Safaris are always a good choice for honeymoons for a huge variety of reasons. Primarily, it’s because safaris are a true adventure, one of the few ways that you can feel you’ve discovered something for yourself. There’s nothing quite like spotting that first leopard stalking its prey or tracking a gorilla through the dense forests of Uganda, only to be confronted with the sheer humanity of its gaze. It’s an experience refreshingly life affirming, a beautiful way to cement a new marriage with that feeling of unfamiliarity with your environment and closeness with nature.
At the same time, safari honeymoons are a great choice because they provide a huge amount of variety. You won’t do just one thing on most safari honeymoons. You can go for game drives, go on a walking safari, cruise on a boat, or spend some of your time experiencing African culture or exploring a new city. They’re also easily placed for combining with beach holidays, so quite a few people will be inclined to mix their safari up with the beaches of Mauritius, Seychelles, or Zanzibar.
With that, on to our top five recommended safari honeymoons:
1. South Africa & Mauritius
South Africa is a perpetually popular safari destination for rather obvious reasons. It’s one of the more well known African countries, it boasts malaria free reserves, and its profile has recently been raised by the last World Cup. It’s also one of the cheaper options for a safari, believe or not, and is a very affordable add on to a normal beach holiday. If you’re not happy spending a full week on safari, the country has limitless options, with two big cities, the Food & Wine region to explore (setting of many a romantic newlywed dinner), and a variety of other fantastic ways to pass the time.
Mauritius has its own appeal and is a year-round fantastic beach destination as well. Mauritius is one of the most beautiful islands in the world and plays host to the holidays and honeymoons of celebrities and royalty. With gorgeous beaches, a profusion of golf courses, local hospitality, and some of the most luxurious, secluded and romantic resorts in the world, it’s hard to go wrong with Mauritius.
2. Tanzania & Zanzibar
Tanzania and Zanzibar go together so well because they are so easily combined. A safari in Tanzania with a beach break in a Zanzibar is a very simple way to enjoy the best of both worlds. Tanzania is a fantastic place for a safari, with a number of different options for parks and a huge variety of animals to see. Tanzania is home to the Serengeti plains and Mt Kilimanjaro, two landscapes that feature heavily in the daydreams of those who long to go on safari. As such, Tanzania safaris are a very popular choice, especially during the Wildebeest Migration, but are also very appealing at other times of year when each different park experiences its best season. Mobile safaris are also a great choice for flexibility and to see a bit more of the landscape as you go along.
Zanzibar, in contrast, is a romantic and relaxing beach destination, which makes it perfect for honeymoons. It’s just off the coast of Tanzania, so transfers are easy and quick, and your relaxation after (or before) your safari is guaranteed.
3. Kenya
To go along with our theme of safari beach honeymoons, Kenya fits in surprisingly well. While most people would imagine that Kenya is purely a safari country, it’s actually along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, just like some of the world’s most desirable island destinations, and thus does have some very nice beaches that are perfect to enhance your stay. Kenya safaris are perfect for your first time in Africa, as you can see quite a few of the more popular animals such as elephants, cheetahs, and lions. Kenya has much of the old world safari feel that makes these excursions so exciting and romantic and you’ll find that many camps and lodges go out of their way for a couple on their honeymoon, with champagne breakfasts and dinners in the bush. Transferring to Kenya’s coast is also an easy journey and the temperature stays a constant 28 degrees C or so all year round. There is no defined rainy season, so rain can fall at any time.
A safari honeymoon is a fantastic choice for the couple who wants to get a combination of relaxation and adventure on their special first trip away as newlyweds. For more information, please visit http://www.mahlatini.com.
Article by Greg Fox.
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