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South Africa is possibly the most varied country on the continent of Africa and there are a whole host of different honeymoon itineraries to suit all kinds of honeymooners – from city lovers, to wine buffs or adventure seekers. South Africa boasts some of the most sophisticated accommodation and best food and wine on the continent, as well as many romantic hideaways surrounded by amazing wildlife perfect for a safari honeymoon.
A South Africa honeymoon would typically combine safari with Cape Town and a trip into the winelands.
With South Africa’s excellent transport links and accessibility, honeymoons can either start or end in Cape Town. Unquestionably one of the most exciting cities in Africa, the iconic and vibrant Cape Town finds itself on many 'Top 5' lists. In addition to Table Mountain and Robben Island, there’s a constantly revolving selection of up-to-the-minute bars and restaurants. A little further afield, the wider Cape Peninsula well merits a day's exploration, including Cape Point and the penguins of Boulder’s Beach.
The spectacular winelands, with cosy B&Bs, to achingly hip boutique hideaways and grand flamboyant chateauxs are absolutely perfect for a some rest and recuperation either at the beginning or end of your South African honeymoon. Just soak up the beautiful landscape and scenery and sample the outstanding food and wine which are specialties of this region.
Our favourite safari destination is the Greater Kruger. Located on the Western edge of the Kruger National Park, these unfenced private game reserves are host to brilliant game viewing and some of the most luxurious lodges in Africa.
One of our favourite South African honeymoon itineraries starts off in the Sabi Sands (Kruger ) for a 3-4 day safari full of game drives and wildlife viewing, flying down to Cape Town for a winelands 2-3 day tour in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, and ending up in Cape Town for 4 days to explore places like Boulder's Beach, Camps Bay, the V&A waterfront and Robben Island before relaxing in the many fantastic restaurants and bars. South Africa's infrastructure and internal flight network are of such a good standard that it is easy to put together itineraries comprising any combination of these elements, in any order (though some work better than others).
We highly recommend Singita and their Sabi lodges, Boulders and Ebony, for honeymooners; you can almost guarantee that you’ll be surprised by the staff’s little touches and the private meals or activities designed just for you
Elsewhere in the Sabi, &Beyond’s Tengile and Dulini Safari Lodge are both excellent, luxurious choices with outstanding game viewing.
Tswalu in the Kalahari is an experience like no other – with a private vehicle guaranteed and game viewing of the shy and rarer animals like pangolins and aardvarks, you cannot go wrong.
In Cape Town, the Cape Grace is full of character and located right on the V&A waterfront allowing you to step out of the hotel straight onto Cape Town’s main restaurants and bars.
Alternatively, the small and boutique Cape Cadogan is certainly worth considering. Its apartment-style rooms are spacious and luxurious and is only a ten-minute shuttle from the Waterfront which the hotel provides a complimentary service for.
Venturing into the winelands we recommend the opulent and lavish La Residence. Overflowing with every amenity one could wish for, indulgence and relaxation are the key factors here.
South Africa is home to some of the best game viewing and guiding in Africa. With this comes excellent vehicular and walking safaris. Depending on what area you visit, horse riding safaris and mountain biking and conservation minded activities like pangolin tracking, elephant darting and infra-red night drives are available.
As most lodges are located in reserves and not national parks, the rules are far more relaxed, allowing special activities like sleep-outs. There are a number of lodges that have special sleepout treehouses which is one of the most romantic activities to do on a honeymoon. Specially made treehouses in the middle of the reserve provide a luxurious and romantic way to enjoy a sunset dinner followed by a night under the stars whilst the lions roar a goodnight lullaby.
In Cape Town there is an abundance of choice. From exploring the V&A’s Waterfront which includes shops, bars and markets to day trips to the Cape Peninsula, Table Mountain and the surrounding vineyards, this is just the tip of the iceberg!
Even if you aren’t planning your safari in South Africa, Cape Town can be accessed from almost every other African country pretty easily. From Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe, all the way to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, East Africa. Whether you decide to add this vibrant city on the end of your trip, or begin with some city time, a trip to Cape Town is certainly worth it.
Full of excellent restaurants, beautiful scenery and brilliant hotels, this cosmopolitan city offers a variety that can suit everyone’s budget.
With the additional surrounding winelands, Cape Town is perfect for those seeking to indulge in excellent food, wine and natural beauty.
South Africa can be visited all year round.
The infrastructure in South Africa is advanced, making it an easy place to get around. It’s a good introduction to Africa if one, or both of you, have never visited. It also means that you have a greater choice of travelling style and budget (self-drive is a viable option in South Africa, although we tend not to recommend it for honeymooners – who needs the hassle!)
The safari experiences on offer are well-run, easy to access and some are even malaria free. There is an enormous choice when it comes to accommodation ranging from the basic Kruger National Park huts to the ultimate luxury rooms in the Sabi Sands
Get lost for days in the historic Cape Dutch wine estates, and sample some of the best wine and food in the world
Our honeymooning guests love village-hopping from one quaint seaside village to another, ending up in the vibrant and sophisticated Cape Town
Most importantly, South Africa is the only destination in possibly the world to combine 3 honeymoons in one - an incredible safari, fabulous city break and relaxing beach time...
South Africa has one of the most wide ranging price boundaries for a safari. With lodge prices from $450 pppn ranging all the way up to $3,000 pppn, it caters for a variety of different budgets and styles. The hotels in Cape Town and in the winelands also have a vast range, from around $150 per pppn to over $500 pppn.
A lot of the lodges and hotels in South Africa offer some brilliant honeymoon deals and specials so make sure you talk to us to find out more about these!
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.
For safari, as with other Southern Africa countries, the best time to visit is their winter - from June to October, where the game will be at its best. Whilst the night skies are clear for brilliant star gazing and the crisp mornings are perfect for game viewing, the days are warm and dry so relaxing by a pool is definitely possible. The unique beauty of South Africa when compared with other countries, is that it is a year-round destination, so whenever your wedding and honeymoon, it will be waiting for you with open arms.
Get a private vehicle! This will make the difference between a really special, intimate and romantic safari and just a normal safari. On a honeymoon, we are sure you just want yourselves, the animals and the African sunshine.
Request a room with a private plunge pool - South Africa is especially good for these luxuries on safari where other countries are not, do make the most of it!!
If you are visiting Cape Town (which we would really recommend!) then also take a trip to the winelands of the Western Cape - what is more romantic than sipping on the finest South African wines with views of rolling hills all around?
If you are an adventurous duo, rent a car and really explore the country!
Travel in October and try to spot some whales!
We cannot express what an incredible honeymoon yuo planned for us to Africa. We can not thank you enough. As you predicted, we will be back
Our honeymoon was wonderful..Thank you so much. We loved all the safari lodges you recommended and we have been singing your praises since our return.
We just wanted to say thank you for the most incredible honeymoon to Africa. We could not have done this without your guidance and knowledge, it exceeded my expectations. Thank you again.
Hi Dave, we are back from our honeymoon and still on cloud nine. Thank you so much for all of your hard work putting together such a perfect trip.
Thank you again for all your patience, knowledge and overall awesomeness!
Many thanks for all your help in planning our honeymoon. As you predicted we loved it and cannot wait to return.
