From safari tours to top-quality accommodation in the wilderness and shopping in the city, southern Africa is fit for an extraordinary honeymoon.
Anyone who thinks a honeymoon in Africa is all about roughing it on safari is misinformed. It’s easy to write the country off as unsuitable for a honeymoon since it doesn’t fit the typical romantic notions of lying on the beach at a resort or lapping up the culture in Europe’s hot spots. However, southern Africa has all these things and more.
A new honeymoon experience
Tucked into the base of Table Mountain, South Africa’s Cape Town has beautiful beaches and a cosmopolitan, waterfront area full of shops, markets and amusements. The city is also the gateway to the Garden Route – an area full of beaches, mountains, hiking trails, native reserves and small towns bursting with atmosphere.
And then there’s the wildlife. With numerous private game reserves and national parks to visit, not to mention other natural wonders such as Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta, you will have trouble choosing which parts of Africa to honeymoon in.
The blend of different cultures is striking when you arrive in this city. Exotic-looking people of many different races and skin colours fill the streets and with 13 different languages, things can seem a bit confusing. There’s no need to break out the language books though as most people can speak English.
Cape Town is easy to get around and has a good transport system and while there is some petty crime, a few simple precautions, such as not leaving handbags unattended, should ensure your safety.
Honeymoon on safari
There is something exotic and eerily romantic about the game reserves of southern Africa. Stuck out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bush and foreign animals, it’s easy to get carried away with the moment. And the luxury lodges, many of which are of a standard far beyond five-star, make it a perfect honeymoon destination.
Most of the game reserves and safari tours are in the province of Mpumalanga, in or around the world-famous Kruger National Park, and are accessed by flights from Cape Town to the nearby Kruger Mpumalanga Airport or by shuttle flights from Johannesburg to the lodges’ landing strips. Most of them are privately owned and there is a huge range, varying in price and quality.
Exotic experiences
For an unusual take on the normal wildlife stay, visit the Okavango Delta. Located in Botswana, which is a country bordering South Africa, and its vegetation makes it very different from the game reserves.
While reserves are set in jungle or bush, the delta is built around water, allowing guests to get out in canoes as well as four-wheel-drives. You will still see big game animals here but it also has exotic water life and the camps are very small, adding to the intimate, romantic feel.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World lies between Zambia and Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls. This spectacular landmark can be accessed from either side. A helicopter ride over the falls is a must to see them in their full glory and for a return to the romantic; a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River is hard to beat.
A world in one country
Southern Africa, with its diverse, exciting and exotic landscape, and its luxurious accommodation and fine cuisine make it worth the trip. They don’t call it ‘a world in one country’ for nothing. The beauty of honeymooning in southern Africa is that it’s not a mass tourist destination and a safari provides a unique experience.
When to travel
Southern Africa has a mild climate throughout the year. Summer is from September to April with temperatures ranging from 24 to 32 degrees, while winter runs from May until August and has temperatures from 8 to 23 degrees.
Looking for the perfect honeymoon package? Find it on the Bride Directory.