An increasing number of couples are looking for a honeymoon that offers more than the chance to lie on the beach with a tropical drink in hand. And, while that can be fun too, a honeymoon safari is likely to provide one of the most incredible trips of your life. If you’d like to start your newly-wedded bliss with an unforgettable adventure these amazing honeymoon safaris are for you.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge - British Columbia, Canada
Not all safaris take place in Africa. Set along a remote coastal stretch of Vancouver Island, off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, Clayoquat is a unique “eco-safari” style resort that can only be reached by boat, or a scenic floatplane ride, where you’ll soar over glaciers, islands and dramatic mountain peaks. Surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine rainforest, the nearest sign of civilization is a half-hour away in the village of Tofino. Here, bears, whales and eagles far outnumber humans, offering a truly life-changing experience in a breathtakingly beautiful remote wilderness area. Lodging is in safari-style ultra-luxe tents, complete with radiant floor bathroom heating, taking “glamping,” to a whole new level. The resort also features a tented spa and an extensive list of activities, including horseback riding with tours to a ghost town, whitewater and flatwater kayaking, and hiking.
Samode Safari Lodge - Madhya Pradesh, India
This spectacular lodge located in a remote part of India, promises flower-strewn foot baths after embarking on a morning safari and intimate candlelit gourmet dinners. It boasts 12 private, palatial villas, each with lavish indoor/outdoor bathrooms for soaking under the stars, along with a spa, swimming pool, library with a billiards table and two expansive central lodges filled with fireplaces and cozy nooks for reading. The food is over-the-top, with plentiful breakfast spreads, four-course lunches served on the open-air deck and amazing gourmet dinners that can be enjoyed around a campfire, in the bush or around the pool.
Solio Lodge - Solio Reserve, Kenya
Solio Reserve is located in a valley between the slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya north of Nairobi, and is the home to some 250 black and white rhino. It’s internationally recognized as the most successful private breeding reserve in the country, and was created in 1970 as a black rhino breeding center. Today, it’s considered the very best spot to see this increasingly rare species, with sightings of as many as 40 rhinos at a time not uncommon. Stay in one of five luxury cottages that all offer stunning views of Mt. Kenya, with all food and most beverages included, and in-room spa treatments available. You’ll also have the chance to visit the adjacent 75,000-acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a mixed wildlife and cattle ranch establishment with 88 eastern black rhino and four of the world’s seven known northern white rhinos.
Ulusaba Safari Lodge - Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa
Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve in South Africa is located near Kruger National Park and surrounded by about 33,000 acres of open bush. Hills rise above the terrain for especially astounding views of the landscape and abundant wildlife. It includes two lodges, Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge,with 21 guest rooms in total. Staff at Ulusaba don’t miss any details, providing newlyweds and all types of couples seeking romance an especially intimate experience in the African bush that can include everything from a private meal for two under the stars to a special romantic turn down service that includes a selection of bath oils. The Treehouse Suite at Safari Lodge, accessible only by raised walkways and swing bridges, provides a particularly romantic experience with its private deck overlooking Xikwnga Dam where hippos and elephants come to bathe.
Little Ongava - Namibia
Located just outside Etosha National Park on the private Ongava Game Reserve, Little Ongava is the sister to Ongava Lodge and features just three luxurious suites as one of the top exclusive, romantic safari destinations as well as one of the best spots for viewing wildlife in Namibia. It sits on a hill overlooking the surrounding bush, offering awe-inspiring views of the African savanna and waterhole below. The suites are sumptuous and luxuriously appointed, with bathrooms not only offering views, but indoor and outdoor showers, private viewing deck and a personal plunge pool. Service is impeccable too, with no detail overlooked.
Giraffe Manor - Nairobi, Kenya
Giraffe Manor offers a fantastic introduction to African safaris in its iconic Nairobi building with lush, green gardens and a sunny terrace that has a vibe that makes it feel as if you’ve stepped into the film “Out of Africa.” But it offers a lot more than that – part of its extraordinary appeal, and uniqueness, is its herd of resident Rothschild giraffe. The beautiful long-necked creatures frequently visit during the morning and evening hours, sometimes even poking their long necks into the windows to say hello in hopes of earing a treat. The 12-acre lawn that surrounds this 10-room boutique hotel is literally crawling with giraffes, which make their way over from the neighboring forest sanctuary. The property also makes a great base for taking an actual safari as well as day trips to places like Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where you can feed baby elephants.
Nomad's Serengeti Safari - Tanzania
This Serengeti Safari doesn’t exactly mean roughing it. Guests may sleep under canvas tents, but the walk-in tents are rather lavish, featuring en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and even morning tea, delivered by your personal attendant. The most exclusive way to enjoy life in the African bush, the camps are renowned for both style and comfort. If you want a mix of high-end tent camping with a more luxurious lodge stay, you can combine it with overnights at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, known as one of the most architecturally magnificent lodges on the entire continent with a setting to match, standing on the rim of Ngorongoro’s lost-world caldera.
Mnemba Island Lodge - Tanzania
Mnemba Island Lodge, and the five-acre island it sits on in the Zanzibar archipelago, is part of an ecotourism outfit that invests in community empowerment and conservation. It offers the ideal place for a honeymoon without guilt for the eco-conscious, with the chance to enjoy snorkeling in calm cerulean waters, kayaking, windsurfing and sunset cruises, and spend your nights in one of only 10 seaside cottages for an intimate, exclusive experience. Each one was hand-built using traditional Zanzibari palm matting, and sits back from the water near the edge of a forest on a platform that sits above the sand. Gaze out from your private veranda to the Indian Ocean, and enjoy dining on East African dishes focuses on fresh fish, fruits and vegetables.
