No real hidden gems, but the big cities that scream ITALY. So, that is how this itinerary was born- we were essentially wanting to hit the highlights. 

Are you planning your first trip to Italy? Let us take the stress of planning away and follow this epic itinerary for your two- week intro to Italy.

Why Visit Italy for 2 Weeks?

Ah, Italy. The little boot, food heaven, a place where many of us Americans proudly claim to have ancestors. Italy is comprised of 20 regions, each with its own unique blend of history, culture, and, most importantly, food. We’ve been going to Italy every summer for the past few years and still haven’t made our way through each region. You could probably spend years here, but most of us don’t have a few years PTO built up. Two weeks is ideal because it will get you to see most of the “highlights”, without rushing around too much. However, if you have less time, don’t write off visiting Italy, see our article here for what to do with limited time.

Who this itinerary is for?

This itinerary is perfect for anyone who loves culture, food, and getting their steps in. Our days are packed with things to do, but not leave you needing a vacation at the end of your vacation. We prioritize local culture and things we feel are actually worth recommending, no extra fluff You won’t find us recommend visiting every church or museum in the city (although, you can if you want to), just the highlights.

Here is the itinerary breakdown:

• Rome: 3 days
• Amalfi Coast: 4 days
• Florence: 3 days
• Cinque Terre: 2 days
• Venice: 2 days

When to Visit Italy

If you’re wanting fewer crowds and cheaper prices (but still decent weather), May and September are for you. We personally choose to visit Italy every summer in June and while it is still crowded, we love the weather and don’t find the crowds to be too much to manage. Places like Rome and the Amalfi Coast do tend to experience more mild winters (with average highs in the mid 50’s Fahrenheit), but you would certainly have to plan accordingly.

Essential Italy Travel Tips

Italy uses type C electrical outlets, which have two round pins. If coming from the US, make sure to back your electrical outlet adapter.

Our go-to app recommendations:

In most major cities, you will likely do a lot of walking. We always recommend downloading the google maps for your planned cities ahead of time. This will allow you to have directions, even in areas with poor reception (plus you won’t be using all your data).

If Italian isn’t your spoken language, download the offline version of google translate for help with communication. We’ve had plenty of full conversations using google translate!

Pro tip: you can use the camera feature for help reading the menu. Just be aware that somethings don’t translate well, so leave room for error.

How to Travel Italy by Train: Tips for First-Timers

It is very easy to travel to most large cities in Italy via train. Here is our Step-by-step on how to plan your route with trains:

1. Use Google Maps to plan your route. Google maps is an excellent resource to see the distance between your accommodations and attractions. It will help you establish a realistic sense of travel time.
   1. Use the google maps date & time feature to get accurate train schedules. Tap the departure time to adjust for your time and date preferences. We love this feature for planning as you go.
   1. Click routes to find operator information. Once you’ve selected your route, day, and time, click to see the details of the operating company (usually Trenitalia or Italo)
   1. Book in advance. If you can, it’s best to book in advance (especially for those long routes). Ideal booking time is about 2-3 months prior to your trip, especially during peak season.
   1. Pay attention to booking options. Both Trenitalia and Italo offer different booking classes and inclusions (Standard, Premium, Business, Quiet zones). If you’ve got a long trip planned, you’re probably going to want to book an outlet seat so plan in advance.

Tickets can also be purchased at a kiosk or ticket office. Look for “biglietto” which means tickets.

Trains run on time in Italy, so give yourself leeway to make sure you don’t miss it.

Make sure that you validate your ticket prior to boarding, otherwise you could receive a fine. Validation stations are the tan & green machines found on the platforms.

ALWAYS have your ticket with you. They will check. If you don’t have a ticket, you will be fined.

Italian Food Etiquette

Dinner is typically served very late in Italy. Standard dinner time is 8pm-10pm. Most restaurants will close for a small window prior to opening for dinner service. Make sure to plan accordingly.

Italy’s food is very region specific. Each region is known for specific dishes and pasta shapes. You can find things outside of that, but it is most common to find regional dishes. Except pizza, pizza is a universal love language (although the crust varies by region). Don’t go to Rome expecting to get lasagna- can you find it? Yes. But you are more likely to find Cacio e pepe or Carbonara. 

Types of Restaurants in Italy

Pasticceria’s are bakeries. Typically, they serve espresso and have cases filled with pastries. The selection varies by region, but there are a few popular goodies that can be found throughout Italy. This is Joc’s favorite place to frequent.

A bar is typically more of a coffee shop or café. Expect to find pastries, coffee, and maybe even gelato during the day. In the evening, they may start to serve alcoholic drinks & aperitivo. Bars are our favorite place to grab a little treat.

Enoteca’s are a wine shop or a place that serves regional wines.

Ristorantes are standard restaurants. You can expect to be seated and have table service. There is usually a “coperto” or cover charge per person which covers the table service. It is usually 1-5 euros. Tips or gratuity are not expected and you will likely need to ask for the check.

Trattoria’s are less formal than Ristorantes, typically family-run eateries serving regional dishes. Usually cheaper prices (and in our opinion, better food).

Osteria’s are very similar to trarrorias. Cheaper food, less formal atmosphere. Some wine and small plates are common, but others serve full meals. 

Is Italy safe?

Currently the US department of state has Italy listed at a level 2 (exercise increased caution). However, we have never felt unsafe in Italy. Italy is known for petty type crime, such as pick-pocketing or scams. In fact, if you are purchasing a train ticket at a kiosk, they warn you during the process to be aware of pickpocketing. 

Here are a few tips we use to stay vigilant against pick-pockets:

• Leave all flashy things out of sight (in fact, if you don’t need it, don’t even bring it).
• Never leave your bags unattended.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Bring antitheft bags or backpacks
• If someone “bumps” into you, it’s usually not an accident. Take note.

Rome: Days 1-3

Rome will always be our favorite city in Italy. It’s the perfect blend of ancient history and city. It’s also important to note that, in our opinion, Rome has the best food. So that obviously moves it up to #1 for foodies like us.

If you’re looking for ALL the tips for Rome, checkout our detailed 3 day guide to Rome.

Getting to Rome:

We started our trip in Rome. One excellent argument for starting an Italy trip here is that Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is a major international airport and Rome itself is relatively centrally located in Italy. From Rome, most places can be accessed by taking a train. We recommend taking the Leonardo Express train from the airport into the main train station, Roma Termini.

Where to Stay in Rome:

For a 5 star colosseum view, we recommend this hotel.

For an excellent mid-range hotel near Roma Termini, we recommend this hotel.

For a slightly less expensive option, but still excellent location, we recommend this hotel.

Day 1

• Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Arguably the most famous sights to see in all of history, it seems only natural to put this first. Make sure to book a tour because tickets do sell out and you will learn so much more having someone guide you through this ancient wonder. Book your tour here:

• Piazza Venezia &Altare della Patria, and Trastevere

Altare della Patria is also known as the “wedding cake building”. Book a ticket in advance and head to the panoramic terrace- the view is a dream. 

Spend the evening in Trastevere, enjoying carb heaven with some fresh carbonara. 

Day 2:

• Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori & Piazza Navona

Start early at the Trevi, a new cue is in place for this 2025 year, but heading there before 8 am will get you in before the cue begins. The Spanish steps, Pantheon, Piazza Navona are all in walkable distance from each other. It’s a perfect way to spend the afternoon wondering around with a gelato in hand.

• Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza del Popolo & Villa Borghese

Enjoy views of the Taber River at Castel Sant’Angelo. The Villa Borghese is a little slice of heaven in Rome. Visit the pond, rent a bike, or enjoy a walk in the shade with gelato in hand.

If you’re looking to get less steps or interested in a unique take on todays itinerary, we definitely recommend checking out one of these tours:

Day 3

• Vatican Museums & Chapel Sistine

Marvel at the Vatican & Chapel Sistine, but make sure to have your tickets purchased ahead of time or risk the long cue. Fair warning: it’s always crowded, so be mentally prepared. Tours can be purchased here.

• St Peter’s Square and St Peter’s Basilica

Purchase tickets to climb the dome for epic views of the basilica from above. Don’t forget to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders because the dress code is strictly enforced.

Amalfi Coast: Days 4-7

The Amalfi Coast is Italy’s glittering coastline where iconic charm and Italian vacation vibe together harmoniously. Beautiful seaside villages, winding roads, history, lemon flavored… everything. The Amalfi Coast is a post-card picture place to relax in the Italian sun.  

We recommend basing yourself in Positano for its central location and using ferries or the SITA bus system to move around.

Getting to Positano:

From Roma Termini you will need to purchase tickets for Napoli Centrale. Tickets should be purchased in advance here for the best possible price.

Exit the Napoli Centrale station and walk towards signs for Piazza Garibaldi. When you arrive, look for the look EVA S.R.L. trains (Ente Autonomo Volturno) bound for Sorrento and purchase tickets for Sorento or Meta.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter. These are local trains with multiple stops so make sure to get off at Meta or Sorento.

In Sorrento or Meta use the SITA bus station to purchase tickets for SITA bus. When purchasing the tickets for Positano, they will let you know the bus number. These buses make multiple stops so make sure you get off at Pasitano.

Pro tip: You can also confirm the bus number with google maps.

Where to Stay in Positano:

If you’re looking for the ultimate bucket-list luxury stay, we recommend this hotel.

For an excellent mid-range option, we recommend staying here.

For another wonderful mid-range option, we recommend this hotel.

Day 4: Positano

• Explore Positano. This small, seaside town packs a punch with charm and views. Spend some time wondering around the small shops.
• Want to be a beach bum for the day? Rent an umbrella and set up shop. This a place where locals and tourist love to get the best souvenir- an Italian tan.
• Try a ceramics class! It’s the best way to stay out of the sun, but have a blast. We recommend this one:
• Enjoy the iconic sunset on a sunset cruise. Perfect time to get that Instagram photo. Book your cruise here: 

Day 5: Amalfi town & Ravello

• Visit a lemon farm and learn all about the famous Amalfi lemon. Bonus: limoncello is included. Book here:
• Wonder around Amalfi town- don’t forget to stop into the Nino & friends for some chocolate samples (plus some chocolate to bring home too).
• Take the winding roads up to Ravello and get lost in the Villa Cimbrone Gardens
• Stop for Gelato at at Baffone Gelateria Artigianale– it was seriously one of the best Gelatos we had in Italy.

Day 6: Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius

Getting to Pompeii

Purchase tickets for SITA bus to Sorrento or Meta or Sant’ Angelo.

Once there, make your way the EVA S.R.L. (Ente Autonomo Volturno) train station and purchase tickets for Pompeii Scavi Villa Dei Misteri from the ticket counter.

Look for trains bound for Napoli Porta Nolana and make sure to get off at Pompeii Scavi Villa Dei Misteri.

• You can’t visit this region without taking a trip to Pompeii. Booking a tour is the best way to experience this area and bonus point, you can visit Mount Vesuvius too!
• Try the Eat, Pray, Love pizza experience in Naples. This pizza was made famous by Julia Roberts and honestly, it’s worth the hype.

Day 7: Capri 

Getting to Capri

From Positano, purchase ferry tickets for Capri. We used Pasitano Jet and had no issues. You can book your tickets in advance here to save time.

• Visit Anacapri and take the Monte Solaro chairlift to the top for the best views of the Faraglioni.
• Anacapri town is full of little shops and places to grab a bite (or some gelato), so spend some time here exploring. 
• Take the bus to Capri for some high-end shopping and celebrity spotting in the Piazza. 
• Hike up to Belvedere Tragara for a quiet ecape with some epic views.

If you’re looking for an easy way to see Capri, you can definitely consider a tour. Here are some great options.

Florence & Tuscany (days 8-10)

After all that sun, it’s time to head to Italy’s art capital. Florence is an incredibly walkable city filled with Renaissance culture, artsy vibes, and incredibly rare steak. Rather than recommending you do endless museum marathons, we’re mixing art, nature, and epic views to show you the best of this region in 3 days.

Getting to Florence:

If you are following this itinerary exactly, you will be coming from Positano. You will need to purchase tickets for the SITA bus heading to Sorrento, Meta, or Sant’ Angelo. Confirm the bus stop number with google maps.

After exiting your bus, walk to the EVA S.R.L. (Ente Autonomo Volturno) train station and purchase tickets on the local metro for Piazza Garibaldi. You need to take the train bound for Napoli Porta Nolana and get off at Piazza Garibaldi.

Walk out of Piazza Garibaldi terminal and look for signs for Napoli Centrale, there you will purchase tickets for Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Take the train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

Pro-tip: tickets should be purchased in advance here in order to get the best possible price.

Where to Stay in Florence

If you’re looking for a high-end feeling hotel, right near the train station, we definitely recommend staying here.

For a mid-range hotel near the train station, with a duomo view, we recommend staying here.

For a budget option, that feels like a modern hotel, we recommend staying here.

Day 8: Exploring Florence

Since you will likely be arriving on this day from Amalfi, we have only included a few things to do. No need to rush around, you will have plenty of time.

• Visit Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s ancient bridge. The only pre-modern medieval bridge remaining over the Arno river in Florence. Bring some cash because there is plenty of shopping.
• Experience sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint. In our opinion, this is the best view of Florence. You will definitely be able to spot the duomo.

If you’re interested in seeing the city with a guide, here is a fantastic option:

Day 9: Getting Artsy 

Morning:

• Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the famous Statue of David by Michelangelo.  You need to book your ticket in advance. You can do this as part of a tour; here is a great tour option:
• Try the famous All’Antico Vinaio sandwiches. They’re famous on social media and definitely worth the hype.
• See the duomo! It’s kinda a big deal here (pun intended). Climb the tower if you wish, but make sure to grab your tickets in advance.
• Try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florence steak). This steak is a specialty known to the Florence area. Warning: it’s going to come rare. Make a reservation in advance.

Day 10: Tuscany road trip.

• Drive from Florence to the Val D’Orcia region. Val D’Orcia is a region in Tuscany where you will find those dreamy picturesque rolling hills vibes. Spend a few hours getting lost in the best way.
• Visit Sienna and stroll the Piazza del Campo.
• Stop for lunch at II Bocconcino.  Honestly, these were the best sandwiches we had in all of Italy. We dream about these sandwiches. Please go get one, for us.
• Climb the 300 steps of the Torre del Mangia for the best views in Sienna.

If driving is too scary, here are some fantastic tour options

Cinque Terre (days 11-12)

Are you missing the sun? Perfect because its back to the coast we go! Cinque Terra, 5 old fishing villages dotted along the coastline. You can explore the villages by foot by hiking the coastline trail or by train.

To be honest, although Cinque Terre is worth visiting and incredibly picturesque, we didn’t find there to be much to do, so we were glad to spend our days hiking. Because of this, 2 days is the optimal time to see all the towns without feeling bored. If you want to go at a more relaxed pace or spend more time having beach days, feel free to adjust accordingly.

If you plan on hike, due to landslides or natural disasters, part of the trail can sometimes be closed, which is why this itinerary is written the way it is. Always be sure to check prior to heading out. Updated information can be found here.

Getting to Cinque Terre:

From Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, purchase tickets for Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale. These are local trains, so make sure to get off at either Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale stop.

Once at Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale, purchase tickets to Monterosso using the Cinque Terre Express.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre

Because these are five tiny towns, hotel accommodations are quite limited. Therefore, here are a few recommendations we can make if you’re looking to stay as close to the villages as possible.

For a stunning stay in Riomaggiore, we recommend booking here.

Another more budget friendly accommodation in Riomaggiore is this hotel.

Day 11

Today is a shorter day due to travel time, but we still managed to make time to get a hike in and explore 2 of the 5 towns.

If you’re not staying in Cinque Terre (or even if you are, but don’t feel like hiking), then take the Cinque Terre Express train to Riomaggiore and begin exploring.

Spend some time exploring in the town grab some of the famed fried fish in a cone and then take the blue trail hike over to Manarola. It’s will take approximately 1 hour to get over to Manorala and it is definitely worth the views. End your evening sampling some of the local wines, taking a boat tour, or just watching an epic beach sunset.

If relaxing and doing a tour seems less overwhelming than hiking (or if the weather just isn’t on your side), here are some options for you.

Day 12

Begin in Monterosso, the biggest village. Depending on where you are coming from, you may need to take the Cinque Terre express to get here. In Monterosso you will find beaches, shopping, stunning views.

Hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. A beautiful scenic pathway which takes approximately 2 hours. Make sure to pack sunscreen & start early because shade is limited. 

Vernazza, is the colorful village with vibes similar to Positano. Once here, you can explore the town, take a dip in the ocean to cool off, or grab some stunning Instagram worthy selfies.

Next you will hike from Vernazza to Corniglia. This hike takes about 1.5 hours. Once in Corniglia, you can kayak at sea, explore the local village, and be sure to try some local Cinque Terre wine.

Venice (Days 13-14):

Venice, the magical floating city with more dead ends than a corn maze. Built upon 118 islands and connected by over 400 bridges, this beautiful city is sure to test your sense of direction.

At this point in your two-week itinerary, your feet are probably hurting and you are likely craving a break. Good news! Venice is a fairly small territory to cover compared to other areas like Rome and the Amalfi Coast. These next two days will have you cover the highlights with time to enjoy an Aperol spritz in the afternoon.

Getting to Venice:

If you are following this itinerary directly, you will need to head to the Monterosso station and purchase tickets for Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale. These are local trains, so make sure to get off at either Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale.

Once at Pisa Centrale or La Spezia Centrale, purchase tickets for Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Take the train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

Once you arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella purchase your tickets for Venezia Santa Lucia.

Where to Stay in Venice

For a luxury stay, look no further than this stunning hotel

For an excellent mid-range option, we recommend staying here.

For a budget option, this would be a fantastic choice.

Day 13

Since you’re likely going to have a day of travel today, we are recommending a less full itinerary. No rushing around today. 

Visit the Basilica Santa Maria Della Salute. This beautiful church stands out among the typical Venetian façade- that alone piqued our interest enough to make a stop.

Take a Gondola Ride. It’s pricey, but absolutely a core-memory. Go before 7pm to avoid an even steeper price.

Ponte Di Rialto. Walk across the iconic bridge, visit the shops, but go in the evening for a stunning view of the canals (and less crowds).

Day 14:

Piazza San Marco. Grab a pizza, listen to the music, and just enjoy the venetian vibes in this beautiful Piazza.

Doges palace: a place of stunning beauty and important history. We recommend taking. A tour. We listed a few tour options below.

Bridge of sighs. You will likely walk across this bridge during your Doges Palace tour, but make sure to see it from the outside too for a change or perspective.

Visit Saint Marks Basilica. This stunning Basilica stands out in all the best ways. Make sure to climb the bell tower for the best views of Venice.

If you’re looking for more Venice info, visit our detailed post on how to see the best of Venice in 2 days.

Getting Home

From Venice, you can either catch a flight out of Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), or make your way back to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). We personally chose to fly out of VCE due to time constraints, but you can easily hop on a train back to Rome to make a flight there.

Final thoughts

Whew! A two week trip to Italy will leave you feeling exhausted, but yearning for more. There’s something so charming about each of these towns (and all the small towns in between). We are sure that you will be returning home with a full heart, heaps of memories, and a desire to return again.

The post 2 Weeks in Italy: The Ultimate Itinerary for First-Timers appeared first on World Travel Lahrs.

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Outstanding animal encounters, intimate safari lodging, attentive staff that make you feel like family, Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge has it all right in the heart of Kruger National Park’s Balule Private Game Reserve.

Does the idea of a South African safari seem thrilling, but overwhelming and out of reach? Are you completely lost on where to start? We were too. With so many options out there at many different price-points, it’s truly hard to know where to turn. During the planning process of our trip to South Africa, we knew we wanted to visit Kruger National Park. Elephants in the wild? Say less. Beyond this, we were completely lost.

We prefer to stay in the mid-range price point. Joc is our book-keeper, so she leans more budget. Zach thinks our bank account is much bigger than it actually is and therefore tends to be a little bougie, so mid-range is a good compromise for us. One thing neither of us will compromise on is quality of experience- we would rather spend all our pennies if it means the experience will be memorable. Can’t take it with us, right? While scouring the internet and looking at way too many lodges, we came across Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge. It checked all our boxes:

• Mid-rang budget
• All-Inclusive meal plan (because where does one get food in the middle of an African Savannah?)
• Inside Kruger National Park
• Multiple game drives included
• Near an airport for ease of transport

Getting there

To get to Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge you have two options:

Fly into OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg (JNB) and book a package inclusive of transportation. It is a 5.5hour drive from here.

Fly into Hoedspruit Civil Airfield (HDS) from here it is a 20 minute drive to the reserve.

We highly recommend flying into HDS. Airlink and CemAir PTY both fly into HDS directly and it is about a one hour flight from JNB. We personally used Airlink and were very pleasantly surprised with the service we received, even on this short 1 hour flight. It’s a smaller plane, but not as tiny as a private jet.

Pricing

The cheapest option is staying in a king room, which costs R6800.00 per person (sharing) or R8800.00 (single rate) per day. This equates to approximately $381USD or $493USD respectively.

For a suite with a private plunge pool, the rates are R9900.00 per person (sharing) or R19 800.00 (single rate) per day.

This equates to approximately $555USD or $$1,109USD respectively.

We chose to stay in the king room and felt this was plenty luxurious to us.

What’s included

This was probably the most important booking factor for us. Joc is our trip logistics planner, but this trip had her stumped. How does one get food while in a game reserve in Africa? How do you book game drives? Who do you book them through? Cue Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge saving the day and making sure we had everything we needed.

Included in our stay:

• Transportation to and from HDS airport
• 3 freshly made meals, daily
• Tea & coffee
• 2 game drives per day (morning & afternoon)
• Expert knowledgeable guides
• Access to the property’s pool

Booking Process

We booked our stay through booking.com. We prefer to use booking.com primarily as our gateway to any great destination. Book with Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge here:

First Impressions & Arrival

Funny story: this trip was our first true travel blunder. Remember how we recommended flying into HDS airport? Well, somehow when booking our flights, we accidentally booked to fly into a different airport (not HDS)… 2ish hours away.

We realized this right before boarding our flight and emailed the lodge to notify them. They didn’t miss a beat and had arranged a driver to pick us up. Sure, it was an added headache, but it really gave us an insight how attentive and accommodating the staff were.

Once we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with a fantastic lunch on the lawn. The kind of home-cooked South African goodness that your body needs after the stress of traveling. The view? It was even better than the lunch. Under the shade to the acacia tree, we observed the watering hole and stunning African savannah. Truly, not sure any meals in our lifetime will op this experience.

Room Tour & Amenities

Our room was a King room, a typical African dwelling complete with a thatched room. Once inside, we were removed from the heat with access to air-condition and slept peacefully with the white noise of a fan (anyone else have a co-dependence with fans for sleeping?).

South Africa does struggle with energy and rolling blackouts are very common, however, Mohlabetsi has backup generators which allowed us to never be without electricity, AC, or most-importantly: WIFI.

The bathroom was complete with an outdoor shower- not the icky kind, the glamorous kind. For some reason, using this shower was the epitome of an African Safari experience to me (Joc).

One of our favorite things about Mohlabetsi was the pool. To be honest, having a pool in Africa was not even on my radar. After a beautiful lunch on the lawn, there was nothing more relaxing than spending the afternoon poolside while we waited for our evening game drive.

Safari/Game Drive Experience

Morning game drives:

With a gentle knock on the door, we were woken every morning around 5:30am. Just as the sun was starting to rise, we loaded up in our Landcruiser. We met our guides for the week- Sam & Richard. Sam had the kind of quick dry-witted humor that was absolutely hilarious, while Richard was stoic and more reserved (but equally as lovable). Both grew up in the South African bush and honed their animal guide abilities while protecting their village. It was at a young age that they learned how to pay attention to animal tracks, learn their behaviors and preferences, and developed their fearlessness.

Sam & Richard would take turns with their position on the landcruiser. One would sit up front, observing, looking for tracks, and guiding the other who would be our driver. Together they ensured that we saw the big 5: lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and African buffalo. Zach and I both realized quickly that we were not expert spotters, but we excelled at finding grass that looked like lions, rocks that looked like elephants, and trees that looked like giraffes. When we asked Sam the secret to being a good spotter, he quickly replied “tabasco sauce”.

Just prior to finishing our game drive, we would find a safe spot, empty of the landcruiser and break for tea in the bush. Talk about a surreal experience. I’m getting misty in my eyes just thinking about it.

Evening Game Drives:

With the heat of the day dissipating, we would set off on our evening game drives. The interesting thing about game drives is that no two are ever the same. Animals are…wild. They are living their lives and we got the honor of catching glimpses of their day.

On one of our evening game drives, we had just arrived at a watering hole where buffalo had stopped for a mud bath . While watching the buffalo, Zach was startled and quietly whispered “look behind us”. A heard of about 20 elephants were sauntering past us. They stopped, looked at us, and the tiniest baby elephant let out a yell before they continued on their journey. I will never forget how quietly these gentle giants appeared and how magical it felt to be in their presence.

Staying safe on safari:

As I said, animals are wild. Of course, there are risks associated with being near wild animals, but Sam and Richard used their expert knowledge to ensure we stayed safe. I mean, if you had to have someone guide you in the wild, wouldn’t you want the person who kept their village safe from lions?

A few ground rules we followed to stay safe:

• Don’t make any noises or calls to the animals
• Don’t stand up inside the vehicle
• Don’t make any sudden movements
• Keep voices low

While these are wild animals, they are on a game reserve and therefore they are used to vehicles being in close contact with them. The animals view the safari vehicle as a whole, passangers included. Standing and making large gestures breaks that illusion.

Dining

Going into this experience, we fully expected to starve. Joc packed our bag full of protein bars and we were prepared to live off of them. I am happy to report that we can home with a suitcase full of our protein bars. The food was excellent.

Breakfast:

After our early morning game drive, we headed for our freshly made breakfast. We were welcomed into the breakfast area with a buffet of fresh yogurt and fruit. The entree of the morning was freshly prepared for each person individually and typically consisted of some variation of an English breakfast.

Lunch:

Every morning, the lunch & dinner menu was hosted in the reception area. Lunch was always served on the lawn accompanied by a light breeze in the shade. Lunch was typically lighter fare- salads or sandwiches. All fresh and completely delicious. The best part about lunch was it was finished with a dessert (aka the most important part of the meal).

Dinner:

Dinner was served by candlelight around the Boma with a blazing fire and stars twinkling above. If that sounds dreamy, it’s because it was. A special part about dinner was that we were joined by the staff. Again, the food was nothing short of outstanding, served as a three course meal. Think soups, steak and veggies, creme brûlée dessert… you know, exactly what you would expect in the African bush.

Final Thoughts

When someone asks our favorite place… South Africa is one of the first things out of our mouths. While South Africa as a whole is absolutely amazing, Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge was truly the highlight of our time there. It was a core memory for us and the experiences we had there, we will never forget. The people, the wildlife, the staff, each detail collectively made the experience an a bucket list memory. If you’re considering a trip to South Africa, we 100000000% recommend booking a stay with Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge.

This should tell you something: Joc said she could easily live there… and she loves her modern conveniences like amazon prime, having her own car, and grocery delivery, but she would consider giving it up to live in this slice of paradise.

FAQ Section

Is Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge worth it?

ABSOLUTELY. Not a single doubt. The value for what you get is outstanding, especially for a trip that is once in a lifetime.

When is the best time to go on safari in South Africa?

Two things to note: There is a rainy season/dry season & malaria is prevent in this area.

Dry season is from May-September

Rainy season is from (November – March)

Shoulder season is in April & October.

We chose to go in October and it was perfect!

Pro-tip: Make sure to contact your physician for anti-malarial medications & pack plenty of bug spray.

What should I pack for a safari lodge stay?

We’ve created an amazon storefront with some of our favorite amazon purchased safari supplied here. Here are our basic recommendations:

• Bug spray
• Antimalarial medications
• Neutral color clothing (tans, greens, black)
• Closed toe shoes
• Sunglasses
• Rain jacket or poncho
• A brimmed hat
• Lightweight breathable clothing

The post Best Safari Lodge in South Africa? Our Stay at Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge appeared first on World Travel Lahrs.