Imagine you are newly wed and sipping Champagne while admiring the sunset in a hot-air balloon gliding weightlessly over the Serengeti in Tanzania or Masi Mara in Kenya. Out just beyond your reach is another glorious African sunset. With excursions like these on the itinerary—and that fact that a big trip like this practically begs for a new wardrobe, it’s no wonder Africa is one of the most coveted adventures for jet-set honeymooners.
It combines all the essential ingredients of a memorable trip:
Adventure – Game drives expose you to unparalleled wildlife and natural scenery, the likes of which only the African continent can boast.
Relaxations – No city life, no traffic, no noise, no spiritual pollution. Enjoy the utter peace and serenity that only the solitude of the African wilderness can give you.
Romance – Africa’s luxury safaris are committed to creating ultra-romantic experiences for their discerning honeymooners. After a night in one of these hotels, don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from The Lion King.
Simply put, there is no other place in the world like Africa, and a honeymoon there is the perfect way to celebrate and embark upon your married life together. Here, we’ve highlighted the best lodges and camps to stay at for what’s sure to be an epic trip.
1. Londolozi
This Relais & Châteaux property has five exquisite camps scattered throughout South Africa’s world-renowned Kruger National Park Park, each with its own decor and personality. We recommend staying at Londolozi’s Private Granite Suites. It can only accommodate up to six guests so provides lots of privacy and offers the most extraordinary experience for guests including classic game drives twice a day, nature walks, and bush yoga, to name a few.
Each one of the lavishly decorated suites contains a heated swimming pool, river view baths, and a spacious outdoor area, all of which contribute to an unequivocally romantic ambiance.
Londolozi also provides discerning newlyweds with a tailored honeymoon program, which consists of couple’s massage treatments with breathtaking views of the Sand River, private dinners, and wilderness picnics. This program also offers a private honeymoon vehicle equipped with your own guide and tracker team.
2. Singita
The world-class Singita is one of the most acclaimed names in Africa’s luxury travel industry owing to its unparalleled service and opulence. Singita has twelve ultra luxurious lodges and camps dispersed throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania (each one of these magnificent properties is unique in its decor, ambiance, and awe-inspiring experiences). This is why countless celebrities, including Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, George and Amal Clooney . . . and Over The Moon bride Lindsay Pratt, have chosen Singita for their honeymoon accommodations.
The property that we find most suitable for newlyweds is the Mara River Tented Camp located in Northern Tanzania, a bohemian chic tented camp furnished with modern accents. Other than classic game drives and guided safari walks, guests can indulge in an extensive array of unique experiences such as swimming in a pool nestled in the midst of a formidable wilderness, personalized wine tastings with Singita’s knowledgeable sommeliers, and top-notch spa treatments.
3. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
The extravagant Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in Tanzania, which opened in 2012, offers a host of adventurous and romantic experiences ranging from riding safaris, walking safaris, South African wine tastings led by the hotel’s French-trained sommelier, and our personal favorite: the once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding in a hot air balloon over the stunning Serengeti.
The Four Seasons Serengeti, situated in the center of a national park, offers seventy-two rooms and five villas, making the Lodge the largest property in the Serengeti.
The infinity pool has spectacular views of the active nearby watering hole, to which wildlife varying from elephants and their young to herds of buffalo and troops of baboons assemble. Guests have the luxury of taking this in from the comfort of the Lodge. And, you can rest assured that you won’t miss a sighting as there’s infrared technology that notifies different sections of the resort whenever an animal wanders up to said watering hole.
The &Beyond Group owns and operates 33 luxurious lodges across nine countries: Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and India. The &Beyond Bateleur Camp, located in the Masi Mara National Reserve, is our top choice for lodges in Kenya as it is both the epitome of classically tented camps and emits an ambiance of luxurious Kenyan safaris from the 1920s and 1930s. This lodge is suitable for newlyweds who are looking to stay in a classic safari lodge.
The elegant Bateleur Camp encompasses two camps each of which house nine tented suites. We especially love that each guest tent has its own deck that overlooks the unbeatable views of the game-filled fields of the Masai Mara, and that each guest suite has its own butler ready to cater to every need around the clock. The lodge’s sitting and dining areas are classically designed and adorned with detailed African accents, delicate antiques, leather buttoned Chesterfield sofas, books, crystal, and candles.
The camp offers guests the following activities: twice daily game drives, night drives, bush walks, and hot air balloon excursions. You can even venture out for a community visit to the Maasai village where guests can interact with the Maasai locals.
Namibia also offers exclusive accommodations for honeymooners seeking a different safari experience. Our personal favorite, which is the closest luxury lodge to the iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes and Deadvlei (Namibia’s most magnificent and famous attractions), is the Little Kulala.
The Little Kulala has only 11 enchanting villas or kulalas (the word means to sleep) and are each equipped with a private pool, indoor and outdoor showers as well as a superb rooftop star-bed intended for star gazing. The camp was designed to blend in effortlessly with the natural environment and so the interiors comprise of neutral colors, exquisite textures and fittings, and abundant natural light.
Little Kulala provides guests with bespoke experiences to ensconce them in the solitude and majestic beauty of the Namib Desert. Such experiences include: excursions to Sossusvlei (via Little Kulala’s private gate), nature drives and walks through breathtaking desert wildlife, balloon safaris, and quad biking.
Written By: Gabrielle’s List
