Africa honeymoons are full of dramatic romance – the wildebeest filled plains of the Serengeti, clouds of pink flamingos over Lake Nakuru and elephants trekking over the wide Etosha salt pan.
Fly in a helicopter over the gushing Victoria Falls and slip quietly through the reeds of the Okavango in a mokoro canoe. Both eastern and southern Africa have wonderful honeymoon spots, from the sand dunes of Namibia to the white beaches of Zanzibar.
If you’re looking for your dream Africa honeymoon, then look no further. We’ve put together our favourite romantic trips – soon you’ll be strolling hand in hand along the beaches of Mauritius, looking for lions in the north of Kenya and sipping sundowners under the pink African sunset.
If you’re looking for remote romance, then Namibia ticks every box. Every stop on this luxurious Namibia and Cape Town honeymoon is wonderfully isolated, from the rippling sand dunes and star-studded skies of Sossusvlei to the vast expanse of the Etosha Desert, where you'll search for wild elephants on safari.
Kulala Desert Lodge, in Sossusvlei, has 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” (“kulala” means to sleep), each built on a wooden platform, with a flat rooftop if you’d like to sleep under the stars. Fall asleep under the inky sky with the sounds of the desert lulling you to sleep.
Head north to Etosha and its vast salt pan. After the rains, this turns into a huge breeding ground for flamingos, with up to a million pink birds descending on the pan when it floods. Most of the time it is dry and small springs are used as salt licks for the park’s wildlife, so you might see oryx silhouetted against the sun and elephant families trekking from one side to the other.
This honeymoon ends with a few nights in Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Take a trip to up the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views or drive down to the Cape of Good Hope to enjoy some hiking and visit the penguins of Boulders Beach.
Experience pure luxury on this Okavango delta safari with Seychelles honeymoon. Your adventure begins with the pink sunsets and majestic wildlife of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Glide silently through the water on a mokoro canoe to look for hippos, watch leopards stalk their prey and spot African fish eagles as they swoop over the maze of channels and islands.
By splitting your time between two camps you get to experience the Okavango Delta from different areas and increase your chances of seeing varied wildlife. Machaba Camp has permanent water, so mokoro safaris are available all year while over the Gomoti Plains, there are a lot of cats as well as being on a private concession. This means your game drives will be pretty exclusive.
After this fantastic week of safari, you’ll be whisked away to the Seychelles, staying for a week on Alphonse Island. 400 kilometres west of Mahe, this private island has a single exclusive lodge with beautiful beach bungalows just metres from the shore. It is the perfect mix of remote island vibe and indulgent honeymoon luxury.
You could spend all your time relaxing on the beach but there is also lots to do! Discover an incredible underwater world – you can go snorkelling with gentle manta rays and even swim with sailfish! Feed giant tortoises, cycle around the lush island and dine under the Milky Way each night.
Head to Kenya and Mauritius on this luxurious beach safari honeymoon. Starting in the northern national parks of Kenya, you’ll look for rare wild dogs in Meru National Park. Stay at the unashamedly romantic Elsa’s Kopje, sculpted into Mughwango Hill, above the site of George Adamson’s original camp. Look out for elephants emerging in the dawn light and bush pigs trotting across the savannah with their piglets following single file.
In nearby Loisaba, you can enjoy a sundowner, whilst your chef prepares mouth-watering snacks on the barbecue. Spend the night at the Loisaba Starbeds, handcrafted four-poster beds that are rolled out onto wooden platforms so that you can sleep under the stars. Finish your time in Kenya in the Masai Mara – watch hippos lazing in the mud, elephants in the misty dawn light and sip a G&T under the African sunset.
After your safari adventure, you’ll fly to the beaches of Mauritius and stay at LUX Le Morne, tucked away at the foot of rugged, majestic Le Morne. This is the perfect spot for some R&R. Looking west, you’ll enjoy some of the best sunsets on the island, as well as being perfectly placed to explore further should you wish. Nearby you’ll find the lush landscapes of Black River Gorges National Park, as well as plenty of hikes and cycle routes.
Explore the wild savannah of Kenya & Tanzania on this African safari honeymoon. Start in Kenya, where you’ll fly to the Masai Mara, looking for the Big 5 in the most famous national park in Africa. Mornings are great for spotting predators, but the middle of the day is excellent for seeing classic safari wildlife. Watch zebras braying to each other, giraffes munching lazily on acacia trees and wildebeest grazing the grasses.
Make your way overland to Lake Victoria, spending the night on a beautiful private island with lovely views over the water. You can walk across the island and climb to the top, enjoying the amazing sunset.
Passing into Tanzania, you’ll see millions of wildebeest and zebra in the Serengeti National Park, with lions and cheetah prowling for dinner. While out and about looking for these incredible animals, you can soak up the beauty of the endless plain, wild bush and infinite skies. It’s a truly magical place to spend the day.
Next head to the magical Ngorongoro Crater. You’ll stay right on the edge of the crater, at Pakulala Ngorongoro Safari Camp, with enviable views for romantic mornings. Finish your honeymoon on the peaceful island of Zanzibar, where you can wander hand in hand along the beach, under the swaying palms.
If you’re looking for some independent exploration, then a self-drive luxury honeymoon in South Africa could be the trip for you. Start in the vibrant city of Cape Town, where can head up to the top of Table Mountain, eat seafood on the harbourfront and explore Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. After a few days, you’ll drive to the winelands, where you’ll stay at Babylonstoren.
This Cape Dutch farmhouse dates back to1962 and has more recently been converted to a working farm and vineyards. Retaining its country charm, this luxury property offers a unique and special experience in the heart of the South African winelands. Meals in the restaurant are all made using fresh produce from the farm and wine tastings offer a chance to sample the locally made tipple. Farm and garden tours are included and will give you an insight into the running of the property.
Driving further along the Garden Route, you can relax in a treetop lodge, go whale watching and enjoy the scenic driving along the coast. Heading north to Kruger National Park, you’ll stay in the famous Sabi Sands for an unforgettable safari experience.
Earth Lodge has slick interior design helping the property blend seamlessly into the surrounding area with uninterrupted panoramas of bushveld. After just one night here you will feel calm and relaxed. Sabi Sabi is renowned for its exceptional game viewing, as an unfenced reserve all animals move freely in and out of Kruger National Park making this a very natural experience.
If you would like to plan your honeymoon, or even just a relaxing and romantic trip to Africa, give us a call on +44 1273320580 or request a quote. We are experts in planning tailor-made holidays and round the world flights, so we can work together with you until we’ve created your perfect trip.
David has travelled far and wide using his passion for photography to chronicle his many journeys, including lemurs in Madagascar, glaciers in Iceland, wild gorillas in Rwanda and stupas in Myanmar. He is an experienced traveller and understands how to combine off-the-beaten-track experiences with comfortable touring, to create a trip of a lifetime. With more than 15 years’ of industry experience he has worked in travel in both the UK and Australia. David joined Travel Nation in 2012 as a round the world specialist and is also one of our Business Class consultants.
