Africa is the kind of place adventurous honeymoons are made for. At a time when you’re expected to want a bed strewn with rose petals and a picture-perfect beach (and not a lot else!), we’ve got a few thrill-seeking ideas to add some splash to your special trip. How about storybook wildlife sightings and daredevil activities? Hikes across totally out-there landscapes, and nights sleeping under the stars? And if you’re looking for a spot of post-wedding pampering, we’ve thrown a little bit of that in too…
Explore the Unexplored
8 nights in Selous & Mafia Island
Stray from Tanzania’s beaten path to the Selous, a wilderness of forest vines and open savannah in the south of the country. Earn your safari stripes with boat trips amongst snorting hippo and walking safaris alongside herds of elephant, before zooming over to Mafia Island. Yes, it’s got blissful beaches to lounge upon, but you can also snorkel with whale sharks and discover a culture completely removed from digital demons.
The Big Six
8 nights in Rwanda & Kenya
An adventurous honeymoon shouldn’t just make the cut. It should raise the bar – and that’s exactly what this itinerary is all about. For the experience of a lifetime, trek gorilla in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, before heading down to the Masai Mara in Kenya for more big cat sightings than you can shake a stick at – and a selection of swoon-worthy lodges to retreat to with a G&T in hand.
Luwi River Trail
8 nights in South Luangwa, Zambia
Challenge your wild side in the South Luangwa and embark on an adventurous honeymoon safari like the explorers of old – on foot. Traverse bleached-sand river beds with an expert guide, looking for lion tracks underfoot and fish eagles overhead, and end every day in your own private fly camp, a billion stars twinkling overhead and leopard barking in the distance. Adventurous and romantic? What could be better.
Whales to Waves
12 nights in South Africa & Mozambique
If your other half is something of an adventure-goer, and you’re more of an, er, relaxation-seeker, try South Africa for size. As well as cage diving with great white sharks and paragliding from the forested slopes of Lion’s Head in Cape Town, there’s award-winning wines to taste, a different, mouth-watering restaurant for every day, and handsome beaches to stroll along at sunset.
Animals & Islands
11 nights in Tanzania & Zanzibar
A tried, tested and triumphant combination, this adventurous honeymoon will take you on an epic journey through Tanzania’s dreamiest parks. Spot the Big Five in Ngorongoro, track elephant on foot in Tarangire, and watch herds of wildebeest stampede across the Serengeti in the greatest wildlife show on earth. It’s the sort of safari dreams are made of – and if the mood takes you, round it off with some beachside R&R in Zanzibar.
Namibia Fly and Drive
15 nights in Namibia
You might know Namibia for its skyscraper sand dunes, and landscapes that put the awe into inspiring. But did you know that you can sand-board down those very dunes, or even quad-bike across them? How about hiking through the cracks and crevices of Fish River Canyon, or soaring high above the landscape suspended under a hot air balloon? You do now – and this adventurous honeymoon packs them all in.
A Volcanic Adventure
9 nights in Rwanda & DRC
How many people do you know that have climbed an active volcano and hiked with mountain gorilla to celebrate their foray into married life? We’re guessing not that many, but this adventurous honeymoon in the Democratic Republic of Congo is just the ticket for daring couples looking to explore a new destination – and one that’s packed to the rafters with activities you’ll definitely want to tell the grandkids about.
The Full Monty
11 nights in Botswana & Vic Falls
For a truly adventurous honeymoon with a smorgasbord of epic escapades to get your teeth into, it has to be Botswana. Quad-bike across the shimmering Makgadikgadi salt pans, game drive in search of super-prides of lion or take to the water on a mokoro safari. And if you’ve got any energy left, how about a fly camp on a private island, just about as far as you can get from civilisation? We’ll have it all, thanks.
The Ends of The Earth
5 nights in Tanzania
This adventurous honeymoon will have you walking through the achingly-beautiful Rift Valley on a multi-day hike from Tanzania’s Empakaai Crater to Lake Natron. It’s not so much about the wildlife here (make a stop at the Ngorongoro Crater for your Big Five fix), but the landscape of rugged mountains and dusty gorges, grassy plains and gin-clear pools. Magic.
The Botswana Adventurer
10 nights in Vic Falls & Botswana
Thrill-seekers and adventure-honeymooners, Victoria Falls was just made for you. Combine bungee-jumping, white-water rafting, helicopter and microlight flights, and even gorge-swinging at the world’s most spectacular waterfall, before flying down to neighbouring Botswana for some top-notch safari-going. Talk about taking a leap into married life!
