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Check This Off The Bucket List: A Dream Honeymoon in Africa

Singita had been at the top of my bucket list for a while,” says Lindsay Pratt of the safari lodge she and her husband Conor Stransky chose for their honeymoon. The two married in Nashville this past April (be on the lookout for this wedding coming soon to Over The Moon!) and always wanted to take a post-wedding trip that involved more adventure than just sitting on the beach in the Bahamas sipping piña coladas (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). The newlyweds ultimately decided to make the trek to Tanzania on the east coast of Africa, mostly because every year from June to September the great migration of wildebeests and zebra passes through there. “Over 2.5 million wildebeest make this major migration!” explains Lindsay. “It’s a sight unlike any other—while we were there, each day felt like we were part of a new episode of Planet Earth!”

Conor planned the entire trip, and the couple stayed at three camps within Singita—each with a different feel and vibe: Sabora’s tented camp has colonial accents; the Faru Faru camp boasts an infinity pool overlooking a watering hole; and the Mara River tented camp is 100% sustainable.

Each morning, the newlyweds woke up at 6:00 A.M. for game drives. “It was important to try and get out before it got too hot for the animals in the middle of the day,” explains Lindsay. “We’d go again in the evening once it cooled off and eventually break for sundowners under the Serengeti at sunset.”

Lindsay quickly identified the warthogs as her favorite animal to observe on the drives. “The way they scurry around reminded me of my French bulldog Eloise,” she laughs. Meanwhile, “Conor loved the cheetahs. We saw three cheetahs hunt their prey. They run like the wind, and once they lock in on their prey it was game over.”

For the Stanskys, apart from the natural beauty of the Grumeti Reserve, the best part of Singita was the service and the people they met at each camp. “Our guide and friend Anicet travelled with us from camp to camp,” explains Lindsay. “Some of the employees grew up poaching animals to put food on the table and now thanks to Singita, they are part of an anti-poaching conservation movement. Their stories were fascinating!”

Prior to making taking this big trip, Lindsay purchased a Sony a6300 camera so that she could document every last detail. “I did a private photography lesson with Mindy Veissid before we left and that made a huge difference,” says Lindsay of how she prepared for photographing the animals she encountered on the big game drives. “Mindy also does group classes through the Art of Intuitive Photography, and I highly recommend her.” Lindsay’s pre-honeymoon cramming definitely paid off—the Instagrams she posted while on vacation were breathtaking. And, her cute outfits—most of which were from J.Crew and Madewell—were pretty likable too! (For more on what to pack for your safari honeymoon, check out our packing post.) Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite photos so you can peruse them before planning your own travel.