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Honeymoon

Top Honeymoon Destinations in Africa

Written by Julie Graham

Ker & Downey Africa > Journal > Top Honeymoon Destinations in Africa

Due to its pristine beauty and mind-blowing diversity, there are a number of top honeymoon destinations in Africa that offer something unique for every couple. From luxurious safari camps in the Serengeti to romantic private Indian Ocean islands, our team is ready to whisk you away to the most romantic and secluded regions on the continent.

Botswana

An aerial view of Duba Plains situated in the great Okavango Delta in Botswana - one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

The great Okavango Delta in Botswana

Botswana is an enchanting land with all the ingredients for an intimate, exclusive and ultra-romantic honeymoon safari. Boasting some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth, this southern African safari gem is the perfect stage for days spent exploring the pristine wilderness, and nights spent around the fire under a blanket of stars. Our favorite honeymoon destinations in Botswana are the rich ecosystems of the Chobe National Park and the beautiful perennial floodplains of the great Okavango Delta.

The Chobe National Park is best known for its vast elephant population, estimated to be around 50 000, making it the highest concentration of these giants in Africa. Experience the region’s pristine wilderness on an epic photographic expedition that combines a safari and river cruise on the mighty Chobe River. This will give you and your loved one both a unique perspective and angle on photography, as well as some epic memories to take home and cherish forever.

A man taking a photograph of an elephant from a boat on the Chobe River in Botswana - one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

A photographic safari on the Chobe River
This will give you and your loved one both a unique perspective and angle on photography, as well as some epic memories to take home and cherish forever.

The iconic Okavango offers honeymooners the ultimate in serenity, stunning sunsets and relaxation in the most beautiful wildlife setting. Take to the skies with your lover in tow and witness the magnificence of the delta from above in a thrilling helicopter safari, or hit the waterways in a traditional mokoro for more intimate and close-up wildlife encounters. Either way, you’re bound to make some truly thrilling and indelible memories together – all in the lap of utmost luxury.

Best time to book your honeymoon in Botswana?

You will receive the best wildlife experience in the Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe National Park during the dry season between June and August. The drier parks offer better game viewing during the wet season from March to May.

9-day Victoria Falls to Botswana Luxury Safari

South Africa

A lion spotted on a safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa – one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

A lion spotted on a safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve

South Africa is a country that quite literally has it all – world-class wildlife encounters, pristine beaches, bustling cities, a vibrant food and wine scene, and epic experiences around every corner. This makes it an ideal honeymoon destination for those wanting to have an adventure that ticks numerous boxes. 

For the ultimate luxury safari experience, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers exclusivity and top-class game viewing that guarantees a safari par excellence. Considered one of the most famous of the private reserves in the area, on the border of the famous Kruger National Park, the game viewing is quite simply unparalleled. Honeymooners can enjoy regular sightings of the Big Five in an astonishingly beautiful landscape with over 150 mammal species and over 500 bird species calling this diverse bushveld paradise home. For the ultimate honeymoon experience, we recommend adding a sleepout experience under the stars to your South Africa safari itinerary.

Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa, where you will consistently be spoilt for choice when it comes to fine dining, great wine, and non-stop adventure

Cape Town’s Camps Bay beach with the Twelve Apostles of Table Mountain in the background.

Cape Town’s beautiful beaches flanked by the iconic Twelve Apostles of Table Mountain

Before or after your safari, head down to Cape Town or “The Mother City” – the largest city in the Western Cape province of South Africa. With the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop, surrounding Winelands, rugged coastlines and sheltered bays surrounding the city, it is a city where cultures, cuisines and magnificent landscapes come together to create a truly unforgettable all-round experience. This is undoubtedly one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa, where you will consistently be spoilt for choice when it comes to fine dining, great wine, and non-stop adventure.

Best time to book your honeymoon in South Africa?

The best time to visit Sabi Sands and the surrounding parks however is at the beginning or end of the region’s drier season – the South African winter, from May to September. Though this isn’t the most ideal time to combine your safari with a beach holiday in Cape Town, as the weather tends to be quite cold and rainy on that side of the country, it is a great time to come if you want to avoid crowds and experience Cape Town’s food and wine scene. 

That being said, South Africa is a great all-year-round destination and, depending on what you want to experience, your LuxVenture® Designer will craft the perfect honeymoon package on the dates that suit you and your loved one best.

Mozambique

An island off the coast of Mozambique – one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

Mozambique has an array of idyllic islands dotting its coastline

The southeast African country of Mozambique is a picturesque blend of tropical palm-lined beaches, remote islands, and untamed national parks. Here, the country’s pristine shoreline meets the warm Indian Ocean with an array of islands and archipelagos dotting its coast.

For those seeking the saltier waters of Africa, Mozambique’s islands are a must. Private islands that is. Hidden off the northern coast of Mozambique you will find Quilalea Private Island. The uninhabited island is surrounded by the marine sanctuary of the Quirimbas Archipelago – a stretch of 32 coral islands, home to an array of marine life from humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins to the elusive dugong.

A manta ray swimming in the protected Bazaruto archipelago off Mozambique.

A manta ray swimming in the protected Bazaruto archipelago
Spend your days diving with enchanting marine wildlife before sailing around remote archipelagos on a romantic dhow safari to watch the dreamy sunset over the horizon.

Further south, you’ll find the protected Bazaruto archipelago. Consisting of 5 islands, including Benguerra and Bazaruto, the archipelago is popular for diving and snorkeling and promises an array of wildlife including leatherback turtles, whale sharks and manta rays. Spend your days diving with enchanting marine wildlife before sailing around remote archipelagos on a romantic dhow safari to watch the dreamy sunset over the horizon. It doesn’t get more romantic than this…

Best time to book your honeymoon in Mozambique?

Mozambique is no stranger to the tropical heat, and the best time to visit is over the dry winter season from May to November. The warm temperatures of both the air and water call out to all beach lovers and are ideal for an island getaway. The winter months invite whales to the coastline of Mozambique and the unrivaled water visibility during the dry months makes for epic scuba diving.

Tanzania | Zanzibar

A hot air balloon safari over the plain of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania – one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

A hot air balloon safari over the plain of the Serengeti National Park

Get the best of the bush on safari in Tanzania where you and your loved one can experience wildlife beyond compare on the expansive savannah plains of the Serengeti National Park, before relaxing in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean in neighboring Zanzibar. This is what dreams are made of. 

The Serengeti National Park is made up of endless plains, dense populations of wildlife and stunning diverse landscapes making it an all-around top safari destination. Its biggest drawing card by far is the massive annual migration of wildebeest and zebra that turn the park into a real live wildlife spectacle at regular intervals each year. A truly romantic experience is to encounter the Serengeti’s magic from a bird’s eye view in a hot air balloon. This thrilling experience, ideal for those wanting to push the limits of the traditional safari trip, is built for connoisseurs of adventure and romantics alike and is the perfect addition to any honeymoon safari.

There are a number of private islands and high-end resorts that offer the utmost in barefoot luxury for discerning honeymooners looking to relax after a thrilling safari.

The pristine palm-fringed beaches and blue waters of Zanzibar.

The pristine palm-fringed beaches of Zanzibar

Combining a safari experience with an easily accessible beach destination is the perfect recipe for a well-balanced honeymoon itinerary. Zanzibar is a tropical archipelago situated approximately 25 miles off the east coast of Tanzania. Here, pristine palm-fringed beaches, white-sailed dhows on azure seas, vibrant spice markets, and the cobbled streets of the island’s capital, Stone Town, are all woven into the tapestry of this colorful island. There are a number of private islands and high-end resorts that offer the utmost barefoot luxury for discerning honeymooners looking to relax after a thrilling safari.

Best time to book your honeymoon in Tanzania and Zanzibar?

Game viewing in the Serengeti is excellent throughout the year, but certain areas have more prolific sightings at certain times. In general, the dry season from late June until October is your best bet. If your main motivation for visiting the park is to see the wildebeest migration in person, find out where the herds will be when via our migration calendar HERE

Zanzibar is a year-round destination with a tropical climate, meaning you can expect hot and humid weather throughout the year. July to August is considered peak season in Zanzibar with pleasantly high temperatures and little to no rain, making it an ideal time to experience all the island has to offer.

Seychelles

Scuba diving in the Seychelles – one of the top honeymoon destinations in Africa.

The Seychelles are a world-class diving destination with an abundance of marine life and vibrant coral reefs

The Seychelles’ idyllic beaches, granite boulder shorelines, dense island rainforests, and vibrant coral reefs, make it a truly hard to beat honeymoon destination.

Scattered off the east coast of Africa, the Seychelles archipelago is the oldest oceanic islands on the planet. Over 100 granite and coral islands cover an area of 175 square miles, stretching 150,000 square miles across the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. These islands are home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the ancient forests of Vallé de Mai and the raised coral atoll of Aldabra.

A honeymoon couple cycling at the Four Seasons Desroches Islands in the Seychelles.

Cycling at the Four Seasons Desroches Islands, Seychelles
The gentle gradients and shady pathways of some of the surrounding islands are also ideal to explore by bicycle – a fun and romantic activity to enjoy with your newly wedded partner.

The Seychelles are both a world-class diving destination boasting an abundance of marine life and vibrant coral reefs, as well as an adventurer’s paradise. Discover epic hiking trails on the mountainous island of Mahé, old palm jungles of Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin Island, or witness the Giant Aldabra tortoise on the island of Curiuse. The gentle gradients and shady pathways of some of the surrounding islands are also ideal to explore by bicycle – a fun and romantic activity to enjoy with your newly wedded partner.

Best time to book your honeymoon in Seychelles?

The months of April, May, October and November experience fewer visitors and the temperatures remain warm with little to no wind. October to November welcomes a few scattered showers on the islands, but you can still expect plenty of beach weather with the bonus of avoiding the peak season crowds.

When it comes to top honeymoon destinations in Africa, we know best. This is just a taste of what your unique African honeymoon experience could look like. Contact a LuxVenture® Designer today, tell us what you liked, and we will craft a one-of-a-kind luxury honeymoon, just for you!

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