Surely home to the most romantic destinations on the planet, Africa is an easy choice for a beach and bush luxury safari honeymoon. Whether you want to spend this big trip exploring remote areas of wilderness; enjoying private dinners on isolated Indian Ocean beaches; stargazing from your treetop bed in the bush; or all of the above, Africa has a beach or safari honeymoon destination to suit your post-wedding desires.
These are just some of the best places to spend a luxury honeymoon in Africa.
BUSH
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
The largest park in Zimbabwe, Hwange is one of the best safari destinations in southern Africa, with a huge amount of game to see and some excellent luxury lodges from which to pick, whether you prefer a classic safari-style tented camp or a sleeker kind of lodge. Watch big herds of elephants drinking from waterholes, cheetahs on the hunt, baboons playing in the trees and lion prides on the prowl. Hwange is also a perfect safari destination to pair with a visit to the famous Victoria Falls.
The Serengeti, Tanzania
For those wildly romantic safari vistas, the Serengeti is a must-visit. The lodges and camps on these endless plains are some of the best on the continent, perfect for honeymooners. The dramatic river crossings of the great wildebeest migration are highlights for many, and usually take place between July to October. Outside these months, there is plenty more to see and fewer people around, which will suit couples seeking a sense of privacy.
BEACH
The Seychelles
The Seychelles barely need an introduction as a honeymoon destination. Famed for their pristine beaches, exotic, unique wildlife, and luxury resorts, these Indian Ocean islands are a firm favourite for romantic escapes – not least since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent their own honeymoon there.
Mozambique
The shores of Mozambique are idyllically lined with white-sand beaches and blue-green ocean waters. With a more rustic, barefoot-luxury feel than Indian Ocean islands such as the Seychelles, Mozambique is a wild, beautiful and diverse destination where you can ride horses through the surf, buy barbecued peri-peri chicken on the beach, or hide away in a private villa.
Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
You don’t necessarily need to be by the ocean to find beaches. The shores around the enormous Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe offer something a bit different, especially suited to those who want to keep their honeymoon within one country to cut down on visas and travel time. Lake Kariba is a manmade lake, which is a beautiful spot for sundowners on the water, beach dining and game drives to see the elephants, hippos, lions and crocs who dwell around the lake.
WILDERNESS
The Namib Desert, Namibia
There are few places as jaw-droppingly striking as the Namib Desert. Mystical and ancient, this desert is where loved-up couples can go to get totally lost – or at least to feel a little like that in one of the luxury desert camps that are peppered throughout this vast region. Enjoy the solitude and the natural beauty with a hot air balloon ride as the sun rises above the sand dunes.
Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
This northern reserve is in a lesser-visited part of Kenya and a wonderful safari destination for those seeking a real escape for their honeymoon. There are rare animal species to discover alongside elephants, hippos and lions, and some remote, luxury camps in which to hide yourselves away.
