South Africa Honeymoon Safaris

4.6/5 – 940 South Africa Reviews

The variety of attractions and easy travel conditions make South Africa a great choice for a honeymoon. While the wildlife viewing is superb, few people come here for a stand-alone safari. Cape Town, a cosmopolitan and scenically beautiful city, is just one of the other top attractions the country has to offer. But South Africa’s biggest drawing card is the variety of its landscapes; rugged mountains, fairy-tale forests, grassy savannah and the stark beauty of the desert. The country’s network of 19 national parks and hundreds of other reserves protects a rich mosaic of habitats and a corresponding diversity of animals. Meanwhile, offshore of the 2,850km coastline, an exceptionally rich marine life inhabits a parallel world.

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6 Questions About South Africa Honeymoon Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert and photographer. She and her husband form a team who write and update many travel guides. South Africa has been her home for the last 25 years. She has traveled around the country extensively, visiting all its parks and reserves regularly for work and leisure.

› More about Ariadne

Is South Africa recommended for a honeymoon trip?

“While South Africa caters to any kind of visitor, honeymooners will be thrilled to have a choice of enchanting destinations suitable to couples wanting to spend time together. There is so much to see and do. When putting together an itinerary you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. South Africa’s incredible landscapes bring out the romantic in most of us. These peaceful surroundings offer the perfect environment to focus on a loved one. Picture waking up together and listening to the chorus of African birds or watching a herd of elephants with their babies at a waterhole. In the evening you could be gazing at the stars far away from significant light pollution and cuddling up after dinner at the campfire while listening to a hyena whooping in the distance. A honeymoon safari is all about sharing these kinds of special moments together.”

How many days is ideal for a South Africa honeymoon safari?

“It’s hard to say how many days you need for a honeymoon safari in South Africa. However, if you’re coming from far away, you’ll probably want to make the travel worthwhile. A honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, so you shouldn’t rush it. I think you should be away for at least 10 days; more is obviously better. Most visitors to the country combine a safari with other trip components, such as time in Cape Town or on the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal. To get to see a fair amount of South Africa’s attractions, you really need a two- to three-week tour. However you plan your stay in South Africa, you should always be realistic and not try to cram in too much. A full itinerary looks good on paper, but quality time in fewer locations usually makes for a better holiday. With limited time you can make use of the good network of domestic flights or you can focus on one area, such as Cape Town and the Garden Route, or Kruger National Park and surrounds.”

What are South Africa’s most romantic places?

“There are some very romantic spots in South Africa, ideal for a honeymoon safari. The world-renowned Kruger NP is a great choice. While the south of the park has the highest animal densities, the north sees fewer visitors. For a very exclusive experience, you can treat yourselves to a couple of days in one of the private reserves of Sabi Sands. Packages here are relatively pricey but they include five-star luxury accommodation ideal for an intimate holiday. Further south is the cluster of Zululand reserves. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is very scenic and well-known for its healthy rhino population. The beautiful coastline makes this part of the country another favorite with newlyweds. Cape Town and the winelands feature on many honeymoon itineraries, and the drive along the Garden Route is arguably the most picturesque in the country. This area isn’t known for its wildlife, but there are several good safari options here all the same. Addo Elephant National Park is a Big Five destination, and elephants are particularly relaxed here. For more luxury and exclusivity, consider a stay at one of the Big Five private reserves in the area, such as Kwandwe and Shamwari Game Reserves. They offer superb wildlife viewing in a similar style as at the more well-known Sabi Sands. ”

Can we extend our trip with some days on the beach or Cape Town?

“When going on a honeymoon safari in South Africa’s parks and reserves, you might want to add on a few days to explore some of the country’s other attractions. Cape Town, with its vibrant city life, wild surroundings and world-class fine-dining restaurants, is a winner on any honeymoon itinerary. And who doesn’t want to spend the last days of their honeymoon relaxing on a tropical beach to enjoy some sand and sun, and most of all, each other’s company? The KwaZulu-Natal coast, with its warm subtropical waters, is most suitable for a conventional beach stay. The popular Garden Route, with its mountains, forests, lakes and endless beaches along the Southern Cape, is mostly explored on a road trip between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. While these beaches are picture-perfect, the mild climate and rough waters make the Garden Route more suitable as a general travel destination. Although the South African beaches don’t lack in beauty, they are relatively unspoiled and there are few resorts offering typical beach-holiday packages. For a real sea-and-sand honeymoon getaway, you might prefer to add on a few days on the tropical islands of Mauritius or Seychelles.”

Are there special South African honeymoon safari packages?

“Several highly rated operators offer honeymoon safari packages to this varied country. South Africa ticks all the boxes for a romantic holiday. When planning your honeymoon safari, your operator will suggest an itinerary with carefully selected destinations and lodges. A lodge might be chosen because of its honeymoon suite featuring special touches, such as an alfresco shower for two, an amazing view or a private outdoor area to relax. Your operator will inform the lodges and the staff will go the extra mile to make the experience extra special. It’s all in the details: rose petals on the bed, an impromptu bush dinner under the stars and perhaps a spa treatment for two.”

Will we get enough alone time on our trip?

“A honeymoon safari is the ultimate occasion to spend precious time with the person you love. You won’t want the distraction of lots of people around you. Therefore I would recommend booking a private safari as opposed to a group safari. Not only will this be more intimate, it will also give you more flexibility. At the end of each day, your guide will discuss next day’s program with you and you’ll be able to make minor changes as long as it fits within the itinerary. You’ll be able to skip the odd game drive and have a relaxed morning at the lodge. The staff might be happy to organize a private breakfast in your suite. Or you might decide to spend the afternoon together at a waterhole, watching animals coming to drink. Even on a private tour there will probably be some shared activities, such as game drives or a boat trip, but there will always be plenty of opportunities to spend time alone, without other guests or even your guide.”

South Africa Reviews

4.6/5 940 Reviews

Expert

Lucy Corne –

Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.

An array of animals

5/5

Of all the African countries people visit on safari trips, South Africa is probably the easiest to travel around. Infrastructure is excellent, accommodation for every budget is abundant and wildlife-watching opportunities stretch far beyond...

Full Review

Expert

Mike Unwin –

Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.

A world in one country

5/5

South Africa’s astounding array of landscapes – from semi-desert to savanna and snow-capped mountain to coral reef – means it offers a greater variety of wildlife experience than any other African country. There are surely few other...

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Rosemere Maia –

Reviewed: Dec 4, 2023

Culture, adventure, beautiful landscapes, welcoming people: that's South Africa!

5/5

South Africa is wonderful. Exceeded my expectations. It is a country full of natural beauty, with a very rich culture and extremely welcoming people. I didn't feel unsafe at any point. I loved visiting its parks and reserves, its...

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Elyse –

Reviewed: Nov 29, 2023

Better than I could have imagined

5/5

My husband and I booked flights to SA but didn't have a full plan, and about a week before we left decided to book a Safari in or near Kruger. I reached out to Safari Bookings who sent out questions to a few safari tour companies and...

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Jessica –

Reviewed: Nov 28, 2023

Highly recommend

5/5

My friend and I booked the 4-Day Tremisana Kruger Park Safari with Viva Safaris. I couldn't rate it any higher. The whole experience was amazing, we saw so many animals, all the staff were amazing and the services including the food was...

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Peter –

Reviewed: Nov 27, 2023

fantastic wildlife experience at Sanbona Resort

5/5

We had a fantastic stay at Sanbona Wildlife Resort about 3 hours from CapeTown very well organized by Gems of Africa. After this safari we enjoyed a few days in CapeTown, one of our favorite cities in the world. Finally we went to...

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6 Questions About South Africa Honeymoon Safaris

Answered by

Ariadne van Zandbergen

6 Questions About South Africa Honeymoon Safaris

Is South Africa recommended for a honeymoon trip?

How many days is ideal for a South Africa honeymoon safari?

What are South Africa’s most romantic places?

Can we extend our trip with some days on the beach or Cape Town?

Are there special South African honeymoon safari packages?

Will we get enough alone time on our trip?

South Africa Reviews

An array of animals

A world in one country

Culture, adventure, beautiful landscapes, welcoming people: that's South Africa!

Better than I could have imagined

Highly recommend

fantastic wildlife experience at Sanbona Resort