A Valentine’s trip built around romance and real adventure

This is not a resort takeover with the same pool and party schedule every day. LLV’s Valentine’s Safari Xperience moves couples through three very different parts of southern Africa: Cape Town, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Thornybush Game Reserve in South Africa.

The current itinerary is built as three consecutive 3-night stays. You begin with Cape Town’s coastline, mountains and wine country, move to Victoria Falls for river, waterfall and helicopter experiences, then finish inside a private Big Five reserve where the package becomes fully inclusive and scheduled game viewing takes over the rhythm of the day.

Valentine’s Day itself falls during the Cape Town portion of the trip, with a full-day private Cape Peninsula experience that includes Boulders Beach, Cape Point Nature Reserve, lunch and Constantia wine tastings.

The 2027 itinerary at a glance

• February 13–16: Cape Town, South Africa — Queen Victoria Hotel, 3 nights, bed and breakfast.
• February 16–19: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe — The Victoria Falls Hotel, 3 nights, bed and breakfast.
• February 19–22: Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa — Thornybush Game Lodge, 3 nights, fully inclusive with scheduled game-viewing activities.

The trip moves from sophisticated city and coastal touring to one of Africa’s most famous natural landmarks, then ends in the bush with wildlife viewing and a slower lodge rhythm.

Days 1–3: Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is the first base from February 13 through 16. LLV highlights the city’s location between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, Table Mountain, beaches, wine routes and the V&A Waterfront.

The group stays at the Queen Victoria Hotel near the V&A Waterfront. The current event page describes the property as a luxury hotel in a quiet historic precinct with a dramatic foyer, marble finishes, spacious rooms and suites, and easy access to the waterfront.

February 14: Valentine’s Day on the Cape Peninsula

The included full-day private Cape Peninsula tour is one of the signature days of the trip. LLV’s inclusions specifically list lunch, Boulders Beach, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Constantia wine tastings.

The day-by-day description also points to Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Twelve Apostles, Simons Town, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg and the broader Table Mountain landscape as part of the route.

February 15: Table Mountain and a private catamaran

Day 3 combines two very different Cape Town experiences. First is fast-track access to the Table Mountain Cableway, giving the group a way to reach the summit without the standard queue.

Later, the itinerary includes a private two-hour catamaran cruise from the V&A Waterfront. The current LLV page describes views toward Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles and the Atlantic coastline, with possible marine-life sightings such as dolphins, whales, seals, penguins and sunfish.

Because both activities are already listed as part of the package, this is one of the days where you get a lot of Cape Town without having to build the sightseeing schedule yourself.

Days 4–6: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

The group moves to Victoria Falls on February 16 for another three-night stay. LLV describes Victoria Falls as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, where the Zambezi River drops across one of the world’s most dramatic waterfall systems.

The accommodation is The Victoria Falls Hotel, an Edwardian-style luxury property set in gardens near the falls. The current event page says the falls are about a ten-minute walk away and highlights the hotel’s historic character and location.

Extra Victoria Falls hotel inclusions

• Spa voucher for a 25-minute back-and-neck or foot massage.
• Complimentary minibar with select beverages, replenished daily.
• Afternoon tea and cake between 3 PM and 5 PM.
• Pre-dinner canapés between 6 PM and 7 PM.

February 17–18: Falls, Zambezi sunset, helicopter and Boma dinner

February 17 starts with a private guided tour of Victoria Falls. LLV describes a roughly 1.7-kilometer scenic pathway with multiple viewpoints through the rainforest environment.

Later that day, the package includes a private Zambezi River sunset cruise with wines and spirits, soft drinks and finger snacks while watching the river, sunset and wildlife.

February 18 takes the experience overhead with a 13-minute Flight of the Angels helicopter or light-aircraft experience over Victoria Falls and the Zambezi.

That evening, the included Boma Dinner and Drum Show brings a four-course meal, Zimbabwean flavors, traditional performance, storytelling and drumming into the itinerary.

Days 7–9: Thornybush Game Reserve

The final three nights shift completely into safari mode. Thornybush Game Reserve is in South Africa’s Limpopo Province near the Greater Kruger area, and LLV describes more than 12,000 hectares of wilderness with Big Five wildlife, giraffes, zebras, pangolins and more than 500 bird species.

The group stays at Thornybush Game Lodge, where the package changes from bed and breakfast to fully inclusive. LLV’s event page describes 16 spacious suites, bush-facing outdoor areas and the kind of lodge schedule where wildlife viewing becomes the center of the day.

Included at Thornybush

• Morning and afternoon game drives.
• Guided morning and afternoon walks listed as available.
• Drinks excluding premium brands.
• Laundry service.
• Meals as part of the fully inclusive lodge stay.
• National park and conservation entry fees included in the wider itinerary.

What the safari portion should feel like

Thornybush is where the pace naturally changes. Instead of fitting attractions into a city day, safari schedules tend to revolve around early and late wildlife activity, with downtime between drives.

The current event page specifically highlights lions, leopards, elephants and rhinos among the wildlife commonly associated with the reserve. Sightings are never guaranteed in a wild environment, but the package includes the guided game-viewing structure that gives you the opportunity to experience the reserve properly.

Between drives, the lodge offers space to relax, use the wellness facilities, work out or simply sit on the viewing deck and watch the bush.