More and more couples are choosing African safari honeymoons – here’s why
BY CINDY SOSROUTOMO
So it would make sense that Zuri and her husband, Leo Caruso, both 33 from Toronto, Ontario, decided on Tanzania for their honeymoon. Located in East Africa and known for its vast wilderness, Tanzania is home to Africa’s tallest mountain (Mount Kilamanjaro), iconic national parks (Serengeti, Tarangire, Gombe and Arusha, to name a few), and the largest remaining elephant populations in the world. It was this promise of wildlife that appealed most to the couple; Leo has always loved animals, which is why for the first of his birthdays that they’ve celebrated together, Zuri surprised him with a day trip to African Lion Safari, a drive-through safari park in Southern Ontario. They even joked at the time that if things worked out between them, they’d go on a ‘real’ African lion safari for their honeymoon. Little did they know that opportunity would come just four years later.
“Travel is a huge part of our relationship and when we do travel, it’s important for us to immerse ourselves in the culture,” says Zuri. “So a safari in Tanzania was a really easy choice once we started planning our honeymoon.”
As it turns out, more and more couples are making the choice to safari in Africa as a post-wedding getaway. John Hawks, Executive Director of Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA) says that over 35,000 honeymoons are planned each year by DWHSA members, and of that, an estimated 15%-20% qualify as “out-of-the-ordinary” trips. Among these bookings, safari honeymoons rank among the top five exotic options.
“Safaris will satisfy a couple’s desire to do something truly unique for their honeymoon, and because they’re more remote trips, couples will definitely spend more quality time together than they would at a typical all-inclusive resort with all its distractions,” says Hawks. “Friends will have beach photos from Mexico and the Caribbean for their honeymoons, but you’ll be able to share jaw-dropping images taken from game drives and your lodge deck overlooking the savanna.”
Out of the ordinary was exactly what Zuri and Leo were hoping for. The couple, who tied the knot in Oshawa,
In all, the newlyweds spent 10 days in Africa – five on safari and five in Zanzibar – and thanks to Gosheni and its acute attention to detail, the entire trip exceeded all their expectations.
“The customization and professionalism Goshemi offered was better than any of the tour companies within our criteria that reached out,” says Zuri. “They gave us the ability to select add-ons, we had hot meals throughout the entire experience (which was not easy to find!), and an electric cooler, so our drinks were always cold. As soon as we landed in Arusha, our driver was waiting for us, ready to take us straight to our first hotel.”
This level of service was matched by each of the five featured hotels on the itinerary. Zuri and Leo were routinely greeted with welcome treats and a congratulatory note in their rooms, and would return from a day of game viewing to find their bed strewn with rose petals and a hot bath waiting for them. One hotel draped a ‘Just Married’ tire covers on the back of their safari truck, while another baked a cake for Leo’s birthday and set up a lavish dinner for them under the stars. “These little touches made the trip feel so special,” she says.
Safaris today have perfected this winning combination of adventure, service and luxury, appealing to just about every
Having ultra-luxe hotels and private safari tours made all the difference for Zuri and Leo, not just in terms of comfort but also romance. Yes, the days were long and tiring, but they were also sweet and rewarding, with hotel staff “celebrating our status as newlyweds at every turn,” says Zuri. The many moments spent viewing sunsets, dining in the open air and encountering wildlife not only brought them closer to nature but also, ultimately, to each other.
“On our first day, we went to Tarangire National Park where a herd of elephants came so close to the vehicle, we could actually feel the ground shake as they walked. It was amazing!” says Zuri. “We kept saying that we couldn’t believe we were there and seeing what we were seeing. The entire trip was awe-inspiring and the best part was we were making all these once-in-a-lifetime memories together.”
As Zuri and Leo can attest, there’s nothing quite like coming face to face with an elephant or lion in the wild. But did they see the Big Five? Coined by big game hunters and referring to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, the Big Five consists of the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and African buffalo. Zuri and Leo came just shy of the five, with the elusive rhinoceros nowhere to be seen. This, however, took nothing away from the overall experience, which Zuri says was a literal dream come true, born from a simple birthday outing five years ago.
“A safari honeymoon was a great way for us to experience something completely out of the ordinary together,” she says. “It created core memories that we’ll get to relive together for the rest of our lives.”
WHERE TO GO?
Since a safari honeymoon may be a couple’s first trip of this type together, John Hawks, Executive Director of Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA), recommends sticking to the two most popular regions in Africa: eastern Africa (mainly Kenya and Tanzania), and southern Africa (South Africa primarily, but also Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe).
“These two regions will offer the widest range of flights from Canada as well as the best city options for pre- and post-safari stays if you need to decompress before and after those long-haul flights,” he says. “Plus, these countries have the biggest roster of national parks, game reserves and private conservancies to choose from.”
WHERE TO STAY?
Hawks has a few favourite accommodations that he recommends to honeymooners, including: Royal Malewane in South Africa, located within Greater Kruger Park and comprising three luxury lodges; Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, also in South Africa, located in Sabi Sand Reserve and home to six luxury villas with views of Kruger National Park; and &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania, situated on the rim of Ngorongoro’s ancient caldera and offering 30 suites with banana leaf ceilings and grass roofs.
WHEN TO GO?
The best time to go on safari honeymoons in Africa is during the dry season – June to October – when animals can be seen gathering at watering holes. But late spring, right after the wet season, and during the Great Migration months, which vary based on weather and honeymoon destination, are also prime viewing times. “Plan about two weeks for a honeymoon,” says Hawks. “With long-haul flights, that will give you a good amount of time on the ground.”
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Most itineraries that work best for safari honeymoons will run from $700-$1,050 per person, per night for comfortable lodging, or from $950-$2,000 per person, per night for true luxury. “But it’s important to remember that safari pricing is absolutely all-inclusive, given the remote location of your lodging. Literally everything is included, not just meals and drinks but also excursions and entertainment,” says Hawks.
TOP TRAVEL TIPS
Hawks offers these three tips for safari honeymoons: Choose guided and packaged safari honeymoons rather than self-guided/self-drive itineraries (“The last thing you need is the stress of navigating a safari vehicle on your own”); explore beyond the game drives (“Visit local villages or volunteer for ecological projects, which can be arranged through your safari lodge”); and build in down time (“Safaris can be engaging but exhausting, so be sure to build in some time to relax”).
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