10 Spectacular Safari Honeymoon Destinations in Africa

Let us help you discover some well known and lesser discovered jewels for an unforgettable safari honeymoon trip of a lifetime!

If you’re thinking about an African safari honeymoon, you might wonder, what’s the best safari honeymoon destination in Africa? What happens on a safari? How long do you need for a safari in Africa? Where should I go for a safari and beach honeymoon??

Let us take you there with our spectacular safari honeymoon destinations in Africa.

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In East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda), the best months are late June to October, offering prime conditions for game viewing and the Great Migration in the Serengeti & Maasai Mara.

In Southern Africa (Botswana, South Africa (Kruger), Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia) the dry season is from May to October, when the incredible wildlife gathers around water sources, making it easier to spot.

The dry season means fewer mosquitoes and clear, sunny days.

In East Africa there is a short rains season in December to February which is known as calving season and you have a chance to see newborn wildlife!

In South Africa, the popular Cape Town and Garden Route is best from late September to early May.

It’s a landlocked country in Southern Africa and bordered by Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Unspoiled by mass tourism, yet it’s very accessible, too. It’s one of the best destinations for a sustainable honeymoon.

The Chobe River / Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta are two of the extraordinary safari honeymoon destinations in Africa.

Travel through the vast, unspoiled wilderness and see the Big 5 (although sadly, the Rhino is less commonly seen because of poaching).

The Okavango Delta is a vast wetland wilderness that offers incredible opportunities for wildlife viewing.

The Delta is home to a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, hippos, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, antelope, rhinos, zebra and crocodiles. You can take a unique mokoro safari (a canoe safari), too.

Chobe National Park, in the northern part of the country, has the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. It’s a must for lovers of these majestic animals.

You’ll also find giraffe, African painted dogs and zebra, to name a few! Take a boat cruise on the Chobe River and marvel at the wonderful spectacle of life.

Sleep under the stars on the Makgadikgadi Pans. This is one of the biggest salt pans in the world and is perfect for stargazing. The lake would have covered an area the size of Switzerland.

Botswana also offers unique experiences, such as cultural tours with the San tribe, also known as bushmen. They are among the oldest tribes in Southern Africa.

The San people have a rich cultural heritage and live a traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Tsodilo Hills and learn about the ancient rock art.

Botswana is a true African jewel.

Best time to visit Botswana for honeymoon: April to October

How to get to Botswana: Fly to Maun Airport (airport code: MUB) from Johannesburg or Cape Town. You could also start or end in Livingstone in Zambia (LVI) or Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (VFA).

Where to tag on to Botswana: As you can see, you can easily plan a multi-destination honeymoon if you add on Victoria Falls. You can also travel through the Kalahari Desert from Namibia.

Botswana honeymoon safari lodges we love: Belmond Safari – Savute Elephant Lodge | &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp

Botswana adventure tour we love: 8-day Botswana & Victoria Falls Adventure

We know honeymoon couples ponder between them when trying to decide on an African safari honeymoon as they’re both iconic.

It’s easy to see why. Kenya has vast and diverse landscapes and a wide variety of national parks and reserves with great infrastructure.

The most famous area is the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in the southwestern part of the country. The Maasai Mara has a shared eco system with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

You can also spot the Big 5 – elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, and rhinoceros – in different parks across Kenya. Take a hot-air balloon ride over the savannah.

Witness the annual wildebeest migration, when over two million animals — wildebeests (and zebra and gazelle) are on the move, racing through the vast wilderness, creating one of the most spectacular and unique wildlife viewing experiences on the planet.

Meet the famous nomadic tribe, the Maasai, and learn about their ancient way of life. See the flamingos at Lake Nakuru. Visit Amboseli National Park with the iconic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park are two of the oldest parks in Kenya.

Get more off the beaten track in Ol Pejeta Conservancy where you can visit Rhino refuge on the foothills on Mount Kenya in Laikipia County.

There is a lot more to Kenya than safari. Nairobi, the capital, is worthy of a day or two exploration and is home to the social-media friendly Giraffe Manor (which books out at least one year in advance!).

You can also visit tea plantations. Discover the coral reefs and white-sand beaches along the coast near Mombassa. We love Diani Beach and the lesser visited Lamu archipelago.

Best time to visit Kenya for honeymoon: Late June to October. Avoid travel from March to May.

How to get to Kenya: Nairobi (airport code: NBO) is very easy to get to, as one of the biggest hubs in Africa.

There are direct flights from London, Paris and Amsterdam, Dubai, Doha and Istanbul, to name a few. You can use Nairobi as a transit hub to other parts of Africa, too.

Where to tag on to Kenya: You easily combined Kenya with neighbouring Tanzania for a multi-destination safari honeymoon across the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti.

Ideal if you don’t want to choose between them! Nairobi is also a good hub to get to Uganda and Rwanda.

Kenya’s beaches are beautiful and you can also easily get to Tanzania’s Zanzibar island or Mauritius for a beautiful luxury safari and beach honeymoon, all-inclusive beach honeymoon or Seychelles for an island hopping honeymoon.

Kenya honeymoon safari lodges we love: Mahali Mzuri | Governors’ Il Moran Camp

Kenya safari adventure tour we love: National Geographic Journeys – Kenya Safari Experience

This beautiful country in southeastern Africa has a lot to offer, including stunning natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, and welcoming faces. In fact, it’s called the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ because of the friendly nature of its people. 

The third largest lake in Africa, the crystal clear ‘Lake of Stars’ that is Lake Malawi, is the big draw here. You can actually go to the beach in this landlocked country! There are sandy beaches along the narrow, giant lake.

Hike along Kande Beach or just relax under a baobab tree. Go kayaking or snorkelling and diving. Get truly off-grid on Likoma Island. Catch a sunset over the lake. Discover hidden waterfalls on a hike at Africa’s third highest mountain, Mulanje Massif.

Malawi’s beautiful wilderness suffered decades of decline because of poaching but have got their act together in protecting their land in association with African Parks, making it an up and coming prime safari destination.

Get off the beaten track in Liwonde National Park which until 2015 was in decline but now has a thriving ecosystem. Go mountain biking in Nyika National Park and spot some zebra. Malawi is a land still undiscovered!

Best time to visit Malawi for honeymoon: May to October

How to get to Malawi: There are direct flights to the capital city, Lilongwe (airport code: LLW) from Nairobi

Where to tag on to Malawi: Malawi is best travelled overland on a tour from Tanzania via Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can also travel to Mozambique (but to get to the beaches from Lake Malawi will take around 3 days going off the beaten track).

Malawi honeymoon spots we love: Mkulumadzi Lodge | Kaya Mawa Likoma Island

Malawi safari adventure tour we love: Serengeti to Victoria Falls Overland: Night Stars & Spices

Like South Africa, it’s best seen by hiring a vehicle and hitting the road on a romantic honeymoon road trip to see the diverse, vast open spaces and dramatic landscapes.

If you look at the pictures of the world’s oldest desert, the Namib Desert, the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and the eerie wildness of the Skeleton Coast you might think this is some barren land but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Namibia is home to one of the best safari honeymoon destinations in Africa. Even the desert is in inhabited by desert-adapted elephants, rhino, giraffe, lions and zebra. Go hiking in Fish River Canyon and whale and dolphin-watching in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

The Himba people live an ancient semi-nomadic lifestyle and are known for their striking appearance as they cover themselves with a paste that gives their skin a red hue.

You can learn about their way of life with a respectful visit to their land. In the Kalahari, we can also find the San people who live in Botswana.

While the wild desert and Atlantic Ocean landscapes are a must, safari seekers will love Etosha National Park in the country’s north.

The salt pan has several waterholes where animals gather, making it easier to spot the incredible spectacle of life. See elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah and giraffe.

Vast numbers of springbok, gemsbok, zebra, and blue wildebeest congregate in large herds at watering spots.

The stark white backdrop of the immense salt pans makes them easily visible (and supposedly can even be seen from space!).

Namibia is the perfect African safari honeymoon destination for couples looking for a unique adventure.

Plus, it is one of our favourite honeymoon destinations to go stargazing, too. The African night sky is a sight to behold!

Best time to visit Namibia for honeymoon: May to October

How to get to Namibia: Fly to the capital Windhoek (airport code: WDH) from Johannesburg or Cape Town. You can also fly from Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)

Where to tag on to Namibia: Namibia is accessible from South Africa, so it’s very easy to combine with a city stopover in Cape Town or if you’ve more time to explore the rest of the country.

You can also travel through the Kalahari Desert to Botswana and on to Victoria Falls if you’ve more time.

If you’d like to add a tropical island beach honeymoon, you’ll need to stopover in Johannesburg.

Namibia honeymoon safari lodges we love: Little Ongava Lodge | Onguma Fort

Namibia safari adventure tour we love: National Geographic – Journeys Wonders of Namibia

In the Great Rift Valley, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it’s abundantly beautiful with verdant rolling hills and mountains. Rwanda’s people are warm and welcoming.

It’s also one of the planet’s major coffee and tea producing regions.

Explore one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, Nyungwe Forest National Park. Search for chimpanzees. They love to hide so it’s never 100% guaranteed to see them, but there are many other primates to meet, too.

Go kayaking on Lake Kivu. Akagera National Park, in the country’s east, has a wide range of wildlife to discover, including elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas and antelopes. This area is a great conservation success story.

Rwanda is home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, along with Uganda. They certainly are the star attraction!

Go Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga Mountains. Trek through the dense jungle in search of our cousins.

There is less than 2% in the difference between gorilla and human DNA! Learn about the work of legendary primatologists Dian Fossey.

You might know Rwanda for its tragic and recent history and you can’t leave the country without visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Like Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, you might be reluctant to visit such a painful reminder of what humans can do to other humans, but this is a thought provoking place and important experience. 

You can see why we couldn’t leave Rwanda out of our top safari honeymoon destinations in Africa. The stunning, lush, misty landscapes are waiting to be discovered!

Best time to visit Rwanda: June to September and December to February (you can go gorilla trekking all year-round)

How to get to Rwanda: Fly to the capital city, Kigali (airport code: KGL) via London, Istanbul, Dubai, Nairobi & Johannesburg.

Where to tag on to Rwanda: Combine a safari honeymoon in Rwanda with Tanzania or Kenya. You can fly via Nairobi to Zanzibar, Mauritius or Seychelles for a luxury safari and beach honeymoon.

Rwanda honeymoon safari lodges we love: One&Only Nyungwe House | One&Only Gorilla’s Nest

Rwanda safari adventure tour we love: National Geographic Journeys – Wild Encounters in Rwanda

South Africa is one of our favourite foodie honeymoon destinations.

How about whale watching where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean or visiting cute penguins at Boulders Beach?

Maybe you want to do one of the world’s best bungee jump in Tsitsikamma National Park. If you’re a history buff or care about the fight for racial justice, you can follow in the footsteps of international icon, the late, great, Nelson Mandela.

You can add all of this to a South Africa itinerary, BEFORE you even think about how great South Africa is for a safari honeymoon. It’s easy to see why the South Africa is one of the best honeymoon destinations on the planet!

South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the best safari honeymoon destinations in Africa. Not only can you see the Big 5 but it is also the location of the most luxurious honeymoon safari lodges (and there are plenty of budget options, too).

The beautiful national park is the largest in South Africa and is home to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos.

At the end of the beautiful Garden Route honeymoon road trip route, the Eastern Cape is another popular destination for an African safari honeymoon

It’s one of the few areas in Africa that is malaria free. There is a huge choice of game reserves to choose from.

South Africa is the perfect safari honeymoon destination if you want more diverse experiences.

Best time to visit South Africa for honeymoon: You can visit South Africa year round. The best time to visit Kruger National Park is from April to October. The best time to drive the Garden Route and go on a safari in the Eastern Cape is October to April.

How to get to South Africa: Fly to Johannesburg (airport code: JNB), Cape Town (CPT) or Durban (DUR) from most major European and Middle East cities like Dubai. You can also fly to/from Johannesburg from most African destinations.

Where to tag on to South Africa: For a luxury safari and beach honeymoon, consider flying from Johannesburg to an Indian Ocean island. How about a dream honeymoon in Seychelles or an island honeymoon escape in Mauritius?

You can also get to Zanzibar or Mozambique!

South Africa honeymoon safari lodges we love: Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge | Jock Safari Lodge | Gorah Elephant Camp

South Africa safari adventure tour we love: National Geographic Journeys – Explore Kruger National Park

The Serengeti is the Mecca of all safari honeymoon destinations and it’s easy to see why. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino plus giraffe and gazelle.

Witness the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park & in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve (both are part of the same ecosystem and home to the Maasai people).

This is one of the most spectacular natural events on earth. Watch lions and cheetahs hunt for prey in the vast grasslands.

Tanzania also has a diverse birdlife with over 1,100 known species. Take a hot air balloon ride as the sun sets over the savannah.

Visit Tarangire National Park which has the biggest concentration of elephants in Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater, an inactive volcano caldera, is one of the best safari honeymoon areas in Africa and is teaming with wildlife.

Get off the beaten track in southern Tanzania at Nyerere Game Reserve and remote Ruaha Trek to Sanje Falls. Visit the Stone Age site of Isimilia.

Tanzania is also homes three of Africa’s major lakes — Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa in the south.

Along with the majestic wildlife, you can climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest summit.

This is physically challenging, so ideally don’t do this immediately after your wedding but you can do it as part of a bucket list adventure latermoon!

Tanzania is also home to the Indian Ocean paradise, the Zanzibar archipelago. The idyllic beaches of powdery white sand and crystal-clear azure water.

Alternatively, consider Pemba Island or Mafia Island for a unique off the beaten track beach experience. A honeymoon in Tanzania will be the safari honeymoon adventure of a lifetime.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for honeymoon: Late June to October. Calving season in January and February is also an interesting time to travel.

How to get to Tanzania: Fly to Dar Es Salaam (airport code: DAR) or Kilimanjaro (JRO) from major European and Middle East cities. You can also fly to Nairobi (NBO) (and access the Serengeti from there) or Zanzibar (ZNZ)

Where to tag on to Tanzania: You easily combined Tanzania with neighbouring Kenya for a multi-destination safari honeymoon across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara.

Nairobi is accessible and a good hub to get to Uganda and Rwanda. You can head overland into Malawi for a further off the beaten track African safari honeymoon adventure.

Zanzibar Island is an absolute must, but if you prefer a multi-destination beach and safari honeymoon, you can fly via Nairobi direct to Mauritius or Seychelles.

We’ve got the ultimate guide to planning a Tanzania honeymoon and the ultimate guide to planning a Zanzibar honeymoon if you want to dive deeper!

Tanzania honeymoon safari lodges we love: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti | Singita Faru Faru Luxury Lodge | &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Tanzania safari adventure tour we love: National Geographic Journeys – Tanzania Safari Experience

You might already know that it’s home to half the planet’s critically endangered mountain gorillas who live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park).

Home to the source of the Nile River and known as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, Uganda will surprise and delight you with its diverse landscapes and adventure activities on offer.

Adrenaline seekers should visit the town of Jinja where you can go whitewater rafting, kayaking and bungee jumping at the Nile.

Take a boat trip on Lake Victoria which borders Kenya and Tanzania. There are many other activities like quad biking, mountain biking and horse riding if you want to stay on dry land.

Uganda is home to the biggest mountain range in Africa, the Rwenzori Mountains and beautiful waterfalls in Murchison Falls National Park. Kibale Forest Park is home to 7 types of primate.

Kidepo Valley National Park, in the northeastern part of Uganda, offers a remote and off-the-beaten-path safari experience, where visitors can see animals such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the go-to for a safari, with buffaloes, leopards, elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, hippos, various reptiles and birds.

Gorilla Trekking is the top attraction in Uganda. Take a walk with members of the Batwa tribe, also known as the pygmies, are one of the oldest communities in Uganda.

The original inhabitants of the forest, you can learn about their ancient traditions and way of life and the challenges they now face.

Uganda truly is an Africa highlight and one of the safari honeymoon destinations in Africa you should add to your shortlist.

Best time to visit Uganda for honeymoon: June to September and December to February

How to get to Uganda: Fly to Entebbe International Airport (airport code: EBB) near the capital Kampala via Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, Dubai and Johannesburg.

Where to tag on to Uganda: Combine a safari honeymoon in Uganda with Tanzania or Kenya. You can fly via Nairobi to Zanzibar, Mauritius or Seychelles for a luxury safari and beach honeymoon.

Uganda honeymoon safari lodges we love: Apoka Safari Lodge | Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Uganda safari adventure tour we love: Uganda Overland: Gorillas & Chimps

In fact, 30% of Zambia is National Park or Game Reserves.

The magical wonder, Victoria Falls, sits on Zambia’s border with Zimbabwe and is ideal for lovers of adventure and nature.

These are some of the biggest waterfalls in the world, comparable with Niagara Falls on the border of Canada and the USA and Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina.

There are actually seventeen other natural waterfalls, particularly near the country’s border with Tanzania.

South Luangwa National Park is one of the best areas to visit. At the end of the Great Rift Valley, it has a high concentration of wildlife and a diverse range of ecosystems, including riverine forests, savannas, and wetlands.

Find elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo and over 450 species of birds. Kafue National Park, the largest national park in Zambia, is another must-visit destination for safari enthusiasts, with abundant wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.

Zambia is also home to the Lower Zambezi National Park, along the Zambezi River and known for its elephant herds, leopards, and hippos.

Besides spotting the Big 5, you can also see the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, in Liuwa Plains. Another mesmerizing sight.

Livingstone, the town at Victoria Falls, is the jump off point to some incredibly fun things to do for thrill seekers.

Feel the rush of the African water on a whitewater rafting trip on the Zambezi River or bungee jump at Victoria Falls.

From late August, swim at Devil’s Pool at the edge of the falls. They named Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria during colonial times under British Rule, but Africans call them Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders”.

If you combine Zambia with Tanzania, you might find yourselves close to Lake Tanganyika, where you can go snorkelling and scuba diving in one of the world’s longest lakes.

With its vast wilderness areas, diverse wildlife, and unique cultural experiences, Zambia is one of our top picks and will be an unforgettable African safari honeymoon adventure.

Best time to visit Zambia for honeymoon: June to November, however the best time to visit Victoria Falls is from February to May.

How to get to Zambia: The capital is Lusaka (airport code: LUN) but most couples will enter the country in Livingstone (LVI) at Victoria Falls

Where to tag on to Zambia: You can combine South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe for an easy multi-destination safari honeymoon. Fly via Johannesburg or Nairobi to Mauritius or Seychelles for a stunning beach and safari honeymoon.

Zambia honeymoon safari lodges we love: Time + Tide Chinzombo | Zambezi Grande Private Game Experience | Chikunto Safari Lodge | Sausage Tree Camp |

Victoria Falls is at Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia and one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders.

They’re a must if you’re travelling to the Southern African region. However, from late September to January is not a good time to see the water spray.

Zimbabwe has a complex political history because of colonialism, but this is a hidden gem when it comes to African safari honeymoon destinations.

In fact, Zimbabwe’s safari guides and rangers are the best trained on the continent. With a tough and rigorous five-year training course to get the job, you’re in the best hands possible on a safari honeymoon in Zimbabwe!

Hwange National Park is the largest and most popular area for a safari in Zimbabwe. You’ll find a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and more.

Visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre to learn about efforts to protect the endangered African wild dog.

Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can take a guided safari walks through the floodplains where you might spot hippos and crocodiles.

It’s also famous for its large herds of elephants that congregate around the Zambezi River during the dry season. Visit Matobo National Park, where you can spot black and white rhinoceros and explore ancient rock art sites.

The grave of Cecil Rhodes, founder of former British colony Rhodesia, is carved into the summit of Malindidzimu. Explore the Matusadona National Park on the shores of Lake Kariba.

Take a sunset cruise on the lake. Zimbabwe is a truly an authentic slice of Africa!

Best time to visit Zimbabwe for a honeymoon: May to October

How to get to Zimbabwe: Fly to Victoria or Livingstone via Johannesburg or Cape Town and jump off on a tour of the country from there. The capital Harare (airport code: HRE) has direct flights to/from most African capital cities.

Where to tag on to Zimbabwe: You can combine South Africa, Botswana and Zambia for an easy multi-destination safari honeymoon. Fly via Johannesburg or Nairobi to Mauritius or Seychelles for a stunning beach and safari honeymoon.

Zimbabwe honeymoon safari lodges we love: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Zimbabwe safari adventure tour we love: Southern Africa Encompassed: Bush Camps & Wildlife Spotting

We hope this list of spectacular safari honeymoon destinations in Africa has inspired you to plan a trip to the great continent!

It will be a trip you remember forever! Chat to us and let us know where you’re going!

Happy Planning x