The Ultimate Honeymoon: Why an African Safari Should Be on Your Itinerary

From the Seychelles to the South African bush, this was the adventure part of our honeymoon.

When you think of a honeymoon, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a beautiful beach, turquoise water and somewhere you can completely switch off. And of course, we wanted that too. But we also wanted our honeymoon to feel like an adventure, so after our time island hopping around the Seychelles, we headed to South Africa for a few nights at The Last Word Kitara.

It turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip.

What made it special?

Our choice of Lodge was a crucial part of this. With just six suites, The Last Word Kitara has a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. It feels much more like a private bush retreat than a traditional safari lodge, and that small scale makes the whole experience feel incredibly personal.  Each suite has a veranda and indoor/outdoor showers overlooking a wildlife reserve and don't be surprised if you see an impala nosing around in your outdoor shower! 

The setting is spectacular, surrounded by the African bush with wildlife never feeling very far away. In fact, you don't always have to head out on a game drive to experience the wildlife. There is game viewing from the lodge itself, so even when you're relaxing, there is always the possibility of seeing something unexpected.

Our Game drives

Of course, we headed out on game drives, but what surprised me most was how much there was to discover beyond simply ticking off the Big Five. We travelled in September and were incredibly lucky to see so many young animals, including baby rhino, baby hyena and, incredibly, a baby elephant that was just one hour old. Watching this tiny elephant finding its feet, surrounded by its family, was one of those completely magical moments that you simply cannot plan for.

The knowledge of the safari guides and trackers was incredible. They didn't just point out the animals; they explained the plants, trees, birds, insects and smaller creatures that make up the ecosystem around them. We started to understand how everything is connected and how each species plays its own part. And who knew there was a 'little five' and that trees could communicate with each other? It turns out there is a whole world happening around you that you might never notice without someone knowledgeable to point it out. For me, that made the experience much more fascinating than simply going in search of the Big Five.

A typical day

Game drives are included twice daily. A typical day at The Last Word Kitara begins with an early morning wake-up call before heading out on your first game drive at dawn. After a few hours exploring the bush and spotting wildlife, you'll return to the lodge for breakfast and some time to relax. The afternoon brings a second game drive, offering another opportunity to discover the incredible wildlife as the landscape changes towards sunset. Back at the lodge, evenings are all about unwinding, enjoying a wonderful dinner and sharing stories from the day's adventures.

Safari days start early, so having somewhere beautiful to relax between game drives is important. Kitara's infinity pool was the perfect place to slow down, take in the surroundings and simply enjoy being in the bush. There is something really cool about lying beside a pool, looking out across the landscape and knowing that you are surrounded by wildlife. It gives you the opportunity to have the excitement of safari without feeling as though you are constantly on the go.

Dining on safari 

The food at Kitara was another real highlight of our stay. Everything was fresh and beautifully prepared, using locally sourced ingredients, and there was such a lovely variety to the meals. We had the most incredible private dinner for our honeymoon, which was such a special experience, but some of my favourite moments were actually the more relaxed ones – sitting around the campfire with drinks and a BBQ under the stars.

One of my favourite memories was stopping for a 'bush coffee' during a game drive. We were treated to mocha coffee with Amarula, sitting just metres from where hippos were happily chilling out. On another afternoon game drive, we stopped for a cocktail next to a family of giraffes.

It was all part of what made the experience feel so special – the food, the setting and those little moments in between the game drives.

Would I recommend a safari for a honeymoon?

Absolutely. If you're looking for a honeymoon that combines relaxation with adventure, I think a safari and beach combination is hard to beat.
You don't have to choose between lying on a beautiful beach and having an incredible adventure. You can have both. South Africa is not typically twinned with the Seychelles, it works brilliantly with Mauritius and the Seychelles works amazingly with the Masai Mara in Kenya due to direct flights between the two. We were prepared for some overnights in Mahe and Johannesburg to make it work and it was worth it.

For us, The Last Word Kitara was the perfect way to finish our honeymoon. With only six suites, an intimate atmosphere, incredible guides and trackers, unforgettable wildlife encounters and the chance to simply relax beside the infinity pool between game drives, it felt like a very special place to experience our first safari together.

Thinking about a honeymoon with a difference? I can help you create a honeymoon that combines the destinations and experiences that matter most to you, whether that's a luxury beach escape, a safari adventure or, like ours, a little bit of both. 

My background in luxury travel has taken me on wildlife adventures in Uganda, Kenya, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa so I know first hand how the different types of safaris work. Deciding between them can be tough. I'm here to help you create the perfect Honeymoon or special safari trip. Get in touch today to start planning the perfect trip.