You’re getting married! A lot goes into planning a wedding. And then there’s the honeymoon, too, adding a whole new level of organisation and choices to make. May we suggest a safari honeymoon?
A safari is just the kind of slow down and enjoy the time together you need in a honeymoon. For a dash more energy, switch it up, adding beach to the bush. Or taste everything and have a city, bush, beach vacay with your bae.
After the expense of the wedding, we advise you do your research; many places have honeymoon specials. They do change over time, though, so we monitor them constantly, making sure we always present you with the best deal on the best safari.
The pool at Siviti Timbavati Plains is a front-row seat for elephant watching.
When To Take Your Safari Honeymoon
You can get married at any time of year, but there are safari seasons, and they don’t always coincide. You also may have burn-out or budget blues after the big day.
But nobody says you have to go on honeymoon immediately after your wedding, and plenty of safari honeymoon specials are valid for six to 12 months after your trip down the aisle (some even have anniversary specials).
At Simbavati Camp George in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, South Africa, you stay 3 or more nights and one partner pays only 60%. You also get a bottle of wine on arrival, and it’s valid within 6 months of the date of your wedding.
Your bed overlooks your private plunge pool at the bush beyond at Mateya Safari Lodge.
A garden picnic at Simbavati Camp George.
Mateya Safari Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, on the South Africa-Botswana border, offers a 50% discount on the accommodation rate for the full duration of the stay for the bride. They add in a bottle of bubbly, perfect for sipping from your private rim-flow pool. It’s also valid within 6 months of the date of your wedding.
In southern Africa, the best game-viewing time is May to October, in the dry season.
But if Victoria Falls is on your list, peak flow is March to May. Whitewater rafting is best at low water season (August-December), and August is prime adventure time, when Devil’s Pool is open for swimming and the rapids are at their best.
In Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, spend 4 nights at Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel and each of the happy couple gets 25% off their accommodation rate. The offer is also valid for wedding anniversaries.
Sundowners at Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel, Victoria Falls.
Type of Honeymoon Safari Experience
There’s a big difference between destinations. For a classic BIG FIVE trip, Greater Kruger in South Africa, Chobe National Park in Botswana and Zimbabwe’s Hwange and Mana Pools national parks are perfect.
African Bush Camp’s Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools has a honeymoon offer of 50% off the accommodation rate for one partner that is valid for one year from the date of wedding. A minimum stay of 6 nights is required, which is just right for recharging after the nuptials.
Romantic seclusion your priority? Private reserves and luxury camps are your answer. Think Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, both in South Africa. At &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge (in Zululand), one partner pays full rate and the other partner pays 50% of the accommodation rate for the whole stay. The minimum is a 2-night stay.
Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools is all about enjoying the bliss.
Dramatic Landscapes
For breathtaking, you can’t beat Namibia. Pelican Point Lodge on the Skeleton Coast, honeymooners can max out on romance. Your stay is filled with romantic spoils and surprises. And the offer can be combined with any other offer.
You can see forever from Pelican Point Lodge on the Skeleton Coast.
Safari Experiences
The Okavango Delta is all sorts of wonderful, offering soul-stirring experiences like walking and mokoro safaris. At both Little Machaba and Machaba Camp, the bride pays 50% on accommodation on a minimum 5-night stay.
Book a private spa treatment at Little Machaba.
All levels of luxury exist, from ultra-remote canvas-and-champagne to solid-lodge comfort. Tent your dream? &Beyond Savute Under Canvas in Botswana’s Savute, a remote corner of Chobe National Park, has a honeymoon special with one partner paying 50% of the accommodation rate for the whole stay. The minimum is 2 nights.
Elephants and cocktails at &Beyond Savute Under Canvas.
For honeymooners, many lodges and camps offer honeymoon suites, private decks with plunge pools, bush dinners, and surprises like massages or stargazing beds. Ask about honeymoon perks; many camps include them automatically.
In the southern section of Thornybush Game Reserve in then Greater Kruger Park, Siviti Timbavati Plains also has a 50% off the accommodation rate for the whole stay for one partner. Siviti offers you a truly personalised, secluded wilderness experience.
Breakfast with a view at Siviti Timbavati Plains.
Logistics and Travel Time
Africa is vast. Travel time and cost add up fast and you should consider multi-night stays in fewer places rather than moving around too much. One country, multi-camp combos are often best for a 10 to 14 day honeymoon, but not always.
Beach and bush combos are an exception. Nothing beats winding down with beach time after your safari: Mozambique (gorgeous and often uncrowded0 pairs well with Kruger or Botswana.
Massinga Beach’s honeymoon offer is 40% off for the bride in the deluxe honeymoon suite.
At Santorini Mozambique, one partner pays less 50%, in the Main Villa, Villa Na Colina and The Chapel. It’s valid for 6 months after the wedding date.
And at Azura Benguerra, stay for 4 or more nights and one partner saves 50% off accommodation, plus activities, spa treatments and champagne.
Snorkelling at Santorini Mozambique.
Pool with a view at Azura Benguerra in Mozambique.
If you want to add city + coast + wine, we suggest Cape Town. Pafuri Collection has a brilliant honeymoon offer: save 30% on accommodation and combine 4 nights at the Pafuri Collection in Kruger National Park (where it has 4 properties) with 3 nights at Welgelegen House in the South African city.
Your private wildlife viewing space at Pafuri Camp, in the Pafuri Collection.
Practical Tips
Budget wisely: safari is rarely cheap. Expect to pay more for private reserves, exclusive camps, and fly-in safaris. But splurging here is worth it.
Health: you may need yellow fever certificates, malaria prophylaxis, and up-to-date travel vaccines. We can advise you.
Elephants love Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools.
Honeymoon Hacks: Make it Personal, Not Just Picture-Perfect
Choose a destination and itinerary based on shared interests (wildlife, food, quiet, adventure, luxury): Instagram trends come and go; memories last forever.
Think about your honeymoon “vibe”: ultra-luxurious? Slow travel? Off-grid?
Include a few “splurge” moments: a sunset boat ride, private dinner, spa treatment, or plunge pool suite.
Build in downtime: you’re going to be tired post-wedding and need space to just chill, especially early in the trip.
Mateya Safari Lodge is in Madikwe Game Reserve lion country.
Live the moment: bring a shared journal or Instax camera for documenting memories, but don’t overdo it; a few great photos are enough.
Plan a surprise activity for your partner: bush breakfast, picnic, massage.
Unplug: make a “no scrolling” agreement.
Start Planning Your Safari with Confidence
Start your married life the way you mean to carry on. At SAFARI.COM, we’re here to help you find the best safari honeymoon deal.
Let our expert team craft something extraordinary. We’ll guide you with heart, insight, and insider knowledge every step of the way – before, during, and long after your journey.
Ready to explore? Email us at helpmeplan@safari.com, hit the WhatsApp button above, or call us toll-free on 1-888-SAFARIS (US & Canada).
