Your wedding is a celebration with everyone you love. Your honeymoon is time for just the two of you.
Picture your first morning in the African bush. The air is cool, the world is waking, and you’re tucked together in a safari vehicle as your guide follows fresh tracks. You don’t know what you’ll see. That’s part of the magic.
Later, perhaps there’s a long lunch overlooking the water, an afternoon with nothing planned and another adventure as the sun begins to set. Or perhaps your journey takes you from the bush to Cape Town, the Winelands or a quiet stretch of Indian Ocean coastline.
Africa gives you so many ways to celebrate. We help you find the ones that feel right for both of you.
The honeymoon rhythm
A beautiful honeymoon is about more than where you go. It’s about how the journey feels, together.
We begin by asking what each of you wants from this time away. Are you travelling straight after the wedding and ready to rest? Have you been dreaming of a safari for years? Do you want early mornings and full days, or space to decide what you feel like doing when you wake up?
From there, we shape your honeymoon with space to arrive, adventure at your pace and time to settle into each place. We find ways to celebrate that feel like you, then give the end of the journey as much thought as the beginning.
That rhythm guides the places we recommend, the experiences we include and the stops we leave out. The result is a honeymoon that feels as good to travel as it does to imagine.
Luxury lodgings
Africa is home to extraordinary places to stay: intimate tented camps deep in the bush, beautiful lodges overlooking wildlife-rich landscapes and secluded retreats beside the sea.
For many couples, sleeping under canvas is part of the romance of safari. You can hear the bush around you while enjoying a comfortable bed, an ensuite bathroom and the warmth of a team who know how to make you feel at home. Other couples prefer the facilities of a larger lodge or the privacy of a suite with its own deck and plunge pool.
We’ll help you choose the atmosphere that suits you. What matters is finding a place where you can return from the day’s adventures, relax and simply enjoy being together.
Glorious game drives
There is a particular thrill to setting out before sunrise with someone you love. You share the anticipation of what might be around the next bend, the quiet when your guide spots something extraordinary, and the stories you’ll tell over dinner that evening.
As the day cools, there may be time for a sundowner overlooking the bush. It could be Champagne, a gin and tonic or your favourite drink; the view and the company are what you’ll remember.
If having the freedom to follow your own interests matters to you, we can explore properties that offer a private safari vehicle and guide. We’ll explain what’s included, what costs extra and where that investment would make the greatest difference to your journey.
Special touches
A honeymoon deserves moments that feel special. That might be a private dinner, a night beneath the stars, a couples’ treatment or a beautiful room waiting for you after a day on safari.
The best touches are personal. Some couples love a surprise; others would rather know exactly what has been arranged. Some want a little indulgence every day, while others would choose one unforgettable experience.
Tell us what makes the two of you smile. We’ll look for thoughtful ways to celebrate, taking into account what each property offers and what you would most value.
Dining with your darling
Food has a way of becoming part of the story of a journey. It might be breakfast after an early game drive, a leisurely lunch in the Cape Winelands or dinner beneath a sky full of stars.
Many camps and lodges offer beautiful settings for couples to dine together. Others make a shared table part of the pleasure of safari, with conversation and stories from the day. We’ll help you find the balance you enjoy, whether that means privacy, company or a little of both.
Adventures with your love
Some honeymoon memories begin with doing something neither of you has done before.
You might watch wildlife from a boat, walk with an expert guide or see a landscape from the air. Perhaps you’ll trek through a rainforest in search of gorillas, sail at sunset or spend a day exploring a new city together.
There is no need to fill every day. We’ll help you choose the experiences that excite you both and leave enough room to enjoy where you are.
Sex and the city
A city or lively town can bring a wonderful change of pace to your honeymoon. It gives you a chance to wander, try something new together and enjoy a side of Africa beyond the safari vehicle.
In Cape Town, that might mean finding a favourite restaurant, exploring its neighbourhoods and coast, or lingering over lunch in the nearby Winelands.
Nairobi has an energy all its own. Beyond the bustle, you’ll find memorable places to dine and experiences centred on food, coffee and tea. It can be more than a stop on the way to safari if you give yourselves time to discover it.
At Victoria Falls, the waterfall may draw you in, but there’s plenty to share beyond it: browsing local markets, choosing an adventure together and finding a beautiful spot for dinner afterwards.
Each place offers a different kind of energy. We’ll help you decide whether a city stay belongs in your honeymoon and give you enough time to enjoy it, rather than simply pass through.
The two Bs or the three Cs?
Bush and beach. The two Bs are a honeymoon favourite: days filled with wildlife and wonder, followed by time to slow down beside the sea.
Or perhaps you’re drawn to the three Cs: city lights, under-canvas nights and coastline sights. Start with the energy, food and culture of a city, head into the bush for safari, then finish with room to relax by the water.
These are ways to begin imagining your journey, not rules to follow. We’ll help you choose the places you both love and give yourselves enough time to enjoy each one.
Frequently asked questions about honeymoons in Africa
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How soon after our wedding should we travel?
Some couples love leaving straight after the celebrations. Others want a few days to catch their breath or choose to travel months later for a particular season. Tell us your wedding date and how you’d like your first days away to feel. We’ll plan from there.
Keep in mind some properties offer honeymoon value adds and packages or even discounts, but a marriage certificate must be presented and travel dates within 1 year.
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How long should we spend on an African honeymoon?
It depends on the places you’d like to visit and how much time you want in each one. Around two weeks can allow for a safari and a contrasting city or coast stay, but a shorter journey with fewer stops can be just as rewarding. We’ll help you make the most of the time you have.
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Do we have to combine a safari with the beach?
Not at all. Bush and beach is popular because it pairs adventure with time to slow down, but you might prefer a longer safari, a city stay or a journey focused on one region. We’ll recommend a combination that suits your interests and travel dates.
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Can we have privacy on safari?
Yes. Depending on the property, options may include secluded accommodation, private dining or a private safari vehicle and guide. Tell us what privacy means to you, and we’ll explain what is possible and what is included.
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Is a tented camp comfortable enough for a honeymoon?
Many tented camps offer beautiful bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and attentive service, along with the pleasure of hearing the wilderness around you. Comfort and style vary from camp to camp. We’ll recommend places that match the way you like to travel.
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What if we want different things from our honeymoon?
That’s completely normal, and it helps us design a better journey. One of you may dream of wildlife and early starts; the other may be looking forward to food, scenery and slower days. We’ll listen to you both and find a rhythm with shared highlights and room for your individual interests.
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Do you book our international flights?
You book your international flights directly, which gives you access to your booking, seat requests and any changes. We can advise on routings that work with your itinerary and arrange the regional travel within Africa that forms part of your journey.
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When should we start planning?
Once you have a likely wedding date and an idea of when you’d like to travel, it’s a good time to talk. Smaller camps and particular room types can have limited availability. You don’t need to have chosen your destinations first; helping you make those decisions is part of what we do.
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How do we get started?
Tell us a little about yourselves through our honeymoon enquiry form. We’ll arrange an obligation-free safari briefing to talk about your dates, budget, interests and the pace you’d enjoy. Then we can begin shaping a journey around you both.
Hassle-free honeymoons in Africa
Planning a wedding already comes with plenty of decisions. You don’t need another long list of places to research and connections to piece together.
We begin with an obligation-free safari briefing to understand your dates, your investment and what each of you wants from the journey. Then we bring our knowledge of Africa to the places, experiences and practical details that make it flow. We arrange the elements of your journey within Africa and can advise on international flight routings so you can book those flights directly.
When it’s time to travel, your plans and documents are together in your Guest Portal, and our Guests in Africa support is there if you need us.
Explore a handful of our favourite honeymoon journeys for inspiration. Each is a starting point; yours will be shaped around the two of you.
Explore honeymoon inspiration