A luxury African honeymoon: our top 10 safari camps
When the time comes to plan your dream honeymoon, a luxury African safari is almost always included in the shortlist! Whether you’re looking for an exhilarating safari experience, extraordinary landscapes, colourful culture or white-sand beaches, Africa has it all. On top of that, the camps and lodges across Africa are the height of hospitality and offer honeymoon couples a nothing short of a luxurious and memorable stay. With so many camps to choose from, we have put together our top 10 luxury African safari camps for honeymoons to give you a few initial ideas!
Ikuka Camp | Ruaha National Park | Tanzania
Sitting high on the Mwagusi escarpment, Ikuka Camp gets the best of both worlds – extensive views across Ruaha’s vast valley and a 20-minute drive to the parks best game viewing area. The guiding and service level is second-to-none, but it is the room architecture and design which attract honeymoon couples in particular! They are built into and around the escarpment kopjes and so offer an open-air wilderness experience, as well as a cosy feel in the bedroom and lounge areas. Ikuka’s design is clever and offers the height of luxury.
Bisate Lodge | Volcanoes National Park | Tanzania
This is the most luxurious property across, arguably, the whole of the Virguna National Park! The lodge has only been open one year (since June 2017), but it has already hosted hundreds of honeymoon couples who have wanted a little slice of heaven after a tiring day trekking with the gorillas. The dome-shaped architecture of the six forest villas at Bisate were inspired by the ancient royal palace of the Rwanda monarchy, and rightly so! Although expensive, Bisate Lodge is truly fit for royalty!
Sabuk Lodge | Laikipia Plateau | Kenya
Overlooking the mighty Ewaso Nyiro River, Sabuk Lodge is a fun and quirky lodge in the heart of the Laikipia valley. Each of the stone cottages are open to the wilderness, providing honeymoon couples to truly feel at one with nature. One of the rooms is actually built around a huge kopje that overlooks the river and a handful of proposals have taken place here! To celebrate your proposal, honeymoon or even just your special holiday, the rooms each have an open air bath which is the luxurious centerpiece.
Chamilandu Bushcamp | South Luangwa | Zambia
It doesn’t get much better than waking up with views across the rippling Luangwa River from your four-poster bed in a handsome stilted tree-house, does it? This camp is one of the famous bush camps that South Luangwa is famed for and with only three stilted chalets, Chamilundu is definitely one of the most luxurious and exclusive of them all! Honeymoon couples don’t even have to leave their bed to see the wildlife as each room offer views of the river and the Chindeni Hills.
The Highlands Camp | Ngorongoro Crater | Tanzania
Located on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcanoes, approximately 40 kilometres north of the famous Ngorongoro Crater, is the stunning Highlands Camp. Inspired by the shape of the traditional Maasai homes (called bomas), eight dome tents sit in the dense forest – a wild and untouched area of the Ngorongoro highlands. Honeymoon couples staying here will certainly get peace, seclusion, tranquility and luxury accommodation. The beds are king-sized, and to top off the comfort and crank up the cosyness, there are wood-burning stoves that can be used for cooler evenings.
Fanjove Private Island | Tanzania
This stunning private island sits on azure waters and isolated beaches. Located a short boat ride from the airport at Songosongo island (south of Mafia island), this simple but stunning island is completely private and offers the sorts of relaxation and activities that only a private island can offer with walk into the water snorkelling and diving! Fanjove island homes six wooden bandas and each one is completely private – perfect for honeymoon couples who want time to themselves!
Elephants Eye | Hwange National Park | Zimbabwe
Located in a private reserve just outside of Hwange National Park, Elephants Eye Lodge offers an intimate and unforgettable experience. Honeymoon couples will enjoy the quiet, beautiful views overlooking the waterhole from their private veranda, or even outdoor shower, which is often visited d by elephants and other game. The staff at Elephants Eye are incredibly friendly and faultless at what they do – the bar staff, the camp manager, the guides and most of all, the chef!
Ol Seki Camp | The Masai Mara | Kenya
Located in the heart of the Naboisho conservancy in the Masai Mara and renowned for its seclusion, stunning rooms and honeymoon offers, this camp is often nicknamed ‘Ol Sexy’. On top of attentive service and attention to detail, the staff at Ol Seki will go out of their way to meet the most romantic of requests – they’ve helped organise special proposals, private champagne breakfasts in the bush, hot air balloon rides over the plains of the Mara, candlelit dinners and decorated rose-petal rooms… you name it!
Beho Beho | Selous Game Reserve | Tanzania
Beho Beho is certainly one of the most luxurious camps in the Selous Game Reserve and well fought after by honeymoon couples. Located up in the Beho Beho hills, offering a secluded and peaceful area of the park, with lion prides to the east and west and elephant wandering through the small valley below, Beho Beho has it all! Honeymoon couples will have an unforgettable time here and offering a 4-nights-for-the-price-of-3 deal, Beho Beho works out to be great value for money.
Old Mondoro | Lower Zambezi | Zambia
With only eight beds, Old Mondoro is the Lower Zambezi National Park's most intimate and private safari camp, exuding charm and charisma like nowhere else. The camp, and company its owned by, has a fantastic reputation. Its service, food, management, guiding, location and accommodation are all on-point, with the perfect blend of safari-authenticity and luxury.