Thinking of a safari and beach honeymoon in Africa? I have worked as a tour leader on the continent for many years and I would like to use this post to help you organize the trip. I’m thinking you have a beach in mind because you want somewhere to unwind after a bumpy and dusty safari, right? In short, there are many wildlife regions from but few with easy access to a really nice beach.
Let’s take a look at my pick for a honeymoon in Africa.
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Honeymoon Destinations for Safari and Beach in Africa
I could tell you all about gorilla trekking in Uganda or the lakeside resorts in Malawi. I might even ramble on about the Etosha National Park and the incredible desert landscapes of Namibia. But I know you want an African safari and beach honeymoon which defeats the point of telling you about these experiences. Instead, I want to help narrow your focus to the most relevant destinations.
South Africa & Botswana
You might already know that Kruger National Park in South Africa is a popular honeymoon destination. There are incredible private resorts in this region which include Leopard Sands, Lion Sands and Sabi Sands. However, it would take a long journey to reach a nice beach from here and the same is true about most other wildlife parks in Africa. For instance, Chobe National Park in Botswana is another popular honeymoon destination in Africa and you might also visit the Okavangao delta on the same trip. However, the country is landlocked and quite some distance to the beaches in Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles. Southern Africa is also rather expensive which means you can likely afford more comfort and luxury for the same price elsewhere.
But where else might you go for a safari and beach honeymoon in Africa?
You will need to factor in the cost of personal travel insurance for your honeymoon in Africa and many tour operators insist on you showing proof of same. I always use World Nomads and suggest you at least get quick quote below….it takes just a few seconds!
Kenya: Maasai Mara & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Masaai Mara National Park in Kenya is one of the most popular destinations for honeymoons in Africa. You will find ‘the Big 5’ here and the lion population is especially healthy. ‘The Mara’ is also used to tourism and so the park features some excellent camps and resorts. There are high quality tour operators here and you can expect to see a lot of wildlife on the game drives. What’s more, the beaches of Zanzibar (Tanzania) are just a short flight away from Nairobi airport which reduces the time you spend getting from your safari to the beach. But this is not my favorite option because Tanzania is not only home to Zanzibar but also the most famous National Park in the world.
My Specific Tour Suggestions: Top 5 Honeymoon Destinations in Africa
Tanzania: Serengeti & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Serengeti National Park is the best safari that I have experienced in all of Africa. The vast plains and extent of wildness make this a different experience to the Mara mentioned above. You should see all the big game here and visit a Maasai village during your time in the park. A trip to the Serengeti usually includes Ngorongoro Crater which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. You literally drive down inside this caldera on a wildlife safari and the scenes down there are magical. At the end of a multi-day safari, you can then take a very short flight from Arusha airport to Zanzibar to complete your dream safari and beach honeymoon in Africa!
And before you go…
Is Zanzibar Good for a Safari and Beach Honeymoon in Africa?
I used to tell my guests that Zanzibar was the location for the Bounty chocolate bar adverts on television back in the 1990’s. This was my way of explaining how, depending on the time of year, the island is home to some of the most idyllic beaches in the world. High quality resorts are also common and the seafood options are amazing. You can also visit the ancient Stone Town for a bit of culture and it offers everything else you might need to unwind after a multi-day wildlife safari.
This is why I believe Tanzania is the best place for a safari and beach honeymoon in Africa. If you are an adventurous couple and not wanting absolute privacy on your honeymoon, you might also consider joining an overland tour through Kenya and Tanzania. I used to have honeymoon couples as guests all the time and overland tours will include a lot more in terms of travel experiences.
