Botswana honeymoon planning with the experts
A honeymoon is one of life’s chances to really push the boat out, and there are few places as well suited to a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip as Botswana.
Botswana Honeymoon Itineraries
Botswana has a great network and circuit of light aircraft, including a little Cessna which hops from one lodge to the next, making it easy to travel in any direction. Our most popular itinerary includes five or six nights in the Okavango Delta (2-3 nights in each of two lodges), and Linyanti for three nights. Many also like to start or end their trip in Victoria Falls for some R&R, or some adrenaline activities for those so inclined (rafting, canoeing, bungee jumping etc). This is a great combination of experiences and shows off the best of Botswana, as well as a dusting of something a little different!
This itinerary, which also works perfectly in reverse, takes in a variety of different landscapes, wildlife and game-viewing options.
Off the beaten track Botswana Honeymoon Itineraries
For the more adventurous, or for those who have been on safari before, a week in the Linyanti/Delta areas could be followed by 3-4 days around the Makgadikgadi Pans where the second biggest mammal migration takes place (that of the zebra) and where the fight for survival is at its most prevalent.
Where to stay on a Botswana safari honeymoon
Most accommodation throughout Botswana is very well-suited to honeymooners by reason of its seclusion and privacy, but we’ve got a few favourites up our sleeve!
In the Okavango Delta, you can find Little Vumbura which is handsome, quiet and secluded with only 6 tents; it offers some of the best water and land-based viewing in Africa. But at $2,000+ per person per night in peak season, you’re paying a lot for it!
Little Mombo is a great choice for those unused to safaris or Africa, as there is no need for compromise (this camp is way beyond ‘hot and cold running water’). Only 4 rooms make up the entire camp, but with enough staff behind the scenes to man a large hotel it really does cater to your every need.It has just had a refurbishment, and Mombo is truly swankier than ever. At $3,800+ in high season, it is definitely for those honeymooners who do not like compromising in luxuries!
In the Linyanti area you also have some incredibly romantic spots including Zarafa – this Relais & Chateux / Nat Geo Unique Lodge of the World is regularly voted as the best safari experience in the whole of Africa. With just 4 villas, the service is phenomenal and your every wish will be anticipated. As an added bonus, you will win dinner party honeymoon top trumps for ever after - $2000+ pppn.
The lodges listed above are the creme de la creme of honeymoon luxury in Botswana; but you can get less expensive options! However, if you are looking at private reserve style lodges (which is what Botswana is best at), you are still looking at a minimum of $1,400 per person per night in high season, at somewhere like Splash Camp. We think, if you have this budget it is often better to go to a country where the prices are generally lower, and where you can get even more for your money, like Botswana’s magical and underrated neighbour, Zimbabwe…
Botswana honeymoon safari activities
Activities for a Botswana Honeymoon are never ending. It is definitely the place to go if you are both fond of watery sunsets and a relaxed gin and tonic! Mekoro lazily around the Delta channels, enjoy fishing, boating, excellent horse riding, walking, game drives, night drives, camping under the stars; in Makgadikgadi you can even go quad biking and interact with habituated meerkats..
If you like variety, astonishing wildlife, luxury and have a big budget then a Botswana honeymoon will be a once in a lifetime trip for you both. If horse riding is a passion, we cannot think of anywhere better to enjoy this shared hobby than in the watery, wild and magical Okavango Delta. Click the photo for more details.
Botswana Honeymoon Itineraries | How do I get to the beach?
Being a landlocked country, Botswana does not combine easily with a beach break as some East Africa destinations. The closest destination is Mozambique, famous for its spectacular white sandy beaches which are probably some of the best in Africa. Choose between the Quirimbas and Bazaruto Archipelago chains - both have world class boutiquey lodges and pristine beaches, though they are very expensive for what you get.
Further afield you can also combine Seychelles or Mauritius, although you will need to factor in considerable extra travel time. Flight connections are such that any combination of Botswana safari and beach is likely to require a night in Johannesburg in transit - if you have the time available it is still entirely doable.
Alternatively, if a beach is not crucial to your honeymoon, then we would strongly recommend enjoying your rest and relaxation in Victoria Falls, Cape Town, or both! By experiencing these unique destinations, although you are not getting beach time, you are saving an awful lot of precious time and budget - they really could not be easier to access from your Botswana safari.
Why go on a Botswana honeymoon?
Exclusivity is the name of the game in Botswana, by deliberate design of the of the government (‘high value, low volume tourism’) - and where you have exclusivity you have romance!
Botswana offers such huge variety: designing a honeymoon to suit two different personalities is effortless, as you can take a trip in a mokoro (dug-out canoe) in the morning, a game drive in the afternoon, and be tearing around on a quad bike the next morning - or you could elect just to relax in an infinity pool with an ice cold drink...
Botswana hurts the wallet; there is no denying that it is the most expensive spot in Africa. Most people like to splash out and bite the bullet for their honeymoon and do what they may never do again – particularly before the expense of children!
Between May and October (the busiest season for weddings in the UK!) Botswana happens to be at its peak and offers truly outstanding game viewing.
The staff throughout Botswana know how to turn up the romance for their guests - little extras twill be peppered throughout your stay; sundowners and private dinners on a floating deck across a lagoon, a private helicopter transfer, private candlelit dinner, a mokoro trip to sleep out under the stars on a deserted island - Botswana is a truly magical and romantic honeymoon destination.
How much does an Botswana honeymoon cost?
The premier camps in Botswana are some of the most luxurious in Africa, and they also offer some of the best game viewing on the planet. Unfortunately, the starting prices for safari lodges in Botswana reflects this. Authentic safari styled camps in high season start at around $1,200 per person per night, rising up to $4,000 pppn (!). Low season sees these prices dropping down to between $500 and $2,500 pppn.
Botswana Honeymoon Packages | How to make it more cost effective?
Botswana works very well with a stay in Victoria Falls and Cape Town pre and post safari. These destinations are a lot more economical than the safari, which can keep the overall price down. For example, prices for a mid-range 6-night safari with a couple of nights in Victoria Falls and Cape Town would range from around $6,900 pp off season to around $9,200 during peak season.
Introducing Odyssey Explorer
Welcome to our new itinerary-building app! Odyssey Explorer allows you to browse a range of popular itinerary templates and tailor them to suit your budget and tastes. Once you are happy with your route template, Odyssey Explorer gives you the freedom to select and change your accommodation in each destination. It is an excellent tool for you to get an instant price for your dream trip before you work with a Tanzania expert to fine-tune it and make it into a reality.
When to go on a Botswana honeymoon?
Located in the southern hemisphere, Botswana's seasons are the other way round from the northern hemisphere (our summer is their winter and so on).
The best time to go on safari in Botswana is actually during their winter dry season (July - October), when the Okavango Delta is flooded and the game viewing is at its best. Weather-wise, it’s not too hot but can be very cold early morning, which means the animals will still be quite active during your first game drive of the day.
During their summer (our winter), Botswana is very hot during the day. The rainy season runs from mid-December to mid-March, but unlike other African countries the rains are not too severe. There are a few pros and cons for the different seasons, so it is best to get in contact and chat with one of our Botswana Experts. Or click here for more information.
Botswana Honeymoon - Africa Odyssey Tips
One of the private concessions will give you a quieter safari and an extremely intimate overall experience - perfect for honeymooners.
Do not head off on safari straight after your wedding! You will be shattered and miss out on a day or two of safari. Ease yourself into your holiday, for example starting with a romantic Cape Town city break and ending at Victoria Falls with an action packed safari in the middle...
Do not try and do too much as a safari can be tiring. Stick to the Okavango Delta and Linyanti over a 6 – 8 night period.
Several of the camps in Botswana now offer sleep outs under the stars - a truly magical and captivating experience. These need to be reserved well in advance so please let us know if you are interested.
You do not have to travel in the peak season to have a great safari. Sometimes going slightly off season will still give you an incredible safari experience, but for a fraction of the cost.
Botswana Honeymoon Safaris FAQs
Luxury vs Adventure for your Botswana Honeymoon?
Botswana's unrivalled luxury and exclusivity unfortunately come with a price tag to match. Even the simpler lodges are far from basic, and standards of hospitality are very high. However, it is possible to have some incredible and affordable adventures in Botswana. For keen riders, there are a couple of very good riding operators where you can spend a week in the saddle getting very close to the animals - a really different kind of honeymoon and definitely unforgettable! Or you could choose to spend your nights sleeping under the stars, only waking to canoe down winding rivers with an audience of drinking elephants.
Botswana vs East Africa Honeymoon?
Botswana and East Africa are both great destinations for a honeymoon safari; they both offer a range of different safari viewing experiences and diversity of beautiful landscapes. The game viewing is excellent in each but they differ in how the safari is operated and the style of camps and game viewing areas. For a honeymoon safari we tend to lean more towards Botswana, for the intimacy of the private reserves and the outstanding service and hospitality at the lodges.
Client Reviews
Botswana Honeymoon - Reviews
We had just an amazing time and can’t imagine a better experience for our honeymoon and first ever (certainly not last) safari. Thank you so much again for organizing such an awesome trip!
Travis and I want to thank you SO much for your help in making our honeymoon the absolute best we could have wished for. Everything went so smoothly and we never had to worry about a single detail.
Our honeymoon was absolutely amazing, thank you!! Everything booked through yourselves was perfect and the camps we stayed at in Botswana were beautiful!
My new wife Shirley and I had an absolutely amazing time – nothing went wrong at all (in fact there weren’t any rains while we were there so everything was better than we could have imagined!), we’ve returned only to rave about the camps to our friends and family!
I have been meaning to write to you. I can say that without a doubt, all the arrangements went very smoothly and we had a fabulous time on our honeymoon in Botswana. It could be the best trip we have ever taken and we are ready to go back when we can find the time. 5 STARS for everything and not a single criticism.
Thanks for all your help. It was extremely well done. We will contact you when we are ready to go again.
