We at Timbuktu firmly believe that the perfect honeymoon should be an epic, once-in-a-lifetime trip, and if you can fill it with incredible wildlife sightings and dreamy experiences (hot air balloons and beach-side massages, we’re looking at you), even better. Enter Tanzania. The East African giant has one of the largest wildlife populations in the world in a number of parks and reserves, and, with the help of some adrenaline-packed activities and beautiful, languid coastline, will suit all types of honeymooners. So, whether you want to start married life with a bang or would prefer to get stuck into a good book on the beach (or both!) have a peek at our top Tanzania honeymoons.
A classic
If a Tanzania honeymoon conjures memories of endless open plains, hot air balloon safaris at dawn and more wildlife than you can shake a stick at, then this classic trip is the honeymoon for you. Combining the parks of Tanzania’s iconic northern circuit (more about that here), there’s something to satisfy even the greatest of romantics. Looking for wildlife-packed days and evenings filled with ice-cold G&Ts and starlit dinners? The Serengeti is the place to be. Fancy trying a walking safari and coming nose-to-whisker with the best of the big cats? Tarangire and Ngorongoro will be right up your street. Then, to top it all off, we’ve added some time on the postcard-perfect shores of Zanzibar.
Top spots to stay
There’s a fair number of lodges dotted around the country that would make all your Tanzania honeymoon dreams come true, but if we really had to choose, we’d spend our nights here: Lamai in the northern Serengeti, Tarangire Treetops for a spot of tree-house luxury, and the space-age Highlands in Ngorongoro. End at Mnemba Island, an exclusive beach retreat of the barefoot-luxury kind.
Bucket list ticks
This adventure from summit to sea will take you to the top of Kilimanjaro and all the way to powder-soft sands of Pemba Island, with a quick stop on the plains of the Serengeti along the way. It’s a Tanzania honeymoon with plenty of bucket-list ticks and perfect for those looking for a dose of excitement alongside their romance. In the Serengeti, highlights include game driving amongst the Big Five and watching lion and leopard lazing amongst the boulders, but the ultimate, save-it-for-the-grandkids moment will be when you reach that iconic sign at the top of Africa’s tallest mountain, just as the sun casts its first rays across the landscape…
Top spots to stay
Your Kilimanjaro climb doesn’t invite much choice in the accommodation stakes (but rest assured that you’ll be well looked after), so why not make up for it elsewhere? In the Serengeti, Namiri Plains is a Tanzania honeymoon dream with its outdoor bathtubs and super-chic interiors, or, if you’re trying to catch the famous river crossings, do it in style from the gorgeous Singita Mara River Camp in the northern region. And on Pemba, it has to be Fundu Lagoon with its rustic yet dreamy rooms and privacy by the bucket-load.
Bush, beach and blue seas
Effortlessly pairing excitement with relaxation, and fabulous safaris with exquisite, cotton-candy beaches, Tanzania is an excellent choice when it comes to bush and beach honeymoons. On this trip, you’re destined for southern Tanzania where the landscapes are vast and untouched and the animals are weird, wild and wonderful. Ruaha provides the ‘classic’ safari element and you’ll enjoy game drives and walking safaris in a place that’s home to 10% of the world’s lion population. Then there’s the Selous. The watery wonderland is famous for its water safaris and cruising down the river, spotting wallowing hippos and sunbathing crocs, is the definition of idyllic. And after the wildlife, all that’s left to do is embrace the laid-back island vibes of Mafia Island, where it’s all about sun, sea and snorkelling. We told you bush and beach was a good Tanzania honeymoon combination!
Top spots to stay
Southern Tanzania is full of secluded and charming camps, from classic tented spots like Kwihala Bush Camp in Ruaha to the swanky Sand Rivers Selous. Combine the rustic with the luxurious and you won’t miss out on anything… At the beach, try Pole Pole on Mafia or, for a bit more luxe, swap out Mafia for Zanzibar and stay in the magazine-worthy Zuri Zanzibar.
Adventurous
The west is undoubtedly the hidden gem of Tanzania and combining Katavi National Park with the Mahale Mountains makes for a brilliantly adventurous Tanzania honeymoon if ever we saw one. The two parks are much less well-known than those in the north and simply add to the feeling of being somewhere truly wild. And nowhere is that truer than on the golden-grass plains of Katavi, where animals certainly outnumber people and you won’t be able to turn your head without spotting a buffalo here, an elephant there and a lion over yonder. In the Mahale Mountains, your wildlife experiences will continue with the opportunity to trek with the chimps that inhabit the forests. But with a golden beach on your doorstep, rock pools to explore and dhow trips to be had, there’s plenty more to enjoy here too.
Top spots to stay
In our eyes, there are only two options for honeymooners here. First up is Chada Katavi, a romantic hideaway stuffed with classic campaign furniture, crisp linens and hand-woven rugs under the shade of the tamarind trees. In the Mahale Mountains, it’s got to be Greystoke Mahale, one of our favourite lodges on the continent and positioned right where the chimp-filled forests meet the sparkling waters of Lake Tanganyika.
Wildlife wonder
Every year, the Great Migration takes place in Tanzania’s Serengeti. One of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles, over 1.7 million wildebeest thunder across the plains in search of water. It’s exciting, even euphoric at times, and following the hooved beasties is most certainly something to include on a Tanzania honeymoon. Where to stay depends on what time of year you travel (read up on that here), but that’s the beauty – there’s always action in some part of the Serengeti so really, you’ll never miss out. Combining your wildebeest watching with some of the country’s northern parks is a real treat and Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater would be near the top of our lists. Both are diverse, beautiful and home to all the storybook characters you’d expect to find prowling the plains.
Top spots to stay
If you’re keen to get really into the action of the Great Migration, try a mobile camp in the Serengeti (Kimondo and Serengeti Under Canvas are two of our favourites). Otherwise there are plenty of permanent lodges to choose from: Dunia and Kiota in the central region are worth a look at. Chem Chem, on its own private concession outside Lake Manyara would be our choice here, and why not try Gibbs Farm in Ngorongoro, a stylish hideaway where a bit of R&R is all part of the parcel.
Primate encounters
Vast and beguiling landscapes, free of people and packed with animals? Tick. Bucket-list encounters with both gorilla and chimpanzee? Tick. Big Five sightings to rival the BBC? Most definitely. This is a honeymoon with serious panache and even better, it’s not limited to Tanzania! Your trip ends in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park with magical encounters of the gorilla kind, but before you can even think about that, we’ll be whisking you to the Serengeti for game drives and walking safaris, and then to Rubondo Island. Never heard of it? Well, that’s the point. This Jurassic island is an incredible wildlife sanctuary and home to a healthy population of chimpanzee, which is exactly why you’re here.
Top spots to stay
If there’s one time you can blow the budget, it’s on your honeymoon so how about splashing out in the Serengeti with Mwiba Lodge. Set in its own private concession, they certainly know a thing or two about top-notch honeymoons… In Volcanoes, we might suggest the glitzy and rather glamorous Bisate Lodge, or for something a touch more classic but equally as luxurious, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. On Rubondo Island, you’ve only got one choice – Rubondo Island Camp– but you won’t be disappointed.
